Page 59 of The Hero Within
A hint of wonder lit his face, and Eden paused, transfixed by how it made him seem so much younger.
She understood his wonder. Adam would love to see this place. Ever since he'd been transformed, he'd hated his other half, but what she wouldn't give for him to see how he could live with it without conflict.
Children laughed somewhere ahead of them as they entered the caves Nnedi led them to, and all her nervousness fled.
"The main cavern is this way," Nnedi called.
Curious faces began to peep out at them as they worked their way through the cave system. The roof opened up, soaring high into the darkness. She couldn't see where it ended, but there were no stars glittering there, so she guessed the roof was made of rock.
Dozens of people lingered in the main cavern. Several of the women wore brilliant blue outfits similar to Nnedi's, and most of them carried weapons of some description.
Colton moved through the crowd, and pale hands reached out to brush against him. Women's heads turned all across the main cavern, some of them standing to see him better. He looked a little unnerved by the attention, as if he was so used to living a life in the shadows that he'd never been looked at so openly.
"I think you're popular," Eden whispered. "It's those pretty eyes."
"It's the fact I'm not related to half of them," he muttered back, slipping his hand into hers and squeezing. "I told Nnedi about us."
Us?She met his gaze sharply.
"It's okay, angel," Colton muttered, staring at her intently. "No need to hide our relationship here. Nnedi knows you're my woman."
And he squeezed her hand.
Back to the whole "you're my woman" thing. She sighed. Ever since Nnedi arrived, she'd felt the threat level evaporate, but she wasn't certain she wanted to sleep alone. Not with CJ going to the infirmary, and dozens of wargs everywhere.
Plus, they needed to plan.
As lovely as the caves were, time was running out.
"What are we going to do?" she breathed in his ear, looking up as though examining the painted mural on the wall. "We can't stay here."
"We're not going anywhere tonight." He slung his arm around her waist, his hand resting laxly on the small of her back. Just a man hugging his woman. "We have to wait for this pack leader."
"Colton," she warned. He didn't understand. She'd already wasted too much time. Lily would be starting to suffer from the salt plague by now, and they hadn't even reached the other side of the Great Divide.
"I've counted sixty-three wargs," he whispered, brushing a curl behind her ear with his fingertips. "And that's so far. We can't run, angel. We don't know how many of them are out there, but from the sentries I saw posted, there's enough. They know the lay of the land, and Cole's not well. Be patient. We'll speak to the alpha as soon as he arrives and hopefully we'll be on our way come morning."
What if we're not? What if—?
Colton's fingers shivered over her cheek, alighting on her lips. Eden focused on him in surprise.
"I know you hate giving up control," he whispered, "but you have to trust me."
Eden bit her lip.
"Let's get a lay of the land," he murmured. "We need to know where the infirmary is, and how to get out of here. Don't get separated. We might have to leave at any time."
Sounded good to her.
At the end of the cavern, a pair of men waited for them, wearing dove-gray clothes. One of them had a shock of white hair, his eyebrows and lashes the exact same shade.
"Victor," Nnedi said, leaping up onto the dais in a single bound. "Where's Arik?"
"The alpha is hunting," said the albino, bowing his head. "You have found intruders?"
"Guests," Nnedi corrected.
"We will prepare quarters for them, and offer our healers for your friend." He bowed politely in their direction. "My name is Victor, and I am the seneschal of Shadow Rock."
