“I am not crazy, querida,” he said, smiling down at her. He must have seen the disbelief on her face. “You know what you saw, even if you are not yet willing to admit it. I am simply the opposite side of that. You are safe with me. As I told you, the creature you saw was a demon.”
He was right, she knew what she'd seen. Recently, she had seen several unexplainable things, not many and not so close, so she'd been able to brush them aside and pretend she hadn't noticed anything unusual. It was easier that way. Tonight, the demonic child had attacked her and there was no pretending that hadn't happened. Somewhere deep inside, she knew that it was the truth, she just wasn't ready to face it head on. She looked at him, frowning. “So they all look like that? Like children?”
He shook his head. “No, they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are masters of illusion, able to take on other forms. I suspect that this one took on the form of a child specifically to lure you, knowing that you would come to investigate.”
“It was looking for me?” she gasped. She hadn't even considered that the attack hadn't been random. Her heart stuttered and then thudded hard. She glanced around as though looking for something else coming to attack her. Why her?
“Shhh, little one,” he murmured, cupping her face with one hand and drawing her gaze back to him. “It did not get you and I will not let them harm you. I give you my word.”
She looked into his dark eyes, feeling the warmth of his gaze calm her, leaving her feeling protected, safe. She had no idea why, she only knew that she believed in both his ability and will to defend her. Perhaps she just needed so badly to feel safe, even just for a moment. She took one shaky breath. Then another.
“Why are they after me?” she asked, her voice small and quiet. She watched his face, searching it for answers.
He smiled at her. “Because, querida, you are a very special woman.”
Teo, prequel to The Host series, is available now.
Don't Moose With Her (Bearbank Book 1) Page 16