Page 40 of Gunnar

The look she gives me is tinged with desperation. “Will you go?”

My beast surges at the thought.

Leave her?

Not a chance in hell.

“No,” I say. “One of the others will.”

My gaze settles on Torin.

He blinks. “Me?”

“There’s zero chance I’m trusting Orson to blend into a city crowd.”

Torin sighs. “Yeah, that’s fair.”

“Everyone says you’re charming,” I add.

“You’ll go?” Alexandria demands, eyes widening.

Torin shrugs.

“Looks like it.”

“Oh my God, thank you.”

Tears suddenly spill down her cheeks, and only then do I realize how tightly she’s been holding herself together.

“We’ll make sure they’re taken care of,” I tell her.

“Can he go soon?” she asks quickly.

“He’ll go this morning,” I say.

She takes a step toward me.

For one wild second I think she’s going to throw her arms around my neck.

But at the last moment she stops herself.

Her hands drop.

Instead, she just looks at me.

Grateful. Open. Completely unaware of the effect she’s having on me.

My fists clench more tightly.

Because if she touches me right now, I’m not sure I’d let her go.

10

Alexandria

Torin suddenly has a lot of energy. He’s dashing from one room to another, tracking down his wallet, keys, phone.

Orson follows him a few steps toward the door. “You’re not on vacation, Torin.”