Where was he going with her? She wriggled around, trying to free herself.
Ed’s coming.
Unfortunately, all the logic in the world wasn’t helping her overcome her fear.
Stalked. Trapped.
No. Nope. She’d conquered those fears. She was strong. She was capable.
She wasn’t prey anymore.
Hurt. Afraid.
It took her a moment to realize that the big, crazy man had stopped moving. And then she heard a small whimper.
“Girl? You okay?”
No, of course, she wasn’t okay.
“Loki, put her down!” Another deep voice demanded. One she knew. Her panic started to recede. He’d come for her.
She gasped as Loki turned suddenly. Shoot! She really needed off his shoulder. She was about to vomit pink flamingo down his back. Although perhaps that wouldn’t be a bad thing.
“She’s mine!” Loki called out.
“She’s not yours. And you know she’s not a local. Rules are you can’t do this to anyone who is from out of town.”
So he was allowed to do this sort of thing with the locals? That was insane.
“Georgina, are you alright?” Ed asked calmly.
“Let me down. Let me down now!” Okay, even she could hear the hysteria in her voice.
“Fuck, Loki let her down. Now.”
To her shock, the big man actually put her down. Gently. She stepped back quickly, brushing her shaking hands over her arms and trying to act like she wasn’t just a few seconds from tipping over the crazy cliff and having a total meltdown.
What had she been thinking coming here? Tonight had been a huge mistake.
“What kind of place is this?” she asked, her breath coming in sharp pants. “What sort of sheriff lets some crazy man just abscond with people? This isn’t real!”
“Princess, you shouldn’t talk to the sheriff like that. He’s good people. And Loki isn’t crazy. Loki has been tested.”
By who? Because whoever had done that assessment had obviously gotten his degree from the back of a cereal box.
But she took several steps away from Loki until she was out of reach. She hated how cowardly it made her look, but she had no desire to end up over his sweaty shoulder again.
“Georgina, are you all right?” Ed eyed her with concern.
“Of course.”
Ed stepped towards her, but she didn’t want anyone near her. She stumbled back another step, her arms wrapped around her waist.
Show no weakness.
Screw that. This was the best she could do. She was barely hanging on to her sanity right now. Her shields were cracking and old fears were starting to slip through. The past and present were all becoming blurred.
Stay in the now, Georgina.