Page 178

“Paxton,” Roman began as the kid dumped his bag in the middle of the floor—like always—and toed off his shoes, “reminded me that it’s not very kind of us to leave you here by yourself.”

“Oh, how nice,” she said flatly. She handed another piece of ice to Itzel. “At least one of you is considerate.” She gave Roman a slow and thorough once-over. “It certainly isn’t you.”

“I’m trying to keep yousafe,Shay,” Roman snapped. “Tell me how that isn’t considerate. My dad’s the biggest psycho that’s ever walked Terra, and he’s hunting me as we speak?—”

“He’s looking for me, too,” she said with the patience of a saint.

Roman ground his teeth so hard they ached. “And if he finds you, he’ll torture and kill you. In case that didn’t occur to you.”

“I’m fully aware, Roman.” Ice clattered as she dug around inside the cup and offered another melting piece to Itzel. The Hob happily took it with tiny hands and stuffed it into her mouth. Was that all she’d wanted?Ice?Unreal. Quieter, Shay added, “It isn’t your job to save me.”

Roman whispered hoarsely, “Is it such a crime to try?”

This time, when she looked over her shoulder at him, Roman spotted agony in her eyes. And the tattoo on the inside of her wrist…

It was dark and slowly refilling with soft white light.

His heart pitched downward as he realized…

She’d used illusion to mask her pain. This whole damn time, while she’d acted so cool and collected, pretending she couldn’t give a shit if they left…

She was hurting. Roman had hurt her.

“No,” Shay said, responding to his question. “You want to leave to save me, and I want to stay to save you.”

Roman’s heart didn’t just drop this time, it damn nearstopped. For one painful moment, he couldn’t breathe.

Eyes downcast, Shay turned her head toward the fridge and handed Itzel another ice chip. “If it’s a crime, then we’re both guilty.”

Roman still couldn’t draw a breath. His lungs were on fire, his stomach sick, but he managed to squeeze out, “I’m going for a smoke.”

He left before Shay could see the look on his face.

Where she knelton the carpet, Shay handed Itzel the last ice chip melting in the bottom of the cup, and sighed. “That’s all of them,” she declared.

Behind her, Pax stood watching. Chance crept out of his shadow and cocked his head. The pup was fascinated with the Hob, but the feeling was not mutual. Itzel wanted nothing to do with any of them—unless they had ice.

Roman had a thing or two to learn about Hobs. And women, for that matter.

Shay said, “That was very brave of you, you know. Standing up to your brother like that.”

“Thanks,” Pax whispered.

She stood and set the cup on top of the fridge.

“Please don’t be so hard on him,” Pax said. “He likes you, he’s just afraid for you. And I mean hereallylikes you. He’s brought a lot of girls home, but he’s never gone crazy over them like he has with you.”

Shay raised her brows. “A lot of girls, huh?” A smile played with her lips as Paxton, slowly realizing what she meant, began to panic.

“Oh, I didn’t mean it like” —he sputtered, his face turning red— “I—I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have?—”

Shay gave a quiet laugh. “Relax, Paxton. I’m just giving you a hard time?—”

The door whipped open.

Roman rushed in, white as a ghost.

Shay’s smile vanished as he scrambled to shut the door and the blinds, his hands shaking. “Roman?—”