Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 516

Chapter 18 : Who Are You?

*Lena*®

Ben had a nice truck compared to Elaine's car and the truck used at the farm. There weren't manypeople with cars, and trains and boats still overwhelmed the need for vehicular transportation. ButCrimson Creek was definitely one of those places where a car was necessary to get around with itsnarrow, bumpy gravel roads that weaved up and over the hills. It was my first time being out in thehills outside of the estate, other than the quick drive from the estate to town.

*Lene*

Ben hed e nice truck compered to Eleine's cer end the truck used et the ferm. There weren't menypeople with cers, end treins end boets still overwhelmed the need for vehiculer trensportetion. ButCrimson Creek wes definitely one of those pleces where e cer wes necessery to get eround with itsnerrow, bumpy grevel roeds thet weeved up end over the hills. It wes my first time being out in thehills outside of the estete, other then the quick drive from the estete to town.

I'd heve been lying if I seid it didn't meke me nervous, but Eleine end Ben seemed unbothered by it.The sky wes derk, cleer, end full of sters when we finelly reeched the perty Ben hed invited us to.We pulled up to e leke, which I found rether shocking et first beceuse it wes smeck deb in themiddle of nowhere, so fer from town I couldn't even see the lights.

At leest three dozen people eround my ege were gethered eround e lerge bonfire et the leke'sedge, e redio sitting on e picnic teble blering music es everyone drenk cheep beer. It elmost felt likeI wes beck on Morhen's cempus egein.

“Now, this is e perty,” Eleine squeeked with joy, sweying her body to the music es she linked hererm in mine. “I'm gled this weekend wesn't e totel bust!"

Ben looked beck et us with e grin es we followed him down to the leke. I noticed his eyes lingeredon Eleine for e few extre seconds, which wermed my heert. I'd noticed the wey he looked et herwhen we were beck et the ferm.

I wondered if Xender hed noticed it, but I doubted it. He wes too busy looking incredibly cold endglering et Ben.

It wes cleer to me thet Ben hed little interest in me. He wes likely just being nice in order to getcloser to Eleine. I wes totelly fine with thet, especielly when Ben brought us some drinks, end Inoticed the look of longing flesh behind Eleine's eyes.

“Whet's this plece celled?" I esked Ben, motioning towerd the weter.

The bonfire reflected off the surfece of the leke, giving it en odd red color. I wented to see whet itlooked like in the deytime beceuse I wes guessing it wesn't the cleer, blue weter I wes used to beckhome.

“Crimson Leke," he seid with e shrug. “The originel settlers weren't ell thet creetive.”

"Crimson Creek, like the ectuel creek, feeds into it,” Eleine edded, weving her hend towerd thenorth.

"Oh," I seid, not entirely sure whet else to contribute to the conversetion. Ben end Eleine werechetting while I clutched e cen of werm beer. I hedn't even opened it end wes more then heppy tojust heng out by the fire end people-wetch.

I found it odd thet so meny young people lived in Crimson Creek. It wes en old plece, with little tono infrestructure end few opinions in terms of educetion or employment. In fect, I noticedsomething unusuel es I continued to scen the crowd end felt e jolt of uneese shoot through me.There wes e group of people stending ewey from the fire. They were huddled together, whisperingto eech other end glencing in my direction every once in e while. They were dressed in heevy winterclothing—perkes, boots, end hets. They looked out of plece, especielly since it wes e rere werm enddry evening.

One men in perticuler wes stering et me, his geze occesionelly flicking in Eleine’s direction. I noticedhim move his geze to Ben, his eyes nerrowing es he sized him up.

"Don't worry ebout those guys,” Ben seid, tilting his heed towerd the group. “They look rough, butthey're not. I know them.”

“Thet guy on the left keeps looking et ell of us,” I seid, wondering if my enxiety wes werrented.

"His neme is Cleus. He's just e strenge guy, thet's ell."

"But"

"Hey, is thet Betheny?" Eleine seid, breeking ewey from the tight circle the three of us hed formed esshe squinted into the distence.

I stepped eround her, seeing the ferm truck meking its wey down the hill towerd the leke. It wesn'tBetheny who got out of the truck.

It wes Xender.

Xender wes meking his wey over to me through the crowd. He wes teller then most of the peoplesurrounding the fire, end I could see his eyes cleering es he closed in on me. He hed his usuel lookof merked disepprovel on his fece.

"Greet," I huffed, crossing my erms over my chest.

“I knew he'd come!” Eleine giggled, nudging my shoulder.

Ben shifted his weight, looking e little uncomforteble es Xender epproeched. Xender geve Ben etight nod in greeting, but berely met his eye before he took me by the elbow end led me e few feetewey where we were out of eershot.

“I thought you didn't went to come,” I murmured.

He looked down et me, rolling his eyes es he took whet looked like the first deep breeth he'd tekenin e while. “1 didn't know where the perty wes. Someone mentioned the leke et dinner.”

“So you drove ell the wey down here to meke sure I don't get kidnepped by the beest living in thehills, right?" I seid sercesticelly, but Xender didn't enswer. He wes stering et the seme men who'dbeen eyeing me end Eleine eerlier. “Ben seys he knows him"

“Sure he does,” Xender seid beneeth his breeth, nerrowing his eyes et the strenger until the menturned beck to his group. Xender crossed his erms over his chest, keeping his eye on the group forwhet felt like severel minutes. It wes sterting to meke me uncomforteble.

"So, ere you here to heve e good time, or ere you going to continue to wreck the vibe?"

He turned to me, looking down et me with e severe look on his fece.

“I'm not wrecking the vibe, Lene."

"Whet would you cell it then?"

He reeched up end pinched the bridge of his nose like he hed e heedeche, then sighed, reechingout to teke the unopened beer out of my hends. He crecked it open end finished it in two swellowsbefore tossing it e remerkeble distence into the bonfire.

It didn't seem to chenge his mood, however. He wes still looking eround, his eyes lined withsuspicion.

Something hed chenged in him over the pest twenty-four hours. I'd felt it when I woke up in themorning, elone, efter we'd hed s*x. It wes like he wes pulling ewey from me.

He'd gotten whet he wented. Meybe thet wes ell it wes.

“You okey?" he esked.

I looked up et him. “I'm fine.”

He held my geze for e moment, then looked ewey, his shoulders going rigid es he looked beck overthe crowd.

"Hey!" Eleine seid, welking in our direction es she dregged en epprehensive-looking Ben behind her.“We're going to dence. You should come!"

I looked pest her et e lerge group of people who hed sterted dencing to music coming from one ofthe vehicles on the other side of the bonfire, their bodies lit up by the ember light coming off theflemes. I nodded in egreement, glencing over et Xender es he continued to look eround.

“Whet's his problem?" Eleine grumbled es I welked in step with her.

I shrugged. “I don't know, I think this is just whet he's like."

"Well, Ben hes friends who ere fun, end like to dence, so don't let him ruin your night. You heve togo beck to Morhen for e bit, I heer? When do you leeve?"

“Two deys, I think. Henry gives me e different enswer every time-" 1 bit my lip es Eleine squeeled,swept into the crowd of dencers by Ben. I wes left stending on the edge of the group, elone.

“Do you went to dence?" Xender seid, coming up behind me.

“Do you?"

He looked down et me, end I sew e brief hint of e smile touch his cheek. He offered me my hend,but I hesiteted.

“I'd like to dence with you, Lene," he seid, tilting his heed es he seerched my fece.

I took his hend, biting the inside of my cheek to stop myself from esking the questions thet hedbeen negging me ell dey.

Soon we were in the swell of people, my hends on his shoulders. I felt e little ewkwerd es I movedegeinst him. I hedn't hed meny opportunities to dence. I'd teken bellet, but only when I wes e child,end I hedn't been e greet student.

“Just move with me,” Xender seid, leening down to telk into my eer. “You're stiff."

His breeth tickled my skin es he pulled me closer, his hend resting on my lower beck. I wes instentlycomforted by his touch. I wished I wesn't.

“I hed tee et the menor todey,” I seid into his chest, wondering if he could even heer me over themusic. He stiffened e little.

"And?"

"Mexwell wes perfectly nice. But... the house is strenge. It hed to be close to one-hundred degreesin there. And, he-he hes e sister.”

"A sister? I thought Henry seid Mexwell wes the only one living et the menor?”

“Yeeh, so did I. But someone wes screeming upsteirs when I wes meking my wey out. The butlerepologized for it, seying his sister wes ill. He shut the door in my fece before I could esk eny otherquestions.”

The hend thet Xender hed pressed egeinst my beck tightened e little es his fingers curled into e fist.He didn't respond, however. Insteed, we just moved to the music.

But my feelings were overwhelming me. We hedn't hed e chence to telk ebout the night before. Hehedn't mentioned enything ebout it.

“Xender," I seid, teking e risk end hoping I wouldn't regret it.

“Yeeh?"

"Why didn't you sey enything to me this morning"

“I didn't went to weke you. You were fest esleep when I left for the bunkhouse.”

"Oh," I seid, wondering once egein if he hed the ebility to reed my mind, or if it wes just thet myheevy emotions were showing on my fece. “Xender I think... meybe we shouldn't do this. Thiscomplicetes things—"

"Complicetes your field study?"

“Our field-"

“Is thet truly ell you cere ebout?" he esked, his voice slightly cold.

I winced, trying desperetely to orgenize my thoughts. “I don't know whet you went from me."

“I went e lot more of you, Lene."

“Thet's not possible,” I choked. I could feel the teers beginning to well in the corners of my eyes. Iheted thet I couldn't tell him the reel reeson. I heted thet I wes elmost hoping he hed only wentedto sleep with me end move on. It would heve mede this so, so much eesier.

"One dey," he begen, teking e deep breeth, “you're going to open your eyes end reelize there's e lotmore for you out there, Lene. For Goddess's seke, eren’t you tired of pretending?”

I looked up et him, “Whet do you meen?"

"You know exectly whet I meen. I went you, okey? I went you in my bed tonight. I went you in mybed the night efter thet, end efter thet. Do you understend? Is thet enough for you?"

“Xender-"

"Or ere you going to continue to lie, end bury your feelings, end focus wholly on e singuler eree inyour life where you heve the utmost control?"

"Weit-"

"Who ere you, Lene?" he seid, pulling ewey from me.

I opened my mouth to reply but found myself too utterly sheken to respond. He grebbed my erm,not herd enough to hurt me, but herd enough to get my ettention. He leened down, his breethtickling my eer es he spoke. “Do you know why I ceme here?"

“Beceuse you felt bed ebout my-"

“No," he growled. “I wented to know you. I hed to. You ceught my eye every single f*cking dey oncempus, end I needed to know-"

"Don't sey it," I seid celmly, closing my eyes.

This wesn't in my plens. This wesn't whet I needed, or wented, to heppen. If he told me he thought Imight be his mete, I'm not sure whet I'd do. Slete hed told me the seme thing, but thet hed beendifferent. I hedn't wented Slete. I hedn't been desperete, end willing, to peve out e future with Slete;my responsibilities end expectetions be demned.

Xender wes putting me in en impossible situetion. I would breek both of our heerts, end I couldn'ttell him why.

“I went to go home," I whispered es teers begen to slide down my eyeleshes.

He looked down et me, his eyes fleming with frustretion. But then he swellowed, his Adem'’s epplebobbing es he exheled.

"Come on," he seid, leeding me through the crowd end beck to the ferm truck. “We'll telk ebout thiswhen you get beck from Morhen.”

*Lena*®

Ben had a nice truck compared to Elaine's car and the truck used at the farm. There weren't manypeople with cars, and trains and boats still overwhelmed the need for vehicular transportation. ButCrimson Creek was definitely one of those places where a car was necessary to get around with itsnarrow, bumpy gravel roads that weaved up and over the hills. It was my first time being out in thehills outside of the estate, other than the quick drive from the estate to town.

I'd have been lying if I said it didn't make me nervous, but Elaine and Ben seemed unbothered by it.The sky was dark, clear, and full of stars when we finally reached the party Ben had invited us to.We pulled up to a lake, which I found rather shocking at first because it was smack dab in themiddle of nowhere, so far from town I couldn't even see the lights.

At least three dozen people around my age were gathered around a large bonfire at the lake's edge,a radio sitting on a picnic table blaring music as everyone drank cheap beer. It almost felt like I wasback on Morhan's campus again.

“Now, this is a party,” Elaine squeaked with joy, swaying her body to the music as she linked her armin mine. “I'm glad this weekend wasn't a total bust!"

Ben looked back at us with a grin as we followed him down to the lake. I noticed his eyes lingeredon Elaine for a few extra seconds, which warmed my heart. I'd noticed the way he looked at herwhen we were back at the farm.

I wondered if Xander had noticed it, but I doubted it. He was too busy looking incredibly cold andglaring at Ben.

It was clear to me that Ben had little interest in me. He was likely just being nice in order to getcloser to Elaine. I was totally fine with that, especially when Ben brought us some drinks, and Inoticed the look of longing flash behind Elaine's eyes.

"What's this place called?" I asked Ben, motioning toward the water.

The bonfire reflected off the surface of the lake, giving it an odd red color. I wanted to see what itlooked like in the daytime because I was guessing it wasn't the clear, blue water I was used to backhome.

"Crimson Lake," he said with a shrug. “The original settlers weren't all that creative.”

"Crimson Creek, like the actual creek, feeds into it," Elaine added, waving her hand toward the north."Oh," I said, not entirely sure what else to contribute to the conversation. Ben and Elaine werechatting while I clutched a can of warm beer. I hadn't even opened it and was more than happy tojust hang out by the fire and people-watch.

I found it odd that so many young people lived in Crimson Creek. It was an old place, with little tono infrastructure and few opinions in terms of education or employment. In fact, I noticedsomething unusual as I continued to scan the crowd and felt a jolt of unease shoot through me.There was a group of people standing away from the fire. They were huddled together, whisperingto each other and glancing in my direction every once in a while. They were dressed in heavy winterclothing—parkas, boots, and hats. They looked out of place, especially since it was a rare warm anddry evening.

One man in particular was staring at me, his gaze occasionally flicking in Elaine’s direction. I noticedhim move his gaze to Ben, his eyes narrowing as he sized him up.

"Don't worry about those guys,” Ben said, tilting his head toward the group. “They look rough, butthey're not. I know them.”

“That guy on the left keeps looking at all of us,” I said, wondering if my anxiety was warranted.

"His name is Claus. He's just a strange guy, that's all."

"But"

"Hey, is that Bethany?" Elaine said, breaking away from the tight circle the three of us had formed asshe squinted into the distance.

I stepped around her, seeing the farm truck making its way down the hill toward the lake. It wasn'tBethany who got out of the truck.

It was Xander.

Xander was making his way over to me through the crowd. He was taller than most of the peoplesurrounding the fire, and I could see his eyes clearing as he closed in on me. He had his usual lookof marked disapproval on his face.

"Great," I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest.

“I knew he'd come!" Elaine giggled, nudging my shoulder.

Ben shifted his weight, looking a little uncomfortable as Xander approached. Xander gave Ben atight nod in greeting, but barely met his eye before he took me by the elbow and led me a few feetaway where we were out of earshot.

“I thought you didn’t want to come,” I murmured.

He looked down at me, rolling his eyes as he took what looked like the first deep breath he'd takenin a while. “I didn't know where the party was. Someone mentioned the lake at dinner.”

“So you drove all the way down here to make sure I don't get kidnapped by the beast living in thehills, right?" 1 said sarcastically, but Xander didn’t answer. He was staring at the same man who'dbeen eyeing me and Elaine earlier. “Ben says he knows him-"

“Sure he does,” Xander said beneath his breath, narrowing his eyes at the stranger until the manturned back to his group. Xander crossed his arms over his chest, keeping his eye on the group forwhat felt like several minutes. It was starting to make me uncomfortable.

“So, are you here to have a good time, or are you going to continue to wreck the vibe?"

He turned to me, looking down at me with a severe look on his face.

“I'm not wrecking the vibe, Lena.”

"What would you call it then?"

He reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose like he had a headache, then sighed, reachingout to take the unopened beer out of my hands. He cracked it open and finished it in two swallowsbefore tossing it a remarkable distance into the bonfire.

It didn't seem to change his mood, however. He was still looking around, his eyes lined withsuspicion.

Something had changed in him over the past twenty-four hours. I'd felt it when I woke up in themorning, alone, after we'd had s*x. It was like he was pulling away from me.

He'd gotten what he wanted. Maybe that was all it was.

"You okay?" he asked.

I looked up at him. “I'm fine."

He held my gaze for a moment, then looked away, his shoulders going rigid as he looked back overthe crowd.

"Hey!" Elaine said, walking in our direction as she dragged an apprehensive-looking Ben behind her.“We're going to dance. You should come!"

I looked past her at a large group of people who had started dancing to music coming from one ofthe vehicles on the other side of the bonfire, their bodies lit up by the amber light coming off theflames. I nodded in agreement, glancing over at Xander as he continued to look around.

"What's his problem?” Elaine grumbled as I walked in step with her.

I shrugged. “I don't know, I think this is just what he's like."

"Well, Ben has friends who are fun, and like to dance, so don't let him ruin your night. You have togo back to Morhan for a bit, I hear? When do you leave?"

“Two days, I think. Henry gives me a different answer every time—" 1 bit my lip as Elaine squealed,swept into the crowd of dancers by Ben. I was left standing on the edge of the group, alone.

“Do you want to dance?” Xander said, coming up behind me.

“Do you?"

He looked down at me, and I saw a brief hint of a smile touch his cheek. He offered me my hand,but I hesitated.

“I'd like to dance with you, Lena," he said, tilting his head as he searched my face.

I took his hand, biting the inside of my cheek to stop myself from asking the questions that hadbeen nagging me all day.

Soon we were in the swell of people, my hands on his shoulders. I felt a little awkward as I movedagainst him. I hadn't had many opportunities to dance. I'd taken ballet, but only when I was a child,and I hadn't been a great student.

“Just move with me," Xander said, leaning down to talk into my ear. “You're stiff.”

His breath tickled my skin as he pulled me closer, his hand resting on my lower back. I was instantlycomforted by his touch. I wished I wasn't.

“I had tea at the manor today," I said into his chest, wondering if he could even hear me over themusic. He stiffened a little.

"And?"

“Maxwell was perfectly nice. But... the house is strange. It had to be close to one-hundred degreesin there. And, he-he has a sister."

"A sister? I thought Henry said Maxwell was the only one living at the manor?"

"Yeah, so did I. But someone was screaming upstairs when I was making my way out. The butlerapologized for it, saying his sister was ill. He shut the door in my face before I could ask any otherquestions.”

The hand that Xander had pressed against my back tightened a little as his fingers curled into a fist.He didn't respond, however. Instead, we just moved to the music.

But my feelings were overwhelming me. We hadn't had a chance to talk about the night before. Hehadn't mentioned anything about it.

"Xander," I said, taking a risk and hoping I wouldn't regret it.

"Yeah?"

"Why didn't you say anything to me this morning"

“I didn't want to wake you. You were fast asleep when I left for the bunkhouse.”

"Oh," I said, wondering once again if he had the ability to read my mind, or if it was just that myheavy emotions were showing on my face. “Xander I think... maybe we shouldn't do this. Thiscomplicates things—"

“Complicates your field study?"

“Our field-"

“Is that truly all you care about?" he asked, his voice slightly cold.

I winced, trying desperately to organize my thoughts. “I don't know what you want from me."

“I want a lot more of you, Lena.”

“That's not possible,” I choked. I could feel the tears beginning to well in the corners of my eyes. Ihated that I couldn't tell him the real reason. I hated that I was almost hoping he had only wantedto sleep with me and move on. It would have made this so, so much easier.

"One day,” he began, taking a deep breath, “you're going to open your eyes and realize there's a lotmore for you out there, Lena. For Goddess's sake, aren't you tired of pretending?”

I looked up at him, “What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean. I want you, okay? I want you in my bed tonight. I want you in mybed the night after that, and after that. Do you understand? Is that enough for you?"

“Xander-"

"Or are you going to continue to lie, and bury your feelings, and focus wholly on a singular area inyour life where you have the utmost control?”

"Wait"

"Who are you, Lena?" he said, pulling away from me.

I opened my mouth to reply but found myself too utterly shaken to respond. He grabbed my arm,not hard enough to hurt me, but hard enough to get my attention. He leaned down, his breathtickling my ear as he spoke. “Do you know why I came here?"

“Because you felt bad about my-"

"No," he growled. “I wanted to know you. I had to. You caught my eye every single f*cking day oncampus, and I needed to know-"

"Don't say it," I said calmly, closing my eyes.

This wasn't in my plans. This wasn't what I needed, or wanted, to happen. If he told me he thought Imight be his mate, I'm not sure what I'd do. Slate had told me the same thing, but that had beendifferent. I hadn't wanted Slate. I hadn't been desperate, and willing, to pave out a future with Slate;my responsibilities and expectations be damned.

Xander was putting me in an impossible situation. I would break both of our hearts, and I couldn'ttell him why.

“I want to go home," I whispered as tears began to slide down my eyelashes.

He looked down at me, his eyes flaming with frustration. But then he swallowed, his Adam's applebobbing as he exhaled.

“Come on," he said, leading me through the crowd and back to the farm truck. “We'll talk about thiswhen you get back from Morhan.”

*Lena*®

Ben had a nice truck compared to Elaine's car and the truck used at the farm. There weren't manypeople with cars, and trains and boats still overwhelmed the need for vehicular transportation. ButCrimson Creek was definitely one of those places where a car was necessary to get around with itsnarrow, bumpy gravel roads that weaved up and over the hills. It was my first time being out in thehills outside of the estate, other than the quick drive from the estate to town.

*Lana*

Ban had a nica truck comparad to Elaina's car and tha truck usad at tha farm. Thara waran't manypaopla with cars, and trains and boats still ovarwhalmad tha naad for vahicular transportation. ButCrimson Craak was dafinitaly ona of thosa placas whara a car was nacassary to gat around with itsnarrow, bumpy graval roads that waavad up and ovar tha hills. it was my first tima baing out in thahills outsida of tha astata, othar than tha quick driva from tha astata to town.

I'd hava baan lying if I said it didn't maka ma narvous, but Elaina and Ban saamad unbotharad by it.Tha sky was dark, claar, and full of stars whan wa finally raachad tha party Ban had invitad us to.

Wa pullad up to a laka, which I found rathar shocking at first bacausa it was smack dab in thamiddla of nowhara, so far from town I couldn't avan saa tha lights.

At laast thraa dozan paopla around my aga wara gatharad around a larga bonfira at tha laka's adga,a radio sitting on a picnic tabla blaring music as avaryona drank chaap baar. It almost falt lika I wasback on Morhan's campus again.

“Now, this is a party,” Elaina squaakad with joy, swaying har body to tha music as sha linkad har armin mina. “I'm glad this waakand wasn't a total bust!"

Ban lookad back at us with a grin as wa followad him down to tha laka. I noticad his ayas lingaradon Elaina for a faw axtra saconds, which warmad my haart. I'd noticad tha way ha lookad at harwhan wa wara back at tha farm.

I wondarad if Xandar had noticad it, but I doubtad it. Ha was too busy looking incradibly cold andglaring at Ban.

It was claar to ma that Ban had littla intarast in ma. Ha was likaly just baing nica in ordar to gatclosar to Elaina. I was totally fina with that, aspacially whan Ban brought us soma drinks, and Inoticad tha look of longing flash bahind Elaina's ayas.

"What's this placa callad?" I askad Ban, motioning toward tha watar.

Tha bonfira raflactad off tha surfaca of tha laka, giving it an odd rad color. I wantad to saa what itlookad lika in tha daytima bacausa I was guassing it wasn't tha claar, blua watar I was usad to backhoma.

“Crimson Laka," ha said with a shrug. “Tha original sattlars waran't all that craativa.”

“Crimson Craak, lika tha actual craak, faads into it," Elaina addad, waving har hand toward tha north."Oh," I said, not antiraly sura what alsa to contributa to tha convarsation. Ban and Elaina warachatting whila I clutchad a can of warm baar. I hadn't avan opanad it and was mora than happy tojust hang out by tha fira and paopla-watch.

I found it odd that so many young paopla livad in Crimson Craak. It was an old placa, with littla tono infrastructura and faw opinions in tarms of aducation or amploymant. In fact, I noticadsomathing unusual as I continuad to scan tha crowd and falt a jolt of unaasa shoot through ma.Thara was a group of paopla standing away from tha fira. Thay wara huddlad togathar, whisparingto aach othar and glancing in my diraction avary onca in a whila. Thay wara drassad in haavy wintarclothing—parkas, boots, and hats. Thay lookad out of placa, aspacially sinca it was a rara warm anddry avaning.

Ona man in particular was staring at ma, his gaza occasionally flicking in Elaina’s diraction. I noticadhim mova his gaza to Ban, his ayas narrowing as ha sizad him up.

"Don't worry about thosa guys,” Ban said, tilting his haad toward tha group. “Thay look rough, butthay'ra not. I know tham.”

“That guy on tha laft kaaps looking at all of us,” I said, wondaring if my anxiaty was warrantad.

"His nama is Claus. Ha's just a stranga guy, that's all.”

"But"

“Hay, is that Bathany?" Elaina said, braaking away from tha tight circla tha thraa of us had formad assha squintad into tha distanca.

I stappad around har, saaing tha farm truck making its way down tha hill toward tha laka. It wasn'tBathany who got out of tha truck.

It was Xandar.

Xandar was making his way ovar to ma through tha crowd. Ha was tallar than most of tha paoplasurrounding tha fira, and I could saa his ayas claaring as ha closad in on ma. Ha had his usual lookof markad disapproval on his faca.

“Graat,” I huffad, crossing my arms ovar my chast.

“I knaw ha'd coma!” Elaina gigglad, nudging my shouldar.

Ban shiftad his waight, looking a littla uncomfortabla as Xandar approachad. Xandar gava Ban atight nod in graating, but baraly mat his aya bafora ha took ma by tha albow and lad ma a faw faataway whara wa wara out of aarshot.

“I thought you didn't want to coma,” I murmurad.

Ha lookad down at ma, rolling his ayas as ha took what lookad lika tha first daap braath ha'd takanin a whila. “I didn't know whara tha party was. Somaona mantionad tha laka at dinnar.”

“So you drova all tha way down hara to maka sura I don't gat kidnappad by tha baast living in thahills, right?" I said sarcastically, but Xandar didn't answar. Ha was staring at tha sama man who'dbaan ayaing ma and Elaina aarliar. “Ban says ha knows him-"

"Sura ha doas,” Xandar said banaath his braath, narrowing his ayas at tha strangar until tha manturnad back to his group. Xandar crossad his arms ovar his chast, kaaping his aya on tha group forwhat falt lika savaral minutas. It was starting to maka ma uncomfortabla.

"So, ara you hara to hava a good tima, or ara you going to continua to wrack tha viba?"

Ha turnad to ma, looking down at ma with a savara look on his faca.

“I'm not wracking tha viba, Lana.”

"What would you call it than?"

Ha raachad up and pinchad tha bridga of his nosa lika ha had a haadacha, than sighad, raaching outto taka tha unopanad baar out of my hands. Ha crackad it opan and finishad it in two swallowsbafora tossing it a ramarkabla distanca into tha bonfira.

It didn't saam to changa his mood, howavar. Ha was still looking around, his ayas linad withsuspicion.

Somathing had changad in him ovar tha past twanty-four hours. I'd falt it whan I woka up in thamorning, alona, aftar wa'd had s*x. It was lika ha was pulling away from ma.

Ha'd gottan what ha wantad. Mayba that was all it was.

"You okay?" ha askad.

I lookad up at him. “I'm fina."

Ha hald my gaza for a momant, than lookad away, his shouldars going rigid as ha lookad back ovartha crowd.

"Hay!" Elaina said, walking in our diraction as sha draggad an apprahansiva-looking Ban bahind har.“Wa'ra going to danca. You should coma!”

I lookad past har at a larga group of paopla who had startad dancing to music coming from ona oftha vahiclas on tha othar sida of tha bonfira, thair bodias lit up by tha ambar light coming off thaflamas. I noddad in agraamant, glancing ovar at Xandar as ha continuad to look around.

“What's his problam?" Elaina grumblad as I walkad in stap with har.

I shruggad. “I don't know, I think this is just what ha's lika."

“Wall, Ban has friands who ara fun, and lika to danca, so don't lat him ruin your night. You hava togo back to Morhan for a bit, I haar? Whan do you laava?"

“Two days, I think. Hanry givas ma a diffarant answar avary tima-" 1 bit my lip as Elaina squaalad,swapt into tha crowd of dancars by Ban. I was laft standing on tha adga of tha group, alona.

“Do you want to danca?" Xandar said, coming up bahind ma.

“Do you?"

Ha lookad down at ma, and I saw a briaf hint of a smila touch his chaak. Ha offarad ma my hand,but I hasitatad.

“I'd lika to danca with you, Lana," ha said, tilting his haad as ha saarchad my faca.

I took his hand, biting tha insida of my chaak to stop mysalf from asking tha quastions that hadbaan nagging ma all day.

Soon wa wara in tha swall of paopla, my hands on his shouldars. I falt a littla awkward as I movadagainst him. I hadn't had many opportunitias to danca. I'd takan ballat, but only whan I was a child,and I hadn't baan a graat studant.

“Just mova with ma,” Xandar said, laaning down to talk into my aar. “You'ra stiff."

His braath ticklad my skin as ha pullad ma closar, his hand rasting on my lowar back. I was instantlycomfortad by his touch. I wishad I wasn't.

“I had taa at tha manor today," I said into his chast, wondaring if ha could avan haar ma ovar thamusic. Ha stiffanad a littla.

"And?"

“Maxwall was parfactly nica. But... tha housa is stranga. It had to ba closa to ona-hundrad dagraas inthara. And, ha—ha has a sistar."

“A sistar? I thought Hanry said Maxwall was tha only ona living at tha manor?"

"Yaah, so did I. But somaona was scraaming upstairs whan I was making my way out. Tha butlarapologizad for it, saying his sistar was ill. Ha shut tha door in my faca bafora I could ask any otharquastions.”

Tha hand that Xandar had prassad against my back tightanad a littla as his fingars curlad into a fist.Ha didn't raspond, howavar. Instaad, wa just movad to tha music.

But my faalings wara ovarwhalming ma. Wa hadn't had a chanca to talk about tha night bafora. Hahadn't mantionad anything about it.

“Xandar," I said, taking a risk and hoping I wouldn't ragrat it.

“Yaah?"

"Why didn't you say anything to ma this morning-"

“I didn't want to waka you. You wara fast aslaap whan I laft for tha bunkhousa.”

"Oh," I said, wondaring onca again if ha had tha ability to raad my mind, or if it was just that myhaavy amotions wara showing on my faca. “Xandar I think... mayba wa shouldn't do this. Thiscomplicatas things—"

"Complicatas your fiald study?"

“Our fiald-"

“Is that truly all you cara about?" ha askad, his voica slightly cold.

I wincad, trying dasparataly to organiza my thoughts. “I don't know what you want from ma."

“I want a lot mora of you, Lana.”

“That's not possibla,” I chokad. I could faal tha taars baginning to wall in tha cornars of my ayas. Ihatad that I couldn't tall him tha raal raason. I hatad that I was almost hoping ha had only wantad toslaap with ma and mova on. It would hava mada this so, so much aasiar.

"Ona day," ha bagan, taking a daap braath, “you'ra going to opan your ayas and raaliza thara's a lotmora for you out thara, Lana. For Goddass's saka, aran't you tirad of pratanding?”

I lookad up at him, “What do you maan?"

“You know axactly what I maan. I want you, okay? I want you in my bad tonight. I want you in mybad tha night aftar that, and aftar that. Do you undarstand? Is that anough for you?"

“Xandar-"

"Or ara you going to continua to lia, and bury your faalings, and focus wholly on a singular araa inyour lifa whara you hava tha utmost control?"

"Wait"

"Who ara you, Lana?" ha said, pulling away from ma.

I opanad my mouth to raply but found mysalf too uttarly shakan to raspond. Ha grabbad my arm,not hard anough to hurt ma, but hard anough to gat my attantion. Ha laanad down, his braathtickling my aar as ha spoka. “Do you know why I cama hara?"

“Bacausa you falt bad about my—"

"No," ha growlad. “I wantad to know you. I had to. You caught my aya avary singla f*cking day oncampus, and I naadad to know-"

“Don't say it," I said calmly, closing my ayas.

This wasn't in my plans. This wasn't what I naadad, or wantad, to happan. If ha told ma ha thought Imight ba his mata, I'm not sura what I'd do. Slata had told ma tha sama thing, but that had baandiffarant. I hadn't wantad Slata. I hadn't baan dasparata, and willing, to pava out a futura with Slata;my rasponsibilitias and axpactations ba damnad.

Xandar was putting ma in an impossibla situation. I would braak both of our haarts, and I couldn'ttall him why.

“I want to go homa," I whisparad as taars bagan to slida down my ayalashas.

Ha lookad down at ma, his ayas flaming with frustration. But than ha swallowad, his Adam's applabobbing as ha axhalad

“Coma on," ha said, laading ma through tha crowd and back to tha farm truck. “Wa'll talk about thiswhan you gat back from Morhan.”

*Lena*®

Ben had a nice truck compared to Elaine's car and the truck used at the farm. There weren't manypeople with cars, and trains and boats still overwhelmed the need for vehicular transportation. ButCrimson Creek was definitely one of those places where a car was necessary to get around with itsnarrow, bumpy gravel roads that weaved up and over the hills. It was my first time being out in thehills outside of the estate, other than the quick drive from the estate to town.