One Insatiable

Koa

Mercy’s bedroom is dark as I stand out at the tree line looking up. The waning moon tips the grass in silvery light. I told her I wouldn’t sleep with her here, but that text has me worried. I’m even more worried because she hasn’t replied to any of my follow-up texts, and my calls go to voicemail.

I’ve gone from insisting she should stay here and wait for me, to standing at the edge of this well-manicured lawn, ready to carry her out of this pampered life as fast as I can.

Lifting my head, I scent the air. Nothing. I haven’t detected the strange, ominous presence in almost a week, and I’m starting to wonder if I might have dreamed it. The only instance that keeps me grounded was at Doris’s church. I hadn’t been tired, and I was wide-awake on the lawn in broad daylight. Something was there.

Either way, it’s not here now, and I creep out of the shadows, silent on my panther feet, and run quickly to the side of the house. In two leaps I’m on her balcony, listening. No sounds come from her room, and it only takes a moment for me to shake the magic away. I touch the handle of the glass doors. They give easily, soundlessly.

The room is dark, but I can hear her breathing. I want to see her, so I push back the heavy curtains to allow the moonlight to shine in. Her face glows in the bluish-white light. Her small body is in the center of the bed, and a surge of warmth fills my insides at the sight.

Crossing to her, I carefully slide back the heavy duvet. It’s cool in the room. Her shifter blood keeps her warm, but she doesn’t seem to be sleeping peacefully. Her face is troubled. She’s curled deep in the blankets, and it takes several seconds to unwrap her small body. As soon as I touch her, she jerks awake with a little yelp.

“Shh,” I reach for her face, smoothing her dark hair back. “It’s me. I was worried about you.”

“Koa, No!” She’s instantly frantic, catching my hands and putting them down, looking over her shoulder and around the room. “You have to go.” Her voice is a desperate whisper.

I don’t move as she tries to climb across me, ending up in a straddle on my lap. My hands are on her waist, and I’m holding her. “What are you afraid of?”

Her chin drops, and she lunges forward, wrapping her arms around my neck. I feel her entire body shudder, and protective anger rises in my chest. My jaw tenses.

“Who’s threatening you, Mercy? Tell me, and I’ll take care of it.” I’m ready to find whoever has her so frightened and kill him.

Her head shakes against my shoulder, and another little shudder ripples through her body. “You can’t. Neither of us can.”

I rub my hands up and down her torso, trying to calm her trembling. “Let me decide that. Tell me what’s got you so upset.”

She inhales deeply and sits back. Her blue eyes are huge and swollen from crying. My hands still on her narrow body, and I’ve reached my limit on patience. I can’t see Mercy cry.

“I-I talked to my sister. I came to tell her we were leaving, and…” Her chin drops, and her shoulders pull together. “I can’t say it.”

“Jesus, Mercy, you’re killing me here. Tell me what happened!” I don’t mean to be forceful with her, but I can’t help it.

Curling into my lap like a kitten, she presses her face in her hands. “I’m so afraid, Koa. I don’t want to go with him.”

I’m pretty sure I’ll have a coronary if she doesn’t explain this, but I try to hold it together, to coax it out of her. “Nobody hurts you on my watch. Tell me who’s threatening you. I’ll kill the son of a bitch.”

She clenches tighter, and I lean down, wrapping my arms around her. “Please tell me what’s happening, Mercy. I need to know.”

A few moments pass where I’m only holding her as she’s curled on my lap. Finally, she seems to find the strength I know she possesses. She moves slowly, rising up my body, holding my arms as if for stability.

“My family has an obligation… a pact that has existed for more than a cen

tury. The youngest daughter of every fourth generation is promised…” she takes a shuddering breath, and I’m hanging on every word. “Sorry… I’ve been promised to Hayden as his tribute.”

The only noise is the overly loud ticking of her bedside clock marking the passage of time, and the silent shush of our breath. I’m struggling with what she just said, trying to understand what it means.

“You’ve been promised to—?”

“To Hayden Cross. The guy who came for me at the gym—”

“I know who the fuck he is. How… What the fuck does that even mean? You’re his tribute? You have to marry him?”

“Dylan said one of our ancestors killed his immortal mate back when our family had just come here. The recompense for his loss, his loneliness, is I have to go with him. I have to live with him in the underworld… until I die.” Her voice breaks on the last word, and she crumples forward against my chest.

Rage flames inside me. There is no fucking way I’m letting that asshole take Mercy from me. Fucking Kanaloa. I knew I felt him that night in the woods. He clearly felt me, too. Mercy holds me and I think about that. He felt me, too… He sent a pulse of energy my way so hard, as if he were trying to kill me or at the very least scare me away. That asshole doesn’t know who he’s dealing with. At the same time, if he were trying to kill me…

“It’s not going to happen.” My voice is flat.