We slide into the Jeep, Clay in the driver’s side, me in the passenger seat. Normally, I’d fuss. It’s my Jeep. But, surprisingly, I don’t mind. Maybe I’m starting to trust Clay. Maybe I’m grateful he’s rescued us again. Either way, I’m looking over at Clay and smiling as he’s carefully holding the hot meat with the pads of his fingers. I shouldn’t trust this much. I’m worth enough for even a good man to lose his scruples. I pull the zipper on my coat all the way up to my throat.

I check on Ethan. He’s tucked into the back of the Jeep, the blanket I curled around him still in the exact position I placed it. He better wake up tomorrow or we have real problems.

I’m thinking about Ethan when Clay’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “Your turn.”

“Huh?”

“You didn’t think that back story was free, did ya?” He’s smiling for the first time in a while. “Your turn to answer my questions.” He takes a bite of his hog leg, the grease shining on his lips and chin.

I concentrate on not burning my fingers on my own leg, unable to meet his gaze.

“Let’s see,” he says. “Where to start? How about explaining your aunt to me. She seems … interesting.”

“Auntie’s wonderful,” I say, a bit indignant. Then I think of her bashing the cupboard to capture the bat. “She’s a bit off, but she loves us. She makes fantastic cornbread.” I take a bite of the leg and the savory roasted meat fills my mouth. I don’t realize I’m smiling until I wipe the corners of my mouth on the sleeve of my jacket. How long has it been since I’ve smiled like this?

“How’d you keep your ma a secret for so long?” Clay eyes trace a falling star streaking across the dark blue sky.

The smile drops from my face. This question is not one I want to answer. It touches too close to my secret.

“Oh, you know, traveling around a lot.” My next bite is huge, filling my mouth.

“Had to be more than that,” Clay says, watching me. “Breeders have spies everywhere. Had to be hard to keep her hid.”

I turn my eyes to the stars and note the constellation Andromeda. My mother called her the chained lady. Where is my mother tonight?

“We did everything we could to keep her free. In the end it wasn’t enough, was it?” Now it’s my turn to slip my eyes away, the emotion welling up, choking me.

Clay’s eyes linger somewhere in the stars. “I lost my ma, too.”

“What happened to her?” I ask, shifting to face him.