The Grey God

Jenn chose a small scouting position, hidden from view by rocks and snow. She made her new spot as comfortable as possible and lay down to wait and watch. The cold, still air sank into her clothing and skin. Within a couple of hours, clouds blocked the moon, and the snow began again. She watched vamps go in and out of the fortress. Jonny returned at some point and left with a small group to hunt. An hour before dawn, she began to feel drowsy and shifted her position to keep from falling asleep.

"What're we waiting for?"

She twisted, one knife drawn before she recognized Darian's dark shape crouched over her feet. She hadn't heard or sensed him, as if he'd gone to some sort of stealth mode that silenced even his mind. But he was alive and in one piece after his run-in with the Other. More relief trickled through her than she liked.

"Are you healed up?" she asked, uneasy with the fact his thoughts were so closed off.

"Good as new. Mostly. Is this where you sleep?"

"Not usually. I didn't want to be caught off guard when the Others came back."

"They're not near here."

"You can track them?"

"I can," he confirmed. "That's how I found them last time. They're away for now."

Jenn bit her tongue to keep from saying what she wanted to say. She sat and leaned against the nearest boulder, studying Darian. He seemed at once distracted and aware, as if his instincts were on autopilot while he thought deeply.

"You can say it," he said.

"Say what?"

"I can see it on your face."

"You're a fool and a shithead for thinking you could take on three Others."

"I got one."

"And pissed off the other two," she pointed out. "If the Black God hadn't been there, we wouldn't have been able to save you. You have no idea how hard it is to keep that kid focused."

Darian shifted.

"I'm done," she said. "No, wait, I'm not. If you were one of my Guardians, I'd kick your ass for not thinking before you acted and putting others in danger. Lecture over."

"If I let you kick my ass, will you forgive me? We'll be friends again and you'll stop treating me like I've got the plague?" he asked, half-teasing.

Jenn snorted. "What're you doing here?"

"You didn't say no," he said and stood. "I'm not a fan of the cold. Let's go inside."