Page 90 of Callen's Captive
Blade certainly had a way with people and shifters that Callen never had. Oh, he could be social, but they never opened up to him like they did Blade. Callen hadn’t thought Kate would calm down let alone leave with him, but something about Blade had pulled her along with them. The guy was a people magnet. Normally, Callen would be ecstatic to have his best friend and Kate get along, but he wasn’t sure how much more he could take.
Hell, Callen was jealous of his best friend. For Blade, Kate was open and warm, talkative, and agreeable. For Callen, all she had was mistrust and contempt. To her, he was worse than her foster parents and Briggs, though he’d never hurt or killed an innocent person in his life.
“I think we’ve come full circle,” Blade said from atop Callen’s shoulders.
“I hope that doesn’t mean we’re lost. I’m dead tired and I’m not even the one carrying you.”
“This is nothing more than an easy workout to Mr. Tall Dark and Silent here.”
“Handsome.The expression is ‘Tall Dark and Handsome’, Blade, at least get it right,” Callen said.
“No, I had it right. Handsome doesn’t describe you. But now that you’re finally talking, I’ll have to find a third adjective.”
“I’m surprised you know what an adjective is.”
“Anyway, as I was saying when chatterbox interrupted, I think we’ve come full circle.”
“Full circle?” Kate asked, her voice starting to fade off.
“You okay?” Blade asked.
“I don’t like being out here.”
Hell, Callen knew that tone. “Is she looking at the trees?” Callen whispered to Blade on his shoulder. He’d switched carries, slinging Blade over his back over an hour ago.
“Treetops. She’s pale, Callen.” Blade kept his voice low. “Talk to me, Kate. Are you okay?”
“Peachy.”
“That means ‘no’,” Callen said.
“I’m familiar with slang. And with a woman who’s about to faint. Better put me down.”
Callen lowered Blade and turned in time to catch Kate as her knees buckled. It was the first she’d let him touch her since she had returned from her time with Drake. Callen lowered her to the ground. His heart raced seeing her like this, and not being able to comfort her was agonizing, but she wanted nothing to do with him.
He grabbed a bottle of water from the netted pocket on her backpack and handed it to her. She flipped the cap open and drank. When he took the bottle from her, his fingers brushed over hers. Her hand stilled for a moment, giving Callen a sense of hope that not all was lost between them. Then she pulled her hand off the bottle.
“Can we rest a few minutes?” she asked. It was the most she’d said to him all afternoon.
“It’s getting late, Callen. This is as good a spot as any,” Blade said.
Callen took a hard look at both of them. Blade would never complain, but he clearly needed sleep. His face was drawn, and his color was far from normal. Even though he’d been on Callen’s back the entire way, Blade would heal faster if he had the chance to sleep. As for Kate, she had recovered from her panic attack, but had nothing to say apparently, at least not to Callen.
Callen didn’t scent anything worrisome nearby. Even so, he wasn’t familiar with this area, but Blade was. “What else is nearby?”
“About a mile northeast is a den of bears.”
“Shifters?”
“No, but they have cubs, so avoid it.” He pointed south next. “Stream with trout.”
“I hate fish,” Callen said.
“Good source of calcium. Heals the bones.”
“Real subtle, Blade. Fine. Fish it is. Unless I find a rabbit along the way.”
“We’re sleeping here? Thank God.” With a thud, Kate’s backpack hit the ground. “Now if you don’t mind, I’m going to find the girl’s tree.”
