Inhabited

Chapter 16

I turn and slip on the sand as I try to run toward the trees. His arm wraps around my waist and he spins me around, gripping my chin with his free hand. His fingers press into my cheeks and my eyes raise to his, with nowhere else able to look.

"You'll have another attack if you go back that way right now, Fawn. Do you get that? You'll actually fucking die from it this time."

I try to pull my face out of his grip, but he's too strong and when he feels me tugging back, he tightens his hold so I can't. "Let me go."

"Not until you promise you aren't going to take off running and you actually mean it."

I grit my teeth as I glare up at him. "Let me go."

"Promise me you won't go running back."

I thrash in his grip, but there's no hope so I go limp. "I want to go back to my brothers, my sister, my boyfriend."

"They're fine, I promise they are. But you won't be if you go back there."

My eyes search his face, taking in the panic searing within his eyes. "What are you talking about?"

Lucifer swallows, but finally releases me. I stagger back, rubbing my cheeks where he had been holding me. "Your asthma – it could kill you."

I narrow my eyes at him, but I feel like I can't press it right now. He's so on edge now. So much unlike the cool and collected man who had urged me to take my photos and stand up for me against my brothers.

"Fawn!" Sully's voice booms against the silence between Lucifer and I, sending a few birds screeching and flapping their wings as they rise from the treetops. "Fawn, where are you?"

I hesitate, but the spell is broken now. Lucifer's eyes lighten back to their mossy green color. All panic and any sign of distraught is wiped clean. He takes a step back, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Fawn!" Grayson's yell comes next.

Finally, I turn my head and step toward the line of trees. Lucifer doesn't try to stop me this time. Two more steps and I look back over my shoulder at him. His face is turned toward the lake, watching it and not me. Unable to help myself, I raise my camera to my eye, shooting the picture. Three times to make sure I've captured him. As he begins to turn his head, I snap back around and begin to hurry toward the trees and my name.

"Fawn!" Maisie's voice rings out this time.

"I'm here!" I holler back, stepping over a rock in the dirt and onto the hard terrain of the forest floor.

They break through the trees and rush at me, wrapping me in their arms. Their warmth curls through me, their love oozing from them. Still, I can't help but peek through the gap between them. Just in time to see Lucifer walking toward us. He glances at me, gives me a curt nod, and keeps on his way.

"How the hell did you get over here?" Nate demands as they pull back, but he grips my shoulders tightly.

"Lucifer." I say quickly and shake my head. "The plane – there was a lot of smoke. He saved me."

Sully steps up to Nate's side and my brother lets him into his spot so he can grip my face with his hands. "You're okay then?"

I nod and pull out of Sully's grip, suddenly feeling the exhaustion crashing down on me. "Just wore out. I've nearly had three attacks today. It takes a lot out of me for just one."

"Let's get you to the camping area." Nate instructs. "We'll get you settled and then the rest of us can get the tents up."

"That's not – that's not fair." I protest. "Everyone else is doing something—"

"You can do things tomorrow, when you're feeling better." Sully interrupts. "Don't worry about it, okay?" He holds his hand out, a smile on his face.

The corners of his eyes crinkle and I can't help that the corners of my lips curve upward at his words. I nod in agreement and reach up, grasping his hand. He tugs me to him, bending slightly to press his lips to my forehead. The simple thing of a kiss sweeps relief through me and I bury my face into his chest. Everything settles for right now, in this moment. Everything feels right at the moment. I know I'm safe with Sully. He'd never intentionally let anything happen to me.

His chin lays on my head and his free arm wraps around my waist, holding me to him. After a moment, I become vaguely aware of my siblings watching us and pull back, heat flushing over my cheeks. But at least I can now curl my fingers through Sully's and walk next to him without an issue. Back home, when we'd walk in a group together, especially with Grayson around, we had to keep at arm's length or in completely different parts of the group to keep from touching one another and letting ourselves be found out. Not anymore.

I guess, in a way, this is the silver lining for me with this plane crash. Sully and I can be a real couple. Not going behind Grayson's back. Which in hindsight, just might actually piss him off more then us being a couple. Who knows?

"Nate!" Seth's voice bounces from the darkness of a line of trees to our side before he jumps out of them. "You found her!"

"Yeah, we've found her." Nate cranes his head. "Where are the others who went with you?"

Seth jerks a thumb over his shoulder. "They went back to camp."

I glance around, but there are no signs of Lucifer. "Seth, did Lucifer go by you?"

"Who?" Seth asks and shakes his head. "Maybe, whoever that is. You can look at camp. Let's go. It's creepy being over here."

I look over my shoulder in the direction of the lake, opening my mouth to tell them about it. But something stops me. I don't know what exactly, but something tells me now isn't the time to tell them.