Page 14

Perry

Ilay awake,staring at the ceiling of the guest bedroom. I turned to look at Jupiter, who was sleeping quietly beside me. She sucked her thumb and breathed softly. I hoped she was okay—she hadn't spoken much since we'd arrived inWolfheart.

That kiss...

Isighedand carefully slipped out from under the covers, doing my best not to disturb her. I tucked the blanket up to her chin, and she murmured and turned to the face the other way, still sucking on her thumb. I went over to the window and looked through the blinds, out across the property to the fence that ran around my family's mansion. We lived on a hill just on the outskirts of the city, and could see the twinkling lights of Wolfheart off in thedistance.

IhopedI'd done the right thing, coming here. My confidence that somehow, I'd find a way for Jupiter and me to escape from our situation was waning with each passing moment, but at the very least... At the very least I'd met him again. I shivered and wrapped my arms around myself, remembering the feeling of his arms around my body. The touch of his lips against mine. Was he thinking about me now,too?

Thirteen years ago,Arthur and I had fallen in love. We'd only had a month together as lovers, having spent nearly all of our friendship unable to confess our feelings. I'd gotten so angry with myself, questioning why I couldn't have been a little braver, telling myself that if I hadn't hesitated, we might've had more time to be with one another. Finding him today had really been the last thing I'd been expecting. Seeing him again had never been a part of my plan coming back here. I'd hoped to find sympathy from my father, but... Now it seemed like that wasn't going to happen. I was stuck again. Stuck with no options. Stuck with a love that'd been rekindled from theashes.

Iwantedto see him again. I'd told him not to worry about me, that I thought we should let things be, but that was a lie. I wanted him again. I wanted to see him sobadly.

Atear streakeddown my cheek, and I quickly wiped it away.Hounds of Hell... coming back here was amistake.

Headlights arcedthrough the fence as a car rolled up the road in front of the house, casting sweeping shadows across the grass. I narrowed my eyes when the car stopped in front of the gate and didn't move. My heart started to pound. The back door to the car opened, and a tall figure stepped out. In the light of the streetlamp I couldn't see his face, but I instantly recognized hissilhouette.

"Arthur,"I whispered, and I ran out of the room, down the stairs and out the front door. The dewy grass wet my bare feet as I cut down the hill towards the gate. He was pacing back and forth by the car, talking to thedriver.

"Idon't know,Stephen. Maybe I should climb—" He turned and saw me, and his jaw dropped. "Perry?"

Ipulled openthe gate and ran to him. I found myself throwing my arms around him, leaping into his arms. I kissed him, unable to restrain myself. He tumbled backwards, banging up against the side of the car. The driver cleared his throat, but we were already too far away, carried off and lost to our desire for one another. For just a moment it felt like it was only him and I in the world, and I felt like it was thirteen years ago and nothing could touch us. I was left breathless, my chest heaving as our lips separated. We gazed into each other's eyes,amazed.

"How didyou know I was here?" heasked.

"Ididn't.Well, I saw you from the window. But if I hadn't gotten out of bed tolook..."

"Something just keeps bringing us together,"he said, grinning. "Something is looking out forus."

"What are you doing here?"

"I've cometo get you. If you're gonna have to go back to Elclaw at some point, then at least spend the time you're here with me. Get out of this house. Be with someone who lovesyou."

"Arthur... I don't..."

"Come with me,"he said. His face was strong, confident, kind. I remembered that it was these things that'd attracted me to him in the beginning, that I'd fallen in love with. "Go get Jupiter. You'll be safe at the Luna house. And who knows, maybe we can find a solution to thismess."

"Idon't know..."I whispered, almost to myself. It was crazy, but all of this was. Running to Wolfheart, seeing Arthur again... I'd lived obediently for so long that it felt wrong—but I'd already come this far. What the hell was stopping me from going further? "Alright," I said, finally. "Okay. I'll be rightback."

"I'm not going anywhere,"Arthur said, and I turned and ran back to the house. I raced up the stairs and back to the bedroom. My suitcase lay on the floor next to Jupiter's, stillpacked.

"Sweetie,"I said, gently shaking her shoulder. She stirred and groaned, her eyes slowlyopening.

"Daddy,"shemurmured.

"I'm goingto carry you, okay? You can go back to sleep. Daddy's going to pick youup."

She nodded,stuck her thumb back in her mouth, and closed her eyes. I scooped her up from the bed with one arm and hauled our suitcases with the other. I made my way down the stairs, doing my best not to make anynoise.

"Perry,"a voice hissed. I froze and turned, and then relaxed when I saw Dimitrius standing in the doorway to hisbedroom.

"Why are you awake?"I said. "Go back tosleep."

"It's not even late,"he said. "I wasn't even asleep. What's going on? Where are yougoing?"

"Keep your voice down,"I said. "I can't stay here. Not withDad."

"Shit, takemewith you,"he said. "Ican hardly stand the man. Where are yougoing?"