Page 110 of Rhett

“Did you feel that?” she asked with wide eyes.

I pulled her up to her feet. “Feel what?” I lied.

She shook her head. “Nothing.”

“Hold out your arm,” I demanded while extending the claws on my right hand.

She backed up. “I thought you said you wouldn’t kill me?”

“I won’t. I need your blood as proof of the kill.”

She bit her plump bottom lip, peering up at me.

I sighed heavily. “The clock is ticking, hybrid.”

“Ro,” she offered. “My mom calls me Ro.”

I started to tell her my name but stopped.Why waste my time? I’ll never see her again after today.

“Give me your arm, Ro.”

She hesitated before holding out her left arm. I swiped a claw against her bare mahogany-hued skin, executing a long, shallow slash. The female’s piercing scream was like a knife to the heart, but this had to be done. Her wail would give my kin the satisfaction of hearing her pain, and they would assume I was killing her as Dad ordered.

Blood dripped down her arm and onto the earth. Rubbing my hand against the wound, I coated my palm liberally before rubbing my hand against my bare chest. I collected more of her blood, making sure to get the fluid on both my hands and face.

Stepping back, I said, “Run.”

“Thank you,” she whispered before hugging me.

Every muscle in my body tightened with shock. I’d never been touched by anyone in such a gentle way. But before I could respond, she pulled back and unhooked a braided black leather bracelet with small silver beads from her wrist, handing it to me. “Here.”

I just stared at her, dumbfounded.

“I saved up for months to buy it,” she explained. “It’s my gift to you for going against your kinfolk to save my life.”

Without another word, the hybrid ran off through the night.

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