As they scuttle away, I am left alone in the gloom.
London?
Eventually, I walk back to the cell, suffering once more through the depressing heat and stench.
The fug slides away as once again my eyes fall upon Aurora. She’s in her cage, elegantly stretching. As she bends double, her back to me, blood rushes tole membre, pressing it uncomfortably against the ridiculous twill ensemble I’m wearing.
Putain de vie.
I lean against the doorframe, my eyes never leaving her graceful form. “Do you know of one called London,chéri?”
Aurora instantly straightens, snapping her gaze to me. “What about him? Is he alright?”
I don’t answer her question, but it’s interesting to see her immediate concern.
“Is he getting released from solitary?” she asks, eyes wide. “Gods, I fucking hope so.”
My jaw tightens to an uncomfortable degree. She has another male friend in this place? How did I not know this?
I notice that the wolf also scowls. Are we of the same mind?
“Put him out of your thoughts,” I command, picking up the breakfast tray and sliding it through the slot. “You won’t be seeing him again.”
I make a mental note to keep this oddly named “friend” of hers in solitary confinement. It seems a good idea.
“Fuck you,” she snarls. “You’re just like your father, peas in an asshole pod.”
“Do not test me, Aurora,” I growl, picking up my book.
She laughs, a bright, dangerous sound. “Test you? Poor Frank. You don’t get it, do you? I’d have to give a shit to test you, and I don’t. You are nothing to me but a bug. And the life span of a bug is short, Frank.”
I have been unresponsive to her taunting me with the English bastardization of my name, but callingmea bug?
A bug?
But on second thoughts, maybe I am a fly caught in her web.
As long as my black widow is still whole, that is all that matters.
“Let me know when you finish eating, I’ll escort you to the showers.”
She squats, half feral, as she eats the sandwich. “How long are you going to keep playing this game, François?”
As long as it takes,chéri.As long as it takes.
30. TALIESIN
The predator—wolf—inside me, is always watching the door, always waiting for her to come back.
He doesn’t like it when she’s gone.
When footfalls sound in the corridor, I automatically know it’s not Rory.
Layla appears, her face a mask of wary exhaustion. Tucked into her shadow is Sky.
The kid has red-rimmed eyes and looks like she’s jumping at shadows.
“Where are your roomies?” Layla asks, as she scans the empty outer cell. “Left you all alone, boss?”
