Page 29 of Kept to Kill
All at once, he understood. She’d lived in such a small place for such a long time. The sky, the vastness of the outside was something she would have to get used to again.
‘Will being under the trees help?’
She nodded.
‘Come on, then. Let’s get into the forest.’
Another nod.
Quin had already trudged up into the treeline where the beach ended. Mal had disappeared altogether.
‘Ladies first,’ Bastian murmured, and she began to walk unsteadily in front of him, her arms wrapped around herself.
‘Where is your cloak?’ he asked, only just noticing it was gone.
‘Lost it in the water,’ she said quietly. Then she turned on him, still looking at the sand. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said brokenly, the anguish she clearly felt at odds with their relationship – or lack thereof. Why did she even care if he died? It wasn’t as if he’d even been particularly kind to her. ‘I couldn’t find my gloves before we left.’
‘It’s no matter,’ he said quietly, not sure what platitudes to offer that she’d believe. Don’t worry, if I die here, I’ll probably just be reborn on the Mount? She’d probably think his brain was turning to mush on the road to Deathstown.
‘No matter?’ she asked incredulously, finally looking up at him. ‘Just because you didn’t die outright like the others means nothing. It could still happen. It will.’
‘Has everyone you’ve touched died thus?’
‘Yes,’ she whispered, turning away and beginning to follow Quin’s footsteps into the dark trees, once more looking at the ground. ‘Every single one within two nights without fail since I was a small child.’
Intrigued, he ran to catch her up. ‘What about before then?’
‘Before then I don’t remember,’ she said after a long hesitation that made Bastian think she was lying, either to herself or to him.
They walked only a few moments before they came upon a small clearing under the evergreens next to what he could just make out in the low light was a small stream.
He could see the two figures of Mal and Quin in the center, starting a fire and setting up a small shelter.
‘Sit close by,’ he told Lily and took the pack she carried from her, putting it carefully on the ground.
She nodded dully and simply sat down where she stood, teeth chattering.
‘Do you have some clothes in your pack?’ he asked her, knowing how cold she must be.
She shook her head. ‘I don’t have a pack,’ she murmured.
‘Maeve gave me spares,’ Quin said, throwing his pack over to Bastian.
‘Good,’ he said. ‘The girl’s going to catch her death if she stays in these soggy ones for much longer.’
Rooting through the bag, he found a small bundle and handed it to her. ‘Put these on,’ he ordered, dropping it into her waiting hands and watching intently as she got to her feet and walked into the trees. He followed and she stopped.
‘What are you doing?’
‘You’re not going alone,’ he stated. ‘You’ve no idea what could be lurking around us. I’d urge you to just do it quickly here in the clearing.’
‘No,’ she said stiffly.
He shrugged. ‘Go, then, but I’m coming with you. I won’t be able to see anything, don’t worry. It’s too dark,’ he added when she didn’t move.
Finally, she heaved a sigh and went to the side of the clearing, ducking behind a tree. He went with her, stopping a few steps away and keeping his eye on her as her shadow peeled off the sodden clothes. Gods, he’d give just about anything to see her in the light right about now. Shaking his head, he gave her a few more moments and then she came towards him.
‘Better?’ he inquired.
