“Don’t forget that the inn is where we brew our fluids.Without it, we’re back to preying on campers and hikers around the Lake of the Woods.”Artim doesn’t even bother hiding his sneer.His hatred of humans rocking the boat is pathological.
Jaecar gets in his shot as well.
“And accessible hikers and campers are getting scarcer, too.Especially since the documentary.”
A couple of months ago, some clever human made the connection between disappearances and strange deaths around the Lake of the Woods and possible paranormal interference.They published one of those “High Strangeness” videos about it on YouTube.Lucky for us, they decided it was aliens.
Shadow lifts one eyebrow.“We good?Or do we have a problem?”
He means doesAilahave a problem.
They have a pretty damn good idea about how Aila lured me into the forest.There’s no use denying that I have other things on my mind right now.
“I give you my word that no shit is about to go down, Prez.They’re only here for two weeks, right?And the ex did come here with his new girlfriend and her two kids.Should be good, right?”
I’m lying through my teeth.It’s the first time I’ve practiced deception with the MC.Piers Jordan has an agenda.I just don’t know what it is yet.
Rundas says what we are all thinking.
“You better not be wrong, Hunter.”
The statement isn’t aimed at me.If I’m wrong, only one person is going to suffer.Aila.
Jerking my thumb over my shoulder, I end the debate.“I’m going to spend the night at the lavvu.With Aila.”
I leave as fast as I arrived.All I am is a blurred shadow as I grab Aila’s case from the entrance and speed back to where she is waiting for me in the forest.Her pale skin glimmers under the moonlight, enticing me to fall under her spell all over again.
Sweeping her up in my arms, I speak roughly.“We’re going further and deeper into the forest.Come.”
Aila gives a small squeak of surprise.“Thank you for bringing my things.”
She wraps her slim legs and arms around me.I like the way it feels when she squeezes her thighs together.When she’s locked in, I show her I can carry the case in my other hand.
Aila gasps with admiration.“I keep forgetting how strong you are.”
“Don’t forget I have stamina, too.”When I make an unexpected snap towards her with my teeth, Aila instinctively lurches away.
“You nearly scared the pants off me, Theron.No fair.”
My low laughter lasts all the way to the lavvu.The pyramid-shaped tent sits under the tree canopy, unchanged by the countless seasons it has seen.
The moment Aila is back down on the ground, she wants to know something.
“How many little love nests do the Riders have dotted around the island?There’s this one, and then there’s the grotto.You boys must get around.”
“We don’t feed where we live, Aila.That would be sloppy.”
“These aren’t love nests?”
I’m busy shrugging out of my jacket.
“Nope.Sometimes we just want to get away from the coven.I made this lavvu myself, only with cowhide and not reindeer.”
Aila enjoys watching me strip off my gear almost as much as I do with hers.Folding her arms, she smirks.“I’m no Boy Scout, but isn’t this a teepee?”
Kicking off my boots and socks, I manage to fit in a quick history lesson.
“The northern tribes of my youth have similar traditions as the tribes who found the western land mass.Our fathers walked from one side of the Nordic circle to the other.From the lands of the Sami to the Rus, and all the way onto the Ice Bridge.You call it Alaska now.The lavvu structure never changed much, only the words for it did.”
