Page 10 of Priest and his Anarchist

“But where’s the fun in that?” I widen my eyes at him playfully. “That’s where all the magic happens.”

He chuckles again just as I hear a door crack open.

“Well, too, right, kiddo. You are too right.”

“Good, you’re awake!” The voice isn’t one I expect to hear, and before I can stop myself, I jump in my seat to spin around. River Malum blinks back at me with her signature bright blue eyes. Her platinum-blonde hair is tied up in a tight pony, showcasing her dewy, soft skin. River Malum is beautiful, but we’ve never talked. I mostly kept to myself during winter vacations, but it wasn’t from the lack of some girls trying. They’dtry. I was just…not interested in what they were doing. So, I kept to myself or played chess with Uncle Bishop and Nate.

“Yes?” My eyes fly back to the rearview mirror as if the stranger and I have known each other for a while and he can help with my unease.

River rolls her eyes, the corner of her mouth curving. “Luna, I promise I don’t bite.”

When I don’t move, she exhales, shuffling beside me and shutting out the sound of jet engines warming up.

“I know you don’t bite.” I put her out of her misery. I like River, probably more than I do the other two.

Stella intrigues me the most.

But River, I could like one day.

“How do you know that?” River jokes, folding her arms in front of herself. She'd clearly come off the slopes dressed in a ski jacket and puffy pants. “I could!”

Her teasing tone makes me smile.

“We’ve only ever seen each other what? Twelve times.” That isn’t a lot of time.

My cheeks warm as a chuckle eludes me, but the knowledge of the man in the driver’s seat watching us leaves me feeling comforted. Safe. As if I’ve known him all my life. Because of my photographic memory, I’m sure I don’t know who this man is.

“I’m not sure what I’m doing here, River,” I sigh, my fingers opening to reveal the necklace. There’s no point trying to be delicate by watching what I say, since I have no control over my future from here on. If they’re going to kill me, no amount of small talk is going to change that fact.

River’s almond-shaped eyes fall to my palm before traveling back up to mine. She leans forward and plucks the chain from my hand, twirling her other finger. What is she doing?

She rolls her eyes again before turning me around by my shoulders.

Gathering my hair into a high pony, she flings the necklace around my neck and clasps the locket. “Look, everything I know, I’ll tell you, but there’s one thing we must agree on right here and now.”

I turn back, my hand resting over the star that’s secured over my chest. “Okay. I can do that.”

“Don’t take any of this personally. This is unfamiliar territory for all of us.” Her lashes flutter, almost brushing the small beauty spot below her left eye. “I’m sorry for what is to come to both of us.”

A wave of fear creeps over my spine. “Why are you sorry?”

She smiles again, but it’s gone as quickly as it came. “Because it won’t be easy, and I may not see you often.”

The door opens, cutting off our conversation. Uncle Bishop leans in. “The jet is ready for you both.”

A strange sense of unease whistles through my blood like a gust of wind on a fine day.

River places her hand on my knee, sensing my discomfort. “Good. We’re done waiting.”

We are? Crap.

River slides out before me. When my foot lands on the tarmac, I pause, turning to face the strange man. This time, his eyes meet mine without the illusion of the mirror. He’s young, but maybe a lot younger than I thought. The same age as River’s brother and the rest of the boys.

With round eyes and skin as smooth as silk, the corners of his mouth stretch into a smile. “I’ll be seeing you soon, kiddo.”

“You’re not much older than me!” I tease, sliding out of the car. Before I close the door, I hear his chuckle.

“Oh, if only that were true…”

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