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Snatching up my things, I rush into the stairwell, fumbling with my clothes and almost tripping on the stairs just like the night I ran from him. Only tonight when I go, it’s not fear. Not really. I mean I feel a little scared of the wild beast-like fury in his eyes when he roared at me. But I also feel an aching emptiness at the pain that so obviously clings to him. After the way he made me feel, I’d like nothing better than to help him feel good, too. Whatever that takes. But he doesn’t want me. He doesn’t want me anywhere near him. I haven’t felt that kind of stinging rejection since my parents told me I wasn’t welcome in their home any longer.
TEN
William
Jessie runs from me, slamming the door to my tower closed behind her. I grip the edges of my archway and roar my frustration to the night sky. I know with absolute certainty I’ve just made the second biggest mistake of my life.
I pace the tower, body taut with frustration. When I can’t take it any longer, I launch myself to the roof and fling myself over the side, stretching my wings wide for the first time in years. The burn on my unused muscles feels good. For a single moment I wonder if my wings will hold me. Wind whistles past my ears and cold air blows in my face. Cracked and ugly as they are though, they do their job. Too soon my claws touch the ground and I breathe in deep, trying to catch her scent.
Nothing.
Ignoring the strange looks of humans I pass, I jog to the corner and try again. The wind changes, lifting the odor of car exhaust and city sewers for a moment and giving me the tiniest hint of sweet currants and earthy spices.Jessie.
It doesn’t take me long to catch up with her. She glances back and her eyes widen when she catches sight of me. I’m not sure what reaction I expect. I don’t know why I’m surprised when a look of horror crosses her face and she breaks into a jog.
I’m sure I look even more monstrous than usual. My harsh, cracked features, my hideous wings and claws and tail would be enough to make any human run from me, let alone my snarling face.
Unfortunately when she runs from me, it only makes me more desperate to catch her. “Jessie! Wait!” My bellow draws more looks from other humans in the street.
An older woman in a gray coat gasps and several people cross the street to get out of my way. Good. The fewer bodies in my way, the better.
Jessie glances back again, colliding with a man in a dark suit holding a cell phone to his ear. He drops the phone with a curse, grabbing Jessie’s arm roughly. “Hey!”
Jessie pulls out of his grip, but I’m already closing the distance.
There is no excuse for his hands on her. The asshole is already snatching up his phone and beginning to walk away as if he doesn’t realize he’s just committed a fatal error.
With a roar, I double my speed and cut him off. I’m taller anyway, but I stretch to my full height, spread my wings and snarl in his face. “How dare you fucking touch her!”
The guy reels back for a moment, glaring at me. “Damn monsters. This city’s a bloody rats’ warren these days.” He thrusts a finger in my face and it takes everything in me not to grab it and snap it off. “You don’t scare me, asshole. I know the terms of the treaty. Monster-human violence isn’t tolerated.”
I step forward until his finger is pressing against the center of my chest. Then I step forward again until it bends. I give him a grin that is anything but friendly. “They’ll have to find what’s left of you first.”
“William!” Jessie pushes between us. Her soft palms sliding over up the muscles of my chest instantly cool my anger. I’m about to let her push me away from him, when the guy holds up his phone and she looks back.
“Hey, did you just take a picture?”
