Poison Fruit

It felt strange to think that, too.

I didn’t have the chance to think it for long.

“There is something difficult I wish to say to you, Daisy,” Stefan said in a somber tone. “You have been an unexpected delight in my life, and I will always cherish those memories, as I will always be grateful to you for restoring my mortality. But I think the time has come for us to part ways.”

“What?” I stared at him. “Are you breaking up with me?”

“You’re not truly in love with me, Daisy,” Stefan said gently. “Nor I with you. How long do you think it would take us to discover that this violent attraction we have felt no longer exists now that I am free from the curse of being Outcast? How much our passion was fueled by danger?”

“That’s not fair!” I protested. “Stefan, you have to give us a chance! At least we have one now.”

“And then there is the matter of the wolf,” he continued.

“My feelings for Cody—”

“I know what you feel for Cody,” Stefan interrupted me. “And I know what he feels for you. Atop the dune, he did not hesitate. Against all reason, he trusted you.” He rubbed his shoulder. “I bear the mark of his teeth in my flesh as a reminder,” he said wryly. “I am quite sure that wolf is in love with you.”

I was silent.

Stefan swirled the port in his glass. “You know I am right, Daisy.”

“It doesn’t change anything,” I murmured. “I’ll never be a suitable mate.”

“I think you may find that the wolf is ready to make that determination for himself,” he said. “You should go to him.”

I gazed at Stefan. “You seem awfully sure about this.”

He smiled a little. “I am.”

“What about you?” I asked. “What will you do with your life?”

“Oh, I plan to travel.” He raised his glass and sipped his port. “For all that I have lived in this world for centuries, there is so much of it I have not seen, having been tied to places with an underworld. I would see the rest of it. And I would return to places I have been to reunite with old friends. Those of us who have been Outcast for so long may help each other learn to live in this new world.”

“So you’d just totally abandon the life you’ve built here in Pemkowet?” I said. “Forever?”

Stefan hesitated. “I cannot say. That life has changed. But a piece of my heart will always reside here,” he said. “And a part of you will always reside in my heart.”

So there you have it.

That was that.

I hashed it out with Jen the next night over pizza and beer, after making her promise that no matter what, the evening wouldn’t end in drunken texting.

“I can’t believe you’re still holding that against me,” Jen complained. “Okay, so how do you feel about Cody? Is the hot ex-ghoul right? Are you in love with him?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I mean . . . Cody confuses me. He annoys me. That whole back-and-forth, dithering I-want-you-but-I-can’t-have-you business is seriously annoying.”

“Yes, it was,” Jen agreed. “But what if he really is ready to choose you over his clan?”

“It’s not like he’s said so,” I pointed out.

Jen shrugged. “He’s recovering from a gunshot wound, girlfriend. Cut him some slack. Also, as far as Cody knows, you’re still with Stefan. Maybe he’s honoring the Bro Code.”

“Maybe he should have tried to fight for me,” I countered.

“Maybe that’s exactly what he was doing when he charged through a line of heavily armed mercenary soldiers to take a bite out of the hot ex-ghoul so you could go ahead and very nearly bring the end-time upon us,” Jen retorted.

She had a point.

So I paid a visit to Cody the next day.

Cody was convalescing at home, and he greeted me at the door in a pair of faded jeans and a threadbare flannel shirt, his face brightening at the sight of me. “Hey, Daise! Everything okay?”

“Yeah.” I felt awkward. “I just wanted to see how you were doing.”

“Good.” Hoisting his shirt, Cody showed me the white bandages wrapped around his torso. “My sister-in-law Jeanne changed the dressing this morning. She says it’s healing cleanly. Can you come in for a minute?”

“Sure.” I followed him into the house.

“Can I get you anything? Beer? Glass of water?”

I shook my head. “I’m fine.”

Cody padded into his living room on bare feet, turning off the football game on the television. “Sorry, it’s a bit messy in here,” he apologized, folding the hideous orange and brown crocheted blanket that lay crumpled on the couch, then straightening a stack of DVD cases sprawled across the steamer trunk that served as a table. “I’ve just been holed up watching TV and videos.”

“That’s okay.” I sat on the couch. “You’re entitled. Not the Saw movies, I hope?”

He grinned. “No. God, no. Once was enough. But I watched the whole Fast & Furious franchise.”

“Figures,” I said.

Cody eased himself onto the couch beside me. “Don’t knock them until you’ve tried them, Pixy Stix.”

“Cody . . .” I hesitated. “Why did you do it? Attack Stefan, I mean?”

He looked away. “Are you asking me to answer for my wolf? I’m not sure I can, Daise.”