Page 25 of Silver Secrets

“Breathe. Please, just breathe.” The gentle voice around her repeated. Over and over until she forced herself to follow the command.

Sloane placed her hand at her neck, over the necklace. She hadn’t had that before. That meant something important, she just couldn’t remember what. Her fingers slowly inventoried her body. She was still wearing a shirt. The feeling of the smooth fabric grounding her a little bit more into reality. He wouldn’t have let her be dressed. If it was really him, she wouldn’t be wearing clothes.

“I’m not going to touch you, but can you take a deep breath for me? I know it’s hard, Sloane, but we need to get your breathing calmed down. You’re going to hyperventilate and I don’t want you to pass out.”

Sloane.

The voice surrounding her sounded so normal. So kind. And there was no way hewould ever use that name. Her head felt a little less like it was under water. She forced her eye up off the ground, hating that her body was screaming at her to get away.

She blinked. Gage. And not too far behind him was Stone. She wasn’t in Ashwood Falls. She wasn’t back there.

His sparkling chestnut eyes were staring at her, filled with so much concern it made her want to set the tidal wave of pressure behind her heart free. She forced air into her chest, allowing herself the first full breath she’d had since her mind pulled her back.

But then she heard another twig snap, and she knew she had to get out of there. Because he was back, and he was going to come after her.

“He’s here. He’s going to take me back…” she whispered.

Gage’s head whipped up, looking in the distance over her shoulder. “Someone was out here with you? They hurt you? Is that why you’re holding your wrist?”

Right. Her wrist. She’d fallen and then her imagination got the best of her. Embarrassment burned through her veins as she shook her head.

“Oh god. I’m not making sense, I’m sorry. I fell. I-I’m fine. Just got turned around and tripped over a tree root. I’m really fine though. I’m fine. And we need to get back.”

She lifted her eyes and forced herself to focus on the warmth coming from Gage. Even though they weren’t touching, it was rolling off him in waves. And she was desperate to soak up as much of it as she could.

“Okay. I’m not in a hurry to go anywhere just yet. Are you, Stone?”

“Nope. We can stay here for a minute. But I would like to get a better look at that cut on your leg, when you’re up to it, Sloane.”

“Gage, I?—”

“Will you take a couple deep breaths with me, Red?”

She sat still for a moment before finally nodding. Her eyes dropped to Gage’s chest, where he drew in an exaggerated breath, and held it, clearly waiting for her to follow. So she did. Over, and over again until her racing heart calmed down.

“Feeling better?”

Sloane finally dared to look at his face. She was ready for the onslaught of questions she could see forming in his eyes. But none of them came.

“Can I take a look?” he asked gently.

She shook her head, letting the wall that had always protected her in the past fall back into place. There was a part of her brain that was screaming at her to let Gage help, but the fear was still too powerful.

“Maybe in a minute?” She could hear the hope in his voice, but there was no way she could let him touch her. It was all too much. “Stone, can you send a message to everyone and let them know we found her?”

Oh, god. There was that red hot embarrassment creeping back up her neck.

“Red? Did you hear me?”

“Sorry, no.”

“Do you think you can walk?”

“I’m fine,” she snapped. Shit, her emotions were all over the damn place. Her skin still felt too tight. Her body ached from the drop in adrenaline and all she wanted to do was go home and curl up in bed.

“Okay. Here’s some water.” He reached into his bag and pulled out a steel bottle. When he handed it to her, the top was already off and ready for her to take a sip.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

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