I’m not scared, but I wonder if I should be. The sun is setting and darkness will soon be over us. I worry the smoke from the fire will give us away. Tyler continues to sleep. He jerks from time to time from his dreams. I hold him closer to me, in an attempt to keep his bad dreams away.
As darkness falls over us, Vi returns carrying a rabbit by its foot, “Found some dinner.”
“Looks good.” I slide my legs out from under Tyler’s head, placing it gently on the ground. “Want some help?”
My legs feel fuzzy and sting from not moving for so long. I stand and fall back to the ground. “Ahh! I think this is worse than my leg cramps.”
Tyler wakes, startled by my cry.
Vi laughs, “She’s fine, Tyler. I’m keeping an eye on her.”
“I’ve rested enough,” he sits the rest of the way up and holds on to his side, “She’s hard to monitor.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say.
“You do too,” he says.
Vi prepares the rabbit for dinner, cleaning it and roasting it over the fire. I like rabbit and have had it many times at home in Kentucky. I’m just not hungry. I’m worried about my family and the rest of my team.
Tyler reaches for my hand, “They’ll be here soon.” He squeezes it, “Can I see?”
I nod and place my palm to his chest, over his heart. The warmth from his palm on my chest lessens my anxiety. He shows me the day when he met my family in the kitchen of my parent’s house in Kentucky. Their proud smiles are shining. The smile on my face is just as proud to be introducing them to him.
“You don’t carry this on your own, Kris.” Tyler takes his hand from my chest. When he shows me memories he sees something else than I do. He sees my worries and pain. More or less he can read my mind. I never see his thoughts. Maybe in time, I will be able to.
“Why didn’t you show me your pain? You always see mine, but I never see yours.”
“Right now, you have enough on your plate than to worry about what I’ve been through.” His dream of losing me echoes in my head. I know I should tell him I entered the dream with him, but I don’t think now is the time.
“Clearly it wasn’t a walk in the park.” I feel guilt bubble inside me, “I know they did more than just beat you.” My finger brushes over his arm, “They injected you with pain serum, didn’t they? That’s why you couldn’t walk.” My voice is loud and harsher than I intend.
“Enough, Kris, he’s right. This isn’t the time,” Vi says.
She’d been so quiet I forgot she was with us. I want to argue but know it would be a lost battle. She turns her attention back to the rabbit.
Tyler pulls me in close to him. I’m mad. Not at him, just at the situation. Love stories are never like the ones in the movies. Not all endings are happy; some end before they are due, and others are heartbreaking. I hope our ending is happy. At this point, I’m unsure how that’s going to be possible.
◆◆◆
After dinner, Vi heads back into the woods, doing a perimeter check and giving Tyler and I some time alone. I’m still unsure if she’s a shapeshifter or not. I know I have powers, but that’d be another power I would love to have.
The stars shine brightly overhead. It calms me to be in nature again, out of isolation and able to do what I please, at least for the most part. I can’t help but smile.
“You’re beautiful when you smile,” Tyler says.
I sit on his lap facing him and wrap my arms around his neck, “So you tell me.”
Tyler kisses me lightly, lifting my tank top up a few inches. His thumb brushes over my birthmark. “It’s the truth.”
I kiss him back, harder than he had kissed me. The feelings I’ve been holding back for so long surface again. I want to fight them off, but I can’t anymore. Thinking he was going to die took away my fear of being vulnerable. I pull his shirt off over his head, careful of the wounds on his back. I should’ve probably left it on him, but I want to feel his skin against mine.
Tyler runs his hands up my back, one hand in-between my shoulder blades, the other on the small of my back. He pulls me in closer to him. “Breathe,”he whispers in my ear.
I hadn’t noticed I wasn’t breathing. I gasp for air. “Sorry.”
He kisses my neck, “You okay?”
“Yeah.” I reassure him. I want this, now. I’m not the same person I was the many nights ago in the cabin by my house. We had a pretty intense make-out session, but I didn’t want it to move any farther. Tyler understood and didn’t push for anything more. I had been used in my past relationship with Jason, and I wasn’t going to let myself be used like that again. Still, this time here with Tyler is different. I know he won’t hurt me, and I know he isn’t the same kind of person Jason was. I can’t hold my past relationship against Tyler.
I don’t hold back anymore. I don’t want to. I let myself just enjoy the time I have with Tyler now. I don’t know how many more good times we have left to share. He kisses my neck in the area he knows always gets me. I sigh. The feeling of relief flows through me. I kiss his neck and move back up to his lips. I run my fingers through his hair and let his hands roam over my body. His every movement continues to excite me more. We’ve both waited a long time for this and I’m happy it is finally happening. I don’t know what tomorrow brings and right now, this seems like the best thing we could do together.
◆◆◆
Tyler lays asleep beside me by the fire. The early morning light shines through the trees. Thinking about last night with Tyler makes me smile. The way he touches me is different from anyone who has touched me before. He is caring and loving, so gentle and so incredibly amazing. I was worried he wouldn’t have the strength, but if he didn’t, he sure didn’t show it. I kiss his forehead before getting up.
I sit up and redo my braid. Trying to cover up the evidence.
“Have fun?” Vi asks, smiling.
“Maybe.” I grin.
She winks, “Maybe you’ll be less tense now.”
“Hard to say.” I shrug.
“I figured it was best for the two of you to have some time together.” Her smile fades, “I only wish Beau was here.”
I know she’s worried, just as I am. Tyler had said they would be here soon. When is soon? It’s long past what I consider soon. I hug her tightly, “He will be.” I want to see that everyone is all right, Beau, Kyle, Alex, Sarah, and Neiamiah. I want to see my family again and embrace them all in a hug.
Chapter 27
It’s midafternoon, and Vi paces back and forth in front of Tyler and I. She’s been at it for hours now. “I wish you would sit down. You’re making me nervous.” If she keeps it up, she may wear a permanent line in the ground where she has been walking.
“I can’t help it,” Vi says. Her voice shakes a little with worry. “They should’ve been here by now.” She extends her arm out by her side. “Beau said they may have to portal around from place to place until they felt sure they were not being followed. He didn’t want to give away where we are.”
“I’m sure they will be here at any moment.” I squeeze her arm gently and try to reassure her.
“He said they would avoid communicating telepathically in case Angela has figured out how to read their minds with some kind of technology.” Vi looks me in the eye. “I know he wants to do what is best, but this just sitting here, waiting, is driving me absolutely crazy!” She walks away from us. “I’m going for a walk.”
Tyler and I watch as she disappears deeper into the woods. I know she’s torn between being hopeful and fearing the worst. We all feel that constant pull between the two.
“Alright, Tyler,” I say, kneeling beside him. “I need to look at your wounds.” He holds his wrists out to me and I undo the gauze bandage. They have healed some. They are scabbed over now and no longer bleeding. I apply more of the green paste he had in the medical bag before covering them back up with more gauze. “They are healing,” I say, smiling.
His bruised
face is a lighter shade of a green-yellow color. It looks better too, but I know from my own experience that it is rather uncomfortable to have on your face. Tyler watches my every move. He is watching to see if I’m doing okay.
“Tyler, how did all the supplies get here?” I ask.
“This was all planned out, remember?” Tyler winks.
“But how did you get the weapons out of headquarters for us?” I ask.
“Jack.”
“What? That doesn't make any sense.”
Tyler’s fingers entwine with mine, “Not everything is as it seems.”
Jack, the guy who gave me so much trouble when we first met. Who volunteered to brutalize? Who was at Angela’s beck and call? He helped Tyler go against her rules? My heart feels heavy; why didn’t I see it before? Now, his words ring in my ears. Don’t do anything stupid. Don’t fight me. He was trying to help me. The entire time.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Angela. She’s always watching. We couldn’t tell you.” Tyler wraps his arm around me, “I told you before, there’s so much more to this world then what meets the eye. We believe what we want to believe.”
“You don’t get it. I just stood there and watched him die. I did nothing.” My vision is becoming blurred from my tears, “I should’ve done something.”
“No.” Tyler pulls me closer to him, “There wasn’t anything you could’ve done. He knew you didn’t know what was going on. He played his part well and knew the risks he was taking.”
Vi sits beside me. I hadn’t noticed she had come back. “We all have our own parts to play.” She smiles, “All of us know what risks lie ahead of us if we choose to take on this endeavor. Don’t blame yourself for things you had no control over.”
Their words are reassuring, but it doesn’t make it any easier to accept leaving him. Why didn’t I see it? He was kind to me when he was within whispering distance.
A loud bang comes from the skies above. I jump up, bow in hand.
Tyler places his hand over mine, stopping me from retrieving an arrow. “Just a second.” He edges toward two gigantic oak trees.
Vi stands beside me, a tomahawk in hand.
The others from our group appear breathless and stumbling. They get to us and fall to the ground on their backs, panting. Vi is at Beau’s side, hugging and kissing him. He smiles and embraces her.
I kneel beside Kyle and Alex. They smile and give me the thumbs up. Seeing they’re okay has given me a little more hope.
I help them to their feet and embrace them both tightly. “I’m so glad you guys are alright.” My heart feels lighter and joy expels any thought of sadness. Even if it’s just for a moment, I welcome the feeling.
Tyler and Neiamiah start back to the two gigantic oak trees. Neiamiah limps but doesn’t seem to be fazed by it. Sarah appears in front of them, Tyler embraces her. Her body goes limp in his arms. My heart stops at the sight of it.
I keep my distance, unsure if I could take seeing Sarah in such a terrible condition.
Tyler turns and meets my eye. “I need your help!” He yells.
I push my thoughts away. I throw my bow across one shoulder and run to his side. Sarah’s pale and has a needle mark on her arm. I can only guess that Angela drugged her so she could create the robot. My stomach knots and I feel sick again. A feeling that doesn’t seem to stay away for long. “What’s wrong with her?”
Neiamiah’s eyes meet mine, “She’s tired. Being pregnant hasn’t made this any easier on her.”
“She’s pregnant?”
“Yeah, but she may lose the baby,” Tyler says, focusing his attention on Sarah.
I hadn’t seen it. I never put the two of them together. I’ve been too worried about my difficulties to pay attention to the people around me. How selfish I have been.
Tyler carries her to our camp and lays her down a few feet away from the others. “Let me know when she wakes.”
Neiamiah kisses Sarah’s cheek lightly. He stays by her side, watching over her and comforting her while she sleeps. The way these guys care for their mates is truly nothing less than beautiful. Big, strong, aggressive, intimidating men who aren’t afraid to show their admiration for the women they love are beautiful. I saw it first with Tyler, then Beau, and now with Neiamiah.
“Where’s my family?” I ask, noticing they are not here.
Tyler’s eyes show pain, “They couldn’t find them.”
“I’m going back. Tell me the code for the keypad, thingy.” I demand.
He wraps his arms around me, “Kris, I can’t let you go.”
I push him away. “It’s not up to you. Let me go!” Tears stream down my cheeks, making it difficult for me to see.
Tyler holds me tighter; I can’t push him away. He’s too strong and I’m now so weak.
I scream as my heart continues to break into pieces. I’m not sure how much more it can stand before there isn’t anything left. Angela has killed four people in my family. When the time comes, I will take great satisfaction in taking care of her.
◆◆◆
I don’t know how long Tyler holds me, but I know I soaked his shirt with my tears and I’m tired.
We go deeper into the woods, away from the others. Straddling a fallen tree trunk, I wipe my puffy eyes with my hands. Tyler sits across from me. His hands rest on my knees.
“Are you alright?”
“No,” I say. Anger boils inside me. “I’m not okay. Every time I get asked I think I should answer with yes but you know what, no, I’m not okay at all. All of this shit is tearing me apart and there isn’t a damn thing I can do to fix it!” My hands shake as much as my voice does.
Tyler smiles and takes my hand in his, kissing it lightly before placing it against his chest. “Feel that?”
Tyler’s heartbeat is calming, “Yeah.”
“You still have family, Kris. We are all family.”
I know he loves me, and I love him. My family means everything to me, and a part of me is gone. I haven’t just lost a brother, but a mom, dad, and Janet, who is like a second mother to me. I shake my head. “I’m just so tired of feeling pain.”
“You feel pain because you’re alive. It’s a reminder of how much you’ve loved, lost, and sacrificed. Without pain, there’s no healing.” Tyler squeezes my hand, “I promised to stay with you. I won’t break that promise and I won’t let you break yours.”
The promise we made a few weeks ago now seems like years. My life has changed and I’m lost. I have to stay strong. Angela wants me to go running back to headquarters with guns blazing. Anger and thoughtlessness make for an easy target.
“Tyler, stay with me always.”
“Always.”
Chapter 28
Sarah’s cries alarm us. We run full speed back to camp. She’s curled up in a ball. Neiamiah sits beside her on his knees, holding on to her.
“What’s wrong with her?” Neiamiah asks.
“She’s losing the baby.” Tyler meets my eye, “Stay with her.”
I kneel beside her. “Shh, it’s okay. Tyler will help you.” I know he won’t be able to save the baby; it’s way too soon for it to be born. Only now, that I know, can I see she’s pregnant. She has a little bump, only slightly noticeable.
Fighting Secrets: Unbreakable Series, Book 2 Page 16
