Total pages in book: 218
Estimated words: 209489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1047(@200wpm)___ 838(@250wpm)___ 698(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 209489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1047(@200wpm)___ 838(@250wpm)___ 698(@300wpm)
And I knew he knew that when he glanced over. “You know I can tell when you’re lying?”
I sniffled. “Yeah, I figured. Do you know where we are?” I changed the subject, a lump in my throat.
He leaned his head back against the trunk, his jaw a hard line in the darkness as he faced forward, out to the forest. “I have an idea, but my senses aren’t fully back yet. I can’t get my bearings like usual,” he said just loud enough for me to hear him. “I thought we would’ve come across a town or a house by now. They drove us farther out than I had thought, and we’re going slow.”
Slow? My brain didn’t think so. Neither did my nausea, but I appreciated his sacrifice.
The wind picked up even more, the sound of the rain getting harder with more drops sneaking their way through our natural canopy. Drawing my legs up closer to my body, I held back a groan at my exhausted hip flexors as I curled my arms around my knees and set my chin on top of them. Part of me wanted to sprawl out, but I was over being rained on if I could help it.
“We’re going to keep going northeast until we find somewhere to stay,” the man beside me said as he crossed his arms over his chest.
“Okay,” I agreed, even though I had no idea what direction northeast was or why we would be going there. Reaching down, I wrung some water out of my sleep pants before sighing. “Maybe we can steal someone’s horse.”
His low chuckle was the last thing I expected, and I rolled my head to the side to see him. He wasn’t smiling, but he looked… I didn’t know what he looked like. “You know how to ride a horse?” he asked, like he knew as well as I did that I damn well didn’t. “Do you want to steal people’s laundry from a clothesline too?”
I groaned, even though it hurt, then laughed just a little bit. “I didn’t realize how stupid it was going to sound until after I said it. I used to watch a lot of Westerns with my grandpa.”
His snicker made me peek at him.
Lifting my hand, I put my cool palm on my forehead. “I was thinking… why didn’t we take one of their cars?”
“Why didn’t I think of that?” Sarcasm dripped from the son of a bitch’s voice.
I blinked, turning my head slowly in his direction.
“They were new cars. The last thing we need is to risk getting tracked. I wasn’t willing to chance it.”
Ohhhh. That made sense.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could tell he glanced at me.
A strong breeze blew through, and I shivered again, tucking my arms between my legs even though I’d already learned that wouldn’t really keep me warm. “Since I’m on a roll with the dumb questions, I was wondering if maybe there was some kind of call or noise or something you could make to get The Primordial or The Centurion’s attention.”
His laugh was louder than the rain. “What do you think we are? Orcas?”
I snorted again, instantly regretting it. “I figured it was a long shot, but I had to ask,” I told him with a little laugh.
Alexander snickered. “No, there’s no ‘call.’”
A few drops of rain fell through the branches, hitting my arms, and I shivered again.
A nudge had me peeking over at him again. He’d spread his legs a little. His head tipped to the side. Toward him?
Was he gesturing me to…?
I raised my eyebrows.
“I can hear your teeth chattering,” he grumbled. “Are you going to come over here or are you planning on getting pneumonia again?”
“I had pneumonia?”
“I can’t tell if you’re trying me or being genuine.”
I smiled, not needing him to tell me twice to get on him.
I sniffled as I turned, ready to crawl onto his lap when his arm slipped around my lower back and he scooped me up and onto him. He’d raised his knees a little as he lowered my butt onto one thigh and hip, my own legs still curled up so that one side was tucked against his stomach. On my back, I felt him reach to the side and lift the backpack over my head before handing it to me.
I peeked up at him and he lifted his chin.
Was he tired?
My fingers were shaky as I undid the zipper and opened it. Inside there was a small first aid kit, three cans of tuna, two things of canned chicken, one can of pears, a box of crackers, and a Snickers. I looked at him again, and I smiled.
He didn’t smile back, but he did tip his head toward the bag, telling me to keep going.
He didn’t need to tell me twice.