BooksBarbecue
Back For Ever
Chapters (63)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Map of the Willowhaven
  4. Map of Rosehill City
  5. Foreword
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. 38
  44. 39
  45. 40
  46. 41
  47. 42
  48. 43
  49. 44
  50. 45
  51. 46
  52. 47
  53. 48
  54. 49
  55. 50
  56. 51
  57. 52
  58. 53
  59. 54
  60. 55
  61. Epilogue
  62. Map of Rosehill City
  63. Also by Jenny Hickman

They’re taught as children, and here I sit without even the most basic knowledge of how to defend myself. Soft, just like Ever accused when we met. “Will you teach me?”

His dark brows come together over narrowed eyes. “Gryff, do you have an extra blade?”

From his pack, Gryffin withdraws a small silver dagger and tosses the thing right at us.

Ever rips it out of the air easily enough, like the hilt and his hand are made magnets. He flips it over, handing me the bumpy hilt. Antler.

The poor deer…

Ever’s fingers come around mine, and all thoughts of cute, fuzzy animals flee my mind. “That’s too loose. Hold it like this.” He tightens his grip, forcing me to do the same. “Otherwise, if you miss your mark and hit bone instead, the blade might slip right out of your grasp. Keep your grip firm. There you go.” He withdraws his hand, but I can still feel his touch as acutely as if his fingers were still tangled with mine. “Just like that. Now you can swipe across the throat or stab the eye and strike the brain.” Taking my free hand, he presses my fingers to his bare chest. “Do you feel where this bone ends?”

Suddenly, my tongue is made of ash. “Yes.”

“Being this close to your prey is not ideal, but if you are, angle the blade upwards to avoid the ribcage and strike the heart. Never hesitate. Always go for the kill. If you miss, it could cost your life. Even if what you are hunting does not seem dangerous, you must remain on your guard. A deer’s antlers can be as deadly as a wolf’s teeth.”

Remain on your guard.

Never hesitate.

Always go for the kill.

Maybe Ever was right. Maybe I am too soft.

I return the blade and slide my hands down my silk skirts.

Ever’s head snaps up and his chest rises with his deep inhale. Before I can ask what he smells, chaos descends.

With a vicious curse, Gryffin starts digging through his pack. He drags out a piece of brown cloth and tosses it onto the fire. Maddox scrambles to standing and unbuckles his trousers.

Ever launches to his feet, yanks a blanket from the stack, and wraps the scratchy wool around my shoulders. Then he picks me up like a child bundled up for bed and starts running toward Nyx.

“What’s wrong? Is it a wolf?” Perhaps I shouldn’t have given back the dagger.

“Quiet,” Ever hisses as he puts me down and untethers Nyx.

Hold on. Is Maddox urinating over there?