I ran, racing down the path in the direction of The Temple, pulling my phone from my pocket. I thought of the looters, of Merl breathing down my neck and my throat constricted as the sound of footsteps followed me through the trees. Maybe I should have suspected the Night Keepers, but somehow I didn’t think it was them.
I fumbled onto Monroe’s contact, blinded by the brightness of the screen as I hurried to press call.
Maybe I’m just being paranoid but-
I crashed into someone full speed and a yell of fright escaped me. Strong hands grabbed me and I threw my fist out in a burst of fear, throat punching my attacker as hard as I could.
Blake wheezed, stumbling back as he let me go, clutching his throat with both hands.
“Oh shit,” I gasped.
“Why?” he choked and a heavy breath fell from my lungs.
“I thought you were attacking me,” I said, a laugh suddenly leaving me as the relief of his company made me relax. All was quiet in the woods, so I guessed whoever it was had gone. Or they were still watching…
I shuddered, moving close to Blake, craving more of the comfort his presence bought me.
He coughed a few times then straightened his spine and yanked me against him, making my heart pound for a whole different reason.
“You wanna explain why you were charging down the path like a gazelle with its tail on fire?”
I opened my mouth to reply, but the truth felt stupid now. My imagination must have been getting carried away. Since Merl, I was always seeing shadows where there were none, expecting wraiths to descend on me in the night.
“Huh Cinders? Because we’re not leaving this spot until you answer me,” Blake growled, the threat in his eyes clear.
I rested my hand on his bicep, shifting closer and his arms softened around me. “I thought there was someone following me up in the trees,” I admitted, a blush sliding into my cheeks. It sounded even more stupid when I said it out loud.
Blake didn’t laugh at me though, his gaze shifted to the woods, his eyes narrowing like a hunter’s. “Did you get a look at them?”
“No…just footsteps. And a white face, maybe.”
“A mask?” he snarled and my heart juddered.
I frowned, trying to think. But Bait wouldn’t have been out there following me, why would he? He was scared of his own shadow these days. “Maybe, I’m not sure.” I tugged his arm. “Let’s just go back to The Temple.”
“No, Cinders, I can’t do that.” His eyes were still fixed on the trees, his jaw pulsing like an aggravated beast. If there really was someone watching us right now, I was a hundred percent sure they were shitting themselves, not planning an attack. “Wait here.” He slipped past me and the heat of his body went with him as he marched up into the pines.
I hugged my arms around myself against the cold and a tinny voice reached me from somewhere. It was like someone was shouting but really, really far away.
I gasped as I realised I’d called Monroe and held my phone to my ear.
“-I’m coming this second just hold on!” he cried.
“Nash, no - sorry,” I blurted.
“Oh thank fuck. Are you alright?” he demanded, sounding out of breath like he was running. “I heard you scream…I, fuck, tell me you’re alright.”
“I’m alright. False alarm. Sorry to scare you. Blake’s with me now.”
“What happened?” he pressed.
“I thought someone was following me,” I said, chewing on my lower lip as guilt trickled through me for making him worry.
“Following you?” he questioned, a note of concern in his voice.
“Blake’s gone to check it out.”
“He left you on your own?” he snarled.
“I’m fine, Nash, I don’t think anyone would come at me while Blake Bowman is prowling through the woods hunting them. Besides, if it was just a student, I could floor them easy enough. I just…got a fright I guess.”
“Of course you did.” He sighed. “That fucker who chased you into the crypt is always gonna haunt you if you let him, princess. But he’s gone. No one’s ever going to hurt you again,” he promised, though it was a promise we both knew he couldn’t keep. “Not physically anyway,” he muttered, hate filling his voice.
Blake’s broad form reappeared amongst the trees as he headed back this way.
“Thanks…I’ll see you soon,” I said.
“Be careful.”
“Always.” I hung up, tucking my phone away as Blake stepped onto the path then cupped his hands around his mouth and howled like a fucking wolf.
“If any one is out here hunting my girl, I will rip your fucking intestines out with my bare hands if I find you!” he roared and I gasped at the loudness of his voice echoing all over campus and bouncing back from the mountain.
He strode towards me with intent, his arm locking around my shoulders as he started walking me along the path in the direction of The Temple. There was a formidable energy rolling off of him and I wondered if he really would follow through on that threat if he found the perpetrator.
“So, why were you out here anyway?” I asked.
“I was coming to get you,” he said gruffly.
I was about to spurt my usual line that I didn’t need an escort, but tonight it didn’t seem like the worst thing in the world so I buttoned my lip.
“Thank you,” I said. “For checking the woods.”
“I’ve got your back. Always,” he said easily, like there was absolutely no questioning those words. “My mom used to say-”
He stopped dead, shutting his mouth tight
