Taekook and the ECLIPSE

20 | As He Thought Through My Answer

"Kookie," he said, relief strong in his voice; his arms wound tightly around me.

"Hi. Sorry I'm so late. I fell asleep and —"

"I know. Minghyu explained." He started toward the car, and I staggered woodenly at his side. "Are you tired? I could carry you."

"I'm fine."

"Let's get you home and in bed. Did you have a nice time?"

"Yeah — it was amazing, Taehyung. I wish you could have come. I can't even explain it. Minghyu's dad told us the old legends and it was like . . . like magic."

"You'll have to tell me about it. After you've slept."

"I won't get it right," I said, and then I yawned hugely.

Taehyung chuckled. He opened my door for me, lifted me in, and buckled my seat belt around me.

Bright lights flashed on and swept across us. I waved toward Minghyu's headlights, but I didn't know if he
saw the gesture.

That night — after I'd gotten past Jaewoo, who didn't give me as much trouble as I'd expected because Minghyu had called him, too — instead of collapsing in bed right away, I leaned out the open window while I waited for Taehyung to come back. The night was surprisingly cold, almost wintry. I hadn't noticed it at all on the windy cliffs; I imagined that had less to do with the fire than it did with sitting next to Minghyu.

Icy droplets spattered against my face as the rain began to fall.

It was too dark to see much besides the black triangles of the spruces leaning and shaking with the wind. But I strained my eyes anyway, searching for other shapes in the storm. A pale silhouette, moving like a ghost through the black . . . or maybe the shadowy outline of an enormous wolf. . . . My eyes were too weak.

Then there was a movement in the night, right beside me. Taehyung slid through my open window, his
hands colder than the rain.

"Is Minghyu out there?" I asked, shivering as Taehyung pulled me into the circle of his arm.