Huntsman by Cambria Hebert
11
Earth
What in theever-loving hell was wrong with me?
Was I going into sugar shock because of that massive, overly sweet drink Fletcher insisted I have?
Since when did I give a good goddamn what anyone thought? Since when was I worried that my actions might keep someone away? Usually, I was glad people stayed away.
Not Virginia.
The thought of letting her down, of doing anything at all to cause her pain, made me want to rip apart the city and pull out the knife I loved so much.
It was a conundrum, this war of chaos inside me. I wanted to protect her by any means necessary, even if that meant those means of protection made me less in her eyes.
I couldn’t have both. I couldn’t remain a hero in her eyes if, in reality, everything I did was that of a villain.
But I was a villain. A villain standing inside a pet store, pretending to be a hero. Disgust flung up the back of my throat, threatening to choke me. A hero I was not. A hero I would never be.
Why pretend? Why perpetuate some stupid falsehood of a man I didn’t even want to be?
I should tell her. Open my trap and blurt out I killed people. That the body toll I left in my wake was impressive and the pile of money in my bank accounts was bathed in blood.
It would be the fastest, most efficient way of killing this. Whatever this was. V had enough hell in her life without hanging out with the devil himself.
My lips parted, the truth rolling across my tongue, ready to meet air.
“Eww!” she screeched, jolting back against her chair. A small hand shot out, grasping the hem of my leather jacket. The one that now smelled faintly of her.
Maybe that’s what is wrong with me. Maybe her light floral scent cast some kind of spell, making me momentarily forget who I was.
She clung on, gripping my coat and staring up my body with a wrinkled nose. “One of them is missing a leg,” she whispered loudly before sticking out her tongue to make a retching sound.
So fucking cute.
“It won’t have any legs when Zilla gets ahold of it,” I deadpanned.
“I’m not touching them,” she announced. “You do it.”
“Me?” I scoffed. Who did she think she was, ordering me around?
She nodded sagely. “Put them in that container there and then put the lid on.”
“Why me?”
In response, she widened her eyes, offering up a pleading look as she tugged on my jacket some more. “Please, Earth?”
“Fine,” I muttered, stepping toward the tank. I would do it because then she would shut up.
“Not that one, though.” She was suddenly no longer frightened as she pointed out a big, fat insect.
“What’s wrong with that one?” I demanded.
“It’s too big. They should be no bigger than the space between Zilla’s eyes.”
“You’ll touch a lizard but not these things,” I pointed out, turning back to my task, making sure to avoid the “too big” one. “How do you even feed her, then?”
“She’s not a lizard. She’s a gecko. And I use big tweezer things,” she explained. “Ooh! Can we get some mealworms too?” she asked, pointing to another tank.
“Guess you want me to get those too.” I assumed, not bothering to hide my annoyance.
She said nothing, just batted her eyes.
I went to get the worms, and she rolled off down the aisle, blabbering on about decorations for Zilla’s tank.
“At least you’re quiet,” I told the worms as I scooped some out.
The bell on the door at the front of the shop jingled loudly, and with it, a familiar tingling sensation prickled the back of my neck.
Keeping my stance casual, my movements unhurried, I finished as awareness pounded between my ears. The inclination of being watched, the unmistakable tinge to the air of wicked vibes was very familiar to me, so recognizable it was like a sixth sense.
Why shouldn’t I know it? It was exactly what I was made of.
I didn’t panic, though, or even become overly suspicious because there were bad apples all over this city, so encountering one wasn’t exactly rare.
But then I noticed the quiet. Something I normally appreciated now sent tendrils of ice rushing through my venomous veins.
All of her incessant chattering had stopped.
And for the first time in forever, the presence of a bad apple actually pierced me with fear. Gripping the containers tightly, I spun, the insects flinging around inside. My jaw clacked together upon seeing she wasn’t there. Boots pounding, I rushed around the corner and into the next aisle.
My heart beat so hard my veins trembled under the force of the heavily pumping blood and adrenaline. Transferring the bugs into one hand, my other slid up under my jacket, reaching for the holster I always had strapped beneath.
Only it wasn’t there. I didn’t wear it because I was with her.
Which is exactly why you should have!
“Virginia,” I yelled, the sound husky and harsh as I burst forward.
Her golden head popped up, eyes lighting up at the sight of me. “I can’t decide which one is prettier. Come help me!” she called, turning back to whatever in the hell she was holding.
Completely clueless to all the blackhearted things that lurked.
Hot anger swept through me, burning up the adrenaline that previously had been taking over. I stalked down the aisle, eyes sweeping everything for any signs of danger.
She was alone here… but that feeling… It still sat like a rock in my gut.
A guy like me never ignored his gut.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing wandering off like that?” I demanded.
Her shoulders tensed, inching up toward her ears. Lowering the packages in her hands, she glanced up. “I’m not a toddler.”
Dropping the bugs in her lap, I braced my hands on her chair, leaning in so she could see the angry fire burning in my eyes. “Don’t you know how dangerous this city is?”
“I’m in a pet store, not the ghetto.”
I laughed, but it was not humorous. “Trouble can walk in here just as easily as we did.”
I expected an argument. Hell, I hoped for it. I hoped for her sharp tongue, sarcasm, and jabbing finger. I couldn’t wait to dish it all back, to make her understand just how—
“Were you worried about me?”
My mind went blank.
Reaching up, she patted the side of my face, her palm cupping my jaw just slightly. My mouth ran dry. All the fight left me like it was water down a drain.
Her soft smile further discombobulated my brain. “I’m sorry I wandered off and scared you. I’m fine, though.” Her voice was as soft as her smile and soothing like a warm blanket on the coldest night.
She turned back to the things she held, completely oblivious to the complete wipeout she created within me. “Here, I can’t decide between these. A mossy cave or a coconut hideaway. What do you think?”
I barely glanced at those things before focusing back on her.
Up ahead, a figure passed by the aisle, a mere shadow as the person moved to the next. My instincts went wild, my gut screaming that there was something sinister close.
“Earth? Which one?”
“Get them both,” I said, moving around the back of her chair to take control and push her toward the checkout counter located at the back of the store.
I almost tossed everything on the floor and headed for the door. Going deeper into this shop defied every sense beneath my skin, but if I did that, I would scare her.
Apparently, the idea of scaring the sprite in front of me was far worse than any poison lurking in here with us.
Come closer. I mentally taunted. I might not have my blade, but my hands will do just fine.
I felt indirect attention the entire time the cashier rang up our stuff. The man worked painfully slow, and it was making me crazy.
Out of patience, I dug into my pocket and pulled out enough cash that would more than cover the cost. “Here. Just take it.” I grunted, tossing it down while basically throwing everything back in V’s lap.
“Don’t you want a bag?” the man yelled after us as I wheeled her toward the door.
“Earth!” Virginia gasped, grappling at the pile on her lap as I sped to the door.
If it was just me, I’d seek out whatever the hell was lurking and give it a swift demise. But I couldn’t do that. Not with V.
“What has gotten into you?”
The bell jingled when I shoved it open and maneuvered us both out onto the sidewalk. The second the city-heavy air hit me, my lungs loosened just a little. About halfway to the car, V let loose an exasperated noise and slammed her hand down on the top of one wheel.
I stopped immediately, heart lurching into my throat in fear her fingers would get tangled up.
“What the hell are you doing?” I hollered, reaching down to snatch her hand off the wheel.
Her palm rotated, fingers clasping around mine with a strong grip. “What is the matter with you? Did something happen back there?”
The feel of her palm against mine somehow grounded me. The worry in the depths of her beguiling eyes made me refocus.
“Nothing. I’m tired.” My voice was gruff.
The hint of suspicion gave way to guilt, and she nodded. “Of course. I’ve asked a lot of you today. We should go.” She tugged her hand free, leaving mine to clench around nothing at all.
I opened my mouth to tell her my asshole behavior wasn’t her fault and that being around her wasn’t making me tired. But the words were cut off by the jingle of that goddamn bell, and I was reminded.
As she started off toward the car, I glanced back where we’d just been, seeing nothing but the melting of two shadows into one. I watched a few seconds longer, but whoever was there remained hidden with me unable to give chase.
And so I let Virginia believe I just wanted away from her because it was easier than explaining that wherever I went, trouble constantly followed.