Either way, this has to be a lead. No wonder the Door Knights haven’t been able to track Lynx. They didn’t bring him through buildings but through the fucking woods! My heart pounds in my chest as I glance around the area to see if I can see any other trails or if this is the only one.
I start to head down the trail when Moni pulls on my arm.
“Wait. What are you doing?” she shrieks.
“What do you think? I’m going after Lynx,” I argue, pulling my arm from her grasp and giving her an incredulous look. “He’s my best friend and he needs me. I’m not leaving him with the Rebels”
“Rez, I’m not questioning about going to get him, that’s a no brainer,” she pouts, hurt by my harsh tone. “But can we get you changed and get some supplies first? If you’re out here after dark with wet clothes, you’re going to freeze your nips off. How would sex be any fun if that happens?” She bats her innocent-looking eyes at me.
She’s right; I at least need some supplies and a change of clothes before coming back out here. Reaching up, I pull off a few smaller tree branches and mark the area of the ground and place the limbs in the bushes so I know what to look for when I come back. Taking the longer branch I start making swirls in the ground as we head to the bridge Moni mentioned earlier.
I have more pep in my step because I’m only a few hours away from finding my best friend, I just know it.
Lynx, I’m coming for you!
ChapterFifty-Two
EVER FREAKING WOODS
Moni
Ithought JP was bad when he was in a hurry, but he has nothing on Rez when she’s determined. She has me huffing and puffing trying to keep up with her as we hurry back to the dorms. Of course, as soon as we find the bridge—or as Rez kindly points out, it’s a conveniently fallen log, not a bridge, even though it obviously bridges from one side to the other—one of the scary Mr. Kents steps out of the woods and nearly makes me piss my pants; that is if I was wearing any.
Rez reminds me that we still had to take the limbs back to the path, so that slows us up a little bit. But as soon as we were done, we ran back to the dorms. I mean, who has ever heard such a silly thing about picking up sticks in the woods? Sticks belong in the woods, but try telling Rez that. She insists that the scary Kent guy told her to do it.
One, I didn’t hear him say it.
Two, I wasn’t about to question him on that.
And Three, I’m all for being out in nature so it wasn’t any skin off my bark.
Knots is working out in the gym when I fly by to pack a bag, so he isn’t a problem for me. But my boo-bear is, as Chester is sitting at my desk doing homework.
I never thought I would find someone that would be interested in dating me—since I’m a pariah…or more like a piranha with teeth—let alone that I’d find a mate. I still have to sit down and tell Matthew about him. Thankfully, telling JP didn’t go as bad as I thought it would. I just hope my dad takes it better than him, since I’m his little princess. It was the first step of getting Chester moved in. We had talked about moving in together, but I didn’t want to leave Rez and JP. I told my honey buns that telling my family about him came first, then once our family is whole and Lynx is back, we can talk about him moving in officially.
His roommates aren’t too bad. I’ve met them a few times. A grumpy meerkat Shifter, a greedy Demon, and the fourth one has been MIA when I’ve been over. So Chester spends most of his free time over here, spending the night a few times a week. I like the arrangement so far, as we slowly get to know each other.
“Hey, firefly. What’s the rush?” Chester nervously chuckles as my bedroom door slams into the wall, startling him.
Excitement thrums through me—turning my bark a shade of yellowish-orange—as I dig through my dresser for my bag. “We got a lead on Lynx, and we’re checking it out. I got to pack!” I let out a tiny squeal; turning, I smile up at him and lift up my prize from the bottom of my drawer.
His frown and furrowed brow douses my enthusiasm as my skin takes on a bluish tint. “What? What’s wrong?” I look around, wondering what could be upsetting him.
“Moni,” he stands up and pulls me into his arms. “I understand why you want to go with Rez and look for Lynx. She’s your best friend and because of everything she’s done for you, but to be blunt, there is no way I’m staying behind. I want to help, so you’re not going unless I’m right there beside you.”
I figured it’s easier to agree with him than to fight, so while he uses my closet to pick a durable outfit for the trip, I pack a backpack that Levi made for my twenty-third birthday this year. He spelled it so it can change sizes along with me. Granted, I haven’t had to use it since I have my very own hollow log—nope, still don’t like the name, I’ll keep working on it though. I pack the bag because it’s fun to accessorize, and I want to put in some extra clothes, a lantern, and food. Can’t forget about food!
Flying out into the kitchen, I hear raised voices and I already know we’ve hit a speed bump.
“I’m going, Knots, and that’s final.” Rez slams her hand down on the breakfast island, jarring the fruit bowl in the process. She’s wearing black from head to toe. From her black long sleeve jacket down to her black boots. All she needs are knives attached to her thighs and she’ll be one woman I wouldn’t mess with. Though, the way Knots is glaring at her, I wouldn’t want to go up against him either right now. She’s holding her own at least.
Damn, she’s one scary woman when you get in her way.
“Rez—” Knots starts running his hand through his blond waves, “it’s my job to protect you. And letting you go out into the woods without an escort would be against my nature.”
I shrink down and fly up onto the fridge to sit on the edge so I can watch this play out. My money's on Rez since we are talking about Lynx. I lean against the cereal and get comfortable, the only thing I’m missing is popcorn.
“You know what else would be against your nature?” Her voice drops down to a low purr as she pushes her braid over her shoulder and leans in all seductively.
