Page 38 of Those That Are Lost
I glance at one of the printed pages, instantly recognising the character names, one in particular—Izzy—jumps out at me. “This is fiction.” I look over my shoulder at Henry.Surely this isn’t what I think it is?
“Yeah.” He clears his throat like he’s embarrassed by it. “I started writing fiction a few years ago, it’s a good change from always writing the academic stuff.”
“Henry, these are the characters from Watchers.”
“You know the book?”
“It’s one of my all-time favourites!” I squeal. “Are you the author? Is this the sequel?”
“Yes.” His cheeks turn a little pink at my outburst of praise. “And maybe, if I can ever get the plot sorted enough that I’m happy with it.”
“Oh. My. Gods. Henry! Why did you not mention that you are also L C Blackwood?”
“Not that many people know the book, it’s my debut and not that popular.”
Realisation dawns on me. “That’s why you laughed when I told you my name was Izzy in Wintica, you know I chose it because of that book, right?”
Henry releases a small chuckle and rubs his chin, hiding his broadening smile. “No, I thought it was a funny coincidence. The girl trapped in a foreign land?”
“It felt fitting, and I was missing the characters. I reread that book so often but haven’t managed to buy a copy since I left Froan.”
“Well, you can have a read of the sequel if you want.” He gestures to the papers stacked all over the small desk. “I’ve been working on it over the last few days and ripped apart a few chapters but the first half is in pretty good shape.”
“Yes, please! I’ve been dying to know how they got off that ice planet.”
Henry gathers the pages and hands them to me. “It's always good to hear from a fan. You’re the first I’ve met in person, actually. I’ve got fan mail and stuff before, through the publishers, but I want to keep this pen name a secret. So please don’t broadcast it.”
“Of course! I won’t say a word.”
I spend the next ten minutes asking Henry all the questions I can think of and clutching the manuscript to my chest. I can’t believe I’ve known him for over a month now and hadn’t found this out. How is the academic writer I respect most also my favourite author? And how am I friends with him?
Eventually, Henry checks that I’m doing okay after our conversation but pushes me to leave as he needs to get some work done. I thank him and assure him I am feeling better before heading back to my own room.
Henry’s advice whirls around my head as I clock the fact Ty still hasn’t reappeared. I walk over to the bed and jump up onto the sheets, placing the stack of pages in front of me as I cross my legs and get comfy.
Ty’s scent covers the bedding and I inhale it deeply as I settle to read. I decide that I’m going to try harder to let him in. I still don’t want to expose him to all the ugly things my brain conjures up but I can’t let him go. Hopefully, we can use this time to figure out a future where we can betogether and the very real prospect of losing him isn’t such a possibility. After my talk with Henry, I can see how that fear is a bit ridiculous. I don’t want to miss out on what I’m sure is the most incredible love I could have because it might be stripped from me.
If anything, shouldn’t that drive me to fight harder for it?
My heart skips a beat out of rhythm, as if giving me a kick. The muscle in my chest wholly and completely belongs to Ty. I’ve just not been listening to it. There’s no one else for me. And I’m missing out by keeping myself closed off. And I know Ty feels the same about me, he’s told me as much. Repeatedly.
I let the new perspective settle over me as I get lost in the pages of the book. It’s not going to cure everything I have going on in my mind, but for the first time in several months, I allow a little hope to take root amongst the darkness.
CHAPTER 18
TY
I’d found Red asleep by the time I got back to our room last night. Had I been a coward and avoided her all day? Not completely intentionally, but I had needed a distraction. Theodora had found me and I let her pull me away. She’d wanted to show me something and I’d been curious, something which had kept me busy for hours. It was nearly midnight before I realised the time.
Quietly, I slipped into bed beside my sleeping female, quickly settling into a deep slumber myself, surrounded by her scent and her warm body.
Red must’ve slept peacefully last night because it was morning when I woke. As she still hadn’t stirred, I decided to leave her again and start my day. To be honest, I was glad to see her getting so much rest. Hopefully it would help her body, and her mind, after the stress she’s been under.
I’d brought some of the materials Theodora had shown me back to our room last night, so I’d quickly dressed, scooped them up, and come to the common room to pour over them some more. It’s quiet in here, any wolves searching for breakfast have been and gone. I pick a table and get absorbed in the documents.
“Hi.”
The sound of Red’s voice has my head snapping up. “Hey,” I reply softy. I have no idea where we stand right now and nerves flutter in my stomach at the sight of her.
