Frozen: Heart of Dread, Book One by Melissa de la Cruz, Michael Johnston Page A

concealed many obstacles. The ice hid tree stumps and posts, guard rails and ditches. There was no way to prepare; he only figured it out when the wheels hit them or when the hidden junk crashed against a side panel. He’d made the offer to take her back so that the boys could know he was looking out for them, but also because he wanted her to know the exact nature of the dangers they would be facing. The night had brought another blizzard and they were traveling in complete darkness again, with only the headlights of the LTV to guide their way.
    He wondered about the girl next to him. It was obvious she knew about MacArthur, as well as the people living in the wastelands, which meant this wasn’t her first time at the rodeo. He guessed she’d probably tried to get out of the country before. She was a liar and a thief. Wes had pegged her correctly from the moment she had hired them and yet he couldn’t help but admire her anyway.
    Nah, you just think she’s pretty,
he chided himself.
But, really, she’s nothing special. There are lots of pretty girls back in New Veg.
Jules had been one, for sure, but his memory of Jules—of her thick, brown, almost russet-colored hair and smoke-gray eyes—had faded a little. All he could think about was Nat. The way they had smiled at each other earlier, the way she had placed her hand on his arm . . .
    Which got him thinking—if she did like him or at least liked the looks of him—he might have an opening there; maybe he could use it to his advantage. That stone she wore around her neck was awfully pretty. It was all so messed up: He liked her, and he
wanted
her to like him, but only so he could use it against her later. Definitely messed up. But what choice did he have?
    She had taken the chips without caring what happened to him. Could he do the same to her? He would have to at some point.
    “Hey, come on, let me take a shift,” Nat offered. “You’re still healing from that shot.”
    “Suit yourself,” he said, switching places with her. He massaged his shoulder. “Thanks, by the way,” he added, to be polite. He noted there was a distance between them again and was relieved at that.
    Nat drove while Wes kept an eye out for drones in the sky or any sign of a seeker team. He was glad for the distraction; it kept him from thinking about her and he was already thinking about her too much. But as they drove, Wes found he wasn’t cut out for silence either. The Slaine boys weren’t talking to him, giving him the cold shoulder to make it clear they didn’t care for the mess back at MacArthur and his decision to travel off-road. Shakes was asleep, and Farouk was resting.
    “Hard to believe this was all desert once,” he said, deciding a conversation would be harmless enough.
    “Desert—what’s that?” Nat joked. “I grew up in Ashes.”
    He grunted. The city was one of the coldest outposts in the country.
    “Ever seen pictures of what it looked like Before? Rolling dunes, cacti?” she asked. “You know what it used to be called right?”
    “Phoenix,” he replied. “But the Phoenix is gone, and all that’s left is Ashes.”
    “Poetic,” she said.
    “Told you, there’s more to me than meets the eye.” He smiled, flirting with her again, in spite of himself.
    “Can’t be much,” she said slyly.
    “Want to find out?” he said playfully.
    “Maybe,” she said, and his stomach flipped.
    “Ever seen photos from Before? It’s like another planet,” she said, changing the subject. “Can you imagine what it’s like to be that hot?”
    “Nope, I surely can’t. Can’t imagine ever being warm outside,” he said. “Supposedly deserts still exist somewhere.” Seeing the look on her face, he quickly explained lest she think him a dolt. “Not here, obviously, but in the enclosures.”
    “Desert enclosures?” Her tone sarcastic.
    “Yeah. Messed up, right? Fusion hogs, most like. I heard they have beaches in them, too. Man-made ones, of course,” he