Page 20 of Out of Peril

“He is,” Maya cut me off. “He's helping us.”

“And he's really cool, too,” Dante added.

I groaned and shook my head. “We cannot forget who he is. He's a Collector, and I have no doubt there will be people looking for him.”

“If you were worried about that, then why did you bring him along?” she questioned.

I was prepared and didn't know how to answer her. It wasn't my place to explain what a mate was or how powerfully connected I felt to him even though I didn't want to be.

“He's not the good guy. You're just going to have to trust me on that.”

The two of them shared a look that told me they wouldn't argue, but also didn't believe me.

Only time would tell for sure.

“The important thing is that we are free. Look around. There are no bars or chains. Can you feel the sun on your face?” I held my arms out to the side like I was spreading my wings and twirled in a circle, soaking it all in.

The kids giggled and copied me.

“We’re free!” they yelled out to the wind.

A weight was lifted from my shoulders. My biggest wish was to free them from captivity.

“But what about Walker?” Dante asked.

“Yeah, we aren't going to just leave him here to die, right?” Maya said dramatically.

“No one's dying,” I assured her.

“Maybe he's your Prince Charming here to rescue you, and us,” Maya said in a dreamy voice.

“Lindsey's no damsel in distress. Right, Linds? You're the hero of our story.”

I certainly didn't feel like any hero, but I loved that he saw me that way. I never wanted to let them down.

“This is our story, and from here on out, we write it our way.”

Walker cleared his throat behind me, and I gasped as I jumped in surprise.

“I found fresh water, but then it dawned on me that I have no way to carry it.”

“I could probably make a bowl,” Maya said as she started to weave a tight mess of vines into a bowl shape. “You might have to put mud on the outside and let it dry, but it could work,” she said hopefully.

“It's perfect,” he insisted. “A little green witch, huh? I had you pegged for a mind or emotions reader when you started interrogating me.”

She giggled. “Nope, just vines. But Dante's a seer.”

“Oh yeah. Did you see this coming?”

Dante sneered. “I saw you coming. We knew you were looking for Lindsey. I didn't know how she'd react to it though.”

Walker looked confused. “I wasn't looking for Lindsey.”

“Yes, you were,” he insisted. “You were looking for her.”

He seemed to consider Dante's words and then nodded. “I suppose I was. I just didn't realize it.”

His eyes met mine, and I had no idea how to read the swirl of emotions I saw there. It left me stunned silent.

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