To Love a Vampire - A.K. Koonce Page 0,43

any room for protest as he strides from the tent.

It surprises me how close the secret community of mystics is to my camp. Weeks passed when I traveled from the camp to Asher’s grandparents’ house. The mystics are faster than humans. All it took was a quiet statement from Kaino about how much faster it would be if we all ran to the camp.

“I could always carry you,” Declan says to me with a playful smile that gains him glares from everyone in the group.

“Not a chance,” Asher says, stepping between Declan and I as I fasten my backpack around my stomach, my fingers fumble, the clasps falling from my hands when his hard body presses against my side.

“Kaino’s right, though, we’d make better time if you let me help you,” Asher says in a whisper as he takes the clasps from my hands, his fingers brushing against my bare stomach. My shirt is short and reveals soft flesh to him, making my breath catch with every movement of his hands. He buckles my pack around my midsection but his hands slip over my sides, almost holding me against him, but not quite. My palms land on his forearms, but I don’t dare move another inch.

We’re on the outskirts of the community, at the edge of the forest. No one can see us here, other than the three others traveling with us.

“Let me help you,” he says in a gravelly whisper, his mouth pressed against my ear, sending shivers across my skin with every hot breath he takes.

I clear my throat and nod, my heart beating wildly in my chest as my mind fills with inappropriate thoughts. My eyes dart around to the others. Luca’s eyes are wide as she watches us intently with a smile.

Declan starts off without a word, running into the forest in a blur of blonde movement. Asher smirks and I push his shoulder lightly as I roll my eyes. He bites back his amusement as he lifts me in his arms, our eyes meeting once I’m held safely against his strong chest. All humor is gone. His eyes dip to my lips for only a second before he begins running.

I yelp as my hands cling around his neck. My stomach drops with a sense of diving as we run at a speed that I can’t even imagine. I try to focus on the person running next to us but my stomach twists uncomfortably as my eyes strain to see clearly.

I bury my face in his chest, breathing in his warm scent as I wait for the ride to be over. Praying I won’t be sick before we get there.

It takes two long days for us to make it to the camp. I only puked once. It’s something I take pride in admitting. The others don’t consider it an achievement like I do…

“Okay, Declan you know the drill. Stay hidden,” Asher tells him with a smirk.

“Why would I hide when you’re going to be walking around in plain sight?”

“I’m a friend of a friend. We don’t want to send in every hybrid the Wanderers have, it’ll look like a revenge ambush for our fallen ancestors,” Asher says, dripping sarcasm into every word. He bumps his shoulder casually against Declan’s as he passes.

A long sigh passes my lips as I trade a glance with Luca who shares my annoyance.

“Both of you will be in hiding,” I tell them, stopping Asher in his arrogant tracks. He pauses at my side and slowly nods, his now shaggy dark hair brushing against his ears with the movement. “Stay here in the tree line, don’t draw attention to yourselves. I’ll gather a crowd later tonight after the patrols have left the village.”

The village guards don’t linger within the camp after curfew. They’ll survey the homes and keep the wealthier people safe and monitored but they can’t be spared to keep our camp under watch during the night.

Asher reaches out to me, his warm fingers slipping against mine. “I’ll do whatever you ask, Fallon. Just say the word and I’ll do it.”

My heart flutters and I have to look away from him as his words from the other night trail through my thoughts.

“So we’re ready?” Kaino asks as he takes a step toward the camp that is bustling with work in the midday sun that burns down on us.

“Not you. Just Luca,” I say, moving closer to my friend.

Kaino’s dark brows lower, shading his amber eyes.

“Luca isn’t brooding with emotion. The people