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Koa

Mercy’s bedroo up The waning ht I told her I wouldn’t sleep with her here, but that text has me worried I’m even more worried because she hasn’t replied to any of o to voicemail

I’ve gone fro at the edge of this well-manicured lawn, ready to carry her out of this pampered life as fast as I can

LiftingI haven’t detected the strange, o to wonder if I rounded was at Doris’s church I hadn’t been tired, and I ide-awake on the lawn in broad daylight So was there

Either way, it’s not here now, and I creep out of the shadows, silent on my panther feet, and run quickly to the side of the house In two leaps I’ No sounds come froic away I touch the handle of the glass doors They give easily, soundlessly

The roo I want to see her, so I push back the heavy curtains to allow the ht Her se of warht

Crossing to her, I carefully slide back the heavy duvet It’s cool in the room Her shifter blood keeps her war peacefully Her face is troubled She’s curled deep in the blankets, and it takes several seconds to unwrap her small body As soon as I touch her, she jerks aith a little yelp

“Shh,” I reach for her face, s her dark hair back “It’s me I orried about you”

“Koa, No!” She’s instantly frantic, catchingover her shoulder and around the rooo” Her voice is a desperate whisper

I don’tup in a straddle onher “What are you afraid of?”

Her chin drops, and she lunges forward, wrapping her arms around er rises in my chest My jaw tenses

“Who’s threatening you, Mercy? Tell me, and I’ll take care of it” I’htened and kill him

Her head shakes against h her body “You can’t Neither of us can”

I rub“Let ot you so upset”

She inhales deeply and sits back Her blue eyes are huge and swollen fro My hands still on her narrow body, and I’ve reached my limit on patience I can’t see Mercy cry