Ash shifts uncomfortably and bites her lowers lip. I can tell she’s worried. Her hand unconsciously rests on her stomach though it’s still flat. I wait for what’s on her mind. We’ve been trying to figure out where to move. After the tournament – we got second place because I couldn’t think of anything else after hearing the news – where to move has been the bulk of mine and Ash’s conversations.

“I don’t want to go to Hidden Springs.” She finally says. “I don’t want to put that burden on your family. Plus, that’s the first place Lance will check. It’s no secret that Hidden Springs is practically run by your family.”

I lean back and bite my cheek. She’s right, of course. It’s no secret that my family has lived in Hidden Springs for generations now. It would be the first place Lance would look. Going somewhere he would never guess would be better.

“Where, then?” I ask. “When I was a kid I used to look at the stars with Tilly and wish that my soulmate was looking at the same star somewhere far away. What if…what if we go to Monte Vista? That’s far from Hidden Springs. So far that he would never guess we’d be there.”

Ash smiles. “I used to look at the stars and wish that too. I wished that I would end up somewhere far away from my hometown. Monte Vista is far. Far from it all.”

I laugh and lean in to kiss her. “I’m glad my wish came true. Monte Vista it is then. Fenris can come with us, as can Tilly if she wants. We can start over. My family can get us new identities so Lance won’t be able to track our names. As far as he’ll be concerned, we fell off the face of the map. I’ve made enough money this year and have enough trust money that we can live comfortably there. We can just focus on raising our kids.”

Ash sighs and leans into me. For the first time in weeks she’s relaxed. I pull her close and kiss her head, my lips brushing against her soft hair. Monte Vista. I’m excited. I am. But I’m also so angry. Angry at Lance for making the only way that Ash can feel safe is to move across the country and change her identity. But I’m not a fighter, I can’t kill him. This is how I can protect my family. Sometimes, it’s best to know when to run.

~~~~~~~

Monte Vista. The quiet town spread out before us in lazy hills and rolling grasses. The sun is warm year-round and gardens grow full and fruitful. Ash wants to start her own garden here.

I finish unpacking the bedroom and look around. Perfect. I smile and listen for Ash. I can hear her in the backyard talking with Fenris. The sound of her voice makes my smile grow. I’m the luckiest man alive.

I leave the bedroom and head outside, finding Ash and Fenris sitting on the porch swing. She smiles at me as I come to sit beside her.

“How do you like it?” I ask.

“It’s beautiful.” She replies, looking over the backyard.

Fenris nods. “You really did find the perfect place.”

Ash nods, her hand on her stomach that’s finally showing. Seven months along now. It took a while to find the right house, get our new identities, and say goodbye to my family. Tilly stayed behind, having gotten serious with a man she’d been seeing. Of course, we know there is still a chance that Lance will find us, so my family has strict orders to come straight here if we go more than three days with contact with them. I have taken every precaution to make sure my family is safe.