Fly away. Take cover. Make contact the second she was clear.
What happened in Charleston wasn’t her fault, but it was a wake-up call for me. Sorie almost killed her. It wasn’t the first time someone wanted her as a snack, and it wouldn’t be the last. As her guardian, I had to do more than step up my protection game. I had to let her practice self-defense too.
The girl who begged me to save her, who clung to life with such ferocity of spirit, deserved to know that she would never be that vulnerable again. She had power, and the smarts to use it wisely.
Once we piled into the SUV, Asa cupped my jaw. “Are you okay with this?”
Sweat dampened my palms, and I wiped them down my jeans. “Sure.”
“Colby can handle herself.” Clay leaned back, rocking the vehicle. “She’s a powerful kid.”
“As long as she stays in the forest,” Asa soothed, “she has plenty of places to hide.”
Both the physical connection of his skin against mine and the determination in his voice let me relax into my seat. Fascination was a powerful force. I wasn’t thrilled to be afflicted with emotions, but I had to admit, I had grown more and faster with him than I ever had without him.
“You’re both right.” I made myself believe it. “Let’s go examine our first crime scene.”