Page 124

God, how sick.

“Are you okay?”

I jump, dropping my hand from my face, looking down into Nadia’s dark eyes. She looks up at me from the tent entrance, concerned. I was too distracted to listen for footsteps, but didshe hear any of that? It shouldn’t have been possible – the firepit is too far.

“Seriously,” Nadia says, stepping out of the tent and frowning up at me. “Are you all right, Cole?” she glances behind me. “Were you…fighting?”

“Rose was just letting me know that she’s leaving,” I growl, working hard to tuck my anger away, forcing my fangs back.

“Oh,” Nadia says, tucking her hands behind her back, clearly holding back some little comment that she desperately wants to say.

I narrow my eyes at her. Because Nadia, holding back? That’s…weird.

“Why are you being nice?” I snap. Then I step back and look her up and down, my eyes flashing wide when I realize that she’s fully dressed. And all in black. “Nadia!”

“What?” She shouts, already defensive.

“Why are you –“ I gesture at her warm clothing, hersneakers. “God damn it, Nadia!”

“Don’t you shout at me, Cole Kincaid,” she says, stepping forward to glare up at me. “I’ve gotshitto do.”

I groan, ducking my face into my hands, cursing women – all women – thinking of my nice soft bed, which I was very much looking forward to curling up in.

“Listen, you don’t have to come with me,” Nadia says. I drop my hands when I hear her moving, my hand lashing out to wrap around her elbow and pull her back.

“Nadia, I saidno.”

“Youalsosaid I was in charge,” she snaps, glaring up at me. “Everything on my terms, right?”

“This isnot safe–“

“If it’s not safe for me, then it’sdefinitelynot safe for little girls who arealoneout there,” she growls, glaring hard into my eyes.“And it will be a lotsaferfor all of us ifyoucome along to help! But either way,I’mgoing!”

“Whyare you insisting on this?” I snap. But when she just glares up into my face, I groan, pulling her closer to me, shaking my head, my wolfhowlingat me to stay by her side and not let her go into danger.

“Cole, Ican’t,” Nadia says, softening a little and shaking her head at me, pressing a hand to her heart. “I can’t sleep – I can’t stop thinking about them – I justknowthey’re out there, okay?”

She stares up at me, so openly earnest that I couldn’t possibly evenbeginto think that she’s lying. Something about this has Nadia absolutely convinced, and she’snotgoing to rest until she does what she wants.

I groan, pressing my eyes shut, clenching my jaw.

“Cole,” she begs, frustrated, tugging at my hand.

But I just tighten my grip. “Would youpleasejust let me think?”

Nadia stills, giving me the space for a moment as I run through the potential for disaster in my head. It takes a few moments, but then I sigh, dropping her arm.

“Well?” Nadia says. I open my eyes to see her looking up at me – stubborn, proud, determined.

And fucking…gorgeous.

“When we’reoutthere, Nadia,” I growl, “I’min charge. If say it’s too dangerous, then youlistento me.”

“Well, are you going to say it’s too dangerous the second we get out there and make me turn back?”

Slowly I shake my head, promising.

“Fine,” she says, shaking her hair back.