Therian Promise(9)

“Then pick a direction.” She turned in a slow circle. “Looks like we’re a long way from anywhere.”

“Which means we need to be smart with our supplies.” There was another option available to them, but she wasn’t ready to consider a Therian alternative to hours, perhaps days of arduous hiking. Besides, it was a long shot at best. He’d let the reality of their isolation sink in a bit longer then he’d offer the creative solution. “What all do you have stuffed in that backpack?”

“Trail mix, protein bars, change of clothes, a mini first-aid kit, flashlight, lighter.” She shrugged. “The usual. I expected to be on a motorcycle, not an extended hiking trip.”

“Well, our expectations have obviously changed.” He paused and smiled at her. “I’m presuming you intend to share your supplies with me. Technically, I’m the one who’s completely unprepared for this.”

She looked at him through her lashes, the expression inadvertently flirtatious. At least he thought the flirting was inadvertent. She’d been anything but approachable before. “I suppose it’s a reasonable presumption after healing me.”

Damn. Did she practice that not-quite-a-smile expression? His entire body reacted with heat and…hunger. No, it wasn’t her. Well, she was the focus of his spiking instincts, but she didn’t realize she was the cause. Healing her had left him drained, and Therians became progressively more predatory when their needs, or the needs of one under their protection, were neglected. Patience might not be an option, but he had to find a better location than this mountaintop.

“Good.” The word struggled past his dry throat. “I’m starving.”

“What would you like? Trail mix or a protein bar?”

He pictured her naked on her back with trail mix sprinkled all over her ivory skin. He’d start at her knees and nibble his way to her neck… “Protein bar.”

She went behind him and rummaged through the backpack until she produced a foil-wrapped bar. “You better have a drink of water too.” She handed him the water bottle. “Your voice sounds sort of scratchy.”

He quickly took a sip of water, hiding his guilty smile. He could think of something warm and slick and luscious that would coat his tongue and soothe this scratchy throat. He’d have her straddle his face and he’d—

“Are you all right?” She crossed her arms over her chest, staying carefully out of reach. “Your eyes are starting to glow again.”

He rubbed his eyes and cleared his throat, knowing neither was likely to ease the ache rapidly spreading through his body. “Healing you left me hungry, but I’ll be fine.”

For a long, tense moment she stared at him, speculation narrowing her eyes, then she muttered, “He’s standing there in the midday sun, so he can’t be a vampire. But why was she drinking their blood?”

“You said that out loud,” he revealed as gently as possible.

“I know.” But the bright red flush on her cheeks said otherwise. “In my dream Carissa…”

“It was just a dream.” She needed to understand the fundamental truths of her existence before she focused on details like a blood ritual. He didn’t want to intentionally mislead her, so he quickly guided the conversation in a safer direction. “Let’s head back down and I’ll start at the beginning. Deal?”

“Deal, but let’s go a different direction than we came up. We already know what’s down there. Trees.”

“Fair enough.” He swept his hand in a semicircle. “Any preference?” Therian dreamers were generally clairvoyant in other ways as well, but she was still latent. It was surprising that any of her abilities had manifested before her animal nature was defined. More proof that Ava was no ordinary Therian. He inhaled deeply when she offered no opinion. The air smelled slightly fresher to his right, which likely meant water. Rather than explain his hunch, he provided a more conventional suggestion. “If we head west, we’ll have the sun at our backs for most of the day. It’s easier to see that way. Do you have a compass stashed in one of those compartments?” He motioned over his shoulder with his thumb.

She disappeared behind him again then returned with a small flashlight. Before he could remind her what she’d been looking for, she flipped it around and showed him the compass recessed in the flashlight’s handle.

“Very clever.” Another hunger pain cramped his gut and he quickly turned away, not wanting her to witness his distress. He breathed in through his nose and exhaled slowly through his mouth, consciously controlling his reaction to the pain. She touched his arm and he had no choice but to turn around or heighten her suspicion.