“Those were low-level demons?” Ru asked, surprised.
Cutter nodded. “The more powerful ones will be more difficult to capture and destroy.”
Ru shook her head in disbelief. She hoped she would never come face to face with any of them, but something told her when she found the next portal, there’d be a lot more chaos there to greet her.
“Come on, Ru,” Cutter said. “Let’s head back to the house and get some sleep. It’s almost midnight.”
He started to stand, but she grabbed ahold of his arm and pulled him back down. “Wait. There’s something else I need to ask you about.”
Cutter raised an eyebrow at her. “What’s that?”
With a deep breath, Ru said, “Your sister. Did… that is… Cinder knows about my mom, right?”
His forehead knit together in confusion. “Yeah, she knows.”
“Cutter, Cinder is the one who told Sky about Maggie’s whereabouts.” She said the words without a hint of doubt. It had become very clear to her that Cinder was the only possibility, and she felt confident in revealing her discovery, despite the fact that he wasn’t going to like it.
“What?” Cutter asked, already shaking his head. “No, Ru. She wouldn’t do that.”
“She did, Cutter. I remember now. I know I saw her on the beach.” Even though she hadn’t recognized her at the time, she was certain it was Cinder who’d been chasing Nat.
Still shaking his head, Cutter said, “Ru, I think Nat has tricked you into thinking you saw something that you didn’t see.”
She could see the conflict in his eyes and didn’t want to make him feel that way. “Maybe,” she said with a shrug, though it was a concession, and he could probably tell. “Nevertheless, I need to speak with her. I promise, I’ll be nice, but I want to see if she’ll tell me the truth if I confront her.”
Cutter opened his mouth as if he would protest, but then he closed it. Inhaling sharply, he dropped his eyes to the ground and then slowly nodded his head before saying, “Okay, Ru. If that’s what you want to do.”
“That’s what I want to do.”
He was quiet for a moment before saying, “I’ll check on your mom when we get back. I’m sure Sky’s been cordial, but I know you’re worried.”
“Thank you.”
He gave her a weak smile, and Ru realized he had to be just as exhausted and sore as she was. He also had a head injury that might need stitches. “Ready?”
“Yeah,” she replied, locking eyes with him once more. His smile widened and then he looked away.
Cutter was able to get up much more quickly than Ru was, and once he was standing, he offered her both hands, which she took, and he pulled her up. As she stood, he pulled her closer, and Ru stepped in so that she was only about an inch from his face. An awkward giggle escaped her lips, and Cutter laughed as well. But then his expression went serious, and Ru felt the intensity of his stare. She held his gaze as his hand came up and brushed her hair back again, but this time his hand lingered on her cheek, and Ru leaned into it. His thumb brushed her cheekbone, and Ru raised her hand to cover his, holding it there.
Ru’s breath caught in her throat as Cutter’s eyes fell to her lips and then met her eyes again. She placed her free hand on his chest, inhaling him. No longer the fresh scent she was used to, there was something about the smell of his sweat and blood that made her long for him even more. He’d certainly proven his loyalty to her on the battlefield. Now, Ru felt even more ready than she ever had before to acknowledge that his feelings for her were reciprocated.
As his lips came down to find hers, Ru slipped her hand up around the back of his neck. His mouth was warm and soft, just as she’d imagined it would be. She parted her lips to let him in. The electricity she felt each time they touched intensified as his tongue danced along with hers and his arm came around her waist to pull her closer. The rest of the world melted away as Ru was enveloped by Cutter, his arms creating a safe haven in an otherwise uncertain world. He had been the anchor in her storm, the one who had believed in her before she even believed in herself. Now, locked in his embrace, Ru had a moment of clarity unlike any she’d ever felt before. For the first time in her life, Ru knew where she belonged.
Cutter released her lips and rested his forehead against hers. Her eyes flickered open to find his closed, as if he was breathing her in. It was difficult to tell from his expression whether he was regretting his decision to kiss her or if it was something else. “Cutter?” she whispered. He made a small noise to let her know he was listening. “Are you okay?”
His eyes opened and fell on hers. “Yes,” he replied. “I, uh….”
“You’re not going to apologize, are you?” Ru asked quietly, a small smile beginning to play at the corners of her lips.
“No?”
Ru couldn’t help but giggle. How had she become the confident one while he was teetering on the brink of uncertainty? He looked confused, as if he couldn’t quite figure out what was funny. “Come on. Let’s go home.” Ru grabbed his hand and pulled him along for the first two steps as he pondered her question.
They approached the edge of the ravine, and Cutter seemed to snap out of his stupor. “Oh, let me go up, and I’ll help you.”
“That’s okay,” Ru replied. Without putting too much thought into it, she imagined herself levitating, and in an instant, her feet were off the ground.
“Hey, when did you learn to do that?” Cutter asked, floating up beside her.
Ru shrugged. “I figured it out.” She turned and smiled at him, still gripping his hand tightly in hers, and Cutter returned the grin. Once her feet touched down on the ground again, Ru let out a sigh. Never in a million years would she have ever imagined this life for herself, but this is where she was, and as much as she missed teaching, she didn’t regret her decision—for now anyway. Perhaps someday she’d find a way to live both the lives she loved.
“You ready to head to the house?” Cutter asked, observing her with that puzzled expression on his face.
“Yep,” Ru replied and began to walk along with him again, but in her heart, she knew she was already home.