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"Is the car going to be safe here?"

"It will be fine She’ll send someone down for it if she decides to let us stay I know they keep some cars there, so they must have a place to park them out of the weather"

"What do you ed "She’ll allow you to stay, I’m sure, but she won’t want me" He couldn’t hide the pain that crossed his face as he said, "She’ll be angry I showed up without an invitation"

"But you said that you wouldn’t leave ht have been the grumpiest travel companion she’d ever had, but she knew hiht arm to keep her safe "You promised--"

"Yes, I did" He narrowed his eyes "You letanywhere"

He buttoned up his jacket and threw on the pack Then he walked over and tightened up the drawstring around her neck "It’s colder here than you’re used to"

"I’ve been in cold weather before"

He shook his head "Not like here"

Ava batted his hand away and sneered "Actually, exactly like here A o to cover a new luxury hotel that was built to be coet it It’s cold and wet and the weather changes in fiveand let’s walk"

"Fine"

"Good" Ava couldn’t let his concern weaken her She’d allowed herself to be soft and trusting with oneand he’d died It wouldn’t happen again

The path was steep, clilaciers at the dawn of time Thick forest surrounded them, and the orn path quickly turned ns of life No tire tracks or footprints The only indication they weren’t completely alone was the occasional rustle in the forest that could have been an aniri only to check that she was still with hiood hiker Her years of work in remote places left her as comfortable outdoors as she was in the city The boots she ere almost a carbon copy of the ones she kept in her room at her mother’s house, only less worn Sheas they climbed

They’d almost reached the crest of a hill when she saw him stumble Damien halted for a second, then took a step back, his foot sliding in the " His voice sounded strained "Just keep walking, Ava"

She walked closer, noticing that the strain in his voice was evident on his face, too "What’s going on?"