Multiple sets of footsteps behind us made squishing sounds as the rest of Shannon’s search team arrived.
“Answers,” I whispered. “Hopefully.”
Her hazel eyes grew bright in the soft lighting of the bonfire. She opened her mouth to speak, but her mouth snapped closed as Gale came into view, with one of his handsome smiles that made people look the other way. “I knew you’d be okay.”
“Always am,” I answered casually, sinking back into a character I’d almost forgotten existed. One that had to make sure men didn’t see my weaknesses. It made me miss the monster.
He patted my shoe, his hand settling for two seconds too long. Anger that wasn’t mine boiled deep inside my chest. It was wild and animalistic in a way that was foreign to me. It took me too long to realize it washim.
I sat up, casually kicking his touch away. His eyes tracked the subtle movement with displeasure in his eyes. Instead of acknowledging his irritation, I whispered, “Carter didn’t make it. I found her body.”
His mouth turned grim. “Where is she?”
“I couldn’t safely get her out of the water.”
He nodded his understanding. “Did you tell anyone else?”
I shook my head.
“Good. Don’t.” He walked over to another search team coming in.
“Can he say that?” Shannon lifted an eyebrow. “Seems unethical.”
Something akin to shame filled me. On the surface she was right, but what was best wasn’t always morally clean. I wished I had her naivete.
“It will start a panic, and it’ll become every man for himself,” I explained with a heavy sigh. As much as I didn’t trust Gale, he was right. “People will die.”
Humanity was only ever a few missed meals from devouring itself.
She frowned and behind us the water moved. I could feel him thinking about how every man for himself sounded perfect. It would make it easier to pick everyone off, one by one. Especially the one that kept touching what was his.
I froze as the understanding of his thoughts truly sunk in. The possessive edge made my chest grow tight.
Shannon grabbed my arm in alarm, as if she expected me to be ripped into the swamp again.
“He can’t get us here,” I whispered in her ear.
“Why?”
“I don’t know.” Hopefully the book could explain that part too.
He left, but I still felt his mental presence. His annoyance that I was behind the sage barrier. The protective aura emanating from his thoughts. If survivors left, hunters, tourists, and cops would come to investigate. The entire swamp was in danger as far as he was concerned.
He was right. I wouldn’t be able to argue hard enough to preserve it now. Failure weaved through me.
Maybe I should let him pick everyone off.
Heat filled my face when the thought truly sunk in.
Whose thought was that? His? Mine?
“Shannon, can you check on our friend here?” Gale pointed at Drew from across the way.
“It’s bad. I did what I could an hour ago.” That way she didn’t get the same surprise I did.
Shannon rolled out of the hammock, stealing my flip flops for showering, and flipped me off. But I could tell she didn’t like my warning. The proper amount of sass wasn’t in her eyes.
I watched her expression as she pulled his bandages back.
