Page 47 of Brambles and Bellflowers
Damen smiled, and the edges of my annoyance with him began to melt away. “I’d give it up for you every time.”
“Oh my God,” Finn cut in, elbowing Damen. “Just shut up and get in the car. We don’t have time for your stupidity.”
I nodded. It was true; we were wasting precious daylight.
Damen stood, frowning between us, as he furrowed his brows. “Fine,” he snapped, glaring at Finn. “For now,” he added.
“Whatever,” Finn replied. He reached past his brother and held on to my door as Titus walked around the vehicle and sat in the driver’s seat. “Let’s just go.”
I was in agreement. Finn closed my door, and the rest of the crew took up their positions in the vehicle. I was already looking through the brochures as Titus pulled out of the parking spot.
9
We followed Troy and his ‘atrocious’driving up the mountain for almost an hour before we finally pulled into another—if smaller and muddier—parking lot. The ranger’s leadership was apparently a disgrace—or at least, according to Damen, it was. He did not attempt to hide his true feelings, although I wasn’t certain he knew I was reading his lips through the rearview mirror.
Regardless, despite Damen’s comments, I had enough time to review my papers. It was a good thing, too—so many mythical creatures supposedly survived in these woods. I’d discarded Damen’s reading material—Bigfoot, which was entirely fictional, wasn’t even rumored to exist in this part of the county. However, this other creature…
It seemed foreboding despite the colorful pictures, and Brayden pointed it out, so it must be important.
I lingered as the others exited. Damen and Julian began to pull luggage from the rooftop carrier and tossed it in a pile behind the vehicle. The sparkly strap of my pink duffle bag caught my eye, and I grabbed it.
What had I been thinking, packing this much crap? A hairbrush was hardly essential.
Titus took my bag. “I’ll take it. Carry mine,” he said, pushing a tiny gray backpack toward me with his foot. “It’s lighter.”
“But—” That wasn’t very fair.
“Don’t worry about it,” he interrupted, swinging the strap over his shoulders. His movements were smooth, his expression hardly changing as he tied my luggage into place over the ax that he wore on his back. When secured, he pulled his hair above his head.
Healmostlooked like an actual lumberjack, if not for the pink and black bling that clashed with his super manly persona. Yes, he ownedHello Kittyboxers, but I had no proof that he actually wore them… yet.
They could just be for decoration.
I picked up Titus’s bag with one hand and frowned—hardly anything was in there.
“Remember, stay close to me,” he said directly into my ear. His attention moved to the outside of the dirt lot where Troy was speaking to Finn and Bryce. “We only have to put up with him a little while longer. But I need to go over there. You saved us time by getting us here. I’m not going to let this go to waste. I’ll make it up to you later. Just remember how brave you are.”
Then he turned from me, stalking toward the two of them.
I frowned, hesitating. But then I pulled the scarf over my mouth and followed Titus. It wasn’t cold enough for gloves yet, but the midafternoon air already held a bite—it would be uncomfortable tonight.
“This is the highest point in the mountains,” Troy said, gesturing over the tree line. “Over there is the entrance to the most commonly used trail for backpackers and campers. Even though it’s off-season, your friend likely went in this direction. If you’d like, I can take you to the first—”
“No,” Titus interrupted, his tight jaw softened as my arm brushed against his. He twisted his fingers with mine. “We’llbe fine on our own from here.” His face was a picture of concentration as his piercing gaze surveyed the distance. “We’ve done this before.”
I squeezed his hand. I wanted to ask whenthey’d had to trek across the wilderness in the past—obviously, it had never been in pursuit of Miles.
“Really?” Troy said, tone thick with skepticism. “I can believeyou’vedone this before, but are you willing to exposeherto the wrath of the Snallygaster?”
Oh no! My attention snapped to Bryce, who had jerked at the ranger’s words. This was precisely what Brayden had been trying to warn me about. Bryce would ask questions—I could see the wheels turning behind his dull expression—and everything would be for naught. Bryce wouldneverleave if he heard about the people-eating dragon.
Stupid Troy, why couldn’t he suck at his job?
“She’ll be fine.” Titus lightly pulled at my hand, causing me to stumble into him. He didn’t seem concerned at the threat of the terrifying beast. This meant he’d already known about it—or he didn’t care. But then he spoke again, wrapping his arms around my upper chest. “I’m not about to let anything happen to my mate.”
My mate…
I felt lightheaded. Suddenly, armed with the knowledge that nothing could get past Titus’s defenses, I was no longer afraid of Troy. My heart was beating wildly, and my skin burned—thankfully, I was short enough that Titus’s arms and the scarf covered my lower face.
