Page 138 of Beasts of Mine

“You don’t automatically get the bag.” I adjusted the strap higher on my shoulder.

“I’m courting you.” Tavian reminded me, gesturing toward himself as though those three words settled the matter.

“I know.” I glanced toward Tavian, already suspicious of whatever logic he intended to build from that statement.

“I carry things.” Tavian gestured toward the camera bag again.

“I’ve noticed.” I checked the side pocket holding my spare battery without taking my attention completely off him, remembering several previous attempts to relieve me of whatever I happened to be carrying.

“What if I ask nicely?” Tavian offered after considering that for a moment, pulling his shoulders back and arranging his face into an expression that belonged on a much better-behaved man. I turned toward him and waited, unable to stop the faint amusement building when he actually cleared his throat before continuing.

“May I carry your bag, Evie?” Tavian asked with exaggerated politeness, one hand held formally toward the strap while the other stayed tucked behind his back.

“No.” I tightened the strap and shook my head, watching Tavian’s hopeful expression collapse into theatrical disappointment. “You may carry something later when I’m tired enough to appreciate it instead of using courtship as an excuse to steal my equipment before I’ve even left.”

“That sounds like a future yes.” Tavian brightened immediately, apparently deciding that was the only part of my answer worth hearing.

“It sounds like you need to learn patience.” I pointed toward the trees before Mara could come back and find him standing at the edge of the station clearing, already hearing movement from somewhere inside the building.

“I know patience.” Tavian straightened with false dignity and began retreating beneath the vegetation, managing to maintain the performance for all of three steps before a quiet laugh escaped him.

The screen door opened less than a minute later. Mara returned with a fresh mug of coffee in one hand and the field log tucked beneath her other arm, completely unaware that my route for the day had changed while she was gone. Tavian stayed far enough inside the trees that I couldn’t see him anymore, although I had no doubt his hearing allowed him to follow every word.

“Route?” Mara asked as she sat down, opened the log, and uncapped her pen, settling immediately back into the routine that started almost every field day.

“Northwest from the eastern fork.” I opened my map and traced the direction Tavian had just shown me, following the higher ground away from the stream with my fingertip. “There’s supposed to be a waterfall about an hour and a half from the fork at my pace, with a wider pool beneath it and a lot of animal traffic.”

“Supposed to be?” Mara repeated, peering at me over the edge of the map while her pen hovered above the route column.

“I got a very confident recommendation.” I kept my face straight while folding the map again, although the quiet offended sound from somewhere inside the trees nearly ruined it.

“From the local wildlife?” Mara asked as her gaze flicked toward the vegetation, amusement settling around her eyes.

“Something like that.” I tucked the map securely back into its sleeve before Mara could ask for clarification I had no intention of giving, making sure the waterproof cover was completely closed.

“Return?” Mara asked as she wrote the route into the field log and moved her pen to the next column, all traces of teasing disappearing as she returned to the part of the conversation that actually mattered.

“Six.” I checked the radio clipped to my belt, then pressed one hand briefly against the outer pocket holding my emergency locator to make sure it was still secure. “I’ll call if that changes.”

“Six unless you radio?” Mara confirmed as she wrote the time into the log, glancing up long enough to make sure we were both working from the same plan.

“Unless I radio.” I nodded to Mara, appreciating the familiar routine even if neither of us needed the reminder explained.

“Good. Try not to acquire another surprise magazine emergency.” Mara closed the log and set her pen across the top, reaching for her coffee again once the safety details were recorded.

“I make no promises about what editors do while I’m in the forest.” I resettled my bag as I stepped away from the table, feeling the familiar weight of my equipment settle between my shoulders.

“Fair. Have fun talking to the wildlife.” Mara lifted her coffee in a small farewell, the amusement in her face telling me she still thought my habit was eccentric rather than supernatural.

I headed onto the trail alone. Tavian didn’t reappear until the station had disappeared completely behind several bends and enough dense vegetation that there was no chance Mara could look down the path and see him. Then he stepped from behind a broad tree, his small field pack now settled properly over both shoulders.

“You know, hiding beside trails is generally considered unsettling behavior.” I told Tavian as he fell into step beside me, ducking around a low branch while the station’s generator faded behind us and the layered noise of insects took its place.

“I wasn’t hiding from you.” Tavian glanced back toward the trail with a small shrug, stepping over a root without bothering to look down.

“That somehow makes it worse.” I adjusted my camera strap as we reached the first gradual slope, already feeling humidity collect along the back of my neck.

“She knows?” Tavian asked, curiosity replacing some of the amusement in his face while he briefly looked back toward the station we could no longer see.