I stop and spin around.
I throw myself behind a large pine tree, dragging Bird behind the trunk alongside me.
My hand drops to my hip, reaching for a sidearm that isn’t there. My lips curl in frustration.
“W-w-hat?” Bird drags in desperate gasps of air.
I hush him, peering around the tree into the shadows.
There is a long, agonizing moment.
Nothing moves. No scent.
Was I wrong?
I’m sure that I wasn’t.
“They’re close,” I grit out. “We have to run faster. Also, we must find somewhere to shelter for the night.”
“Faster?” Bird stares at me in horror. “I can’t, Ro. I’ll…”
“Do you want to die?”
Fear of death is the best motivator, I’ve found.
It works on me.
Bird clutches his side, grimacing. When he bends over, his long hair trails onto the floor.
I pull a face.
Leaves and moss catch in Bird’s curls.
Each morning in the Facility, I have enjoyed combing through my Omega’s silky hair with my fingers. I find that I don’t enjoy him being reduced to this state. I never cared when I was on missions what I looked like. Claiming an Omega does make being an efficient assassin more difficult.
“Raise your arm and take deep breaths,” I order, attempting to help Bird with his stitch.
Then I lightly massage his side.
Bird takes deep breaths, before looking at me pleadingly. “Can’t we rest here just for a moment?”
My instructors would have beaten me black and blue, before sending me on a ten-mile run with rocks in my backpack if I’d dared to ask that.
I believe that I’m restrained when I merely shake my head. “We’ve had a rest. We can stop when we find a caveor somewhere to shelter. There should be caves along the mountainside, although we may need to share with a bear. Follow me and try to avoid standing on sticks, okay? Stay quiet.”
“I’ll try.”
I kiss Bird, quickly. “Good Omega.”
His cheeks redden.
See, I can do praise.
I set off at a pace that still feels too slow but is as fast as I can push the Omega who I know is at his limit.
Bird is biting his lip bloody to try and remain quiet, despite the way that he is still holding his side in pain.
He is staring at the forest floor, however, carefully jumping over brittle twigs.
