Chapter 6

Six

Harlowe

“What the hell?” I clutched the armrests of my seat and locked eyes on Roc as the plane’s engines made sounds that were less than reassuring.

Whatever image of calm he’d been exuding vanished, and he unbuckled his seat belt and bolted to his feet, bracing his large hands on the ceiling to keep himself steady. “Stay here. I will check with the pilots.”

“As if I can go anywhere,” I muttered to no one as he disappeared into the cockpit.

I squeezed my eyes shut and tried not to think about plummeting to the ground. This is what I get, I thought. This is what happens when you wish to be a successful actress, and you get everything you ever wanted and a whole lot that you didn’t.

“I’m going to be like all those famous people who died in private planes,” I said out loud, not caring that there was no one to hear me. Actually, it was better that I was alone. That way I could say whatever I wanted, and Roc wouldn’t think I was crazy.

A manic laugh slipped from my lips. Why did I care what the hot orc thought about me if we were all going to die? My mind instantly went to my dad who’d called in a favor to get his orc friend to protect me and then to my mom. They’d both be devastated. So would my sisters. Thinking about my family made a hard lump lodge in my throat, and I shook my head as tears threatened to fall.

“Stop it. You’re being dramatic.”

How many times had my mother said that exact thing when I was growing up? Of course, I’d been dramatic. It wasn’t a shock when I’d gone into acting after a lifetime of overreacting.

A pang of regret shot through me. I hoped my family would remember the good things about me and not just that I’d been a teenage drama queen. My thoughts shifted to my best friends from high school, the ones I’d fallen out of touch with once I’d started getting booked for roles. I’d always thought I’d have time to reconnect with them.

My heart was pounding so hard I was afraid I’d stroke out before the plane crashed, as image after image of family and friends flashed through my mind. Then I thought of broad-shouldered Roc standing on my doorstep dressed in black with a strand of hair falling loose across his forehead. Even though he made my palms sweaty and my mouth dry, I was glad he was the one who was with me.

I jumped at something closing over my clenched hand on the armrest. Roc was strapping in next to me, his big green hand over mine.

“Is this it?”

He gave his head a brusque shake. “The plane is not going to crash, but we do need to make an emergency landing.”

My pattering heart stuttered for a moment. “An emergency landing? At an airstrip?”

He shook his head. “There is no airport close enough.”

Great. We were landing somewhere without an airstrip. “Isn’t that the same as crashing?”

Roc’s brow was furrowed and his jaw tight, but he squeezed my hand. “No. We will be fine.”

I didn’t dare look out the window because I had a feeling knowing wouldn’t help. I would know soon enough if it was forest, mountains, or open plains.

“Promise?” The second the plea left my mouth, I hated how childish it sounded. If Roc hadn’t thought I was still a kid before, he would now.

But Roc didn’t laugh, didn’t scoff, didn’t even flinch. “I promise.”

My hand beneath his trembled like it was a trapped creature trying to escape, but he didn’t let go and the warmth of his skin seeped into mine. Instead of making my flesh buzz as it had before, his touch sent soothing pulses through me. I was able to match my breaths to his slow, even ones as the plane descended.

“When it’s time to brace, I will cover your body with mine.” Roc didn’t look at me as he said this, and his tone didn’t invite discussion.

He was willing to risk his life to save mine, and all because he’d had the bad luck to owe my dad a favor. My gut churned with shame at how I’d treated him. “I’m sorry.”

He twisted his head to meet my gaze. “For what?”

“I’ve been a jerk, but it has nothing to do with you. I’m mad that I have to have a bodyguard period.”

“You don’t have to say that. I understand that not everyone welcomes orc—”

“No, really. It’s true.” I swiveled my hand under his so that I could interlace our fingers. “I promise.”

His pupils flared dark for a beat before the plane jerked and the pilot’s voice boomed over the intercom. “Brace for impact!”

Roc shoved my head between my legs and threw his body over mine as the plane slammed down with teeth-rattling force.