Page 24 of Synodic

I looked up, but where I once saw a beautiful oasis, I now saw black sludge tumbling into an even darker pit of syrupy water. Opaque charcoal bubbles formed and popped along the waterline, and broken bones of all sizes littered the shore as if they’d been carelessly tossed aside after being picked dry.

I gagged again at the sight of the filth, but my stomach was empty and my body wracked with painful dry heaves. Rowen’s broad hand gently rubbed my back, recirculating my blood and bringing air back into my lungs. “Good girl. I think you got it all.”

I collapsed onto the ground in front of him. I had so many questions but my thoughts were reeling. Was I still in Prism reacting to the alcohol? No, that was nights ago. This was something new.

Did he say poison?

If it wasn’t so frightening, I’d be annoyed that Rowen was always finding me in inebriated states of consciousness. Things like this never happened to me; my life always folded and unfolded along the same creased lines, nothing new, beautiful, or interesting ever being created. Until recently.

Before I could pull myself together enough to voice a single thought, Rowen beat me to it. “I haven’t seen you in days. What happened to you that night?” he growled through a tight throat, sounding as if he was trying but barely succeeding to tamp down his fury. “Did they touch you?” he asked, his eyes clinically searching my body, assessing for any signs of trauma.

“Nothing happened.” I gasped, still sucking in air. “My boyfr—I mean, Harlan finally came and got me home safely.” More or less.

His tight jaw loosened, and his eyes hooded over. I’d never seen anyone look so relieved and so enraged all at the same time. “So he’s not as worthless as he appears.”

I was too busy spitting to answer.

“Why are you wandering around Weir Falls? This place is dangerous. Crawling with beasts that would skin the flesh off your bones while you still breathed. Are you even aware of the danger your presence draws? Here and apparently everywhere else you go.”

“I never had any problems until you came around. Maybe you’re my unlucky charm,” I said in annoyance, only my eyes peering up at him.

He didn’t seem amused as he offered his hand down to me. “We need to leave.”

I took his wrist, wanting to get out of this gruesome place as soon as possible, but as Rowen pulled me up, the frightening creatures flashed across my memory, and the fear rushed through me like a rogue wave. I jolted unexpectedly, plowing right into Rowen with all my weight, and he hissed between his teeth as if he’d just been electrocuted.

He stumbled back, trying to right us, but his heel caught over a fallen log, and we both toppled to the ground like dominos.

He fell on his back with a grunt, breaking my fall as I landed on top of him with my hands splayed on the hard crests of his pecs. We were chest to chest and nose to nose, his hands finding purchase on my hips. My hair fell in golden-brown waves that haloed and grazed the sides of Rowen’s shocked face. He was flush against me, matching us up perfectly like the sides of a fault line brought back together.

His pupils dilated into vast chasms that threatened to swallow me whole if I didn’t look away. But I couldn’t. I was too intrigued with the contracting rings of his emerald irises.

Instead of heeding the prickled warning of my instincts to flee, I peered deeper into the dense forest of his eyes. I felt like prey that was already ensnared, it just didn’t know it yet.

I was only rested atop him for one startling moment, a thickness growing in his pants that pressed against me. I tried to stifle my moan, I really did, but Rowen’s furious expression told me I’d failed miserably. He turned swiftly, rolling me beneath him, and I inhaled a sharp breath as our eyes locked again—green above grey—a stormed forest turned upside down.

Despite Rowen’s large frame, he was careful not to smother me, bearing most of his weight on his vascular arms. But not all of it. I was painfully aware of all the places his powerful body met mine.

His touch was utterly visceral, shaking me to my core, and I ached with an unfulfilled need between my legs. All I’d have to do was lift my hips to find release.

Sensing my contemplations, Rowen brought his mouth to my ear. “You just escaped two monsters, Copeland. Are you sure you want to provoke another?” he asked, his voice low and guttural, and a pained whimper that I wasn’t sure was a yes or no escaped my mouth. He pushed himself off me, and my body arched reflexively to fill the space between us. I immediately felt torn, our fault line ripped apart once again, causing tremors to shake throughout my existence.

He’d felt so solid under my touch that it twisted my sense of what was real and what wasn’t. I had no idea anymore.

He grabbed my hand and lifted me carefully, making sure not to overbalance me again. Without letting go or uttering a single word, he quickly led me away from the red forest and all its dark horrors.

Still in disbelief, I stole one last glance behind me, but I wished I hadn’t because the red leaves were now dripping with blood.

* * *

We walked, sometimes ran, and even darted behind a tree or bush if Rowen thought he heard someone…orsomething. He put a finger to his lips, gesturing for me to remain silent.

In the past, he’d made it very clear he would prefer not to touch me, but as he guided our way through the forest, his calloused grip never left me. And even though Rowen’s guiding etiquette was brusque and abrasive, his steady grasp was reassuring and had me coming back to my senses.

I’d been so out of control, my mind fleeing from one base instinct to the next. Now that I could think clearly again, I was mortified by my actions. How I’d pressed and moved myself against Rowen, my eyes practically begging him to take me. And how for a moment I thought he wanted me back. Even for a dream, it was so embarrassing, and just as bad as those nightmares where you show up to school naked.

My eyes widened in panic.Please don’t be naked. Please don’t be naked.

I looked down at myself and breathed a sigh of immense relief. I remembered now, I’d made it home after work and dressed for bed. It had been a chilly night, so I opted to wear a silky sleep top and shorts with a pair of grey thigh-high socks.

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