“I get it.”

He turned away, staring at the setting sun. “We need to lie down soon. Go to the bathroom again if you must. You won’t be moving around after it’s dark. Your heat signature will glow to Vampire sight.”

She was glad she’d already emptied her bladder. “I’m good.”

“I’ll be right back.” He walked off into the trees.

Glen approached the grave-like hole he’d dug. It was lined well with the tarp so they wouldn’t be lying on dirt. She swallowed hard, not prepared yet to climb in. Veso returned fast and stopped next to her. She turned her head and peered up at him.

“Don’t worry. You’re tired and will sleep. I’ll keep guard.”

“Do you really think we’ll be safe?”

“We didn’t travel as far as I’d wished, but we’re a long way from the road. They’ll have to really work for it if we’re found.”

That didn’t ease her worry much. “I’ll help you down. Try not to tear the tarp. We’re going to need it to stay dry if the weather changes. It’s that time of year, when rainstorms hit. We won’t see one until it’s almost upon us with these mountain ranges.”

“My socks.” She turned her head, staring at the rock where she’d left them.

“I’ll get them. Go in first.”

Her gripped her by her hips, lowering her with ease. He released her as soon as she stood on the tarp then returned to the rock. He collected the pairs of socks she’d removed and brought them back, dropping them into the hole.

She backed up, expecting him to climb in with her, but he moved away again, returning with the packaged blanket. He hopped into the hole he’d dug and opened the bag. “I won’t need this but you might.”

She accepted the blanket, looking down at the tarp. “I wish we had a sleeping bag with padding.”

“It’s the best we can do for now.”

It would make for a hard, uncomfortable bed. She lay down on her side, shoving her back against the tarp-covered wall he’d dug. “This won’t collapse onto us, will it?”

“I’ll dig us out if it does. Don’t panic by screaming. Sound carries.”

“You were supposed to comfort me by just saying no.”

He chuckled as he stretched out next to her. It was a tight fit and he twisted onto his side to face her. That helped, putting a few inches of space between them. “I’ll remember that.”

It surprised her when he helped her unfold the blanket and covered her with it. She wasn’t cold yet but the sun was going down. “We’ll be trapped if Vampires just suddenly appear above this hole. You know that, right?”

“I have good hearing and sense of smell. They won’t see our heat signatures unless they’re right on top of us. I’ll know they’re there before they find us.”

“Then what?”

“You stay here and don’t move. I’ll fight and toss them off the edge of the ravine.”

“That’s not much of a plan.”

He shrugged. “I’d have given you the gun but you said you’ve never fired one before. You’d probably end up shooting yourself or me.”

“Har-har. Very funny.”

He arched his eyebrows. “I wasn’t kidding.”

“Wow, okay.”

“I’ll train you how to use one after we’re safe.”

“How come you aren’t using it? You left it up there.”

“Like I said, sound carries. It would only draw the attention of more of them. Since I’ll be the only one fighting, quiet is better.”

She wasn’t sure how to respond to that. His offer to teach her how to shoot implied he’d see her again once they found help. Glen highly doubted it.

Veso lifted his arm and used his biceps as a pillow. “Rest. It’s been a long day and I know you’re tired. You did well. I was impressed.”

“Thank you.”

She closed her eyes and tried to get comfortable. It wasn’t possible. The tarp was poor protection against the unforgiving dirt under her body. She mimicked what Veso had done and used her arm for a pillow. It helped slightly.

Time passed and she opened her eyes. It was much dimmer. Veso’s face was close to hers and he’d closed his eyes. He really was a handsome man. She had to admit that. He breathed slow and steady, seeming to have already fallen asleep.

It figures. Men. She turned her head a little, staring up at the sky. The deep blue darkened until the stars came out. They were beautiful, but it also meant the Vampires were somewhere out there, looking for her and Veso. She shivered but it had nothing to do with the cold.

“Easy,” Veso softly murmured.

She peered at his face but couldn’t make out his features now that night had completely fallen. It made her startle when one of his hands curled around her waist and he gave her a gentle squeeze.

“I won’t let anything hurt you. Sleep, Glenda. Morning will come soon enough and we have to travel a good distance.”

She closed her eyes and liked the weight of his hand on her. It made her feel less alone. Veso had taken out Vlad before she’d even realized what was happening and he’d dealt with those creepers they’d come across with ease. The big guy was a badass, and he’d promised to keep her safe.

Glen wondered how long it would take for them to reach where he wanted them to go. The idea of spending another long day walking didn’t appeal to her. It beat being recaptured though.

Veso knew the moment Glenda drifted to sleep. He adjusted the blanket over her a little tighter and breathed through his nose, his senses on alert. He didn’t smell anything alarming yet but the Vamps had to be hunting for them. He just wasn’t certain how many of them there would be and if they’d waste time searching the human dwellings first.

The master Vamp would probably assume Veso had dumped Glenda off at the first opportunity and she’d head for something familiar, sticking to the roads. It wouldn’t take them long to realize the truth. There weren’t that many buildings in the vicinity.

Regret swamped him. He should have shifted forms and had Glenda ride his back to put them farther away from the search area. Instead he’d thought of her comfort, both physically and emotionally. He would hate for her to see him in another form and become absolutely terrified. Her mouthy comments might annoy at times but it would be worse if she became mute, reeking of pure fear.