90 DEADLY DAYS (WEEKLY UPDATES RETURNING THIS DECEMBER)

Chapter 53

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Chapter 53

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(Check out the song!!)

The branches cracking beneath my feet break the wood's chilly silence. Filled with dark shadows and mystery, every leaf and shrub seems ready to kill. I take a discreet step closer to Butcher, peeking nervously over my shoulder.

Seeing my uneasy frown, he cracks a smile.

"Scared, princess?"

"No. Just observing, is all."

"Observing?" His smile dies. "Well, did you see that behind you..."

"What?" I shriek, whirling. I stop when Butcher begins to laugh. Cheeks burning with embarrassment, I glare distrustfully at my laughing counterpart. Clutching my chest to calm the near heart attack he caused, I sputter with frightened indignation.

"It may be funny now, but when something actually comes..."

"I'll be ready, princess. Don't you worry." Chuckling down at me, he purposely bumps my shoulder with his elbow. I stagger back from the force, the sudden attack flooding me with fear until I realize Butcher meant it playfully. Shock and confusion lift my brows.

Butcher? Playful?

My heart beats faster. I must be seeing things wrong. After all, it has been a few hours since I've had a drink of water. Could Butcher really play? Actually play? I would've never thought he had it in him. Rubbing my now aching shoulder, I curiously reach out and touch, lightly pushing him back. It feels like I've shattered a hundred porcelain plates, like I've poked a giant, hungry bear. The invisible wall between us collapses with a crash.

My push barely shifts his muscled, sturdy physique, but gets his attention nonetheless.

"Got you back," I whisper, trembling as I tease him.

So, stupid Phoenix. Why would you...

"Really?" Butcher responds to my taunt with a slow, wicked grin. His chiseled features soften with humor and his eyes glow. The air vanishes from my lungs as I take him in, shamelessly basking in his good looks. As sunlight breaks through canopy and warms his golden skin, unsolicited desires pour over me. I press my lips together, fighting to stay in control.

Butcher appears none the wiser as he returns my tease, pushing me back. Even though I can tell he tried to do it lightly, I still stumble over my feet.

"Now we're even," he says.

A wide smile breaks over my face. Feigning indignation, I draw my brows together.

"You did not just do that."

"Don't tell me you have short term memory loss, princess?"

I gasp, laughing, still hardly able to believe this is happening. Lunging, I shove him the chest and scramble back. He moves scarcely two centimeters.

"Now I win and you lose."

The word lose transforms Butcher's demeanor. A competitive gleam ignites in his eyes and he confidently charges forward.

Ah, not able to walk away from a challenge, is he?

Noting the change, I skirt off into the shrubbery, knowing Butcher will probably do anything to win. Running, I duck under branches and clamber over slippery moss. My feet nimbly fly over a frozen stream. Landing on the other side, I scramble up the bank.

When something abruptly tackles me from behind, I shriek, collapsing on my stomach with an oompf. A body crushes me into a carpet of moss and gentle arms trap my waist. Somehow, beneath what feels like the weight of a horse, I can breathe. A throaty voice fills my ear and I shiver as warm lips caress my earlobe.