Page 78 of Winter’s Teeth

He trusted me.

Completely.

I didn’t know what I did to earn that trust in a single night, but the evident lack of that trust coming from Riss was enough to undo me.

In a softer, cracking voice, I pleaded one more time, “I promise, I will explain everything when there’s time, but I need you three to get out of here before it’s too late. Before anyone else dies in this game that Arthur wants only me and my sister to play.”

Riss’s resolve cracked, weakening ever so slightly. “They... They can what?”

“Cat’s out of the bag now,” Shira drawled. She crouched on the floor, rubbing behind Maple’s ears to pass the time.

Corbin followed up with a groan under his breath. “Did you really have to tell them all that?”

I dared a look over my shoulder up to Fox’s stony expression. If he was mad at me for spilling his secret, he didn’t show it, but he didn’t show much of anything. His eyes focused resolutely on Ben and the shotgun that could go off at any second.

“He’s one of them?” Ben asked sternly, participating just as intensely as Fox in the stare down.

“Yes, but he’s not a threat. So can you please put down the shotgun for a second?” I didn’t move from my place as Fox’s shield, hoping that so long as I didn’t let Fox get out in front, no one would get hurt.

Riss put up a hand. “No, how about we rewind to the bit where you said the Winters can shapeshift, Rae!”

I groaned, loud and long, before finally turning to plant my hands on Fox’s chest. With a great heave, I began to push him. He ceded one step, then two, but all he had to do was dig in his heels a little, and it became like pushing against a rooted tree. Impossible. No give.

“Rae, what are you—”

“Can you give me a minute with them? Please? Just wait out on the porch or go warm up in the sauna. I promise we’ll be out of here in less than ten minutes.”

Corbin slid around the throng of bodies in the foyer. “I’m gonna grab supplies. Meet you guys outside in ten.”

Shira trailed after him, sliding her hand into Corbin’s that waited expectantly behind him like he knew she would take it without having to look. She shot me a wink in passing, but then she was gone, retreating deeper into the cabin with Corbin and Maple trotting after them excitedly.

That left my friends and Fox—who still hadn’t moved. I gave up pushing, instead fixing him with a pout.

A growl issued from the back of his throat, but he at last gave in. “I’ll be upstairs. I’m giving you five minutes.”

“Fine.” I would take what I could get, but it wasn’t like I wanted to linger here either. Now that I knew Everly was out there, I was desperate to get back to her.

When at last his thundering steps faded up to the second floor, and it was just me and my friends, I let my body go limp, every aching and tired muscle sagging with the weight of everything I’d been through in the last twenty-four hours. Arguably the last week and a half.

“I want to explain it all to you more, and I want to show you, too, but there just isn’t time,” I started over. “One of them can impersonate people. He was one of the officers first helping look for Everly, and then he posed as someone giving us aid tonight, but he’s a stone cold killer.” My lip curled, teeth bared. “If I ever see him in my line of sight again, I’m going to shoot him with every round that I have.”

Angie squeaked, immediately stepping away from me toward Riss’s protective wing. “Rae...”

On any other day, I would have softened myself for her sake, but I didn’t have the bandwidth to sugarcoat it. This was me. All my rage, all my hatred, and all my bloodlust. I saw firsthand what sort of monster Gavin was, and I wouldn’t hesitate if I ever saw him again.

“These people are nothing short of monsters, and Brett... My sister’s fiancé was in on it too. He’s one of them.” It hurt me to say, knowing that Fox and Corbin were the obvious exceptions to the monsters in the family. They didn’t deserve to be lumped in with the rest of the Winters.

Ben took a brave step forward, his eyes gleaming with worry. “Isn’t that all the more reason we should stick with you? You’re gonna need us—”

“I need you three to get out of here,” I snapped, my patience wearing thin. There were only so many ways I could say it. “Arthur’s game only involves me and Everly. Anyone else who gets in his way are pieces to be toyed with. They tortured Fox right in front of me tonight just to get me to talk, and they beheaded at least three people to show off. I don’t want to think what they might do to you, and for all I know, they’re coming for you now. I’m not asking. I’m telling you—leave. Now. Stick with Corbin and Shira, because they know what they’re doing, and they’re going to help us make a break for it when it’s time.”

Shira popped back in before anyone else could protest. “We found the walkie talkies. Corbin is just putting fresh batteries in them.” Hands clasped behind her back, she leaned in close to Riss, unafraid to meet the queen bee’s eyes directly. “Riss, right? I could use your help actually. I’ll be driving, and Corbin will be flying overhead to keep an eye on our surroundings—”

“Flying?” Ben sputtered.

“—so I’ll need someone to man the walkie talkie to keep in touch with Rae and Fox.”

Another crack formed in Riss’s resolve. Her eye twitched before she muttered, “They’re handheld two-way radios... Just call them radios.”