Excerpt of Sisters of the Moon Boxed Set by Nina Croft

His brows drew together in a frown. “You look a mess.”

Well, what had she expected—romantic words? She’d read too many books. All the same, it didn’t seem fair—she’d been standing here thinking how stunning he was and he’d been thinking she looked a mess.

His hand came up and he brushed her long hair away from her face and stroked her cheek beneath her eyes. “You’re exhausted and malnourished. Haven’t you been eating or sleeping?”

“No and no. What are you—a doctor?”

She’d meant the question to be sarcastic, but his lips curved into a smile. “Actually, yes.”

“Oh.”

“Why? I left you food. Why haven’t you been eating? And what are you doing out so early?” His scolding nearly broke her. She bit her lip and pulled herself together. She should tell him. “There were people here—the day before yesterday. They arrived not long after you left.”

His brows drew together. “Hikers?”

She shook her head. “No. They were searching, systematically. And one of them—the woman—seemed familiar.”

“You think they were from the Agency, looking for you?”

Could she trust him with her secrets? And would she be putting him in danger if she did?

“I can help you, Keira.”

“Why? Why would you want to help me? Who are you and how do you know about the Agency.”

“I told you in my note, I know your sisters. And they’ve been looking for others like them since they escaped the Agency.”

She wanted to believe in him so badly. But she had relied on nobody but herself for so long she was finding it hard. Too much emotion, together with the lack of sleep and food, finally caught up with her and she swayed.

Connor tightened his hold on her arm and held her up. “Come on, let’s get you to bed.”

“I’d rather stay out here. I don’t want to be stuck inside if they come back.”

She thought he would argue, tell her she was being paranoid, but in the end, he shrugged and glanced around, his gaze resting on her sleeping bag. He nodded toward it. “Okay, get in then and get some sleep. I’ll keep watch.”

He shrugged off the rucksack and put it on the ground and then crouched down and rummaged inside. He brought out an apple, a bar of chocolate, and a thermos flask.

“In.” He pointed at the sleeping bag, and she sat down and wriggled into it, then took the food he offered. He watched as she ate the chocolate and washed it down with hot coffee.

There were so many questions she wanted to ask, but waves of sleep were washing over her, dragging her under. She placed the empty cup on the ground beside her and snuggled down. Connor crouched by her head and stroked a hand over her hair. “Go to sleep. I’ll wake you if anyone comes near.”

She watched for a minute longer as he pulled a set of binoculars out of the rucksack then moved to the highest point and started to scan the surrounding area.

Then closing her eyes, she slept.