Page 25

After Phillip had made it clear he didn’t plan to be an option, not now, not ever, even when it came to being partners, I’d be stupid to think waiting until his missteps finally caught up with him would eventually lead to a happily ever after.

“I wasn’t aware you felt that way, but I can understand why, knowing Phillip,” Sloan responded, lips lifting sarcastically. “I never volunteered information because you seemed uncomfortable with the current state of our relationship.”

My gaze slid away, suddenly very aware of his. “All my relationships are starting backwards these days.”

“A tragic commonality with Hunters, I fear,” Sloan countered with a chuckle.

“Still, that wasn’t cool of me. You’re a nice dude, and I think with everything considered, you’re the most thoughtful guy of the bunch.”

The light-eyed Hunter’s laughter was rich and came from deep within his chest. It made my stomach flip-flop. “I’m going to choose to see that as a compliment.”

“Hey, it is!”

“And it’s nothing less than what you deserve, V.”

“You damn suave bastard,” I grumbled to Sloan’s continued entertainment.

“I fear I’m becoming something of a masochist myself.”

“I’m afraid to ask why,” I remarked, smirking.

Sloan’s eyes glistened with meaning and he reached for my hand, brushing my knuckles gently. It hardly compared to the night I’d climbed right onto his lap and performed acts that would shame a lesser person, but the light touch made me just as giddy. In seconds, my heart was off to the races, and it was probably painfully obvious to the other Hunter I enjoyed the small act, whose hearing was just as good as mine.

“I find myself desperate to hear your chastisement while you call me a bastard. It’s a relief to see your guard come down around me.”

Heat reached my face, and I scrambled to say something. “Okay, yeah. You’re definitely a masochist. What kind of person wants to be verbally abused?” I was hyper-aware of how close Sloan was, and my eyes couldn’t seem to stray away from the hand that had only touched me moments ago.

“Be that as it may, it gives me great joy to know you feel comfortable enough to be a little sassy with me. I doubt I’ll do anything but smile all day.”

The way Sloan dropped lines like it was nothing really showcased the man’s easy charm. He never seemed bothered by what I did or said. He never blamed me for treating him like shit. I definitely owed him an apology as time dragged on and our relationship becamecomplicated.

“Still, I’m sorry.”

“For?” Sloan seemed genuinely surprised I’d apologize.

I licked my lips and readjusted the crossbow I carried on my back. “For everything. For how I treated you the other day when you told me aboutPhil. It’s understandable you’d want to keep that from me. I shouldn’t have blamed you for not telling me sooner. I mean, you did tell me eventually. And you know, for being saddled with me and getting nothing but complaints. It can’t feel great to be put in danger for someone you don’t even know.” Sloan didn’t speak at all, so I busied myself with my belt to keep from being too fidgety. “Guess I’m still scared to get close to anyone, but I promise I’m working on it.”

And that was the truth.

I didn’t want to turn into a jaded old goat like Phillip who never let anyone in. That was the last thing Grams wanted for me. And even though I was still upset she kept things from me, I understood why she did it. It was all a lot, and Grams only ever wanted the best for me. She didn’t get a chance to live a normal life from what I knew, and maybe that was the reason she worked so hard to give me at least some semblance of one.

The more I thought about it, the more it made sense.

The other Hunter’s light eyes beamed, then Sloan slowed to a stop and pivoted my direction. “You’ve had your entire life upended. All your loved ones are gone. Phillip, despite his reassurance he wouldn’t, left you with someone else. You’re being hunted down by every creature bent on teaching the Organization a lesson, and those who may even be working for it. Your blood is a mystery, and controlling your powers even more so. Lastly, all of this occurred within months of you turning eighteen. Yet, you stand here and apologize to me?” His smile was heartbreakingly gentle. “Fascinating.”

Well, when you put it like that…

I eyed the man thoughtfully. “I keep forgetting that you’re nothing like Phillip. He’d tell me to buck up—or something as equally patronizing.”

Brushing back his dark hair with another bright smile, Sloan eyed the treetops. “Phillip has a lot of reasons to be cold to this world, but around you, I saw something in him that I haven’t seen the entire time I’ve known him.”

I swallowed, suddenly uncomfortable but desperate to know what the Brit would say next. “What did you see?”

As if catching himself, Sloan fixed his posture and offered me a less-than-inspired grin. “Life.”

“Life?”

Walking again, Sloan smoothed out his leather jacket and cleared his throat. “It’s hard to explain, but Phillip always seemed to have one foot in the grave. The only thing keeping him alive was his vengeance. But around you, it’s as if light has finally shined on a place that had been drenched in darkness for centuries. Like you brought him back to life.”