Chapter 22 Killian
Little Bird’s scent filled my room.
So strong, so close to heat.
Her backpack sat on the floor beside my bed.
Inside it, her plant, packed carefully in a small box.
The old copy of Treasure Island.
A few articles of clothing and toiletries.
One of her father’s photos from his Arca personnel file.
That was it.
All she wanted to take.
Cade said her guitar was too big. Said he would get her another one once we settled.
I could feel her through the bond. Sad. Nervous. Scared.
I signed to her, You okay, Crane?
“I don’t like waiting,” she said impatiently. “I’m ready to leave.”
“When Cade says go, we go.”
She groaned and buried her face in my neck, breathing me to steady herself.
“This place was just starting to feel… like home,” she whispered.
Home is you, I signed.
Home is us, she signed back, then kissed me.
Soft lips. Cherry red. Honey, vanilla, and almond scented.
Her arms wrapped around my neck. More kisses.
Hands slid under my shirt, tracing scars that were finally healing.
Her touch always did that.
Healed me.
“Take care of me,” she breathed. “Make me feel good, Killian. Before we go.”
She swung her legs over my lap and ground down.
“Can’t,” I murmured against her mouth.
“Please, I need you.”
“No.”
“Why?” She flopped back onto the bed, dramatic.
“Cade and Talon said no orgasms. Don’t want you going into heat.”
She groaned. “This is torture. I’m dying. I’m so horny. If you won’t, I’ll ask Ryker. He has zero self-control and questionable morals.”
From the other side of the wall, Ryker shouted, “Not this time, Kitten!”
"Traitor!" she yelled back.
I needed to distract her.
The bond was loud. Nerves. Fear. Want. Too much at once.
I reached over, took her guitar, and set it in her hands.
“Play something.”
Her fingers lingered on the strings.
“Okay, but it’s not finished,” she said. “I’m not sure it’s any good.”
“Play it anyway,” I said. “I want to hear.”
She nodded once.
Her hands moved. Picking first. Then chords.
She hummed, soft and pretty, before the words came.
"There’s a fire under my heartbeat
I used to fear the way it grew
Every change felt like a warning
Every shift cut straight in two
I thought the strength inside would ruin me
Leave nothing standing in its wake
Now I’m learning how to hold it
Training flame so I don’t break"
When she finished, she didn’t look at me.
“Like I said,” she murmured. “It’s not finished. I’m not sure it’s any good.”
“Maybe I'll start calling you Lark instead of Crane.”
Her head lifted, eyes wide.
“It was very pretty,” I said. “Sad. But pretty.”
She swallowed. “My emotions seep into the song when I’m writing. Maybe once we’re finally settled north, I can write something happy.”
I reached out, brushed my thumb along her cheek.
“I want to see you happy,” I said. “I want to make you write happy songs.”
A knock startled us.
The door swung open.
Cade stood in the doorway.
“It’s time to go.”
“Finally!” Crane said, hopping off the bed and grabbing her backpack.
She leaned her guitar against the closet door.
And gave it one last look.
Saying goodbye.
Before heading out the door.
Cade turned to me. His stare was hard and focused. His fingers moved.
Don’t take your eyes off her. She stays with you at all times. If anything happens, take her. Nothing else matters. Keep her safe. That’s an order.
I nodded once.
When we snuck off base, Crane kept looking back.
I nudged her forward. “Keep pace.”
“Why can’t we drive again?” she complained.
“Arca tracks convoys,” Cade answered. “They’ll notice one missing. We don’t want to make it easy for them to find us.”
“How far is it?”
“Far,” Cade said. Short. Final.
We walked at a brisk pace.
Moving as a unit.
Kept Crane close to me.
Close enough to touch.
An hour passed.
Then two.
Ryker complained. Rowan complained.
Then Ryker again. Then Rowan again.
They took turns.
We followed the wall until the old base came into view, silhouetted against the glowing moon.
“Fucking finally,” Ryker muttered.
“When we get inside, eyes up,” Cade said. “We move fast. Exit through the vehicle hangar and then move northwest to the safe house. It'll be another few hours until we reach it.”
Stay near me, I signed to Crane.
She nodded.
“Move,” Cade ordered.
We went in quietly.
Base was cold. Dark.
Every step closer to the Northern Borderlands.
I turned to check on Crane.
She wasn’t behind me.
“Stop!,” I barked.
“Why?” Cade turned and asked.
“Where is she?" he barked when he noticed she was missing.
He swept his scope light down the hall.
Relief, Rowan was there, but...
She stood several feet back, hidden in darkness.
Pale. Shaking.
“Crane,” I said, rushing towards her. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t… I don’t feel good.”
Then the scent hit.
Sweet. Thick. Too strong.
My chest tightened.
She whimpered.
And I knew.
Rowan was going into heat.