She opened her mouth and shut it, fell forward, and put her head on his shoulder. “Thank you,” she whispered in his ear.
“For what?”
“Showing me this.”
“Figured you’d like it.”
Humming her assent, Leo closed the gap with his neck and kissed it, letting her tongue slide over his skin, under his chin, and up, rubbing her face to his soft beard and then putting her nose to his. “You smell good.”
He gave her a disbelieving smile.
“You do. Like a safe, warm place. It’s sexy.” She grinned, a little abashed. “I’m know. I’m ridiculous.”
“You’re beautiful.”
Something shifted—a bank of clouds scuttling across to block the sun’s rays, stealing dawn’s heat and light and with it the feeling that they could stay here forever. They turned, as one, cheeks pressed together. “Show’s over.”
She nodded, breathing him in, along with the bittersweet cocktail of Alaska coming to life after a long winter. With one last look at the blue and white and pink of the world waking up, Leo pressed her lips to his, and rose. “I’m starving.”
He stood and looked down at her, his expression peaceful and happy, smile almost young. “Then let’s get you fed.”
***
Ash almost stumbled when he caught sight of the building. It was hard to see in the early light, but he didn’t need details to know. They were here. If not now, then recently. He could feel it, could taste their presence on the air. There was nothing magic about it either. All signs pointed here. And who wouldn’t prefer a roof over their heads, given the chance?
“Shit.” Deegan came up beside him. “What the hell is that?”
“Old copper mine, I reckon.” He glanced around at the thick forest and the racing river and amended that. “Or gold. Probably gold.”
“Think they’re in there?”
After a long, slow inhale, Ash nodded. “Yes. I do.”
Deegan didn’t wait before trundling off up the path like a fucking bulldozer set on devastation.
Rather than yell or call him, which would surely let anyone know they were here, he hung back and peered through the morning’s tepid light.
He’d gone about twenty meters when the scent of sulfur hit him and another few steps more when the bell started ringing.
Chapter 36
A bell rang just as they finished breakfast.
The sound was a light, musical tinkling, alien to this place. Leo’s eyes flew up to meet Elias’s before the ringing cut off abruptly. “Is that your trap?”
“One of ’em.”
“Animal?”
He let out a light snort. “Could be.”
“And if it’s not?”
“Better haul ass either way.”
In the murky interior, she couldn’t see his face as he rose and put their breakfast things back into the bag. They were fully dressed and already packed, which made for a speedy exit.
“How long do we have?”
