Page 92 of North Bound

Now that’s a great question. He knows what he wants to do but that doesn’t mean it’s what he will do. ‘I don’t know. I’ll figure it out when I wake up properly.’ He shuffles down the bed. It’s a foolish thing to do, given that, if he actually does fall asleep, he’s not going to wake up again for a few weeks.

He tucks her in beside him and rubs his hand through her hair.

‘How did you know? About Reve I mean,’ Scarlett asks.

‘I didn’t. The more I thought about it, the more I kept coming back to the fact it had to be someone from the team. You need to learn how to use the magic. You can’t just take it and run. It doesn’t work like that. But when I was going to sleep, my fucking headache was irritating me. I’d had it since I woke up with you.

‘I thought it was down to the crash, but it felt wrong. I couldn’t explain how, until Reve woke me up. It felt familiar. Like he’d been in my head before. He also wasn’t as careful the second time. Whatever he was trying to do to my head released some of the memories. I didn’t see him, but I knew it was him. That probably doesn’t make a lot of sense.’

‘No, it makes sense. Talen said he could sense or feel your magic. Is it the same with all of you?’

‘Sometimes. We use our magic around each other when we’re fighting. It’s bound to feel familiar after a while.’

‘And was getting yourself stabbed with your own sword part of the plan?’

‘It wasn’t my sword. That’s the whole point. If it was, I’d be drained of magic and dead.’

‘I don’t like the sound of either of those.’ He yawns, so she digs him in the arm. ‘You’re exhausted.’

‘Yeah. Time to get you home.’

She takes a long breath and falls silent. It’s unbelievably shite and he feels the same. He doesn't want to let her go. Not again. Saying goodbye to her the first time was horrible. No point putting it off though. If he doesn't get his ass in gear, he’s going to fall asleep and she’ll be stuck here.

She climbs off the bed and holds out her hand to help him up. He dismisses it, deciding to be all macho and get up himself. Which fails, when his legs buckle and he only stops from landing on his ass, by grabbing onto the bed.

‘You can barely stand.’

‘I need to get you home.’

Scarlett leaves him hanging on to the bed as she disappears outside. He groans loudly when she reappears with Eve and Damon.

‘What the fuck are you doing?’ Damon asks, glaring at him.

‘I’m trying to get up so I can bring Scarlett home.’

‘I’ll bring her home,’ Damon says, dragging Nick to his feet. ‘You can barely stand. Actually, you can’t stand. Seriously, Nick. You need to go to bed before you collapse.’

Scarlett gets in on the disapproving looks Damon and Eve are already giving him. ‘Let Damon take me home. It’s okay. Really.’

He wants to be the one to take her back, but his body isn’t on board with that. The way he feels right now, he’d probably crash the fucking sleigh again and kill both of them. ‘Fine. You win.’

Damon hits him with a cold glare. ‘It wasn’t a request. I’m taking her home. You’re going to bed. Now, are you going to let me help you back to your room, or should I knock you out and carry you back?’

Scarlett tries to committhe workshop to her memory, as she follows Nick and Damon back to his suite. Damon may have joked about knocking Nick out and carrying him, but it’s not too far from the truth. Nick is barely able to put one foot in front of the other.

She can’t believe she has to say goodbye to him all over again. It was painful enough the first time.

Damon half carries, half drags Nick to his room, lowering him into one of the chairs by the fire. ‘I’ll leave you alone. I’ll be outside when you’re ready, Scarlett.’

Nick pushes himself to his feet, using the back of the chair to help him. ‘Talk about déjà vu,’ Nick says, pulling her into his arms. ‘I hate saying goodbye to you over and over again.’

‘Then don’t.’ She wasn’t expecting to just come straight out and say the words to him, but she couldn’t help it. But then his eyes lower to the ground and he licks his lips. She’s pushed too far, too fast. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘No. Don’t ever be sorry for being honest with me. I just... fuck!’

‘You’re going to need to go into a little more detail.’

He laughs and nods. ‘I would love to spend more time with you. To see where this will go, but I can’t see how to do that. I live in Lapland. I have responsibilities there. I have a job to do that takes a hell of a lot of my time. I have a contract to fulfil, and I can’t walk away from that. You live in Dublin and have your own life. We’ve known each other for a few days, Scarlett. I can't ask you to leave everything to be with me. Not after days.’