Page 34 of Savage Knight
“You’re quiet,” he replied.
“I’ve never really seen Nevada.It’s actually beautiful.”
“Yes, it is.I was born and raised here, and I’ll probably die here,” he mused.“I never understood why my brother Aera hates it so much.”
“When did he leave?”
“About ten years ago.”He fell silent for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts.“Like we’ve established, we all had shitty parents, but his dad was one mean son of a bitch.Liked to hit first and never ask questions.Aera got the brunt of his anger, although Jeremiah was hit a time or two.They protected me and Sax from the beatings.”
“I know exactly what that feels like,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Scias is a clone of Aera’s old man.”
“He ran to escape his memories.”Lowen sighed.“I’m doing the same.”
“You’re forging new ones.”
“Thanks to you.Maybe Aera will come back one day.When his memories no longer feel like weapons.”
“I hope so.”
They fell silent for a long moment, and she resumed her new favorite habit of staring out the window.Only now, her mind wasn’t on admiring the scenery.The past film-rolled through her head, but now she was able to think of her own memories without flinching.Like she was remembering an old movie subplot.Her father always told her she wasn’t pretty.That she was lucky Scias Mailliard wanted someone plain and boring, as if he was some prize of manhood.As if it were normal that she was beaten on a regular basis.In that world it was.Her mother certainly took the brunt of his rage until he had ended her life.
Lowen vowed to never return to that nightmare.Right then she might not know who she was or what she wanted to be in life, but wife to the Devil wasn’t the end of her story.
Eventually, the desert slowly faded, giving way to tall trees and green grass.About four hours into the trip, they parked at a rest stop, something Lowen had never known existed.Although it made perfect sense for weary travelers to get a break and revive.Set in nature, there were picnic tables and a walking path that wove among the shaded grove.
“Don’t wander off,” he warned.“We’re not far enough away from Vegas for me to feel comfortable to lower our guard.”
“Okay,” she said, a tad disappointed she wouldn’t be able to explore.
He used his finger to raise her chin, staring into her eyes.“How about this, let’s use the facilities and then I’ll escort you along the trail.”
She smiled.“Yes, thank you.”
Spinning, she hurried into the woman’s side and into a free stall.The toilet was cool metal, and she quickly laid a cover down.After, she washed her hands, not surprised to find Evren waiting.Men were luckier in that regard.
He held out his hand.“Ready?”
Their fingers entwined when she slid hers into his much larger one.“Yes.”
Only the faintest sound of cars from the highway trickled through the towering trees, allowing her to hear the chirping of birds.The buzzing of bees.The sweet scent of sap mingled with the subtle hints of wildflower, damp moss, and pine.Warm and multilayered, the different fragrances all came together to create a beautiful sensory experience.Sunlight filtered through the trees, leaving the cool breeze to drift softly over her skin.They didn’t talk.Evren seemingly understood her desire to live in the moment and enjoy the quiet.This was something she’d never had the chance to experience, and she relished every minute.
When they got back to the SUV, Evren helped her into the passenger side and made sure to buckle her in.Then he walked around and slid behind the wheel.Moments later, they resumed their trip.
