Page 85 of Stubborn as a Shadow

“But I thought we didn’t want to draw attention to ourselves.”

Nelson waved to the window where I could see two shadowy figures moving through the trees toward our cabin. “We already have attention. The odds are in our favor that anyone else on the road tonight will be safe.”

“Because not everyone in the world is out to get me,” I said, still feeling bitter about the whole situation. I’d been looking forward to morning sex, damn it. We hadn’t had a chance to try that yet, and that was currently at the top of my bucket list.

“Right.” Nelson nodded as he pulled me close and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I will come for you. Now that we’re bonded, I will always be able to find you.”

“Promise?” I swallowed hard and blinked away my tears.

“Always.”

He wasn’t lying. Whatever happened next, we were together.

“Ready?” Nelson asked.

“I suppose.”

The second Nelson stepped out of my embrace I wanted to grab him and haul him back to me. But he slipped into the darkest shadows in the room before I could. He wasn’t fully shifted, but it was close.

“Shouldn’t they have come in already? Or tried to flush us out or something?” I whispered.

“I’m going to go out to see what they’re doing. If I can, I’ll lure them away.”

“Nelson!” I hissed. Now that I was more awake, I finally understood that he meant to sacrifice himself to save me. “Don’t you dare leave me.”

“Run, Morgan. I will find you.”

Before I could say anything, his shadows seeped out of the cabin and into the night. Damn it. If I’d been more awake when he started throwing around orders, I would have figured out his intent faster. He had to know I’d never agree to this plan.

My sidekick tried to be the hero too often for my peace of mind.

I tightened my grip on the poker as I ducked down and scurried to the door, because that’s what people did in action movies, right? I held my breath as I moved because I needed to hear what was going on outside. So far, I hadn’t heard much, but the figures hadn’t arrived at the cabin yet.

At least I hoped that was why I couldn’t hear them. I really hoped I hadn’t damaged my ears earlier, because, evidently, I was a screamer… Something I was regretting now.

I turned the doorknob slowly. Opening the door felt dangerous, like I was inviting these strangers into our little haven. Although if someone wanted to get inside the cabin, a closed door wouldn’t keep them out.

Besides, Nelson had said I should run. That meant getting outside.

I hated this plan. I didn’t want to go outside. I didn’t want to run.

Bile flirted with the back of my throat as a familiar dread crawled over me. I’d felt all this before, when my uncle was killed. That time, I’d bolted like a horse from a burning barn. This time, I wished I was a chameleon instead of a unicorn. I wanted to stay and hide.

Unfortunately, unicorns weren’t meant to hide.

At least I didn’t think we were. We were too pretty. We sparkled. Our horns shone. We were every color in the rainbow.

Everything about us attracted attention.

Although the fact that I didn’t know any other unicorns to ask might mean other unicorns were actually masters of hiding. Unless every other unicorn had been hunted down, like I was being hunted now.

My heart ached at the thought. But that feeling was familiar too.

I couldn’t let them get me. I had too much to live for. I had Nelson. And Violet. And the chance to use that crystal and find my family. So many amazing reasons to stay alive.

I’d run last time, and it hadn’t worked. Uncle Fraser died. I was captured. I’d ended up in a cage.

This time I’d take a stand. Unicorns were on the coats of arms of ancient warriors for a reason, right? I lifted my chin and shook my head. If I was in my unicorn form, my mane would have danced with the motion.