Brand new book out now on Wattpad!

Word Count: 1967

~Tove

Keo smooths my hair back, smiling down at me.

"Promise you will come back and you'll feel better." It feels more like a cautious concern than an instruction.

"I promise. I think this is exactly what I need," I tell him, mustering a smile.

Him and I decided that I need a break, just for a couple of days. He's going to take me somewhere and I'm going to try and relax, so when I come back, I'll feel more certain about him, and where we stand.

Keo turns to my friend. "Take care of her, Mary."

He picked her and brought her to Territory Two only moments ago. He understands how much Mary means to me, and that if I'm going to get my thoughts and feelings under control, I'm going to need her.

"Of course," she says, winding her fingers through mine. "We are going to have some fun. For once."

Keo nods, looking solemn. "If anything happens, let me know. Okay?"

After my attempt to escape, I can see he is wary about sending me off, but he is choosing to trust me. Still, it seems like it's going to be a tense few days for him.

"Of course," I assure him.

Keo takes both of our hands and transports us to a different part of Territory Two. I could convince him to let me have a break, but not more than a Territory away.

My feet land on sand, a bright light glaring into my eyes as I tentatively blink them open.

Keo has admitted that he has chosen his home in a part of the Territory that has a more treacherous landscape to stop people from coming across him. The rest of the Territory is beautiful.

"Have fun," he says, giving me a tight smile before he disappears.

I let out a deep breath. I don't feel as relieved as I thought I would, to be away from him. I thought this would be a nice outing away from him, and yet I feel a little empty.

"This view of the sea is great," Mary muses.

The sun glitters against the turquoise surface of the shallow waters, foamy waves gently lapping against the hot sand.

"We are going to swim and forget all our problems," I tell her. The beach is mostly empty, and the water is calm enough to enjoy a peaceful swim.

Turning, I look up the dunes to where a cornflower blue painted beach house sits. I assume that's where Mary and I will be staying.

"Is everything okay?" Mary asks softly.

"Yeah...yeah I'm fine," I say, waving my hand dismissively. She's probably wondering why she has been brought here for a random holiday, when she hasn't heard from me in a little while.

She narrows her eyes suspiciously. "This holiday doesn't have anything to do with a strained relationship between you two?"

"I just need to clear my head. I feel like I've been going crazy recently," I mutter, backing up so I can sit on the soft piles of sand on the dune.

Mary joins me, shifting her shawl so she can protect her skin from the harsh sun.

"Your life is insane, I don't blame you," she breathes, laughing a little under her breath. She doesn't feel bad for me, she just can't imagine being in my position.

A few months ago, I wouldn't have seen this life for myself, but here I am.

"Do you think I can trust Keo?" I ask her. I'm not sure she is the best person to ask, since she was so ardently against him in the beginning, but she is my friend and I trust her judgement.

She looks out toward the sea. "I hardly know him..."

"I know. But you have to have an opinion, right?" I push. She doesn't share her opinion very decidedly, which means I usually have to press her for information.

"He intimidates me a lot, but I see the way he looks at you, and I realise that he cares about you far deeper than even I do, and I thought that was impossible," she exclaims. "Plus, he seems to do a lot to show you how much he cares."

She motions around us as an example, and I smile.

He does show me how much he cares about me without saying the words. He saved Mary when it could have ruined his whole mission. He brought her to me when I was sad, and he's always checking up on me, cooking for me and letting me dictate where we go.

"He does...a surprising amount," I admit, sifting sand through my fingers, looking at all the individual grains as they slide along my skin.

Mary tilts her head to the side. "So what is it you're afraid of?"

"Being vulnerable with someone capable of destroying me. I know he wouldn't, but what if he did?" I say hopelessly.

Mary shakes her head at me.

"You have to take a chance on something," she insists. "This is your mate. If there is anyone to make a mistake with, it's him. But I don't think you'll be making a mistake."

She's right. I've been lucky enough to find my mate, so I should at least give it a true, real try. I owe it to Keo, and myself.

"Let's go for a swim, shall we?" I stand, brushing the sand off the backs of my legs.

She sighs, looking torn between demanding more out of me and letting it go. She ultimately decides to give me space as she stands, nodding.

"Okay. Let's go."

We manage to find some swimwear in the house behind the dunes before spending most of the day swimming amongst the waves and laying on the beach. By the time dusk comes by, I'm so tired I can barely carry my wary body back up to the home.

Mary slides the glass doors open, letting in the sea breeze before she collapses next to me on the couch.

"I'm exhausted," she groans, resting the back of her hand over her forehead.

I rest my head against the cushion. "Me too. But it feels good."

"Does your mind feel clear?" Mary asks hopefully.

I let out a long breath. My mind does feel clearer, with a lot of my fear and anxiety melting away into nothingness. I feel ready to go back to training, and perhaps more importantly, to go back to my mate.

"It does, actually," I tell her, ginning. "Thanks to you."

She jumps up, grabbing the food we prepared earlier, setting it on the dining room table. "Come, eat. We should sleep early tonight so we can do something fun tomorrow."

"Good idea."

We sit and eat, discussing many things that have nothing to do with Keo. Mary has started a new job, and has moved into a proper home instead of her old apartment. She seems happy, which I couldn't be more grateful about.

Just as I'm finishing up my meal, a dark shadow shifts from outside of the window, seeming to move from one side of the house to the other.

I flinch, jumping up.

"Oh...did you see that?" I point at the window. It could be just a neighbour wandering past on their way home, or perhaps it's something more sinister.

Mary turns around, following where I'm pointing. "See what?"

"I think I saw someone walking around out there," I exclaim.

Her eyes widen.

"Surely not..."

I wander over the window while Mary rushes around, locking the doors. Peering out, I see nothing but an empty space, the shadow, which must belong to some figure, seems to have vanished.

"It was a shadow. I swear," I tell her. She wraps her arms around herself uncomfortably. We are in a relatively highly populated area, but yet at the same time, it feels like we are in the middle of nowhere, knowing no one...

"Should we go out and look?" She asks uneasily, her voice trembling a little.

"No, I must be going crazy," I mutter, rubbing a hand over my eyes. I thought I had cleared my head, but now I'm seeing something that isn't there. "I might go to sleep now. Is that okay?"

She lets out a little breath, relieved. We are only freaked out because we are here alone, and we don't know this place.

"Of course." She heads toward the other spare room. "Sleep well."

Dragging my tired limbs to bed, I collapse into it. This was a good day, but I'm ready to sleep it off and enjoy another one with Mary tomorrow. Keo told me he would come collect me whenever I decided, which feels tempting after today's revelation, but I want one more day with my friend.

Exhaustion sweeps me away to sleep quickly. My sleep is so deep I don't even dream, until I'm risen with a jolt at the feeling of someone grabbing onto me.

My eyes fly open, but it's dark. There is nothing around me that I can see, but I can feel hands grasping my neck, pressing down firmly.

My attempts to drag in a breath are thwarted by the hands around my throat, which I desperately claw at.

Kicking my legs out, I manage to make contact with flesh. They make a masculine groaning sound, loosening their grip enough for me to rip their hands off me, sliding off the bed.

"Mary!" I yell, making a dash for the door.

I'm grabbed again, dragged down to the ground with a violent pull, slamming the back of my head against the wooden floor. Vibrant colours spin and twist in my vision, although I continue to flail around, hitting at my attacker as they try to get on top of me.

They are going to kill me...they are going to kill me, and Mary is going to find me dead in here when she wakes.

No. I need to get out of here.

My hands find their face, clawing at their eyes, pulling at their skin. They manage to land a hit on my right cheek, my jaw singing out in overwhelming pain. I strike back, kneeing them in the stomach again, managing to pull away enough for them to not be touching me.

Scrambling enough of my powers together, I transport myself into the next room, knowing I can't leave Mary in here with this murderer.

I shake her awake frantically. "Quick Mary, we need to get out of here!"

She sits up, rubbing her eyes. "Huh?"

"I don't have time to explain, just hold on to me," I instruct. Her panic sets in quickly as he grasps my wrist, knowing there isn't going to be a chance for her to ask any more questions.

Just as the door to Mary's bedroom opens, I summon an image of the first place that comes to mind, focusing all my power on getting there.

The world vanishes from around us, hurtling us toward the streets of Territory One, which I know so well.

Rain touches my skin before I feel my feet on the ground. When I open my eyes, I check first that Mary is next to me, and then I ensure the man didn't manage to catch a ride with us.

I see my friend, and the empty streets of Territory One, everyone chased off by the rain currently bucketing down on us.

Mary turns around slowly. "What just happened?"

I sigh grimly. Someone just tried to kill me, and I have no idea who they are.

💙••💙

Want more? You can read 10 chapters ahead on Radish!!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter (:

OUT NOW ON RADISH AND WATTPAD

~Midika 💜🐼