Page 78 of Rising

“I didn’t need your help,” I grumbled, shaking his hands off that had somehow wrapped around my arms without me noticing. “I had that.”

“Didn’t look like it from where I was standing. We need to go. Can you run?”

I nodded, though my vision had gone blurry from several head injuries.

“Here, hang on to me,” he offered, sticking his arm out.

“I said I’ve got it.”

We kept along the clearing, not daring to pass through it in fear of being spotted. There wasn’t a way to retrace our steps and find our way back to the others under the darkness of the forest. Everything looked the same. Alexiares boosted me into a tree, deciding it was our best bet to stay hidden until we could figure out where the others were.

“You’re hurt,” he said, lifting my chin with a finger, touching the bleeding wound at the top of my head.

I moved my face away. “I’m fine.” Shame finding me for not being able to defend myself, then shame for feeling the shame.

“Your idea earlier. Nice job.”

“Thanks,” I said skeptically, picking at my nails and scanning what I could see, pointlessly searching for signs of my friends. But the forest had gone quiet once more.

“I’m sure your friends are okay.”

As the words left his mouth, Seth’s voice entered my mind. I listened, not wanting to interrupt and miss important details. I nodded in understanding, Alexiares’ attention fixated on me expectantly.

When Seth was done talking, I answered, “They’re fine. They’re in a tree too. Said to try to meet back at the horses in the morning. Looks like we’re up here for the night,” my words slurred. I was exhausted, the adrenaline leaving my body and taking a toll.

“I’ve slept in worse.”

I yawned. “Of course you have,” tossing my leg over the branch.

I straddled it trying to find my balance. I leaned forward, hesitating at the feeling of metal inside my sports bra. Reaching my hand in, I pulled it out.A ring? Where’d that come from?

Right, right, Alexiares ring.I should give this back to him.

“I’ll keep the first watch,” he said, pulling me onto his shoulder.

I tensed before realizing his arm was the only thing securing me to this tree if I were to move into my sleep. The movement caught me off guard, my hands now feeling awkward as I tucked them into my pockets. There wasn’t much room where we were sitting and with two of us on it, it could be dangerous.

“Thanks,” I whispered. Mind slipping, before losing myself to sleep.

I awoke the next morning to sounds of hyperventilating in the distance. The sky was turning orange; the sun making its first appearance for the day. He’d let me sleep through the night.

Panic rushed through my body. He was no longer next to me. Shifting to take in my surroundings, my gaze fell to a figure beneath the tree. He was pacing; the leaves surrounding the tree disturbed by loose dirt and various sized holes.

He’d moved me to lean up against the tree. With him gone there was a good chance I wouldn’t fall. A good chance, but not a one hundred percent one.I’m gonna kill him. I angled myself, preparing to climb down and scold him for playing with my life, but changed my mind once my feet hit the soil.

The closer I got, the more disheveled he appeared. His hair was tousled, fingers shaking as he muttered to himself.

“Hey,” I said, reaching out to touch his shoulder, and he jumped, eyes bloodshot and red rimmed. “Hey. It’s okay. It’s me. What’s going on? What’s wrong?”

“It’s … it’s gone. I can’t find it. I had it on yesterday while we were running, and now it’s gone. Fuck, it’s gone.” His voice shook.

I reached into my pocket, handing him the ring that must have fallen down my shirt as he’d killed my attacker. Placing it into the palm of his hand, I winced. Pain shot down my side at the movement.

“I’m sorry. It slipped my mind last night. I was exhausted. I think it fell off when you … ya know.”

His face softened, and he chuckled in both disbelief and happiness.

“I’m sorry,” I added again, feeling guilty for causing him this much distress.

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