Copper approached the table with the plates, set them down gently, his gaze flicking between Finn and Kallie, aware of something the others lacked.
"Thank you," Kallie said softly.
Copper nodded once, then walked back to the kitchen.Finn tapped his thumb against the table.It frustrated him that he couldn't fight his way out.
"He's different," she whispered.
Finn looked at her."Copper?"
She nodded."He's more like you."
Finn's stomach tightened.He'd thought the same thing for years but never said it out loud.Hell, he'd never questioned anything until Kallie arrived.
Copper had been here longer than anyone else.Longer than Finn.Longer than Moe.Longer than Boone or Vaughn.Sometimes he wondered whether Copper could remember fragments of his old life, how many emotions he'd retained, and how much he'd lost.
They ate quietly, Kallie's knee brushing his under the table, her hand resting on his thigh.He lowered his hand under the table and linked his fingers with hers, caressing her knuckles with his thumb.
Kallie had slipped into his life and become part of his daily routine.He wasn't even aware of reaching for her half the time.His body craved her.
When they finished eating, Finn stood and helped her out of the booth, his hand settling at the small of her back.She smiled at him over her shoulder.A familiar tug in his chest reminded him to keep her close, keep her safe.
They stepped outside.He stretched, letting the evening air wash over him.
Kallie squeezed his hand."Can we walk for a little while before we—"
A hand shot out of nowhere and grabbed her wrist.
Kallie screamed as Mace yanked her away from Finn, dragging her toward the road at surprising speed.Finn's heart slammed into his ribs.
"Kallie!"
She stumbled, trying to pull free, but Mace kept moving toward the road as if she weighed nothing.Mace's eyes were wide, unfocused, fixed on the far end of town.The last place Finn wanted her to go.The shadow seam.
Finn tackled Mace to the ground hard enough to knock the breath out of him.Kallie fell backward onto the asphalt, scrambling away as Finn pinned Mace down.
Mace thrashed weakly beneath him, but Finn was stronger.Faster.Fueled by rage.
"You don't touch her."Finn roared, slamming his fist into Mace's jaw.
Once.
Twice.
A third time.
Mace barely managed to raise his arms to protect himself.He wasn't fighting back, only protecting his head.Yet his eyes darted toward the road as if something were calling him.
He hit Mace again.
"Finn!"Kallie's voice cracked."Stop!"
He pulled his arm back and let Mace have it again.The thought of Mace dragging Kallie toward the rift made him snap.He grabbed Mace by the shirt and slammed him into the ground.
"You don't go near her.You don't look at her.You don't touch her."He pummeled Mace's face, making Mace's head snap to the side."Or I'll kill you."
Mace coughed, blood on his lip."She came through...I want...she was—"
"Finn."Copper stood a few feet away."Enough."
