See How She Runs (The Chronicles of Izzy #1)(24)

I decided to put it on, feeling dangerous, and wondering what he thought when purchasing it for me. It covered all of the important stuff adequately and came down to my mid-thigh. I put the silky robe around me and headed out into the living room to grab some water.

As soon as I stepped out of the door, I heard Kennan growl. Suddenly, I realized the error in my judgment. I should not have put it on and walked out here. What was I thinking? Faster than I could track, Kennan had me pinned against the log walls, his arms caging me in. He bent over me with a dangerous glint in his eyes. His mouth was a mere breath from my own.

I breathed out slowly and met his eyes. I knew there was surprise in my eyes, but something far more dangerous lurked in his. His voice came out in a gravelly, strained rumble.

“I am going to need you to change into something else, or not come out here in that. Do you understand me?"

As quickly as he had me caged, he was gone on the other side of the room, once again rubbing his hand down his face. I just nodded and moved back into my room, the water forgotten.

Just before closing the door, I heard him say, “I should have packed the damned sweat pants. This is torture.”



That night I dreamed of Kennan.





**********





TWELVE





The next morning was met with a heady mixture of fear and excitement. I wondered what would happen between us today, or if we were going to go back to ignoring the feelings brewing between us. I was personally hoping for the latter. I was not sure I possessed the emotional fortitude to endure much more.

I quickly dressed in some hiking clothes, hoping to get out of the cabin today. I looked out the window, and was surprised to find not drizzle, but sunshine. Having procrastinated as long as possible, I walked out into the living room and found it empty. Nothing but a note that graced the kitchen table.





Gone for supplies, be back soon.





-K





Okay then, apparently I was not the only one practicing the avoidance policy today. Determined to get out and get some fresh air, I ventured into the great wilderness. I was greeted by the most amazing smell. I didn’t think it possible for a place to smell green, but this place did. It smelled of cedar and pine, of mulch and earth. I was comforted in the lushness of all that surrounded me. The mountain at my back, and the sun beating down on my face kept me company.

Even though it was no longer raining, moisture lingered on all of the needles and blades shining like a thousand tiny diamonds. I was lost in reverie walking around the perimeter of the house, careful not to venture out of eyesight of the cabin.

I meandered through the woods a bit, but not so far as to get lost. I looked up to the great canopy of trees. Their height spoke of an unimaginable passing of time. I looked down at the fallen giants littering the forest floor and wondered about the countless days those trees bore witness to before their lives ended.

I began to wonder if Kennan ever felt like those mighty giants, watching the world pass by and the days fade away. I was so immersed in my reverie that I failed to hear the frantic yells until they were all but on top of me.

“IZZY! WHERE ARE YOU?" The panic bellowed out of my Guardian. I slowly walked back towards the clearing, only to be engulfed in the arms of Kennan as he breathed in my hair, panic radiating from him.

“What the hell were you thinking? I thought they had found you." He released me, the look of fear replaced by one of anger.

“I am sorry, I just wanted to get some fresh air. I feel like I have been cooped up for the past week, and I just needed to breathe a little. I didn’t mean to scare you." Hoping that my sincerity was evident in my voice, but fearing the next words he might say.

“Don’t go anywhere without me, ever again. Do you understand me? I can’t protect you if I don’t know where you are. You left the protections of the cabin, the shields, and he could have found you if you weren’t careful."

Anger started to rise up in me once more.

“I refuse to be your prisoner, Kennan. I can’t live the rest of my life like some psychotic K.O. worshiper, following two steps behind you. I need to breathe, I need to have some semblance of freedom, or I might as well just turn myself over to the Corporation." Angry tears gathered at the corners of my eyes threatening to fall. Kennan closed the distance between us with two smooth steps and tilted my chin up toward his face.

“I am sorry. I don’t want you to feel like a prisoner. I just made a promise to your dad and I am doing my very best to keep that promise. I can’t do that if I don’t know where you are. Of course you have freedom. But I have to know where you are. You can’t just leave, sometimes you have to prepare before going out into the world. There are mental protections I can put in place when I have enough time. I can shield you from Xavier’s prying."

“Listen, I get that you are just trying to protect me. You are trying to keep a promise or whatever. But you have to understand that a week ago my life was normal. I was just a bike messenger, living in Chicago, going about my day to day life. Now I am some sort of prophet, Seer-person on the run. I am terrified, and being cooped up with no freedom is making me feel trapped. You have to cut me a little slack." At the end of my tirade I sat down on a fallen log, not caring that my behind might be soaked through in about two seconds.