In my twenties, that difference wouldn’t be so horrendous, but until then, what he and I had wastaboo.
Perhaps Liam’s condition was a blessing indisguise.
15
Pounding.
It echoed around me, driving needles of adrenaline through mylegs.
I twisted around to find a black bear on my heels. I pushed my breathless body harder until every footfall felt like I was shattering abone.
The beast jumped and sank its claws inside my human spine, and Iscreamed.
“Ness!” a voiceyelled.
Two paws slammed into my shoulders, and I lurched into a sitting position, shoving the creature’s paws offme.
Not a creature, and notpaws.
JustLiam.
Blood battered my veins as I scrubbed my hands along the sides of my face to dispel the nightmarishchase.
“Bad dream?” heasked.
“Yeah.”
“Want to tell me aboutit?”
I shuddered at the memory. “The bear we killed, it was running after me. And it caughtme.”
Concern pinched his brow. “My first big kill haunted me forweeks.”
“It’s not my first big kill,Liam.”
Hefrowned.
“Youkilled it, not me.” I scooted higher on the bed. “But it was definitely the largest animal I’ve ever gone upagainst.”
“Ourfirst big kill together.” He smiled wistfully. “We made a good tag team out there.” His expression undid more of our snarledpast.
“Hope we make as good of a tag team during theduel.”
“I have no doubt we will.” His gaze lingered on my face a moment, but then he shook his head, got off my tangled bedsheets, and rubbed his palms over his jean-clad thighs. “Pack your bag. We’ll stop by the dining hall for brunch, and then we’ll head straight to theairport.”
After he closed the door, I exchanged my sleep shorts and tank top for a pair of white denim shorts and a black T-shirt. I made a pit stop at the bathroom and attempted to smooth out my long tresses. Sleeping on wet hair had created movement and volume. Too much of both. I brushed my teeth, then packed everything away in my backpack. As I shouldered it, excitement at returning home steamed away the remnants of the stickynightmare.
I would see August and Evelynand—
My breaths spiked as I remembered last night’s conversation. In the light of day, being with the ex-marine didn’t seem as sinister. Just thinking of him had my navel pulsing, even though he was hundreds of milesaway.
I looked out the window at the long grass that shivered in a light breeze.What would you have done,Mom?
I would ask Evelyn. If anyone was going to be a hundred percent unbiased about this, it would beher.
When I left the bedroom, Liam was already gone, and so were his things. I walked to the dining hall, passing a couple Rivers on the way. They waved, and I wavedback.
Ourallies. . .
