stopped, looking back at her. `No.'
`You're limited to short answers, then?' Anger licked at her. Was he just going to ignore her?
`Okay, then.' He faced her, arms crossed. `I wasn't party to the big secret that Gaia shared with Ruth, and I don't feel the thing — whatever it is — that she feels for you both. I came tonight because it's my business to know what's happening in my own back yard. As for the Flowers,' he shrugged, `I had no choice once Ruth stuck her nose in.'
`So that's it?' Her ears began to warm. `You're here to keep an eye on us, and Ruth obviously.'
`Yes. We're supposed to find out more about what happened today.' He shrugged, waving a hand at her. `But you and Nikki seem to be busy trying to prevent that.'
`What's that supposed to mean?'
`Oh, come on. Nikki's all eyes for Ruth and,' he waved both hands at her, `you're dressed like a hooker with a leather fetish.'
Noise thrummed in her ears. `A hooker!' Her hair responded to the anger, moving back over her shoulders. `You know nothing about me.'
`You were obviously pissed off when Nikki dragged you away today. Still pissed off later when you were patrolling the island.'
`You followed me?' How had she missed that? How much had he seen?
His eyes narrowed as he watched her. `Of course, you're right. I don't know you, not at all. For all I know you're an assassin in a hooker's outfit.'
`Stop calling me a hooker!' Renee slammed her fist into his chest. Caught off guard, he cannoned back into a concrete wall.
Renee stared at her fist. How had she done that? How had she surprised Mason? And with no pain, no mark—
Cold, vice-like hands grabbed hers, the room blurred, her back slammed into cool concrete. Her hands were pinned above her head.
`What are you?' he growled, eyes black and close. Hard flesh pressed against her chest. `You're different from earlier today.'
`Get off me.' She pushed back but he leant his body hard into hers. It felt good.
`Talk first. What's going on? You're harder now, like me.' As he breathed her scent in, warmth spread through her body. No one had ever done that before.
`Now you want to talk?' She realised his black eyes were filled with golden flecks. Her mouth went dry at his touch, a strange intimacy to her.
`You even smell different,' Mason said. His grip eased but the darkness stayed as he scanned her face. `Not Darkells or Bloodells. Not even human.'
Renee swallowed. The new strength and energy she had begun to feel moved in her. His breath brushed her neck. `I think you need to let me go.'
`No.' His hands tightened on her arms as his face hardened. `What are you?'
Show him, her mind whispered to her. You want to. He can sense it. Show him.
`This,' Renee let it come, surging up from inside. `I have always been strong.' She pulled her arms down. Mason strained against her.
`But now I can do this.' Her skin hardened, matching his own. She pulled harder against Mason's grip. His elbows trembled under the strain. `I'm faster and my senses are…' Renee closed her eyes, hearing his heart boom so close. `Everything is so clear.'
His grip eased. He let her go, hands resting flat against the wall.
`I did this — to you?' His didn't move off her. Renee had to wet her lips as she felt herself grow warmer. Mason stood so close, his body against hers.
`Not really.' She touched his shoulders and, when he didn't react, let her hands rest on him. `It's a gift, one that isn't common. It was probably triggered by what happened today.'
`A gift?' His eyes softened.
Reneed felt him roll a strand of her hair against the wall. Goddess, it felt good.
`What?' he asked.
`Sorry?' She blinked. Had he heard that?
`It's a gift then, this change?'
`I'm becoming Huntress,' she said, smiling. It felt good to say it. `It's been ages since one of us has had it.'
`Huntress?'
`Yes.' Renee smiled further, letting him see her teeth.
`Teeth?' Mason's skin softened. `Anything else?' He shifted but did not move off her. Renee felt his heart quicken.
`Nails.' She called them out and held her hand in front of his face. `I couldn't break one earlier.' Renee ran a single black claw down his chest, stopping over his heart. `Satisfied?'
Mason frowned at her. She shrank back as his lip curled but then she felt it. Sound vibrated from deep within his chest. His whole body hummed against her.
Goosebumps exploded across her. `Mason?' Concrete shards fell on her, and she saw that at his fingers were digging into the wall.
`We need to...' He closed his eyes as blue static raced across him. Mason's breath came hot on her neck as the static bit into her.
Yes, he felt it too.
The door to the toilets slammed open. `That damn bitch is a psycho,' Rose cursed. `Wait until I—'
The woman froze as Renee looked at her. `Oh fuck.' Her eyes widened. Renee smiled, not caring what Rose saw.
`Flowers?' Mason growled as he hardened under Renee's hands. `Still shooting your mouth off.' He winked at Renee. Cool air raced in where his body had been. `You really have to learn to keep that mouth of yours under control.'
`Mmm, it appears so.' Tashia slipped into the room and Lilly peeked around the door. Tashia's smile widened. `We can leave.'
`No.' Mason moved towards Rose. `We're, done.'
Mason stood close to Rose as Tashia put a hand on the girl's shoulder. `So, little girl, you have all the makings of a fine potential Bloodells: arrogant, narrow-minded and…' As he sniffed her, Renee moved to his side.
`No, you smell too good,' he said. `They would just drain you and, if you survived, it would only be as their toy to fuck and feed on.'
`Oh,' Rose withered and stepped back.
Mason glanced at Lilly. `If you spent more time learning from Renee, and less time trying to prove that you're better than her, you might stand a chance.'
`A chance?' Lilly slipped into the room. `Bloodells have never come here. This country is off limits.'
`Mmm, it is so,' Tashia raised an eyebrow as Renee nudged Mason.
`Not any more. After tonight we will know more.' Renee said, taking Mason's hand in hers and making sure Rose saw. `Love what you've done with your hair.'
`Fu—' Rose went white as Tashia's long fingers dug deep into her shoulder.
`Let's
