Page 2 of Hunt Me (The Skulls #1)

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Ruaridh

T hat fall must have killed me because standing tall above me is a shimmering goddess with the sun beaming behind her as she looks down at me. I crane my neck backwards whilst pushing off the floor to stand, allowing her to see all of me. Fully exposed only for her.

A goddess assessing my worth, my sins and fuck am I ready to repent in any way she demands.

The pulsing in my chest drowns out the pinching pain in my knee. My heart pounding like a drum in my ears as I stand altogether still watching her.

The eyeholes in my mask frame her body perfectly. My fingers itch to peel it off and let her see me bare for who I really am.

We almost never take our masks off. Not when we’re outside of the stadium. It was part of the pact to keep our identities safe, so if something were to happen, something to change in the future, then we’d have that. We’d have ourselves protected.

Right now that agreement can be wiped clean from my memory if that is what this stunning woman demands.

Her plush lips are open, moving as she says something, but I don ’ t hear it. I only listen to her laugh and fuck the harmony to that laugh, it’s beautiful.

Little flowers dance around her like a song in the sunlight she is bathing in.

The rough callous of my palms snag at my t-shirt, the layers between my hand and my burning heart rough to touch.

Her shimmering eyes narrow as she bends towards me and I sigh with relief, beckoning her closer.

A small arm reaches towards me and my knees feel like they are about to buckle, rubble floor be damned. Blood pumping through my veins, I reach out with her, one hand on my heart, the other towards my goddess.

An unfamiliar pull of a smile shifts the mask concealing my face. But before I can reach the beautiful woman above me, something hard smacks against my shoulder.

Another skims my mask.

Then a final hits straight between my eyebrows. Hard.

What in the ever loving fuck am I doing?

That second tap to the head was clearly what I needed to shake out of whatever bullshit fairytale I was chatting there because there isn’t a fucking goddess in this world and the shit eating grin attached to that body of mischief up there is definitely not one.

The callouses on my palms find a new use now, simply catching the shitty throw from this little shit.

The cool stone of the jagged sphere she just hurled towards me leaves my palm as I lob it back up towards her.

Could I have thrown it a little harder so it would find its mark? Maybe.

Did I? No.

She ducks, hiding behind the metal shelving unit to her left. Filing cabinets hanging open on a tilt towards where I stand in this rancid hole.

A wet chill seeps through my cargos. The floor is covered in a layer of grime and murky water. Brown water. Water that smells like the foulest death and is burning my nostrils.

Dark golden locks flutter above. The beautiful brown of a deer bathing in the sunlight, and of course, it belongs to her. Framed behind her fluttering locks are her wide startled eyes looking back at me — all the bravado she had before falling.

Oh yes little deer, you’re in trouble now.

Only there are not many options I have. The gaping hole above me is at least ten feet tall and there is nothing but rubble and watery shit around me. It’s manky and enormously unhelpful. My fingertips graze my axes hanging at my back but instead of unsheathing them I drop my hands back to my sides.

‘Is that all you’ve got?’ The woman shouts down.

The nerve of this little shit.

She steps closer to the edge again. The movement causes the lip she is moving towards to crumble underneath, clearly not strong enough now that the rest of the floor has fallen in.

I feel my jaw tick as I watch her.

‘You seemed pretty scared, hiding away just a second ago,’ I taunt.

Her lips press together as frustration scatters across her face. Brows furrowed together in concentration.

‘I didn’t hide.’

I laugh. ‘So what exactly were you doing when you were following me?’ I ask because I know it was her that I could feel behind me this last hour.

I could feel something off but that’s not unusual when we leave the gaff. Most strays get a burst of confidence when we come out. Liam’s the worst of us, always taunting them like he has the last piece of candy… which technically we do, but rarely anyone approaches us.

We usually put down anyone we feel gets in our way but as I take in the ballsy woman above me I can’t help the way my mind reels in curiosity as to who she is.

Where did she come from?

She’s young, in her early twenties, I assume, but it’s hard to tell these days. She carries herself like she’s lived to be far older but most survivors do. She is not too timid, but the glint in her big, wide eyes still shows just what I need to know. She’s curious too.

‘I was curious. It’s not my fault you’re too stupid to recognise the signs of someone following you.’

Another step.

More rubble falls.

‘Oh, I knew. Noticed a couple streets back when your clumsy steps reminded me of a crumbling building. That wall took me by surprise more than your appearance.’ I say, crossing my hands over my chest. ‘Does your keeper know you’re running around making a racket?’

Two steps, right to the lip of the ledge.

‘I don’t have a keeper! You p—’

Her ranting is replaced by a sharp squeal just as the ledge she didn’t realise is too weak to take anymore weight gives way, causing my body of mischief to fall to lie at my feet this time.

Primal satisfaction rumbles through my chest as I look down at her. Lying on her side, delicate hands quickly brace on the ground before her.

First a gasp leaves her parted lips as she takes in the literal shit she has landed in, some of it smudged across her arm and cheek. Then those big wide eyes look straight to me and I watch as the colour drains from her face.

I lift my chin, looking down at her delicately crumpled form kneeling at my feet.

I hold back the reaction my body wants to have, how it thrums with pleasure at the beautiful sight of her on her knees for me.

‘What was it you said earlier?’ I ask, making sure my voice is deep and menacing as I step towards her.

‘That I’m a little bitch, hmm.’ I lean forwards, ‘well, how about this. I’ll be your bitch all you please, baby…

But for now, little deer, we’re in the sewers, so you better run because when I catch you, I’m never letting you go. ’