I remained unmoving, my breath caught in my chest as he finally lifted his gaze to me. He remained unmoving for a long moment, as still as stone as
he watched me. I didnt know what to do, what to say. I didnt know what I had just witnessed, was uncertain as to who exactly this person standing across from me was. Id known him nearly my whole life, even when we hadnt spoken, he had always been a presence, always been a presence in my world. And now he was standing there, covered in blood and staring at me with a look that both broke my heart and terrified me. He looked so vulnerable, looked as if he desperately needed me to understand what had just happened, but I didnt know how to. He looked primitive, he looked wild, and I was filled with the certainty that this would not be the last time he killed with such force and brutality.
But then, it was a necessity of our lives now. I was just stunned by how fast he had accepted and taken to this.
Are you ok? I managed to croak out in a tremulous voice. He nodded as he used his forearm to wipe some of the blood from his face. I found myself able to move again, able to breathe again as I caught sight of the gash on his upper arm. He had won the battle, but he had not walked away unscathed. Youre hurt.
Its fine.
You dont know what kind of germs those things carry.
He turned his arm over, frowning at the blood that seeped from it. Its a shallow cut Bethany. He used his good arm to keep me back. I frowned fiercely at him, shoving aside his good arm as I seized hold of his hand.
Dont be a baby, let me see.
He sighed softly but relented to me as I pushed him toward a rock. He settled upon it as I gathered the meager stash of supplies we had left. There were no bandages but there was a small thing of antibiotic cream and I ripped up a shirt to use as a makeshift bandage. I felt his onyx eyes watching me as I knelt before him. He didnt flinch, didnt move away from my touch as I gently used the rag to clean the blood from the wound. He was right, it was shallow, but I still slathered cream on it in the hopes that it would prevent infection and kill any germs.
Youre good at that.
I managed a wan smile. When youre as clumsy as I am you learn a few tricks.
He chuckled softly, a soft sound I found I liked immeasurably as my grin widened and I sat back on my heels to admire his rare and fleeting smile. I thought perhaps you were considering becoming a doctor.
No, that was Aiden.
My amusement faded with the stark reminder of everything we had lost. Cades smile slipped away, a muscle in his cheek jumped slightly. I see. And what did you want to do?
I frowned, my gaze drifted toward the forest line as I thought over his question. Id never really known what Id wanted to do, what I would become. Id assumed Id go to college, Id even considered going away, but Id never truly thought about what I would study there, what I would want to do for the rest of my life. I would never have the opportunity to find out either.
I dont know, I admitted.
He was silent for a long moment as I wiped the excess cream and remaining blood from his arm. Whatever it was Im sure you would have been good at it.
I glanced at him from under lowered lashes trying to discern if he was kidding with me or not. He did not appear to be. He seemed to honestly believe that I would find something that I was actually good at. I wasnt so sure. And what about you? Were you going to go to college?
He shrugged absently as I tied the torn piece of shirt around his arm. I had to force myself not to linger over his soft skin, and hard muscles. Hard to force myself not to notice the flush the feel of his skin brought to my face and body. Eventually.
Where would you have gone and for what?
Those dark eyes flickered briefly over my face. I hadnt decided yet. I sat back on my heels, studying him for a long moment. I had the feeling he wasnt telling me something, that there was something he wasnt revealing. I didnt have a chance to question him further though as Jenna and Abby appeared.
Are you ok? Jenna blurted.
Cade pulled the sleeve of his shirt down, it only covered half of the rag wrapped wound. Fine, he muttered.
Abbys eyes were wide, her mouth open as she gasped at the dead creature just feet away. I couldnt bring myself to look at the ruined remains. How did you know about that hiding place?
Cades hand clasped briefly around mine before he rose slowly to his feet. I spent a lot of time up here. I was stunned by the revelation. I didnt exactly pin Cade as a paintball kinda guy, but then there were a lot of things I had never pictured him as but I was beginning to realize he was. I know the course extremely well.
Thankfully.
Why? I inquired.
He shrugged, rolling his shoulders as he stretched his
back. Target practice. He flashed a smile, but it did not reach his eyes and his gaze drifted away from all of us to search the woods. We should get moving.