Page 7 of Between Imminent Fates

Key was impressed by the strategy. “True.”

Together, they began walking down the mountain. It had been ages since she’d been on the trail, choosing instead to teleport to the top whenever she felt compelled to get away.

The spitting rain turned colder as the wind picked up and the temperature began dropping. Beside her, Jax shrugged off his windbreaker and offered it to her.

When she gave him a look, he simply said, “It’ll give me peace of mind. My parents would be rolling in their graves if they knew I stayed toasty warm while you shivered beside me.”

She shrugged into it, subtly inhaling that same mix of leather and spice she noticed earlier. Jax had been right: she was warmer, even if her supernatural nature would keep her from hypothermia. In the immortal society, chivalry was still alive and well—and Jax had just proven it hadn’t died out with humanity either.

As they approached a split in the path, Key took the opportunity. “I’m this way.”

He shook his head when she started to unzip his jacket. “Keep it. I have a shockingly large collection of windbreakers.” He paused, then asked, “Can I see you again, Key?”

It took great restraint not to leap at the chance to secure the future where Jax Hunter was her in with theCitizens. “I’d like that. Especially when I’m not drenched or depressed.”

“The wet look works on you.”

“Well, I’m flattered, but you should see me when I’m dry.” She grimaced. “Wow, that was terrible. Sorry, I’m absolutely no good at flirting.”

“Tell you what,” he said conspiratorially, “I’ll pretend that was the best joke I’ve heard all year, and you can pretend I’m suave and debonair. Deal?”

“Deal.”

Unable to withhold the grin, he pulled out his cell phone. “What’s your phone number?”

“I don’t have a cell phone.”

Though she’d forced Nero to get one recently, she’d never gotten one herself. Telepathy was readily available and far more reliable than any human means of communication.

“You’re really going all in with this recluse thing, aren’t you?” As she hid a blush, he suggested, “How about we plan for dinner tomorrow, then?”

“Awfully forward of you, Captain Jax of the U.S. Army.”

“What can I say? You’re awfully easy to talk to, and I’d definitely like to get to know you better.”

Though she was genuinely taken aback by his forwardness, she wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. Playing the coy card, she said, “Alright, dinner. When and where?”

Even as the words left her mouth, she realized how odd they were for her. Usually, Key was the one with the answers. The tables had turned in this conversation, and while she felt like a marble cast into a stadium of jacks, it was uniquely refreshing.

“Do you like Italian?”

“Do I like Italian?”she scoffed. “Is there a better cuisine?”

It seemed to be the answer he was looking for. “Mario’s on Sixth Street at five, then?”

“Can’t wait.”

Lightning cracked overhead. Jax cast a suspicious look at the sky before saying, “You sure I can’t walk you back to your car?”

“I’ll survive, cross my heart.”

Though it looked like he wanted to say something more, he gave a dutiful dip of his chin. “Try not to drown on the walk back.”

“Aye aye, captain.”

He offered her a real military salute. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”

Parting ways, Key snuggled into the windbreaker he’d given her. Something about the interaction had given her cause to feel lighter than she had in centuries. The man who’d floated in and out of her visions for centuries, the last remaining unaccounted-for piece on the chessboard, had finally walked into her life.

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