Page 97 of Trust the Fall

River chuckles. “All out of human drugs.”

She groans. “I don’t think I can deal with whatever this is,” she says, motioning to me.

“Yeah, good luck. I need to get back in there to see what’s happening with Camille.”

Leeanna cocks her eyebrow, clearly wondering what’s up with that whole dynamic.

I shrug. “If you figure it out, let me know.”

River looks between us, confused by the unspoken conversation we’re having. I don’t need to read her mind, and she doesn’t need to read mine, to know that we’re both equally mystified.

It comes from centuries of training and fighting side by side.

“Let’s go,” she says, and I follow her, turning my back on River. I don’t glance in his direction again.

Wherever she’s taking me doesn’t look familiar.

“Is this the way back to my room?”

“No. I think you’re in need of some stress reduction.”

“Good Lord.” What does she have up her sleeve?

“Trust me, Victoria. This place is getting to you, and the effects are not pretty.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Did you just hear yourself back there? You sound like a sixteen-year-old twit. Pull yourself together. It’s embarrassing.”

I cringe at her description because there’s not a part of me that doubts the accuracy.

“All right. whatever you have in mind, I’m game. Let’s do this. Snap me be back together.”

I probably shouldn’t trust her, but I do.

We walk out the door and into the garden I could see from my window, but she keeps walking toward the tree-lined edge of the yard. When we break the barrier of the pines, we find a wide-open field, with over two dozen reaper guards in various states of combat.

“We’re gonna train?”

She nods. “Best way to release the stress.”

I could kiss her. She’s never been more right. I take back all the things I said about her... at least for the next hour.

“Hiya boys,” she calls, and at least five reapers look in our direction. The rest completely ignore her, too caught up in their training.

The few that look in our direction stiffen when they realize who we are.

Two step forward and one removes their cap, allowing long black hair to fall over her shoulders. I recognize her immediately.

“Hi Cat.”

She smiles at me. “Come to join us?”

“Please. I’m in desperate need of letting off some steam.”

She chuckles. “A few hours in the presence of River will have you feeling all sorts of pent-up.”

Something tells me her idea of pent up and mine where River is concerned differs greatly, but I don’t call her on it.