Austin visibly blanched and seized Skye’s arm. “We’re going back.Now!If we linger here, we’ll be trapped.”
Skye pulled against his grip. “What’s wrong with you? We’re already trapped. You saw the cave-in. The tunnel is blocked, Austin. And even if it wasn’t, I wouldn’t go with you. Our bargain isn’t sealed until I see them walk into the portal.”
He wrenched her closer, his face inches from hers, as his mask of civility fell away entirely. “You foolish, spoiled woman! You think I care about your ridiculous bargain? I’m not going to allow your stubbornness to get us killed.”
“Fine. Go. Save yourself, if you think you can.” Skye’s voice didn’t waver. “No one is holding you here. Although I’m not sure how you plan to get through several tons of collapsed rock.”
“Mark me.” Austin’s eyes narrowed to slits as he tightened his grip on her arm until she winced. “You will pay for your insolence.”
Noah took a step forward before conscious thought could deter gut instinct. Two of the guards responded, swords rising to block his path. But the other two, including the young one who’d explained the portal, retreated a step, their faces tight with fear and indecision.
“What are you waiting for?” Austin screamed at the guards, pointing to the blocked tunnel behind them. “Begin clearing. At once!”
The guards exchanged confused glances but didn’t move.
“You dare refuse me!” Austin bellowed. “I will have your heads.”
Still, they didn’t move, backing away from Austin to stand with the others against the far wall.
Austin sputtered with rage, helpless in the face of their mutiny. Finally, visibly shaking, eyes wild and darting around the tight space, he dropped onto a large boulder and shoved his trembling hands through his hair as he fought for control.
Seeing Austin begin to unravel almost turned Noah’s fury to pity.
Almost.
Instead, he forced himself to focus on what might come next. With the entire tunnel on the verge of collapse, if the portal did open, everyone would make a panicked scramble to get through all at once. What if they all had different destinations in mind?
How could he ensure Taran and Paige could get Emily where she needed to be?
He turned to the guard. “What happens if there are multiple people in the tunnel at the same time, wanting to go different places?”
The guard shrugged again. “I don’t know.” He glanced nervously at Austin. “We’re given specific assignments with time periods and places already scouted. Those with the same assignment go and return as a group.”
“Makes sense,” Taran said, turning to Finn. “I ken we’ll part here, then. Ye’ll wish tae return tae yer family, aye?”
“Aye.” Finn’s face revealed the toll all the years of loneliness and separation had taken. “I can’t deny that I miss them terribly. I’ve thought a lot about them since the idea of a viable portalarose. But, so many years have passed. Who knows where or what they might have moved on to. Or what fear and confusion my return might cause after so long.”
He looked at Emily’s still form in Taran’s arms, at Paige and Brody huddled against the wall. “But you are my family as well. So, myintentwill be simply to go where my family is. I’ll let the magic and wisdom of the portal decide which one.”
“Ye’ll always be a part o’ us, but if I dinnae see ye again, thank ye for helping save my,” he faltered for a fraction of a heartbeat, “our, family.”
Another deep rumble shuddered beneath them, and a small crash not far from Austin produced another blast of dust and rubble.
Taran turned his back to it, shielding Emily the best he could. Once the worst was over, he turned to Paige. “Up, Love. I ken ’tis somewhere past midnight. If the portal is goin’ tae appear a’tall, ’twill likely be soon.” He glanced up at the shattering ceiling then back at the group. “We should all be ready…for whatever comes.”
“What if it doesn’t open?” one of the guards shrieked as he stared at the widening cracks above them.
“If the portal doesnae open soon, I ken we should move tae the storage cave Austin mentioned.”
“And then?” Austin sneered from his perch on the boulder. “What exactly do you plan to do from there? All that is, is a bigger coffin.”
Taran gave him a look that could have sliced stone. “I’ll do whatever I can tae save my family, for as long as I can.”
“Fool,” Austin snorted, turning away.
Noah hurried to help Paige as she struggled to get up. With one arm curled tightly around Brody, she lost her balance and reached out, pressing her hand flat against the stone wall for support.
And sank through.
