Be Not Afraid by Alyssa Cole

Author:Alyssa Cole [Cole, Alyssa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Alyssa Cole

Chapter 5

Elijah hadn't meant to kiss Kate, but after he’d taken that step toward her and closed the space between them, he’d wondered how he could possibly have done anything else. Everything within him shifted hard and fast in her direction as soon as their lips touched, like a horse pulling against the reins with all its might. His chest had pulled tight and every part of him had wanted to know her. Carnally, yes, but in every other way, too. He’d seen the hurt in her eyes, the deep pain that was just as much a part of her as her barbed words. He hadn’t pitied her—Kate wasn’t the kind of woman who would sit well with that—but he’d been moved all the same.

That the sweetness of their kiss had been chased by bitter sorrow had only galvanized the need for her, the hope for more than any man could rightly expect. Life could end quickly, brutally, and with no warning, but sometimes it could offer you something that gave all the difficulties new meaning.

Kate. Katie. Infuriating and alluring, somber and solid and seemingly made for him. There was no room for a woman like her in his future, but Elijah wanted her all the same.

After the chaos had died down, when he’d seen her clutching Lettie’s daughter like a woman lost in an all-encompassing fog, he’d known he couldn’t leave her. Something in the woman had laid him low, and although she didn’t need his help, he wanted to provide it all the same.

Thus, only one of the prisoners had accepted Bellamy’s offer and defected to the British’s Colored encampment: Elijah himself. Bellamy had been impressed with his handling of the panicked horse and offered him a position caring for the officers’ steeds on the condition that he renounce his ties with the Colonists. It took every ounce of Elijah’s strength to endure the hatred of his compatriots in the aftermath of such a treacherous decision.

He’d hoped the British would accept his sham turncoating without question, but it galled that his fellow Patriots so easily fell for his ruse. However, being free to wander the camp had an additional benefit, apart from proximity to Kate: it meant he could cobble together an escape plan for the men. Elijah endured their recriminations—the angry words only made him work faster. A few had already been transported to the prison ships, but Elijah had finally put everything in place to free the others. He could only hope that by doing so, he would regain their trust.

And what about Kate? Can you truly leave her behind?

Elijah felt the warm, humid breath of his latest charge on his neck as he walked forward, paused, and took two steps to the side. He didn’t have to look behind him to know that the great nutmeg-colored beast mimicked his footsteps. He'd worked with her for the better part of a week, and he was damned good at what he did. She was already capable of more, much more, but this simple demonstration was for entertainment.

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