Fated Insurrection (Book 3)

Chapter 22

"Sometimes, reaching out and
taking someone's hand is the
beginning of a journey.

At other times, it is allowing
another to take yours."

~~Vera Nazarian

****************

~Nevada~

I felt a gentle nudge against my thigh that drug me out of my sleep. Vaguely aware of voices before that, I cracked my eyes open and was met with the sight of Nova peering at me through the curtain of hair covering my face. His blue eyes were bright like the ocean on a summer day, but it was pain that glittered in their depths instead of the happiness that should have been there.

Dark circle rested beneath Nova's eyes and his face looked drawn, exhaustion and stress etched across his features. Despite what I knew he must be feeling, my brother smiled at me when our gazes met.

"Rise and shine, sleepy head," he said, chuckling lightly as I slowly unfurled myself. "We're about to eat."

The inside of the SUV was bright and warm from the sunlight that streamed through the windows. I blinked rapidly and squinted my eyes as I surveyed the passing scenery.

"Where are we?" I asked, my voice distorting as I yawned. "What time is it?"

Nova leaned over, looking up at the sky as he answered. "We're basically in the middle of nowhere and it's getting close to noon."

My brows drew together and I frowned at him.

"Did you just… tell the time by looking at the sun?" I questioned, slightly impressed. "You do know there's a clock on the dash right?"

Nova just shrugged, sliding down more in his seat and staring up at the roof of the vehicle. Sighing, I met August's eyes in the rearview, a smile automatically pulling up the corners of my lips as warmth washed over me. Sometimes it was still hard to believe that he was really mine. I kept thinking I would wake up one day and it would all be a dream. Of course, I would be perfectly fine with some things being just a dream… or more like a nightmare.

"Doing okay?" August asked, holding my eyes through the mirror.

"I'm alright," I promised.

"Be even better if you watched the road instead of ogling my sister, thanks," Nova cut in without bothering to look at either of us. "If I'm gonna die I would prefer a more epic death than 'oops the old guy perving on my sister wrecked the car.' Just a thought."

I glared at Nova, my cheeks flaming red with embarrassment as Hatter snorted, choking down a laugh. 

"Do you have to be so crude all the time?" I asked, pursing my lips.

"That wasn't crude, not by a long shot, Little Sister," Nova smirked. "But I can be crude if that's what you want."

My jaw dropped and I smacked him on the shoulder. "Don't be an ass."

He just grinned and I almost believed it if it were for the fact that it didn't quite reach his eyes. Nova was hurting and he was fighting so hard to keep it together, cover his pain by rude comments and teasing jokes just as he always had. Sighing, I let it go and gave him his moment, because what else could I do?

The drive was quiet as we entered a small town with just a single two lane main street and a handful of houses. A few cars lined the edges of the street but mostly people seemed to be walking to wherever their destination was. A few side streets led off to either side, nothing but small, ugly houses to fill the blocks.