Chapter 64. What Hides in the Woods

Ryder’s POV

It was starting to get dark as I stared out of the window, my fingers lazily brushing Lila’s hair and there was a kind of peace here. One that seems like it was here to stay. Maybe for now.

No Aunt Helena, no stupid council or Salome. Just me and the girl I love.

My arm was around her, just tracing these lazy, stupid lines on her skin with my fingers. I don’t think I’d said anything for minutes. I was just watching her breathe. My eyes scanned her small, beautiful face, trying to memorize it all.

Then her voice, kind of soft, broke the quiet.

“So, is this the part where you tell me your evil aunt is gonna murder us both for skipping school and playing house in her woods?”

I actually laughed. A real one.

“Stop laughing, it’s not funny.” Lila said, laughing too.

“She already called,” I said, nodding over at my phone on the floor. “Twelve times.”

Her eyes went wide. “Twelve? That’s too much. Does she think you hav