The Storm Ahead

eighteen

Leo's POV

"Are we there yet?" She whined from the back seat.

"No closer than we were fifteen minutes ago," I called back.

"We still have thirteen hours, Love," Aiden said, glancing back at her. They made eye contact and she turned to the window, her cheeks pink.

Flynn's crate sat by my feet, Aiden had assured us he preferred it over sitting in the car. Lucy was in the back seat, head stuck out the window, tongue flapping in the wind. I asked Aiden if he had bluetooth and he nodded, gesturing to the radio. I fiddled with it and passed the phone back to Caroline who based no time finding a Ruelle song. I could hear her humming lightly in the back seat, and I watched her through the side window. I could tell she was anxious about us being out of the house. She was still trying to figure out her magic, and she'd been trying her best in training. But you could tell by the look on her face when she thought we couldn't see her. She's scared. I can tell by the lines between her eyebrows and the way her lips are set in a firm line. She's got thoughts swirling around that beautiful mind. I opened my mouth to ask her but I closed it. When she wants us to know, we will.

Lucy pulled her head in, and with a click of Care's tongue Lucy laid her head in her lap. Caroline grabbed her pillow and blanket from the floor board and curled up in the back seat, the middle seatbelt wrapped around her waist securely. Lucy laid by her stomach and Caroline's arm was wrapped tightly around her. I couldn't hold in the smile from her head on Lucy's neck. No point in a pillow when she has Lucy. I heard a quiet breathy laugh beside me and I turned to look at him. He was looking in the mirror, glancing back at her. His eyes met mine, and we both looked away. After a few moments I looked back a her ad between her face and her breathing, you could tell she was asleep.

"Leaving just before sunset was a good plan," I said quietly.

"Whys that?" He asked, his voice matching my low volume.

"She'll sleep through most of the trip,"

"She needs it," He said nodding, "I don't think she's really slept since."

"I haven't much either,"

"It's getting easier to, with stuff healing up, it's just getting used to the dark thats a little tough."

I shuddered, thinking of my short time within Beatrice's possession.

"Why do you think she wants Caroline?"

I saw his jaw twitch.

"I don't know," He said, and I could feel the tension in his voice. You could almost here his mind spinning and it was obviously something he had often thought of. We sat in silence for a moment.

"She won't give up," I nearly whispered, "Will she?"

"I don't know," He said, "I don't think she will. Something tells me she won't be the only one after her. If we don't catch up to her before word gets out that Caroline knows what she is, I worry that others will search for her."

"I glad she has you." I said, and his eyes flew to me.

"I don't know how to help her with this," I explained and his eyes soften. He seemed less like the dark mystery I met months ago.

"I don't think she'd be able to process it without you. She was fine before me, and I think she would be fine after me," He said, "You're her family."

"You're less of an ass than I thought."

"You're less of a wanker than I imagined." He said with a chuckle, and then looking back at her, he paused. "This is going to be dangerous. I don't know where her path will take us."