Page 76 of Unbound By Shadows
“Good health and protection, yes. What else?”
She gritted her teeth, annoyed at his questioning, but more annoyed at herself for not knowing how to answer. “Travel,” shesaid, considering. “I’d like to travel more. I’ve never even been out of the country before. Well, I guess Aurelia counts. But I’d like to go to other places from my world. England, Japan, New Zealand, France, Peru.”
“What else?” Sam asked, starting to walk again. She followed behind, ducking as she stepped under a tree branch.
“Not worrying about money would be nice.”
“I see. What sort of surroundings would you like to live in?”
“Maybe somewhere with cooler weather since Nashville can get so humid. I don't even know where that would be, though."
“Health, safety, travel, wealth, temperate climate,” he said, as though he were compiling a list.
“That sounds weird when you say it like that. I don’t crave wealth, I crave security. And… freedom. I guess I crave freedom. To just do whatever I wanted without having to worry.”
“Worry about what?”
“Lots of things. What people think of me. What my family needs. Whether or not I can afford something.”
“I see. What other things do you wish for?”
“I don’t know! How about a new car, a lifetime supply of chocolate, and world peace," Selene said impatiently. “You seem very serious about this. Why are you so interested?”
“Just passing the time.”
“Uh-huh. What about you, then? What’s your ideal life like?”
“Very simple. I would have complete control over myself and my life’s path.”
“What do you mean?” Selene asked.
“Just what I said.”
“You can’t get off that easy. What about your ideal house, climate, job, and all that?”
“I care little for those things. I only wish to indulge in the rights and gifts owed to me by fate.”
“How can you control all parts of your life, but also believe in fate?”
“It is the way of my people,” he replied simply.
“What does fate owe you?”
He paused to look down at her. “Vengeance, then victory. To claim what’s mine.”
His dark eyes glimmered. And although she had no idea what he was talking about, she felt herself blush.
Chapter 31
Selene puzzled over Sam’s talk of fate’s gifts for the rest of the day, but shied away from asking him more about it. She was too reluctant to receive another interrogation about her non-existent hopes and dreams. Also, she was tired. The events of last night were catching up with her and her shoulders and feet ached. When nightfall came, she welcomed it, despite the danger it brought.
After following a rough path through the trees, they found a suitable spot to make camp under the moonlight. Selene was about to inflate her tent when Sam froze. His head cocked to the side, listening.
“What’s wrong?” she asked. Then she heard something too. A soft whimpering up ahead, but not an animal. More like a woman crying or moaning in pain. A sob, then short hiccups, followed by another sob.
Goosebumps rose on Selene’s arms. “It sounds like someone’s hurt.”
Sam extended an arm. “Stay behind me. It could be anything.”
