r. Sarah's office

t personnel and I fight the urge to shu

about it. "Laura. Everyone has been buzzing about the recent ne

ement. To her question, I nod. "Yes. I... I'm his m

orded cases of it actually happening. But to be fair, we only just

fort grows. "This is good news!" She turns her attention to the team behind, and in a vo

I'm left in the dark, a foreboding chil

"As of today, you're to resi

h stops.

g to be assigned ano

at

nd between the two of you can strengthen. He would never relax if there were cameras around or security gua

t me with such responsibility? Are they so certain I wouldn't bet

ay he can do whatever we ask of him once

d to swallow. "I don't

e didn't expect I'd not be on

e air. "I don't want any part in any o

rs at me like I am vile. Like I am damning h

to me. Her voice lowers

t. "Is that what happens when you become a Hunter, have your free will

drug addict who cannot be trusted with taking care of her own son. But despite this, you

e and I don't care if my t

ently before drawing away. "Now just

as I heat some mashed potatoes, giving hal

The seven- year-old soon stirs awake and blinks up at me blearily. "

ng my voice crack. "Mummy j

nods and snuggles deeper into me,

en acreage of land surrounding Isle Ere. Stopping at the front post, I slide

ew of them stare at me with open animosity, no doubt having heard about my refusa

looks up when I come in, then a smile stretches the

the opposite table. I turn and se

. Although this one doesn't seem to

imagi

trolley again. "Take it up to him. There's every chance he's g

ide up is slow and, unfortunately, I ha

y flashes through my mind and I blanch. His eerie blue eyes, the canines length

hal contraptions and y

de open and I

lide the chip in and th

s a

e room. On instinct, my eyes fly to the emergen

," I say, sto

and on the card pinned to my shirt pocket his eyes glow a fierce b

and gravelly, a combination that has heat slinking down my insides des

are no mat

anger. "Do you think I want any part in this!?" I blurt. "Look.

of gooseflesh break out of my s

me free,

y." I start to unpack the trolley. A plate of pancakes is

at disconcerting way. "Why do

een coming. I got myself into this and by god, I'm getting myself out." Eyeing

ing on my face and I feel a f

onsuming way he looks at me to care. Finally, his mouth budges open. That little action of surrender shou

ing to him that I inch closer. Oddl

rse

eliberately, eyes locked on mine with a dark intensity. A

mmers in the depths of his eye

because he's th

part, knows I shouldn't count on