“That’s not an answer.”
“You like those, don’t you? Direct answers.”
“They’re generally more useful than evasions.”
“Hmm…” Am I scared of him? He’s intimidating, certainly. Intense in a way that makes me want to look away. But scared? No. Even now, with his arms around me and his body’s response pressed against me, I don’t feel fear. “No.”
He makes a noncommittal sound, neither believing nor disbelieving.
“What does that mean?” I ask.
“You flinch every time I come near you.”
“I flinch around everyone. It’s not about…”
“Your father?—”
“Shouldn’t you be sleeping?” I cut him off, not wanting to explore that particular conversational path. “You’ve been awake for days.”
“Changing the subject?”
“Yes.”
He chuckles. “At least you’re direct about that.”
“How’d you even find me?”
“Wasn’t hard. Checked all the rooms downstairs first. When I didn’t find you, I figured you’d either left the building entirely or gone up.”
“And you chose up.”
His arms tighten fractionally. “Hoped you weren’t stupid enough to go outside alone.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“Proven right so far.”
I elbow him gently in the ribs. “Asshole.”
“Not denying it.”
The quiet settles again, easier this time. Outside, the sun has moved, casting longer shadows across the church grounds. I close my eyes and listen to the birds humming.
Suddenly, a shout from below cuts through the peace. Both of us are instantly alert. Voices rise, urgent and panicked.
Julien’s arms fall away as he surges to his feet, hauling me up with him. “Stay behind me.”
TEN
DAKOTA
Julien and I race down the spiral staircase, his hand locked around my wrist as my feet barely touch the wooden steps. The shouts grow louder, and I recognize my mother’s high-pitched cry, Cameron’s deeper tone, and… unfamiliar voices.
My heart punches against my ribs.
“Stay behind me,” Julien repeats, one arm extended back to keep me in place. “No matter what happens.”
We round the final curve and freeze. While we’ve been fighting monsters outside, human monsters found their way in.
