What was it I came here for again?
A younger woman with brown hair up in a bun with flyaways and wearing the Walmart blue vest walked by with a weird look my way. Her tired eyes bounced from me to Rune and the others.
I followed her gaze, and it dawned on me that we were wearing armor and capes. The guys had a sword at their hip that looked like a silly renaissance prop.
My cheeks warmed, and I averted my gaze from her as I quickened my steps while pushing the cart a little harder than needed.
“You know,” Slátra said, breaking the stiff silence in our group. “It’s been a couple of decades since being here in this realm. And I’ll have to say that this place is strange.”
Hluti grunted, agreeing.
I walked around the store—somehow, I forgot where the aisle was that I went to frequently—and found the hair color section. Rune stayed by my side, his hand still on my lower back as I looked over the colors. I was undecided if I wanted to try something new or stick with my usual blue. But none of the other colors felt like me. At least not right now.
I grabbed a couple of boxes of the blue just in case I wouldn’t be back when I needed more. Rune hummed his approval, rubbing a gentle circle on my back as he took the boxes from my hands and dropped them in the cart.
My heart increased in pace as warmth flooded through me again, and my cheeks warmed.
He was catering to me. Wanted to help me and show me physical affection. And I couldn’t bring myself to say anything to him. No “thank you” or a kiss or anything.
Rune deserved it. He deserved the world.
I turned toward him with my lips parting and the words right there at the tip of my tongue. He watched me with patience and undivided attention. His ocean eyes sweeping over my face, full of calm and adoration directed at me.
“Isa?” a familiar husky voice asked from behind me at one end of the aisle.
ChapterNine
My spine straightened, and I turned toward the woman I hadn’t seen for almost a year. She wore pink scrubs, the top tight over her chest, with pens in the pocket. A name tag with her picture was clipped on one corner of it. Her hair was a mousy brown that she put into a cute ponytail sitting high, with her hair creating a halo in waves down to her chest. Little pieces of her hair hung from the hairstyle that framed her tanned oval face.
Her eyes still held the same kindness they did for me at our old job at a bookstore. At the time, I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do in life, so the job was temporary until then. I was searching for what I needed to be and couldn’t find the answer. Harper was working there part-time as she was finishing the last year of medical school in the city to get her MD It looked like she was a step closer to her dream coming true. She had explained the last time we talked she’d have to do a residency for a couple of years to specialize in becoming a general surgeon.
As I took a step toward her, a small smile formed on my lips.
“Harper,” I finally said.
Her face lit up, while her full lips pulled into a wide smile as she adjusted her purse on her shoulder and closed the distance between us.
I wasn’t sure what came over me. It could have been with Rune’s hand still on me where the numb was gone or from seeing my friend again, but I pulled her into a hug. Tears formed in my eyes, and my smile grew.
She chuckled, hugging me back.
“Good to see you,” she said with one last squeeze before pulling back to look at me. Her hazel eyes roamed over my face, missing nothing. She’d always been observant. “How have you been?”
Well, that was a loaded question.
My shoulders stiffened, and I had to stop myself from looking at Rune like he knew the answer.
Her gaze turned to him, who towered next to me.
I wasn’t sure where the others were. They’d been quiet the whole time as I roamed the store. They must’ve stepped away for a few minutes as I looked at the hair colors. I was pretty sure they got curious and walked around to find things to bring with them. But I knew we all couldn’t fit in the tiny aisle because of how large they were. I was sure they’d knock something down on accident.
“Been fine,” I said, not feeling it at all. Rune’s presence was heavy next to me, and I knew he was doing his best to not interrupt by asking who Harper was. I didn’t want to be rude, so I stepped into him, searching for his hand, only for him to grab mine in answer. “This is my... husband, Rune.” I glanced up at him with my pulse roaring in my ears and warmth creeping up my neck to my cheeks. It was better to claim him as that than my soulmate. “Rune, this is my friend Harper. We go way back, and I haven’t seen her in a while.”
Life had gotten in the way. And it was about to get in the way again.
Heat flashed through me as more tingles spread to my palms and the bottom of my feet. My heart stuttered over a beat before it picked up in pace as I realized my mistake in talking to Harper. For showing my happiness and eagerness toward her.
I was still being hunted. We could be attacked at any second, and she would be another casualty because of me.
