The North Star | COMPLETED ✔️

Chapter 52~ Broken Birds

Another early upload because I love your faces. Enjoy 🤗🤗❤️❤️

Chapter 52

Bard's gaze made a steady trail from my head to my toes then all the way up, before they shifted to where Boe still sat on the bank.

His jaw twitched, and within a matter of seconds, he reached down, scooped me up, and took me with him into the water.

I barely had time to get a breath before we submerged, and Bard kept his hold tight even after we did.

When he kicked us back to the surface, I spluttered. "What the fuck, Bard!"

His eyes fixed on the rocks at the far side as he waded us across and pressed my back against them. He towered in front of me like a wall, blocking me in and obstructing the view. "Where'd this come from?" He ran a finger under the string at my collar bone then glanced down between us.

I lifted my chin. "Lexy let me use it."

He nodded, still not meeting my eyes. "I see."

I tried to move, but he held me still.

"What? Do you plan to keep me here forever?"

"Maybe." He cast a glance over his shoulder. "You don't want me to beat him. This is the next best option I had."

I snorted. "You're being silly."

"Maybe." He swallowed hard. "That's not the only reason I can't turn around right now though." To put emphasis to his words, he pressed closer.

My eyes widened. "Oh."

"Yeah. Oh." He heaved a sigh, ran a hand down my waist. "Jesus, Tequila. What were you thinking?"

"It's a bathing suit."

"This..." He cupped my bottom. "It's not even... You might as well be naked. No. This is bait." His jaw clenched. "It's hard enough for me knowing he's here. This isn't helping."

I gaped at him. "Amber is wearing almost the exact same thing, and Lexy's," I scoffed, "Don't get me started."

"But I don't care about them. Neither one of them is mine." His hand trailed again, too low for such a public place.

I batted it away. "For fucks sake, Bard! Don't do that here. There's people watching."

"They can't see you."

"They can see you!" I pushed him away.

He relented, jaw tight, eyes darting once again to where Boe sat, then Parker. Everyone stared, but judging by the looks, it wasn't out of lust. No. Bard had failed to realize what I'd done by wearing the suit. I hadn't just exposed skin. I'd exposed a past too dark for most to comprehend.

He glared them all down, and most had the sense to look away.

Boe didn't. He met my gaze, eyes soft and full of questions.

Bard didn't care for it. "What the fuck are you staring at?"

Boe's jaw tightened.

Scarlet laughed. She scrambled to the edge of the water and took a seat as if she'd just made it to the front row.

At least I knew why she'd fought so hard to make this happen.

"Who are you? Her father?" Boe shouted back.

The old man stepped out of one of the tents and stretched. He'd had a hard time with the hike, had kept to the back, and laid down the moment we arrived. He took in the scene before him with an annoyed expression. "What's all the yellin' for!"