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His gaze twinkles as he watches me. “Much easier.”
We stare at each other for longer than deemed appropriate. I wonder if he’s remembering last night too, but then I trynotto wonder such things. Doing so makes my body react, and I’m not ready to start the morning with Ren on his hands and knees in front of my spread legs.
Or… am I?
I lick my lips, debating.
Ren clears his throat. “I found these for you. I didn’t know if you liked meat-.”
I scrunch my face in disgust, and Ren barks out a laugh. “I figured as much. These smell sickly sweet, so I thought you’d enjoy them.” He turns to the opposite side of me, grabbing a bundle of rolled leaves. I’m about to explain that oak leaves aren’t edible when he unwraps the plants, revealing luscious plum colored berries.
They’re small, bumpy and plump, about the size of my toe. He’s picked the darkest of berries, meaning they’re most ripe. “Blackberries? Or wait, Mulberries?”
I snatch a berry from his hand, examining it close. “Did it grow on a bush or a tree?”
He threads his brows, watching me curiously. “Tree.”
I plop the berry into my mouth, sighing when the juices explode on my tongue. “Mulberry.” It’s sweet with a hint of tart in the center. I’ve tasted a few fruits. An apple I found growing at an abandoned orchard. A ripe plum that had fallen from a tree at an old country home. Wild strawberries I stumbled upon in the forest.
None of them tasted as great as this succulent harvest. “I think I’ve found my new favorite food.” I comment, licking my fingers clean.
When I look up at Ren, his mouth is open. He’s staring at me with heat in his gaze, eyes focused on my lips. “They’ve turned red,” he whispers.
“My lips?” I brush a finger over the bottom, collecting a droplet of juice. Glancing at my finger, it’s also taken on the ruby coloration. I smile at him, displaying my finger. “It’s the juice. Here, try one.” I grab another berry, offering it to him.
His face scrunches. “I think I’ll decline your offer, my light.”
I stick my bottom lip outward. “Aw, come on. I bet you’ll like it.”
He sighs heavily, his stare turning stony. “Only for you,” he grumbles. “And no more than one bite. It’s red like blood, which I’ll take as a good sign.”
Nodding, I lift the berry to his lips. I watch with bated breath as he bites into the fruit, his fangs instantly blooming with the dark crimson juice as his lips kiss over my fingertips. His face puckers and he turns, spitting into the fire. “Oh, how dreadful.” He spits again.
Maybe not the veggie type, then.I shrug, grabbing another handful of the dark purple fruit and tossing it into my mouth. “Your loss.”
Ren washes his mouth out with water. “You enjoy the taste of this medicine?” He asks, wiping away all traces of juice with the back of his hand.
I nod again, shoving more into my mouth. It’s been almost a full day since I’ve eaten, and even longer since I’ve had food as nutritious as this.No more wild spinach sprigs or dandelion blooms.
Ren grabs another berry, and I lift my brow. “Are you going to give it another taste?”
He scoots closer to me, so close our legs are touching. “Absolutely,” He leans forward, head inches from mine. “Not.” He lifts the berry to my lips. “I can enjoy them this way, instead.”
I open my mouth, my gaze melting into his as he places the fruit onto my tongue. His lips part in awe, his admiration fueling a deep emotion within me. I struggle to unravel the meaning of the sensations tugging at my heart. This could be another human thing. Another pheromone or instinct or-.
Ren places his finger over my lips, his posture suddenly rigid. He presses his chest against me, wrapping his arm around my back. Dipping his head into my neck, he whispers, “Someone is coming.”
I hear them a second later. Trees snap as something heavy stampedes toward us. Three sets of feet flatten everything in their path.
They’ve smelled me.
I struggle out of Ren’s grasp, standing. He clings to me, wrapping his fingers around my wrist. “Wait, Thea.”
Already, I’m glowing with power, my energy rising with my inflated adrenaline.
“Release me, Ren. This is my purpose.”
I am the snap-trap and they are the rats. My blood draws them to me, and once they’ve shown themselves, my trigger is pulled.
