“Are you okay?” he whispers, his lips brushing my temple.
I nod, even though I don’t believe I am. I’m also shivering uncontrollably.
“No, you’re not.” He moves back and scans me over from head to toe. Then he quickly shucks off his jacket and starts to put it on me.
I shake my head and step back. “No, you’ll get cold.”
He gives me a tolerant look. “You’ve been out here for hours, and you’re soaked. There’s a chance you’re starting to get hypothermia.”
He might be right, so I comply even though my stubborn side wants to be persistent.
My arms tremble as I loop them through the sleeves, and then he zips it up. Again, I don’t protest his help since my fingers are too numb to do much.
“Come on,” he tells me as he slips an arm around my waist. “Let’s get you back to my car. It’s about a mile away, but there’s a trail just through these trees.”
Nodding, I let him guide me through the branches and mud. I lean into him the farther we get, and by the time we stumbleout of the trees and onto the path, not only do my eyelids feel heavy, but my shoes are caked with so much mud that it takes a lot of effort to put one foot in front of the other.
“Just a little bit farther,” he says encouragingly, carrying most of my weight.
Looking back, I’ll probably loathe how weak I am, but that thought is a dim light in the midst of the darkness currently plaguing me.
I clutch onto him instead and let him steer me downhill, where the trees thin. Eventually, they part and reveal a parking area where River’s car is.
The pressure in my lungs begins to release, and we quicken our pace, not slowing down until we reach the passenger side. River only lets me go to unlock the car then opens the door and reaches to help me inside.
“I don’t want to get your seat muddy,” I say, my voice hoarse.
Shaking his head, he takes my hand. “I give zero fucks about that.” Then he helps me get in before shutting the door.
He runs around the front, climbs in, starts up the engine, and cranks up the heat.
“You should take the jacket off so your clothes can dry out and the warm air can heat you up better,” he says as he twists to face me.
Rain drips from his hair and down his cheeks as he leans over the console and helps me slip the jacket off. My muscles are stiff, and my teeth clank together as I chatter. I’m so out of it that I find myself staring at him with a desire to whisper the words tickling my tongue, words I haven’t dared utter aloud before.
“You’re so beautiful,” I murmur as I get my arm out of the jacket sleeve.
He pauses, his eyes searching mine. “Now you have me really worried.” He places a hand to my forehead, as if checking for a fever. “Jesus, you’re freezing.”
He tosses the jacket into the back and places a hand on the shifter. “Let’s get you back to the academy so you can shower and warm up.” He shifts into reverse and starts to back up.
“Wait.” I place a hand on his. “I have to go to northside—it’s where I was heading before I got jumped.”
His astounded gaze snaps to me. “No, you need to warm up. Trust me; this is bad.”
“I know, but if I don’t go to northside …” I trail off, realizing if I tell him, I’ll be outing Noah’s secret.
“What’s going on?” he hedges as raindrops splatter against the windshield.
I consider not telling him, but in the end, I know I have to.
“It’s Noah,” I start then quickly explain to him what’s been going on, minus a few details that don’t need to be told to him by me–that’s up to Noah and if he wants to.
By the time I’ve finished, shock, worry, and anger are masking River’s expression. “Why the hell is he dealing steroids? What the fuck is wrong with him?”
“Please don’t get upset with him.” My chattering has subsided, but the coldness of my wet clothes seeps deep into my body. “Until you find out the entire story.”
His lips thin as he studies me. “Is there more to it than you said?”
