Time Raiders: The Slayer by Cindy Dees

Author:Cindy Dees
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2009-09-28T07:00:00+00:00

They rode hard through the day, taking only two rest stops. Each time, Rustam worked on the horses, passing his hands over them and noticeably refreshing the beasts. She half wished he’d offer to do the same for her. But after what had happened to her when he’d passed his hands over her like that last night, maybe that wasn’t such a good idea. She didn’t need to be any more sensitive and tender than she already was.

Sometime in the early afternoon, she became aware of a faint salt smell in the air. The day grew muggy and uncomfortable as the sun rose higher overhead, beating down upon them mercilessly. They must be getting close to the coast. Which meant they were also getting close to Thermopylae. The name sent a thrill shivering through her—it was arguably one of the most famous battlefields in all of recorded history. And she was about to walk upon its hallowed sands. Before it was sanctified with the blood of heroes.

Rustam murmured over his shoulder—the first time he’d spoken to her all day. “Bring Cygna up here beside me.”

They picked their way along the floor of a winding valley. With the exception of plentiful scree, the going was fairly easy. She urged her mare forward, and Cygna obediently moved up next to Polaris.

Tessa arched an eyebrow at Rustam but said nothing. If he wanted to get over his sulk and be civil with her, he could make the first move.

He surprised her by holding out a hand to her, palm up. Without looking at her, he said, “Give me your hand.”

He seemed to be concentrating fiercely on something—something that worried him more than a little. There was a time and a place for picking fights, and one for just following orders. She sensed that this was the latter. Rather than distract him, she reached out for him without arguing.

The moment their hands touched, that wild swirl of energy leaped and jumped around them both. The horses threw their heads up sharply, but settled quickly. Steady beasts, both of them.

Rustam continued to study the mountains intently. Finally, he muttered, “Greek patrol off to the west. They haven’t spotted us. If we can get out of this valley in the next few minutes, we’ll be clear of them.”

His hand dropped away from hers and the indigo energy between them dissipated. He urged Polaris into a careful trot. Cygna followed suit, and Tessa focused all her attention on helping the mare navigate the uneven ground. They slowed only when Rustam spotted an overhang high up the side of the valley and headed for it.

They had to dismount and lead the horses up the last part of the climb out of the valley. But they made it to the deep shade of a broad rock before anyone came along to spot them. Tessa was breathing as hard as her horse and grateful for the rest as they waited in their makeshift hiding spot.

Rustam held out his hand again. Wordlessly, she laid her palm in his.

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