“Yes. He lived there too for a while.”
“She can stay here, right?” Burgundy asks.
Logan doesn’t hesitate. “Of course.”
It’s better than nothing. I don’t want to be here—live here—but at least here me and Molly will be safe, and we’ll be with Micah.
“We’ll get a warning when they cross into our territory,” Logan goes on. “So we can be prepared.”
“Prepared?” I ask, suddenly rattled. Confused. Whatever force they send won’t be enough to challenge Logan’s soldiers, so I assumed we were just going to let them go to the camper, tear it to pieces, and then leave because they can’t get to me.
Logan frowns at me. “They held Burgundy for months. That won’t go unanswered. And your camp is now in my territory. We’ll get warning. We’ll be ready. You’re not going to lose your home if I have anything to say about it.”
I’m so stunned I stare at him, my lips slightly parted.
Micah reaches over to take my hand under the table and squeeze it. I cling to his warm grip.
“Th-thank you,” I manage to say.
“You don’t know me,” Logan says, still holding my gaze. “But you will. You’re one of my people now, andBurgundy always has been. No one moves against us and gets away with it.”
I’m notsure how Logan gets his news, but he trusts it. When no report of the Holy Rollers approaching comes that afternoon, everyone agrees they’re going to wait for the morning to make their move.
I’m shaky and exhausted by the time dinner comes around. When Micah asks afterward if I want to go to bed early, I gratefully agree.
He has a small, private room. It must have been his before, and they never gave it to anyone else, because it’s still filled with his possessions. Clothes and weapons and an old guitar in one corner.
After washing up and changing into one of his big T-shirts, I climb under the covers to wait for him.
He never asked, and neither did I. It was simply assumed by all that I’d be sleeping with him.
Molly makes a nest for herself on a thick blanket on the floor, and Micah finishes his cleanup before he turns off the light and gets into bed beside me in nothing but his underwear.
Every part of my body is aching, and there’s a shuddering mass of energy located somewhere in my chest that simply won’t settle. I’m so tired I can barely keep my eyes open, but I don’t know if I can sleep.
“Come here, baby,” Micah says thickly, pulling me against him in the dark.
I scoot closer, holding on to him and burrowing against his chest.
“I was really scared.” He sounds hoarse and as tired as I feel.
“I know. I’m sorry.” I squeeze him, breathe in the familiar scent of him.
“Are you?” He runs his hand down my loose hair and then grips a handful of it, like he’s desperate to hold on to me.
The uncertainty in his tone makes me ache. “Yes. I’m really sorry. I knew it was a mistake as soon as I left, but then I was already there and didn’t want to waste it. But it was wrong. I shouldn’t have tried to do something like that alone. And I should never have gotten caught. I wouldn’t have been if you were with me. I know I found Burgundy and we made it out alive, but I was still wrong in leaving you to do it alone.”
He’s listening and breathing raspily. His heart is pounding beneath where my face is pressed against his chest. He doesn’t say anything.
“Are you mad at me?” I ask at last.
“Yes. A little.”
I let out a long sigh. “I know. I deserve it.”
“Maybe, but that’s not the main thing. Not for me anyway. It… it hurts.”
I make a helpless sound. “I know. All I can say is I’m sorry, but I know that might not fix it.”
