Here's another chapter for you guys. Thank you to 88Keys best reviewer by far!

Enjoy!

Max's POV

I watched closely from behind as Molly and I followed the bear like Russian guy. He still hadn't told us his name, he had only offered me his robes but I refused. I wasn't taking anything from this guy, he just didn't feel right to me.

Finally, after spending almost an hour that I could have spent sleeping trudging through the snow that only heightened the pain in my back we came upon a hill looking down on a one story cabin.

"This is it?" I asked. Molly turned and gave me a glare but the big guy chuckled.

"Yes. It might not be much but it's more then enough for old Alexander."

"Is that your name?" Molly asked and he nodded.

"Yep, but call me Alex. Now come, it is cold," he said before heading towards the cabin. I turned to Molly.

"Do you still want to follow this guy? A cabin in the woods seems pretty sketchy huh?" I asked. She rolled her eyes.

"He's a nice guy Max, just trust him," she said and I scoffed.

"Yeah, look where trusting Russian guys has got us," I said, already turning my pain filled back on the cabin.

"Then trust me." I stopped at her voice. I turned around and looked over to Molly. She was clutching my jacket tightly around her, shivering from the cold as she stared at me with tired eyes. "I'm not going down there without you Max." I let out a sigh of defeat.

"Fine, but if we get hacked to death by a crazy guy in the woods then I am never speaking to you again," I mumbled, staggering past her and down the hill.

"Fine by me," I heard her grumble as she followed.

The hut door was opened for me as I approached it, Alexander giving me a smile as I limped through. The cabin was…nice. It had a very rustic feel to it, a giant fireplace lighting up the room. Before it was a big wooden sofa with what looked like bear fur as the cushions.

"You might want to rest, you seem to be injured," he said with a touch of concern in his voice.

"Thanks for the tip," I said as I limped towards the sofa. I all but fell onto it, sighing from the comfort as I settled into the fur. Molly came and sat by my feet.

"Do vant a bandage for your wrist?" he asked but I shushed him, quickly glancing over Molly. It looked like she hadn't heard.

"Don't talk about my wrist, it's just a little...rubbing from the bracelet," I whispered.

"Vhy don't you take it off?" he asked.

"I can't," I mumbled. He looked like he was going to say something else but Molly cut him off.

"Thank you Alexander, for taking us in like this," she said with a smile.

"Is no problem little girl," Alexander said and I could tell he was smiling. "Tomorrow I vill take you to closest town."

"Do you know where we are?" Molly asked.

"You're in Mongolia," he said.

"What's the fastest way back to the united states?" I asked. There was a pause.

"I guess I could take you to the local airport, that will take you further south," he said after a while. "You could take a flight from there?" he offered.

"We'll take it," I said before Molly could reply.

"Vell ok then. Goodnight children," Alexander said before I heard him walk away and close a door.

"Further south? Wouldn't it be better to wait and head to China and get a plane straight home?" she asked but I shook my head.

"No, we need to move quickly. We have the money," I said bluntly, already snuggling back into the sofa.

"Why?" my eyes opened and I looked up at Molly, who was staring down at me.

"Because…we don't want those Russian guys catching us so we need to move quickly," I said shortly.

"They're still chasing us? I'm pretty sure we ditched them back in Russia," Molly said. "Do you really think they're still following us?" she asked in a low voice.

"With the money and technology they have, I wouldn't be surprised. They probably feel if we're left alive we'll tell the police about their hideout," I mumbled.

There was a long pause. "Is that what that red light was from the train that destroyed the bridge?" I stiffened. She wasn't supposed to have seen that. I couldn't tell her about the searcher demons Vladimir sent after us, she couldn't know about magic.

"That was just the setting sun rapidly melting the ice on the bridge causing it to rot and break," I said, hoping I sounded convincing.

"But it was dark," she pointed out.

"So now you're an expert on Russian climate?" I said, sitting up and staring at her. She averted her eyes, looking towards the ground.

"No," she mumbled and I smirked.

"Good," I said before laying back down. I groaned, feeling my back sting from my injuries. The things I've done for this girl.

"Are you sure you're ok?" Molly asked, coming to sit beside me.

"Yeah…just help me get my shirt off again," I said, turning my back to her.

I felt her hands grip my shirt and slowly she pulled it up. As soon as it was over I heard Molly gasp.

"Oh Max," she whispered, her voice cracking. I felt her hands skim my back and I hissed as I felt it burn.

"Why does it hurt so much? I thought you said it was just slight bruising," I said, trying to turn my head to look at her.

"There's so many," she whispered.

"So many what?" I asked again, turning around. My eyes widened at the look in Molly's eyes.

They were glazed over as she fought to contain her emotions. Before my eyes, tough girl Molly Fuentes leaped into my arms, crumpling against my chest.

"I'm so sorry Max, this is all my fault that you're hurt. Those bruises and burns wouldn't have happened if I had paid better attention on the train and not let you fall. And those burns from the explosion…" she trailed off as she buried her face against my bare chest.

Well this was certainly a turn of events, having a hysterical Molly in my arms. I knew she wasn't crying but she was pretty close. Carefully I wrapped my arms around her, rubbing her back.

"Shh, it's ok Molly. This isn't your fault, it was my choice to protect you. Wounds heal," I whispered gently. Molly pulled back and looked up at me, her lip quivering.

"But…" I put my finger against her lips.

"No buts Molly," I said. She didn't reply, only stared up at me. I stared back down at her, her green eyes drawing me back in as the light from the fire half illuminated her face, making her tan skin glow. I remembered how we had been looking at each other on the train, how she had drawn me in just by looking at me. I started to lean in, praying that she wouldn't pull away again.

"Max are you sure you-"

"Please let me do this," I cut her off, taking her face in my hands and gently placing my lips on hers.

Everything felt…tense. I kissed her gently but both our eyes were open. It wasn't a romantic moment that I would remember for the rest of my life. If anything it was the kind of kiss you have when you stand under the mistletoe with one of your friends and you'd feel guilty if you didn't.

Finally I pulled away, blinking to clear my head. Molly gave me a cautious look.

"Well…goodnight," I said a little awkwardly as I lay back on the couch.

"Goodnight," Molly whispered.

Everything was quiet for a long while after Molly feel asleep. I stared at the fire, wondering what happened just a few hours ago. I had been in one of the most romantic situations in history, by a roaring fire, half naked with one of the most beautiful girls I had ever seen, and yet I had felt like I was forced to feel nothing.

Looking down at Molly, curled up in front of the fire with a blanket across her while using my jacket as a pillow, all I could think was that she was absolutely beautiful. I wanted to kiss her again, but something in me knew it would feel the same as it did the first time.

Finally I let my eyes close and I slipped off into a troubled sleep, feeling my back sting each time I moved.

Molly's POV

I laid awake, staring at the fire as all my thoughts jumped around in my head. Max had kissed me. So I had no choice but to charm it, make it loose all feeling so he would not follow up on his emotions. But that didn't stop me almost melting further into him, wanting him to kiss me again and again.

But I could see he was confused on this reaction, confused on how he was unable to feel anything. I had felt him watching me for most of the night, probably trying to figure it out. I couldn't let Max fall for me, not with what I am. He couldn't know. It would put us in even more danger.

No one can know.

Hope you guys liked it. Once again 88Keys, thanks for the review :)

Review!