Ten minutes to say goodbye to my life, to decide what’s worth bringing before having to leave everything behind. I’d already decided I was going before I opened the door, but that was on my terms, and felt like preparing for an extended vacation or a move rather than going on the run.
I didn’t even kill anyone, and I still need to flee like a criminal.
“Right, okay.” Heading towards the living room closet, I grab a duffle bag, shaking out the unimportant things before offering it to him. “Here, for your stuff. You might not need much, but you can toss some food and matches or whatever with your clothes.”
He nods his thanks and starts to do just that, Rel already halfway to her room to grab hers, like the fact she just killed a man barely even registers. She doesn’t even seem to be in shock, just blasé about the whole thing.
I think she confused being apathetic with being a sociopath.
But that disconnect will only continue to serve her well in the coming days if I had to hazard a guess. And it makes more sense now, her behavior when we first met. It was genuinely how she showed she cared; constantly bringing up the danger I put myself in by bringing a stranger into my home, leaving myself into being stabbed or robbed. She knows firsthand what people are capable of and wants to protect the ones she cares about from the dregs of society.
She honestly will fit in perfectly in this secret underground revolution if she comes around to believing in their cause.
“Rin.” I balance the phone between my shoulder and ear, putting an awkward kink in my neck as I fly around my room and start loading a backpack. “I need a favor. Several, actually, and might owe you my firstborn by the time this is over.”
“Ian, what’s going on? Are you okay?”
I sigh, quickly filling her in on everything that happened. “Rel has a burner, but I’m going to need to leave mine behind. They knew she was staying here and I’ll be the first lead they start looking into to track her down again. I need you to throw my shit in storage and sell my house; forge my signature if you have to. I know it’s a huge thing to ask-“
“Mates come first, Ian; always. You’re my friend, if the only thing I can do to help is by taking care of things here, then of course I will. No favors needed.”
“Love ‘ya. Sister I never had and all that garbage.” Yanking the zipper closed is a struggle, but I manage to get the overstuffed bag shut without it breaking.
“Love you too. Take care of yourself.”
“One more thing.” Tossing the bag over my shoulder, I take one last look around at my library, physically pained to leave it behind. “Remember you said no favors needed when you see all the bodies, okay thanks, byeeeeee!”
I hang up as she shouts a curse, a sad smile on my face, but not feeling quite as hopeless as before. Honestly? The prospect of walking away from all of my problems and going off grid actually has me feeling lighter, like I’m finally free of the weight of life’s monotonous burdens that I’m used to carrying.
Twenty-Two
Rheyas
Taking slow breaths, I fight against the urge to vomit again. I don’t even bother attempting to join the others’ conversations, concentrating on breathing. When Esmerelda’s hand lands on my arm, I close my eyes in relief, just the contact seeming to help a bit.
Slowly, she strokes back and forth, rubbing it in a soothing rhythm. “Not too much longer and we’ll be able to stop for the night.”
The SUV may be massive, but it still makes me feel cramped, caged. As it hits a bump, another wave of nausea assaults me, the chilled window little comfort on my face.
“Who’d have thought the guy that could kick Ares’ ass would be brought down by some motion sickness?” Ian teases before there’s a smack.
“Be nice,” Rel scolds.
So that we don’t lead the men hunting Rel right to Hawk’s hideout, we need to leave a false trail. That means driving well over a day out of our way before doubling back on foot. With the way they’re treating shifters, it’s highly unlikely they have any on their payroll. Mages can track through logic and technology, but out in the wilderness? They’re barely better than newborn deer.
She starts to withdraw her hand, and before I even realize I decided to move, I catch her wrist. Prying one eye open, I glance at her from the corner of my eye. “I don’t hate that.”
With a small smile, she returns to gently stroking my arm and I return to trying to fall asleep; anything that might make the time pass quicker. If I never sit in a car again, it’ll still be too soon.
* * *
“Soak up the luxury,boys and girl, because it’ll be the last night for a while. Nothing but sticks and sadness for at least a week starting tomorrow.” Hawk pushes open the door to the hotel room, and I wrinkle my nose.
A multitude of scents sour the space, the frequent traffic this room sees enough to make me worry someone’s going to catch something just by breathing.
“I should’ve packed some bleach.” Ian mirrors my thoughts, looking around in distaste.
My mate, on the other hand, simply drops her backpack on a chair and heads right for the bathroom, turning on the shower. “Beggars can’t be choosers, you big babies. Sure, the bed might get you pregnant if you bounce too hard, but seeing as we’re about to freeze our asses off, it’s better than sleeping in the car.”
