Every Dawn Forever Read Online Free PDF Page B

lightning flash and the thunder.”
    “To see how many miles away the storm is?” he prompted, smiling because he did that himself from time to time.
    She nodded, chewing on her bottom lip and watching out the window.  If counting between lightning and thunder was any indication of the storm, it was very close to where they were now.
    Crux walked around in front of the SUV and Orion opened his window.  “Cabin’s empty, follow my light and I’ll guide you down the drive.”
    He put up the window and kept Crux in his headlights, following him as he walked towards the cabin.  The headlights showed the front door was open and the interior was dark.  Sterling opened his door and got out.  Orion turned off the SUV and unbuckled his seatbelt.
    “When it’s light out, hopefully the storm will have moved on.  We can rest here and continue on our way in the morning.  Do you need me to carry you?  I don’t mind.”
    In fact, he liked it.
    Shaking her head, she unbuckled her seatbelt, opened the door and got out.  Sterling appeared at the door and silently offered her his hand.  She only hesitated a moment before she took it and walked with him into the cabin.  Orion opened the back, pulling the emergency medical kit from the other storage compartment and checking in the road kit to see if there were any other supplies that would be useful.  Slamming the back shut, he hurried into the house, a package of waterproof matches and another flashlight in his hand.
    “Great!”  Crux said, taking the matches.  “I found some candles.”
    Within minutes, a dozen candles were lit and placed around the cabin.  The interior was small; one large room with a bed in one corner, a fireplace, two recliners, and a small kitchen.  Sterling prowled around the cabin, his mouth open as he breathed in deeply, and Orion knew he was scenting.  There was a door near the bed and Sterling opened it.  When the candle illuminated the interior, it revealed a tiny bathroom.
    “No one’s been here for months,” Sterling said, coming to stand in the kitchen.  Sydney was near the door, looking out the window at the darkness, her arms wrapped around her middle.  Her skin looked flushed and she was trembling.
    Crux walked into the kitchen and looked at the sink.  A pump-operated faucet was covered in cobwebs; he gave it a few experimental pumps and water sputtered out.  “Well that’s a bit of good news.  Cabinets are empty, though.”
    “We can make it one night without food,” Orion pointed out.  “We’ll leave as soon as the storm lets up and get something to eat at the first place we find.”
    A small sound of pain came from Sydney and they turned as a group.  Orion moved to her slowly, afraid to spook her.  “Are you ill, sweetheart?”
    She turned to look at him and a tear slid down her cheek.  “I don’t think anyone’s ever called me sweetheart.”
    “Then it’s my pleasure to be the first.”
    Her arms were wrapped around herself and she was clutching her sides.  She couldn’t hide that something was wrong.  Pain was evident in her eyes, and beads of sweat had popped up on her forehead.  It wasn’t exactly cool in the cabin, but it wasn’t sweltering either.
    He lifted his hand to touch her forehead, worried she might be sick.  She flinched and took a step back.  Grimacing, she took a deep, trembling breath and said, “Sorry.  I’m sorry.”
    “You don’t have to apologize, sweetheart.  You’re safe now.”
    She glanced out the window again.  “How can you be sure?”
    “Do you think you were followed when you left your pack?”
    She shook her head.
    “And the bus station was empty, except for one employee that was in a back room watching TV.  He wasn’t even aware anyone had come in.  The parking lot was deserted, and we’ve been traveling for two hours by vehicle.”  He wanted to hold her in his arms and kiss away the worry, but he didn’t dare.  Even though his body rebelled at not