Savor (4 page)

I flew down and landed next to Vera. “We’re good.”

“You sure? Not just trying to save face?”

“We’re close, and no sign of company. I’m sure the island will be crawling with sentries though.”

She let out a deep breath. “Ok. I won’t let them kill you.”

“Great. I needed to hear that.”

“You really think you could take on an army of bears?”

“Maybe not an army, but I don’t know why they’d want to kill me.”

“Other than the fact that they think you’ve been sleeping with the daughter of the chief….”

“The daughter who has been missing for years. It’s not like I kidnapped you and whisked you away.”

“No, but you’re still with me.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“Good.”

“Ready for this?” I asked as the lake came into view.

“Sure, why not?”

T
he reality of what I was about to do hit me while I stood on the shore of the lake. It was one of those lakes that was so large it looked more like an ocean. Casey assured me that my father wanted to meet me, but what if she was wrong? And facing my mom: that was an altogether different thing. I was more afraid of what I’d do or say to her. She had a hell of a lot of explaining to do, but then again so did I. I’d taken off with no warning—with a guy who turned out to be as bad as she’d said. And now I was showing up with a Pteron who had a family as messed up as my own. Maybe it would make things easier.

Jared could distract everyone and keep the attention off me. Jared was good at attracting attention. He’d definitely gotten mine whether I wanted him to or not.

I glanced at him. He was watching the water as though it held some desperately important answers. His serious expression was nothing like the usual one he wore, and I wished I had the ability to read his mind. I shouldn’t have cared about his thoughts, but I did. Caring was dangerous. We were going to have to go our separate ways soon.

“Are you going to call her?” he spoke without pulling his eyes from the water.

I shrugged. “Eventually.” I didn’t see any other alternative. Having Jared fly us over would probably get us both killed.

“Is there a reason you’re waiting?” He still stared ahead. Normally I’d have found it rude if someone was speaking to me without looking, but he wasn’t doing it to be rude.

“You mean other than annoying you?”

That got his attention. He turned and fixed his piercing eyes on me. “Then call. It’s not annoying me. I have all the time in the world.”

I put my hands into the back pockets of my jean shorts. “I don’t want to do this.”

“Do you ever want to do anything?” His eyes twinkled with amusement.

“Sometimes.” But less and less often now.

“In case you didn’t know, I don’t want to go either, but we don’t have a choice.” He bent down and scooped up a handful of rocks.

“Sure we do. We always have a choice.” That knowledge was what kept me moving. Without the ability to control your own fate, what did you have?

He tossed a rock into the lake. It skipped three times. “Not really. Not if we want to like ourselves.”

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “Because you are concerned with liking yourself?”

“What if I was? Does that somehow make me less?”

“No, but I’ve never heard of a Pteron having an existential crises.”

He tossed another rock in. This one only skipped twice. “How many Pterons do you know?

“Not many.” I’d never met one until Casey was kidnapped and I had to turn to Jared and Toby for help. Murphy had filled my head with hatred for the bird shifters, but aside from the arrogance I didn’t mind them. After all, I was the one who was willingly spending time with Jared.

“Exactly. Stop passing judgment.”

“Me?” I put a hand on my hip. “I’m passing judgment?”

“Yes.”

“I’m not. It’s just that you’re full of surprises.”

He handed me a flat gray rock. “Surprises can be good.”

I tossed my rock, and it sunk to the bottom of the lake. Skipping rocks was never my thing. “Emphasis on can be.”

His face fell into an unreadable line.

“I like this vulnerable side. It’s kind of sexy.” I smiled.

“Who said anything about vulnerable?” He tensed.

I laughed. “So the crisis talk didn’t bother you, but this does?”

“I’m not vulnerable. I’ll never be.”

“Everyone has vulnerabilities.”

“What are yours?” His eyes bore into mine. “Since everyone has them.”

“I wasn’t including myself in that.” I wasn’t about to open up that line of conversation. I had enough issues to fill a book, but they weren’t any of Jared’s business.

“Oh? Because you’re better than the rest of us?”

“You already know that.” I pulled my phone out of my tight pocket. “I’m calling.”

“Finally.”

“I thought you weren’t in a rush.”

“I’m not, but I was wondering when you were going to do it.”

I let out a deep breath. “Just shut up for five minutes.” I found my mom in my contacts and pressed send.

“Vera?” Her breathless voice took me by surprise. Where was all the anger?

“Hi, Mom.” I attempted to sound as nonchalant as possible, even though I was feeling anything but that.

“How are you?” She let out a deep breath.

“I’m fine. And yourself?” A wave of nausea engulfed me. Hearing my mom’s voice was a reality check. I was really doing this.

“I’m much better now that I’m hearing your voice. I’ve been so worried.” She sighed.

“I’m sorry I never said goodbye.”

“When can I see you?”

I let out a deep breath. There was no sense dragging this out. “As soon as you want to pick me up.”

“Pick you up from where? I’ll get there as soon as I can.” Her voice was filled with urgency, and I had no doubt she’d have traveled anywhere to find me. It only made the guilt worse.

“I’m standing on the shore of your lake.”

“My lake? You’re here at Norco?”

“Not quite there. I’ve heard having a Pteron fly me in wouldn’t go over well.”

“A Pteron? Are you dating one too?”

“No, don’t worry. You didn’t lose both your daughters to the birds.”

Jared threw me a dirty look, but I could tell it was forced. He thought I was funny.

“But you have a Pteron with you?”

“Yes.”

“A male Pteron?”

“Yes, I am sure of that.” I let my eyes rake over his muscular body.

Mom made a clicking sound with her tongue. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It’s a joke.”

“I’m on my way already. Don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried.”

Jared shook his head. I wasn’t sure what his problem was.

“Don’t go anywhere,” she said in a resolute voice.

“Why would I come all the way over here and then leave before seeing you?”

She sighed. “You forget I’m your mother. I know you.”

“And I always run from things?” Even as I said the words I knew she was right. Running was always my solution to problems, even when it hurt everyone else around me.

“I’ll be right there.” She hung up.

Jared tossed another rock. “She didn’t need to worry. I wasn’t going to let you run.”

“Like you could stop me?”

He turned toward me. “Do you really doubt me?”

“No.” I crossed my arms. “I’ll admit you have some strength.”

“Some?” He raised an eyebrow.

“What? Do you need to hear how strong you are to not get a complex? I thought guys with big dicks didn’t need that?”

“Big dicks?” He grinned. “Glad you approve.”

“Shut up. My mom’s coming.”

“You are the one who brought up my dick first.”

“To make a point.”

“Does everything have to be a point?” He gave me a glassy stare.

“No, but everything seems to have to be a fight with you.”

“You’re as much to blame as me.”

“Not true.” I ground my teeth.

“Very true.”

“Stop. No more. Let’s call a truce.”

“A truce.” He shifted his weight.

“I have a better idea.” I glanced out at the lake, noticing a boat in the distance.

“And what’s that?”

“Truces are boring. Let’s make a bet.” I ran my teeth over my bottom lip knowing it would get his attention.

“What kind of bet?”

“Clearly there’s something going on here.”

“Yes, we want each other, and that’s why we fight so much.” He fixed his eyes on me.

“You really think so?” I knew he was right. We’d wanted each other from the very beginning.

“Don’t bother denying it.”

“I won’t.” I glanced out at the boat moving closer. “Which brings us back to the bet.”

“Yes. The aforementioned bet.”

I decided to spit it out. “Whoever makes it longer without giving in to the temptation, wins.”

“Temptation meaning wanting the other?” He cocked his head to the side.

“What else would I mean?”

“And what does the victor get?” He smiled wickedly. I knew he’d never step down from a challenge and neither would I. It would keep us both on good behavior. I needed an incentive to stay strong and resist him.

Now that I had him hooked on the idea, I kicked the ball into his court. “What do you want the stakes to be?”

“First, tell me what you were thinking.”

“I’m broke. Let’s make it money.” I assumed he had a lot more than I did.

“Money I can do.” He looked out at the water. The boat seemed to be picking up speed.

“That’s good, because you’re going to lose.”

“But how are you going to pay me if you’re broke?”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “It doesn’t matter. I’m going to win.”

“But you still need to be able to meet the stakes.”

“Then what do you want from me instead of money?”