“I—”
“Dakota?” Amelia stands in the entrance, Dakota’s attention flicking to her.
“I’ll be right back.” She turns back to me. “I’m sorry. I think I should stay with my sister.”
“Right.” I nod, face carefully blank. “Of course.”
“Julien, I—” Uncertainty clouds her expression. “I’m sorry.”
I reach for her, needing to touch her, to feel the connection we had, but she flinches back, my chest tightening. Did I do something wrong? Her hand lifts toward me, fingers curling into a fist before dropping to her side.
It’s a micro-movement. But I catch it. Feel it like a knife between my ribs.
What the fuck is going on?
“No need to apologize.” I step back. “I understand.”
“It’s—”
“It’s fine, Dakota.” I force my voice level, my expression neutral. Now I used that fucking word. “I’ll see you later. Get some rest.”
I turn before she can respond, before I say something I’ll regret. My feet carry me back toward my cabin, our cabin, except it’s just mine now, and I hate it.
Inside, the space feels too big. Too empty. The bed where we slept, where I held her, mocks me. The couch where I touched her last night, innocent and accusing.
I sink onto it, head in my hands.
What did I expect? That one night would erase years of conditioning? That she’d choose me over her sister. Her whole reason for living?
I’m a fool.
But I’m a stubborn asshole.
And patient.
I hope she’s ready for that.
TWENTY-SIX
DAKOTA
The main lodge buzzes with conversation, forks scraping against mismatched plates as our newly expanded group shares dinner for the first time.
I sit opposite Sienna and beside Amelia at one of the long wooden tables, picking at my food, canned beans with some rabbit Ramirez trapped, while trying not to look across the room where Julien sits with Cameron and Rosa. I’ve barely spoken to him since… I chose Amelia’s side over his bed.
But I couldn’t do it. Not with her right here.
Sienna waves a hand in front of my face, her nails bitten to the quick. “You here with us?”
“Sorry. Yeah.” I smile half-heartedly, pushing my plate away. “Just tired.”
She studies me. “So what happened after we left?”
“Nothing dramatic. The reverend was crazy. Tried to sacrifice me to his zombie god.” I keep my tone light, like near-death is just another Tuesday now. “Julien handled it.”
Beside me, Amelia shifts closer. She’s gained a little color since we had to separate.
“Handled it?” Sienna’s eyebrows climb. “That’s very diplomatic.”
