Jayne Castle [Jayne Ann Krentz] by Crystal Flame

Author:Crystal Flame [Flame, Crystal]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2010-07-24T02:22:32+00:00

TEN

Ridge had suffered a gamut of emotions in the short time since he had discovered Kalena had not

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returned from the underground spa. A few of them, the ones that bordered on panic, were completely

new to him.

For the second night in a row, he found himself wondering if she had simply fled. But even as the thought

entered his mind, he didn't believe it. He knew Kalena too well now. If she decided to leave, she would

announce her intentions in a loud, clear voice— a very loud, clear voice. She would not sneak off in the

middle of the night. That certainty gave way to a strong dose of annoyance over the fact that she hadn't

displayed more common sense. She had stayed out much too late. This was a strange village and she had

no business loitering with strangers until all hours.

Women. Put a bunch of them together and they lost all sense of time and propriety.

But after the annoyance, Ridge suddenly found himself suffering from a nagging sense of uncertainty. It

had evolved quickly into genuine urgency which, in turn, soon bordered on the savage edge of fear. No

one knew where Kalena was. He had forced the innkeeper's wife to summon some of her friends. They

remembered Kalena having been in the pool cave, but only when Ridge talked to a rounded little blonde

named Tana did he realize that Kalena might have gotten lost in the huge caverns.

"She was still there when I left," Tana admitted. She was nervous in the presence of this stranger whose

temper was clearly on a very short leash. "I think she might have been the last to leave."

"If she left at all," Ridge had snapped, glaring at Tana's wary-eyed husband as he sought someone to

blame for the situation.

"She couldn't have gotten lost," Tana assured him quickly. "The cave is well lighted and so is the exit

passage. Perhaps she's fallen asleep in the warm waters or lost track of time."

"I'll get you a lamp if you want to take a look for yourself," Tana's husband had volunteered, anxious to

placate the grim-faced stranger.

A few minutes later, Ridge had been on his way alone to the cavern entrance. As soon as he stepped

inside he had realized that the lamps meant to light the passage weren't functioning. Not one of them. The

thought of Kalena trapped somewhere in the vast darkness had sent another jolt of fear through Ridge.

Following the string of non-glowing firegel lamps to the main pool cavern had been easy. Using his own

lamp as a guide, he made his way quickly through the passage. As soon as he rounded the last bend in

the tunnel, he had seen the faint flare of Kalena's lamp. The sight of her crouched in the small pool of light

had enraged him anew. He wanted to lash out at someone or something for having left his woman in such

a frightening situation. He knew his own sense of guilt was riding him hard. He should never have allowed

her to go to the cavern alone.

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