“It’s decided then. We’ll leave at first light. I suggest you try to get some sleep, princess. We’re not stopping just because you’re tired.” With his orders given, Rhys turns on his heels and marches back up the stairs.
“Prick,” I mutter under my breath.
Theo hears and laughs. “He is, but be thankful he’s on our side.” He winks at me before pushing himself to his feet and striding over to Alex.
It’s only as I snuggle back into my sleeping bag that I realise my panic has disappeared. Somehow, Theo distracted me long enough that, as I close my eyes, I feel myself drifting off into an easy, mostly dreamless sleep.
High Standards
Alex
Istill can’t believewe’re allowing her to come with us.
All three of us know how dangerous the Scourge are—we fought them off when they attacked nearly a week ago—and this woman is not prepared for their level of brutality. She’s going to get hurt—or worse,killed—and the other two are just walking along like that’s no big deal. Like we’re all just going for an easy hike in the bright February sun.
I tried to talk to Rhys this morning about it, but he didn’t want to hear it, and Theo has ignored my attempts since last night. Am I the only here who gives a shit about Ollie and what happens to her? Because that’s what it feels like.
Which is weird since Theo and Rhys are overprotective as fuck. They’re the ones who set up the walls and security at Haven—the community we’re from—and Rhys made sure that every able-bodied personthere took lessons on how to defend themselves. They’re both borderline fanatics with safety and mitigating risks.
Apparently none of that applies to stopping small women imitating Disney princesses from getting themselves killed.
I glance over at the woman in question. She’s sitting on top of her horse, Bean, while Harlow trots happily by her side. Her bird flew off an hour ago and I haven’t seen her since, but Ollie doesn’t seem worried about it. She’s been quiet the whole three hours that we’ve been on the move, her attention instead on our surroundings as she clutches her bow in one hand and the reins in the other. Every so often she’ll flick her watchful gaze to me and the other two walking beside her, almost like she’s half-expecting us to double-cross her or something.
I guess I can’t blame her; people out in this new world aren’t always the friendliest, but her wariness of us only adds to my worries. How can she trust us in a fight if she can’t trust us when we’re just walking down the motorway?
“I didn’t realise you wanted to be in the running for our grumpiest group member,” Theo says next to me with a smirk.
My gaze cuts away from Ollie to him and turns into a scowl, but I stay quiet. I’m not going to encourage him.
“Aw, come on, Alex. You know Rhys has you beat, right?” He elbows my side.
I roll my eyes. “You know why I’m pissed.”
“We all do, yeah. But frowning about it and getting your knickers in a twist won’t change our minds, orhers.” His eyes flick over to Ollie, who’s staring down at us with narrowed eyes.
“Doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it,” I grumble back. When did it become my turn to get ribbed by Theo?
“True, but if you’re not careful, your face will stick like that and then your chances of getting laid will rival Rhys’s.”
“Fuck you,” Rhys growls as he glares at Theo over his shoulder. “I don’t see you surrounded by women.”
“Well, I’m not going to be surrounded out here, am I?” Theo shoots back while spreading his arms wide. “Besides, I have high standards.”
Ollie snorts, causing all of us to whip our heads in her direction. “Somehow, I doubt anyone can afford high standards in the apocalypse.” She pauses to glance at Theo with a smirk. “Or that you have any.”
“How dare you,” Theo gasps dramatically as places a hand on his chest, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “I have nothing but the highest of standards.”
Ollie quirks an eyebrow. “Do those standards include breathing?”
I snort out a surprise laugh as Rhys covers his bark of laughter with a cough. Theo isn’t as caught off-guard by Ollie’s teasing as Rhys and I are because he just grins proudly at her.
Great, just what we need, two bloody comedians.
“What about you, princess? You got any standards?” Theo asks, his tone turning flirtatious.
Ollie scoffs and rolls her eyes. “Yes, and you don’t meet them.”
I can’t help but chuckle as Theo shoots her a mock wounded look.
