Part 25 (1/2)

The woman gave a tiny nod.

aDo you know where the others are hiding?a Talon asked her.

aSome are down there,a she said, pointing to a room farther along the corridor. Then she walked cautiously toward the cave entrance.

When she was gone, Kenna took a few more steps into the cave, then stopped short.

aWhat?a Talon asked.

aI feel danger . . . but I donat know where itas coming from.a aThen letas go back.a She looked up and down the tunnel, expecting one of the slaves to come charging out at them with a knife in his hand.

aIs it my imagination, or is the floor vibrating under our feet?a Talon asked.

aI feel it, too.a Panic gripped her. aWe have to go back. Before itas too late.a As she spoke, a huge crack appeared in the ceiling right above her head, and small chunks of rock began to fall around her.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE.

KENNAaS GAZE MET Talonas, and she knew in that terrible moment that she was going to die. After all this.

But she hadnat counted on her mateas werewolf reflexes.

He grabbed her, pulling her out of the way and throwing his body over hers to s.h.i.+eld her as the cave shook around them and rock rained down.

When the ground stopped trembling, they were lying just beyond a pile of rubble.

aYou saved me,a she whispered.

He clutched her tighter. aThank G.o.d.a They clung together, her arms moving over his back and shoulders as she rea.s.sured herself that her mate was unharmed, and he did the same.

aWhat the h.e.l.l happened?a Talon finally asked.

Until that moment, she hadnat put it all together, but as the picture fell into place, she caught her breath.

aIt was Swee, Wendon, and Barthime. They used their psychic powers to bring the ceiling downa”on top of me.a aBut they were being . . . guarded.a aYes.a The sound of feet in the cave made them both turn. Zarah and Renata ran toward them.

aAre you all right?a Renata gasped out, looking over their shoulders at the chunks of rock lying on the floor.

aYes,a Kenna answered.

aThank the Great Mother.a aLetas get the h.e.l.l out of the cave,a Talon suggested, his voice gritty. aBefore something else goes wrong.a Kenna nodded, and they all started back to the exit.

Renata looked embarra.s.sed. aIam sorry. The power came from the three chief adepts.a aI know,a Kenna answered. aBut how could they do it?a aWe could feel that they were up to something, but we didnat know what it was. We tried to stop them, but we couldnat do it.a She gulped. aThey were prepared to die to accomplish their goal.a Kenna started running to the mouth of the cave. As soon as she saw the men who had tried to kill her, she gasped. They were all lying on the ground, their faces contorted in pain, their bodies unmoving.

She dragged in a breath and let it out. aI guess that was Vandaras final plan to get me, if all else failed.a aYeah, like the talisman,a Talon answered. He reached for her again and clasped her to him, and she swayed in his arms as the extent of Vandaras hatred sank in.

Finally, she said, aWe still have to get the rest of the slaves out of the cave.a aBut you donat have to do it personally,a Griffin answered. aIall have my men go in there.a Talon looked glad to hear the suggestion.

But Kenna felt her chest tighten. aThe slaves will think theyare Vandaras soldiers.a aNot for long,a Talon muttered. Unable to leave it at that, he bent toward her and added, aDo you think you could stay out of danger for a little while? For me?a Catching the deep emotion in his voice, she took a moment to steady herself. aYes. For you.a aThen letas go home.a aHome?a She gave him a long look. aYou mean, to your world?a His gaze stayed fixed on her. aI hope you want to go there with me.a aG.o.ds, yes.a She swallowed. aBut Iad like my parents to know Iam okay.a aWe can send a messenger to Breezewood,a Griffin said. aThen, when the situation here has settled down, you can visit them in person.a aIad be very grateful. Thank you so much,a Kenna said. aMy father is Becker. He has a boot and sandal shop very close to the city gate. You donat mind sending someone?a aOf course not. And when you come back, I suggest going through at the portal near Logan and Rinnaas house. If you travel to Sun Acres together, that will be safer. Then we can send you with a party to Breezewood.a aThank you,a Kenna replied, overwhelmed at the way these people were willing to help her.

As she looked around, she saw that everybody was finally starting to relax. And Talon looked eager to leave.

aReady?a he asked.

aVery ready,a she answered. Finally, it was sinking in that she was free to do what she wanted.

The Marshalls spent a few more minutes discussing the cleanup operation with Griffin, who was obviously an excellent administrator.

Talon glanced toward the small cave that hid the portal. aCan we get back through?a aRinna, Olivia, and Antonia already took the seal off,a Griffin answered.

Kenna kicked up the blackened ground with one foot. aHe could have sealed it from the other side, too,a she murmured. aWhy did he let me back in?a Talonas jaw tightened. aArrogance, I a.s.sume. He was sure he could deal with a mere mortal like you. He was wrong.a aHe could have dealt with me.a Kenna looked around at the people who had come through with her and the ones from her world who had joined them. aAll of you made the difference. Thank you so much.a aHe was a threat to all of us,a Ross answered, then added, aRamsay Gallagher went back to our world while you were in the cave.a aThis place disturbs him,a Kenna said. aHe doesnat like to think that he could have become like Vandar.a She looked at Talon, but he only gave her a small nod.

aRenata explained that heas the same being,a Griffin said. aThat he was also in your universe where head lived for centuries.a aYes. Itas a weird concept,a Kenna answered.

They made plans to get together in the next month. After the men shook hands and the women embraced, the Marshalls and their mates started back to the portal.

Once again, Kenna opened it, this time feeling a sense of wonder that she was leaving this place as a free woman.

AFTER stepping through, Talon took a deep breath and let it out. aIam always glad to get back from a trip.a He laughed. aNever more than today.a aYeah,a Ross agreed.

They all started down the hill to the lodge, but they had only covered a small part of the distance when Talon heard sounds coming from the forest.

aChrist, now what?a he muttered.

They all tensed when two police officers stepped into view.

aStop right there,a one of them called out.

aWhatas going on?a Ross asked in a low voice.

aItas the two cops who interviewed me about the money Mitch Sutton stole,a Talon said, also speaking so his voice wouldnat carry. Kenna moved closer to him, and he knew a confrontation with the authorities was the last thing she wanted.

aLet me handle this,a he said.

aOkay,a Ross answered.

Both officers stepped up to them, giving them a hard look.

aWhere have you been?a the one named Eckert asked.

Talon didnat miss a beat. aIave been teaching some of my family wilderness camping techniques.a The cop gave them all a long look, probably taking in their disheveled appearance. aOh yeah, whereas your campsite?a aWe donat have one. Weave been foraging and sleeping where we could.a aDid you see a guy around here acting suspicious?a Eckert asked. aHeas about five-eight. Dark hair. We didnat get close enough to see his eye color. Dressed in a dark T-s.h.i.+rt and jeans.a aNo.a aHe was poking around the rocks up there in back of you. Then he disappeared. Youare sure you didnat see him?a aAbsolutely. We just got here.a aAnd what about a green streak of light in the sky a few nights ago. Do you know anything about that?a aNo. Maybe it was kids setting off firecrackers?a Talon gestured toward the people with him. aI worked this gang pretty hard, and wead like to get home and shower.a The cops looked at each other, then back at him. aYouall be here if we need you?a aUnless Iam out on a trip.a Without waiting for permission, Talon stepped around them. The rest of the group followed.

Beside him, Kenna breathed out a deep sigh. aDonat we have to . . . respect them?a she whispered when they were fifty yards away.

aIn this world, they have to respect us.a The group walked into the lodge, where they repaired to different bedroom suites to clean up.

A half hour later, when they were back in the living room, Ross said, aI have a contact who created an ID for Rinna. I can do the same for Kenna, if you want.a aIad appreciate it.a Talon had been wondering how they were going to handle that.