Page 27 of Ruarc
I turn slightly, thankful to see that the water seems to be retreating some. “Do not move from this spot unless you have no other choice. I will not go far.”
She pulls Atasha back against her, and I can see she is trembling all over but trying to stay brave. I step back, only to trip over rocks hidden by the water surrounding us. I must put one hand down in the water while holding the lantern with the other to figure out where to place my feet.
I stop several times to look back at where I left Kallen and Atasha. They are just shadows in the darkness. If it were not for Kallen’s voice quietly filling the empty space around us as she tells Atasha a story, trying to distract her, it would take all my willpower to keep going, since I know the only safe place for either of them is in my arms.
It takes me a little while, but I find a few openings that I might be able to widen enough so we can at least escape this part of the cave. Grabbing a few boulders, I toss them to the other sidewhen I hear Atasha scream. Immediately, I turn, scrambling my way back. “Kallen?!”
“We are fine, just the sound of the rocks moving scared Atasha.”
I stop, my hearts beating out of my chest when I hear her voice before I call back to them reassuringly. “That was just me. I have found a clearing, but I need to make it a bit larger so we can all fit through. I will be back in a tic.”
“Since the water is receding, we are alright for now, I think.”
Rubbing a hand across my bare head, I wipe away the blood that has been running down the side of my head and climb back up the loose rocks. It takes me longer than I would like to clear a path large enough for all of us to crawl through, as some of the boulders are more stubborn than others, but finally I can see light at the other end, and the smell of fresh air now surrounds me. Making my way back, I growl out when I find them both crawling toward me. “I told you to wait.”
“We did until I saw you making your way back here. The water was starting to rise again, and I wanted to get Atasha out of there before it got any worse and we could not see the rocks below our feet.”
“Here, give me your hand and I will pull you up. Atasha, hold on to Kallen.”
“Wait Ruarc, grab Atasha first.”
I do not argue; I simply wait for her to pull Atasha around her before pushing her my way. “Atasha, I am going to shift my weight a little so I can grab you, but I am trying not to move the rocks under my feet much, so you will need to climb over them to me. Can you do that?”
“I am an accomplished rock climber.”
As she scampers over the rocks separating us like she has done it for a lifetime, I grab her arm, pulling her up next to me before placing her on a flat rock. “Good job little star, now you stay right there until I get Kallen.” She nods her head but turns to look at the opening I have just made.
Kallen slips a few times, but the moment she is close enough, I bend down as much as I can and tug her right into my arms. “Are you alright, my Starshine?”
I hear her gasp, and through our mate bond, I feel her surprise at my acknowledgment of our bond. She opens her mouth to say something, but I stop her by quickly kissing her soft, plush lips. “We will discuss the fact that I should have been screaming that to the heavens when we escape this place. I really hope you are not scared of tight spaces because, without machinery, I believe this is the biggest opening I can make for you on my own.”
“This is not my version of fun, but this is not the time for fear.”
Looking past her, I realize I need to turn this into an adventure to prevent both of them from panicking. “Atasha, since you did so well climbing over those rocks, I want you to take the lead. Kallen will need your help to navigate the opening, and she is going to grip onto your wrap. If you feel her let go, you stop until she catches back up. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I can already see lights on the other side. Mam, we are over here!” she squeals. Wincing, I feel the rocks above us shift from the vibration of her voice.
Kallen looks up at me in comprehension before grabbing Atasha and putting her fingers over her lips. “Sweetness, we need to besneaky as we are moving through here, but we have to go really fast.”
I motion for them to start that way and while Atasha is able to bend over, Kallen and I both must crawl. Several times, I have to stoop to maneuver my shoulders through without tearing off more hide. Just as Atasha makes it through, I feel the rocks above me shift ominously. “MOVE KALLEN!”
Planting one of my large hands on her ass, I push her from behind, determined to get her out. Never have I been so grateful as to see Slavic’s massive form bent down at the other end of the opening. “GRAB HER BROTHER!”
He sets Atasha down before reaching for Kallen. Just as I see her legs get clear and I am within arm’s reach of him, the rocks beneath me start to move, and panic washes over his face as I hear the stones behind me begin to fall.
“Crawl, Ruarc!”The sound of falling rock drowns out Slavic’s impassioned shout. Just as our hands meet, time stands still, and I hear Kallen scream my name—only to know no more.
CHAPTER 17
KALLEN
Looking up, I see Slavic appear at the end of the crevice we have been crawling through. Suddenly, I feel the pressure change all around us, and my hearts pound in my chest as fear slices through me. Slavic grabs Atasha and holds his hand out for me when I hear Ruarc bellow from directly behind me,“MOVE KALLEN!”
The moment Slavic’s calloused hand encloses mine, he practically flings me out of the cleft into the opening on the other side, where Falon catches me before setting me gently on the ground.
Slavic is yelling at Ruarc, but Falon blocks me from running back as the cavern shakes all around me. The only part of Ruarc visible is his hand desperately reaching for Slavic’s. My knees hit the floor, and the sound of someone screaming echoes all around me until Slavic starts shaking me, and I realize that god awful noise is coming from me.
“Kallen, get hold of yourself. This is not the time to fall apart; he needs your strength, not your fear. Can you still feel him? Is healive?” Slavic’s harsh voice snaps me back to reality and forces me to think.
