Chapter 4

• The list didn’t provide any big clues. Twenty names were the same, not counting themselves and the organizers. Twenty names of the people who had all been at events for years.
• The revel fire was more of a social gathering than ritual, as everyone knew the early morning and long day that would follow. The eight wandered through the attendants looking for something out of place or disturbing, but hadn’t picked up on anything. Finally, everyone agreed to go back to the cabin and try to rest before their watch shifts began.
• Leena and Owen took the first watch, and no one complained, knowing they were still so newly engaged they should be able to lounge in bed longer than the others.
• Steven and Rachel took the midnight shift while the others tried to get a bit of rest before their turn.
• Kasey wandered out to the sitting area to find Chris there. “Are they still out?” she whispered, not wanting to wake the others. He nodded. “Do we go out right after them, or is it Justin’s turn? I keep forgetting.”
• Chris patted the cushion beside him, waving the puff of dust away that flew out. “We’re out after them. Then at two it’s Justin. It’s either Charlie or Kevin at three. I’m not sure which order they’re in. Dade and Cora will be out until we light the fires.”
• She nodded and then sighed. “I couldn’t sleep. Maybe the nap was a bad idea.”
• Chris picked up her hand. “It’s going to be okay, Kasey.” His voice was soft and reassuring. “We’re doing all we can do.”
• She nodded again and went to speak when Doc and Rachel stepped in quietly, grinning.
• “It’s all yours,” Rachel whispered with a grin on her face.
• Steven smiled at them too. “You might want to avoid the little ring of trees behind the dining hall. Another couple is busy there right now.”
• Kasey blushed but noticed that Chris grinned.
• “We’ll check there last.” He turned to her. “Ready?” She nodded and grabbed her sweater.
• They walked in silence. Kasey was happy to hold his hand, she felt less nervous about what they were watching and listening for. The only sounds they heard were the crickets, and their own footsteps.
• She glanced up at him. At nearly a foot taller, he always made her feel smaller and more feminine. He looked so sexy in the almost-full moonlight. It cast a light that made him look stronger, almost invincible, she thought with a girlish grin. “Leena said there was a creek down that way. Do we look there too?” She kept her voice hushed.
• Chris smiled down at her. “Sure. And I’d like to say, despite the reason we’re out here, I’m enjoying walking with you in the moonlight. Kase. You look like a fairy in this light.”
• Kasey felt more relaxed. “It is beautiful out here tonight, isn’t it?”
• Lifting their entwined hands to his mouth, he kissed hers. “I think the woman beside me outshines the moon every night.”
• She felt her cheeks flush. “You say the nicest things, Chris.”
• “I mean them, or I wouldn’t say them.”
• They both looked over as they heard the water trickling. Spotting a large rock, he headed over to lean against it, turning her to stand in front of him. They were face-to-face now. “I still feel guilt over how I behaved a few weeks ago, Kasey.”
• She was silent for a minute. “It’s okay. You were right, in a way. I should work harder so I can stay focused during a ritual. I’ve been practicing ever since.”
• His hand moved up to caress her face. It was big enough to cover the whole side of it. “I could have told you in a friendlier way. I have no excuse for my behavior that night. It was just a bit of a shock, to be honest.” His thumb moved slowly over her cheekbone.
• “I’d like to explain what happened, Chris.”
• “There’s no need...”
• Kasey put her hand up to stop his caress. “There is, I need to.”
• He nodded silently and dropped both hands to her waist, resting them there. Could he sit here and listen to her explain about the lover he had seen with her in the vision? He wasn’t sure he could, but he owed it to her to at least try, after being so rude to her over it.
• “During the ritual, when we were all touching the edge of the dish, the currents flowing were very strong. The stones I used were doing their part really well, too. I guess you leaned up to look closer, I’m not sure. I was pretty deep in the vision at that point. I remember feeling your hand brush mine, an accident, of course.” She paused and lowered her lashes, hiding her eyes from him.
• Letting out a shaky breath, she looked back at his eyes. “When your hand brushed mine, it changed my focus to you, Chris. That was you I projected in the vision of... It was you.”
• She finished so quietly he almost didn’t hear her. He stood there looking into her eyes. Her fantasy lover had been him? How had he missed that? As he thought of the dark-haired man’s reflection in the bowl he felt ridiculous. How was he supposed to know what he looked like from behind? Him.
• Chris searched her eyes for a moment, then looked at her mouth. She bit her bottom lip gently with her teeth waiting for him to say something. No words could be found to express how happy he was. Relief flooded through him. It hadn’t been another man’s mouth moving over her with frenzied passion. It had been his. A rush of heat went through him as he thought of the images.
• “I’ve embarrassed you now,” she said quietly.
• “No, I’m not embarrassed to know that.” He did wonder if everyone else had realized who the man had been. “Kasey...” He didn’t know what words to use. His eyes moved over her face and he felt he had no choice but slowly lean closer, watching her eyes as he did. When his lips brushed against hers, she moved her hands to his shoulders.
• Turning his head, he deepened the kiss and pulled her closer. Her mouth opened, allowing his tongue to brush against hers.
• Struggling with whether he should pull her tight or release her, he groaned against her mouth and broke the kiss. “Kase,” he whispered against her lips, “we’ll have to continue this when we’re not on duty.”
• “Oh!” She put her hands up to her cheeks and looked at him with wide eyes. “I forgot! You distracted me, and I forgot why we’re out here.”
• He kissed her mouth gently. “That makes me feel better than you could ever know, sweetheart.” Straightening up, he took her hand. “Let’s head to check the other end of the camp.”
• Chris fought his impulses for most of the way touring the camp. He wanted to pick her up to lay her gently in the long grass, to play out the visions of the fantasy now running rapidly through his mind with new vigor. If he didn’t let her know how he felt, soon, he was going to lose his sanity.