Chapter 41: 41

NADINE’S P.O.V

We ran down the tracks in the cold night.

It was a relief that none of us had undressed before going to bed because there was no stopping.

My legs felt like jelly and my chest burned but I forced myself to keep moving. My hands were shaking and I was glad that Rowan had taken his dagger back because it would have dropped from my hands at some point.

I killed a monster.

I didn’t just hurt it, I ended its life.

It was more exhilarating than I realized.

I was exhausted from all the running but I forced myself to keep running. I wasn’t sure how much distance they would consider enough but I wasn’t about to be the one to suggest that we stop, not when I was the reason we even had to run in the first place.

“I think we’ve gone far enough,” Dan announced and without waiting for confirmation from anyone, he slowly came to a stop.

We were in the middle of nowhere.

The only thing around us were little patches of grass and dust. We were completely exposed and if any monster were to find us, we would be dead in seconds.

“We can try to find some tall grass to hide behind,” Dan continued. “It’s just for tonight. Tomorrow we can keep moving. We may have better luck finding somewhere to sleep.”

My heart was pounding in my chest as I struggled to get air back into my lungs but I nodded. He put his bag on the ground before collapsing to the floor, his hand holding his side in pain.

I had momentarily forgotten that he was hurt. He was healing properly and most of the wound had closed up but that didn’t mean that he still wasn’t in pain. Before I knew what I was doing, I found myself going over to him.

“Are you okay?” I asked softly. “Would you like some-”

Two hands settled on my shoulders and I was shoved back hard. “Stay the fuck away.”

I would have fallen on my ass had Rowan not been there to steady me.

I could feel the annoyance radiating off him as he levelled Jennifer with a scathing look. I didn’t even have it in me to be angry, I was more surprised by her outburst.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I asked finally. “I just want to give him some water.”

“Now you care?” she scoffed. “This is all your fault. If I didn’t know better, I would say that you’re deliberately trying to get us all killed.”

“She saved your life,” Dan tried to speak but she cut him off.

“Our lives wouldn’t have been in danger if she didn’t throw the stupid can on the floor. We are in the middle of nowhere, we could die tomorrow and this is all because Caine wants to get his dick wet by a stupid, spoiled daddy’s girl.”

My cheeks turned a violent shade of red and embarrassment filled me.

I tried to assure myself that she was just angry and she didn’t speak for Rowan but I would have been lying if I said her words didn’t hurt.

“This has nothing to do with my sex life.”

“Doesn’t it? There is no other reason he would keep you around and you know it. You have been a liability since day one. Do you think this all happened by mistake?”

“Enough, Jennifer.” Rowan’s voice was soft but firm. I could almost feel the anger brewing underneath his usual calm facade but Jennifer either didn’t notice or didn’t care.

Dan tried to tug her back, tried to tell her that it was fine but she pushed him off.

“He’s been obsessed with the idea of fucking you since day one. I mean, who wouldn’t? It’s always the spoiled rich girls that party the hardest. That’s the only reason he demanded that he be made your guard-”

“I said that’s enough!”

He didn’t yell, he didn’t scream, but the sheer order in his voice was enough to have goosebumps crawling up my flesh. For a brief second, I saw worry in Jennifer’s eyes. She opened her mouth to speak but Rowan stopped her.

“I think you have said enough for now,” he cut her off. “If you don’t want to be here, you can leave, but you will not stay here and act like Nadine is the problem.”

“She-”

“Made a fucking mistake, big fucking deal. Have you forgotten your first time out when you almost got us all killed?” he snapped. “No one gave you shit for that. Did you forget that you would have died back there because you were too scared to fight back?”

“I wasn’t scared, I was hurt.”

His lips curled cruelly. “Say what you need to in order to feel better. She saved your fucking life and she’s a better person than I am because I would have left you to die.”

He went silent for a moment before turning to Dan.

“We’ll take the first watch.”

He didn’t wait to see her reaction before tugging me by my arm and leading me a bit of a distance away from them. I didn’t fight him, didn’t protest as he led us away to safety.

My heart was still pounding, but it wasn’t from adrenaline this time, it was from worry. He was pissed, and while I knew he wouldn’t hurt me, I also knew that part of his anger was directed at me.

He said nothing as we set our bags on the floor.

He still remained completely silent as he handed me a bottle of water.

I carefully took it from him and lifted it to my lips as I waited for the inevitable scolding but it never came. He wasn’t even looking at me.

Over my shoulder, I saw Dan and Jennifer engaged in a small whispering match. She seemed exasperated while he seemed annoyed. A part of me wanted to know what their conversation was about, but I forced my eyes off them and focused on Rowan.

“You’re not going to say anything?”

“I’m wondering if I want to yell at you for being stupid first, or if I want to make sure you know that what she said was not true.”

“I know that.”

“Do you? You looked like you believed her.” I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. “I did ask for you, but it’s not because I wanted to get my dick wet.”

A small smile tugged at my lips. “I know. Will you tell me the real reason why?”

“Not today.”

I wanted to push but decided against it at the last minute and nodded.

Finally, he turned to look at me, his eyes equal parts worried and harsh.

“Don’t ever try to save someone’s life at your own detriment again.”

“That wasn’t-”

He held up a hand to silence me.

“When there is danger, you run the other way.”

“She would have died.”

“And the world will have one less person.”

“What if it were you? Wouldn’t you want me to help you?”

“No,” he didn’t hesitate. “Your life always comes first. I don’t care who is in danger.”

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