Page 34 of Burdened Bonds

“You know that’s never going to happen,” I tell him, despite the hook pulling me violently towards him, despite the way my skin tingles as his arm brushes against mine, despite the way the firelight makes him look almost breathtaking.

Maybe I shouldn’t admit this to him. Maybe I should be a hell of a lot smarter, stringing him along so that’ll he’ll continue to help me, so that he won’t fucking kill me. The truth could make an already unpredictable and dangerous man even more so.

But to my surprise, he simply says:

“Why not?”

“Because,” I say, peering out to Pip for help, “you tried to kill me.”

“Tsk,” he says. “Some people would call that foreplay, little rabbit. In fact, if you want, we could play a little game of chase now. You run and I’ll catch you.” His eyes darken and I shiver again.

It’s not exactly surprising that I’m attracted to him. The man is hot, his face sometimes boyish, sometimes frightening, his body solid and strong, his eyes strange and mesmerizing. If it wasn’t for all the other stuff, I doubt I’d be resisting the pull of the bond at all.

But fate is wrong about this one. Hell, fate has been one fucked-up bitch about most of my mates. But this one …

“You’re an assassin, Renzo,” I tell him firmly. “You kill people. And that is … that is …”

“A job.”

“It’s sick and evil and wrong.”

“You’ve killed people.”

“In self defense. I don’t do it for money,” I scowl at him, “for the thrill of it.”

“The man in black kills for a living.”

“That’s not the same thing.”

“It isn’t?” he asks innocently, his face all puzzled. “Why not?”

“He’s doing it for the authorities. To keep the republic safe.”

“Little rabbit,” he says, sounding annoyed now. “I know you don’t believe that bullshit. Me and him, we’re no different. We’re both huntsmen. We just have different bosses. Or we did. I think I just killed mine.” He chuckles.

“See – that’s what I mean!”

“Hey, I killed him for you.”

“Did you kill Andrew Playford for me too?!” I cry.

He examines my face. “Yes?” I frown at him. “No?”

“I don’t want you killing people for me. You have to stop doing that.”

He shakes his head. “No fucking way, little rabbit. I’ll kill anyone that lays a finger on you, anyone who tries!”

“Urgh!” I jump to my feet in frustration. “I don’t want any more blood on my hands.”

But I guess that choice is not my own, because I’ve no sooner said the words, than my senses are tingling.

“Magicals,” I whisper to him. “I can feel them. That way.” I point through the trees.

Renzo’s on his feet in a flash. He waves his hand, and the fire dies with a hiss, plunging us into darkness.

“Which way are they moving?” he whispers as Pip brushes against my ankles.

I tune into the sense.