Page 12 of Taken By Shadows

I screwed up my mouth and bit my lip.

I could tell him. I would. I could do that.

He’d understand. He had to.

I palmed the rock and flexed my hand three more times before dropping the stone to the cushioned forest floor.

As I cleared the trees, I could hear the sound of a stream just up ahead. I called out for Bray, impatience lacing my tone.

Rushing water and the forest’s creeks and groans were my only answer.

“Bray? Come on. I need to talk to you.”

Where was that godsdamned boy? He wouldn’t have left me, would he? Maybe he was more annoyed at our argument than he’d let on.

I kept walking until I saw a pile of clothing on the riverbank. The water was flowing quickly, and the bank was high.

“If you’ve fallen in, I’m not coming in after you.” I scanned the trees and saw nothing. I didn’t think he would leave his clothes behind to go foraging in the forest, even as impulsive as Bray was.

“Bray!” I called out, louder this time.

Nothing was visible under the chopping rip of the river, even as I knelt on the bank. Panic gripped me like a pale hand reaching to pull me under at the sound of the rushing waters around me. He couldn’t have fallen in … I whipped around to look at the trees once more.

Nothing.

The river ran swiftly away with the angle of the hill, and there were rocks and ripping curves all along the banks.

Terror filled my bones as I reached for the slicing surface of the water.

A splash hit me in the face and a cold hand gripped my wrist. A shriek escaped me, to my own mortification and to Bray’s booming laughter.

“You ass! What were you thinking? I was about to go in after you!” I stumbled back onto the grassy bank while Bray stood waist-deep in water. His chestnut hair was darker when it was wet, the curls tighter.

Glistening as he stood from the cool waters, his chest was bare and far more solid than the last time I’d seen it.

I couldn’t deny that he had changed—a lot.

“You’re welcome to come join me.” He brushed his curls back with two wet hands. His stubble was sharp with the river clinging to him.

“No thanks.” I clucked my tongue and folded my arms. I was in no mood for Bray’s advances. All I wanted was to get this over with. “I just need to talk to you.”

As if that didn’t portend to something bigger, he just said, “So talk. I’m not going anywhere. At least not until you pass me my clothes.”

I picked up the bundle of clothing and hooked his pants over a finger. “I’m serious.” I turned around and held the pants behind me. “Climb out and get dressed. I’m not doing this while you’re like that.”

He laughed, and I could hear him wading through the water. “Like what?”

I turned with the instinct of feeling someone behind me. Gasping, I closed my eyes from the sight of him fully naked before me. The pants dangling between us were all that hid him from view.

“Bray! What are you doing!” I swung back around and dropped the fabric at his feet.

“Ha! I never thought you were such a prude, Gen.”

“I’m not. I just don’t want to see my friend naked right now. It will just make hugging you goodbye far too awkward.” I tried to make a joke of it, but I realised too late that I’d just let it slip out. No softening the blow.

The only sound for a moment was the river crashing behind us.

“What are you talking about, Gen? You’re leaving? You can’t leave.”