Page 93 of Bad Medicine

Eli carried the netted Lennonfrom the basement, and she never stirred. Not once. Jared put me in front ofhim, as though afraid Sam might attack me as we were going up the stairs.

Once we were all outside, Samfrowned. “I don’t understand it. She should have thawed by now.”

Jared pulled me away from thelittle group once Lennon was secured in the car. “Come back with me.”

“I’ll be there soon. I want tograb some clothes and get cleaned up. And I need to talk to Sam.”

He kissed me, a short butlingering kiss that made me want to change my mind and go back to Shadowfieldwith him. “What’s your decision?”

I frowned up at him. “Whatwould you do with him, Jared?”

“I would let him go. I would becomehis ally and let him use his gifts to fight with me against the enemy.”

“Am I the only one who caresthat he kills people? That he can climb into your body and steal who you are?”I laughed, but it sounded more like a sob. “I’m full of self-doubt andconfusion, Alpha.”

“You’ll do what you need todo,” he murmured, then pressed his lips against my forehead before steppingback. “The only thing that matters is that you accept your decision. Accept it,whatever it is, and know in your heart it was the right thing to do.”

I snapped the bracelet on mywrist. “I’ll see you soon.”

He nodded but a frown flittedacross his face. “Kait…” Then he ran his hand over his head. “Come home soon.”

Then he strode away and gotinto the car with his wolves, his beta, and his witchwolf, and I stared afterthem until I could no longer feel him. When I turned around, Joe, Zach, andLucy had gone into the house.

The only person who remainedoutside with me was the shapeshifting serial killer. He never moved when Iwalked to stand in front of him. He never spoke, either, but the question wasthere in his eyes.

When I took his hand, heshuddered, closing his eyes as the breath whooshed from between his partedlips. He needed someone to touch him. He needed someone to love him. To needhim. As he’d said, all he wanted was to belong.

And to kill. I couldn’t forgetthat.

I swallowed hard, my tearsclogging my throat, and I slid my fingers beneath the bracelet. “Sam,” Iwhispered.

He opened his eyes, and therewas nothing evil in their depths. He watched me, almost as trustingly as a kid,and maybe that was the moment I really understood Sam Keller.

I let go of the bracelet. I letgo of his hand, as well, and I stepped back. “Take care, Sam,” I said.

He smiled. “You too, Kait Silver.”

But as he jogged away, I ran afew steps after him. “Sam!”

He stopped, then half turned tolook at me.

“Thanks for saving my damnlife.”

He laughed. “It was my absolutepleasure.” Then he sobered. “Thank you for saving mine.”

And that time when he walkedaway, I let him go.

When I walked into the house,Lucy was standing in the kitchen staring at nothing, and Joe and Zach sat atthe table, coffee cups in hand.

I went to Lucy and wrapped myarms around her.

“You let him go,” she said.

“Yeah.”

“You won’t hunt him?”

“No.” I shrugged. “I accept mydecision.”