Escaping Death

Chapter 55

I think  that catches me up for the last 10 days. 

There is a bonus chapter between 55 and 56, exclusive to Patreon.  Please note that all bonus chapters do not contain details that are relevant to the main plot. They are, as the name implies, just a bonus.

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Solana

Something strong and sure stops me from jumping off the rocks and pulls me back behind the waterfall's curtain. Usually I'm not caught off guard like this, usually I am hyper aware of my surroundings and braced for anything at any moment. But in the confines of the Grove, in my somewhat secret spot, surrounded by Death, I must have let my defenses relax.

I shriek reflexively out of surprise but a warm hand, a familiar hand, quickly covers my mouth, muting my cry. I may have been caught off guard, which is an oversight I'll obviously need to correct even here in the Grove, but unfortunately for this asshole I've been trained by some of the most lethal creatures on the planet.

I shadow so he can't see or predict my movements despite still being locked in his grip. I kick backwards aiming for his knee but I'm shorter than him and can't get my foot up that high with enough leverage to push back, so I end up kicking his shin.

He sucks in a breath through his teeth, cursing at the pain. "Easy, Sunflower. It's just me," Hunter's voice whispers in my ear and the iron hold he had on me eases so I can turn around to face him.

I'm so shocked to see him here that my mouth flounders open and closed for a few seconds before I manage to say something. "Hunter? What – are you insane? What are you doing here?" I hiss at him not out of anger but out of fear. Fear that he'll be found and I'll lose him all over again.

"I needed to know that you were safe," he says as if that explains everything before dragging me further into the tunnel. When we round the first corner he stops abruptly, threads his fingers through the base of my hair, and slams his lips against mine. His tongue invades my mouth and it feels like we're fledglings in love again, sneaking off to the falls and making out until the sun goes down.

We break away from each other breathless and panting, his eyes inky pools of desire. "There's an issue I need to clear up. Either it's bullshit or betrayal. But I'm not going to risk your safety while I figure it out."

"What happened? Where is this coming from?"

His head snaps in the direction of the cave's entrance upon hearing Eli calling out to the others that he's found our tunnel.

Hunter summons a large dagger and pushes me behind him, blocking me from view. "Stay behind me until we sort this out. If things go badly, run."

"No. You don't just pull out a dagger on your pack, tell me what the hell is going on," I demand but the rumble resonating around me is his warning to do as I'm asked.

"You run, Solana. Do you understand?"

"Sol, can you hear me?" A distant voice snaps me out of my wandering thoughts and back to the present. I blink away the memory of earlier and find the guys and my siblings staring at me expectantly.

"I said are you doing okay? You know..." Rhys tilts his head gesturing to the other end of the table where my grandparents sit among them. Really it's more just her, it's not fair for me to blame my great uncle Dex for any of the anguish she brought with her.

Elena.

The woman who not only brought four despicable creatures into the world, but who also stole my grandmother's rightful spot as Elder out from under her. I feel sick having to sit here and pretend like I'm not imagining new ways to torture her, pretend like she's not solely responsible for our fractured family photo.