LIFE AND DEATH (edythe's pov)

Chapter 24 Ambush

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Solar Midnight: Midnight Sun Reimagined (Life and Death, Book I) by beyondthedawn

 Books » Twilight Rated: T, English, Supernatural & Romance, Beau S., Edythe C., Words: 224k+, Favs: 59, Follows: 36, Published: Dec 26, 2020 15Chapter 24: AMBUSH

The tracker chose to run behind us, unwilling to guess at our route. Every now and then I would catch the edge of her thoughts, but never more than a few words, or a view of the Jeep. She followed on higher ground, in the mountains, unconcerned when it took her miles from the road. She could still see us.

I didn't want to think about where Beau was now, what he might be doing and saying. It would be too distracting. But there were a few things left undone.

I whispered instructions to Carine and she typed messages to Archie's phone. It probably wasn't necessary, but it made me feel better.

"Beau needs to eat at least three times every twenty-four-hour period. And hydration is important. He should have water on hand. Ideally eight hours of sleep."

Carine, still keeping the phone low, texted as quickly as I could speak.

"And..." I hesitated. "Tell Archie not to talk about our conversation before in the Jeep. If Beau has questions, deflect them. Tell him I'm very serious about this."

Carine looked at me curiously, but typed my message.

I imagined Archie on the other end, rolling his eyes.

He only texted back the letter y in acknowledgment. I took that to mean that Beau was still awake, and Archie intended to keep my instructions to himself. He must see an unpleasant reckoning if he ignored me.

Eleanor was mostly thinking about what she would do when she had the tracker in her grasp. Her imaginings were pleasant to watch.

When we had to refuel, I used one of the large gas cans Eleanor had loaded into the backseat. In my pocket, Beau's socks would leave the faintest trace of his scent in the air. I moved in a blurred rush, as if my only goal was to race away again, and I was pleased when the tracker came closer to watch. For a moment, she was no more than a mile away. I wanted to take advantage, to flip this flight into an ambush, but it was too soon. We were still too near the water.

I didn't try to be evasive about our route, driving in the straightest line the curving freeways allowed toward my destination. I hoped the tracker would interpret this the way I wanted her to—that I had a destination in mind, somewhere defensible, somewhere I felt safe. She knew little about us, but she knew this much: We had more physical assets available to us than the average nomad. Also, we were many. Perhaps she would imagine even more allies waiting in the forests to the north.

And I had considered running toward Taran's family. I was sure they would help. Kirill, particularly, would be an excellent addition to our hunting team. But they were also too close to the water. The tracker might take one look at the five of them and break for the ocean. All she'd need to do to disappear was submerge. It was impossible to track someone underwater. And she could come out anywhere—five miles down the beach, or in Japan. We'd never be able to follow. We'd have to regroup and start over.

I was headed toward the national parks near Calgary, more than six hundred miles from the nearest open water.

Once we turned on the tracker, she would know that she'd been led astray, and Beau wasn't with us. She would run, and we would chase. I felt confident I could outrun her, but I needed a course with enough length. Six hundred miles gave me some padding.