tion bubbling in her chest-excitement.

r. Rather, she woke up with a longing in her heart. She sat up slowly, surprised

rushed out her hair in the mirror and applied a little lipstick and powder, she chuckled at the silly tho

hrough the mirror, she gave herself a little smile.

lungs, she gave herself the last app

ain, with no real warni

her, hands tucked into the pockets of his charcoal s

ad sensed her approach. "Marissa, good morning." His

int that flash

simply responded, s

her face. "You're right o

linked. "

he said and sta

d at the curb. Black, polished, humming quietly. Lazar opened the door for her without a word. She speared

glanced her way. "We're going in

pped?" she asked lightly, trying

led but did

rough the narrow roads leading out of Bevin. Marissa glan

teen minutes later, they pulled into a private clearing. Beyond the trees, a flat concrete helipad waited, and beside it, a

as the car came to a halt. "Are you

n't b

t? Of course, most people don't tou

pened her door, his fac

her feet rooted. "You didn't

assumed that included itine

. The pilot greeted them with a nod when they approached. Marissa no

o the helicopter, guiding her toward the rear

seats lined both sides. The cockpit gleamed

ugh to share warmth. The pilot

ls. "So many buttons." Her he

ispered through the mic. "Unless

usly. It all seem

ing to a deep rumble. Wind rushed around them, dust l

Her stomach dipped as the gro

d gold. Rolling hills, red-roofed homes, glittering

. Her eyes were dazed as though

t in her headset. "Not as bea

ir eyes locking for a breathl

it, she could tell

the view beneath her. She had never flown in a helicopt

scended near a quiet field where anothe

he get access to a helicopter, a

g her the key to the convertible. Lazar took the whee

rotting lazily across sun-warmed paths. Here, seemed like a place whe

ng with sticks, women with baskets on their heads, roadsi

miling old woman. A silk scarf dyed in wild colors. Mangoe

something inside her she didn't kno

und herself taking his lead, hanging on his every word, smiling and laughing alongside h

danced in her head, m

e sky flared with fire-orange and cor

he silence between them was full, but not

hank you. For today.

I'm glad you did. I bet we're fr

respond. Her fingers tightened

t continued. "Who are you really? Lazar." she

leaving his face. "No per

nked immediately a

say more when a

s face changed. He checked the cod

o go," he

ge ache spreading t

to say more. But then he just

e was