Black Moon Draw

The silence between us kills me. It's tense enough that my face grows hot. His direct, commanding gaze makes me claustrophobic again. If I don't break the silence, I'm going to start babbling nervously.

"I like your head," I say, and then kick myself mentally. "I mean, you have a real head."

His eyes narrow, as if he thinks I'm messing with him. "The animal heads enhance our senses in battle."

"Oh." I clear my throat, my face so hot, it feels like it's going to explode. I want to fidget.

And then I recall something that manages to crush most of my embarrassment and the attraction that's making me want to slip him my phone number. "You chopped off my hand! What were you thinking?"

"You are a battle-witch." He says it slowly, clearly. "You belong to me."

The ferocity of those four words makes my insides light on fire. Who doesn't want to be owned by a man like this?

You can have me. Shaking my head, I regain control of myself. "You can't go around chopping off people's hands. Where I come from, it's not tolerated."

"It grew back."

"I don't care! It's a horrible thing to do!"

His eyes flash gray. I have a feeling he's not used to people telling him what to do. I can't have him hacking off pieces off me at random to prove points, though.

"Very well. I'll spare you further dismemberment," he says finally with some reluctance.

"Thank you." My heart is hopping around in my chest. I can hardly move without touching him. I'm not sure if I want to or if I should push him out of the tree.

"You've never been to battle," he observes.

"Of course not."

"You've never seen men die."

I say nothing, averting my gaze. I've been purposely not thinking about what I saw in the field. I can't process being in a different world - and people dying. I don't think he'll respect someone who views battle the way I do, as something truly terrible. I can't witness people losing arms, legs, and heads. I've got a squishy heart. I fall in love too fast and never recover when it's over.

"No, I haven't," I reply quietly.

"Know this, witch. I protect all that is mine with my life. In return, I require only three things from you: the truth, your loyalty, and absolute obedience. You need not fear death so long as you accept these three laws."

His conviction makes me want to agree to anything he says. I've never been that resolute about anything in my life.

It also scares me. Absolute obedience. I'm afraid to know what all that entails. I've never trusted anyone with all of me - especially not my mind. Not even Jason.