Page 119 of Heart of Dawn
I think we both fell asleep at the same time. I didn’t remember falling asleep, only waking up five minutes before midnight.
The sky was clear, the storm over. A swathe of stars twinkled against the inky black of the night sky, the moon full and bright.
Ori woke up as I stripped off, getting off a big yawn. “What’s happening?”
“Almost midnight. Go back to sleep.”
He did, snoring lightly as I left the flat to join my pack.
We gathered outside, counting down the last ten seconds. Still together, still fighting-fit, the lion alpha joining us.
What a glorious miracle.
My guilt might be weighty, but I was so happy to be alive with these amazing people. That made me a lot luckier than most.
A hell of lot luckier.
As wolves, we headed into the town to spend the next hours scoping out the area, planning our next steps.
“Think we should settle here?”James asked via our wolf connection.
“Not sure. Let’s see.”
“I quite like it,”Cate added.
We passed a cemetery, dead bodies everywhere.
“I’d like to stop searching for a home,”Paige said.“Set one up here. We could build that community we’ve always dreamed of.”
Good point. A very good point. But I just wanted to wander for a bit, let the town show itself to me before I made any decisions.
Although it might have already been made.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
ORION
Isat with Trev, Basil, Arlo, and Malorie on the corner sofa. Tilda had already left, heading back to Faery. I wanted her to stay longer, but she insisted on going home.
One day, I’d do the same.
Not long after the others left for the forced shift, we all woke up, unable to sleep. So, we shared some biscuits, taking it all in as the hours passed by.
I still couldn’t comprehend this new reality, that Dawn was finally gone. We’d see what morning brought, but the constant knots inside me were loosening.
“And you found love in the apocalypse,” Arlo said, delighted by Trev’s gushing over Paige.
“Love at first sight,” the troll said. “I’m not the only one to find it either.”
Malorie smiled at me. “Was it love at first sight for you?”
“Bit more complicated,” I answered, glancing at a grumpy-looking Basil sitting next to Arlo.
The weredolphin nudged him playfully. “Cheer up. It’ll happen for you.”
Basil glowered at him, but then did something unexpected.
He laughed, nudging Arlo back. “You are correct, my flippered friend.”
