Uncertainty scratched at Apollo’s blue eyes. “We shouldn’t go far.” His gaze raked the surrounding area before he jutted that stubbled jaw away from the broken-down Cruiser. “There’s a small rise over there. We might be able to see something.” Though he angled aside and held out a hand for her to go ahead, he glanced at the driver again with a furrowed brow.
Something inside her wanted to ease that tightness around his mouth and eyes. She searched for something cool to draw his focus to. Spotted zebras, the whites of their stripes all but glowing beneath the full moon. “Look,” she reached to him, and their hands smacked.
Apollo caught her fingers before she could yank away, and squeezed.
Her heart spasmed. Unintended, unexpected…wonderful. Afraid her expression might betray her feelings, she drew her hand back. Hugged herself, as if that might control how his touch made her nerves bounce.
“Zebras…?” he asked, taking in the view.
“Yeah,” she said, recovering her ability to breathe and talk.
This trip—never could she have dreamed of it or imagined it’d happen. Being hostage to House al-Zahrani wasn’t the ideal way in which to safari, but the splendor and majesty of the up-close wildlife was unparalleled.
Standing with him on the ridge, she held her hands together just beneath her chin, smiling, then a gliding movement caught her attention off to the side. She pointed there. “More giraffes.”
“There’s three,” Owen noted. “I think they’re the same ones we saw at the first stop.”
“Ah, I think you’re right,” she said with a tinge of disappointment. “It’s still amazing, isn’t it?”
“It’s fire,” he agreed. A banging from the driver and the Cruiser drew Owen’s stern gaze in that direction as the clanging echoed. He shook his head. “He should’ve had the radio replaced. Or the Cruiser.”
“I might not be a mechanic, but I’m pretty sure assaulting the engine with a tool isn’t the way to fix it,” she said with a snicker.
“Def not.”
Leighton watched the giraffes gliding along the park. “I saw a documentary one time about a giraffe in a wildlife refuge that was pretty sick. The veterinarians were working so hard to save her.” She batted her hair aside again. “Silly me, I was so positive they were going to succeed—why else would they be showing it? But the next thing I know, the giraffe’s neck just collapses. Like a wet noodle.” She shuddered, the memory still painful. “I cried out. It was the most horrific thing I’ve ever witnessed. Absolutely traumatized me. Never imagined when they died that their necks did that.”
Apollo watched the wildlife. “They truly are some of the most elegant beasts on earth. I’m glad those are healthy.”
“Sorry.” She sniffed a laugh. “A little too macabre for a special night like this, huh?” Her heart jarred at calling the night special—but it was. She felt so at peace, happy with the animals. With Apollo.
Silently, she thanked God for this small reprieve in the chaos.
“It’s poignant,” he said softly, as he stared out over the plains. “A good reminder that this”—he bobbed his head to the animals—“deserves due respect. Because even though it’s amazing and cool, we are trespassing on their domain.”
“True,” she whispered, then noticing that just over his shoulder, the area beyond the reach of the spotlight, shadows of gray and darkness morphed. Fluttered, swayed. She stilled, only then feeling a rumbling beneath her feet.
“What…?” She looked down and turned a circle. “What is that?”
“Keep still,” he rasped as heavy, thunderous vibrations closed in on them.
A concoction of disbelief, dread, and awe paralyzed her as the ground shook with violence. She heard rocks falling—including from beneath her own feet. She flung out her hands. “What?—?”
“Back, back, back,” he shouted, hand catching her waist as he stumbled backwards.
With a yelp, Leighton slipped, the ground giving way. She caught his sleeve and held on.
Apollo swung around to steady her, their feet sinking on shifting dirt and rocks that carried them down…down a dozen feet. The small avalanche steadied, and she looked at him, latched on to his arms, and gave a tremulous, disbelieving laugh.
“You good?” he asked, holding her firmly.
“Yeah. What was that?” When she looked up, expecting to see his blue eyes, she found him looking past her.
“Holy wow…”
She glanced over her shoulder and her breath backed into her throat—a baby elephant stood close, considering them with its dark eyes, fluttering its large ears at them.
Leighton drew in a long, stunned breath.
