Page 62

It’s bad.

Reaching down with shaking hands, I grab my gun and press it to my head before it’s snatched away, leaving me with no way out.

“You don’t get to just leave. There’s a way.” Her voice makes me lift my head, and she looks down at her body before offering her right arm to Kitt. “Break it off. You’re strong enough. Break off my arm and let him eat. It will give us time to get him somewhere else.”

“Shit, firebird, I can’t do that.” Kitt looks disgusted and terrified, and even Torrin hesitates.

“Fuck, fine, I’ll do it myself!” she shouts, and before any of them can protest, she slams her arms down between two rocks. The scent of fresh blood has me hissing, but I scurry backwards to stop myself. Her arm doesn’t come clean off, though, so she saws at it with the rock before slamming it down and breaking it off. Stumbling back, bleeding, she looks at me. “Eat. We won’t lose you today. Eat.”

I wish I could stop. Disgust, shame, and horror fill me, but the ghoul has no qualms or reservations. It throws me forward until I lick the stone. The taste of her blood explodes across my tongue until that voracious hunger takes off. The next time I blink, I have her arm in my grasp and I’m chewing on her flesh before tearing more away.

She tastes amazing and fresh, and I feel her life soaking into me as I eat.

Gnawing on the bone, I hiss when Bram gets too close, and he jerks away. I turn, offering them my back as I eat. I devour it all, not leaving anything left bar the bone, which I hold tight as I collapse to the earth. The post feeding haze and fullness lull me into an almost dreamlike state.

When I come to, my vision is still a little distorted, and I feel giddy and full, but my first thought is of her.

Lifting my head, I spot Ferol leaning back into Torrin’s chest, the others around her. Her face is pale and beaded with sweat, and her eyes are tight with pain, but she’s smiling. “And he’s back with us.”

My eyes drop to her missing arm, and shame engulfs me. I want to sink into the ground and never be seen again.

“How do you feel?” she asks, and I almost laugh.

How do I feel? Me?

Crawling towards her, still gripping the bone, I stop inches away, refusing to let myself get too close.

I press my face to the dirt and whine. “I’m so sorry.”

“For what?” she scoffs. “It was my choice. I’ll heal, I always do, but losing you would kill us. It was a no-brainer. A little pain or your death? I’ll take the pain.”

“I’m so sorry.” It’s all I can say. The horror and shame are too much to carry. I reach for my other gun to end it, but her hand blocks it, and I finally look at her again.

“Do not dishonour my sacrifice,” she snaps, and that has me looking at her. “I suffered for you to come back to us, and now you would end it? Don’t be so selfish.”

She’s right. She gave her limb for me. How could I deny her that?

“Let’s get back to the truck,” Kitt orders, and Bram scoops her up in his arms. I watch them go, unsure if I should follow, when Kitt looks back at me.

“Come on, brother.” Three simple words, but relief floods me as I climb to my feet and follow. I know they feel what it’s like for me, but sometimes I worry it will be too much and I’ll be left behind.

At the truck, I climb up onto the roof and into the cage without a word. I hear their questions, but I ignore them and settle down to sleep, clutching her bone. I keep my eyes on her through the bars, checking on her, but she’s resting.

Kitt drives a lot more slowly this time, almost crawling so he doesn’t jar her or cause her any pain, but before long, she’s wincing and uncomfortable, so he checks the maps and pulls over. I don’t ask questions, just follow them as Torrin carries her from the truck and down a small path.

It’s clear he’s not sure where he’s going, but Kitt leads us deeper into the mountainous nothingness before turning sharply on his heel. We clamber up some rocks before he grins. There’s a door built into the side of a mountain. He tests it before breaking the lock, and he and Raiden scan the inside before coming out.

I go in last as they mill about. Torrin gets Ferol settled on the wide bed built into the wall of the cave. There’s a fire pit in the middle, which Bram and Torrin easily get sorted, while Kitt checks out the supplies.

It smells stale in here, like it hasn’t been opened up in a while.

It’s obviously some sort of nest for humans or a monster. I’m not sure, but it’s empty right now, and we take advantage of that.

I, however, linger at the back, unsure what to do or say until she opens her eyes and offers her good hand to me. I can’t resist. I scurry over and take it. She tugs me to her side and leans her head on my shoulder with a sigh.

“Should we do something about the bleeding?” I mutter, hating the stained edge of her shirt.

“No, it already stopped, and it’s starting to heal.”