Winter's Bite

Chapter 15 Owen

Flame's silky head rested on my knee. I rubbed his ears absently, thinking about the attack on Cait.

I'd watched from Garntoran Hill, awaiting Cait's arrival home from school. Seeing Cait every day and staying away caused me agony, only offset by how much worse it would be not seeing her at all. I longed to approach, beg Cait's forgiveness, hope she'd take me back. But I stayed away to protect her. I'd never be able to forgive myself if Cait was murdered because of our relationship.

'The girl needs help.'

One of my uncles' appeared before me, hair dishevelled, holding an old boar hunting spear. I stared. He'd arrived two days ago but I hadn't seen him much since.

'A boar's loose. It attacked the boy. It'll kill at least one of them if we don't save them. I'll tackle the boar. You help the children.'

I didn't know who he meant by the boy, but felt sure the girl was Cait. My uncle ran down the hill. I followed. I spared no thought on how Cait would react to my arrival. She needed me. Afterwards, standing on Cait's doorstep, I'd seen pain and desire fill her eyes. Staring at Cait's closed front door, I realised she still cared for me and felt a selfish joy, even as I turned away.

I'd broken up with her for Cait's own good, I'd reminded myself. I needed a reminder. My heart ached to tell Cait how I felt. I loved her. I admitted it now.

'Pining after the human?'

I looked up. Chloe stood inside my doorway, wearing a black lace dress. I flushed.

'You don't belong with a mortal, Owen. Humans are so weak. You should be with your own kind.'

'Like you, you mean?'

'Yes, like me,' Chloe retorted. 'I love you, Owen. We'd be good together. Why can't you admit it?'

Chloe pushed Flame away and crouched before me, gazing up at my face.

'We had such good times, Owen. Didn't we have fun? Remember Vienna?'

'As my little sister.'

'Not as your sister. You held me that night. You kissed me.'

I'd hugged her, kissed her cheek.

'You always led me on, just enough to keep hope alive. Why continue to torment me, Owen?'

I stared at Chloe, aghast. Her words twisted everything. It wasn't like she said.

'I thought Justin might make you jealous enough to claim me.' Chloe hung her head. 'But no, you know I'll never love anyone else.'

Chloe's hopless tone filled me with pity. Why hadn't I realised how she felt?

'Chloe, I love you. As a sister,' I added with haste. 'But I don't feel anything more. I never have, never will. Please, you must get over this.'

'It's that girl, isn't it?'

Chloe jumped up, face morphing into vampire mode, features bestial, fangs extended.

'If it wasn't for her maybe you'd love me.'

'It's nothing to do with Cait,' I denied.

I was familiar with Chloe's mercurial moods. She'd always been unpredictable, sweet and girlish one minute, a wild spitfire the next. But now I worried for Cait's sake. I didn't think Chloe would go against family protocol and hurt Cait. But Chloe and rules were only distant cousins.