Altered

  “Franz,” Enoch said quietly, but it still sounded so loud in the quiet of everyone and everything else. “I know this is how you usually do things—migrate from one place to the next—but wouldn’t you rather just take care of the Horde once and for all so you didn’t have to run anymore?”

  Franz smiled. “Friend, there’s always a Horde. Think about our history, think of all the times we’ve gotten rid of their leader. They’ve replaced him within a week and replaced all their ranks soon after that. As much as it…sucks for us,” he looked around at everyone, “our kinds don’t agree that we should mix. It’s not just the devourer’s Horde anymore.” He looked at Enoch straight on. “The witch’s Council has taken back up. And the Elves’ Faction.”

  “What?” Enoch asked, his voice taking on that growl that I knew meant that he anger was rising. And his fear. “The witch’s Council has been dismantled for…”

  “I know. Over half a century.”

  “For this?” Enoch muttered and looked around. “For us?”

  I looked back at him and smiled small at the way he said ‘us’. He smoothed the side of my neck with his fingers, even as he went on. “No offense to anyone here, but what do they care about a hundred and a half of our kind mixing it up? Yeah, they don’t like it, but really, we’re way back out here in the woods. You’re not hurting anything. You’re minding your own business. It’s not like you’re trying to recruit Devourers to start dating humans and witches or something. What kind of damage do they think a hundred and fifty of us can do?”

  Franz stared with a little smile that said Enoch didn’t know anything.

  “What?” Enoch barked.

  “This isn’t just one rebel camp,” Franz told him. “When we saw you in Arequipa—that was our biggest camp. We don’t know why, or what’s going on, but in the past six months the amount of bonds, not just between humans and us, but between species to species has increased…exponentially. We have camps all over. This isn’t the only rebel camp.”

  “How many camps are there?”

  Franz smiled, seeming almost proud but also scared at the same time. “Eleven. For the moment.”

  Enoch’s breath rushed out. “Eleven. Franz,” he said and it sounded like a scold.

  “We don’t know what’s happening. But something is.”

  “He said…” Enoch looked at me, his face hard and determined, but his eyes soft. “The troll in the woods told me this wasn’t over. That the war wasn’t over. He knew that they were planning something.”

  Franz nodded. “They are going to be hitting us harder than ever because our numbers are growing. We will fight one day, Enoch, we’ll have to. But not today. Tomorrow night we’ll leave and meet up with the camp in Colorado. We’ll keep adding our numbers, growing our army, because that’s what we are now. We’re not safe anywhere anymore. The Consume Clubs. The Wall. There’s a price on our heads everywhere we go. If they see a bond or a slash,” he held up his palm, “they kill you on sight for the reward.” I didn’t know what that meant, but it was something significant because a lot of them started looking at their palms, like it was a precious thing. I took Enoch’s palm and turned it over. He had one, too. I rubbed its length with my thumb.

  I looked at him over my shoulder and he rubbed his fingers against mine as he looked back at me. More than anything else, he looked afraid.

  “I brought you right to this, as fast I could get you here,” he said quietly, and I got it. He was scared for me.

  “They would have found me either way. There were looking for me. That’s what he said. They were hoping to use me to get to Eli and Clara, and then get to the rest of the rebels. They didn’t know that I was looking for her. You saved me by bringing me here.”

  He sighed, his breath hitting my neck. He waved his finger between us. “This is just going to make Clara hate me even more. You know that, right?”

  I smiled and whispered, “She’ll come around. I don’t get it though. You came back for their wedding and everything. That was the last time they saw you since now?” He nodded. “I thought that would have made her have a soft spot for you.”

  “I don’t deserve a soft spot. I was awful to her. Truly awful. I thought she turned my brother away from me. I thought she ruined my life. I thought she took everything away from me.” He laughed a little. “I guess, in a small way, she did. Eli was already different before he met her. I hadn’t seen him in so long. If it hadn’t been for her, we wouldn’t have reconciled. I sort of…owe her.”

  “But you said before that she hated you, and you hated her,” I whispered.

  He smiled. “That was just me, clinging to what I know is true. We’ll never be anything more than a friendly understanding. I don’t want there to be animosity, especially now, especially between you and your sister. Don’t let this come between you.”

  “What?” We heard Clara’s hiss behind us. I turned to see Clara and Eli had both wound up behind us. How long they’d been there was a mystery, but it must have been a while because Eli was looking at his brother as if he didn’t know him, in a good way. Clara seemed on the fence, but before anything else could be said, Franz dismissed the meeting.

  “Everyone get a good night’s rest because tomorrow night…we’re all going to need it.” Franz came through the crowd and took the hand of a woman before coming to us. “Forget what I said about that good night’s rest crap. We’re having a bonfire and you’re coming.”

  “Franz,” Enoch muttered and shifted, but I was interested. I wanted to get to know these people. Who needed sleep anyway?

  “Sure!” I grinned and grabbed Enoch’s hand before looking back at Clara and Eli. “You’re coming, right?”

  “Uh…” Clara said with a grimace.

  “Yes,” Eli said and smiled.

  “I think we’ve got some marshmallows in the community center. I’ll go grab ‘em!” Regina said and took off.

  Aries cocked his head and grinned. “That means I’m coming.” He patted Enoch’s stomach as he passed. “Too bad you devourer boys can’t handle a brewsky or I’d share.”

  “No thanks.”

  “You want one, Fay?” he called back.

  “No thanks. I’ll just stick with water.”

  When we got to the cabin, Franz had a large fire going. There were a few other people there, but not many. We all made a circle around the fire.

  Franz’s mate, who I didn’t think was human, came out of the cabin with a couple of glasses. She handed one to me and one to Clara. “Where’s Bridgette?” Clara asked her.

  “She’s inside.” She nodded toward our cups. “She made these girly drinks for us.”

  “Ooh,” Clara crooned all excited and took a sip. “Oh, my gosh. She’s like a psycho in the kitchen.”

  “And that’s a good thing?” I said with a laugh.

  “Yes!” she said. “Taste it. Bridgett is a genius with herbs. She can heal you with leaves or make a smacking good lemonade.” I sipped it, noticing the green leaf floating in the top, and was really surprised by how it tasted.

  “Wow.” I smacked my lips. “What is she?” I said carefully, hoping I wasn’t offended anyone.

  Clara laughed and looked at me over the flames. “She’s human. But she mated a devourer.” She smirked at my shocked look. “That doesn’t happen very often. And she’s lived with the rebels for a long time. Her best friend was an elf and she showed her a lot of the elvish ways with plants. It comes in handy.”

  “I got the marshmallows!” Regina yelled as she ran in with what had to be eight bags of them in her arms. “The fun can begin now.”

  Everybody laughed.

  “Baby,” Aries scolded and ran to help. “I told you I would help you.”

  “I’m totally fine.”

  “Yes, you are.”

  She giggled. “You got me with that one.”

  She tossed the marshmallows on the picnic table and jumped on his back. I laughed watching them and then turned back to the fire. I cou
ld see Clara and Eli so wrapped up in each other over the flames. He would say something low and she would rebut, and then he would say something and she would smile or bite her lip. It was so obvious looking at them that they loved each other so much.

  She was toying with the buttons on his collar and his arms hung loosely around her hips. Every now and then, for no apparent reason as all, he would lean down and place a kiss on her lips, or vice versa, she would reach up and put a kiss on his lips. I turned my head another way to find Franz and his mate joking and kissing about something as he put another log on the fire.

  I turned away from them all…right into Enoch. He was watching me and it was in such a way that I knew he had been watching me for a while. I propped my arm up on my elbow and nibbled at the pinkie nail of the same hand that held my drink. He watched that, too.

  I offered the drink to him. He shook his head. So I tipped the drink up and downed the rest of it. His eyes watched my throat with great interest. I pulled him down on the log next to me to sit as Monster by Imagine Dragons began to play. We looked over to find Franz had turned on the mp3 player on his phone. He rested it upright against the porch and mouthed the words smiling as he looked at Enoch, like he was goading him. Or releasing him. I’m taking a stand to escape what’s inside me. A Monster, a monster…

  Enoch just chuckled and shook his head, apparently on to what he was doing. He turned sideways and straddled the log. He put his arms around my waist and tugged me closer until I was in the cove of his legs. I smiled a little and looked up and over at him.

  “I am a monster,” he whispered in my ear. When he saw me move to speak, he said, “But you make me feel like I could maybe not be one someday.”

  I bit into my lip and didn’t know what to say in that moment. I didn’t know how far he wanted to go with this. I leaned in and let one hand grip his neck, tugging and playing with his hair. I waited for him to show that he wanted me to move away, but he seemed the opposite. His hands on my hip pulled me closer.

  I tugged his hair a little, and then his mouth met mine. He groaned in my mouth softly. I moaned back and hoped it wasn’t as loud as it seemed. His hand moved to my back and then to my face. His hands were so gentle and tantalizing as they memorized me. When I pulled back and opened my eyes, his hands were still holding my face. I could see the others watching and they seemed confused or…mesmerized. Great. So I had been too loud.

  I turned my embarrassed face into Enoch’s neck and hugged him closer.

  “Marshmallow?” Regina asked handed us a bag and a couple palmetto sticks. I opened the bag and stuck one on before sticking it in the fire.

  “We ate a million of these when we were kids,” I said.

  “Never had one,” he said and raised his eyebrow. “They look like a stupid food group.”

  I laughed. “You have got to be kidding me. Never?”

  He shook his head with a smile. “Never, princess.”

  “We are fixing that. Right now.”

  He sighed and rolled his eyes. “I should have known I was issuing a challenge.” He smirked. “So this is my life now. This is what I have to look forward to? You stuffing new things into my mouth to try and I pretend that I like them while you sit in my lap while everyone looks at us like a science project?”

  I glanced around and everyone but Aries was watching us. He and Regina were focused on each other. I pulled the marshmallow from the fire. “Sorry,” I sighed.

  He scoffed. “Why are you sorry? They’re looking because I’m different, not because of you.” He pulled the palmetto stick up. “Give me that.”

  “No,” I tried to stop him, but it was too late. He grabbed the marshmallow and mushed it all between his fingers.

  “Ah, come on,” he complained. “This cannot be fun for humans.”

  I laughed. “That’s not the way you eat it, loser.”

  Someone gasped and I looked over on the log next to us to see one of the other couples. They were looking, watching, waiting as if Enoch was about to take my head off.

  I groaned. “Go ahead, Enoch.” I yelled louder, “Go ahead, Enoch, and rip my head off so everyone will see you for the monster you are.” I laughed. “Over a marshmallow.”

  I could hear Franz and Aries laughing behind me.

  Enoch grinned as he tried to wipe it off on the log. “You are so going to get it later for this.”

  I put another one in the fire and gave him the stick. “Hold this.” I ran inside and got a wet rag to clean him up. He watched me wash him the entire time with great interest, his mouth slightly open. I took the stick from him and gently pulled the mallow off, letting it cool in my fingers. I took half the mallow in one bite and then told him to open his mouth before sticking the rest of it in his.

  He chewed and I could tell he was processing. “It’s different.”

  “It is,” I agreed.

  “It’s good. Like a really sweet, disgusting pancake.”

  I laughed. “You’re impossible.

  Magic by Coldplay started to play and I leaned my head on his shoulder, but before I could get comfortable Franz’s witch came and asked if I wanted to go for a walk.

  Enoch tensed, which gave me pause. “No funny stuff, Soria.”

  “I would never,” she proclaimed with a smile and took my hand. “Come. Let’s have some girl talk.”

  “Okay.” I looked back at him for a few seconds as I walked and he watched me the entire way. Franz went and sat next to him. Clara ran to catch up to us, along with Bridgette.

  “Girl talk!” Bridgette yelled and it echoed against the woods. “Oh, my we need some girl talk.” She looked at me dead on as soon as we were out of earshot of the fire. I could see her clearly in the moonlight. “Enoch. Spill.”

  I laughed nervously. “I don’t know what to—”

  “Don’t do that. You know exactly what we want. Is that bad devourer a good kisser?” She grinned and bit her lip and she leaned closer.

  “I’m gonna barf,” Clara replied and half-turned away. “I’ve got a better idea. Let’s play the who-can-talk-some-sense-into-Fay game.”

  “Clara,” Soria chastised.

  “What?” Clara replied. “It’s clear that she’s under his charms and she’s going to get her heart broken when he’s done with her and skips on out of here.” Everyone looked at her. “What?” she said loudly.

  “You really don’t see it?” Bridgett asked softly.

  “Whatever you’re talking about? No, I don’t.”

  “Clara,” Soria began softly and crossed her arms like she was starting a lecture. “Okay, forget everything else for a minute but this. Who else could bring that hard butt down but Fay Hopkins. Your sister. You should be praising her skills, not just as a woman but as your sister! She tamed a beast!”

  “I don’t believe he’s being true. It’s an act.” Clara looked at me. “I’m sorry, Fan—sorry. Fay. I’m sorry, but I think he’s going to hurt you. He’s very good when he wants to be. He’s fooled me before. I don’t think he would just flip his switch like that, especially for…”

  I smiled. “For me, right?”

  “I didn’t mean it like that. I just mean that he doesn’t like humans. If he was going to fall in love with someone, it wouldn’t be a human,” she finished really softly. I could tell she honestly, in her soul, believe what she was saying. She was trying to protect me.

  “I get that you’re trying to protect me, Clara, but I wish you could just be happy for me. I get that you were in this world before me and you think you owe it to me to like…shield me or something, but…” I looked over at Enoch and he was already watching me. I smiled at him and he smiled back before looking over at Franz who was talking wildly about something. “I’m okay here. I know there’s all these things that I don’t know, but you have no idea what my and Enoch’s relationship is like. I know you don’t trust it, you don’t trust him, but there’s proof that devourers change. You’re married to one.”

  She shook her head. ?
??That’s different.”

  “It’s not that different. Enoch was a devourer for longer than Eli, that doesn’t mean that he’s worse. You just didn’t have to see Eli at his worst with your own eyes. You saw him when he was already changing, like me and Enoch. And that’s a blessing, isn’t it? We don’t want to think about the person we’re with as a monster, even though we know they’re capable of it. If they choose to change, we should honor that. Enoch has changed and if you don’t see it like everyone here is seeing it, that’s fine. But I don’t want to hear any more about Enoch not being changed, okay? I mean it, Clara.”

  She rolled her eyes and sighed. “Whatever. Just because I don’t say it doesn’t mean I don’t think it.”

  “That’s fine.”

  “So, now that that’s out of the way,” Bridgette rolled her eyes and looked at me with a grin, “is Enoch a good kisser?”

  I burst out laughing and covered my face. They laughed and poked at me, saying that meant a definite yes. Even Clara was laughing and shaking her head.

  “Let’s just say,” I told them, “that they don’t call them devourers for nothing.”

  “That’s true,” Clara said and laughed looking at Bridgette and she nodded.

  “So you’re all bonded, right?” I asked. “I mean, I can’t see them, but…”

  “Not all of us,” Clara said and glared. “And don’t even think about it.”

  Bridgette laughed harder. “No, I’m not bonded, just mated to my devourer.” She pointed to them. “And Soria is mated to Franz.”

  “It’s all so confusing and romantic. Aries and Regina are bonded.”

  Clara crossed her arms. “How do you know all this? And how do know Aries?”

  “After the shot the other day, Enoch got Aries to walk me to your house so I wasn’t alone, and he could meet Franz. He was telling me about his mate and his bond.”