Chapter 4
Chapter four
When our eyes meet, I’m prepared to turn to stone, grateful for the little bit I was able to get. As she races from the room, I allow my eyes to drift shut, so I can savor the image of her being so close, yet still too far to touch.
But when nothing happens, my eyes fly open to look in the mirror.
Merric uses my distraction to attempt an escape, which only serves to irritate me.
He raises his fists to swing at my face, but I slam his back against the wall, knocking the wind out of him.
The demon attempts to hit me again, and I squeeze his throat a little tighter, digging my nails into his flesh.
As much as I want to torture the bastard, finding—and keeping—the gorgon is more important to me, so I rip out his windpipe.
His body slides down the wall, and I watch as he drops to the floor, sticky, acrid blood pouring from the gaping hole in his throat.
Dropping the piece of flesh beside him, I walk over to the bed, grab the comforter, and try to clean my hand off as much as I can.
I’m able to get the majority of it off before an intense blue light fills the room.
I don’t even bother turning around because I know exactly who it is, and I don’t have time for his shit right now.
“Why does it not surprise me that this is your doing, hunter?” a familiar voice says behind me.
“Because this is what I do? I hunt down pieces of trash that don’t deserve to live. He was a shitty excuse for a fucking bodyguard who was about to force himself onto a woman,” I growl. “Not to mention, that woman is mine. No one can touch what’s mine without fucking consequences.”
The man gives a gruff laugh. “All of you shifters are so possessive and grumpy. You should ease up a little, Anna.”
I drop the comforter and turn to face the demon most refer to as ‘The Retriever’.
But I knew Alaric before he was given that title.
“I’m not just any shifter, which is something you should know very well by now, seeing as we’ve known each other for centuries.
This woman—who is currently getting farther and farther from me as we speak—has occupied every inch of my mind since I saw her several decades ago.
No one has ever made me feel the way she does, just from one glance.
She’s gotten away from me far too many times, and I won’t stop my pursuit until I have her in my clutches once and for all. ”
Alaric shakes his head. “I pity anyone who gets in your way—until you get bored with her, at least. It’s bound to happen at some point; it’s what happened with Adrestia.
You were obsessed with her until you weren’t.
I swear you were looking for a reason to get rid of her, and her family gave you the perfect out. ”
Anger surges, and I’m seeing red as I step toward the demon. “You’d better watch what you’re saying, otherwise the demons may have to find themselves a new ‘Retriever’. It’d be a shame after all the years you’ve been with them.”
Alaric rolls his eyes. “I’m shaking in my boots, Anna. You don’t scare me.”
“Well, let’s just get one thing straight then. Adrestia’s family auctioning me off to sex traffickers was not an excuse to be rid of her! What sealed her fate was the fact that she didn’t even try to help me when she found out what her family had done.”
His eyebrow raises as he stares me down.
“You really think she just stood by and let those men do as they pleased with you without interfering? How the hell do you think you were able to get out? You’re an extremely strong and smart woman, but I highly doubt you’d be able to get out of a situation like that without a little bit of help—just saying.
Then, when you got out, she tried to give you some space before she approached you, but you disappeared before she had a chance, and she didn’t want to chase after you. I can’t really blame her for that.”
I take a deep breath and roll my eyes. “Whatever. I don’t have time to listen to you ramble about shit that doesn’t matter anymore.”
He scoffs. “Well, go on then. I’ll take care of our friend here.”
“Goodbye, Alaric,” I say as I turn to leave.
“Enjoy your chase, Anna.”
I follow the scent of Roxanna’s fear down the hall to another bedroom very similar to hers.
Several drawers on the dresser hang open, and a door on the opposite wall is wide open.
I walk over to it and peer inside, only to find a closet full of outdated shirts and pants that I doubt my girl would ever wear.
The amount of clothing scattered on the floor in this otherwise well-kept space makes me think I’m correct in that assumption.
She went through nearly half the closet before finding something she was willing to wear. Maybe I’ve underestimated her fear.
Moonlight streams through another open doorway around the corner, which leads to a lavish bathroom.
This one differs entirely from the one I saw my girl in earlier.
Every surface of this bathroom is pure white, while the fixtures—the sinks, tub, and showerheads to be exact—are all made of real gold.
It’s such an incredible sight, and if I weren’t already in a rush, I’d love to bask in its beauty.
Across the room from me, curtains flutter, revealing a wide-open window. My first thought is that my girl has made a run for it by jumping out this damn window, and I’m going to have to chase her down. Excitement courses through me—I love a good hunt, and that’s what this is turning out to be.
Peering out, I watch as Roxanna runs down the street, her silky hair glinting in the moonlight.
Watching her, I notice that her hair has a greenish tint to it, linking even further to her gorgon form.
I let her run until she’s nearly out of my sight.
Then, I propel myself out the window, landing gracefully on my feet, and take off at a full run.
Even with my speed, my footfalls are silent—something that took me decades to master.
I don’t want to alert her to my presence until she’s in my arms. She likely thinks I’m dead, and I’m really amazed I’m not, but I’m about to turn her whole world upside down.
It takes me less than a minute to catch up to her. When I do, I wrap my arms around her and take her down to the ground. “You can’t escape from me that easily, my little relic.”
She lets out a shriek, and I laugh as we collide with the grass.
Being the feisty woman she is, she struggles against me until I ease my hold. When her eyes land on me, her mouth falls open. “I-I didn’t turn you to stone. How? I was in my gorgon form.”
“Your guess is as good as mine, but I’m here now and I’m going to make the best of it,” I say with a smirk, rolling her so she’s on her back and I’m wedged between her thighs. Putting all my weight on my forearms, which are on either side of her head, I ask, “Why did you run?”
Her gaze drifts to the tree beside us. “I don’t know. Part of me was scared Merric would escape your hold and come after me when you turned to stone—that he’d finish what he started.”
A growl rumbles in my chest. “I would never have let that happen.”
She purses her lips. “How could you have stopped him if you’d turned to stone?”
I grab her chin and turn her face to look at me. This time, she doesn’t fight. She looks at me with those mesmerizing eyes, full of tears that have yet to spill. They’re even more vibrant green than they’d been at the house, and I can’t imagine never being able to look into them again.
“Well, it didn’t happen, and I’ll make sure nothing like that happens ever again,” I whisper.
A tear streaks down her cheek, and she sniffles. “You don’t even know me.”
“I know there’s something different about you.”
“What if it’s something you don’t like?”
I shake my head. “I don’t think there could be a single thing about you I won’t like. You’re more likely to find things about me you don’t like.”
“Like what?”
I give her a sly smirk. “You’re going to have to stick around and find out for yourself. I’m not letting you run off yet. Well, unless you like being chased.”
Her cheeks flush a beautiful shade of red. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve kind of been locked inside houses for my entire life and haven’t tried to run away from someone until now.”
“Well, we’ll have to do some… research at some point.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asks hesitantly.
I run my tongue piercing over my lip. “We’re going to have so much fun, pretty girl. Just you wait.”
She stares at me with her brows drawn together, and I laugh because she has no idea what I have in store for her. After a moment, I get to my feet and hold out a hand to her. One of her eyebrows raises as she takes it.
I pull her to her feet and swoop her up into my arms bridal style. “You’re coming home with me, and I won’t be letting you go anytime soon.”
Her eyes widen, and her breathing picks up as she tries to shove away from me. All I do is laugh because I know her attempts are futile.
“If all you intend to do is lock me up, you may as well put me down now. I will not go from one prison to another!“ she shrieks.
My steps falter. “Who said I was going to lock you up?”
Her brows draw together again. “You just said you weren’t going to be ‘letting me go anytime soon’.”
A harsh laugh escapes me, and I continue walking. “I didn’t mean that in the literal sense. You’re your own person, so you can do whatever it is you please, but I won’t let you leave me. You’re mine from this day forward. Hell, you’ve been mine since the first time I saw you.”