Part 6 (1/2)

Safe life. Safe friends. Safe four-legged pals.

Archer wasn't safe.

As if she'd summoned him, he materialized in front of her, emerging from the

tall reeds a dozen or so yards ahead. He was dressed in the same plain dark pants, boots, and s.h.i.+rt, yet he still managed to look like some sort of exotic

woodland creature. Maybe it was those eyes, the way they commanded without realizing it. Or maybe he fully realized it. Probably he did. Maybe it was that accent of his.

Or maybe it was because he claimed to be from the future.

Whatever the reason, she stopped dead, immediately looking behind him for

the old man. Somehow, even though Baleweg spooked her plenty, she felt safer with him.There was that word again. Safe. Had she really felt so threatened by the rest of the world? Yes. The answer was immediate. And true.

She'd always felt she was a misfit, but she'd never a.s.sociated her inherent discomfort around most people with actual fear. She'd attributed it to her years

in the orphanage. And her ”gift.” Who wouldn't feel like an outcast with that combo? And it wasn't as if she hadn't gotten over it, found her niche.

But now she realized a certain fear had been there, creeping beneath the

surface of all her decisions. Had her mother fed that fear? Talia would have said no if asked a week ago. But now she wouldn't be so quick to deny it. What had her mother been running from? Whatever the threat had been... did it still exist?

He was sent here to kill you.

Her gaze flew to Archer's, as if he'd spoken the words again. Whatever threats might have hovered about her young life, Talia had no doubt she was facing a real one now. ”What do you want?” It came out sharp, but with at least as much temper as fear.

”G'day to you, too, Ms. Trahaern,” he said, tipping his fingers to his brow. Then the light disappeared from his eyes and the dark intensity returned. ”I believe you know exactly what I want.”

”I thought lives were in danger. You certainly took long enough to come back.” Talia snapped her mouth shut. She'd sounded for all the world like she was whining that he'd left her alone so long. And maybe she was. Dealing with Archer and getting this over with had to be better than what she'd been putting herself through. She didn't bother asking how he'd found her here.

”There were things to be taken care of first.”

Jimmy's face flashed through her mind. She tried not to think about that.

”Where is Baleweg?”

”I came alone.”

”Does he know you're here?”

”He's not my keeper.”

He was too defensive. Meaning the old man ran the show. Interesting.

”Speaking of keepers, where is your dog?”

”My dog?” He looked at her blankly. ”Oh, you mean Ringer. With Baleweg.”

Talia frowned. He'd forgotten he owned a dog? Maybe the little mutt had just

been a prop of sorts, to get close to her. Her opinion of him lowered further.”I a.s.sume you've thought about what we told you.”I haven't been thinking about anything else, she wanted to shout. Instead she eyed him evenly. ”Some.”

He propped both hands on his hips now. ”And?”

Something about his att.i.tude just jerked her chain. Despite the fact that she

was out here alone with him, and he was capable of G.o.d knew what, she just couldn't resist poking back at him. Maybe it was the blasted accent. She mimicked his posture. ”And what? I'm just supposed to believe your fantastic tales and run off to the future with you? Save the queen, rescue the planet, and

all that rot? Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm no superhero. You'll have to find another solution to your problem.”

He stalked toward her. ”We have no other solution.”

It took all of her willpower and courage to stand her ground. He stopped several feet in front of her, but what s.p.a.ce was left between them fairly vibrated with the tension emanating from him. From them.

”You can't honestly expect me to just up and walk away from my life here to go with you on some insane journey to-” She couldn't say it out loud again. To the future. It was so absurd she should be laughing hysterically at the mere suggestion. Only when she looked into Archer's eyes, she didn't feel remotely like laughing. Somehow, looking into those dark eyes, the fantastic didn't seem so impossible.

”It's not forever. You would be able to return.”

He looked away, only for a second, but it was a telling break.