Page 94 of Rest In Knotty Pieces

“It’s hurting my ego that I had no idea, and we still don’t know who she is; she’s a stranger. Who’s to say she’s not going to rat us out to the authorities. She knows we’re killers. Did you think about that?” I point out angrily. I hate that Blaze isn’t upset by this.

Blaze’s eyes crinkle at the sides. “You are so adorable when you’re stressing, baby.”

“We need to get out of this damn forest.”

“Well, lucky for all of us, one day’s walk that way will bring us to a house I own and-”

I slam my mouth on his, showing again how much I love him. The kiss is quick, but I feel grounded again when I move away.

Too bad it doesn’t last long.

Kestrel and Pix are having an at-volume argument that scares the crap out of me considering how many people have been hunting for her.

“What are you two doing?” I snarl.

She looks at me and looks away, dismissing me. My temper stokes and gets cold.

“Kest,” I singsong, mocking her nickname and deliberately trying to prick at her temper.

She ignores me, grabbing Pix’s arm. He shoves her off, and she teeters before something dark flashes. Her hand smacks out, and her fist punches into Pix’s face. The crack is startling.

Then she’s lunging at him, anxiously grabbing his arm.

“Oh, oh, oh. Nope, bad Raptor! Oh, you’re bleeding. Pix, I’m sorry!”

Pix snarls and leaps on her, flattening her onto her back. She ignores him completely and gently wipes the blood away. He looks completely and utterly feral, but her gaze is soft, concerned as she dabs at the blood at the corner of his lip.

“Kestrel, you might want to stop touching him right now.”

She clucks her tongue, clearly irritated with Roseland.

“He’s hurt. It’s fine, he won’t hurt me.”

“He might,” Aaron says in a grumble. “I don’t think he’s happy with you right now.”

“No, he won’t. He likes Merle, and he’s fascinated with Raptor. I just confuse him. Kindness is strange, and he only likes it from people he considers his family.”

Pix’s hand slides up and encircles her throat. Her pupils blow wide, but I don’t think he even notices.

“Do not sit there and psychoanalyze me from snatches of memories you’ve stolen from Merle.”

Kestrel starts to laugh. “Our memories, and you make it so easy, baby boo.”

He growls, she just laughs harder.

“You don’t know shit about me,” Pix snarls.

Her smile fades. “You came from a home that was fucked up, somewhere abuse was how people communicated. Your eyes still hold that fear and distrust when you meet people. You have this whole new family, and you must have known them for a long time. They probably rescued you, but they touch you, and you smile, they talk, and you listen. You can be yourself with them in a way you haven’t even shown your alphas yet because if your alphas get to know you, they might see the real you and hate you like your family did and throw you away. And the girl, she came along and stole what was supposed to be yours, fulfilling each and every self-fulfilling prophecy you ever thought about yourself.” Kestrel, or whoever it is in there, grins, it’s dark and cruel. “Am I close, little boy?”

She moans and puts a hand to her head. “Ow! Stop doing that! I have it handled.”

Pix is tighter than a bow, his expression as close to panic as I’ve ever seen it. He screams in her face. “You don’t know me.”

Kestrel isn’t even remotely cowed. I silently urge her to stop, but she ignores me, just as she ignores his scream and leans closer.

“Except she really loves you. You’re special, the only one who can really understand her. The only person in the world who could understand you. But hold her at arm’s length, Pix. Push her away. Shove her into the world alone and in the dark. It’s okay, you have your family already, you don’t need us. Why take a chance to have something amazing when you can be safe, on the outside looking in. There’s no risk there, no chance of getting hurt.”

“You don’t know anything,” he spits.