1

“I can’t do that,” Emma replied to Brett’s suggestion that they consummate their relationship. “Not tonight.”

With the fire’s amber glow flickering against the A-frame’s wooden interior, Brett draped his arms around her. “Why not, Emma? We’re meant to be together.” He paused and surreptitiously concentrated on his persuasion ability, trying to push it. “I know you have feelings for me too.” It appeared to work. He saw her falter for just a moment, then her resolve was back.

“I won’t do it,” she said. “I’ve had to deal with so much change without having to add that to the mix too.” She pulled away from him.

While frustration boiled under Brett’s veneer, he tried to smile amicably.

Emma crossed her arms over her chest. “I need more time. If you keep your promise and help me with the glitch, and if you arrange the truce, then I’ll consider it.” She appeared to deflate with her last words, fearful that she had overcommitted.

Brett stepped forward and embraced her again. “I can respect that,” he said in a conciliatory manner, then paused. “I love you, Emma. I have since that day you pulled me from that argument with Zack. I’d do anything for you.”

She gazed up at him and smiled. “Yes. I believe you would.” She hugged him, and Brett was ecstatic with the reciprocal gesture.

“Just give me time,” Emma whispered.

2

Brett gathered their bedding, which was a mix of plush leaves and scraps of canvas he had found on the outskirts of the village. When he finished, he turned to Emma, who was petting the wolves. “You won’t need that armor,” he said, then proceeded cautiously. “And if you allow me, I’ll wash your underwear and bra in the river. I can hang them over the fire to dry.” He looked at her sheepishly. “Our body heat will keep us warm just like it did back in the cave.”

Emma stood and placed her hands on her hips. She knew it was a ploy to get her naked. Still, she had been hiking through mud and pine needles for ten days. Her undergarments were getting so stiff she could crack them in half. Plus, her sweat had accumulated onto the fabric, giving it a pungent odor. “And I suppose you’re going to sleep in your birthday suit too?” she taunted.

He shrugged. “As I said, our body heat will keep us warm.”

She stared at him. A part of her wanted to please Brett, to reward him for his dedication to her. She was mildly attracted to him, and had been back in the early days when they were taking their first steps into the realm. Strange, she thought. Was I aware of it then? Emma couldn’t remember. But he was her type. She tended to go for the tall, dark, and handsome types.

Yeah, as long as they don’t have orange eyes, she mused. But, in all fairness, he’d said that was because of the glitch.

Brett waited as she deliberated. He kept the persuasion ability on, but he already knew it came with limitations. He had been thrilled by its initial effects, but it still couldn’t undermine her will. She had drawn a line over having sex and he could do nothing to change that. He decided to revert to simple human persuasion. “Emma, please trust me. I have only the best intentions.”

She waited another moment, then sighed. “You’re right.” She paused and stared into Brett’s eyes, appraising him. “But if I’m going to take it all off, I want to bathe.” She pointed to the river two hills away. “Can we do it safely over there?”

He smiled and nodded. “Yes. And the wolves can stand guard.” He hesitated, assessing her this time. “But the water will be very cold,” he said, wondering if he was blowing his chance.

Emma shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I want to get this filth off my body.”

3

Brett constructed a tripod of thick branches and arranged it over the fire. “This will dry our clothes.”

They hiked over the hills and reached the turbulent river. As the wolves sat close by, Brett turned to Emma. “We should stay near the shore. The current is very strong toward the center.” He gazed at the moonlit waves over the cacophony of sound. “I’ve seen creatures going downriver. They’re not like anything I’ve seen before.” Then he quickly added, “But they’re rare and always come down the middle.”

Emma didn’t respond. She stood hesitantly on the shore.

Brett unequipped his leather brigandine armor and removed his canvas shorts. He stepped into the swirling water and was surprised that the temperature wasn’t too cold. He smiled up at Emma. “The water is actually quite refreshing. I think it will be warmer if we stay close to the shore.”

Emma hesitated a few seconds, wondering whether she should continue with their plan. Then she sighed and unequipped her steel armor, removed her undergarments, and approached the river.

Brett extended his arm to help her into the water. Inwardly he was giddy, reveling at the sight of her body. But he maintained his composure. He didn’t want to give her the impression he was abusing the privilege.

Emma moaned as the cool water hydrated her skin and removed days of accumulated grime. She handed Brett her bra and underwear. “I believe you’re doing the laundry tonight,” she teased despite her misgivings.

He chuckled. “I’ll do the laundry every night if it means you’ll be by my side,” he replied, still suppressing his boyish glee. As he wrung the garments through the water, he scanned the river with his enhanced vision. “There isn’t a single predator in sight.”

“How do you know?”

He smiled. “It’s another power that was given to me. Sort of like X-ray vision.”

Emma laughed. “I’ve gotta meet this new god of yours.” She wandered further into the river and moaned as the water flowed over her shoulders.

Brett cautioned her to be careful, but she ignored the admonishment. He finished with their clothing and laid the garments on a rock near the shore. Then he hurried to the Grimalkin hunter, concerned for her safety. The sand of the riverbed wedged between his toes.

Emma shivered. “I’m cold now.”

He wrapped his arms around her, shocked that she wasn’t pushing him away. Instead, she leaned against him, trying to draw from his warmth. He gazed down at her with absolute gratitude. “Emma, I am going to give to you everything you could ever want.”

She didn’t reply. He could see that she was deep in thought. He grew worried she could be reconsidering their budding relationship. Could it be that the persuasion effect lessens the more I use it? he wondered. It was a new ability, and he hadn’t grasped all of its nuances yet. As she settled her head against his chest, he glanced at the rip in the northern boundary and remembered the Wendigo’s promises. Please, he pleaded, I don’t want to lose her now. He gazed at her as the moonlight shone off her wet blonde hair.

Emma looked up at Brett. “Let’s go back to the den.”

4

Stepping out of the water, Emma gasped as the cold night air embraced their bodies.

“At least you have that blue fur,” Brett joked, but she frowned at him, not appreciating his attempt at humor. He raised his hands. “Okay, okay. Maybe this will help.” He approached her, cupped one arm under her knees, and lifted her off her feet. Emma squealed in surprise, but curled into his rugged frame, nonetheless.

Brett levitated high enough to clear the trees. He moved their bodies at a much slower rate of speed than the one he’d used during their escape from the goblin village. “It’s colder up here,” he said as she lay in his arms, “but it will get us back to camp quickly.” He smiled. “And it’ll keep your pretty little feet clean.”

Emma snorted, knowing her feet were unattractive. They were larger than a human’s and had claws instead of toenails. “Chivalry isn’t dead,” she joked, feeling more like herself than she had all day.

He gazed at her with a serious expression. “Not when it comes to you, my dear.”

She smiled and scanned the landscape from their elevated position. It was awash with indigo blues, but there were areas of the realm that gleamed under the silver moonlight. The water that gushed from the northern border looked like a waterfall and sparkled like diamonds. The region close to the rip was relatively dry, but as the flooding continued south, it spread and turned the countryside into vast stretches of swamp.

Below them, Emma saw the wolves sprinting through the darkened landscape, their white fur flickering occasionally against the moonlight. She gazed up at Brett. His features were rigid, and he wasn’t ogling her body. She felt a rush of affection for the man, admiring how gallant he was being. Could it be that we misjudged you all along? she wondered. That what transpired was just a series of horrific coincidences? She leaned her head against his chest and thought about how much her life had changed. Feeling a renewed hope that the glitch would not destroy her, and for the first time in days, she thought that life might still be worth living.

5

Brett eased Emma down by the fire and hung their wet garments over the flames. When he finished, they entered the A-frame and lay on the soft carpet of foliage he had collected. On either side of the A-frame, the thirteen wolves blocked both entrances.

He planted his hand on her bare hip. “You won’t regret giving me a chance,” he whispered. He shimmied closer to her body, spooning her, and she didn’t push him away as he expected she might. He placed the bedding over their bodies and they lay silent for a long period. Emma tried to quiet all the questions in her mind while Brett reveled in the moment, grateful that he finally had her. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the back of her shoulder. “Tomorrow, I’ll tell you everything,” he whispered.