I shook my head. "Wait for me. It'll take me ten to get there." Turning to Jeanette, I gave her a jaunty salute, a smirk playingat the corners of my mouth. She rolled her eyes, but I could see a hint of worry for Luce lurking beneath her sharp exterior.
Without another word, I strode down the beach, the sand shifting beneath my feet. Once I was a good distance away, I pulled out my phone and, with a twinge of regret, snapped it in half. Holding the pieces in my hand, I closed my eyes and focused, channeling a burst of magic into my throw. The phone soared through the air, propelled by my power, and landed with a distant splash far out in the ocean.
Satisfied, I spun on my heel and raced back up the beach, my heart pounding with a mixture of exhilaration and anxiety. I hopped on my bike, the metal cool beneath my fingers, and tore down Luce’s driveway.
As the wind whipped through my hair, my thoughts drifted to Luce. The way his presence filled a room, the intensity of his gaze, the electric spark that seemed to ignite between us whenever we were close. It was a distraction I couldn't afford, not now, not with so much at stake.
But even as I tried to push him from my mind, I knew it was futile. Luce had gotten under my skin in a way no one else ever had, and whether I liked it or not, he was part of this crazy, dangerous quest.
I just hoped it turned out as I hoped.
The grocery store parking lot was nearly deserted when I pulled in, my bike tires crunching over loose gravel. I scanned the handful of vehicles scattered across the faded asphalt, my gaze coming to rest on a sleek, black sports car tucked away in the corner.
Luce's car. Realization dawned. I'd passed that same car on my way to his house. It was straight out of a romcom movie.
"Damn it." The idea made me feel stupid, careless. I couldn't afford to be either, not now.
Luce's car glided toward me, the glossy paint gleaming under the harsh fluorescent lights.
He pulled up beside me, the window rolling down smoothly to reveal his chiseled features. "Fancy meeting you here," he said, a hint of a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.
I rolled my eyes, ignoring the flutter in my stomach. "Just follow me. We need to move."
Luce's smirk widened, but he nodded. I pulled out of the parking lot and went slow enough he couldn’t possibly lag. Too quickly, my tires crunched over the gravel as we pulled up to the copse of trees that hid my RV from view, but it had to have been almost an hour. I couldn't help but feel a swell of pride as I took in the sight. This was my sanctuary, my escape from the running the sometimes lunatic shifter kingdom with Rey.
I hopped out of the car, not waiting for Luce as I made my way toward the RV. The salty sea breeze whipped through my hair, carrying with it the distant crash of waves against the shore.
"Not bad," Luce commented as he followed me, his long strides easily catching up. "Cozy."
I snorted, shooting him a look over my shoulder. "It's not the Ritz, but it'll do. Just be grateful I'm letting you crash here at all."
He held up his hands in mock surrender, but I didn't miss the glint of amusement in his dark eyes. Jerk.
I unlocked the door and stepped inside, the familiar scent of lemon cleaner and saltwater enveloping me like a comforting hug. I'd spent hours making this place feel like home, scrubbing every surface until it gleamed. It was a far cry from the luxury Luce was used to, but it was mine.
"Make yourself at home," I said, my tone dripping with sarcasm as I moved to open the windows, letting in the fresh air. "Mi casa es su casa, or whatever."
Luce chuckled, the sound deep and rich. He sprawled out on the small couch, his large frame taking up all of it and overflowing into the skinny hall space. "I've stayed in much worse places. This'll do just fine."
I bit back a snarky comment about size. We had more important things to worry about than either of our comfort levels.
Luce gazed out the window, his expression contemplative as he took in the view of the beach. "Yeah, you know, I prefer my home, but this is nice for a rustic change."
Now fighting the urge to bonk a pillow on his perfectly coiffed head, I said, "You're the only person who's ever been here other than me. Thank your lucky stars that we had somewhere safe to go."
He turned to me then, his gaze intense. "You're right. And having you here makes me even more lucky."
We were truly in this together now, for better or worse. I pushed down the flutter of nerves in my stomach and focused on the task at hand.
"We need a plan," I said, settling into a business attitude. "Something they won't see coming."
Luce patted the table. "Are you sure this place is completely off the grid?"
A heartbeat passed, then two as I stared at him flatly, my arms crossed over my chest.
He held up his hands in surrender. "It was just a question. I trust you."
I let out a breath. "Good. Because trust is all we have right now."
