“Edythe, I don’t… I mean, how?”
She spun back to me, one eyebrow raised. “Surely you’re familiar with the concept of a piggyback ride?”
I shrugged. “Sure, but…”
“What’s the problem, then?”
“Well… you’re so small.”
She blew out an exasperated breath, then vanished. This time I felt the wind from her passage. A second later, she was back with a boulder in one hand.
An actual boulder. One that she must have ripped out of the ground, because the bottom half was covered in clinging dirt and spidery roots. It would be as high as her waist if she set it down. She tilted her head to one side.
“That’s not what I meant. I’m not saying you’re not strong enough—”
She flipped the boulder lightly over her shoulder, and it sailed well past the edge of the forest and then crashed down to earth with the sound of shattering wood and stone.
“Obviously,” I went on. “But I… How would I fit?” I looked at my too-long legs and then back to her delicate frame.
She turned her back to me again. “Trust me.”
Feeling like the stupidest, most awkward person in all of history, I hesitantly put my arms around her neck.
“Come on,” she said impatiently. She reached back with one hand and grabbed my leg, yanking my knee up past her hip.
“Whoa!”
But she already had my other leg, and instead of toppling backward, she easily supported my weight. She moved my legs into position around her waist. My face was burning, and I knew I must look like a gorilla on a greyhound.
“Am I hurting you?”
“Please, Beau.”
Embarrassed as I was, I was also very aware that my arms and legs were wrapped tightly around her slender body.
Suddenly she grabbed my hand and pressed my palm to her face. She inhaled deeply.
“Easier all the time,” she said.
And then she was running.
For the first time, I felt actual fear for my life. Terror.
She streaked through the forest like a bullet, like a ghost. There was no sound, no evidence that her feet ever touched the ground. Her breathing never changed, never indicated any effort. But the trees flew by at deadly speeds, always missing us by inches.
I was too shocked to close my eyes, though the cool air whipped against my face and burned them. It felt like I was sticking my head out the window of an airplane in flight.
Then it was over. We’d hiked hours this morning to reach Edythe’s meadow, and now, in a matter of minutes—not even minutes, seconds—we were back to the truck.
“Exhilarating, isn’t it?” Her voice was high, excited.
She stood motionless, waiting for me to unwind my legs and step away from her. I did try, but I couldn’t get my muscles to unfreeze. My arms and legs stayed locked while my head spun uncomfortably.
“Beau?” she asked, anxious now.
“I might need to lie down,” I gasped.
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
It took me a few seconds to remember how to loosen my fingers. Then everything seemed to come undone at the same time, and I half-fell off her, stumbling backward until I lost my footing and finished the other half of the fall.
She held out her hand, trying not to laugh, but I refused her offer. Instead, I stayed down and put my head between my knees. My ears were ringing and my head whirled in queasy circles.
A cold hand rested lightly against the back of my neck. It helped.
“I guess that wasn’t the best idea,” she mused.
I tried to be positive, but my voice was hollow. “No, it was very interesting.”
“Hah! You’re as white as a ghost—no, worse, you’re as white as me!”
“I think I should have closed my eyes.”
“Remember that next time.”
I looked up, startled. “Next time?”
She laughed, her mood still flying.
“Show-off,” I muttered, and put my head down again.
After a half-minute, the swirling motion slowed.
“Look at me, Beau.”
I lifted my head, and she was right there, her face just inches from mine. Her beauty was like a sucker punch that left me stunned. I couldn’t get used to it.
“I was thinking, while I was running—”
“About not hitting trees, I hope,” I interrupted breathlessly.
“Silly Beau. Running is second nature to me. It’s not something I have to think about.”
“Show-off,” I muttered again.
She smiled. “No, I was thinking there was something I wanted to try.” She put her hands on my face again.
I couldn’t breathe.
She hesitated. It felt like a test, making sure this was safe, that she was still in control of herself.
And then her cold, perfect lips pressed very softly against mine.
Neither of us was ready for my reaction.
Blood boiled under my skin, burned in my lips. My breath came in a wild gasp. My fingers tangled in her hair, locking her face to mine. My lips opened as I breathed in her heady scent.
Immediately, she turned to unresponsive stone beneath my lips. Her hands gently, but forcibly, pushed my face back. I opened my eyes and saw her expression.
“Whoops,” I said.
“That’s an understatement.”
Her eyes were wild, her jaw clenched in restraint. My face was still just inches from hers, my fingers twisted through her hair.
“Should I…?” I tried to disengage myself, to give her some room.