All the humor dropped from Jacinda's face as she caught Rune's mood, her flinch. Not that they had been close. Not at all. No. Rune was....Seth's neice. And while she and Seth might have had just a casual, nsa fling, it didn't mean she didn't like the guy.
She had been reserved with all men. Period. Fear. Protection. Whatever. A blindspot, as it turned out. Jill had driven right through that hole and into her heart.
Jacinda had learned her lesson. Keep everyone at arms length. Friends were fine, in the casual sense. Generally camraderie of a temporary team. Of brothers and sisters. But never let 'em near your heart.
Mentally she shook her head. And STILL, she'd done it again, this time with Ten. It wasn't Jill, no. There weren't butterflies. No clandestine looks or brief touches. But there was trust. And partnership. And Jacinda was happy with that balance.
Relationships were overrated, in her opinion. Or maybe, they simply weren't worth the hurt. 15 years might sound a long time. But it really wasn't. Not at all.
But Seth...he had been a good hunter. And fun. And she'd enjoyed his company. Her voice dropped, filled with concern. "You said 'was'." And suddenly it clicked that Rune had been living as a homeless person, like for reals. Her heart clenched.
She stepped forward, eyes filled with intensity and compassion, her voice a whisper. "What happened to Seth, Rune?"
She had been reserved with all men. Period. Fear. Protection. Whatever. A blindspot, as it turned out. Jill had driven right through that hole and into her heart.
Jacinda had learned her lesson. Keep everyone at arms length. Friends were fine, in the casual sense. Generally camraderie of a temporary team. Of brothers and sisters. But never let 'em near your heart.
Mentally she shook her head. And STILL, she'd done it again, this time with Ten. It wasn't Jill, no. There weren't butterflies. No clandestine looks or brief touches. But there was trust. And partnership. And Jacinda was happy with that balance.
Relationships were overrated, in her opinion. Or maybe, they simply weren't worth the hurt. 15 years might sound a long time. But it really wasn't. Not at all.
But Seth...he had been a good hunter. And fun. And she'd enjoyed his company. Her voice dropped, filled with concern. "You said 'was'." And suddenly it clicked that Rune had been living as a homeless person, like for reals. Her heart clenched.
She stepped forward, eyes filled with intensity and compassion, her voice a whisper. "What happened to Seth, Rune?"