Page 127 of The Darkest Chase

Rolf crouches next to me, cocking his head like he sees something significant.

From the hint of yellowing on the blades, I’d say this happened last night.

Lifting my head, I scan around slowly until I find what I’m looking for.

A few leaves, torn free from a low-hanging branch about shoulder height. A perfectly good height for a grown man to fit.

Someone shoved their way through while the branches and twigs caught on their clothes and then snapped back with some ripped foliage. Half-torn bits still cling to the stem while the rest fluttered to the ground.

That way.

I slip two fingers between my lips and whistle.

“Talia, through here.” I toss my head toward the small opening in the trees.

Breathless, flushed, and lovely with her blue eyes sky-bright, she comes bounding over. Every step makes her chest sway and strain against the pink plaid.

“You found something?”

“Maybe.” I loop Rolf’s leash around my hand and duck under the branches. “Follow me. Stay close.”

She’s more subdued as we slip under the canopy. The sunlight filtering through the trees forms a strange mosaic around us.

I let silence reign, keeping my attention on the trail, looking for those little telltale markers that say someone’s been here—a snapped twig, a single homespun thread on a bit of flaky bark.

Eventually, I can’t stand it.

“So are you going to tell me what happened?”

“Ah?” She sounds startled. I glance back to make sure she didn’t trip, but she’s just looking at me guiltily. “Oh. Right. Um…”

I stop, turning back to face her. She stumbles and pulls up short in front of me but doesn’t resist when I reach for her hands.

Rolf shifts between us, looking up at her with soft eyes.

“Talia,” I whisper. “Whatever’s wrong, you can tell me.”

“Can I?” She stares at our clasped hands, her fingers curled loosely in mine. “Xavier came on to me pretty hard today. I was thinking about you during a creative meeting and I guess I spaced, and he thought… he thought I was mooning over him or something. He grabbed my face and was leering at me—”

“He grabbed you? That fuck touched you?”

Violence flares in my blood.

My hands burn like I can already feel his throat.

It’s settled. If I ever get the chance, I’ll tear it right out.

“I kinda ran away. I almost had an asthma attack,” she continues. “That’s when I saw Eustace give him the camera. She was waiting for him, I guess, and he followed me outside. I think he was trying to explain it away and make what happened feel less creepy. I don’t know.”

Goddamn.

If we were any closer to the Arrendell mansion, I’m not sure Xavier would be alive tonight.

My hands clench tighter.

I barely stop myself before I crush her hand.

My jaw tightens until there’s an audible pop from the joint.

---