Page 85 of Beneath the Mountain Sky

I nod, giving my heart a few moments to calm to a more normal beat before I even attempt to explain it to him. “I have to know why I keep seeing it.”

It’s too clear.

Too real.

I must have been there at some point.

And I need to know why.

Even if I pay for it—one way or another—later, I can’t pass up this chance when I’m so close to another potential memory.

Killian buries his face in my hair, breathing deeply and tightening his hold on me for several minutes. Considering all the options. Debating with himself rather than arguing with me. “Then we’ll do it, Honeybee.”

11

KILLIAN

The bonfire rages in front of me, flames leaping higher and higher into the crystal-clear night sky. Smoke billows against black, and I follow it up to the expanse of stars spread out above me.

On the mountain, without any sort of light pollution, millions of them twinkle brightly, winking at me as if they know something I don’t.

And they do.

They’ve been there for millions of years.

They witnessed it all since humans took their first steps on McBride Mountain, and they saw whatever happened to Willow.

Wherever she was over the past year…

Whoever she was with…

What she might have suffered…

They know.

Far more than we do.

Somehow, the fact that a massive ball of gas burning millions of miles away in an infinite space has all the information when we have none pisses me the fuck off and prevents me from being able to enjoy the simple, pristine beauty of my view tonight.

That would be impossible with Willow inside the cabin, passed out, dead asleep after the last two days. The physical and emotional drain should keep her asleep, and hopefully, her memories and nightmares won’t haunt her for at least an hour…because I need space.

Time to think.

Pine.

After being with her like that last night, feeling her pressed up against me, her tight, hot cunt clasping around my fingers, coating them in her sweet release, my entire body thrums with this pent-up…

Something.

A horrible conflict between what I want and what I know is right for Willow—especially after what happened at the gorge today.

And alcohol isn’t helping me solve anything.

I take the final sip of my beer, letting the cool, hoppy liquid slide down my throat as I lean back in my chair and stare at the stars. Those smug fuckers. The empty bottle in my hand isn’t going to cut it tonight. I set it beside my chair with the two other empties, the glasses smacking together with a light tink.

Snagging another one from the cooler, I release a frustrated sigh, then pop the cap off on the built-in opener.

“That bad?”