Page 73 of Palingenesis

Flipping him a thumbs up and a botched thank you, I let my arm drop back down.

It’s like I can feel his eyes on me when I close mine and hell if being watched doesn’t soothe something in me. I’m so fucking used to it now that it’s comforting, even if it is distracting.

I lift my head and blink at him.

“You need a shower,” he tells me with his hands, “and then to tell me what happened.”

The snort I let loose is automatic and makes Avery grin at me. Then he slaps my ass and climbs off the bed to leave me be.

He may think I’ve lost my mind once I do tell him, but I can’t say that there’s not a slight thrill in my stomach as I oblige his demand to wash up. It’s the quickest shower I’ve ever had, the knowledge that I have a friend waiting to hear my stories too encouraging to waste any time.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” I sign to him on my way to grab a fresh pair of hearing aids. They’re my backup set and not as good as the ones that I lost but they’ll allow me to converse easier with Morgan around. I’d hate for him to feel left out or for Avery to feel like he has to interpret everything.

Gods, just them being here feels like a weight lifting from my shoulders.

I made friends after all.

It feels so good to know that despite everything with Henry, Ilios, and whatever feverish illusion this may be, I found them.

But as I regale my tales of everything I can recall, from delusions to real life, their faces fall, and Avery’s eyes grow wide.

“What? What is it?”

They share a look, and then…

“We called the sheriff when you went missing. She’s on her way here.”

Blinking, I take a seat on the coffee table in front of them, my knee bouncing.

“Okay, and?”

Avery’s swallow is visible, his shoulders slumping in, but it’s his husband that responds.

“Once you were found, she says she got orders from the state to remove the threat.”

My heart sinks clear through my torso and out my ass. “What’s that mean?”

“Backburning the forest.”

“But—uh.” Words stick in my throat, and I can no longer sit. I’m back to pacing, my mind rolling through all the research I’ve done over the years for different storylines. “There’s no wildfire.”

Morgan flits another glance towards an abnormally quiet Avery. “One started about two hours north of here the day you left.”

Ringing explodes in my ears and my head spins.

“It’s threatening the park,” Avery adds softly. “And part of the Oberson territory.”

Slowly, the dots start to connect and with each one that does, I get sweatier. More nervous.

I just came from the north.

Anxiety ripples beneath my skin, a renewed wave of restless energy making my fingers tremble.

I may hate how he’s affected me, how unnatural it’s all been, but …

“We have to stop them.”

Chapter 38