Which is why, I suppose, it’s a trap—because you don’t see it. That’s the whole point.
“Help.” I cry out, hoping, for the first time, that Zan will come running.
He doesn’t come running.
He doesn’t come flying.
Nobody is coming, especially not me.
“Help,” I yell again, flailing around, trying to get loose, only succeeding in spinning around like fishing bait.
Simply thinking the wordbaitmakes me fall silent. Bait is not something I want to compare myself too, but I think it might be all too close to reality.
And now, unluckily for me, all I can think about are the awful horror movies my ex loved. Blood pounds in my ears as I attempt to slow my breathing, conserve my energy, or whatever the fuck you’d call silently weeping while dangling by one leg.
At some point, I pass out.
When I come to—barely conscious—it’s twilight, dark pressing in on all sides. Behind me, a crash sounds, a crackling in the underbrush that could be footsteps.
God, I hope it’s footsteps.
“Zan,” I say weakly. “I’m so sorry; I was wrong, please cut me down, I need you.”
I scream as I spin, coming face-to-face with the thing crunching through the forest.
This isn’t good.
Not good at all.
CHAPTER
THREE
ZAN
This isa cruel twist of the knife.
My wings beat slowly, stretching the muscles in my back gloriously. I love to fly, I love the sky, and yet, I have never been in a fouler mood than I am now.
I did not want to sign up for this ridiculous endeavor.
I did not want to be a part of this at all.
Then one look at Lily had me to deciding this was the best choice I had ever made.
When she chose me?
No being could have been prouder.
But now?
Now she wants nothing to do with me. I offer to ease the ache of her heat, to make her feel better, yet the human female is relentless in her refusal.
Leave me alone, she said.
Now we are both alone.
Her on the ground with no shoes while I’m in the sky, the sun teasing warmth across my skin, the air sadly too cold to enjoy it’s kiss.
