Dragging a thumb along the hard edge of the crystal, she let her thoughts wander back to Joss. She still felt him in the ache between her legs. Was he all right? She’d probably never know. That thought alone was a knife in her heart. Pushing back the hurt, she dropped the necklace in her pocket and cast a last look around.
Every muscle in her body was tense, her heart pumping as she got ready to abandon the cottage. Erwan wasn’t downstairs. His boat was gone. Only the dinghy drifted in the shallow water. It was just like Erwan to have left in the night. Saying goodbye this morning would’ve been too difficult. She didn’t want to think of it for the fear of breaking down in tears.
Erwan had already gotten rid of the fresh food and taken out the trash. After feeding the animals, she spent a little time with each of them. Tripod, as if sensing something, wouldn’t leave her side. He followed her until she was forced to take a stern tone and order him to stay. It broke her heart. She’d call Rigual like Erwan suggested and ask him to take care of them. Rigual wouldn’t ask questions if she didn’t offer explanations. It wasn’t in his nature.
Because of the rain, she didn’t take the dinghy. Navigating through the mist would be too hazardous. Instead she pulled on her rubber boots and drew the hood of her rain jacket over her head before cycling up the road that led to the harbor of Larmor-Baden. Snow ran out ahead of her, while Rain, Thunder, and Cloud followed. They often accompanied her to the mainland, but today she would have to make them turn around before she got to the harbor. She tried not to think of it as she shielded her eyes against the drops of water that pricked her face. The wind picked up and the rain fell heavier. She pedaled her bike harder into the onslaught of the weather.
By the time she’d crossed the sleeping town and taken the path through the woods along the coast to the jetty, she was shivering. There was too much mud to carry on by bike, so she left it inside the abandoned boathouse on the way and continued on foot. The wolfdogs ran excitedly around her, undisturbed by the wet weather. She hoped Erwan would be safe, and that all of this would blow over soon so they could return to their lives.
Absorbed in her thoughts with one hand shielding her eyes from the rain, she almost bumped into Snow when he came to an abrupt halt. She blinked drops from her eyes. A stranger stood in the path a short distance ahead. Snow growled, his gums pulling back from his teeth.
The rivulets of water that ran through the man’s short brown hair and down his face didn’t seem to bother him. His eyes were wide and open, the same chestnut color as his hair, and his skin was tanned. His hands were shoved into the pockets of a brown leather jacket, the type with wool in the collar that pilots wore, and his jeans were tugged into brown boots.
Still growling, Snow inched forward. Rain and Cloud flanked her as Thunder took a position at her back.
“Quite a pack of wolves you’ve got there,” the man called to her in English.
She raised her voice to be heard above the rain. “What do you want?”
“Are all locals so friendly?” he asked with a grin. When she didn’t respond, he dropped the smile. “I’m on my way to the village. I was hoping to speak to some people in town about the fires. I’m a journalist from Paris.” He extended a hand, but froze with his arm mid-air when Snow barred his teeth again. “I can show you my business card if you like. Would you be willing to answer a few questions?”
“I’m in a hurry.”
“What’s your name?”
Thunder growled behind her. Rain and Cloud crouched low, ready to attack.
“You should call off your dogs,” he said. “You don’t want the legal problems I’ll cause if they bite.”
She didn’t move. Her dogs wouldn’t attack, not without a word or gesture from her. Normally, she wouldn’t allow them to scare a stranger, but she didn’t trust anyone and the last thing she needed was media exposure.
“I just want to talk to you about the fires,” he said again, glancing between Rain and Cloud. “I’m writing an article. I’ll mention your name. Wouldn’t it be cool to see your name in a national newspaper?”
“I don’t know anything about the fires.”
“It’s awful weather to be out. Let me buy you a cup of coffee. Or you could invite me home if you’d feel happier in your own environment. I just want to get more information for my article.”
“I can’t help you, Monsieur. I’m in a hurry. Please move out of the way.”
His eyes tightened, but after a second, he stepped aside.
She hurried up the slope that would take her around the cliff and to the harbor without sparing him another glance. The dogs kept the stranger hostage on the path, only running after her when she was at the top of the hill.
Before they exited the forest, it stopped raining. As if a magic wand had been waved, the mist cleared over the ocean to let the sun through a ring of clouds. A fan of angelic light fell over the flat surface of the sea. She paused to take in the sight. Never before had
