#Chapter 30: Lavender and Sandalwood

I aimed for my body weight to land on his head and make him fall to the ground, but as my knees locked around his neck, he acted as if a mere squirrel attacked him from the trees.

The man cried out in surprise but was not affected. I started throwing punches at his neck, not realizing I was yelling, and he ripped me from his neck. His strong hands tossed me off like he was flicking a coin; I went lurching into the dense vegetation. .

I fell hard on my back, the landing winding me. A heartbeat passed before I could breathe, and I gasped, sitting up before he could shoot me or attack.

“And here I was assuming you’d be happy to see me,” the man said in a familiar voice I had been waiting day and night to hear again.

I looked at his face, my heart nearly combusting from out of my ribcage.

“Aldrich,” I gasped out, using my hands to aid me in standing up. My legs suddenly felt like sacks of heavy skin devoid of any bones.

“Are you mad at me for being