The rain had softened to a misty drizzle by the time they stepped out of the wreckage of the lab, the air thick with the scent of wet earth and decaying wood. Marina trailed behind the group, her boots sinking in the mud with each step, her fire-orange hair plastered to her face like a damp flag. She kept her distance, her unsure amber eyes flicking between Selina's lean silhouette and Liam's broad shoulders.
It was impossible to miss it now—the Lunaria bloodline stamped all over them. The way their hair now seemed more midnight blue than black, the way their pale porcelain skin seemed to have an ethereal glow, not to mention the auras they both gave off. They screamed Lunaria in comparison to the few other Lunaria family members she had seen.
Marina hadn't even noticed them when Kurt unveiled her. She hadn't smelled them, hadn't heard them and certainly hadn't seen them. Not until Selina spoke to her. And, until they walked out that door, she thought they had black hair and pale white skin. The more they walked, the more Marina's stomach churned. Her father's plans, his vicious experiments, his cruel control over her and her future echoed in her head like a death knell. Stay away from them. What am I doing? He will find me, and we'll all..., Marina shuddered and didn't end her thought.
"You coming, Shadowcrest?" Kurt called over his shoulder, his voice cutting through the quiet like a blade. He didn't stop walking, didn't even turn around, but the way he said her name—like he already owned it—filled her chest with warmth. It felt…wonderful.
Marina hesitated, her fingers twitching at her sides. "Yeah," she muttered, though the word felt heavy on her tongue. She forced her feet to move, her thoughts racing. What the hell are you doing? You know what he'll do if he finds them, she thought. But the pull was there, undeniable, like a magnet tugging her toward Kurt. The mate bond. She clenched her jaw, fighting it, hating it. She didn't need this. Shouldn't want it. She couldn't ignore it, and if she was honest, she didn't want to ignore it.
The Jeep smelled like wet leather and old coffee, the kind of smell that clung to your clothes long after you left. Liam slid into the driver's seat, his movements easy, practiced, while Selina claimed the passenger side without a word. That left Marina and Kurt, together, in the backseat. She hesitated, her eyes following Kurt as he climbed in, attempting to shove some bags over.
Marina's heart began to flutter as she realized she would be jammed against Kurt in the backseat. Touching him. The space was too small, their hips and shoulders became firmly against one another as she sat. She stiffened, and her pulse quickened as the tingles from Kurt's touch erupted, just as her thigh pushed against his. If only our clothes weren't in the way. The tips of her ears turned red at the thought. Marina turned her head and stared out the window, hoping Kurt hadn't noticed her plush, as she pretended the proximity didn't excite her as much as it terrified her.
The engine roared to life, and Liam pulled onto the muddy, overgrown path. The windshield wipers scraped across the windshield at a steady pace. No one spoke. The silence was thick, suffocating, broken only by the sound of the tires splashing through puddles. Marina's fingers drummed nervously on her thigh, her mind racing. She could feel Kurt's gaze landing on her frequently, those expressive blue eyes burning into her like he could see straight through her defenses. She hated it. Hated how he made her feel exposed.
"You okay there?" he asked finally, his voice low, casual, but there was an edge to it that made her stomach flip. "Sorry it's so cramped. Technically, we only needed space for one back here. I'll repack it when the rain stops".
"I'm fine, for now!," she shot back, her tone sharper than she intended. She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to sink deeper into the seat. Just ignore him. Ignore the bond. It won't mean anything if my father finds me, Marina thought to herself.
Kurt chuckled softly, the sound warm and infuriating. "I'm rather comfortable myself."
Marina rolled her eyes, but her traitorous heart skipped a beat. She could feel the bond humming between them, a low, insistent thrum that made her want to scream or wrap her arms around him. She shouldn't want this. Shouldn't want him. But every time he looked at her, every time he spoke, it was like he was chipping away at the walls she'd spent years building. And she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep them standing.
Liam shifted in the driver's seat, his presence calm, but even he seemed tense, his dark purplish blue eyes scanning the road ahead like he expected trouble. Selina, deep in thought, sat next to Liam with her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her gaze fixed on the horizon.
Marina leaned her head against the cool glass of the window, her breath fogging up the pane. She didn't know what she was doing here. She wasn't sure if she would bring them trouble, or they would bring her trouble. But one thing was certain: she was in too deep to turn back now. The feeling of warmth and safety projected by the twins was undeniably hope, and that made ignoring the bond with Kurt impossible. Maybe any trouble that found her, would be worth it.
That's it, that's what they gave Marina. And that alone makes following them worth it. Hope. For the first time in her life, Marina was experiencing hope. Hope for the future. Hope for a life worth living. Hope, she realized was a dangerous thing, but it made everything better. She took a deep breath and allowed that hope to blossom within her. Marina knew she was safe, safe from her father and his cruel plans, for now at least.
Marina lifted her head from the window, adjusted herself in her seat, giving Kurt a small smile, then rested her head on his shoulder. "Hope…," she murmured quietly as her eyes fluttered closed, and she drifted off into a peaceful sleep.