But something told her there was more to it than that. When she’d explained about the antidote that would repair the damage the hybrid serum had done to his DNA, she’d expected him to jump at the chance to be human. Instead, he’d started talking about never being normal again. That made no sense.
Even more confusing—if that were possible—was the way Tanner had reacted after he’d carried her into his tent. She could tell from the bulge in his jeans he’d been aroused, but instead of taking her up on the offer to share the sleeping bags, he’d bolted. It was like he couldn’t stand the sight of her, and that rejection had hurt more than she could ever have imagined.
“Did they grab anyone this time?” Tanner asked Burt.
Zarina stilled, hand on a long-sleeved T-shirt. The thought that whoever attacked Burt’s camp had kidnapped people hadn’t even entered her mind. Who were these lunatics? She glanced over her shoulder to see Burt’s eyes fill with sadness.
“Josh is missing.” Burt shook his head. “He was right beside me during the fight, but then next time I looked, he was nowhere to be found. We’re still looking, but…”
Tanner growled. “What the hell was Josh doing fighting? He’s frigging seventeen years old!”
Burt met Tanner’s gaze. “He’s old enough to carry a weapon, so he’s old enough to protect the camp.”
Tanner cursed and turned away from her and Burt to gaze into the forest. Zarina wondered if it was because his eyes had turned hybrid red. She tightened her grip on the shirt in her hand, fighting the urge to comfort him. Something told her he wouldn’t appreciate a gesture like that at the moment.
“Chad thinks it would be a good idea if you stayed with us until we figure out how to stop these people,” Burt said. “He doesn’t think you should be out here on your own.”
Tanner grunted but didn’t turn around. Zarina didn’t have to see his face to know he was still angry. “Chad wants me in his camp to help protect the place.”
Burt shrugged. “Maybe. I know I’d feel better if you were there.”
Tanner made no comment.
“Look, I have no doubt you’ll be fine on your own, but are you ready to risk Zarina?” Burt demanded. “Are you sure you can keep her safe from these psychos?”
That must have struck a nerve, because Tanner swung around, his face dark. He went crazy at the mere notion she might so much as stub her toe. The idea that she might be in danger would make him go ballistic. She appreciated that he wanted to keep her safe, but she hated that he thought he could do it without asking her opinion on the matter.
“It’s not really an issue,” Tanner stated flatly. “She’s leaving after she checks on Lorraine.”
Straightening up, she glared at him. “No, I’m not.”
Burt must have found that amusing, because his mouth twitched under his mustache. “Do what’s best for you and Zarina, Tanner, but if you want to stay with us, you’re welcome to. Like I said, we could use your help.” He gave Zarina a nod. “I’ll tell Lorraine you’ll be stopping by.”
Zarina waited until Burt had disappeared into the trees before looking Tanner’s way. “Okay, what the heck was all that about? Who are Burt and his friends? Why don’t they trust doctors? And who are these crazies that keep attacking their camp?”
“They’re preppers,” Tanner said casually, as if that explained everything. “They have a place north of here, just on the edge of the federal property above Lake Chelan. They don’t know who keeps attacking their camp, but a few nearby prepper communities have been hit recently, too.”
Zarina waited for him to say more, but he didn’t. Instead, he crouched down and started folding the blanket he’d slept on last night. She couldn’t believe he’d been comfortable using nothing but a thin piece of fabric to keep him warm, but that came with being a hybrid.
She forced her attention away from the display of rippling muscles as he moved and focused on what he’d said. “Okay, maybe I’m losing something in translation, but what’s a prepper? And why would anyone want to attack them? Are they wealthy or something?”
Tanner chuckled softly. “No, they’re definitely not wealthy. Preppers are people who think there’s going to be a big disaster in the world at some point, so they stockpile food, water, and other supplies. As for why they don’t trust doctors, they just prefer to depend on themselves instead of outsiders.”
Zarina folded her arms. “So they’re paranoid kooks waiting for the zombie apocalypse?”
Tanner finished folding the blanket and stood, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “They’re not kooks. I’ll admit, some of them are a little more paranoid than others, especially when it comes to the authorities, but most of them are normal, everyday people who live off the grid.”
“Who keep a year’s supply of food in their pantry,” she said.
“Who keep a year’s supply of food in their pantry,” he agreed. “A lot of them—like Burt and his friends—have community farms, too.”
Zarina nodded. That she could understand. Farms were a way of life back home in Russia. She even got the part about not trusting the authorities. That was a way of life in Russia, too. But living off the grid and keeping that much food on hand sounded a little odd to her.
“So why are these people attacking the preppers if they’re not wealthy?” she asked. “Is it to take their food and supplies?”
“The attackers weren’t after food or supplies, that’s for sure.”
Tanner dropped to one knee beside her pack, then took everything out. He hesitated a moment when he ran into the stack of panties that must have been all the way in
