Chapter 17

"I had to talk to you," she croaked.

Anyone else, I'd grill right there, while they lie on their back in the dirt at my feet. But not Kylie. That new, strange pricky heat takes over and screams at me to protect her from Sam, from the rain, from the rock from myself.

I pluck her from the ground and set her feet, forgetting to pretend she's heavy.

Her eyes roll, unfocused as if the movement pains her head. "Ugh. Wow."

I reach around and cup the back of her head, finger questing until I find the growing goose egg. She flinches when I touch it.

"You're hurt." I turn and glare at Sam, who ducks his head. She eyes my housemate too, "Good thing you were around, or I think Cujo would've eaten me. Is that even a dog?"

"He's part wolf."

"Part wolf, part what? Gargoyle?"

I suppress a smile. I love that she pulls out the worry despite her injury. But then, it's her fault defense mechanism, as I learned in the Elevator.

I study her. I ough to call the cops, or somehow scare her into respecting m