Page 14 of Break Out the Girl

The wolf grumbles, then shuffles his paws against the gravel as his form begins to shift back. It’s fascinating to watch his bones click and snap until the Digger stands once more human. I continue to be thankful that clothing rematerializes after the shift.

“The RRT passed the ridge,” he grunts, ignoring me entirely to address Aurora. “But it looks like they’re setting up a search grid at the base of the valley. We should stay here until daylight, Princess.”

Aurora stands up, stepping back, though her eyes linger on my face for one more assessing second. “Agreed. And François needs time to recover anyway.” She cocks her head on one side. “But not long. I know it doesn’t need saying, but Sky is still our priority.”

“Naturellement,” I murmur in return, leaning my head back against the weeping stone wall.

Bevan moves closer to the cave-mouth, fully alert. That is good. Someone has to be on watch, and it cannot be me.

So currently, I need him.

A heavy silence settles over the four of us. Even the goat is quiet, eyes closed as his arms encircle Aurora.

As I begin to sink into sleep, one thought keeps circling around my head.

They came back for me.

Even though my current value is nil, to these people—it doesn’t seem to factor.

I don’t understand it.

I know I’m not wanted. Not as a friend, not as a lover, and certainly not as family.

Yet still, here they are.

Perhaps…

Perhaps there is hope.

✽✽✽

I do not sleep long, but when the snake shifts, stretching its scales beneath my skin, I know it’s ample. Once more, I am connected with my beast.

My hands itch. The raw, peeling edges of my flesh are already knitting back together, leaving a stiff crust of the dried dark fluid over my palms. I curl my fingers, testing the tension.

Better.

Thank Gods.

I knew the weakness was merely temporary.

Looking around, I see the goat is still completely entangled with Aurora. His russet-furred legs are tucked beneath his body, one cloven hoof resting centimeters from her sneaker, while his human arms are wrapped tightly around her middle. Her head nestles into the crook of his chest.

The intimacy of the pose makes my chest burn, but I do not interfere.

Aurora is peaceful. Let her rest.

Across the cavern, the Digger senses my movement. His amber-gold eyes pivot towards me, narrowing into two sharp slits of suspicion. “Stop staring at her,” he grunts.

“I shall look at whatever pleases me, Bevan.” For a moment there is only the drip, drip, drip of water to be heard, but then I get to my feet—enjoying having my body returned to its superior structure. “If you have a problem, talk to the goat. He appears to have no concept of personal boundaries. I would have thought that also bothered you.”

From the tangled heap of two bodies, a sigh sounds.

Aurora peels open one eye, then pushes herself up, stretching her spine until her joints pop. “Neither of you have the right to be bothered about who I sleep with.” She flushes slightly as she realizes the double-meaning. “And London is like an electric blanket, so quit it.”

I smooth the front of my damp twill jumpsuit with my crusty, peeling palms, and center myself. I will not bicker in front of her. “Good morning, chérie.”

Taliesin steps into the center of the cave, his face hard. “Enough talking, we need to move. There’s a freshwater spring right next to the cave entrance, so drink your fill, then we get going.”