Kaya scanned the darkness, her gun steady, finger hovering over the trigger.
Suddenly, a shadow flickered right in front of her.
Her body reacted before her brain caught up, barrel snapping toward it, finger tightening on the trigger. One more breath and she would have fired—
—and then she caught it.
A scent. Warm, rich… sandalwood.
It hit her like a memory, halting her shot. She knew that smell. She'd been catching it on him since morning, faint on the breeze, lingering on her skin after he passed.
The figure stepped out from the dark. Leaves clung to his hair, his jacket, even his shoulders, as if he'd rolled his way through the forest floor.
Damn it, Kaya thought, exhaling hard. He's going to get himself killed one day.
She lowered the gun and pressed a hand to her forehead. Her voice was low, sharp, and laced with irritation. "Are you crazy?"
A quick glance over her shoulder—no one else nearby. She leaned closer. "You almost went to meet your God just now."
