Page 73 of Touched

Something about this swamp… Something I feel in my soul.

I’m uneasy.

Perhaps it’s just my nerves because of all we’ve learned.

At first, I thought it was the wind blowing against my nude body, affecting me, but it’s ninety-five degrees and the humidity is ridiculous. No way in heck it would be the wind. Moving closer to him, I lightly trace the angles of his face with my fingertip.He catches my hand and presses a kiss to the pad before nipping it.

Sighing, though heat pools in my belly, I cautiously say, “Callum… I feel strange. Something feels off. Please tell me that you feel as uneasy about this place as I do?”

He takes a deep breath before he hastily exhales. It almost sounds like a sigh of relief.As if a weight has been lifted from his chest.Reaching out, he places his hand on top of mine.

“Thank, fucking, goodness, I thought it was just me overthinking it all. You know after they found us and attacked the apartment, Grams insists the place is warded… that anyone with our blood is protected. And Trevor swears the Rougarou can’t get past it. He’s adamant.”

“But since you arrived last night… every hair on my body seems to be standing on edge. I’m not certain why… Everything was fine, but something feels different today… Knowing you feel the same way makes me think we may need to find someplace else to go.”

We’re safe here… Grams and Trevor say we are. So, we have to be.

The wards are solid. Right?

They’ve kept people out for centuries.

We must just be overthinking it all.

Though, I can tell Callum is nervous. He’s rambling. I can alsofeelhis worry. Weaving my fingers with his, I lean over to kiss him on the forehead.

“Maybe we should just do as they say and stay here, Callum. Your grandmother would know. Here, we at least have the protection of the wards. I don’t think it’s the Rougarou we have to worry about right now. This is somethingdifferent… It feels like something else. Not so much something trying to get in. Maybe it’s something within the wards. Could something have been here?”

That’s what it feels like. Like something is in here. Watching us. Not necessarily ominously.

It’s just here…

What could it be? And why would Grams say we’re safe here if something is within the wards?

What is it?

What could it be?

“Why do you say it's not the wolfmen?” Callum’s forehead wrinkles as he asks.

I giggle at his terminology. “Wolfmen? Is that what we’re calling them now? They can’t get through the wards. Grams has said it and I believe her. She wouldn’t send you here—us here—otherwise.” I shiver as another uneasy feeling comes over me. I glance out of the open window, gnawing on my bottom lip as I mutter, “I don’t know. I feel as if these… there are… what if something was already here…beforethe place was protected?”

Callum’s eyes widen before he too looks out of the window.

I’m used to sunshine and light living in Laric… where everything is beautiful and clean.

I mean, it’s beautiful here as well if you like living in a dark wet jungle filled with strange creatures and whatever it is giving us the heebie-jeebies.

I suppose they… or it could be a creature as well.

But what is it? And why is it watching us?

“I sense something. I don’t know… more of a spirit? Whatever it is… my instincts have me on high alert and I’m not sure it’s something I want to run across in the dark of the night,”I ramble.

Not that I’m going out there after dark, not after all the sounds I heard last night.

Once was more than enough. Thankfully, I was flying high above the trees… whatever is within this land, on the ground, I don’t think I want to know.

Moving my hand from Callum’s face, I roll over and get out of bed. I don’t even worry about covering my nudity as I look around for my clothes. Callum has seen, touched, and tasted every inch of me. Grabbing his t-shirt from where it’s lying on the rustic wooden cubby on the wall, I slide it over my head. Turning, I look at him.

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