Page 91 of Dark Fey Captive

“I can’t,” I said, playfully squishing Lettie’s face between my hands so she wouldn’t freak out. “If I leave, he’ll go looking for a replacement. He seems content enough with me, and trading sex for all I can eat food doesn’t bother me. Better me than any of you.”

“Are you serious?” Gwen demanded. “How could it not bother you? It bothers me. We’re leaving now. He won’t find us. We’ll be fine.”

I was shaking my head before she even stopped talking.

“No, we won’t be. If he doesn’t find us, the people who heard we have supplies will. What were you thinking, Gwen? Promising supplies over the radio? I was coming here to leave a note when Nav heard you.”

She looked confused.

“Nav? Who’s that? What happened to Eric? I thought that’s why you were here. For the meet-up.”

I wanted to groan. “Please tell me you didn’t coordinate a meet-up location over the radio.”

Gwen was pretty level-headed. She didn’t take risks and didn’t get angry…usually. The red flush consuming her face indicated we were about to witness one of the rare exceptions to her even temper.

“What in the hell was I supposed to do, Arena? We can’t keep losing people, or everyone is just going to give up. Hell, more than half already have. We need—I can’t—” She took a calming breath, letting it out slowly. “We’re not going back without you.”

I knew by the stubborn look in her eyes that she wasn’t going to take no for an answer. At least not without a good reason.

“I’m living in a house with running water and heat, Gwen. The basement is filled with enough dry goods to last a month. Maybe even a year. And every night, they bring back more to the house, and to this dock. I get that people are scared, but that’s because you’re scared. I’m not. If I stay, there will be supplies on this dock every day for everyone on the island.

“They found a greenhouse for me. I’ve already planted early vegetables. Can you imagine? Fresh produce again, Gwen? The kids need it. Everyone needs it. Please, let me stay. We both know I hated being on the water anyway. Trading my body to keep myself and everyone else on the island fed and safe is way less terrifying than more boat rides.”

The heat left her gaze, and her shoulders slumped in defeat.

“Is it really safe for you?” she asked. “We both know what we saw rolling out of the pharmacy.”

“They’ve only killed infected. They knocked out Eric and his crew when he tried to take me.”

She cringed.

“Yeah,” I said. “Eric wasn’t as reasonable as you when I said I didn’t want to leave with him. He said he needed the supplies. Now that taking me back fell through, I’m worried about you. Make sure you’re not being watched on the way back.”

She and Lettie shared a glance.

“We’ll take the long way,” she said.

Lettie nodded and wrapped her arm around my waist, hugging me again.

“I can stay with you,” she said.

We both knew she couldn’t—she’d have a panic attack the first time she saw Nav up close—but I loved her for wanting to protect me.

“Is there anything else you need?” I asked. “I can have them look for it and leave it for you tonight.”

“Just you back where you belong,” Gwen said. “I’ll let you stay for now, but not forever. If he starts looking violent, don’t stay quiet. And I want daily notes from you.”

I nodded and watched her and Lettie pick up boxes from the supply piles. It took them a few trips, but once the boat was loaded, they trolled away from the dock. I waved to Lynn and Asha and watched them leave. They headed east, following the shoreline. I hoped it would be enough to mislead anyone watching.

Turning, I looked for Nav. He stood at the end of the road. Stance wide, arms loose at his sides, head bowed, he didn’t look okay. I frowned, wondering what had happened. He wasn’t still worried I would leave, was he?

My heart skipped a beat at the thought, and I smiled to myself.

I hadn’t been lying when I said I didn’t mind trading my body for food. In fact, I’d been underselling how much I didn’t mind. Nav wasn’t some human guy looking for a random lay. It’d taken me a while to understand just how different he was…on the inside. He was the first man I’d ever been with who cuddled me after making me see stars. He was the first one to wake up before me and make breakfast. Not for him. Not for us. But just for me. He’d even found me the ingredients to make pizza and a teal pillow. He listened to me, and he acted.

Who would want to give that up? And add on top of that a body made to be licked? I wasn’t an idiot. They would have to drag me kicking and screaming back to the island.

With my thoughts locked in on what I wanted to do to him when we got home, I started jogging toward him.