WHEN THE NIGHTS grew colder, I moved south. It was not long after Christmas when I found myself near Tallahassee—where the temperature was at least somewhere above freezing overnight. Although the cold didn’t affect me entirely, keeping somewhat warm at least help me conserve some energy. I disappeared into the forests and left the beaten track far behind me.

Feeling safer in the dark of the forest than I had in a long time, and secure in the middle of nowhere, I’d taken the opportunity to set up a makeshift campsite. It was something I rarely allowed myself to do, but for once, I just needed a break. I had to stop, or give up and return to Aiden’s court. Or worse still, what I was sure I would do, run back to Clay and let him and the Rain do what they did to all non-humans.

In the position I’d staked out for myself, in a small clearing surrounded on all sides by thick, luscious trees, I was confident I’d be able to hear anyone coming with enough time to retreat into the forest and escape.

Around dusk each night, I set a proper campfire. To avoid detection, I kept it low and used the driest branches I could find to reduce the smoke. It was good enough for a little warmth, though, and to heat the food I’d stolen before disappearing—if you could call almost inedible canned meats “food.”

After a couple of days, I started to go a little crazy. While I’d needed to escape the stress of the never-ending running, not doing anything allowed me far too much time to do nothing but think. My mind wasn’t a safe place when there was nothing to distract me.

Staring into the flames of the campfire, the flickering light was enough to transport me back to the day Louise ambushed me. Her pain-filled screams echoed from the past and filled my mind. I’d tried to warn her. I knew I couldn’t have controlled the sunbird’s protective nature, but it didn’t stop me from having the nightmares. I’d killed her. Whether I’d meant to or not, I was responsible, and it had cost me everything I had left in this world.

How could Clay ever forgive me, let alone feel anything of the love he’d once had?

Trying to shift the image, I prodded the fire with a stick, moving the bracken around to keep the flames even. I stilled when a whistling sound filled the air. To anyone else, it might have just sounded like a slightly off-tune bird, but the pitch was too low, the sound too resonant. It wasn’t a bird, and it was almost enough to stop my heart.

When an answering call filled the air, I leaped into action. With my heart racing at a mile a minute, I kicked dirt over the fire to extinguish the flames. Once it was out, I found my way straight into a clump of trees nearby. Looking around me to ensure I hadn’t already garnered attention, I crouched low and snuck around the edges of the campsite until I reached my bag. Carefully drawing it to me, I slipped it onto my back and readied myself to run.

Just as I was about to move, someone stepped from between the trees on the other side of the camp. Through the darkness, I could only make out the shape of Clay’s eyes.

A strangled sound rushed from me before I could stop it, and a lump rose in my throat. I could barely breathe. Despite the fact that he’d been so close for so long, I hadn’t seen him since the motel in Rolla. Fighting the urge to reveal myself and run to him, I watched as he moved farther into the clearing. When he did, my stomach sank.

As soon as he was closer, I could tell that I only saw what I wanted to see. The eyes were familiar, so was the hair, but it was Ethan, not Clay, who was in front of me. Ethan, who looked so much like the one I longed to see and yet so different all at once.

He kneeled to the ground near the fire pit I’d extinguished and leaned forward to touch his fingers to the soil.

“Hey!” he shouted.

Fear gripped me in her icy clutches, causing my blood to ignite in my veins. The cold air hissed and snapped at the contact with my heated skin. Uncertain whether he’d spotted me or was calling to someone else—Clay?—I withdrew farther into the darkness of the forest while trying to avoid the trees around me. The last thing I needed was to accidentally ignite a dry branch by brushing it with my burning touch.

I’ll keep you safe, the sunbird whispered.

“No,” I hissed back. “One death on my hands is more than enough.”

Another person burst into the small clearing, rushing to Ethan’s side.

“Something’s been here,” Ethan said. “Recently.”

Despite the time of night and the fact that we were in the middle of a forest, the other man wore a suit and tie. The way he stood, looking back the way they’d come, I couldn’t get a good look at his face. Other than the fact that he was dressed immaculately in a stupid situation, wore his black hair cropped close to his scalp, and that he had a dark skin tone, I knew nothing about him. The way Ethan spoke to him told me all I needed to know though—he was another Rain operative.

Ethan stood and brushed the dirt from his hands before turning to the new arrival.

“Do you think she’s close?” the other person asked. When he glanced around, Ethan nodded.

My chest clenched at the word “she’s.” They’re here for me . . .

“It’s still warm.” Ethan pointed to the circle of rocks where I’d set the fire. “She can’t be far. Let’s just hope she hasn’t dragged off some unsuspecting camper for her latest meal. The last thing we need is civilians involved.”

I couldn’t believe what he thought of me. Did he think that I was some sort of carnivorous beast? As the thought took hold in my mind, the leaves brushing against my shoulder began to smolder.

Ducking lower to escape the branches, I tried to come up with a plan. I had to get away, or I would end up in the middle of a forest fire of my own making. The only issue was that Ethan was an expert tracker—Clay had told me about his skills when we’d been on the run—and I wasn’t sure I could escape the two Rain operatives. There was also every chance that there were more than just the two of them.

Clay might be out there.

The thought cemented my desire to stem the heat in my body. I couldn’t be responsible for a fire that could hurt someone.

“You go back and get the others,” Ethan said to his friend. “I’ll scout on ahead, see if I can find some tracks or something.”

“Sure, just watch yourself. From what I’ve seen, this is one crazy bitch. You’ve got the good ammo, right?”

“I’m not an idiot.”

They exchanged a loaded look.

With a sigh, Ethan yanked out his gun and showed his friend something. “See, obsidian. Like I said, I’m not an idiot. Now go get the others already.”

The other guy took off the way they’d come, and I knew it was my chance to run. Only, I needed to incapacitate Ethan somehow first. If I didn’t, he’d come after me guns blazing. I’d seen his speed firsthand; he’d catch up to me in no time.

Glancing from side to side to find anything to help, I spotted the blackened leaves beside me. An idea formed. Calming my fire as much as I could so that I didn’t cause premature ignition, I carefully plucked a dozen leaves from the tree, being cautious not to make a sound.

“Fucking Ben,” Ethan muttered as he bent down to examine the area around the fire pit again. “Trampling in here and destroying the trail, treating me like I’m an idiot. He’s the fucking idiot.”

I held the leaves between my hands, forcing as much heat as I could into them. Even though they smoldered quickly and the tiny flames bit at my palms, I kept my hands closed.

Ethan stopped his motion as something on the ground piqued his interest. A second later, his gaze traveled the trail I’d left as I’d escaped into the forest.

Without a word, he slid his hand onto his gun and raised it, moving closer to the place where I’d first disappeared, just a few yards to my right.

I held my breath while I waited for him to get closer still. The leaves in my hands had burned down to a pile of ashes. The blisters on my palms would cause me problems later, but better blisters and their problems than a bullet to the brain.

When he was practically on top of the trees, just a short distance to my right, with his gun aimed away from me, I made my move. Surprising him by leaping from at his side, I blew the smoldering ashes of the leaves into his face.

He dropped his gun and lifted his hands up to shield his face, and I used his distraction to my advantage. Charging at him, I pressed my hands against his shoulder and attempted to shove him off balance. He was a wall of muscle. He staggered but didn’t go down. The residual heat in my fingertips caught on his shirt and a flicker of flame burst into life. I dropped my hands away as the fear I’d gone too far raced through me.

I wanted to help him, but there was little I could do for him. At least, not without risking getting caught. I glanced around for his gun, kicking it away from his reach and into the trees. I couldn’t risk taking the time I’d need to stop and pick it up. Then I turned and ran as fast as I could in the opposite direction to the one Ben had taken. Risking one last glance back over my shoulder as I ran, I saw Ethan rip off his shirt and toss it to the ground.

“Motherfucker!” he shouted as he stomped the flames out with his foot. “What the fuck was that?”

I didn’t hang around long enough for him to gather his bearings. Instead, I ran in the direction of the water as fast as I could. If I could walk a few miles in the stream, I might be able to shake his pursuit.

If only the guilt could be left behind so easily.

As I ran, one inescapable fact echoed through me. The Rain was close and closing in. Clay was right behind me.

The thought gave me the strength to run faster than ever.