Page 49 of Bite The Terror That Feeds

So deep in my thoughts, I almost didn’t register what my ears had heard. My head turned to Aurelias on my right, who was still on the log, his eyes on the fire.

He said nothing more, kept his stare so steady it seemed as if he was determined to push past the awkwardness as quickly as possible. He’d probably been working up the courage to say those two words for the last day. It probably left bile in his throat that he was indebted to someone as lowly as me.

I could stir the pot and make him feel worse, but I decided to take the high road. “You’re welcome.” I left it at that and said nothing else. When my eyes moved across the fire again, I felt Kingsnake’s stare on me.

The worry was gone, replaced by something new.

* * *

We continued our journey—and the bitter cold never ended.

“We should have come in the spring…”

“There are no seasons here.” Aurelias was the one who spoke, and I did a double take because he never addressed anything I said. Never answered my questions. It was a testament to the change in our relationship. Perhaps he just felt obligated to be civil, but I wondered if I’d also earned his respect.

“So it’s just…unbearable all the time?”

“Yes.”

“Fuck me.” I reached for my pack to grab my dinner, but after rummaging for a while, I realized I’d eaten everything. The constant travel made me hungrier, and my body needed sustenance to stay warm. And then Aurelias had fed from me, so I needed more calories after that. I pushed my pack aside and stared at the fire instead.

Aurelias abruptly rose to his feet then departed the camp without explanation.

I turned to Kingsnake. “Does he do that a lot?”

“What?”

“Just disappear without explanation?”

“Words require too much energy.” Kingsnake was across the fire from me, every breath he released a cloud of fog. “Are you alright?”

I’d gotten sick over the last couple of days, although I did my best to hide it. My body was strong and invincible against the sickness that befell my people, but apparently I wasn’t immune to a cold. “I’ve forgotten what it’s like to be warm.”

“The Teeth should show us their hospitality.”

“If they don’t, I’ll kill them.”

A half smile moved on to his lips. “They will.”

“And then I’ll never leave.”

“Trust me, you won’t want to stay long, no matter how warm you are.”

“Why?”

Kingsnake took his time formulating an answer. “They’re creepy.”

“Creepier than Originals who call me a boar?” I teased. “I find that unlikely.”

His smile widened in a painful way. “You heard that?”

“Yep.”

“Don’t take those words to heart—”

“He didn’t hurt my feelings. Besides, I think boars are cute.”

His eyes watched me, their depth increasing as the seconds trickled by.