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I let the words tumble around my mind. Something about staying here ignited a need for adventure. What is hidden behind the veil I hadn’t discovered yet?

The conversation dies down. No one says anything else and Chloe soon returns to her store.

Her departure leaves me queasy.

I flick my gaze to Tania. The enthusiastic woman that I’d hung out with all day has all but returned to a somber mood. “Guess we have to get back don’t we?” She gives a slight shrug.

“This was fun though, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah. I hope we can do it plenty of times in the future,” Tania suggests and I can see the same tiredness in her eyes as Kieran’s.

“Let’s do it.” I smile at her.

As I gather my belongings and ready myself to leave, I notice a black motorcycle pull into a space out front. Dismounting is a figure that somehow sucks in the already overcast light of the day. He’s tall, taller than Kieran. Darker, more stern features. Brown eyes. Jet black hair. Golden brown skin. And an ire that reflects down his muscular shoulders and lean legs.

He walks toward the store, and as the front door jingles, time slows. It’s my man from the shadows.

“Is that the Sheriff?” I whisper to Tania. His demeanor has cast a net, pulling me in like an unsuspecting fish. My muscles tense and soon warmth flushes across my cheeks.

“Who?” She swivels in her seat and her expression falters.”We need to leave. Winston will be waiting for us.”

“Do you think Dr. Marlowe told the police about me?” I reach for her forearm, pulling her back down into her seat.

“I’m sure he has.” She pulls her coat on, then gestures for me to do the same. Her gaze turns frantic as I remain seated, eyes flicking between me and the man approaching.

This is my shot at additional details, I’m not going to pass up the opportunity.

“Tania Lazarus, it’s been quite a while,” the Sheriff says, voice low, approaching our table.

Then he notices me.

“You…” His copper eyes soften a fraction. This close to him, there’s flecks of what can only be described as smoldering embers dancing around his irises.

“It’s you.” Instinctively, I move forward. I don’t know why I am, but I do. The air is suddenly suffocating. Heat travels up my spine. My mouth feels dry. I hone in on the keys, dangling freely from his pocket. Easy enough to snatch.

“I don’t know what you’re getting at Valen, but we are leaving,” Tania admonishes, reaching past him and pulling me away from him. The move makes me feel like a teenager who’s been caught with a boy she’s not supposed to see.

“Wait—who do you think I am?” The question mimics the one from the other night. Maybe under pressure he would tell me.

He cracks his jaw, then tries to speak. “You are…Marisa. The woman from the sea. And I am Christian, the man from the shadows.” There’s a strain to his words.

Tania’s incessant tugging on my arm makes me turn around and level her with a pleading look.

“Someone tried to kill me, Sheriff.” I turn back to him.

“Oh—I’m sure they did. I’m sure he fucking did.”

I am taken aback by the casualness of his tone. “Who? You have to tell me.”

“Let’s go, the Sheriff’s words are empty candor here.” Tania tugs me harder this time. Gritting my teeth, I shrug her hand off. Annoyance courses through me. First, the Lazaruses were clearly hiding a secret and I should have asked more questions when I first woke. But I’d been swept into being awake in a world I didn’t remember, then into the arms of a strange man who’d shown me kindness. There’s snow everyday, and the temperatures are cold enough to store dead bodies for years. I need to know who did this to me.

“If you want, we can speak whenever you’re free. Matter of fact, I have a safe house for people like you.” Sheriff Valen is calm as he draws near, ignoring the woman on my arm.

“Christian, you’re here.” Kieran stands at the entrance, hands resting in the pockets of his slacks. He levels the Sheriff with a derisive glower.

I shrug Tania’s arm off, feeling immediately guilty about the action.

“Guess you didn’t think you’d be seeing me this soon, huh?” A wild smile stretches across the Sheriff’s face as he advances toward Kieran. The momentary distraction gives me enough time to pace around the men and place myself by the entrance. The Sheriff doesn’t notice that I’ve lifted the keys to his motorcycle.