All I can think of is watching those men lead my friend into the woods this morning.
That would be traumatic enough, I know.
Maybe it is.
Maybe what I saw before running wasn't real. Maybe I imagined it. Maybe it was just shock and terror and a hallucination conjured from some primitive survival instinct's attempt to get me moving to safety.
But every shadow in here with me triggers the same terror I felt this morning when I saw the darkness close in behind the men who were abducting Astrid.
Men who match the description of the ones found dead at the edge of the old road we hiked in on just two days ago.
Torn apart by some wild animal that hasn't been identified yet, their bodies dragged to that spot as if someone wanted to be sure they'd be found.
Not close enough to our camp to believe they'd managed to crawl there themselves, and in the opposite direction from where they'd been headed when I started running.
Talon's colleague's haven't updated us with anything new yet. They're hiking into the forest, looking for the place those men have been hiding out. Hoping to find their base; hoping to find Astrid. Alive and unharmed.
They're here to find the men behind the men who took her though, that's their priority.
As glad as I am that someone is working to remove the threat entirely-- God knows the local police don't seem interested. They didn't even send officers to the scene. Told the rangers it wasn't in their jurisdiction because it was outside city limits-- I want my friend back.
A noise jolts me out of my ruminations. Something falling on the tin roof of the cabin has adrenaline surging through my veins. As soon as I reach to turn on the bedside lamp on the nightstand, new shadows move through the room in the light it casts.
My pulse is racing hard enough to make it hard to breathe and tears threaten to overspill my eyes.
Austin explained that the cabin was built to give the people staying here a private space where they could feel safe-- even from the men staying here to protect them, but right now, I know the only way I'm going to feel safe isn't by locking myself in this room alone.
I need to be closer to the man stationed here to protect me.
Fighting the crippling fear lodged in my throat that threatens to keep me paralyzed but wide awake beneath the covers till sun up, I make a dash for the bedroom door.
Finding the light on in the hallway on the other side is such a relief that I manage to take a breath before running the three steps it takes to get to the edge of the bed where Talon is sleeping.
In the soft glow spilling out from the hall light, the serious expression he wore all day is relaxed into something almost serene.
The cabin is warm enough that it doesn't surprise me that he's sleeping under only a light blanket, and that's only covering his lower half. Tossed back as if he'd gotten too warm to stay fully covered, the blanket drapes low, revealing the naked details of the broad chest I'd spent most of my day salivating over;flat planes of pecs, defined blocks of abs, the V of muscle over his hips clearly visible on one side, and the strip of dark hair running below his belly button that disappears beneath the edge of the blanket.
One arm lies stretched out to his side, the other thrown over his eyes, making me think the light in the hallway is for my benefit, not his.
He's beautiful, and I would love it if he was into me, but that's not my motivation for dropping onto the mattress beside him.
"You okay?"
As soon as I lie down, he moves aside, making more room for me.
"I thought you were asleep," I answer meekly.
He makes a noise like a laugh but it's laden with far too much sarcasm to hold humor.
"If I slept through someone getting that close me, I'd be dead several times over by now."
"Shit. Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."
Another short laugh, this one with the humor included, as Talon shifts to his side so that he's facing me in the dim light.
"Didn't. I also learned to assess possible threats long before they get close enough to be a problem. Last thing you want is to stab your buddy when he's trying to pull off a poorly conceived prank."
"You didn't answer me, sweetheart." Talon's fingers move to slip a strand of hair away from my face. "Are you okay?"
