Page 108 of Dustwalker

She laughed, shaking her head. “That’s notthe first thing I said to you.”

“No. First, you asked who I was. Then it wasget out, followed byI know what you are. You’re a?—”

“Okay, okay, I get it. I don’t know if that memory of yours is a good thing or not.” She peeked up at him briefly before burying her face in his warmth.

“I remember everything that’s happened since I woke. All the pain, the struggles, the terrible moments. But all the good, too. There’s not nearly as much of that…but it seems to go a lot further.”

“Will you remember me when I’m gone, Ronin?”

His stride faltered, body going rigid before he stopped. She looked up again to find his intense eyes on her.

Raising a hand, he grazed his fingertip along her brow, brushing aside the stray strands of hair that had escaped her scarf. “Even through another Blackout, I couldneverforget you, Lara Brooks.”

This time, she couldn’t blame the sting in her eyes on the wind. She hid her face again, refusing to let him see her cry. Did he love her?

They resumed their walk. He’d successfully distracted her; her mind was racing, examining everything he’d said to her, everything he’ddone for her…

Hours passed. As the first light of dawn touched the sky, exhaustion came for Lara, making her legs give out beneath her.

But Ronin’s unwavering hold wouldn’t allow her to fall. He dipped down and scooped her into his arms without missing a step. “A little farther. There’s a place ahead where we can shelter for a time.”

Her lead lolled against him, and she turned into his warmth, throwing an arm over his neck. The only response she could manage was a weak nod.

The gentle sound of water sloshing in his bag and the steady rhythm of his footfalls lulled her. He was moving faster now that he was carrying her, but his pace didn’t jostle her. It was comforting. And while she focused on his heat, on the solidness of his body, her aches, pains, and weariness faded away for a while.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

A loud pop startled Lara awake. Her eyes went wide, but the flames before her were blurry until she blinked away her grogginess. She was lying on the ground with her head propped on something firm and warm. Brow furrowing, she turned her face to look up at Ronin.

Her head was resting on his thigh. He’d drawn her scarf down and draped his coat over her like a blanket.

“You’re safe,” he said, his hand on her shoulder gently squeezing.

“Water,” she croaked.

Ronin picked up her canteen, twisted the cap off, and held it to her.

She cupped the bottom, tilting it back as she lifted her head and drank deeply. The water was heavenly to her parched throat. When she’d had her fill, she pushed the canteen away and dropped her head back onto his lap. “Thanks.”

“You should’ve been drinking more often while we walked.”

“Didn’t want to slow you down any more than I already did.” She met his gaze. “Sorry I fell asleep.”

He cradled her cheek. “You’ll slow me down a lot more if you get dehydrated, Lara. My goal is to keep you safe, not walk you to death.”

She covered his hand with hers and smiled. “Could’ve fooled me.”

“Some of this will get easier. Your body will grow accustomed to the exertion.”

“And how do you know that? I can tell you right now, just lying here, I feel like I fell off a fifty-foot wall.”

“Humans adapt. Your bodies change in response to the way you use them.”

“Hmm.” Lara closed her eyes. Her last waking memory was of the biting bold. But now, between the heat of the fire, her own heavy coat, and Ronin’s covering her, she felt overly warm, but she was too comfortable to move despite her aches. “Where are we?”

“One of the few intact buildings out here. I think it used to house machinery of some sort, but it’s been picked clean over the years. It cuts the wind, at least.”

Opening her eyes, Lara examined the place. The ceiling and walls were constructed of rusted metal sheets. Wind whistled through gaps in the walls, and rays of sunlight streamed through holes in the roof, which meant the sun was overhead.