When they reached the tiny cabin, Reyna was surprised to find a fire already lit in the hearth. Beckham must have come out here earlier to build it for her. She smiled brightly up at him and hurried over to it. She was having trouble feeling her toes already.
The cabin had only one room, with marginal furnishings that centered around the hearth and a small bed in the corner. A thin layer of dust coated most everything. Light filtered in from the window at the front of the cabin and another small one by the makeshift kitchen area. Some off-white wax candles were burning throughout the room to give it more light. Reyna decided instantly that she loved the place. It was homey and comfortable and felt worlds away from the mansion.
“This is better,” he said, lighting one more candle and setting it down on a rickety old table.
“Seriously, what is this place?”
“Before Washington built his house on the hill, he’d purchased the land from a farmer who lived with his rather large family in this cabin. He allowed them to stay on until they passed away or moved. He wanted it to be his permanent home. Not something most vampires at the time were afforded.”
“Why?”
“The deaths are easier to conceal than in the city.”
Reyna’s stomach roiled. “Right.”
“Genevieve is a descendent of that bloodline. She lived in it for many years after her children passed, but now has her own place farther removed from the memories.”
“I couldn’t imagine.”
“I hope you never have to,” he said quietly. “When I would reside on the hill, I would come down here to think sometimes. It freed my mind. I would like it to do so today.”
“Okay. So how exactly are we going to train? I don’t think this is like running on the treadmill or using a punching bag.”
“I don’t think so either. But when I was turned, I didn’t have all the strength I have now. I developed my abilities. Honed them. It gave me an edge that others had no chance of surpassing as mindless drones. I want to try pushing our own connection in the same way.”
Reyna suddenly bubbled with energy at the prospect. She liked getting more information about Beckham in this process. He wasn’t usually so willing to divulge his secrets.
“Work it like a muscle. Even though it’s not a muscle.”
“Indeed.”
Beckham stripped off his jacket and tossed it across the lone chair. He folded his arms across his broad chest. His eyes observed her in an all-too-familiar way. She’d seen him do it a number of times when she’d first started “working” for him. As if she were a puzzle he needed to solve, a question he needed an answer to.
At the time, she hadn’t known that was a good thing. She’d felt like prey trapped in a predator’s gaze. Maybe she still was. But now she liked it.
“I estimated you at six miles away from me when I sensed you in the city the day you came to get Jodie.”
Reyna’s jaw dropped. “Six miles?”
“I thought it might be because of the extreme situation I was in, but I’ve confirmed it.”
“When did you do that?” she gasped.
“While you were sleeping.”
“It’s been snowing since we got back. You drovesixmiles away in this snow without anyone knowing?”
“Ran.”
Reyna’s eyes doubled in size. “Through the snow.”
He nodded once.
“And really, six miles? How long does that take you?”
He grinned and lifted an eyebrow as if to say,Wouldn’t you like to know?Secrets, secrets.
“I always topped out around six miles. We could stretch that, but I think our time would be better spent figuring out if there are other things we can do. Other advantages we have.”
