"As of today, you're a ward of the Guardians." He pronounced the words that would forever alter her life. "You belong to me."
She met his gaze with a frown. He rose and pulled on a sweater.
"The door will be locked while I'm out," he told her.
She said nothing, and he left.
Part of her accepted his explanations after what she'd experienced the past few days. Another part of her couldn't fathom how a man colder than a sociopath could be working for the side of good. Never mind she felt awed by how sexy he was lying in bed beside her, his muscular chest inches from her and his large hand resting possessively on her stomach. He could have told her he was the devil and that he now owned her soul, and she would have stayed there, wondering if he'd kiss her.
She slept until the edge of her fatigue was gone before borrowing his neatly folded clothing and making herself a huge pancake and egg midday breakfast. She'd tried the door many times and determined if it didn't open, it was because he didn't want it to.
Jonny was safe, even if she hadn't been able to wipe away all traces of the poison in his blood. She wasn't sure why she trusted the stranger, but everything he said was said with conviction. She, on the other hand, was living a Stephen King novel in the clutches of a mass murderer. She watched TV for a while, waiting for details of the Mercy Hospital massacre to air. Nothing did.
"Dusty said I have to leave the cat with you." The agitated voice came from behind her, jarring her.
She twisted to stare at a large, wiry man with a whip-like body and a face that would scare Freddy Krueger standing in the middle of the apartment, her cat in one arm and the litter box in the other.
"My god, how did you get in here?" she all but shouted, hopping to her feet.
He looked pissed as it was, his unusual golden eyes swirling in a way not even remotely human.
"I like your cat," he said. "Dusty won't let us have pets. It's, like, rule thirty-six or some shit."
She gaped at him as he set the cat and the box down. Sunny darted for the darkened bedroom.
"I'm grounded, but I'll come back later," he said. He disappeared right before her eyes.
Bianca sank onto the couch, staring in disbelief. The litter box remained, and she knew if she looked under the bed, Sunny would be there. It wasn't a dream. This world was real. She felt the sudden urge to join Sunny under the bed.