Loch

a cut above all of us.” Johnny shrugged. “There are thousands of bear shifters in the country. There are a handful of covens still thriving, as well. However, there is only one you. You’re the only human on the planet strong enough to become the Maiden’s vessel.”
“Not yet.” Holly tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and frowned. “The Maiden doesn’t think I’m strong enough to handle everything yet. She wants me to train. She has a point, though. I feel like I’ve only made it this far because of you and the other guys.”
Johnny opened his mouth to speak. He looked as though he was going to disagree with her but then thought better of it. “There’s some truth in that.” He chuckled. “Don’t look at it as a bad thing. It’s our job, some would even say our destiny, to keep you safe.”
“But what if I get taken again? It was pure luck that Loch and I got away.”
“How did you get away? You never told us.”
Holly’s breath caught in her chest.
“It…” She struggled to find the words. “It all happened fast. The cells weren’t well built. One moment we were trapped. The next, we weren’t. I didn’t think about it too much. I just ran.”
Guilt formed a hard pit in her stomach. It wasn’t her plan to lie about Elise. She simply didn’t want anyone to know about her until Holly found out more.
Elise had double-crossed Trevor. Holly didn’t know to what end, but Elise was playing a dangerous game. Holly didn’t want to disrupt that game if she didn’t have to. Something like that could cost Elise her life.
One thing Holly knew for certain. If she were to see Elise again, she’d offer her a room in the house. Whoever Elise was, she deserved a safe place to crash.
“I’m glad you did.” Johnny’s face softened. His gray-green eyes glimmered like the stars above them. “I was going insane.”
“I want to hear more about the witches.” Holly stepped closer to him, resting her arm against his. Warmth radiated from him. She huddled closer. “So, the house is gone?”
Johnny lifted his arm, letting her nestle against his side.
“Not gone. Invisible. Nothing will stop someone from smacking into it if they get close enough.”
Holly furrowed her brow.
“How does that help us? At least two of Trevor’s goons know how to find the house.”
“No thanks to Loch,” Johnny muttered. “If they show up, they won’t see anything, and it’ll take them an age to find the door. By that time, we’ll have taken care of it.”
“Don’t be too hard on Loch,” Holly said. “He’s on our side now.”
“Can you be sure?”
“The Maiden all but confirmed it. I’m not going to start questioning her anytime soon.”
“Probably wise.” Johnny barked out a laugh. “Has she said anything else useful?”
“Define useful.”
They fell into silence. Holly stared up at the stars above. Johnny kept his eyes trained on the woods before them. It was a long time before either of them spoke again.
“I can’t imagine how horrible it was for you to be locked up like that.” His voice was scarcely more than a whisper. The slight breeze drifting through the tree branches was nearly enough to drown him out completely.
“I couldn’t tell how much time passed,” she whispered back. “There was no light where we were kept. Not even starlight. Time got all blurry. Sometimes it felt like it was moving so fast I was sure I’d been there for months. Other times, time seemed to stand completely still. I’m glad I’m out of there.”
“So am I.”
Johnny turned to face her and drew her into his arms. He rested his hand against the back of her head, holding her against him.
Holly sunk into him, savoring the feeling of her body against his.
“I didn’t think I was going to survive it,” he whispered. “When Keller came to us and told us what had happened, I felt my world end. I think my heart stopped beating for a full minute.”
“I’m so sorry to have put you through that.”
Johnny’s grip tightened on her. “Don’t you dare apologize for something that was done to you. I know you wouldn’t have gone willingly.”
There was a time where Holly would have gone willingly. She snuck out of the house once, like a thief in the night. Loch had nearly got her out of Silver Spruce. She didn’t want to think about that now. She didn’t understand what was at stake.
“Every day, while we were tracking the witches, I thought I was going to lose my mind. I kept thinking about the dark shifters doing terrible things to you while you were at their mercy. I tried not to, but I couldn’t stop myself.”
“Nothing like that happened.” Holly wrapped her arms around him and ran her hands over his bare back in big, soothing circles. “I was left alone most of the time.”
“I dreamt of them killing you.” His voice sounded heavy and tired. His head dropped onto her shoulder.
Holly held him tighter.
“If I’d lost you…” His voice weakened into nothing. “If I’d lost you, I don’t know what I would’ve done. I don’t think I would’ve survived it.”
“But you found me,” Holly reminded him. “You found me.”
“I always will. It doesn’t matter who tries to take you from me or where they take you, I will find you.”
“I know.” An unexpected tear slipped down Holly’s cheek. “I know.”
They held each other for a long while. Neither one of them wanted to let go first.
“Are you tired?” Johnny asked.
Holly nodded against his chest. She felt as though she could fall asleep right there, standing up in his arms.
“Let’s get you back to your room.” Johnny tucked her under his arm once more and led her inside.