The two of us felt safer than we had in a long time.
Chapter Nineteen
The next morning, I stirred slowly, and my body ached like I had I completed a full workout. My stomach lurched violently, and a sour taste flooded my mouth as bile rose in my throat. I was entwined with Jude, my head resting on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart, my leg thrown over his. His arm, strong and warm, was wrapped securely around me, making me feel completely safe. I savored the morning light and the tranquility surrounding us. The scent of smoke and mint clung to Jude’s skin, a fragrance I inhaled deeply, letting it fill me completely.
His eyelids fluttered open lazily, revealing a small smirk playing on his lips as he looked at me. “Good morning, handsome.”
What did I do? Last night was surely a mistake. Even though any hope of seeing Gabe again was gone, I still felt like I had done something wrong. Was it guilt, or am I rejecting the thought of opening up to human connection?
I forced a smile, a strained grimace that didn’t quite reach my eyes, before carefully pushing myself up from the hay cradle. I pulled on my shirt and pants and headed toward the dustywindow of the barn. Wiping the grime from the dusty glass with my shirt, a ray of sunlight warmed my face. Outside was a winter wonderland—mounds of fluffy snow coated the rolling hills like clouds, and green pine trees held glistening flakes in their boughs. The world was bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, looking like a perfectly crafted greeting card image. I had never seen beauty like this, being so high above the world in Elysium, but being fully immersed in the world at this moment, my breath was taken away.
While I marveled at the world’s beauty, my mind kept wandering to what happened the night prior. The weight of my actions pressed upon my shoulders—Gabe’s image burned in my mind, and the shame of sleeping with a human while abandoning the vampires left me questioning my selfish needs. I never felt so wanted and alive as I did last night with Jude. On the other hand, I don’t even know if I will see Gabe again, let alone survive this adventure. I may as well have the best sex of my life, right?
Right.
Hands reached around my waist, startling me from my reverie, followed by the feather-light touch of lips against my neck. “You were amazing last night, Vincent.”
“Yeah, it was…fine.” His kiss sent shivers down my spine, and I wanted to jump on top of him once more before we left the protective barn, but I refrained. “You know, you can call me Vinny, right?”
“Oh, can I now?” He laughed. “I suppose last night made us a little closer than strangers.” His pants hung low on his hips, creating a casual, relaxed look that slouched in the middle, exposing two defined muscles and a line of blond hair tracing up to his navel.
My eyes left his smooth chest as an irritating itch blossomed on my abdomen. A scratchy, crawling sensation covered myentire body, likely from fleas we picked up in our bed last night. “We have to be focused because it’s just the two of us now. Without a car, we’ll have to walk, and that leaves us open to attacks.” As I spoke, I realized this task seemed more and more impossible. How were we going to get back to Silvertown? “Once we leave this barn, both of us need to commit to not letting any more lovey-dovey stuff get in the way of our mission.”
“Yeah, absolutely.” He nodded, a flicker of hurt in his eye. “I’ll do anything to make sure you’re safe out there.”
With a dramatic shake of my head, I spun around, settling on the window once again. If anything,I’llbe the one to protecthim.I scanned the rolling mounds of snow in front of me, and my eye caught a pack of Dogs in the distance, running toward the middle of a valley. I squinted and saw the outline of a small village hidden in the snowy hollow, blending seamlessly into its surroundings.
“I’m shocked the Dogs didn’t storm in here last night.” Jude threw on his shirt. “Let’s head to that village, Eight did say we were close.”
I nodded and zipped a coat around my shoulders. I slung the heavy gun over my shoulder, checking the ammo count while Jude prepared to leave. We met at the barn entrance, where the cold wind whistled through gaps in the aged wood, making the metal chains jingle like wind chimes. “Ready?”
“One more thing before we go.”
With a swift motion, he cradled my face in his palm and lightly kissed me. The moment our lips met, a jolt of electricity shot through me, so intense I expected lightning to explode from my fingertips. It was sweet, like a thick drop of honey that coated your tongue, yet left a craving for more.
He pulled away; it was all too sweet to last. “I needed one more before we left because once we leave, what did you call it? The ‘lovey-dovey stuff’ would be ending?”
I smiled. “Yes, we need to get back to Silvertown, and I’ll be damned if anyone else dies. Especially you.”
“We both agree—neither of us will let the other die, so we’ll get through this together.”
I pulled open the barn door, and despite the frigid temperature, the warmth from the sun felt nice against my face. Two pairs of leather boots were covered in dirt by the shack’s entrance, and both of us slipped our feet inside before trudging through the snow. With each step, I had to lift my foot higher than my knee, my muscles screaming in protest, to avoid losing my balance. The snow was heavy, but just soft enough to fall through.
We walked in silence, making our way to the small town hidden in the valley. I was lost in my thoughts, and I’m sure Jude was as well, to the point where we forgot to talk to one another. There was too much spinning in our brains. What did last night mean to both of us? Is anything going to change? Were my feelings of love for Gabe even authentic? How didIfeel?
The wind whipped snow into our faces as we walked, unsure of how long we’d trekked, until the small town gradually emerged from the swirling white. I was surprised by how close the village was, realizing I’d walked the entire way from the shack in a daze. It felt like driving home after a long day, the familiar route blurring past and the hum of the engine lulling your mind into a quiet fog.
“Vinny, look!” Jude pointed his finger straight ahead.
At the town’s entrance stood a weathered, old gas station. Its rusted sign, barely legible from age and neglect, it loomed over rows of gas pumps, each surrounded by a cluster of abandoned cars and trucks. A small shop, with a faded white exterior and a blue tin roof, sat in the middle of the empty lot. The faded, cracked plastic numbers, once proudly displaying gas prices, now lay scattered below the sign, like fallen soldiers.
“Let’s go inside and see if there’s any food we may be able to eat.”
I nodded and looked down the road, spotting a cluster of small houses lining the tree-covered street in the distance. The town had surrendered to the elements, nature reclaiming what was once its own. Cracks split the road beneath our feet, a thin layer of ice glazing its surface.
The air was thick with the smell of decay as I navigated the tangled mass of cars, their deflated tires choked by the remnants of vines that hadn’t weathered the winter. Inside, assorted skeletons of dead animals lay scattered amongst old dolls and toys left behind by previous owners. The air felt still, like any sound would shatter the dystopian illusion in front of us.
“I’ll go inside,” Jude whispered. “Just in case there’s rabid animals…or humans.” He pointed to the pavement below my feet. “Stay here, don’t move.”
