Read Online Capturing Today (TimeShifters Book 2) by Jessica Keller, Jess Evander - Free Book Online
Authors: Jessica Keller, Jess Evander
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Lark?”
Eddie beams. “Wonderful, I do believe. We’re planning our wedding for summer. As long as this war ends.”
“Wedding? But you’re both so young.”
“I love her. I want to be her husband. What do I gain from waiting any longer?”
My breath catches. Eddie speaks with such certainty. I wish I felt that sure about anything.
“I wonder.” He fiddles with the strap of his helmet. “Are you here to win the war for us?”
“You’ll do that on your own.”
“Ah, so are you here about all that trouble they’re having in the shifting world?”
“Troub—”
Michael comes barreling toward me as men start yelling. “Get down, Gabby. Down!” He yanks me toward the ground and throws himself on top of me. Mud shoots between my fingers and peppers my face. Men run past us to get into position.
“They’re coming across the field.” Even though Michael’s lips are right against my ear, it’s hard to hear him.
Near us, Eddie climbs into position behind a large gun mounted somehow to the sandbags. Hands trembling, he pulls the trigger, sending a rain of metal to cleave into the skin of people not unlike ourselves. Bullets that will rip into their warm flesh and lodge in their bones, making them crack like china plates against concrete.
My muscles burn to run. I start to get up, but Michael pulls me down again. I’m shivering as he turns me to face him.
He clamps onto my upper arms. “What are you doing?”
“I can’t do this. I have to get away. I shouldn’t be here.” I know I’m talking nonsense, but I can’t seem to help it.
“Look at me.” He tightens his hold on my arms until I lock my gaze with his. “Keep looking at me. Don’t focus on anything else.”
“I hate this,” I whisper.
“I do too.” His eyes blaze with something that I can’t put my finger on. I have a strange desire to lean in and kiss him. Which is ridiculous. I have Pairing drama that I still need to deal with. And—right—we’re in the middle of a war.
“Mortar fire.” Voices reverberate through the trench.
A screech precedes the explosion. The earth seems to rock. I’m flat against the ground again, pinned under both Michael and Eddie who have joined together to form a human shield over me. I don’t remember Eddie jumping down from his post, but he’s there. Dirt and sand pelt us, stinging exposed flesh. Men scream and curse. Return fire begins. Someone jumps over us.
I shove Michael and Eddie off of me. Then smack them both in the chest. Men and their ridiculous hero complexes. They should have taken cover. “You could have been hurt. Next time—”
But the blood all over Michael’s right side stops my words.
In theory, I know there’s noise all around us. Gunfire. Men shouting in pain. Commanding officers barking orders. Soldiers loading cannons—or whatever it is they’re called in this war. Men running down the trench, their boots squishing in putrid mud with each footfall.
I hear nothing.
“Gabby.” Michael shakes my shoulders. “Snap out of it.”
Everything moves in slow motion. I know that’s not true, but that’s how it feels. Despite an explosion down the trench that makes us rock to the left, I stare at Michael like he’s the only person alive.
How is he talking right now? With that much blood loss, he has to be in pain. I reach a trembling hand to his arm and touch the warm, slick blood soaking his shirt. It stretches from the side of his ribcage up onto his neck. Where is he hit? I swallow hard. Why isn’t he screaming?
This can’t be happening. Not again. But the blood says differently. He took the brunt of pain for me like when he tossed himself between me and a bomb on Wall Street. The first explosion left him with a huge scar on his back. A reminder of what I cost him.
Now this.
He’s yelling now. My name. Over and over again. His face a breath away.
Snap out of it. He needs my help. If he’s hurt, I need to get him to safety. To Keleusma. To
Eddie beams. “Wonderful, I do believe. We’re planning our wedding for summer. As long as this war ends.”
“Wedding? But you’re both so young.”
“I love her. I want to be her husband. What do I gain from waiting any longer?”
My breath catches. Eddie speaks with such certainty. I wish I felt that sure about anything.
“I wonder.” He fiddles with the strap of his helmet. “Are you here to win the war for us?”
“You’ll do that on your own.”
“Ah, so are you here about all that trouble they’re having in the shifting world?”
“Troub—”
Michael comes barreling toward me as men start yelling. “Get down, Gabby. Down!” He yanks me toward the ground and throws himself on top of me. Mud shoots between my fingers and peppers my face. Men run past us to get into position.
“They’re coming across the field.” Even though Michael’s lips are right against my ear, it’s hard to hear him.
Near us, Eddie climbs into position behind a large gun mounted somehow to the sandbags. Hands trembling, he pulls the trigger, sending a rain of metal to cleave into the skin of people not unlike ourselves. Bullets that will rip into their warm flesh and lodge in their bones, making them crack like china plates against concrete.
My muscles burn to run. I start to get up, but Michael pulls me down again. I’m shivering as he turns me to face him.
He clamps onto my upper arms. “What are you doing?”
“I can’t do this. I have to get away. I shouldn’t be here.” I know I’m talking nonsense, but I can’t seem to help it.
“Look at me.” He tightens his hold on my arms until I lock my gaze with his. “Keep looking at me. Don’t focus on anything else.”
“I hate this,” I whisper.
“I do too.” His eyes blaze with something that I can’t put my finger on. I have a strange desire to lean in and kiss him. Which is ridiculous. I have Pairing drama that I still need to deal with. And—right—we’re in the middle of a war.
“Mortar fire.” Voices reverberate through the trench.
A screech precedes the explosion. The earth seems to rock. I’m flat against the ground again, pinned under both Michael and Eddie who have joined together to form a human shield over me. I don’t remember Eddie jumping down from his post, but he’s there. Dirt and sand pelt us, stinging exposed flesh. Men scream and curse. Return fire begins. Someone jumps over us.
I shove Michael and Eddie off of me. Then smack them both in the chest. Men and their ridiculous hero complexes. They should have taken cover. “You could have been hurt. Next time—”
But the blood all over Michael’s right side stops my words.
In theory, I know there’s noise all around us. Gunfire. Men shouting in pain. Commanding officers barking orders. Soldiers loading cannons—or whatever it is they’re called in this war. Men running down the trench, their boots squishing in putrid mud with each footfall.
I hear nothing.
“Gabby.” Michael shakes my shoulders. “Snap out of it.”
Everything moves in slow motion. I know that’s not true, but that’s how it feels. Despite an explosion down the trench that makes us rock to the left, I stare at Michael like he’s the only person alive.
How is he talking right now? With that much blood loss, he has to be in pain. I reach a trembling hand to his arm and touch the warm, slick blood soaking his shirt. It stretches from the side of his ribcage up onto his neck. Where is he hit? I swallow hard. Why isn’t he screaming?
This can’t be happening. Not again. But the blood says differently. He took the brunt of pain for me like when he tossed himself between me and a bomb on Wall Street. The first explosion left him with a huge scar on his back. A reminder of what I cost him.
Now this.
He’s yelling now. My name. Over and over again. His face a breath away.
Snap out of it. He needs my help. If he’s hurt, I need to get him to safety. To Keleusma. To
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