Fresh pain burst to life in my rib cage, radiating in a widening circle. One hand pressed to my side, I struggled to stand up straight, panicked when I couldnt.
An ugly cackling laugh clawed my inner chalkboard and pissed me off. This was my campus, and my Prides territory. He was the outsider, and it was time he learned how Pride cats dealt with intruders.
He pulled his fist back for another blow, but this time I was ready. Ignoring the pain in my side, I lunged to my right, reaching for a handful of his hair. My fingers tangled in a thick clump of curls. I shoved his head down and brought my knee up. The two connected. Bone crunched. Something warm and wet soaked through my jeans. The scent of fresh blood saturated the air, and I smiled.
Ah, memories
The stray jerked his head free of my grip and lurched out of reach, leaving me several damp curls as souvenirs. Wiping blood from his broken nose, he growled deep inside his throat, a sound like the muted rumble of an engine.
You should really thank me, I said, a little impressed by the damage Id caused. Trust me. Its an improvement.
Jodienda puta! he said, spitting a mouthful of blood on the concrete.
Spanish? I was pretty sure it wasnt a compliment. Yeah, well, back at cha. Get your mangy ass out of here before I decide a warning isnt enough!
Instead of complying, he aimed his next shot for my face. I tried to dodge the punch, but couldnt quite move fast enough. His fist slammed into the side of my skull.
I reeled from the blow, fireworks going off behind my eyelids. My head throbbed like a migraine on steroids. The whole world seemed to spin just for me.
At the edge of my graying vision, the stray fumbled for something in his pocket, cursing beneath his breath in a Spanish-like language I couldnt quite identify. His arm shot out again. Not steady enough yet to move, I braced myself for impact. The blow never came. He grabbed my arm and pulled trying to haul me away from the deserted student center.
What the hell? When confronted by a Pride cat, any stray in possession of two brain cells to rub together would take off with his fur standing on end. After what Id done to his face, this one should have run screaming from me in terror. It was because I was a girl, I knew it. If I were a tomcat instead of a tabby, hed already be halfway to Mexico.
I hate it when men arent afraid of me. It reminds me of home.
Backpedaling to keep from falling, I tried to yank my arm from his grip. It didnt work. Angry now, I swung my free fist around, smashing it into his skull. He grunted and dropped my arm.
I rushed toward the alley and snatched my bag from the ground. The strays footsteps pounded behind me. I tightened my grip and whirled around, swinging the pack by its straps. It smashed into his left ear. His head snapped back and to the side. More blood flew from his nose, splattering the parking lot with dark droplets. The stray fell on his ass on the concrete, one hand covering the side of his head. He stared at me in astonishment. I laughed. Apparently the complete works of Shakespeare packed quite a wallop.
To think, my mother said Id never find use for an English degree. Ha! Id like to see her knock someone silly with an apron and a cookie press.
Puta loco, the stray muttered, digging in his pocket again as he scrambled to his feet. Without another wordor even a glancehe took off across the parking lot toward the Lincoln. Seconds later, tires screeched as he peeled from the lot, heading south on Welch Street.
Adios! I watched him go, sore but pleased. Surely after that, Daddy will have to admit I can takecare of myself.
Panting from exertion, I threw my bag over my shoulder and glanced at my watch. Damn. Sammi would be home from study group soon, and shed be horrified by my bloody jeans and brand-new bruises. Id have to change before she got in. Unfortunately, keeping bruises hidden from Andrew would be much harder. Dating humans could be a real pain in the ass sometimes.
Still picturing the intruders mutilated face, I turned back toward the alleyand came face-to-face with another stray. Well, face-to-head-shrouded-in-shadow, anyway. He stood five feet away, just out of reach of the pale moonlight, and I could see nothing but the hands hanging empty at his sides. I knew at a glance that they could do serious damage, even clenched around nothing but air.
I didnt need to smell this stray to know who he was; his scent was as familiar to me as my own. Marc. My fathers second-in-command. Daddy had never sent Marc beforenot once in five years. Something was wrong.
Tension crept up my back and down my arms, curling my hands into fists. I gritted my teeth to hold in a shriek of fury; the last thing I needed was to call attention to myself. Human do-gooders were always out to save the world, but few of them had any idea what kind of a world they really lived in.
I stepped slowly toward Marc, letting my backpack slide down my arm to the ground. I fixed my gaze on the shadow hiding his gold-flecked eyes. He didnt move. I came closer, my pulse pounding in my throat. He raised his left hand, reaching out to me. I slapped it away.
Shifting my weight to my left leg, I let my right foot fly, hitting him in the chest with a high side kick. Grunting, he stumbled into the alley. His heel hit the corner of a wooden crate and he fell on his ass on a damp cardboard box.
Faythe, its me!
I know who the hell you are. I came toward him with my hands on my hips. Why do you think I kicked you? I pulled my right foot back, prepared to let it fly again. His arm shot out almost too fast to see, and his hand wrapped around my left ankle. He pulled me off my feet with one tug. I landed on my rear beside him, on a split-open trash bag.
Damn it, Marc, Im sitting in this mornings fresh-squeezed orange peels.
He chuckled, crossing his arms over a black T-shirt, clinging to well-defined pecs. You nearly broke my ribs.
Youll live.
No thanks to you. He pushed himself awkwardly to his feet and held out a hand for me. When I ignored it, he rolled his eyes and pulled me up by my wrist. Whats with the kung fu routine, anyway?
I yanked my arm from his grip and stepped back, glaring at him as I wiped orange pulp from the seat of my pants. Its tae kwon do, and you damn well know it. Wed trained togetheralongside all four of my brothersfor nearly a decade. Youre lucky I didnt kick your face in. What took you so fucking long? If you guys are going to hang around without permission, you might as well make yourselves useful when Im in mortal peril. That is what Daddys paying you for.
You handled yourself fine.
Like youd know. I bet he was halfway to his car by the time you got here.
Only a quarter of the way, Marc said, grinning. Anyway, I was the one in real danger. I got cornered by a pack of wild sorority sisters in the food court. Apparently its mating season.
I frowned at him, picturing a throng of girls in matching pink T-shirts giggling as they vied for his attention. I could have told them they were wasting their time. Marc had no use for human women, especially silly, flirtatious trophy wivesintraining. His dark curls and exotic brownish-gold eyes had always garnered him more attention than he really wanted. And this time theyd kept him from doing his job.
Youre a worthless bastard, I said, not quite able to forgive him for being late, even though I didnt want him there in the first place.
And youre a callous bitch. He smiled, completely unaffected by my heartfelt insult. Were a matched set.
I groaned. At least we were back in familiar territory. And it was kind of nice to see him too, though I would never have admitted it.
Turning my back on him, I grabbed my book bag and stomped to the other end of the alley, then into the empty quad. Marc followed closely, murmuring beneath his breath in Spanish too fast for me to understand. Memories Id successfully blocked for years came tumbling to the front of my mind, triggered by his whispered rant. Hed been doing that for as long as I could remember.
My patience long gone, I stopped in front of the student center in the same circle of light, and whirled around to face Marc. Hey, you wanna drop back a few paces? Did you forget how spying works? Youre supposed to at least aim for unobtrusive. The others pretty much have it down, but youre about as inconspicuous as a drag queen at a Girl Scout meeting. I propped my hands on the hips of my low-rise jeans and scowled up at him, trying to remain unaffected by the thickly lashed eyes staring back at me.
Marc smiled, his expression casual, inviting, and utterly infuriating. Its nice to see you too. A wistful look darted across his face as he glanced at my bare midriff, his gaze moving quickly over my snug red halter top to settle on the barrette nestled in my hair.
Go home, Marc.
Theres no reason for you to be rude.
Theres no reason for you to be here.
He frowned down at me, thick brows shadowing his eyes, and my mood improved. Id gotten rid of his smile. Was I really that petty? Hell, yeah.
Look, if Daddys mad because I didnt invite anyone to graduation, he can tell me himself. I dont need an emissary to let me know hes pissed.
He sent me to bring you home. My expression hardened, and Marc held up one hand to cut off the argument he knew to expect. Im only following orders.
Of course he was. Thats all he ever did.
I adjusted my bag on my shoulder, shaking my head. Forget it. Im not going. I started to walk away, but he grabbed my arm. I jerked free of his grip, but only because he let me.
Saras gone, he said, his face carefully blank.
I blinked, surprised by what seemed to be a random comment.
Sara had left? Good for her. But if they thought they could blame me because she wanted more out of life than a husband and half a dozen babies, they had another think coming. Sara had a mind of her own; all Id done was dust a few cobwebs from it. If shed decided not to get married, so be it. That was her choice.
She didnt run out on the wedding, Faythe. Marcs eyes burned into mine like amber fire, and his meaning was unmistakable. It was always the same old fight with him, no matter where we were or how much time had passed. Some things never changed, and the rest only grew more irritating.
You can wipe that smug look off your face, I snapped. You only think you still know me well enough to read my mind. So what if hed been right? That wasnt the point.
Marc gave an exaggerated sigh, as if talking to me was exhausting, and not really worth the effort. She didnt leave. She was taken.
My pulse jumped, and I shook my head, giving in to denial as it surfaced. All around us, crickets chirped, filling the silence during my pause as I tried to formulate a coherent thought. Thats impossible. No human could take a There was no need to finish the sentence, because that was one thought he most definitely could read. Sara might have been petite, but she was far from weak. She would have shredded any man who laid a hand on her. At least, any human man.
But she hadnt been taken by a human, which was why Marc had come for me.
The stray, I thought, my hands curling into fists around the strap of my backpack. He wasnt just trespassing; he was collecting. Daddy had sent Marc to make sure I didnt become the strays next acquisition.
I knew then that there would be no arguing, and no negotiation. Marc would take me home if he had to carry me over one shoulder, scratching and hissing all the way. As much as I would have loved to resist, I would spare myself the indignity, because ultimately, he would win a physical fight, no matter how dirty I played. It was just one more of those things that never changed, like Marc himself.
By the time Id changed out of my citrus-scented pants and packed what clothes and books I couldnt do without, Sammi was back from the library. She dumped her books on the counter in our tiny galley-style kitchen, already chattering about her latest misogynistic conspiracy theory. She hesitated when she saw Marc, and her words sputtered to a stop. It was kind of funny; Id finally found something to shut her up. Too bad I couldnt stick around and enjoy the silence.
Marc laughed from behind my desk, where hed made himself at home. Beneath him, the straight-backed chair looked no more substantial than a stack of toothpicks, as if it might collapse into a pile of kindling at any moment. Im impressed, Faythe, he said, leaning the chair back on two legs. I didnt think you could find someone who talked more than you do, but Ive obviously underestimated you. Again.
Well, he did make a habit of it.
Sammi, this is Marc Ramos. Marc, my roommate, Samantha.
Sammis mouth opened and closed soundlessly as she triedand failedto come up with something intelligent to say. I rolled my eyes. Yeah, he looked good, but her reaction was a little over the top. But then, Sammi had a flair for melodrama.
Marc laughed again and the chair thumped to the ground as he rose to shake her hand. When Marc came toward her, Sammi took a step back, bumping her leg against the edge of an end table before she took his hand in brief, wide-eyed greeting.
Whats going on? she managed to say, eyeing the suitcase open on the couch. Id packed more books than clothing, which meant the bag would weigh a ton, but Marc could probably lift it with a single finger. He wouldnt, because that would draw attention. But he could.
Daddy pulled the plug, I said, snapping the latches on the front of the suitcase. Ill be back in the fall, but he wont pay for grad school unless I spend the summer at home. It was the closest I could come to an explanation Sammi would believe.
And Marc would be? She left the question open-ended, glancing at him during the pause.
Good question. There was no easy way to describe Marcs role in my life, because he usually had none. He was no longer my bed warmer, my confidant, or even a fond memory, and he didnt fit any definition of friend shed understand, so how to explain?
My ride. That should do it. Marc had been demoted to chauffeur, and his only reaction was a wink and an Ive-got-a-secret grin. Great. He thought it was funny.
Sammi nodded slowly, as if she didnt believe me, but that was her problem, because I was done thinking up explanations. At least until the fall term.
Youre leaving now? She fingered the hem of her blouse, glancing around the apartment at several piles of my belongings that hadnt made the single-suitcase cut.