Page 8 of Lily and her Mercenary (CHANGING OF THE GUARDS)

Lily

I woke to the smell of bacon frying. For a moment, I forgot where I was, the unfamiliar ceiling and pine-scented air disorienting. Then it all came rushing back. The field trip. The bus. Ryker.

I sat up, my clothes creased from sleeping in them, and looked around the cabin. Sunlight streamed through the small window, casting patterns on the wooden floor. Mabel sat perched on the windowsill, her green eyes watching Ryker in the kitchenette.

"Morning," he said without turning, his voice soft but carrying in the small space. "Hope you're hungry."

I stood, running a hand through my tangled hair. "I could eat a horse."

He raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "How about bacon and biscuits instead? Less hoof."

I sat at the tiny table, watching as he flipped the bacon, then opened the oven door and pulled a pan from the wood cook stove with surprising skill. "You cook?"

He shrugged, a little sheepish. "It's amazing what you learn when you're on stakeouts for weeks at a time."

The reality of our situation settled around me like a heavy blanket, but there was something comforting about it, too. No alarm clock. No school board interrogations. No masked men with crowbars. Just us, here, away from everything.

I poured coffee into mismatched mugs from a camp-style coffee pot. The simple act grounds me. "It's nice," I said, gesturing around the cabin. "Rustic."

He stacked the biscuits and bacon onto a plate, then joined me at the table. "Rustic is code for 'no TV and spotty Wi-Fi,' right?"

I laughed, the sound filling the small space. It felt good to laugh. "Something like that."

We ate in silence, the kind that wasn't awkward but comfortable, like we'd been doing this for years instead of hours. He squirted ketchup onto his biscuit, then offered me the bottle.

"Thanks," I said, reaching for it. Our fingers brushed, and a flutter of something unexpected went through me.

I pulled my hand back, focusing on my food. "So, what's the next step in your detailed plan of hiding me from the world?"

He leaned back in his chair, studying me. "We lay low. Wait it out. See what shakes loose."

"And what do I do in the meantime? I've never been good at sitting still."

He smiled, a real one that crinkled the corners of his eyes. "There's plenty of construction paper and glue in the car. I figured you'd go stir-crazy without it.”

"You planned ahead," I said, touched despite everything.

"Always do," he said, then paused. "Except with you."

The air shifted, a new tension threading through it. The kind that had nothing to do with danger or threats.

“Ah… when you get bored with your crafts, there’s a stream about three hundred feet through the trees that way." He pointed behind me. “There are some fishing poles under the porch—"

"I don't know why you're helping me," I interrupted him, my voice barely above a whisper as I looked down at my plate, then back at him. "Why are you risking so much?"

He reached across the table, his hand covering mine. "Because I want to," he said simply.

And just like that, the fear that had knotted around my heart since the attack loosened, replaced by something warm and sweet. I squeezed his hand, a silent acknowledgment of the trust that was growing between us.

The day passed slowly, each hour stretching into the next with a leisure that I wasn't used to. I unpacked the supplies Ryker had brought, setting up a makeshift project station on the kitchen table. He watched me cut out brightly colored shapes, a bemused expression on his face.

"What?" I asked, glancing up from my work.

"Nothing," he said, shaking his head. "Just never thought I'd see the day when I'd be hiding out with someone who finds comfort in glitter."

"Everyone needs a little sparkle in their life," I replied, tossing a piece of gold paper at him.

He caught it easily, his reflexes sharp even in this moment of calm. "Even an ex-mercenary?"

"Especially an ex-mercenary."

He laughed, the sound rich and unguarded. "Guess I'm learning a lot from you."

I felt a blush creep up my cheeks, unused to the intensity of his attention. "It's only fair. You taught me how to jump off a bus."

"Don't forget the owl impersonation."

"How could I?" I said, laughing at the memory. "It was truly unforgettable."

By evening, we'd fallen into an easy rhythm. I cooked dinner while Ryker did the dishes, his sleeves rolled up and suds on his arms. Mabel went from the window to the back of the couch, her presence a reminder of home.

As the sun dipped below the trees, I settled onto the couch, pulling the unicorn blanket over my legs. Ryker joined me, his presence solid and reassuring.

"Do you miss it?" I asked, turning to face him. "The action? The thrill?"

He considered, his expression thoughtful. "I thought I would," he said finally. "But not as much as I thought."

"Really?"

He nodded, his gaze steady. "Turns out, I like this too."

I leaned back, letting my head rest against the cushions. "This? You mean temporary house arrest with an arts and crafts fanatic?"

"Exactly." He chuckled, the sound low and comforting. "Best assignment I've ever had."

I smiled into the dim light, feeling the weight of the past days lift in a way I hadn't expected. "I'm glad you're here."

He reached for my hand, his fingers lacing through mine. "Me too, Lily. Me too."

We sat like that for a long time, the quiet of the woods wrapping around us. Mabel curled beside me, a soft purr rumbling in her chest.

Eventually, my eyes grew heavy, the events of the past days catching up with me. I drifted into sleep, Ryker's presence beside me was reassuring, and that everything was okay, at least for now.

I woke to the sound of his voice, low and urgent. He stood by the window, his phone pressed to his ear.

"When?" he said, his back tense. "And you're sure it's him?"

I stayed silent, my heart picking up speed. He turned slightly, and I could see the hard set of his jaw.

"Yeah, I know," he said. "We'll be ready. Just keep me posted."

He ended the call, turning to find me watching him from the couch.

"What's going on?" I asked, sitting up, the blanket pooling around my feet.

He hesitated, then crossed the room, sitting beside me. "Royal just called. Someone's been asking around."

"About me?"

"About you," he nodded. "And about me. They have to know we're together."

I felt a chill run through me. "Do they know where we are?"

"Not yet," Ryker said, his voice calm. "But it's only a matter of time."

I looked at him, fear beating inside my chest. "What do we do?"

"We stick to the plan," he said, his expression fierce. "We stay off the radar. We stay safe."

The certainty in his tone settled my nerves for the time being. I nodded, trying to match his confidence. "Okay."

He pulled me close, his arms wrapping around me. "I won't let anything happen to you."