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Chapter Twenty-Four
Stay
I closed my eyes and collapsed on my side, sucking in the beautiful fresh air. Rolling onto my back, I panted, feeling the sand grind in my clutched palms.
Three drops of water landed on my forehead as a shadow blocked the sunlight from my face.
I darted my eyes open to see Ales’ furrowed brow looming over me. “You didn’t like my touch?”
You have got to be kidding me!
“Ales, your touch is… well, it’s dangerous. It’s…” Pure fucking amazingness. Literal fireworks in my mind… and wherever you touch. Beyond painful.
Ales reached for me. “We can use it. Melding it into our advantage. Why are you fearing it?”
I wasn’t sure what he was referring to—him or the Valkyrie. I feared both equally.
“I can’t keep Charlie for much longer.”
Ales tilted his head and surged a step toward me. His fingertips almost grazed my cheek.
I stumbled sideways.
“What’s going on?” A soft rumble came from behind my shoulder.
Oh, great, Logan’s here.
“Don’t tell him.”I pushed the command through the connection to Ales.
“Nothing,” Ales and I said in unison. I pivoted in the pink sand to face Logan.
I watched Logan’s eyes search between Ales’ and the empty sheath on my left thigh.
“Just leave me alone,” I muttered to both men standing on the beach as I turned and ran.
My feet sank into the sand, so I pressed harder. My lungs burned by the time I made it to the black stone.
My feet veered off of the stones, cutting through the dark forest. Leaping over rocks and tree branches, I hurtled my body toward the base of the eastern mountain. The soles of my feet slit open as the sharp stones and stray burs bit past my calluses.
It hurt. Everything hurt. I was so tired of warring with myself.
Gangly tree limbs tore at my arms. I needed to be free of this torment. I bent forward, wincing when I stepped on a gnarled pine cone.
I jumped onto a rough, black boulder and leapt to the ground, rolling as I fell.
“Charlie, wait.” Logan’s words sliced through the air.
I picked up speed, zigzagging through the trees and skirting around fallen trunks. Thick drops of rain broke through the canopy of the forest. The water began to pelt my fevered skin, and still I ran, sprinting closer to the imposing mountain.
If I saw his face, I would break down. I was trying to do the right thing—stay away from him. Charlie would be gone, tonight. He wouldn’t want what remained.
The small path to came into view, and a large mass struck me from the side.
My hips hit the ground first, then my shoulder and head as his heavy form rolled off me.
“What didn’t you understand back there?” I cried.
I twisted on my knees. The rain now poured down in heavy sheets, soaking my hair and running off my armor like a river.
