Pain filled his eyes, but I remained unfazed and made sure he was gone and out of the house before I returned to my Sunshine’s side.

I laid my lips on her forehead and just took a moment to appreciate that she was still alive. I didn’t like being on this side of the hunter, prey equation, and it solidified for me why my Sunshine had asked me to change my hunting patterns. This feeling was one I never wanted again. I didn’t dare think about what I would’ve come home to if I’d put in a full day of work on the road. My body shivered with the thought.

“Are you okay?”

“My feet are all cut up,” she said, pushing herself up onto her elbows. “I tried to stop him. I tried to reason with him. I’m sorry that it came to this,” she said as fat tears filled her eyes and trickled down her cheeks.

“Don’t apologize for my brother. I’ve done enough of that over the years for fifty lifetimes. He knew what he was doing when he chose to come here, and he knew the consequences. If it weren’t for your request, he would be dead right now, so as far as I’m concerned, he owes you his life.”

Gripping her face softly, I laid my lips against hers. “Let’s get you to a hospital.”

“No.”

“No?”

“Hospital means records, and I don’t want this on record. Pull the glass out yourself, you have great hands, and I trust you. I’m going to need antibiotics though.”

I stared into her amethyst eyes and knew I’d chosen well. She was the other half of my soul. She was the flame that lit the way in the darkness.

“I love you,” I whispered, and then stood to get a sedative and my tools.

Chapter 33

KIRBY

It was already midnight when we left the house for town. He told me that there were things I needed to know, and he would ensure I had all the facts and answers before returning to school. I wasn’t sure what he meant, but I trusted him, which was all that mattered.