pulling him out again?”
“Simple. To get me in here. To keep me put.”
Cayan looked up. Those blue eyes flashed. A surge of power sprayed Shanti before she slammed down her mental shields. He said, “Then we’ll find that hole and get out. We shouldn’t be in here waiting for him to come get you.”
Shanti shifted, then winced as her pant leg brushed against her wound. She heaved a sigh, trying to ignore the burning pain. “I can’t. I need the Shadow army, and they won’t follow me unless I get through these trials. If we leave now, he can just scoop me up. I’m sure his men vastly outnumber your own. The Shadow people will do nothing to stop him as long as we are outside the city.” Shanti brushed the hair from her forehead as determination kindled deep in her gut. “No, I have to make it through these trials if I want to make it off this island with my freedom. I may not have much hope, but it’s the duty my people assigned me—I have to at least try.”
“Well, they’ve let me in and tied me to you to help themselves. They changed the rules. We can work together and still get you that title.”
A rush of gratitude stole Shanti’s breath, thankfully hidden behind her shields. She’d always been stronger with him. She’d always evaded death when he worked by her side, even when she worked alone and he picked up the pieces. If she had any hope at all, it was with him. And yes, the Shadow people had changed the rules. They changed the rules. That meant he was right: working together was allowed.
“Maybe Xandre turning up was good news—otherwise you would’ve just lounged in the city and put your feet up, getting fat.”
“Getting fat?” Cayan smiled as he struck the stone above some grasses.
“Yes. That stomach of yours brings all the admirers. A fat man would only bring the money-grubbers.”
“Money-grubbers?” he asked, dimples showing with his smile. “Only until they heard of my prowess in bed. Then I’d have to turn women away again.”
He glanced up. His blue eyes sparkled with fire. The answering heat burned deep in Shanti’s core. Sweat beaded her brow for a second time, but not from fear.
She took a step back.
“How about that ride?” he pushed, his smile showing even, white teeth.
Oh yeah. That. A momentary case of loose lips and now he had ideas.
“I’ll go gather up some things for dinner and something for my wounds, shall I?” she asked, grabbing her ripped coat.
Eyes twinkling in mischief, Cayan held up a coat similar to hers but larger. On his body he wore a slick sort of black, shiny material. It must’ve been something he had picked up in the city.
“They had something to fit you, huh?” Shanti asked, taking the garment.
“No. My shoulders pull at the seams, it won’t close over my chest, and the sleeves don’t reach my wrists. What I’m wearing is fine for the day, and your body heat will be enough for the night. I’ll be fine.”
Shanti’s core tingled before the pain on her side stabbed her. Without bothering to comment, she turned and started off. “Keep mental contact with me. I’ll blast a shock of fear at you if I get in trouble. Otherwise, I shouldn’t be long.”
“And Shanti—”
She turned back. His eyes had lost the heat and humor. Warning now etched his face and dulled his gaze. “They are going to hit us with everything they have—both these Shadow people and whoever is pulling the strings for the Graygual. Everything they have. We have to be able to access my power easily. To do that, we need to work on it. We do, because it would take a lifetime to control that much power, which you have and I do not. We need to work on it if we hope to use it when we need it.”
Uncertainty and fear wormed into Shanti’s body. She remembered the feeling of delving deeply inside him, and then letting him delve just as deeply into her, creating a level, solid balance in which their combined power would build. She remembered that sweet
“Simple. To get me in here. To keep me put.”
Cayan looked up. Those blue eyes flashed. A surge of power sprayed Shanti before she slammed down her mental shields. He said, “Then we’ll find that hole and get out. We shouldn’t be in here waiting for him to come get you.”
Shanti shifted, then winced as her pant leg brushed against her wound. She heaved a sigh, trying to ignore the burning pain. “I can’t. I need the Shadow army, and they won’t follow me unless I get through these trials. If we leave now, he can just scoop me up. I’m sure his men vastly outnumber your own. The Shadow people will do nothing to stop him as long as we are outside the city.” Shanti brushed the hair from her forehead as determination kindled deep in her gut. “No, I have to make it through these trials if I want to make it off this island with my freedom. I may not have much hope, but it’s the duty my people assigned me—I have to at least try.”
“Well, they’ve let me in and tied me to you to help themselves. They changed the rules. We can work together and still get you that title.”
A rush of gratitude stole Shanti’s breath, thankfully hidden behind her shields. She’d always been stronger with him. She’d always evaded death when he worked by her side, even when she worked alone and he picked up the pieces. If she had any hope at all, it was with him. And yes, the Shadow people had changed the rules. They changed the rules. That meant he was right: working together was allowed.
“Maybe Xandre turning up was good news—otherwise you would’ve just lounged in the city and put your feet up, getting fat.”
“Getting fat?” Cayan smiled as he struck the stone above some grasses.
“Yes. That stomach of yours brings all the admirers. A fat man would only bring the money-grubbers.”
“Money-grubbers?” he asked, dimples showing with his smile. “Only until they heard of my prowess in bed. Then I’d have to turn women away again.”
He glanced up. His blue eyes sparkled with fire. The answering heat burned deep in Shanti’s core. Sweat beaded her brow for a second time, but not from fear.
She took a step back.
“How about that ride?” he pushed, his smile showing even, white teeth.
Oh yeah. That. A momentary case of loose lips and now he had ideas.
“I’ll go gather up some things for dinner and something for my wounds, shall I?” she asked, grabbing her ripped coat.
Eyes twinkling in mischief, Cayan held up a coat similar to hers but larger. On his body he wore a slick sort of black, shiny material. It must’ve been something he had picked up in the city.
“They had something to fit you, huh?” Shanti asked, taking the garment.
“No. My shoulders pull at the seams, it won’t close over my chest, and the sleeves don’t reach my wrists. What I’m wearing is fine for the day, and your body heat will be enough for the night. I’ll be fine.”
Shanti’s core tingled before the pain on her side stabbed her. Without bothering to comment, she turned and started off. “Keep mental contact with me. I’ll blast a shock of fear at you if I get in trouble. Otherwise, I shouldn’t be long.”
“And Shanti—”
She turned back. His eyes had lost the heat and humor. Warning now etched his face and dulled his gaze. “They are going to hit us with everything they have—both these Shadow people and whoever is pulling the strings for the Graygual. Everything they have. We have to be able to access my power easily. To do that, we need to work on it. We do, because it would take a lifetime to control that much power, which you have and I do not. We need to work on it if we hope to use it when we need it.”
Uncertainty and fear wormed into Shanti’s body. She remembered the feeling of delving deeply inside him, and then letting him delve just as deeply into her, creating a level, solid balance in which their combined power would build. She remembered that sweet
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