Chapter Eleven
With Cillian leading the way, we wandered away from the crash site, following the jagged ravine. I wished I had Cillian’s level of insouciance. He strolled without a seeming care. I followed behind in tottering heels that didn’t approve of the uneven and rocky terrain.
“What exactly are we looking for?” I asked, hugging my upper body as if that would combat the chill. It didn’t, in case you wondered, and the unrelenting ice pellets also didn’t help the situation.
“Something that will keep us out of direct daylight.”
“You don’t think Gwen and Randy will get back with a new ride in time?”
“It’s a distinct possibility given our remote location.”
“Surely they’ll get signal when they reach the top and be able to call for help.”
“That would be the ideal scenario, but it’s best if we’re prepared in case we have to deal with the worst case.”
Intent on watching my feet, I didn’t register when Cillian stopped moving and slammed into his back. Rather than bounce off and fall, I reflexively grabbed him, plastering myself to his body as I caught my balance.
“I might have found something. Stay here while I check it out.”
“As if I have somewhere else to go,” I muttered as he wandered into a dark cleft.
It didn’t take long before Cillian reappeared. “You can come inside. It’s safe.”
The moment I entered the cave my nose wrinkled at the odor left behind by the last inhabitant. While I couldn’t have said what animal perfumed the den with its musk, I doubted it belonged to a squirrel or something innocuous. Didn’t bears like caves? “Do we need to worry whatever lived here will come back and eat us?”
“The scent isn’t fresh. Even if we did get a visitor, we’ll be fine.”
“Gonna wrestle a bear with your bare hands?”
“Yes. Wouldn’t want to wreck its fur. How else would we get a nice rug from it?”
Cillian stated it so seriously, it took me a moment to realize his eyes sparkled with humor.
I punched his arm. “Not funny.”
“Maybe to you, but your expression quite amused.”
“More seriously, how long do you think we’ll have to wait?” I asked as I sat down on a smooth rock that acted as a stool. My knees tucked up high enough I could hug them, not that it helped the shivering cold.
“If we’re lucky, we’re out of here and either home or in a hotel before dawn. If Randy and Gwen can’t wrangle transportation, then after sundown.”
“I might freeze to death before then,” I muttered.
“No, you won’t.” He draped his coat over my shoulders.
“What are you doing? Now you’ll freeze.”
“Hypothermia and other heat-related issues aren’t a thing for vampires, especially not at my age.”
“What about me? I’m still a baby, remember.”
“You’ll also be fine. While uncomfortable, you won’t actually come to harm. The cold will merely slow you down.”
“Says you,” I groused through chattering teeth.
“I do. You still have a human mindset when it comes to certain things. It will take time to adjust to your new reality.”
“I’ll never like the cold,” I grumbled.
