Page 13 of Soul Fated

I wrinkled my nose as we approached, the smell of pit toilet and air freshener hitting me like a wall. I pulled open the door, wincing at the creak of the hinges, and stepped inside. The air was stale, and the amenities bare bones, but at least there was running water. I used the toilet, holding my toiletries under my arm, then washed my hands and face at the sink. After brushing my teeth and drying my hands, I removed the old bandage and re-wrapped it, putting on a healthy squirt of antibiotic ointment. Because that was helping.

When I stepped back out, Lana was waiting, her flashlight beam dancing over the ground.

We stopped at the water pump on the way back and filled up her water bottle. The air was cool and crisp against my skin as we returned to the campsite. We stowed our toiletries in the truck and crawled into the tent, dropping our shoes on the dirt outside the entrance. I tucked both pairs under the tent flap and zipped us in.

I kept my clothes on as I climbed into my sleeping bag. It was the end of August, which meant the temps would drop below comfort levels overnight. When I was finally settled on the mat, that same strange calm spread beneath my skin.

“It doesn’t feel the same. Being out at night.” Lana's disembodied voice filled the tent.

I knew exactly what she meant. I used to love the dark sky. The stars. Now it felt almost claustrophobic. We’d been through nearly a full moon cycle since that night in the woods, and we weren’t any closer to figuring out who Nathan was working with and what they wanted.

“Rowan talked with the alphas up north,” Lana said.

I pushed up on my elbow, surprised that my arm barely complained. “When?”

“A few days ago. One of them finally returned his call.”

“And?”

Lana shrugged. “It’s bullshit. We know they were involved. Nathan was up there too often for them not to know what he was planning.”

“You think he planned it all himself?”

Lana drew a deep breath. “You tell me. Do you think Nathan’s smart or patient enough to find a relic?”

I snorted. Nathan was strong but more like a bull in a china shop. All rage and brawn, not so much brain.

I adjusted my sweatshirt around my waist. "What happened in the woods when Rowan killed Nathan?"

Lana’s eyes flickered. "It was intense. Nathan was using dark magic, his power was palpable.”

I nodded. “I felt it, too.” I’d been out of it but still lucid during parts. The night came back to me in flashes. Disjointed. Like an abstract painting.

I took a deep breath, the air suddenly feeling thick and heavy. "When Nathan first approached me, I..." My voice trembled, and I closed my eyes, forcing myself to continue. "I was scared. Terrified, actually. I didn't know what he wanted, and when I found out—" My throat closed up, and I swallowed hard.

Lana didn't move, giving me space to gather my thoughts.

"He was persuasive,” I continued. “Charming, even. At first, I thought maybe I was imagining things and just being paranoid.”

“Yeah. That’s how they get you.” Her sleeping bag shifted. “I dated a narcissist once. Now, I can spot them from a mile away. Enjoy your new superpower.”

I breathed a laugh. “Is it worth it?”

“Hell no. But it’s a silver lining.”

I smiled, dropping back onto my pillow. “I wanted it to be over.”

Lana let out a breath. “That’s why we’re here, right?”

I nodded. An ending. That’s what I was seeking. But as the ache in my wound continued to settle, I couldn’t shake the feeling that being here was the opposite. I closed my eyes, trying to shut out the images that flashed behind my eyelids. I took another deep breath, forcing my muscles to relax.

I’d been led here for a reason. Whatever magic lived within me because of that damn dagger, it wanted me here. For better or worse, I was as close as possible to the force that might set me free.

But how would it do that? I shuddered. What was a dagger used for?

I shook my head, trying to clear the fog. I needed to rest. I wasn’t alone, and whatever came in the morning, Lana and I would search for answers and hightail it back to Kitimat and Black Lake.

Chapter

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