Chapter 22: Last Respects

Vix still felt raw, like a hurricane had swept through her insides and emptied her totally out. Yet, oddly, she felt an odd sort of freedom, too, like an aftertaste to the pain. She sighed shakily. “I’ve never told anyone that before,” she said.

“Me neither,” Caine said. He gave her a hand a parting squeeze, then drew away. Vix let her hand remain there for a moment, fingers twitching toward his, then, her cheeks coloring, she let it drop to her side.

Vix let her gaze wander back to the body still laying a few feet away. ‘Caine’s body,’ she forced herself to think. ‘Still lying in his sleeping roll. Yet there’s another Caine right in front of me.’

“This is too bizarre,” she whispered quietly.

Caine followed her gaze. He abruptly looked away again and showed his teeth in an attempt at a smile. “I’m used to it by now.”

Vix looked at him. “Really?”