Page 35 of Tamhas

“You’re exceptional,” I murmured, moving my head from side to side in order to maintain eye contact as she tried to avoid it. “You are gifted beyond belief. No wonder I liked you so much, right from the beginning. I could feel there was something special about you. Why else would I…”

She waited a moment before prompting, her voice thick with tears. “Why else would you what?”

I took a deep breath. “Why else would I have taken the chances I did in pursuing things with you? I should’ve steered clear. It was dangerous—evidently.” I chuckled in spite of myself. “Because you found me, which is the one thing we’ve worked to ensure wouldn’t happen. The most important thing of all. That we not be found.”

“Do you think that maybe…” She shook her head, fighting with herself.

“What? Tell me.”

Her eyes locked with mine, and the dragon came closer to the surface of my consciousness than ever. He wanted her, yearned to complete the connection between us. It was hypnotic, the pull she had on me. The desire she stirred deep in my core.

“That maybe… I came here because I felt it, too? That special—different—thing in me… recognized what was special about you?” Her palms were warm on my chest, tender and tentative. I leaned into them. I wanted her to touch me. I needed her touch.

“We both took chances,” I whispered as the distance between us closed by inches. Her plump, lush lips were so near, I could almost taste them.

“We did.” Her eyes opened wider than before, when they’d been sliding closed. “And look where it’s gotten us.”

The moment fell away. There was no getting it back.

But there would be more. I’d see to it.

“Come on.” I stood, pulling her up along with me. “We’re getting out of here.”

“What?” she gasped. “We can’t. How can we?”

“If we stay…” I shook my head, opening the door as quietly as possible. “No. You don’t need to know what will happen if we stay.”

“They’ll kill me,” she stated, matter-of-fact. “I’ve known it all along.”

“Right.” She was full of surprises. “So you can see why we need to go.” I gazed down the tunnel, listening hard. Tuning all of my sensory power toward any sounds or movements coming from our living areas.

I held a finger to my lips as I pulled her behind me, moving as silently as possible. I’d made up my mind, and there was no going back. I had to leave or else risk losing her. I wouldn’t allow it to happen. My dragon wouldn’t.

We reached my room, where my still-packed suitcase was waiting just inside the door, and continued down the tunnel. Past the kitchen, the common area, the control center. All of it, without being noticed.

“Are you sure of this?” she whispered as we ran.

“Yes.” I was more certain than I’d ever been in my life. I would leave them behind in favor of her, because she was all that mattered. Her safety, her well-being, her happiness. All of it. Just her alone.

I loved her. I knew it. I could admit it. At least to myself, for now.

It was still dark outside, the blackness of early morning greeting us as we neared the mouth of the cave. I could nearly taste freedom. For both of us.

“I told you.”

The sound of a female voice stopped me in my tracks. Keira slammed into me. “What the—?”

I turned to find Ainsley standing just outside the cave, standing beside Klaus. “You owe me fifty dollars,” she informed her mate Klaus with a wry smile.

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