“She has to be out there somewhere, but why wasn’t she with Bria?”

Jock had just echoed my thoughts and most likely Axel’s too.

~~Axel~~

The search party congregated in a meadow on the edge of the tree line. There were a few hundred people milling around, waiting for their grid assignments. I was one of them. My inclination was to tromp off into the woods as Jock had wanted to do, but that wasn’t the best course of action. The search had to be done slowly and methodically in a grid so nothing was missed.

I’d never felt so helpless in my life. Jock had regained his stride and was in take-action mode in the middle of the conversations regarding the searches. I stood off to the side, at a loss as to what to do next. At least Jock wasn’t interfering but listening intently.

Geneva stood near her brother, and I was suddenly overwhelmed by a surge of loneliness, being on the outside looking in. I needed her, but I knew Jock needed her more.

When had this shift happened? When had she become the one I turned to when I needed comfort? When had she become as important to me as breathing? These foreign emotions had snuck up on me without warning over the past week or so and accelerated the last two days. I’d been too caught up in what was going on to notice my own feelings.

Geneva glanced over her shoulder and caught me staring. She patted Jock on the shoulder and walked back to join me. Jock didn’t notice she was gone. He was too intent on the search plans.

“Hey,” she said, grabbing my hand. “You okay?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“We’ve been leaning on you for so long I forgot you might need someone to lean on once in a while too.”

I gave her a smile. “I’m good. I have broad shoulders.”

“A minute ago, you didn’t look so good. You looked like a little boy who’d just lost his last, best friend.”

“I’m great now because you’re here. As much as I can be under the circumstances.” I bent my head closer to hers, compelled to say more. “I know this isn’t the time or place, but I need you. In my life. In my future. In all my todays and tomorrows.”

Her expression was thoughtful, and I held my breath. “I need you too, Axel. More than you can imagine.”

I’d planned on saying more, but an excited shout came from across the meadow. Every head turned toward where the commotion was. Three people ran toward the woods and disappeared into the darkness of the trees. A few seconds later, they emerged, helping a slight figure, who was bent over and staggering.

Teagan.

It was Teagan.

Jock must’ve figured it out at the same time I did. He sprinted toward his daughter and engulfed her in his arms.

I turned to Geneva, and she had the biggest, brightest smile on her face. I wrapped my arms around her and spun her around in celebration. I held her tight, and she held me with her arms wrapped around my neck.