He was muttering to himself, twisting his body at an awkward angle as he shifted on top of the cabinet. Boxes of paperwork spilled to the floor. Win darted out of the way. She turned her massive neck, catching sight of the computer screen still stuck on the page he’d been looking at. She made a disgusted noise in her throat, throwing him a look of disappointment.
Ah, Luke! You were watching porn!
“Huh?” He froze mid-swing. He was stuck between the cabinet and the window ledge, one foot perched on each, his neck twisted at a strange angle as he gaped down at her. “Win? Is that you?”
Can you hear me?
“I think so…this is weird.” He awkwardly swung back to the cabinet, squatting on the top like a spider. “What happened to you?”
Isn’t it obvious?
“No, I mean…how? How did you get like this? I thought it was too soon.”
Well, apparently, my body thought otherwise. Will you come down? You’re going to topple off eventually. And I need you!
“Why?” He quivered. He was horrified, his mouth gaping wide, eyes out on stalks.
Win growled, and it rumbled in her chest. Luke pressed himself against the wall.
Because I’m starving, and right now, you smell like Hardy’s burgers, and if you don’t find me something that’s not rat, I might have to bite you.
Twenty Eight
LUKE APPEARED WITH some leftovers from the wake. Had that even happened today? So much had changed. Soggy, stale-looking remains of the canopy assortment Evan had brought were pushed under Win’s nose. Luke climbed back on top of the cabinet. This time he was armed with a steak knife he’d found in the kitchen. Win lifted her eyes to him in dismay.
“Don’t look at me like that.” He folded his legs, bending his back, so he didn’t hit his head on the ceiling. “Have you looked in a mirror? You’re a massive goddamn leopard.”
Actually, I’m a jaguar. There’s a difference.
“Really? Big teeth, spots…you’re a great big cat!” he hissed. “And you’re bigger than the ones I’ve seen at Boston Zoo.”
You don’t have to be afraid of me. She chowed down on the plate by her paws, the smell of old tuna and drying salami made her salivate. It wasn’t a steak from Hardy’s, but it also wasn’t rat meat. Using her tongue, she swiped up most of the contents of the plate, pushing it around her sharp teeth, making a grinding, chewing noise. Luke’s face turned a new shade of white. He swallowed.
“Nope, still terrified,” he muttered. “Was that enough?”
Was there anything else? Anything in the back of the fridge?
Win knew her family were all pretty useless when it came to cooking; she suspected there might be leftovers from some random dinner wrapped up, stuffed at the back, to be reheated when one of them became desperate enough.
“There was some chicken in the back, but I thought it looked bad….”
Give it to me!
“Okay, okay!” He eased off the cabinet again. It clanged against the wall as he hopped down. Minutes later, he returned, sliding the chicken by her paws. This time he sat on the edge of the bed, legs crossed, eyeing her carefully as he crunched through the white meat, still on the bone. It wasn’t a problem, she pulsed it between her teeth at the back, and it slid down smoothly. Luke grimaced.
“So, how did this happen?”
Win avoided his gaze, shame and embarrassment coursing through her. She swallowed the meat, her belly contented, for now.
“Win?”
I went to find Grayson after the wake. I had a big fight with Rowan.
“Yeah, I heard about that.”
Win lifted her muzzle, flattening her ears. His eyes were studying her markings with fascination. Win knew this must be surreal. No one ever usually got close to an intimidating animal of this size.
Is she okay?
“She came into the bar with Evan. She got pretty drunk, and Evan took her to her place tonight.”
Maybe it’s a good thing she isn’t here. I don’t want her to see me like this, not yet.
“Look, tell me what happened to you. Is this because you fought with her? The stress thing?”
No. I found Grayson and…we….
Luke’s brows flew up into his hairline. He clicked his tongue. “Oh, I see. Glad you finally got that out of your system!”
Don’t please…Luke. Win couldn’t look at him. When I woke up, he wasn’t there.
Luke’s demeanor shifted. His face went stony, eyes cold. “He left you?”
I tracked him, and I found him at this cabin in the woods. It was so well hidden, tucked away behind a river and bridge you have to cross to get to it. It’s probably a good hour’s walk from here. He was there with a woman…his mother.
Luke gritted his teeth. “Why do I get a bad feeling about this?”
They were fighting. They were arguing about me, she wanted him to bring me back to the cabin, but instead, he tied her to a chair. Then he went back to find me, so while he was gone, I went inside this little lock-up…
Luke had unintentionally leaned closer, and when her head jutted up, he gasped and jumped, alarmed at her proximity. “Sorry! It's okay, tell me everything.”
Win told him about the butchery room, the knives, the drain for the blood, watching as his lips pressed thinly and his complexion rather sickly green. She told him about the room, the metal door, and the lost ones trapped inside. Luke whistled through his teeth.
“Jesus Win…he had them the whole time. Then this happened?”
I bolted and ran straight into him. He begged me to forgive him, tried to explain…
“Ha, I’d liked to have heard what he used as an excuse,” Luke barked nastily, and Win ignored him.
I told him to leave me alone, and …I started to change. It was so awful. I was going to die.
“Was he there?” Luke asked. “Did he see you?”
Yes…he didn’t stick around.
“He ran away? Again? We need to do something! Report him to the police. He could come back with his crazy mother and try to kill you. She obviously has some sick, twisted animal fetish, especially as she’s been after Rowan all this time!”
He isn’t going to kill me, Luke. I know how bad this looks…but he isn’t a killer.
“How can you say that?” Luke cried. “He’s had your family in cabinets in his home all this time, and he knew you were looking for them! We have to do something!”
I do want to do something. But it doesn’t involve the police.
Luke threw his arms in the air. “What then?”
I want to burn down the lock-up. Like we did with Grandpa. I want to set them free!
“Burn it?” Luke choked. “Commit arson?”
No one will know we were there if we go now— if we hurry. It’s isolated. There’s no security, no way you’d be spotted. I can keep watch out and keep anyone busy who interrupts us. What are they going to say to the police? That a giant jaguar set fire to their home? They won’t be able to prove anything.
“Win…I don’t know!”
You have an alibi, Luke. Everyone saw you at the bar tonight, and you’d say you were working until midnight and then came home.
He stood and paced back and forth. “Just let me think for a minute…can’t we go tomorrow night?”
So they have time to move them? No, it has to be now. Immediately.
He sat back down, nearer this time, all fears of her temporarily gone. He was quiet for a moment, placing his hand between her ears. His hand was warm, heat pulsed out of his fingers, her shoulders slumped, and she relaxed. It was nice. For a moment, she let her eyes close, but quickly realized he was petting her. She jerked back in horror. A deep rumble emitted from her throat. She was purring.
What are you doing?
He half-smiled. “I can’t help it. This is fascinating.” He rubbed gently between her ears, stroking his thumb down her nose. “You’re so soft.”
; This is weird. It was marvelous, warm, and languid. She fought the urge to yawn. You better not keep that up. I might want to snuggle.
“I always wanted a cat.” He grinned. “I’m joking. You’d be terrible to house train.”
Luke, you’re creepy. Can we talk about the cabin?
“Sorry, I know. What are these?”
He traced the pad of his thumb over the tear marks under her eyes, noticing the way they dripped down her face. His eyes narrowed, leaning so close she could hear him breathing. He was studying the marks, like ink splodges on a page.
My markings, I guess.
He didn’t speak for a moment, looked long and hard at the marks, his eyes darkening. “Alright,” he said at last. “I’ll do it.”
Win made a joyful grunting noise. Thank you!
“So you know I’m not doing it for your ancestors…or come to think of it, my ancestors,” he stated, letting his hand drift away from her face, placing it back in his lap.
Her ears pinned back, she sat on her haunches watching as he stood up. Oh? Then why?
Luke folded his arms, biting at his lower lip gently. “Grayson left you in a forest on your own to die. Those marks…it looks like you are crying, and I can’t stand the sight of it.”
Win’s whiskers twitched nervously. She had a sudden urge to catapult up a tree, tingling nervous energy quivering in her hind legs. So she did it. She sprang at a great Cedar, her claws biting into the trunk as she leaped, crawling up with ease. She settled over a strong branch, and it bent perilously under her mass. She could see the whole yard from this height. It was exhilarating. No wonder Rowan loved flying.
Win spied light flickering in her grandpa’s old engine shed, the door clanged open, and Luke half fell out of the door, carrying a huge plastic can full of fuel. Win sniffed the air as it sloshed onto his feet. He was going to have to be more careful. Stealth wasn’t his strong point.
Luke staggered into the yard, his black hair shining in the moonlight. It was nearing two in the morning; the sky was pitch and the world eerily quiet. Luke was looking for her; she could hear him hissing her name impatiently. The house was dark; her father long since slipped into his usual reading coma. Win dropped out of the tree.
She fell about twenty feet, landing on her feet beside him. He whirled about in fright.
“Shit!” He clutched his chest.
Have you got everything?
“Yes, think so. This thing is heavy, though. You said it’s about an hour’s walk?”
Yes. If I could carry that thing for you, I would.
“No, it's fine.” Luke insisted, falling into step with her. “I’ll manage. It’s no worse than kegs at the bar. Can you do me a favor, though? Walk ahead of me?”
Why? Win’s muzzle lifted in amusement, a strong, deep purr rippling from her throat. She was making him nervous again.
“I feel like you’re looking at me like I’m food or something. And that noise you make is terrifying.”
I think it means I like you!
He sniggered. “Great…still—I prefer you where I can see you.”
They headed into the forest, the night air still dry and humid. Luke hoisted the can onto his shoulder, gripping it tightly with gloved hands. Win jogged ahead. They didn’t speak for a while. Win wondered what he could be thinking. Darting several looks in his direction, she saw him licking his lips nervously, and she marveled at his bravery. Amazed, he had agreed to do this for her.
What are you thinking?
Luke snorted. “I’m wondering how long a good-looking guy like me will last in jail before someone makes me his bitch…you know, for when they lock me up for this?”
Win smirked. No one is going to catch us. You’ll be fine.
“I’ve never set light to a house before, Win.”
You aren’t setting light to a house, only the lock-up next to it. Trust me. The place needs burning to the ground.
Luke paused, slumping onto a log for a moment's rest. He was sweaty-faced and exhausted. When he rose to his feet again, Win slowed her pace for him, even though she was bitingly tense. Like him, she wanted this done.
“So, how can I understand you?” he asked. She gave him a sideways glance, sniffing the air, seeking out the camp. She guessed she could track the cabin from there.
I don’t know. It could be a blood thing. I’m glad you can, though. Can you imagine me having to ask my dad to do this?
Luke laughed shortly. “He doesn’t strike me as an arsonist. I think he’d love to take you guys to the movies and do normal dad stuff.”
Win frowned. You can always ask him, you know? I think he secretly likes having another guy in the house.
“That wasn’t what I meant…I mean—I think he wants a normal life with you two. And I’ve got to admit, our summer was good until two weeks ago.” He looked at her and smiled fondly. Win’s skin glowed under her layer of fur.
It was the best. I’m sorry things got so crazy.
Luke puffed out his breath. “I’m sorry too. I’m sorry for what Grayson did.”
Win dipped her head. I was an idiot. So stupid…I couldn’t see straight.
“Love sucks…or so I’ve heard!” Luke corrected himself quickly, grinning unabashedly as she flicked her yellow gaze at him. “I know you really liked him.”
Win stalked on, her insides tightening. Well, he obviously doesn’t feel the same.
Luke jogged to keep up with her. “You don’t know.” Win tossed him a warning look, and he shrugged, not knowing why he was defending him. “He was out of line. I’m not excusing him, I promise. But he may have got scared? I saw the blue light in the forest, and I saw what it did to you. It wasn’t pretty.”
Win didn’t reply. It hurt too much to put into words. Being out in the woods with Grayson, the moment he’d laid her on her back, holding her, whispering in her ear, came flooding back in sharp, stinging clarity. Win choked. Luke was staring at her profile.
“Win?”
It’s here, she said. The camp, it’s through those trees.
“I can hear water,” Luke said.
Win flinched. The brook—they were getting closer. Fragments of memory washed over her, but she urged them back, ignoring the bitterness building within.
They wandered on, and Luke lagged behind as they passed into a small clearing. The burnt-out embers of the camp fire remained, but to Win’s dismay, the blankets were gone. He must have come back to clear up. Turning, she flicked her eyes around the camp, watching the shadows moving in the trees. Luke said her thoughts out loud.
“Could he be watching us?”
He isn’t here. I’d know.
Luke puffed out his air. “Right, let’s keep going. Sun comes up in a couple of hours.”
They left the camp behind, walking along the edge of the water until Luke made a noise of disgust.
“Win…what’s this?”
She scooted over to where he was stood, staring at something matted onto the heel of his boot. He went to a fallen tree, scraping his foot along the birch. Win’s stomach recoiled in horror. Luke wiped thick, sticky blood on the top of the tree. It came off in stringy, congealed lumps. He made a retching noise.
“What the hell?” he cried, taking off his boot and hopping down to the brook's edge. “Is that a dead animal?”
Win wandered along a few feet, her nose quivering at what she might find. Copper filled her nostrils, clogging at the back of her throat; it was raw and juicy, making her gut quiver with a hidden hunger she’d been trying to ignore all night. The remains of a kill. Her mouth filled with saliva. She sniffed the ground, her snout pushing through the leaves. Then she saw it.
It was a mass of remains, entrails, skin all in a nice globby pile. A long tongue swiped over canines.
“Win, don’t!” Luke was behind her. His face was white. He staggered ahead of her, his body swaying as he stared down at the pile. He gagged, bent over, and vomited. When he
recovered enough, he showed her something he’d been clutching in his hand.
“Look.” His lips were tinged sickly blue. He had a handful of hair in his palm; red curls matted up with blood. “It was stuck to my boot.”
Win staggered back in alarm, once again staring closer at the pile of guts on the forest floor. Win saw more hair sticking out of the remains, shard of bone, bloodied fingernails—fragments of a skull. Win swayed in disgust, her head whirling.
It was her. Win had been reborn here on the ground, under the stars. This was what was left of her human body.
“No wonder he ran.” Luke heaved next to her. He retched again, clutching his sides. “He probably couldn’t stand to watch.”
What are we going to do with this? It’s like a murder scene.
“I don’t know. Bury it? Leave it for the foxes?”
Oh god. Remains of the chicken she’d eaten swelled in her guts.
“Did Rowan tell you about this? I mean, this didn’t happen the night we found the stone!”
It’s like I actually died. Win circled the horrific remains. My human body…this was my human body.
“Like a rebirth?” Luke prompted. “Maybe she wanted to spare you? If you had known this was going to happen, you might have lost your mind. I’m losing mine right now.”
Win looked at him. I’m so sorry.
“Don’t be sorry. Let’s hide this, though. I can’t stand the thought of you being digested by foxes.”
Win sat and watched helplessly as he gathered leaves and piled them on top of the remains. He kicked dirt and shoveled it with his hands until it was covered, having to break away several times to spit up and cough out salvia. She thought she might love him, like a brother. He was doing this awful thing for her, and she didn’t have the heart to tell him. The foxes would sniff her out regardless. When he finished, he was wiping his mouth on his shirt sleeve, and she bumped his other hand with her head.
He smiled and patted her between the ears. “Come on.” He stroked his hand down her spine as she walked away. Win’s head sagged between her shoulder blades, taking some comfort in his touch. Even if it did feel like she was being stroked like a pet cat.
Wild Spirit: Huntress Page 29
