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As we broke through the rocky ravine, I stopped up and turned to face her. “I wish they could see you now. The person that you are.”

Chuckling, Nash lifted an eyebrow. “Ah, yes. I’ve become every parents’ dream, a drug dealer and artist by day and a murderous killer clown by night.

It was objectively funny.

Not exactly every parents’ vision for their only child.

But Nash was kind and gentle.

Shaking my head, I looked into her warm gray eyes. “A protector — both of the people you love and the innocent.”

Sure, it was unconventional, but that didn’t change that her vision was clear, her moral compass straight.

“Thanks, Sweet Lamb.” Nash brought her lips to my cheek, a warm rush moving through me. “See, perfect nickname for you.”

As I shoved her forward, winking as she tripped ahead, we broke through the treeline onto a massive, flat rock at the peak of the mountain. Beyond, Valemont’s valley stretched out before us.

The view was a Pollock painting of splattered color, every hue of warm yellows, oranges, and reds on pristine display below.

“Wow.” My jaw dropped as my eyes flicked across the canvas.

Nash smiled. “Right?”

Stunning: it was worth a hundred awkward car rides with Cyrus.

Cyrus and Nash looked between each other, their foreheads wrinkling.

Peering over her shoulder, Cyrus grumbled. “We lost her to the woods.”

Blade.

She’d been running around for an hour now, somewhere in the forest.

“I’ll go look.” Nash offered, moving to drop my hand and head into the trees — leaving me alone with Cyrus.

But I grabbed her arm and pulled her close. “No, I’ll go look. You enjoy the view.”

There was no way I’d be caught dead alone with Cyrus. I’d rather take my chances with coyotes and bears in the mountains than spend a second in her rage again.

Before Nash could fight me on it, I turned around and headed back into the woods.

23

TESS

“Blade?” I cupped my hands around my mouth as I retraced our path, keeping a careful eye to the trail markers. When she’d first wandered off, I figured she would keep an eye on the rest of the group. But the farther back I trekked, the more lost I became on where the fuck she could be.

Maybe we do need a leash for her next time…

“Blade…!” I tried again, scanning the sides of the trail. One of the bushes near where she’d originally split off bore quite a few snapped branches.

Fuck, have I already come that far down?

But maybe if I followed the wreckage, I could find my way to her.

I bit my lip as I stepped to the edge of the path. The sun was still up, but setting lower in the sky by the minute. This was either the best or the stupidest idea I’d had. I didn’t see another choice, though.

I guess we’re going to find out.