The Promise (Darkest Lies Trilogy Book 2), Bethany-Kris [top 50 books to read .txt] 📗

What did that mean?

“I know you don’t want me to thank you for bringing me here again, but—”

“You’re right, I don’t. It’s like we’re all suffering from cabin fever back there,” Claire added. “I needed this as much as you did.”

That was fair.

Karine grinned. “It’s not just that, but I guess what I’m really trying to say is that inviting me along made me feel like ... you actually want to be around me. Most people don’t, or they’re afraid of me. Confused by me. It’s not their fault. I’m not an easy person to understand. I know that.”

Claire sucked in a deep breath. “You don’t scare me. You don’t scare any of us, Karine. Is that strange to you?”

“Yes, it is.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I’m just not used to people who care.”

“A shame, that,” Claire muttered. “I’m sure it’s a big change, but I guess ... at least it’s a change for the better. Even if it does feel strange.”

Yeah.

She told herself that a lot, too.

Karine opened her mouth to say something more, but it was then that someone bumped into her. It was nothing more than a quick brush of the shoulder against her back as they passed by a crowded stall close to another.

A simple mistake.

Even she knew it.

Still, Karine gasped, the swell of panic tumbling her forward, but Claire grabbed her with both hands. Once more, her racing heart was back slamming against her rib cage with every hard beat that made breathing impossible.

“You’re okay, Karine. It was just someone walking past. It’s nothing to worry about.” Claire searched her wild gaze, peering straight into Karine’s soul and trying to keep her attention with every carefully chosen assurance. Her next gulp of air was still caught painfully in her throat, refusing to push through the tight column of muscles choking her silent.

“Should we just go back to the lodge? There’s nothing more to see here anyway.”

Karine nodded frantically. “Yeah, please, if you wouldn’t mind. Let’s go back.”

Truthfully, she had lasted way longer at the farmer’s market than she actually expected to. That was a win in her book, even if it ended like it did. Not every step forward had to be a leap.

Right?

SEVENTEEN

When Roman arrived at the lodge, he couldn’t find Karine anywhere. His gut reaction was to panic—despite the fact that he knew someone would have informed him if anything had happened to her, there was no ignoring the cold trickle of fear starting to seep through his bloodstream.

No matter how irrational, it was there.

Roman had been waiting for this moment, for the second when he could lay his eyes on her again, and she’d take his breath away. Like she did the first time he saw her in the pool at the Yazov mansion. Most nights, he still went to sleep rewatching that scene in his mind.

“Roman!”

His mother’s startled exclamation greeted him instead of Karine. She’d found him standing silently in the middle of the lodge’s kitchen. He didn’t realize he’d been staring blankly out through the kitchen window until he was forced to turn away from it.

Since he left, Roman had come to realize how easy it was to lose himself in thoughts about how far they’d come together already—Karine and him.

It felt like a lifetime.

He knew that meant something.

It had to.

“Hey, Ma.”

Claire rushed his way, throwing her arms out so he could pull her in for a tight hug. “What are you doing here—does your father know you came?”

Roman didn’t want to answer that, but silence was also an answer, and it didn’t feel right, either.  “I’m here because I had to see her, Ma. Where is she?”

Without warning, the pad of his mother’s thumb came up to press at the knot forming in between Roman’s brow. An almost constant wrinkle that accompanied his unhappiness lately. Only one thing had caused the discontent.

Being without Karine.

“What’s that for?” Claire asked, pulling her hand away only once the knot was worked away. “All that worry for nothing, Roman. She’s perfectly fine, out on one of her walks with Michelle.”

Roman’s teeth clicked, his jaw tightening to mask how he breathed a sigh of relief. And still, he balanced on an edge, not quite content yet. He wouldn’t be okay until he actually saw her again. His heart had already made that quite clear.

“She sounds good—calm—on the phone when I call, but how has she really been?” he asked his mother.

“There’s progression in her everyday. It’s like she wakes up a little bit better each morning. Better with something—someone, even. She’s just ... much more confident in herself these days. Clear and levelheaded, less intimidated, too.” His mother patted his cheek with her warm palm, smiling softly. “Your mind wasn’t playing tricks on you when you called. She’s been okay.”

Roman couldn’t express the words to explain the relief he felt hearing that news, but he’d never really done well with managing his feelings before all this. He doubted that was going to change anytime soon.

All he’d wanted was for this to actually work for Karine.

This gave him hope. Most times, hope was nothing more than a useless lie, but he found himself leaning on it more often than not when it came to Karine. It’s all he ever did for her, now.

Hope that Karine had a future where she would be at peace—so she could be herself, content and happy. He was sure the lack of ever-present medications helped with her clarity, too.

“And what about ... have there been any episodes?”

He didn’t have to spell out what he meant. His mother knew exactly what he was talking about. Had Katina made an appearance—Katee, maybe?

Claire only shook her head, and that was all he needed to know.

The very fact that Katina hadn’t shown up in the time he was away felt like major progress, considering she certainly seemed to be the dominant alter with a penchant for protecting Karine from anything she deemed a threat.

Claire squeezed his hand,