Star all but barreled into me. Her hand clutched my arm. “What was that? Charlotte? D-do you think it’s a lion or a bear?” Her panic shone crystal clear in her rapid questions shooting off one after the other.
“Let’s keep moving. I’m sure it is just a harmless animal.” Even as the words left my mouth, I didn’t believe them, and I doubted Star did either.
A tortured growl sounded again. Star and I looked at each other, and we set off at a dead run over the uneven ground. I’d always been a decent runner, but Star was faster, and she was dragging me. Still, there was no way we could outrun what chased us. The thundering of its footsteps grew closer, and we only had a matter of minutes before the panting of its breath would be on the back of our necks.
“We need to get to higher ground,” I yelled, my breath coming out in wisps as we sprinted.
“Can’t you just zap it or something?” Star suggested.
Yeah, I could, if I was able to summon power that fast. In my current state, I wasn’t confident enough in my abilities to risk it. “There!” I pointed to one of the smaller mountains surrounding us. There was a ledge not too far up, but high enough to hopefully keep this thing from having us for dinner. Star wasted no time scaling the side of the mountain like she did it for fun on Sundays. It had to be adrenaline.
Wish I could steal some of hers. The crag wasn’t super steep, but all the loose rocks and gravel made climbing it difficult. Clasping a rock in the side of the mountain, I pulled myself up, using whatever I could to stabilize my feet. The beast was close behind me.
Ugh. Where was Dash when I needed him?
I would even take the damn bird.
I glanced over my shoulder, my curiosity demanding to know what followed us and how close.
I wish I hadn’t given into the urge.
Although I didn’t know what it was, I did know that the creature wasn’t looking to be friends. I saw its eyes first, flaming orbs of orange. A large lion that looked like it had been crossed with a wolf came ramming through the mist, jaw open, baring sizable sharp teeth. Turning forward, I focused on crawling higher up the cliff to the edge.
Life never went smoothly.
My foot slipped on a loose foothold, and I lost my grasp, leaving me dangling one-handed on the side of a mountain.
“Charlotte!” Star yelled.
Holy crap. I’m going to plunge straight into its salivating mouth.
It took a miracle and upper body strength I didn’t have a few weeks ago, to latch my other hand onto a divot and prevent myself from falling. The beast snapped at my heels, growling as it arched up on its hind legs. I liked my legs attached to my body, but if I didn’t do something, this creature was going to be munching on my limbs.
I managed to get my bearings and scrambled up the incline. “Go! I’m okay,” I told Star who was trying to get to me.
Pulling myself onto the ledge, I collapsed on my back, staring up at the stars and exhaling in quick pants.
“I thought for sure we were going to be lion kabobs,” Star said.
My breathing slowly began to even, unable to believe we hadn’t been eaten alive. “Not going to lie. That was intense.”
“How long do you think that thing will stay down there?” Star asked, and like a brave soul, she peeked over the edge. The beast snarled, and Star jumped.
“All night,” I replied, gazing up into the sky, watching the mist swirl over the top of the mountain. Damn. We were going to lose an entire night’s journey.
Star wrapped her arms around herself. A chill had settled into the air. “What are we going to do?”
Good question. I’d give a kidney for a hot shower. Being out on my own for these last few days had been a rude awakening. How had I ever glamorized my time with Dash? Sure he was cute as shit, but all the other parts—the being hungry, feeling dirty and tired all the time—that sucked. Somehow though, with Dash, it hadn’t seemed so bad… or tough.
Where the hell are you, Dash Darhk?
A black dot appeared in the sky. Blink. He dove down from the peak of the mountain and started flying in rapid circles, squawking like his wings were on fire. “What is his deal?” I grumbled, sitting up, my hands propped behind me.
“Who?” Star asked.
I needed to stop rambling out loud. “Just that stupid bird. He won’t shut up.” Shoving myself to my feet, I brushed off the dust and pebbles clinging to my clothes, not that it would help the state of their appearance.
Star blinked. “What bird?”
My gaze narrowed at her, judging to see if she was screwing with me, but that wasn’t Star’s style. “You don’t see that bird directly above our heads?” I pointed up in the sky to the lunatic still flying in rampaged madness.
She bit her lip, eyes bouncing around the sky. “I can’t see anything through the thick mist.”
And if she couldn’t see the giant bird making crazy loops, something told me she couldn’t hear his obnoxious screeching. I scanned the area, looking for trouble. Why else would the bird be going ape-shit?
A hand covered my mouth, jerking me backwards until I hit a solid form. The danger wasn’t over yet. Tingles danced over my skin. Fear? A blade pressed to my throat. Definitely fear.
“Don’t make a sound,” the assailant threatened.
It was pitch black out, but I’d know that voice anywhere. My heart stopped. The world might have even stopped rotating. “Dash?” I whispered.
“Freckles?” He spun me around, looking at me. Looking might not be the appropriate description. He drank in every angle of my face. “What are you doing here?”
His attractiveness struck me hard, like a bolt of lightning. “You mean on the side of a mountain? I could ask you the same. Isn’t it obvious? I was searching for you.” And hiding from a vicious creature, but details didn’t matter. I had found Dash. I should be jumping up and down.
I had barely finished the last sentence when I was suddenly engulfed in his arms, his woodsy and familiar scent surrounding me. This was more like it. My arms automatically wound around his neck, and I never wanted to let go. I couldn’t believe this was real; he was real. I devoured everything about him. The way he felt. The way he smelled. The way he made me feel.
“I was sure I’d never see you again.” His voice sounded huskier than I remembered and a whole lot sexier. He lowered his head and pressed his lips to mine, and I sighed.
Common sense jumped right out the window. Nothing mattered except for the feel of Dash’s mouth moving over mine. Partly desperate, but mostly sweet, I threw every fear, all the pain I’d endured, the lonely nights missing him, into the kiss. My entire body responded, glowing inside with soft warmth. It was like the sun beamed within me. His fingers spread over my lower back, and I tilted my head as he deepened the kiss.