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I wince as Mave sprays the open scrapes across my knees. I sit at the top of the bed, wrapped up in the blanket for warmth, although I’m wearing one of Mave’s t-shirts and a pair of his boxer briefs .

Luke comes in through the door just then and raises his eyebrows at my hiss of pain .

“Don’t be a sissy,” Luke says. “And here I thought you were such a badass. So quippy in the face of a serial killer .”

“It’s my defense mechanism.” I bite down on my lower lip, resisting the urge to kick Mave as the icy tingle of the antiseptic burns against my skin .

“As far as defense mechanisms go, never shutting up doesn’t seem like much of one,” Luke says .

I shoot him a look. “ Excuse me ?”

Mave tapes a slick gauze pad to the open wound that used to be my shin. “You’re going to live .”

I lean back with my head against the headboard, at an odd, stiff angle because of the way the pillows rest against the old wooden headboard. In fact, the headboard smells like Lysol. But I don’t want to move again. I’m exhausted and sad about a world where girls aren’t safe, and happy about my little corner of it, with Jax and Mave and even Luke. It’s all too complicated on so little sleep. My eyes begin to drift shut .

“Jeez, Ash, stay awake long enough to eat,” Luke says. “You guys want to sleep here tonight? Where you know you’re safe ?”

That makes a smile come to my lips, unbidden. It’s been a long day, and it would be nice to feel safe. I have every reason to have nightmares tonight, but I don’t know that I will, sleeping near my boy, and the Fae sex god, and my what-the-fuck-ever-Luke-is. I feel fond of him anyway .

“Okay.” My voice is soft, and Mave’s gaze swivels up to me. Silver-flecked gray eyes study me curiously, as if he’s checking in, and his lips curve up in a faint smile .

Yes, you’ve won me over, you handsome Fae bastard. Even without the glamour .

Luke’s voice is rough as he tosses a bag into my lap. “Picked you up some stuff while I was out. You look a mess .”

“Thanks,” I say with as much dignity as I can muster. I look a mess, after all that? Shock and horror. “You’re always so sweet , Luke .”

I start to look through the bag, then pause, uncertain of what I might find in there. He waves me off .

“It’s all yours,” Luke tells me. “I already got my magazine out before I could offend your delicate sensibilities .”

Mave tapes one last bandage in place and then pats my leg, assuring me I’m good to go .

“Well, thanks,” I say. I take the bag and retreat to the bathroom, my heart thumping dangerously, as it has so many times in the last few weeks. But why does Luke still make me feel this way when I know I’m safe with him? There’s no reason for this adrenaline rush to kick in. As rough as his edges may be, I know that he’s one of the good guys .

With the bathroom door closed between us again, I poke through the bag. There’s a bra–I don’t want to think about how Luke guessed I’m a 32B–and a package of surprisingly sturdy underwear in the practical 3-pack, not the thing I’d think he would pick. It’s kind of deliciously awful to think of Luke picking out my panties. There’s a simple red Henley and a pair of black yoga pants, a clear lip gloss and black mascara, a hairbrush, and a toothbrush. I stare at the unexpected bounty, trying to make sense of Luke–hard, jaded Luke of all people–wandering Target, thinking of what I would need to feel human again. My reflection in the foggy mirror surprises me, but not because I have a ghost visitor. It’s because I can’t help smiling .

At the bottom of the bag, there’s a box of dark brown hair dye. It’s not quite the right shade, but that’s okay .

Tired and hungry as I am, going back to brunette is my first priority now that I’m clean and bandaged .

“What are you doing?” Jax calls through the wall. He raises his voice, and I wince; somehow he hasn’t figured out yet just how unnecessary that is .

“I’m dying my hair .”

“ Right now ?”

“ Right now .”

“I knew she’d want to go back to brown hair,” Luke says smugly .

“It’s not like she hasn’t said that eight times,” Jax says, an edge of exasperation in his voice .

“Do I seem like a really sensitive guy?” Luke demands. “Let me have my moment here , okay .”

And, to my surprise, Jax laughs . “ Okay .”

The three of them fall into what sounds like comfortable conversation as I squirt hair dye all over my scalp and then comb it through my hair. Then I crack the door open and stick my head out to say, “Can one of you start a timer for me? Twenty-five minutes ?”

Luke glances over at me and then gets up from the floor, all false-casual, and wanders over with his hands in his pockets. “Sure. You want company while you wait ?”

“Okay.” I take a step back and pull open the door to let him in .

Luke’s eyebrows arch, as if he’s surprised. He steps into the bathroom with me, and suddenly it feels too close in here. He takes up so much space in every way, from his broad shoulders to his commanding presence .

But he settles cross-legged to the floor, leaning with his back against the wall. I sit down with my back against the vanity, so our knees are neighbors .

Luke’s gaze catches on my knee as I rub it absently. His vivid green eyes track up my body to my face. “Are you all right? Really ?”

“I don’t know.” I shrug. “I loved a good fight in the Far, I hear. I guess things are different here .”

He pulls a white paper bag onto his lap and pulls out two subs, then deposits one into my lap. “ Eat up .”

“ Thanks .”

He takes out two cans of soda and holds them up, one in either hand. “Coke or root beer ?”

“Root beer is my favorite, but which do you want ?”

His lips purse to one side. “Let me be a gentleman with something , would you ?”

I take the root beer from his hand, and when my fingers brush his, the touch is electric. He pops the top on his can and holds it up. “Cheers to the girl who saved the next November victim .”

I pull a face. “I didn’t do it on my own .”

“Mm?” He wriggles his can from side to side, still waiting for me to toast .

I push his waist with my bare foot. “But you know that darn well .”

“It’s my toast, Ash. Just clink .”

“Fine,” I grumble. I clink my can against his .

We eat in comfortable silence. It’s only when I’ve crumpled up the oil-and-vinegar stained white paper and stuck it in the bag that Luke leans forward, his corded forearms braced on his knees, like he has something to say. He stares straight ahead, not meeting my gaze .

“So when did you figure out for sure that I wasn’t a killer?” he asks .

Tension curdles in my stomach. Or maybe that’s guilt . I can’t tell .

“Luke,” I say. “I’m sorry .”

He shakes his head. “Don’t bother being sorry. You’re a smart girl; I’m not going to resent you for that.” A mirthless smile curves up his lips. “After all, I even told you what a piece-of-shit I am. Can’t hold it against you for believing me .”

“I do not,” I say helplessly. He isn’t looking at me, still, and I put my hand on his arm to draw his attention to me. “Luke. I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but I’m kind of a mess. It’s not easy for me to trust anyone .”

“Nah.” He finally looks toward me. “I thought you weren’t tough enough for our world, but I guess you’re going to do just fine, whatever you choose .”

“Do I really have a choice? The ghosts are going to keep coming .”

“Well,” he says, his voice uncertain. I swear it’s the first time I’ve heard Luke sound unsure of himself. “You can always call us. We’ll always come .”

“I know,” I say .

He nods. I can tell he’s hurt, and I’d expect him to be barbed and sarcastic. This valiant struggle of his to be understanding is killing me .

“You’re not mad?” I demand .

A smile tugs at his lips. “I mean, you wouldn’t have wanted to talk to me five minutes after you ran away from me in the middle of that damn frat house. I was frantic-worried about you. And I’m not sweet when I’m worried .”

“With good reason.” I’m lucky that my actions didn’t lead to my death, and Jax’s too. I was trying to be smart, but I accidentally ended up doing something really stupid. When I think about how Jax could have been knocked down forever as he stood next to my grave, my heart squeezes in my chest .

He already told me not to be sorry. But I am, as I take in his handsome face as he gazes down at his interlocked hands. I don’t know how to apologize so that he’ll actually hear me .

Well, sarcasm and brutal honesty has worked for the two of us so far .

“You’re a good guy,” I tell him softly, “even if I don’t always like you very much .”

He looks up at me, his lips parting in a quick smile, like he’s about to have another insult for me in return .

Before he can ruin the moment, I grab the front of his t-shirt and pull him close .

There’s no resistance. He leans in like he always knew I’d go for the kiss. Our lips meet softly, uncertainly. His lips graze mine, and he exhales, his lashes briefly closing, like he’s been waiting for this, like it’s the most satisfying thing he’s ever experienced. When his eyes open again, the way he looks at me—his gaze filled with hunger and affection at once—fills me with light .

Then Luke grabs my waist and lifts me easily into his lap. His hands tighten on my hips as he kisses me hard. I’m not sure where to put my hands at first, resting them on his shoulders, and then as we trade kisses, I grow more sure. My hands trace the planes of his muscular body, feeling his thundering heartbeat behind his pecs, then sliding down the hard ridges of his abs .

Luke Chamberlain kisses me like I’m life .

I never would have seen that coming .