"I know the trails like the back of my hand," Kathleen replied airily.
"After you have a few drinks in you, I doubt it," Mike told her.
Kathleen glowered at him as she planted her hands on her hips. "At least I don't lose the trails in broad daylight! Besides, if you guys want to go back, that's fine, but I'm staying."
"Kathleen..." Sera started to protest.
"Come on Sera. We've been cooped up in that cabin for three days now. I want to have some fun! Besides, have you seen some of the cute guys here? I'm going to that dance, with or without you!"
Sera closed her eyes and threw her hands up in defeat. There was no arguing with Kathleen once she made up her mind. "Fine," Mike said as he tossed his skis aside. "Whatever you want Kathleen."
Sera was startled by the amount of resentment in his voice. Kathleen scowled at him as she spun on her heel and stormed back to the ski resort. Danielle glanced at them before hurrying to follow her. Sera bent over to pop her skis off; her earlier elation was gone. "There was no need to get so snippy with her," she told Mike.
"You do realize what will happen when that sun sets," Mike said.
"Yes, I do, but Kathleen doesn't and you have made sure of that. Getting mad at her isn't going to do any good. Arguing with Kathleen is like waving a red flag in front of a bull. I would have been able to convince her to go back eventually, but you can forget it now."
"Sorry," he mumbled.
"I'm taking you back," Liam stated bluntly.
Her mouth gaped as she spun on him. "No, you're not!" she declared.
"Sera, you are not staying here."
"I'm not going back to that cabin and leaving them here!" she cried. "That is not going to happen."
"You are not going back there in the dark!" he grated.
Sera's hands fisted at her sides. "I am not going to leave them. Besides, Beth can get into the cabin too."
"I'll be there, and someone else can come back with us."
"So there are even fewer people here to protect them. No way."
"Sera..."
"I am not going back!" Liam's eyes flashed violently, but she didn't care. She wasn't going to back down from this. Her friends would not be harmed because of her. "They are at risk because of us, and I will not abandon them."
"You are not staying here."
She snatched her skis angrily up. "If you force me to leave, so help me Liam, I will go after Beth myself."
His nostrils flared. "What?"
"I will go out of my way to find her, to bait her. I will do whatever I can to draw her out, as long as it means that they're safe. Do you understand me?" He tried to grab her, but she took a hasty step back. His eyes flashed dangerously again. "I may belong with you, but that doesn't mean that you own me! I still have a mind of my own and whether you like it or not, I am staying. And right now you're pissing me off!"
She slammed her skis into his chest, spun on her heel, and stormed after Kathleen and Danielle. Liam fumbled awkwardly with her skis, too shocked to do much more. "Well now, it seems like Kathleen isn't the only one that you shouldn't wave a red flag in front of," Jack chuckled.
Liam glowered as he thrust the skis at him. "Shut up."
Jack laughed loudly as he caught the skis. "You really did piss her off; bet you're glad you'll be spending eternity with her now!"
Liam cast him a furious look as he spun and headed toward the lodge. His friends echoing laughter only served to infuriate him further with each step he took. He made his way through the small crowd gathered within the main room of the lodge. Sera's anger was like a homing beacon as he left the main room and strode down a hallway.
He found her sitting on one of the leather couches in a small sunroom at the far end of the lodge. There was no one in the room as she stared out the multitude of glass panes that made up the entire back wall of the room. Potted plants and trees were stuffed into every available nook and cranny. Deer heads hung on the wall by the small fireplace.
He crossed the small blue throw rug to stand beside her. She didn't turn away from the window as she watched the skiers coming down the hill. The setting sun washed over her in soft rays that lit her porcelain skin and highlighted the vivid violet blue of her eyes. He took a minute to admire her delicate beauty.
