by Ali Winters
Returning to the kitchen, Caspian was leaning over the stove, his face inches away from the pot with boiling water.
“Isn’t that hot?” That distance would have burned him if he had tried it.
“No.”
Kain waited for him to elaborate, but he didn’t. “Stir it with the spoon,” Kain instructed. He might as well start the lesson while Caspian’s face was hovering over the food.
From that moment, Kain explained the basics of cooking to him, as a way for them to pass the time. Caspian would make trips to the store after that, grabbing assortments of food, and demand Kain show him how to make more dishes. At least it gave them something to do besides wait in silence. The underlying tension that had always been there between them had begun to disappear, and they almost considered the other a friend. Almost.
Nivian
Nivian’s eyes fluttered open. Bright light filtered through the open balcony door, a soft breeze fluttering the pale yellow chiffon curtains. Looking around the brightly lit apartment, she gingerly pushed herself up. Soft laughter from the kitchen reached her ears.
Who’s in here? Nivian dropped her feet to the floor and stood. Pain radiated from her back and spread throughout her body. Sucking in a sharp breath, she winced. She’d forgotten about her injuries. Her mind fuzzy from sleeping, she struggled to recall details.
The murmuring stopped. She looked up to see Kain walk around the partition.
“I thought I heard you moving around.” He dried his hands on a small towel before throwing it over his shoulder. “How are you feeling, Nivi?” He walked closer, his hand outstretched.
Nivian took a few steps, then reached out, taking his hand. “Weak,” she grimaced.
“Don’t push yourself,” he warned. Supporting her arm, he walked her into the kitchen. Caspian was standing by the stove, her white apron with yellow daisies on it tied around his waist.
Cooking? Caspian doesn’t cook… He doesn’t even eat. She stared at his back with eyebrows raised in surprise. It smelled delicious—whatever it was.
Turning, Caspian smiled, flour dusting his face, “Ah, you are awake. Sit.” He pointed to the stool next to the small island in the middle of the room, plates of fries covered the surface. Kain walked over and poured a cup of coffee, setting it down in front of her.
“Kain is teaching me to cook.” His face lit up as he beamed at the table. “I am making… the fingers of tiny chickens.” He turned back to the stove and added more chicken to the pan.
“Chicken fingers, Cas.” Kain chuckled. “Caspian made so many fries in the last two days, I couldn’t take it anymore. So I moved him to the next lesson. I had to eat something other than potatoes.”
Nivian picked at the fries, watching their relaxed demeanors. It was nice to see them not bickering with each other for a change.
“Now that you are awake, Nivi, I have something to tell you both.” Kain lowered his gaze.
Caspian stopped flipping the chicken pieces and turned to face him. Nivian looked up, continuing to nibble at the pile of fries.
“After Finn and Holter left Silas and Yeva to find you two, I stayed back a little longer.” Kain clenched a fist and pounded it on the island.
“What’s wrong, Kain?” Nivian put her fry down.
“Right before Silas attacked Yeva, they argued. She admitted her goal was to wipe out the reapers and Silas. She only wants to have control of all the power. Silas tried to warn her about the consequences, but she didn’t care.”
Nivian and Caspian listened as Kain talked. Caspian turned back to the stove and flipped the food before removing it and adding more to the pan.
“I was wrong to believe her, but I don’t think any of the hunters know the truth. She lied to us.” He leaned forward on the island and hung his head. “I’m ashamed I couldn’t tell the truth from a lie.”
Nivian placed her hand on his arm. He looked up into her sparkling blue eyes, giving her a half-hearted smile.
“It’s okay, Kain. There was no way you could’ve known. There was no way any of us could’ve known.”
Kain nodded. “I feel so guilty. How many lives could have been saved if I had known the truth? I am usually so much better at reading people than that.”
“Do not beat yourself up. Yeva is an ancient and has powers and abilities beyond your imagination.” Caspian reassured over his shoulder.
“We will be okay.” Nivian smiled up at him, holding his hand in both of her small ones. “It’s over.”
“You’re right.”
Nivian put her arm around him and rested her head on his shoulder. The balance was back in order, and things could go back to normal again—or something like it.
Holter
Two days later, Holter and Finn attended the double funeral for the fallen. Holter looked up at the gray skies squinting through the light drizzle. The clouds were heavy with rain. It had been misting for most of the morning. Thunder sounded in the distance, the clouds threatening to overflow and pour down on them. He shoved his hands in his pockets. The gentle rhythm of rain tapped on the surface of the umbrellas. His black fedora seemed to amplify the sound. It seemed fitting.
The families of the two hunters held each other, as the preacher conducted his prayers. The mourners remained unaware of the double life their deceased family members had led. They had been told it was a car accident due to icy roads. Large wreaths of flowers stood at the head of the coffins: white lilies for Daniel, red roses for Karen.
It was a nice enough ceremony, as far as funerals went. There was nothing out of the ordinary to hint at the things these two had done in their lifetime, nothing to give away their double life. Finn and Holter stood in the back, paying their respects at a safe distance.
Finn pulled his trench coat tighter around him, lifting the collar to keep the rain out. “We should have brought umbrellas,” he grumbled, dropping his head down to keep the rain off his face.
“That’s why I wear this.” Holter pointed to his hat and gave the other man a crooked smile, earning a glare. The service ended, and the crowd began to move away. Men led the sobbing women and children to their parked cars. The two hunters walked to their car on the opposite side of the cemetery, their feet squishing in the waterlogged ground.
Finn’s limp was barely noticeable.
“No cane today?” Holter asked.
“Naw, unlike you, I’m still young enough to heal at a decent rate.” He said, treading carefully over the slick ground, taking care not to fall. “Do you think Kain is still on the island?” he asked after a beat.
“No idea. Though I’m sure he’s okay. We will be in touch with him again soon.”
They continued to walk in silence. Reaching their cars, they shook hands before parting.
“It was good to work with you again after all this time,” Holter said, clapping the man on his shoulder.
“Where will you go now?” Finn asked.
“I don’t know… but I have an idea.” A smile broke out on Holter’s face as he opened his car door and slid in, starting the car and leaving the man standing in the rain to watch him as he pulled away.
Holter drove up the long, tree-lined driveway and parked his car. Taking two deep breaths, he turned the key, shutting the engine off. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly until his knuckles turned white. The house was the same. The trees were bigger, but nothing else had changed after all these years. It warmed his heart, and with it, brought his guilt to the surface for the first time in years.
Here goes nothing, he thought. Steeling himself, he stepped out of the car and walked up the porch steps before he could change his mind. He wiped his hands on the legs of his pants and lifted a hand to knock. He didn’t know what to expect, but he had to try.
He knocked three times and waited.
Moments later, there was still no answer, unsure if it had been seconds, minutes, or hours. No one seemed to be home. He turned to leave, making it halfway down the steps before he heard the
click of the door unlocking. He froze. The door opened slightly, the chain lock visible from the other side.
“Yes?” a soft voice called.
His heart pounded loudly in his chest. There was no turning back now. Holter turned to face the woman.
“Aurelia?” his voice was barely audible. He cleared his throat.
Confusion clouded her features. She didn’t move for a long moment. Slowly, the realization hit her. He hadn’t aged a day since she had last seen him. A detail he failed to take into account before he decided to contact her again. Aurelia’s hand flew over her mouth, and her emerald eyes widened. He stepped up to the door again, their faces inches away, peering at each other through the small opening.
“H—Holter?”
The door slammed. His face fell. He could feel his heart squeeze tight. Then he heard the sound of the chain sliding from its locked position. It was the sound of hope, restarting his heart as she threw the door wide open.
He didn’t dare to move. The last thing he wanted to do was frighten or anger her. Aurelia’s face was an impossible mask to read.
“Is— is it really you?” she whispered. Tears formed in her eyes.
Holter nodded. “Yes.” His mouth opened and closed. There was so much he wanted to say, so much he needed to tell her. It was impossible to know where to start. “Aurey, I know I owe you an explanation. I—”
He didn’t get the chance to finish, as she flung herself into his arms and held onto him, crying with pure joy. He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist and spun her.
“Don’t you ever leave me again, Holter. I will track you down and bring you back if you do,” Aurelia said into his shoulder, tears streaming down her face.
“I will always come back to you, my love,” he whispered, burying his face in her hair.
Look out for Book two of The Hunted Series,
The Exodus
Coming Soon!
Acknowledgements
There are so many people I want to thank. My parents who always made me believe I could be anything I wanted to. They never put restrictions on my imagination by telling me what the world expects. My husband, for supporting me, supplying me with omelets and giving me words on demand. Konstanz, thank you again for everything. This book exists because of you. I was just a blogger with a small idea that I wanted to share with an author I admired, you encouraged me to write the rest of the story and cheered me on through the end. Thank you for being such an amazing inspiration! R.G., for helping me find that one word every time my brain shut off and for laughing with me at the hilarious typos and temporary filler lines. Jammie S., for pointing out an element that opened my eyes like I never expected.
Raven & Carla, for supporting me and giving me the push and encouragement I needed when I wanted to give up. You two have no idea how much your words fueled me to go on and find my voice again.
Moxxley, Michelle I. Thank you both for your amazing encouragement and all the support. I do not have words for how much your love and everything means to me.
Erin C., thank you for going through this maze of insanity with me, the sprinting.
Most importantly, being so patient with me and all my questions.
Erin A., because you supported me when I needed it most. You both kept me going when I needed it, encouraging me and being the best cheerleaders anyone could hope to have.
… And thank you, to everyone who believed in me.
About The Author
Ali grew up in the Pacific North West. She attended Oregon State University for photography. After many adventures, she moved to Colorado, earned a second degree, and met and married her husband.
She currently lives in windy Wyoming with her husband, and two dogs. When not writing, Ali is either, photographing, knitting, reading, dancing, or staying inside where it’s warm with a hot cup of coffee. She dreams of traveling the world someday soon.
Connect with Ali online
www.aliwinters.com
or
www.facebook/authoraliwinters
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