He looked up.
He couldn’t see the opening anymore. Had no idea what direction to take. He spun to tell Eos.
She was gone.
His heartbeat was a frantic pounding in his ears. He’d lost her. He yelled her name, but it was snatched away by the wind and sand.
He’d lost her.
They were lost in hell.
Fuck.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Dathan gritted his teeth. No fucking way he was going to let his panic win.
He had to find Eos.
But he stood in the roaring sand like his legs had turned to stone. Memories of another storm bombarded him.
Then arms wrapped around him from behind, and he jolted.
Lips brushed his jaw. “Got you.”
Eos grabbed his hand, and he squeezed hard.Thank fuck. He wondered if he was breaking her fingers.
“Come on,” she shouted.
They pushed against the wind and finally reached the opening. It hadn’t been far, only a few feet ahead. He pushed her in front of him, and soon they were in a cave-like space. The sound of the storm was muffled.
“Jesus.” He was shaking. “When I lost you…” He pulled her into his arms, pressing his chin to her sand-dusted hair. She was safe. They were both safe. That’s all that mattered.
“Let’s get away from the door,” she said.
He led her deeper into the room and urged her to sit. She should never have been in that storm. What the hell had hebeen thinking? He should have planned better. Monitored the weather conditions more closely. He knew better.
He tapped his Sync. “Nik? Zayn? We were forced to take shelter.”
There was no response.
A muscle ticked in his jaw.
“The storm’s blocking communication?” she asked quietly.
“Yeah.” Tension strung his muscles tight. He couldn’t stay still. The howl of the wind was a sound he hated. He eyed the opening and the sand ripping past. He started to pace the small space. He could only manage four steps before he had to turn.
“Dathan?”
He grunted but didn’t stop his movement.
“Come and sit down.”
He shook his head.
“Hey.” She held out a hand. “I don’t know what happened to you in that sandstorm on Sha’ra, but let me help. I’ve leaned on you plenty.”
Pausing, he took a deep breath and glanced her way. He stared at her outstretched hand. He wasn’t used to leaning on anybody. His brothers, sure, but a lifetime with his father had taught him that it was better to depend on himself.
