Page 51 of A Sky of Storms
I shook my head. They signed up to be part of the trials so what they did now was on them. Whatever Mark’s lackeys had been doing wasn’t part of that. If those Potentials died now, as bad as it sounded, it wasn’t my problem.
“What are you going to do?”
Ace hadn’t been forthcoming at all, always asking questions and saying very little of actual importance.
“Still weighing my options,” he replied smoothly with a casual shrug. “So, Mark then?”
“What makes you think I’m not going to find somewhere to lay low until the month is up?”
Ace stuffed his hands into his pockets. “I can see it in your eyes. I know what it looks like for a guy to have a vendetta.”
“Or maybe you’re just wanting to see something that isn’t there,” I replied dismissively.
“Doubt it,” he said. “I’ll come with you to find Mark.”
“Why would you want to do that?”
“Knew you were planning to.” He smirked, the tattoos on his neck drinking in the moonlight. “You need back up. Can’t have the only normal person around here up and die on me.”
His words were obviously meant as a compliment, but I saw straight through them for the tactic they were. “Why don’t you just say what you want?”
“Who says I want anything beyond what I just told you? You’re a suspicious fucker. Must be lonely thinking everyone is out to get you all the time.”
I narrowed my gaze. “Not everyone, just a Drake.”
“That’s a bit prejudiced don’t you think?”
I took a moment to weigh my options. Ace wasn’t giving up. Either I agreed and I could keep my eyes on him, or I said no and he’d follow anyway.
“Fine,” I told him, walking away. I needed to get moving; we were sitting ducks out here and I wasn’t interested in becoming one of those giant bats’ next meal. “Don’t make me regret this.”
“Areyousureaboutthis Starfish? I don’t like the idea of splitting up.”
I smiled as Zane combed my hair with his fingers and then began massaging my neck, easing the tension that had built over the last few days. I moaned softly, relishing his touch as he worked.
He’d been insistent to the point of annoying yesterday with cleaning and patching my wounds, forcing me to take some antibiotics and even feeding me. Granted, the nausea and sweats had abated, and my wounds looked much better, but try telling that tohim.
And as much as I’d love to stay in this crappy cabin and show Zane my appreciation, I couldn’t erase the niggling feeling that we weren’t safe here. Not after seeing Kayden’s gang preparing for war, and not when people like Victoria, Mark, or that Ace guy could sneak up on us at any time.
“It’ll just be for a little while. If Kayden is building an army, others might have the same idea, and I’d prefer to know what we’re dealing with than be caught unaware.”
He huffed. “It is strange we haven’t come across anyone else, even with the size of this place. Do you think the monster got them all?”
I shook my head. “Some, but not all. They’re probably laying low like us. I just hope Kendra is ok.”
“Kendra is smart, I’m sure our little possum is fine. She’s a tiny little thing, probably hiding in the hollow of a tree somewhere,” Zane said confidently.
“Ourpossum?” I laughed. “You’ve laid a claim on her, have you?”
“She’s part of our threesome,” he said, nodding seriously. “She’s the bestie and I’m the comic relief. Together, we’re the ultimate team.”
“You seem to have given this a lot of thought,” I teased, elbowing him in the ribs.
“Yup. I’ve got it all worked out. We just need to add Noah and we’ll be swimming in our own little love pod in no time. We’ll have everything you need, Starfish.”
I twisted my neck, looking over my shoulder. “And what do you need?”
He paused, cocking his head as he thought about it. “I’m just here for the ride, don’t you worry about me.”
