Chapter 41: Discovered

I don't get a chance to respond. Sage's face alters suddenly, mouth open as he pounces on me and wrenches the food containers from my hand. He sinks to the floor, stuffing sausage and bread into his mouth while I push away from the door and cross my arms over my chest, ignoring the snuffling, grunting sounds from my love as I glare at the pair seated on the bed.

"Don't be angry," Maks says, hands up, distressed. He looks almost comical, his handsome, broad face scrunched like a boy who knows he's done wrong. "Please, Charlotte. We're here to help."

Isabelle nods, rising, leaving the hulking form of her dark-haired boyfriend to come to my side and hug me. I relent, hugging her back, breathing in the hints of rose and oil I always scent from her, mentally kicking myself. The aroma I caught in the hall was so familiar because it was hers mixed with Maks. Despite my slip of security, it's good to see familiar faces, though Maks looks concerned by Sage's behavior, watching him eat with his wolf in his eyes while food disappears in massive bites through Sage's lips. Even Isabelle shudders when she looks down at him.

"He's fine," I snap, bringing their attention back to me. Sage looks up, then down, as though only then realizing what he's doing. He stands with the remains of the food, bashful smile sweet as he offers the mess he left behind to me.

"Sorry," he says.

I shake my head, too anxious to eat now. "Finish it," I say as I turn to the pair who have hunted us down. I'm even more worried than ever, seeing them standing here. "How did you find us?" If they did, we are more vulnerable that I thought.

"We've been searching everywhere for you," Isabelle says, taking a seat again, prim and ladylike beside her muscular wereboyfriend. "When Sydlynn contacted us and told us where she found you, we assumed you would depart the train and find another route. We just lucked out tracking you here."

"Who else did she tell?" I don't mean to be harsh, and I trust Syd completely, but...

"No one." Maks shakes his head with some violence. "She told us in confidence, warned us on pain of death to be discreet. She wanted to come herself, but she said she would instead find a way to mask your movements against others who search for you."

Bless her. I sag a little in relief. She's found a way to help even if I refuse direct aid from her.

"She suggests we try Wilhelm Castle," Isabelle says. "Sunny will welcome both of you and protect you while we figure out what to do."

"There is nothing to figure out," I say. "If Sage goes back, he's dead. And I won't let that happen."

Isabelle glances at Sage who stares into the remains of the food, mind obviously far away. "He's changed?"

"Just his eyes so far." I shrug. "It was inevitable."

"I'm in the room," Sage says, "in case you've forgotten."

I reach down and stroke his hair. "I know," I say. "I'm sorry."

He stands, setting the empty containers aside, wiping the back of hand over his mouth. "You've been running this show," he says. "Dragging me out of there like I didn't have a choice. Well, I want choices, Charlie."

He doesn't know what he's asking. Or what's good for him.

Isabelle stands and comes to us, touches his hand. "What do you want to do, Sage?"

He shivers at the contact. Does he sense she's not human? I've told him of vampires, but I don't think he knows she's one.

"Who is this Sunny again?" He turns to me instead of addressing her.

"She is the queen of the Wilhelm family," I say.

Sage blanches. "Oh, yeah. Right. The vampires." He shivers before looking at Isabelle. It's dark in the room, but almost dawn. I know she'll be forced to flee from us soon. "You're one of them?"

She laughs, a tinkling sound, as Maks reacts with a growl to Sage's nervous question.

"I won't hurt you," she says. "Promise."

Sage relaxes visibly, shaking himself. "Sorry," he says. "This is all new to me."

Isabelle nods, brushing off his fear before turning back to me. But her question is for Sage. "Then tell us, what do you want to do?"

Sage rolls his left shoulder. "Will going to the queen put her in danger?"

I don't answer, leaving it to Isabelle.

"Possibly," she says. "But she's willing to take that chance." She smiles at me. "For Charlotte."

Sage's thoughtful expression makes me weak in the knees. "You seem to have a lot of powerful people who love you enough to put their lives on the line to save you."

"And the one I love," I say.

Isabelle nods. "I can't take you now," she says. "It's too close to dawn. But if you two can hide here for the day, we'll be back, with help."

I nod, taking Sage's hand. He seems optimistic about this idea. "We'll see you at dusk," I say.

Isabelle looks relieved, though Maks squints at me, at how easily I've given in. I wave them off as Isabelle flickers into shadow, taking her frowning werewolf lover with her.

The instant they are gone, I lunge for the bed and grab the two backpacks. Sage gapes at me as I shove his into his arms and spin, heading for the door.

"Where are you going?" He stands there, the pack in his hands, mouth open in shock.

"As far from here as we can get," I say. "Before dark falls."

Sage resists. I can smell it on him, my magic feeling his defiance.

"If this queen of theirs can help us," he starts.

"She can do nothing," I say. "She was there when you were first bitten, Sage. She tried, Sebastian tried. Syd's best people tried. And nothing. So running to Wilhelm will only get us cornered and caught. Please." I draw a breath, forcing down my panic. "You have to listen to me. I'm going to save you. But only if you trust me, and only me. I can't fight you every step of the way."

Sage caves, coming to my side. He smells of sausage and bread and the musk of a wolf. When he kisses me, I kiss him back with passion. And when we part, the fire of our embrace between us, he nods.

"Always," he says. "I trust you with my life."

"Then come on," I say, pulling him along behind me. "We have to get out of here."

It's a short hike through town to the other side. We may be forced to hitchhike, though I would prefer to take another train. Anonymity is our best choice at this point.

"We're on our own, then, aren't we?" Sage sounds resigned.

"You knew that," I say, doing my best not to be sharp with him.

"I guess," he says. "It's just sinking in now. We've had so many of your friends try to help, I figured something or someone would come to our rescue." He makes a silly face. "I'm an idiot."

"No," I say, sighing as our feet match pace down the rutted pavement and the chill of the late September wind cuts through our conversation. "Not an idiot. Just optimistic. It's one of the things I love-" I choke off. I can't speak of love and such things right now. I can't afford to lose my focus.

Sage's hand grips mine. "So what's the plan?"

"We stay low," I say, "and out of the reach of the Enforcers. Syd might be doing her best to distract them from us, but she'll only succeed for so long."

"I still can't believe it," he says, a little laugh in his voice. "Syd Hayle, a powerful witch. I mean, I knew there was something about her when we trained." He runs his right hand through his hair, over the stubble on his cheek and chin with a rasping sound. "I figured she was some kind of special, hiding in plain sight, especially with you watching over her. But I had no idea."

I squeeze his hand. "That's the point," I say. "Normals aren't supposed to."

He shivers. "Normals," he says. "I'm not one anymore, am I?"

Not by a long shot.

I'm distracted from the melancholy of our talk by the faint whistle of a train approaching. "Come on," I say, pulling him along beside me, running toward the sound. "Our ride is calling."

By the time the train chugs past, one of the open cars beckoning, I've shaken off the sadness roused by our chat. But when Sage and I leap onto the rocking platform, landing in unison, I feel it return. He wedges himself carefully between a pair of tarped-over piles of crates, pulling me down next to him. I would have preferred a boxcar with walls, but this will do, especially when he slips his arms around me and cuddles me close.

I have no idea where this run will take us, ultimately. Or if he'll ever be normal again. But these moments together, when I can almost pretend everything is right in the world and we're just on an adventure, helps me forget for a time, or pretend to, at least.



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