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“Where is it?” I ask hesitantly.
“It’s far into a conservation area about one hundred and forty miles away. It’s in the middle of nowhere near the mountains.” Darian’s voice doesn’t convey any concern, but the tension in the air is enough to make my skin prickle.
Val’s ears being pinned back doesn’t help either.
I take a deep breath and head into the washroom, “Well, one problem at a time. Let’s eat first before my stomach decides to eat my other organs.”
I enter the kitchen to the smell of breakfast and sigh with relief.
“Is that bacon? Please for the love of God tell me that’s bacon.”
Darian laughs and slides a plate with eggs, sausage links and toast to me. He starts loading it with bacon and my eyes become saucers.
In his hands is a giant container of heaven and I determine right then and there that I must be dead.
“Darian,” I breathe, and he looks at me with concern, “Pinch me, please.”
He laughs, pinching my forearm hard causing me to yelp.
“This isn’t heaven? I’m either dead or this is the best day of my life.” He chokes on air as he laughs, and I sigh dramatically before shoving a slice of bacon into my mouth with a groan.
“This was exactly what my hangover needed,” I say, patting my stomach as I lean back.
Both Darian and Val have the same satisfied smiles on their faces as I’m certain I do as I stalk over to the couch and plop down.
“So what will we need for this trip?” I decide to broach the topic and Darian rubs his jaw at the counter before answering.
“Water, plenty of it and food. A tent and a couple bedrolls, blanket and some other odds and ends. Rations and water will be the most important. Val can hunt for us as long as we have fires but water will be the most crucial to have a steady supply of, particularly for you since you’re human. Val and I can go longer without water and be okay.”
I nod and chew my lip, “So how close can we get by vehicle?”
Darian pulls out his phone and swipes around on a map, “We can get within 60 miles of it, the rest of the distance will be on foot. We’ll need to plan for a four day round trip at the very least.”
I nod, pulling myself to my feet and groan as my head throbs, “I’ll see what I have for hiking gear that we packed, but we may need to make a stop.”
He nods as he puts his plate into the dishwasher, “I didn’t pack anything for hiking so, we’ll definitely need to make a stop… or seven.”
I chuckle and make my way back to my room, Val’s nails gently tap the floor as he trails close behind, leaping onto the bed and observing me as I organize the contents of my carry-on.
I sort through the clothing, ensuring I have essentials such as underwear, socks, running shoes, athletic shorts, joggers, a tank top, a long-sleeve shirt, and a lightweight jacket.
By all counts, considering the duration of the trip, I’ll need at least two more outfits for warmer weather to be comfortable.
The last thing we want is to endure damp clothing while hiking and sleeping, as it can quickly lead to illness and given the unpredictable climate of the mountains, it’s essential to be well-equipped for most scenarios.
I grab a duffel bag from the closet and shove my clothes in it, my new phone is turned off and fully charged as I tuck it into one of the pockets along with the charger.
Hoisting the bag over my shoulder, Val and I head to the living area where Darian is waiting.
“All I need is an extra set or two of clothes,” I say as we approach.
Darian grins and nods, “I need the same, we’ll also need some non-perishable food and water so we’ll stop off at the nearest outlet mall first, then we’ll go to the grocery store on the way out.”
He walks over to me, brushing a lock of hair from my face and tucking it behind my ear, “We’ll follow your lead once we start to get close unless it’s clear where it’s located, then just let me bring it to you.”
I meet his gaze and offer a subtle nod, feeling a gentle tenderness radiating from his eyes that tugs at my heart.
With my duffel bag in hand, he effortlessly slings it over his shoulder and strides toward the door, holding it open for Val and me, “Let’s get this key.” He says with a wink as we walk past him.
