Page 79 of Hunted By Fear

But I’m not sure I can go back in there.

I shake my head, but he just keeps going, and I follow, unable to stop myself.

We reach the bath, and I manage to get my mouth open, but no words come out. It’s just as well because what he does next would have shut me up. Without hesitation, he steps back into the bath, fully clothed.

It’s ridiculous, and I should insist it's not necessary, but I can’t.

Some of the tension leaves me seeing him go first, knowing I won’t be alone, that Talian will be here with me.

When did this happen?

When did this man, who used to give me the ick, become someone I could depend on? Someone I relied on to keep me safe?

I’d liked Oliver, but this isn’t just simply liking him.

“You’re safe, Darling.” His voice is gentle, unlike anything I’ve ever heard before, and I can’t stop the way I react to those words. It’s as if they alone reassure me, letting me breathe easier. He seems to notice the effect as well, a smile tugging at his lips that makes him look so boyishly handsome I can’t help but smile back.

Talian is sex on legs. He knows it and has no problem flaunting it. He’s fucking pretty, but he’s so much more than that, and I get the feeling I’m just starting to scratch the surface of it all.

My feet touch the bottom of the bath, and I freeze, looking around. I don’t know what I’m looking for exactly; the water is dark, the inside being all black stone and lit with only candles. Not to mention, I’d missed the giant snake last time, so I’m not sure what I expect now, but even still, I can’t help it.

Talian takes a step toward me, making the water ripple, making my breath catch.

“I won’t let anyone or anything hurt you, Aerilyn,” he says, pulling me into his arms, and I let him despite being naked.

Talian doesn’t often say my name, but I find I like the sound of it when it rolls off his tongue, though I can’t deny I’ve become attached to his silly nickname.

With my back to his chest, he reaches out in front of us; places his hand upon the top of the water.

My breath catches as his hand glows, lighting up the bath like he’s a flashlight.

It’s beautiful, but more importantly, it shows me it’s empty.

He points to a still dark area, and I squint in an attempt to try and make out what it is.

A hole!

“Kai’s made a system of holes and tunnels around the castle, around all of Hell really, so that he can access everything in both forms.”

My heart races as my mind tries and fails to keep up. I knew it was Kai, but hearing him confirm it makes me feel strange.

Not afraid exactly, but something I can’t quite put my finger on.

“He’s not venomous, but the smell of blood can trigger an animal attraction. Him tasting your blood in either form will bring on a craving, but he’s not dangerous. He wouldn’t be going through all this work to help us keep you from Rome and find a way to break the contract if he planned to eat you.”

It makes sense, and somewhere deep down, I knew that already, but it helps having him say it and show me.

He doesn’t move, doesn’t rush me, and after a few minutes, I’m able to relax. At least as much as I normally can, knowing Rome’s still out there and I might slip back into the dark at any moment.

Laying my hand on the back of his, I slide my fingers through his. He’s quick to understand, closing his hand around mine and letting the light flicker out once again.

One downside of no longer being in a panic is that I’mveryaware of my nakedness, but he doesn’t comment, so I don’t either.

With our hands still intertwined, he pulls me with him toward the bench, guiding me to sit.

“Get cleaned up, and then we can grab some food and watch a movie or something,” he says with a smile, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.

“You have a TV?” I blurt because I’ve been here for days now and haven’t seen any kind of tech. They use candles, and while Idon’t have my phone to check it, I haven’t seen any of the guys with theirs either.