by Amy Richie
Claudia laughed and shook her head. “Never mind that, she ate a rabbit for her first meal,” she wrinkled her dainty nose.
“When I first came to Blakesly house,” I remembered suddenly, “Paris said you were gone fighting wolves. And he called one of the sisters Maggie.”
Lexi rolled her eyes indulgently. “He was only teasing. Probably trying to get you in trouble.”
“I don’t…” I shook my head in confusion.
“Many years before I even knew the sisters, Liza went by the name Maggie. No one calls her that now, though. If they tried…” she rolled her eyes again.
“Oh,” I jerked my head back in surprise.
“He didn’t mean any harm,” she smiled, “just his idea of a laugh.”
“Dom would never let Liza hurt you,” Claudia added with a confident smirk. Everyone laughed at that—except me.
“What’s so funny over here?” Paris asked, joining our small group.
“You are.” Lexi flicked his chin with her finger.
“Mmm,” he raised both eyebrows. “I agree.”
“Eva was just telling us that you told her Maggie had been hurt by the wolves.”
“You better not let her hear you call her that, Lex.” He laughed loudly at my look of surprise.
“Are you finished with your stories today?” Dominick asked from behind us.
I turned automatically at the sound of his voice, my heart already speeding up in anticipation. “Maybe for today,” I tried to say cockily. It mostly just sounded breathless.
“Achilles and I are going for a hunt. Anyone in?” Elizabeth came to stand close to Dominick with Achilles shadowing close behind.
“Me,” Lexi was up in one fluid movement. I still had questions, but it didn’t appear that they would be answered today.
The hunting party was formed quickly with only Dominick and Kiera staying behind. How could they travel in such a large group without anyone noticing? I watched them go with mixed feelings. Part of me wanted to go with them and most of me was in awe of them and knew I’d never fit in.
“Eva,” Dominick broke into my morose thought.
“Yeah?”
“Are you ready to leave?”
“Sure.” I tried to smile up at him, but I knew I wasn’t fooling anyone.
Dominick and I made our way back to our cabin in silence. I was lost in thoughts of werewolves and hunting. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking about.
“I’ll see you inside,” I muttered when he left me at the door to put the horses away.
Once inside, I quickly set to work getting the fire going so I didn’t notice when Dominick came to stand behind me. His voice didn’t scare me, though, when he finally spoke. His voice was too low and gentle.
“You worry too much.”
“I’m not worried,” I denied.
“No?” His hands slipped around my waist.
“You were right, you know.”
“About what?” He turned me around so I could snake my hands up around his neck.
“When you said I wasn’t like Lexi.”
“You’re not,” he repeated what I was already agreeing to. “But I like you how you are.”
“I’m not a warrior.” He didn’t say anything to that. “I was raised to be a killer, but I’m not one. I don’t even think the wolves are that bad.”
He half chuckled. “Please, just don’t let any of them hear you say that.”
“I understand why Lexi hates them,” I continued with more force, “I know they were horrible to her.”
“But?”
“But, I think Lexi had it right before. They’re just like everyone else—trying to survive after Jewell. They may not always go about things the right way, but then again, even you haven’t always gone about things the right way.”
His eyes narrowed, but he nodded his agreement.
“I just think,” I leaned forward to kiss his chin, “that they aren’t the villains. It’s just the way the world is.”
“I’m glad you aren’t like Lexi…”
“But?”
“But, let’s keep this between you and me.” He kissed me lightly before turning away from me.
I turned back to the fire with a sigh. No, I wouldn’t be having any werewolf debates with Lexi; I myself had killed werewolves. But I didn’t hate them the way she did. Paris had gotten me wrong—I wasn’t a warrior at all.
“You don’t need to be a warrior,” Dominick whispered close to my ear. “You keep me in line.”
We both laughed at that. It felt good to laugh with Dominick, to be with him in the cabin. This was exactly where I should be—where I was meant to be. At least Lexi and I had that in common. Fate had led us…home.
About the Author
Amy Richie has lived in a small town her entire life. She lives with her three kids and their bird, Perry. She began writing in high school but never took it seriously until a few years ago. She enjoys writing because it takes her out of her everyday life and gives life to the people in her head. “When I was little I wanted to be a mermaid, then when I was in high school I wanted to be a vampire; now as an adult I’m a writer, which is better because now I get to be both.”
http://www.amyrichiebooks.com/