Page 68 of Coerced

“He’ll get better as he learns to trust us more,” Jax predicted. “Trust is the key with him.”

I’d glanced over to where Kerry stood with the redhead in his arms. He definitely trustedher, from the look of things.

“It’s different with Gemma,” said Tara, the naturalist of the group. “One night, he caught the scent of a harpy and took off after it. After we caught up, Gemma touched his arm and he didn’t attack her. If it had been any of us, they’d still be looking for all our bits and pieces.”

I shrugged because that only made sense.

“He smells her.” At their blank faces, I’d elaborated. “A warrior’s sense of smell is like a dog’s. Each person has their own unique scent. And I’m not talking about your deodorant or perfume or BO. I meanyou. What makes youyouis like a fingerprint to us.”

“So, like, you can smell our soul?” The biblio, Travis, had squeaked, then edged back when I gave him my attention.

“I guess you could think of it that way.”

Which was why I struggled so much with the taint stench that rolled off Harker.

I wanted to whip up my blades and scissor his head off ten times a day, and fighting that instinct made me testy. Of course, Spin noticed I wasn’t my usual charming self and hassled me constantly, which did not help the situation.

Chance and Kerry’s team, however, tried to help. Travis avoided me until I told him Kerry was right and only a trace of his taint remained. Jax, John, and Gigi ran interference when things got tense, and Tara and Maddy distracted Spin with a thousand questions. I appreciated their efforts and was surprised that no one, not even Kerry, held it against me - except for Gemma Shepherd.

On the fourth morning of hiking, that tiny spitfire came right up to me and demanded to know why I hated Kerry so much. The top of her hair barely reached my pecs and I was literally three times her weight, but she put her hands on her hips, jutted her chin up, and flayed me with her green eyes. I nearly cracked a smile, but she was brave and loyal and I couldn’t disrespect that.

“I don’t hate him.” I shrugged one shoulder.

Kerry came over and looped an arm around her waist.

“I told you, angel, it’s hard for him because I stink like demon.”

“Idon’t smell anything.” She wrinkled her nose up.

“Because you’re not a warrior, dummy.”

“Well, I don’t care what hethinkshe smells.” She glared at me, and my lips twitched again. “He doesn’t have to be so irritable with you!”

She isn’t getting it. Let’s try a scenario she can relate to.

“Gemma, if someone is badly injured and you know you can heal them, but you’re not allowed to, would you be frustrated? Angry? Impatient?”

“Of course.”

“Now imagine you have to see that person every day. He’s still hurt, and you still aren’t allowed to heal him. It goes against your nature and preys on your mind, but you can’t change the situation. All you can do is deal with it as best you can.”

She narrowed her eyes at me like she understood, but didn’t like it. I shrugged, not knowing what to do with that.

“So there.” Kerry grinned at me over her head. “Now leave the man alone, Short and Sweet.”

Then he picked her like she was a child and swung her around in a circle.

“Kerryyyyyyyyy!”

Shaking my head, I went back to repacking my tent.

#

As the days passed, I came to understand what my combat professor meant when she extolled the merits of teaching. Itwasrewarding, and going through the basics with Kerry helped me reconsider my own techniques. I’d have to remember to tell her that when I returned to class.

Whenever that would be.

We were on day seven of our hike and I was beginning to think our gambit had failed. Nothing Diabolical had attacked us, no one had picked up any hint of hunters or trackers, and we hadn’t heard from Clem at all, although I had to admit cell reception was spotty up in the West Virginia mountains. When our group stopped for a rest, Kerry and I moved up the trail a little and debated whether to descend into the next town for a better signal.

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