Page 27 of Falling for Famine
I ignored how happy it made my pulse to be so close to him and how I wasn’t even the slightest bit upset that I got to feel the ripple of his muscles under his shirt.
The man always smelled so damn good. My nose was grateful for every whiff. I couldn’t even be sure if it was cologne. Did Horsemen wear cologne? It seemed weird to think about, but I’d have so many ideas for stories if I lived through this.
“Check the area,” he told the colorful cuties. They split into a million pieces and flew out like fireworks going off. I barely took a breath before they were back, swaying and flickering. He made a little sound in his throat and peered down at me. “She was here but isn’t anymore.”
I nodded, acting like I understood how this all worked. I didn’t, but the guy needed my support, and by god, I’d give it to him. “Okay, so what’s next?”
I shivered without meaning to, and Ghost stared down at me, his head tipping to one side. “You’re cold.”
“I’m fine,” I lied, not used to the new temperature.
It was night wherever we were and ice covered the ground. My sweater wasn’t thick enough to save me from the brutal chill. Wherever we were, it was a lot colder than where I lived. The change was a shock to my system, so I couldn’t stop the shivers even if I wanted to. Which I did.
He didn’t move, but his hold on me tightened. “We’ll follow the trail tomorrow. You need warmth and food.”
I went to argue, but the world tilted and shifted again, stealing the air from my lungs. I clung to him without intending to, off balance and a little woozy. His arms were the only thing keeping me from falling into the floor.
When I finally had enough sense to peer around, we were in front of a house I also didn’t recognize. It was still dark and cold, so I’d hazard a guess and say we hadn’t gone far.
“Where are we now?”
He slid his fingers between mine without asking and led me to the door. When I stumbled, he was quick to put his arm back around my waist. I sucked in several gulps of air, feeling a little sick to my stomach.
My body wasn’t built for instantaneous travel. The sensation of it had twisted up my insides. Hopefully we didn’t Mario hop from one place to the next too much or I’d be more of a burden than an asset—assuming I made it to the asset level of help at some stage.
“Hold on,” I murmured, hoping desperately I didn’t vomit on the guy just trying to get me fed and warm. That’d hardly be the thank you he deserved. “My stomach—”
My head couldn’t catch up as I was lifted into his arms and walked inside the house. In my confusion, I’d wrapped my arms around his neck and blinked as the world passed me by in a blur.
I wasn’t exactly as light as a feather, but he carried me like I was. I kept forgetting he wasn’t human. Even with his red eyes and white hair, I forgot he could do things I couldn’t.
Before my thoughts came together, I was on a couch with Ghost moving around a huge kitchen with stainless steel appliances and an island, searching the seemingly endless cabinets.
I peered over my shoulder at him. “What are you looking for?”
“Ares once mentioned tea soothes humans.” His mumbling was way too cute as he checked another cabinet, and I nearly said something before catching myself.
“Well, your sister is smart.” I smiled at him, and he stopped to stare back at me. “Oh, sorry. It was rude of me to assume—”
His lips twitched into a brief smile before he went back to his search. “No, you’re right. She is.”
Fuck yeah! Go, Nomi. Another smile in record time.
Clearing my throat, I tried not to physically celebrate my victory. Ghost was plenty weird enough for the both of us. “Whose house is this, anyway? We’re not squatting on some unassuming stranger or anything, right? I don’t want to add breaking and entering to my long list of terrible choices,” I babbled, noticing how clean it was and genuinely worrying we were committing a crime.
I’d always been the good girl. I had to be. I never wanted to lose Felix or be a burden, and I didn’t dare make his life harder than it already was. Not that I ever had any inclination toward crime.
Ghost didn’t answer at first, so I tried to get up. His eyes shot over to me and flicked down to the couch, then back up to my face. It was a wordless order to sit down. My stomach turned again, and I decided I wouldn’t argue. Like with Felix, the last thing I wanted was to be a burden.
He filled a kettle and set it on the stove, his movements mesmerizingly fluid and graceful. For someone who didn’t live like a human, Ghost picked up on things quickly.
“It’s one of mine,” he finally said as he came over. My confusion must’ve shown on my face because he went on. “It’s a place I own. One of a few around the world.”
“One of…few?” I asked in disbelief. How rich was this guy?
He peered around. “I’ve lived a very long time, Nomi.”
“Ah.” I nodded. “Of course that makes sense. Sorry, it’s a lot to take in.”
