Total pages in book: 194
Estimated words: 187754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 939(@200wpm)___ 751(@250wpm)___ 626(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 187754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 939(@200wpm)___ 751(@250wpm)___ 626(@300wpm)
“Lead the way.”
AURELIA
“I don’t need a bodyguard to pee, Seth.”
“What about a really kinky but devastatingly handsome voyeur who wants to watch you pee?”
“Hard pass.”
Seth whimpers like a sad puppy but doesn’t follow me, thankfully. To be safe, I walk for a while until I’m sure I’m alone.
I really do have to pee.
I’m sure they think I’m trying to run again, so I know I don’t have long before they come looking.
After relieving myself, I stand and pull up my tights.
I take one step toward the meadow where my mountain men are waiting—and likely fighting over me—when I hear it.
A twig snapping.
My head snaps in the direction of the sound, and I turn toward it when I see something moving up ahead. I’m prepared to scream in case it’s a wolf or bear and hope that Seth hears me, but it’s neither.
Instead, it’s a White man in his mid-twenties, of average height and with a ginger beard, who steps from the tree line. He’s busy removing a cigarette from the pack, so he hasn’t spotted me yet.
I wrestle with indecision in the seconds before he does.
Hide or hail?
There’s a tree I can take cover behind until he leaves, but this may be my last chance of getting home.
The question is, can I trust him?
The last time I went looking for a hero, I found three villains instead.
Better the devils I know, right?
I can’t believe my own insanity when I back away toward the tree, but I don’t get the chance to hide because my would-be savior looks up before I can. His eyes flare with surprise over seeing another person, and my stomach sinks. For a long moment, we just stare at each other across the hundred feet or so that separate us. And then I do something I’ll never forgive myself for.
I turn to run.
“Hey!”
A tortured sound escapes me, and I run faster. I can hear him chasing me, and even though I know I can’t outrun him, I still try.
“Hey, wait! I just want to know to know if you have a light!”
I open my mouth to scream for Seth when I trip over a log and fall. The snow doesn’t cushion my fall and knocks the wind out of me instead, giving the stranger time to catch up to me before I can climb to my feet. When he tries to help me up, I smack his hand away and scramble to put distance between us again, but a tree blocks my path.
The stranger doesn’t advance, but I keep a wary eye on him anyway as I stand slowly.
“Holy shit,” he says once he gets a good look at me. “Holy shit. I know you! You’re that missing girl.” He takes a step forward, and I flinch. Fortunately, he gets the message and keeps his distance. “Uhh…Aurora, right?”
I search his gaze, and maybe I’m the dumbest bitch on Earth for falling for it, but I’ve also been living with monsters—fucking them and catering to their every whim. I think that makes me an expert on the subject, so when I see nothing sinister staring back at me, I relax enough to say, “Aurelia.”
“Yeah, sorry.” He removes the hood of his yellow winter jacket, revealing the mop of ginger curls underneath as he tucks his unlit cigarette behind his ear. “Aurelia. Nice to meet you.” He places a hand on his chest and smiles. “I’m Pete.”
“Hi, Pete.”
“This is so crazy!” Pete grins, and it’s so genuine that I can’t help but return a small yet nervous smile. He’s in danger, and he doesn’t even know it. I wasn’t just running to save myself from another potential monster. I was running to save him in case he’s good and kind and innocent. “You know everyone’s looking for you, right?” he asks, breaking my thoughts. “And here you are. I found you. Alive. I’ve never met a celebrity before.”
“We’re overrated,” I tell him.
“Do you think I can have your autograph? My sister is a huge fan.”
“Sure. Got a pen?”
“Oh, crap.” He blushes so cutely at his folly. “No, not here.”
“Maybe next time, then.” I turn to go. The faster I get away from him, the safer we’ll both be. “See ya, Pete.”
I hold my breath, praying he doesn’t try to stop me. Instead, he does something even more foolish.
He follows me.
“So, uh…what are you doing out here? Are you lost?”
“Very.”
Pete nods, and I can see him stealing glances. I can feel his confusion and the questions he must have. I know what he’s thinking.
I look pretty damn good for a girl who’s been missing for seventeen days.
The world around me slows at the reminder.
Seventeen days…
Is that all it’s been?
“Well, listen. We have a camp not far from here and a van. We can take you to town. Easy peasy.”
I stop walking and turn to face him. “We?”