Page 91 of Jeweler to the Blessed
The tunnel path connecting us to Gregory—and the exit—collapsed.
I was on the cold ground, blinking, as I assessed my surroundings. The tunnel was dark. The only light on our side of the cave-in, a torch beside the locked door, had gone out with the movement. Dim light from the other side of the path streamed through the giant rock pieces now in our way.
An intriguing weight pressed against me as I heaved in deep breaths.
The back of my head hurt, even though it was cradled in something soft. Fingers flexed against my hair. I knew the rigid lines of his body better than I cared to admit. As I fully opened my eyes, Hart’s forest green gaze was boring into mine.
“Dammit, Charon,” he said.
The name was unfamiliar. Knowing Hart, it was another forgotten god he cursed.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
My body shook as my panic set in. An earthshake, a cave-in. We were trapped in the mine. My head throbbed, but Hart had saved me—once again.
“I’m good. You?”
While our chests were awkwardly pressed together, the rapid beat of my heart must have given me away because he laughed outright at my response.
“How’s your head?” His fingers moved carefully around my crown, likely checking for the thick dampness of blood.
“It’s alright. I think you stopped most of the damage.”
My senses were alive, cataloging every place our bodies connected. His arms were braced on either side of me, trying to hold himself apart. Our legs entwined, his knee separatingmine. What was wrong with me? Now was not the time for this.
“Are you hurt?” I asked again.
His voice was low. “I’m fine.”
I wasn’t sure it was the cave-in affecting him.
With trouble, I tore my gaze from his and looked at the blockage over his shoulder. It must have broken whatever spell also held him in position. He rolled away and was silent as his breathing evened. Mine followed suit.
“I’m sorry,” he mumbled.
At the same time, I said, “Thank you.”
He turned his head so he could look at me in the dim light.
“I’m sorry I tackled you. I didn’t see another choice.”
I laughed, and something in Hart’s expression shifted at the sound.
“I much prefer you lunging at me to being crushed under a pile of rocks.”
He grunted as he sat up.
“What do we do now?” I asked.
Standing, he offered a hand to help me up. It was almost second nature to accept. He pulled me toward him, and I went like a moth to flame.
He assessed the pile of rocks blocking our path. “We have to get out.”
Moving closer, he lifted one and tossed it aside. A few others shifted with the motion. It wasn’t an insurmountable task. Although the more he revealed, the larger some of the chunks of stone proved to be. Some would be too big to lift.
Hart didn’t seem deterred. He kept tossing rocks in an attempt to clear the path.
I stared at him, watching the activity until the obvious answer struck me. Hart…was Blessed. He could use magic-enhanced strength to break through the rocks quickly.
