Page 23 of Marc
We set off. Somewhere, a bird squawked in the trees.
Bird sounds generally meant no monsters were too close.
I stuck close to Marc as we walked through the trees. The light from his armor was the only illumination we had.
Okay, so I was once again lost in a monster-infested forest.
But at least this time, I wasn’t alone.
Marc
Damn,I was bleeding again.
I stayed close to Colbie as we moved through the trees. I kept scanning for any unwelcome company, but so far, luck was on our side.
My vision blurred and my head spun. I gritted my teeth. My shirt had soaked up the blood, but I could feel it dripping into my cargo pants. My bandage had pulled loose in our dive over the waterfall and had lost its stick. My injury was far worse than I’d told Colbie.
I didn’t want her to worry. All that mattered was keeping her safe until my squad found us.
Dizziness hit again and I fucking stumbled. My hand caught on a tree trunk, and thankfully I didn’t fall on my ass.
Colbie spun, frowning. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Look, there’s a trail.” The flat path wound through the trees. Probably an old hiking trail. “Maybe there’s a town or buildings close by.”
“You look pale, Marc.”
I tried for a smile. “Nothing a beer, a steak, and some sleep won’t fix.”
And a dose of nano-meds to combat the blood loss.
She eyed me, suspicion on her face.
I nudged her forward. “Keep moving, birdie.”
She muttered under her breath.
Fuck, she was cute. If I told her that, she’d probably punch me.
I wanted her.
The blood loss was eating away at my control. I liked everything about Colbie Erickson. The feistiness, the way she loved her work, the way she loved her friends and family, her passion for flying.
I was sure she’d take that passion with her to bed. She’d be a fierce, enthusiastic lover.
She’d be just as fierce about the man she claimed as hers.
My chest squeezed. It couldn’t be me, but I fucking hated the idea of her with anyone else. Like that nerdy guy she’d brought to my barbecue.
Something howled in the forest.
Colbie jerked to a stop, and I gripped her arms. Another low, mournful howl echoed through the trees.
It was in the distance, but closer than I would’ve liked.
“It isn’t too close,” I told her.
“It’s still too close to my liking.” She dragged in a deep breath, then set off down the trail again.
