Then he shocked me by releasing me. I thought for sure this was going to end up in his bed, but he turned away and left the bedroom. “Come. I need to feed you. You’re going to need your strength for what’s in store.”
This was it. I’d been right. Caleb had to be reminded I was more than a task for him. He had to think I wasn’t a threat, that I was his and wouldn’t cause him any trouble. If he trusted me, I could get away.
But to buy myself the time I needed to escape, I’d have to kill him.
And I would. Nothing, not even my connection to him, would keep me hostage on this island.
Caleb Gallagher had to die.
ChapterSix
CALEB
My eyes burned as the minutes ticked by, the sunrise palpable, making my blood sluggish and my body heavy. But there was no way I would allow myself to fall asleep with Sunday here. Not like this, when she was so clearly up to something.
I turned the page of the book I was pretending to read and cast my gaze at the woman across from me. She was draped on the sofa, her feet up, shoulders wrapped in one of my sweaters even though a fire roared in the hearth.
Never had I been more thankful I’d had the foresight to purchase this island. I’d known eventually I would need to come here, and the modern amenities had been sorely lacking. The first chance I got, I brought a crew out here to retrofit this place with plumbing, electricity, and as much insulation as was possible in an old home like this one. Thrall was a wonderful gift, though I used it sparingly. Sunday had no idea how much colder she would’ve been had I not taken care of these details.
I caught her running her nose along the knit wool and breathing in the scent of me. She might be playing at seduction, but she was still drawn to me.
I’d known what she was doing the second she’d given in to my demands. Sunday was many things. Sexy, tempting, arousing, maddening. But never compliant. She fought me tooth and nail even when she agreed with me. She loved pushing my buttons. There was nothing she could do to raise my suspicions faster than behave.
A little furrow between her brows had me on high alert. That wasn’t confusion; it was discomfort. She let out a soft groan and pressed her palm to her belly.
“Are you all right?” Feck, I couldn’t keep the concerned father out of my voice. My heart gave a pang at just the thought of something being amiss. How would I survive when I had to do my duty?
The only answer was that I wouldn’t.
Sunday gave me a dubious glance. “You don’t have to pretend you care. And I’m fine. Everly was just stretching and elbowed me in the ribcage.”
“Everly?”
She blushed a little, like she hadn’t meant to let that slip. Her answer, when it came, was defensive. “Just trying out names.”
“You shouldn’t name the child.”
Hurt flickered in her eyes for just a moment, but it was there, and I’d been the fucking cause.
“Why? Because you’re going to kill her?”
“It’s bad luck.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Babes die in the womb for all sorts of reasons.”
“Maybe back when the dinosaurs roamed the earth, grandpa. Times have changed. We have this nifty thing called medicine now. Maybe you’ve heard of it? Science. Hospitals. It’s truly miraculous.”
“Oh, aye, medicine and hospitals on a remote island in Ireland. Miraculous, indeed. You forget, you aren’t human, and your situation isn’t normal.”
She curled her arm around her belly as if she could hug the baby inside her. “Doc told me I have nothing to worry about until the birth itself.”
That made my skin crawl. Part of me wanted to tell her she was right, but the other part knew she wouldn’t survive this and that I’d be right behind her.
“You trust the word of a werewolf doctor who has no fecking clue what you’re carrying?”
Defiance shone in her gaze. “Yes.”