Page 85 of Dark Fey Captive

“Move, human.”

Eric dragged himself to his feet and staggered through the gate.

The gunman appeared from the other side of the truck, looking just as out of it. With an expression of confusion, he watched the other vehicles back up.

“Did we get the supplies?” he asked Eric.

Eric shook his head and motioned to the truck. I watched him get behind the wheel and met his gaze through the windshield. He didn’t look good. Probably a concussion.

Part of me wanted to apologize, which was stupid. He was alive. I doubted many men could upset a fey and say the same.

They backed up the truck and followed the rest down the road.

Belak appeared outside the fence, holding the rifle he’d taken from the guy.

“I will follow them to make sure they leave.”

“Thank you,” Nav said.

“You’re not going to shoot them, are you?” I asked.

Belak flashed me a smile and handed me the rifle.

“We do not need bullets to kill.”

Then he was gone.

Nav closed the gate as the first infected call rang out. I looked down the road and saw two shambling our way.

“I think I’m ready to go inside,” I said.

He led the way, and I leaned the rifle against the wall inside the door before going to the kitchen to reheat the food. I wasn’t hungry. I was upset and wanted the comfort of the familiar more than anything.

Nav’s hands clasped my shoulders.

“Are you sad?”

“No. Well, maybe a little,” I admitted. I turned away from the stove to look up at him. “I don’t know what to do.”

“You should stay,” he said. “I will keep you safe. If your family misses you, they can come here. I will keep them safe too.”

The look in his eyes hinted at…desperation. For what? To keep me? Did I really have a choice?

“What if I wanted to leave with them? Would you let me?”

The desperation bloomed. His gaze searched mine as he gripped my arms.

“Please don’t leave me. Please.”

He pulled me into a tight embrace, and I felt him trembling.

Stunned, I automatically hugged him and rubbed his back. I realized then that he truly wasn’t interested in my friends. At least, not for himself. He only wanted me. And that messed with my head in some unexpected ways.

“I won’t leave,” I said.

“Promise me,” he demanded, meeting my gaze.

I opened my mouth, but the words wouldn’t come out. I couldn’t lie to him. And that’s what any promise to stay would be. I still wanted to go back to the island…to the life I knew…to the people I’d survived with for the past several months. They weren’t just friends. They were family.