“I can’t wait toread it.”
“You will be waiting a long time.”
“Can I at least hear what kind of story it is?” I press, letting my curiosity get the best of me.
“A romance.” A pink flush rises to his cheeks. “The prince happens to fall in love with a faerie he meets at the ball…”
“Oh, does he?” My lips curl into a devious smile.
Moth’s arm curves around my back, pulling me into a dance; our bodies flow in time to the memory of the music we heard in Eclipsica.
“Yes.”
“Okay now I need to read it!” I squeal, breaking away from our dance. Patience be damned, I playfully reach for the notebook with the sudden and very urgent need to see what’s written on those pages. He stands at his full height, holdingit high.
“Okay okay, I’ll wait! We have forever, right?” I tease. “In the meantime, maybe I can figure out how to make up for being such a jerk to you.”
“My flame…”
“No—I know, sorry. I don’t know why I even started thinking about it again. Maybe it’s thinking about how worried I was in the castle, and… ugh I can’t believe I made such a ridiculous mistake. Like I literally said I wouldn’t run away from my problems! I didn’t eventalkto you. I didn’t evennoticeyou were working on this! I should have been paying attention.”
“We have been through this…”
“I know! I know! Sorry, I’ll getover it.”
“Or perhaps you need a reminder that no matter how far you run, I will always be drawn back to you.”
“Well, I think we’ve proven that.” I laugh, picturing the way he looked crashing into the literal Mothman Festival. Those fans got a show they’ll never forget—and honestly, so did I. I hate to admit it, buthe’s kinda hot when he’s angry.
As if reading my thoughts, Moth raises aneyebrow.
“Hmmm.” His claw is suddenly at the tip of my chin, raising my face to meet his. “I believe there was a discussion in the gardens about a different …scenario.”
At his words, I feel my face tingle. Is he talking about what I think he’s talking about?
“If it still holds your interest,” he says flippantly. “Our bed is just as appealing.”
I swallow hard,nodding.
“I, yes, very… very much still want… that.”
“Remind me what it was you wanted.Thatis so unspecific.”
The command has me blushing from head to toe. “For you to chase me through the woods…” I swallow hard.
“And have any of your boundaries around this changed?” His hand delicately traces the curves of my body. “I cannot have my prey in any discomfort.” His fangs peek out in a not-quite-smile “Unwanteddiscomfort,that is.”
“They haven’t, and I know we can stopanytime.”
“Yes, my flame.”
We’re quiet for a moment. He rests his hands on my waist as I try to wipe the silly grin off my face. The anticipation builds inmy chest.
“Heather—”
The familiar sound of bones cracking echoes off the cabin walls. His claws lengthen, and his grip tightens around me as his face shifts from man tomonster.
“Run.”
