See How She Runs (The Chronicles of Izzy #1)(42)

“Gone for a walk? Really, Ian?" Kennan bellowed.

Instead of looking cowed, Ian looked like he was about to laugh. I looked between the two of them. Kennan, ready to rip Ian’s head from his shoulders and Ian, ready to die of laughter. I turned toward Ian.

“You said you would leave him a note.” Ian started to interrupt and stopped when I gave him a raised eyebrow. “A note explaining where we were going, you jack in a box.”

“This is totally not my fault so don’t get mad at me Kennan. I told him to leave a note." I suddenly felt like a child explaining why the family heirloom was lying in pieces on the floor.

“You, I will deal with later," Kennan said to me before turning on Ian. “And you, you should know better. Luckily there were only two trails she had not taken yet. And you would have been at the last one hours ago which gave me time to reach this one. I should bash your skull in. She is not a joke Ian, not her. Do we understand one another?”

Ian finally looked serious. He patted Kennan on the shoulder and said, “I got it man. I didn’t mean to scare you, honestly. Next time I will leave a detailed itinerary. Bathroom breaks and all. Now, let’s head home. Little Bit there did not pack enough for me to eat and I am starving."

Ian, king of distraction.

Kennan shook his head and motioned for us to get in the old beat Jeep that was parked behind the concealed car. I supposed it would be better to take a car we had already used instead of adding to our increasing collection. That many vehicles might start to look conspicuous. Between Ian and Kennan’s cars and the two we had brought down from the other trails, it was starting to look like a used car lot. Maybe more of a junk yard, but I was not going to harp. Fleers can’t be choosers, or something like that.

“So guys, do you think that maybe we should get my getaway cars back to where they belong? It won’t do me much good to have them all parked in the same place." I looked at the stock of cars and wondered, not for the first time, where Kennan found such junkers.

“Yeah, probably. Ian and I can move them back tonight after dinner," Kennan said as he grabbed the packs from the car handing me my own.

“Hey, how did I get volunteered to be a valet?" Ian asked. “I am just here for the beautiful scenery and spectacular meals." He finished with a wink in my direction.

Kennan smacked him upside the head and said, “You better not be enjoying the scenery bro.”





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SEVENTEEN





We walked back up to the cabin in companionable chatter, discussing what we could do as a memorial for my mother. Something, which I was ashamed to admit, had slipped my mind. We all agreed to hold a ceremony of sorts the following day. Each of us would say our fondest memory of my mother and we would wish her well in the afterlife. Kennan told me that whispering the memories into fire was part of a tradition that went back many generations. I wondered what other traditions I had missed out on growing up apart from other Guardians and Seers.

When we reached the clearing Kennan and Ian stopped abruptly. They pushed me back into the cover of the forest and turned me into an Izzy sandwich.

“Something feels off man. I am not sure what is going on here," Ian said in a tone I rarely heard him carry.

“You stay here and keep her safe. Do you understand me? You make sure she is safe, or I will kill you myself," Kennan said drilling Ian into the ground with his stare.

“Where are you going?" I all but squeaked.

“Down to the house to see what is wrong. Something feels off. The wards have been tampered with. I need to make sure nothing is down there waiting for you." Kennan said before sprinting across the clearing in a blur. I would never get used to how fast these guys could move. Quicker than I could track he was back with us.

“So?" I squeaked. I was suddenly a bundle of nervous energy. Since I was still blocked off from the outside, I had no way of searching for an answer. I wondered if I were still connected to the visions if I would have been forewarned about any impending doom.

“Everything is clear. The wards are down though," Kennan said.

“Umm,” Ian said sheepishly, “I think that is my bad, dude.”

I looked at him with confusion in my eyes.

“Why would you take the wards down?" I asked, hoping that he was not about to come out and tell me he was really a bad guy sent to bring me down.

“Well, you see, the thing is, well, maybe I am not so good at the whammy. I think I accidentally unwhammied the cabin when I put the block on you. It is all old magic that is not used very often, okay. And I haven’t had much practice seeing as I am without Seer.”

Kennan and I just gawked at him. I was more amused than alarmed. Kennan looked ready to throttle him, which was nothing new.

“I swear you are a walking disaster, man. Let’s get back to the cabin and I will show you how to properly put the wards in place," Kennan said as we walked.

“Sorry," Ian said, looking down at me.

“Hey, you protected my head from outside interference. That is a start," I said hopefully. I didn’t want Ian to feel badly about leaving the cabin without wards. After all, I was not even inside of the thing, so no harm done as far as I was concerned.

He looped his arm over my shoulder and we made our way inside.