Page 56 of Unmarked Magic

A feeling of calm descended upon me: the hut was a much-needed sanctuary from the cold outside. Not that the inside was much warmer, but minus the wind factor was a bonus. I sat on a nearby stool, head in my hands, replaying the evening’s events. I wasn’t sure how long I stayed there, lost in my thoughts. It was all I could do. I couldn’t run from them. They replayed in my mind. The kiss we had shared, the feeling of her hands on me, the pain in her eyes.

Eventually, I stood, kicking off my boots, and bending to place them by the door. Without warning, it suddenly swung open, cracking me on the head.

“Fuck!” I grunted, falling backwards and landing on the floor, cradling my head in my hand. I saw stars. Actual fucking stars.

When they cleared, a silhouette replaced them, and I was sure I was seeing things.

“Are you kidding me?” Scar stood at the door with smudged red lips, twigs in her hair, and a look that made my balls shrivel. “Could the universe not give me a break for just one night?” She scowled with folded arms. Her weary eyes blinked slowly. “I really didn’t need this,” she murmured.

I frowned, unsure how I’d found this place, let alone her. “How did you?”

“Find this place?” She glanced around her.

I rubbed my head at the dull ache forming behind my skull. “Yeah.”

She didn’t answer, only locked me with a death stare.

“You can shut the door anytime you like,” I muttered.

The door slammed closed.

Fuck my life. At this point, my balls were never resurfacing.

She tugged her coat tighter around herself, pulling a twig from her hair. I didn’t dare tell her there were three more.

“What is this place?” she asked.

I made to stand. “Don’t worry about my head. I’m fine over here.”

She snorted in reply.

“Do you know how to get back?” I asked with the faintest of hope.

“Not a clue. I got lost,” she said, her voice softening just a touch.

Great. Neither of us knew the way home.

She walked over to the animal hide, and her face contorted in disgust. “Gross.”

Coming up behind her, I pointed halfheartedly to the hide. “Hate to break it to you, but if you don’t know the way back, that’s your bed linen tonight.”

She spun on her heel, her eyes widening. A moment later, they dropped to a mattress set in a corner. “I’m not sleeping there.”

Brat. I resisted a smile.

“You’re welcome to go back outside,” I said, motioning to the door. As if on cue, the wind whistled underneath the front door, sending a brittle draft to meet us.

Her hands hooked on each hip. “There’s only one mattress,” she pointed out.

“Again, welcome to leave anytime you like.” I shook my head, knowing she wouldn’t leave this hut. Because if she did, she would likely get hypothermia. Best-case scenario, we survived the night on one mattress using body heat to make it through.

One. Mattress.

My head screamed absolutely fucking not.

But there was nowhere else to sleep.

The three words vibrated through me like a bassline would Jinxed, hitting my ribs and forcing them to bend. The walls of the cabin pressed against my calm, that on the outside looked legit but was in fact a lie. The thought of sharing a bed with Scar sent my insides weak, every emotion fighting for triumph. At this point, I didn’t know which would come up trumps.