Touch of Night by Carin Rafferty

Author:Carin Rafferty
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BelleBooks Inc.
Published: 2017-07-14T00:00:00+00:00

Twelve

Lord, what fools these mortals be!

—William Shakespeare, A Midsummer-Night’s Dream 3.2.115

DESPITE LUCIEN’S insistence that she relax, Ariel became anxious when Galen led her into the woods. She tried to keep track of where they were going, but they kept hitting forks that branched off in at least two and sometimes as many as five different directions. When they reached what had to have been at least the dozenth fork, Ariel accepted that she was lost. What if Galen abandoned her? She’d never find her way back!

Don’t worry. Galen isn’t going to abandon you, but if he does, I’ll lead you back, Lucien reassured her.

Unless you’re conniving with Galen, she proposed darkly.

She would have never believed that a long-suffering sigh could be mentally communicated, but that was exactly what she sensed as Lucien said—thought—Ariel, stop being melodramatic.

Before she could respond, Galen led her into a clearing, and she saw the entrance to a cave. She hated caves—or, more accurately, their inhabitants. When he began guiding her toward it, she came to an abrupt halt and again tried to tug her arm out of his hand.

This time he released her and eyed her in puzzlement. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t go into caves,” she answered. “I don’t like bats or any other creatures that live in them.”

He grinned. “There aren’t any cave creatures in there, Ariel. I can also guarantee that once you see the inside, you’ll be happy you went in.”

Go in, Ariel. Galen’s right. There are no creatures in there.

I’m not going into a cave!

I thought you wanted to rescue your brother.

Are you saying Armand is in there?

No, but Galen is up to something. In order for me to figure out what it is you have to do what he asks.

“Ariel, if you’re really afraid of caves, we don’t have to go in,” Galen said, interrupting her mental dispute with Lucien. “It’s just that it’s such a fantastic natural phenomenon, I wanted to show it to you.”

She still hesitated, and then cursed inwardly when Lucien taunted, Are you going in, Ariel, or are you going to let your fears take priority over your brother’s rescue?

“Ariel,” Galen broke in, “do you want to go back to town?”

That was exactly what Ariel wanted to do, but Lucien’s taunt had hit its mark. Armand was what was important, even if it meant braving bats and other disgusting cave dwellers.

“I think I would like to see the cave,” she said, walking to the entrance before she could lose her nerve.

She had to crouch to enter, and she followed a small circular passage to the right. Within moments she was in the cave itself. Straightening, she gasped as she took in the magnificent crystalline interior. Was this where Lucien’s crystal had come from?

“I told you there were no creatures in here,” Galen announced as he came in behind her. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Ariel murmured in awe. “Where is the light coming from?”

“It’s some type of organic phosphorescence. Don’t ask me for the particulars.

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