Chapter Six
After her earth-shattering revelation, the one that lets me know that Elyse is still alive after all, Clemmy immediately falls asleep against me.
I want to shake her, wake her up and beg her to tell me where the other half of my soul is, but I know she needs her rest. She always does when she gets cold, and it makes me wish and hope above all else that Elyse gets her rest when she feels this way, too.
I bury my face into her hair and inhale deeply.
If I had known that the night I saw Clemmy wandering out of the town limits into the darkness could have potentially been the night she saw Elyse, I would have followed her.
I cradle her up in my arms as I get to my feet. I ’ ll lay her in my bed for the rest of the day and warm some coals to burn by the bedside while she sleeps. Clemmy is a good kid, even when she manages to break into my home, which she doesn ’ t do very often.
Hell, she never used to do it when Elyse lived here with me, but I think she misses her as much as I do because, sometimes, when I find her cuddled up in my bed, it ’ s on her side that she sleeps the soundest on.
I blow out my breath after I get her tucked in and walk back toward the front of my home. Not that she ever does damage to get in, but I like to double check just to be sure.
I open the door slowly and watch the hinges. Everything is fine like always, I think with a chuckle as I begin to turn away from the morning sun, but something catches my eye.
In the distance, I can see the unmistakable silhouette of Silas.
He has a habit of watching Crescent Oak from afar during the day. Maybe it ’ s his way of warning everyone that he never really left, but who the hell would be awake to even notice or care?
I nod at him, not even sure if he ’ s looking in my direction, then close the door again.
Clemmy is safe.
Elyse is alive.
For now, the only thing I ’ ll be able to do is get some sleep.
After all, someone has to pretend to be keeping them safe when the sun goes down again.
Come on, come on.
Elyse promised me that she ’ d find a way to see me today, and it ’ s starting to feel hopeless. It ’ s been about an hour or so, and I ’ m becoming impatient.
She ’ s never broken her word to me so far, so I do have faith that she ’ ll show up—I only hope I ’ ll still be presentable enough to keep whatever impression I ’ ve made on her solid.
I rest an arm against the giant oak tree that sits just outside of the town lines on the southern border. I was always so sure that ’ s why this place was named Crescent Oak when I first arrived, but shortly after, I found out the real reason.
I glance toward the horizon, watching the rising sun starting to shine its morning rays against the quiet dawn.
I can ’ t wait much longer because then the miscreants that live in town will start to suspect something. Though, whatever they assume is happening would be complete speculation.
Elyse doesn ’ t like to come into Crescent Oak much, and it wasn ’ t until recently that I understood why. It also solidifies how much she has to care for me since she risks it from time to time.
I ’ m about ready to give up when I feel a hand suddenly and gently come to rest on my shoulder.
“ Boone, wake up!”
The whisper is almost inaudible, but the urgency is palpable enough to wrest me from the deep sleep I somehow managed to fall into. I don ’ t even remember lying down, I think as I groan.
My eyes squeeze tightly together before I rub them with my knuckles, manage to crack one open, and find myself looking up into Clemmy ’ s little face.
She seems almost…scared, and that ’ s wholly unlike her.
“ What ’ s wrong, Clem?” I ask her in a groggy voice.
“ Someone is trying to get in,” she whispers, her eyes darting from mine to the lone window in my sitting room.
A heavy-handed fist knocks against my front door, and I sit up curiously. Pulling the little girl closely, I do my best to ignore her body trembling as horribly as it is and know that if I show signs of anything other than bravery, she ’ ll never come back.
I can ’ t lose Clemmy.
Elyse would never forgive me.