Out in Blue by Sarah Gilman Page B

across her cheek and stepped back. Without him near, the temperature plummeted.
    Devin closed the remaining distance and pulled her into a bear hug.
    “Are you sure you’re all right?” He released her.
    Ginger pulled at the neck of her sweater, just enough to reveal the top of the ragged scar above her heart. “I’m fine.”
    Devin stared, his eyes haunted, and lifted his gaze to where Wren stood, a few yards away.
    “Thank you.” Devin’s voice broke. He straightened and rolled his shoulders back, the steely composure of a highly trained Guardian covering the raw wound of a shaken father. “I can’t thank you enough, Wren.”
    Wren shook his head. “You don’t need to thank me.”
    Devin dropped his gaze back to Ginger. “Are you ready to go? The more miles we cover before dawn, the better.”
    Her stomach lurched, and she glanced back at Wren. The logic for leaving was flawless. She had no doubt Lark would make good on his threat if given the chance; Wren’s fear was not a baseless one.
    But she wasn’t the kind of person to let fear or dire odds turn her away from what she felt was right, and being with Wren felt… very right. The depth of her emotions was illogical; she’d only known Wren for two days. But somehow, she had connected with him in a way that transcended the calendar.
    “Ginny?” Devin prompted.
    Wren returned her gaze with a slight shake of his head. “Goodbye, Gin. Be safe.”
    Simple words, toneless voice, but his gaze remained intense.
    “Wren…”
    He stepped further away. Ginger swallowed and fisted her hands, digging her nails into her palms. What choice did she have? Besides, she had her dignity. She would not make a scene. She respected the hell out of him for this, truth be told. He wanted her as much as she wanted him—no way he’d kiss her with so much intensity if he didn’t—yet he wasn’t asking her to stay. He was putting her safety over his own desires. She didn’t consider herself a fragile female who needed constant coddling, but Lark wasn’t a speeding bus or even a simple killer. That demon was evil incarnate.
    Ginger lifted her chin.
    “Goodbye, Wren,” she said, feeling like she was watching herself from a distance, making a huge mistake. She turned back to Devin. “Yeah, I’m ready.”
    She fell into step next to Devin as they headed down the groomed path. She did glance back, but moonlight illuminated an empty lawn. She clenched her teeth and kept walking.
    Silence and darkness reigned at first, but the forest exploded with life as they neared the heart of the colony. Music and voices wafted through the trees. Three young demons darted across the path in an apparent game of tag.
    The first houses came into view, constructed of pine logs and stone, all lit with demon-fire torches. Demons of all ages mingled around tables of food and blazing fire pits, most with beverages in their hands. The curiosity of many gazes lingered on Ginger as she and Devin passed. She squared her shoulders to look confident, unused to being the unknown human amongst the demons.
    “I didn’t realize you missed Haven so much,” Devin said, regret thick in his voice.
    “Vin told you?”
    Devin nodded. “I’m sorry, honey.”
    “Don’t be. I did need to experience both worlds. Now I can never doubt where home is.”
    She couldn’t stop herself from glancing over her shoulder again. The archangel house had disappeared from view, but it pulled at her with magnetic force.
    “Something wrong?” Devin followed her gaze.
    “No, nothing’s wrong.”
    He arched a platinum-blond eyebrow.
    She didn’t want to talk. “I’m just tired.”
    His narrowed-eyed expression said he didn’t buy it, but he didn’t call her on the lie. “Sorry for my timing, but we’ll travel a lot faster in nighttime traffic. I brought blankets and pillows. You can sleep in the backseat.”
    “Thanks.”
    “I’m damned proud of you,” Devin said. “You scared me to within an inch of my life,