Epilogue
EVIE
The first thing Tavian did when we walked out of the airport was stop beside the automatic doors and look back at them.
Again. We'd already passed through three sets on the way out, and people moving around us had started giving him the occasional curious glance as the glass panels opened for another traveler, closed, then opened again when someone approached from the other side.
“You know they're going to keep doing that if you stand there.” I told Tavian as I shifted my camera bag higher on my shoulder, watching the doors open behind him for what had to be the fifth time as a family maneuvered several oversized suitcases around us.
“I know. I'm not confused about the doors.” Tavian replied as he finally moved out of the way, though his amber eyes followed the panels until they slid shut again.
“You spent ten minutes yesterday making an elevator go between two floors.” I reminded Tavian as I started toward the pickup area, humid evening air already making loose strands of hair stick to the back of my neck after two weeks in a much drier climate.
“There was nobody waiting for it.” Tavian defended himself as he caught up and took the duffel hanging from my left shoulder, shifting the strap across his own body before I could decide whether I wanted the help.
“You made a child press the buttons for you.” I told Tavian as I glanced sideways at him, remembering the little boy announcing every floor while Tavian treated the elevator ride as serious research.
“He wanted to. His mother said it was fine.” Tavian replied with complete confidence as he adjusted the duffel against his back, the wheels of my larger case bumping over the uneven pavement beside me.
“His mother was laughing at you.” I informed Tavian as we crossed toward the waiting shuttle, stepping around a couple reorganizing their bags near the curb.
“She seemed nice.” Tavian decided with a grin, apparently satisfied with that part of the story. I snorted and kept walking, although I couldn't stop my own smile. Taking Tavian with me had been an experiment, and despite several moments that had made me question my judgment, it had worked.
Two weeks photographing coastal wildlife had been long enough for me to learn a few things about traveling with him.
He handled early mornings better than I'd expected and could sit quietly for hours when an animal required it, although afterward he usually talked enough to make up for the silence.
He carried equipment without treating me as though I couldn't manage it myself, learned quickly which cases he needed permission to touch, and developed a serious interest in convenience-store food.
Airports were another issue entirely. Security annoyed him, the seats on the plane were too small for his legs, and he'd spent most of one layover offended by the price of a sandwich.
Vending machines had fascinated him enough that I'd eventually stopped answering questions after he asked who refilled them for the third time.
More importantly, having him there hadn't made my job harder.
Not every assignment would work that way.
Some locations were too controlled, some accommodations were too limited, and there would always be jobs I wanted to do alone.
Tavian hadn't argued when we'd talked about any of that.
He'd only asked whether there would eventually be another trip he could join me on.
There would be.
Our final boat ride the next morning felt familiar in a way airports never would.
Tavian stretched his legs beneath the narrow bench while I kept one camera case between my boots, the river slipping past us under heavy morning humidity.
After two weeks away, the rainforest smelled strong again—wet leaves, dark soil, warm river water, and flowers somewhere beyond the trees.
Moisture already clung to my skin, insects buzzed around the edges of the boat, and bird calls carried from both banks.
Tavian had been restless since sunrise, though not unhappy. He'd slept beside me the night before at the small lodging near the river access, but he'd woken twice and scented my neck before settling again. His mark rested along my right gland, fully healed now. Malek's and Luca's had healed too.
Three permanent marks.
Three men.
And I was still taking assignments.
I liked that.
“You think they've reached the trail yet?” Tavian asked me as he leaned forward with his elbows braced against his knees, watching the riverbank as though the sanctuary might appear sooner if he paid enough attention.
“No. And asking every ten minutes isn't going to make the boat move faster.” I answered Tavian as I checked the protective cover over my camera case, mostly because I'd already checked it twice and my own impatience needed somewhere to go.
“I asked twenty minutes ago.” Tavian corrected me as he turned toward me, offense entering his expression even though his fingers kept tapping against one knee.
“It was twelve.” I told Tavian as I raised an eyebrow, enjoying the brief pause before he realized I'd actually been keeping track.
“You timed me?” Tavian asked as a grin replaced the offended look on his face.
“I've known you long enough to collect evidence.” I informed Tavian as I leaned back against the bench, the motor vibrating beneath us while sunlight flickered over the water.
His purr began quietly beneath the engine noise.
Tavian turned toward the trees again, and some of the humor left his face as the tapping against his knee finally stopped.
“I missed them.” Tavian admitted as his shoulders relaxed, his voice softer now.
“I know.” I told Tavian as I rested my hand over his knee, rubbing my thumb once across the fabric of his pants. Tavian covered my fingers with his, his palm warm against mine.
“So did I.” I added as I turned my hand beneath his and linked our fingers, letting the admission sit there without turning it into anything bigger.
The station appeared around the next bend.
Mara wasn't waiting at the landing this time, which wasn't surprising.
I'd already given her our return date, and unlike my first arrival after Patagonia, I wasn't coming back for anything related to the station.
This assignment had been through a different client.
The boat was simply still the easiest way to reach this section of rainforest without raising questions about why I kept disappearing into an area with no public lodging.
We unloaded quickly. Tavian took his own bag and waited until I handed him the smaller equipment case rather than reaching for it, which meant two weeks of traveling with a professional photographer had taught him at least one useful survival skill.
The trail was wet from rain the night before. Mud darkened the edges of the path, droplets clung to broad leaves overhead, and the forest had no intention of giving Tavian a quiet welcome.
Loud spotted one returned, a toucan announced from somewhere above us as leaves shifted high in the canopy, its blunt voice perfectly clear to me beneath the ordinary calls Tavian could hear.
A laugh escaped before I could stop it.
“What?” Tavian asked me as he glanced up toward the canopy and then back at me, suspicion appearing immediately when he realized the toucan had apparently said something worth laughing about.
“It said the loud spotted one came back.” I told Tavian as I stepped around a muddy patch in the trail, unable to keep the amusement out of my voice.
Tavian stared at me for a second.
“I've been back for less than an hour.” Tavian complained to me as he spread one hand, looking personally offended despite needing me to translate the insult in the first place.
He is still loud, another bird observed from deeper in the trees, its voice carrying through a cluster of calls I couldn't immediately place.
I laughed again.
“That one said something too, didn't it?” Tavian asked me as he narrowed his eyes and looked toward the vegetation, clearly able to tell from my reaction that the forest was still discussing him.
“Nothing important.” I assured Tavian as I stepped toward a slick root crossing the trail.
“Evie.” Tavian warned me as he climbed over the root first and reached one hand back, leaving his palm open for me while his suspicious expression deepened.
“They were doing fine before I got involved.” I reminded Tavian as I used his fingers for balance and crossed the root, deliberately avoiding the translation.
“That wasn't an answer.” Tavian pointed out as he kept hold of my hand until both of my boots were secure on the other side.
“It was the answer you're getting.” I informed Tavian as I released him and kept walking, smiling when he gave the canopy one final distrustful look before following me.
The sanctuary appeared through the vegetation several minutes later, and my pulse quickened before either man came into view. Tavian noticed. His fingers closed around mine briefly before releasing me, and the vibration in his chest deepened as we crossed the final stretch of trail.
Malek appeared first.
He came through the courtyard entrance with his black hair tied away from his face and a faded shirt stretched across his shoulders. His golden-brown eyes went straight to me, shifted toward Tavian and our luggage for a second, then returned to my face.
Cedar reached me before he did.
“Hi.” I told Malek as I smiled and barely managed to put my camera bag safely beside the wall before he reached me, the familiar scent pushing through the combination of airport, hotel, boat, and travel smells clinging to my clothes.
“You smell terrible.” Malek informed me as both arms closed around me, his face lowering into my hair while his purr vibrated heavily through his chest.
“I missed you too.” I told Malek as I laughed against his shirt and wrapped my arms around his waist, breathing in cedar, damp earth, and faint smoke until I no longer had to remember what he smelled like.