Page 109 of Ensnared

“Itwill be dark soon,” he says, as though it might have escaped my notice.

“Itdoes that at night.”Hislips tighten at my tone, whichIignore, along with the quaver in my stomach at the sight. “Despitehow well yousee me,Beau,Ishould remind you thatI’veprobably spent almost as many nights in these woods as you have, even with your fancyRangertraining.Ican find my way back.Iremember the landmarks.I’llbe fine.”

“No.”Theclipped word fromDomfinally draws my attention fromBeau.

Iexpect rage but, as if he truly is alwaysBeau’sopposite,Domseems calm.

Heassesses me, taking in my small pack, my boots, my jacket, my small trusty knife. “Thehunters that were chasing you are part of a larger group that seems to be heading toBristlebrook.Ournorthern cameras went down, that wasn’t a lie, but we think they were taken out.We’reheading up to intercept them.Wehaven’t spotted any other hunters in proximity—the rest seem to be camped elsewhere, and we have them under surveillance—but it’s possible there are others we haven’t seen.Yourlittle knife won’t do much against them.”

Hunters!Iswallow.Hard.Somethingcold washes through my veins.Memoriesof running through the forest, feet bleeding, chased by their threats and shouts flash through my mind.Iswallow again, trying to work some moisture into my mouth, butI’mbreathing too rapidly again.

Thentheir earlier conversation clicks.Theywere worriedHeatherrevealed where the cameras were.That’swhy they were talking about her.

“They’re—”Ibreathe through my nose, thinking. “That’swho you fought with.JustafterIarrived.Thetwo of you went back out and...Thescuffle.That’show you got that bruise.”

It’sa paler color now, almost impossible to see.Domnods.

“Okay.”Ipinch the bridge of my nose under my glasses. “Okay.”

They’recoming after me.I’dthought there were more hunters than they killed in the clearing.There’sa whole camp now?

Andthey know whereBristlebrookis—it isn’t safe there any longer.

“Ineed to...”Run.Ineed to run. “I’llgo.I’llleave, and then they won’t come toBristlebrook.They’llleave you alone.I’ll...Ididn’t mean for this to—”Mytongue feels thick and clumsy in my mouth. “Inever meant to put you in danger.”

“Andhow will they know you’ve decided to do that?Youplanning on handing yourself over?”Domasks dryly.

Iblink at him.Whyis he not more upset?Isn’the meant to overreact to everything?

“Wehave it under control.Youpanicking was the reason we decided not to overshare.Besides, there’s a good chance this has nothing to do with you.Youmight have just been unlucky enough to be in their path toBristlebrook.”Hestares down at me from under his brows. “This’llgo a lot easier if we don’t have to carry you with us.Youcalm?”

Lightheaded,Inod.Whatdoes he mean, they’re not after me?But... if they’re heading towardBristlebrook... if that’s their goal... then he’s right.Theyprobably weren’t targeting me specifically.Iwas just the side quest.

AmIreally that unlucky?

“Areyou calm?” he repeats.

“Yes, sir.”

Inod again, more sure this time.Beautucks his pistol away, andIswear his fingers still tremble.Hedoesn’t look at me.

“Good.Idon’t suppose you told anyone back home where you were going?”

Iduck his eyes. “Ileft a note.”

Andlied through my teeth to all three of them, butI’mnot mentioning that.

“Great.Fantastic.”Dom’seyes roll to the sky for a moment, then he shakes his head once. “Theybetter have enough good sense to stay put.Weshould duck in front ofC17soJaspercan get a visual.”

Afteraddressing the last toBeau, he points at me.

“You.Youwant to prove you can keep up?Thendo it.We’renot stopping till we find a sign of them or it gets too late.Whenwe do, you will stay put, out of the way, and not make a sound.Clear?”

“Yes, sir.”

Domsurveys me then, cataloging every inch of my expression.Hegrunts, then stalks through the brush, somehow managing to make very little sound.

IgiveBeaua questioning look, and he points his chin afterDom, indicating for me to follow.Hestill doesn’t meet my eyes.Canhe really not understand whyIhad to come out here?Hecould have told me the truth too.

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