Hunting Human - Amanda E. Alvarez [79]
“Oh.” Lucy sounded a little breathless and Beth knew what she’d see even before she pulled back the curtain.
“Much better,” Beth said. Lucy twirled again, wearing a fitted black number, high on the leg and completely backless. “You look great.”
Lucy cocked a hip and stared into the full-length mirror. “I look so…different.”
“You wear it well.” Beth met her gaze in the mirror and smiled. “You should definitely think about getting it.”
“The sweater looks good on you, too.” Lucy smiled wickedly in the mirror. “I bet Braden would like it.”
Beth pulled the curtain shut on her laughter. “Try on the others.” She stepped back into her own dressing room and pulled the sweater off.
“You aren’t going to be mad at him forever, are you?” Lucy sounded genuinely concerned by the idea. “I think he loves you.”
Probably not.
“It’s complicated.” The truth was that most of her anger was gone. But anger was simple. It consumed while it was hot and provided a sort of distracted focus for all the emotions she didn’t know what to do with. The confusion left in its absence was harder. And more frightening.
“I hope you guys work things out.” Lucy’s voice was muffled as she pulled something over her head. “This has been fun. I know it’s selfish, but I’ve always wanted a girl in the family I could talk to, about…well, about everything. You know?”
Beth understood exactly which everything Lucy was referring to.
“That’s okay, isn’t it? If I consider you a friend? I know we haven’t spent a lot of time together yet.”
Beth twisted the sweater in her hands. The answer rose to Beth’s mind more easily than it should have. It was harder to force it out of her mouth. “Yeah.” She cleared her throat, dislodging the tightness in her chest. “Yeah, that’s alright.” She realized it was. Lucy was an amazing, generous, funny woman. And the understanding that stood between them was mutual. It was something Beth had never hoped to have again.
“Great!” Lucy said, as though nothing awkward had passed between them and resumed her ceaseless chatter.
Beth picked her shirt up off the floor and pulled it over her head. The curtain rustled behind her. A calloused hand closed over her mouth and a firm arm pulled her against an unyielding body. Shocked, she went absolutely still. She didn’t need to glance into the mirror or hear the rough voice to know who held her. Her entire body fired with recognition.
Markko.
“Hello, Lizzy.” The words rasped against her ear. “So good to see you again.” Malicious eyes found hers in the mirror. The point of a knife pressed against her rib cage, spearing the thin material of her shirt and nicking her skin.
“Beth?” Lucy called out. “Everything okay?”
Beth’s eyes dilated in fear.
She can’t come in here. He’ll kill her.
“Tell her you’re fine,” Markko whispered against her ear.
“I…I’m fine.” Her voice wavered as his knife dug deeper between her ribs. “I’m just trying on this sweater again. I’m listening.”
Beth eased out a ragged breath when Lucy’s one-sided dialogue resumed to the backdrop of hangers clanking together.
“How sweet.” Markko rubbed his unshaved cheek against her face, the texture pulling across her skin like sandpaper. “A new sister? Already?” He nuzzled the back of her ear, tongue winding a wet path down her throat. “I can smell the change on you.” He bit down on the juncture between her neck and shoulder hard enough to draw blood and wring a cry he swallowed with his hand. “I can taste it on you, too.”
Beth tried to pull away, to stomp on his foot, anything to get away from his rasping breath and wandering tongue. He had her pulled too tightly against him; every time she moved, he pressed the tip of his blade further into her skin. A warm trickle of blood began to snake down her side and slip into her jeans.
“Play nice. Or I’ll have to hurt your friend.” He stared her down in the mirror. “I could. It would be nothing to snap her neck.” He watched her reaction, his smile widening. “But I won’t. Too easy. Unworthy of the history between us.” His fingers clenched over her