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Though Scarlett tried to hide how uncomfortable the whole situation made her, Vince knew her far too well. He took her chin in his hand, redirecting her attention to his deep, soulful eyes. “Let’s go for a walk. We have a long ride home and you have been stuck in the truck all day.”

“I can show you around,” Karena offered with a hopeful tone.

Thankfully, preventing any more bloodshed, she waited for Ezra’s go ahead before she led them towards the outskirts of the village.

“We try to live off the land as much as possible. We have a garden and fish in the nearby lake. It minimises our need to leave.”

“Have you lived here for a long time?” Scarlett asked, dying to know more about the entire village—and her mate’s sister.

Karena’s eyes beamed and Scarlett couldn’t help but notice that she slowly removed her jewellery and placed it in her pockets.

“Three months. It’s been an adjustment to say the least. Though we grew up rural, we were never this far apart from civilisation.

You have to plan carefully for the weeks to come, especially when it comes to food. ”

“That does seem tricky.”

Ezra stayed silent, his arm around her shoulder with Vince a step behind them.

“I’m only planning to stay for a year and then return home to my somewhat unwitchy life.”

They fell silent, and Scarlett wasn’t sure how far Ezra was willing to take this conversation.

After a few moments, Karena saved the awkward silence. “Elena said you have been hunting for a while, but she never mentioned your eyes.”

“I hexed them after I was with her.”

“What spell did you use?”

“Night vision.”

“Did you know it would change your eye colour?”

“I assumed.”

“I liked—”

“What do you want, Karena?” Ezra hissed, coming to an abrupt stop.

“I want to get to know you again. You’ve changed so much.”

“That’s what happens when you break out of the restraints you’ve been imprisoned in: you become your own person.”

Karena’s gaze dropped to her feet. “I didn’t do that to you.”

“No, you didn’t, but your blissful upbringing was only possible because they realised that I was a product of failure. You grew up with no scars to show for what I had to endure.”

Ezra spun on his heel and tugged Scarlett behind him, rather gently considering his raging temper.

They took a straight path back to the trucks, where he opened the passenger door of the one that three men were just unloading.

The knife was in his hands the second she sat down.

Scarlett knew better now, holding her hand out for the weapon. “Give it to me, Ezra.”

With his dark eyes on her, he hesitated.

He took his time debating whether or not to listen to her.

To Scarlett’s surprise, he spun the weapon around and offered it to her, leather grip first. Once it was hers to control, she took his hand.

This time, she didn’t hesitate. Scarlett soothed his palm with her thumb, gently dragging the sharp edge of the blade across his forearm.

It wasn’t as deep as he probably would’ve appreciated, but that was the point.

Ezra would accept anything that she offered.

She only hoped that her cutting him would please him more than a deep wound.

The second the pain spread from the blade his head fell forward, resting against hers. His chest vibrated with a groan as the blade sunk through his skin a second time. “Princess…”

“Prince,” Scarlett echoed.

With his free hand under her chin, he tipped her head up and claimed her lips in a tender kiss. “I love you.”

She hummed, her skin tingling. “Say it again.”

“I love you.”

“Good. You’re mine and I couldn’t love anyone who didn’t love me too.” She took her time with the third cut. Though it wasn’t as deep, it was longer than the other two. “You’re doing so well. Close your eyes and breathe.”

Ezra slowly inhaled, pushing the air out of his lungs with a steady pace. He only separated from her when Mateo approached as Scarlett finished the fifth and final cut.

“Karena has asked if she could have your number. She would like to mend your relationship.”

Ezra tensed again, so Scarlett offered up a solution. “How would you feel about taking her number instead? It leaves the decision up to you.”

“Fine.” Ezra gently kissed her, both his hands cupping her jaw. “I would like to drive with you.”

“Very well, but do know that I was quite stressed on the way up here and rather squeamish too.”

“I’ll keep that in mind and try not to take it personally.”

He waited for her to situate comfortably before he closed the door and oversaw the exchange of the lycans’ corpses. The moment he settled in the driver seat, Scarlett had her hand brushing the hair at his nape.

He purred for her and as they exited the tunnel she asked, “Why do they carry so much cash on them?”

“They don’t trust banks. They handle all their business dealings with cash.”

“How do they make money?”

“Humans love the idea of the supernatural. Though most here have no powers, they offer services like fortune telling or tarot readings. I’m sure part of it also came from the shared village money that everyone needs to pay into when living there, though I’m not sure how it will be distributed or if it will need to be paid back into said pot. ”

“Interesting.” When they finally reached the main road again, she let out a sigh and relaxed into her seat. “That was fun, but let’s not make this drive too often.”

Ezra chuckled and took her clammy hand in his to kiss her knuckles. “Let’s take you home, princess.”