Page 42 of The Vixen

“He tamed the same woman once before… This is foreign. It’s scary. It’ll take time to adjust, forallof them. Have a bit of compassion.”

His eyes narrow to slits. “Compassion?”

I open my mouth, but can’t bring myself to argue further.

He never used to question my judgment.

“I’m sorry about your face, my love.” I allow myself a deep breath before walking away to send for Sawyer.

“You’re blind to him.”

My steps pause, but I don’t turn around.

“You’re blind to him, and everyone but you knows it. He probably picked girls he knew would sabotage your mission. If you’d let me choose the women, my face wouldn’t look like this.”

I stand still and push a breath out slowly.

Thorne could be right. I try to focus on that; try to weigh the odds of Sawyer intentionally choosing women who won’t work.

The odds are great. And if he did, unfortunately, I’ll have to kill them. Maybe then he’ll choose wiser.

But I hardly consider it. Not yet. I’m too caught by the first thing Thorne said.

“Everyonebut me knows?” My voice is strong, though my heart feels weak.

Thorne doesn’t answer, but I don’t think it’s because he’s smart enough to keep quiet. I think it’s because he believes he has me. That finally, I’ll see reason.

I turn. “Tell me, which of my sisters are you referring to? Aurora? Echo?”

“People talk, Luna.”

“Mmm.” I nod slowly and take my time walking back to him. His glare softens more the closer I get until guilt starts to show on his face. He swallows, and his shoulders push back as he tries to right himself.

“You should work on your jealousy, Thorne. It doesn’t suit you.”

After lingering on his face another couple of seconds, I turn and head for the door. “Go home. You’re finished for the day.”

Say hello to Echo for me.

He hesitates—briefly. Too brief.

Heavy, familiar steps storm past me without Thorne turning to tell me goodbye. Whether it’s anger or guilt that keeps his eyes forward, I can’t tell.

We’ll find our way back to each other. One day soon.

He’s been the most important part of my life since I was a young girl. Even if our love isn’t romantic, it’s real, it’s powerful, and it’s ours. It’ll always be ours, no matter what trafficker or slut comes between us.

I go to the monitor and watch the hellcat tear at the lining on the walls. Bits of blue foam rain behind her with every toss of her hand. She doesn’t look like a woman who can be easily tamed.

She doesn’t look like a woman who’severbeen tamed.

CHAPTER 12

SAWYER

At least one of the girls has arrived.

Aiden’s words thirty minutes before we began the hike to the Bower.