Page 146 of Tempting Fate

He sucked in a breath, then let it out in a jagged stutter. “Which ones?”

Which ones? “What do you mean?”

He kept his voice calm. “There are the two kri’ith. But a moment ago there was a third. Moving much faster.”

“Another kri’ith?”

He refreshed the details, growled, and did it again. “It does not say what.”

“How can it not know?”

“An unknown species?”

“You mean like a…”

“Shadow stalker,” we both said.

Airida squeezed my hand. “They’re all far enough away as long as we keep moving.”

Keep moving. Our pursuers were gaining on us, and I was the reason; I was much slower than Airi—and whoever was after us.

His hand tapped mine, and I took it, letting him haul me upright.

“They’re going to catch us,” I said. “I’m too slow.”

“Let me carry you.”

“That will slow you down and tire you out.” Pride rankled at me. I was capable, I just wasn’t fast, dammit.

“I can carry you for a short time, then you walk again. Moonlight, this is no time for you to bluster about how proficient you are. And you are exhausted, do not tell me you are not. This is logical.”

“Any excuse to hold me.”

He hoisted me up in a bridal carry and dropped a swift kiss on my lips. “You know it.”

I did—and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I dozed in his arms, letting the rhythm of his steps lull me, as if all the pains and worries would quiet, just for now.

“Imani.” Airida pressed his lips to my forehead. “Wake up, my love, let me put you down.”

He lowered me gently, supporting me until he was sure I stood on steady legs.

I put my arm around his waist as we checked the datapad.

“There are only two, and we’ve maintained distance between us,” Airida said. “Can you continue?”

Like we had a choice. “Yeah.”

The path opened out into another cavern similar to the ballroom, but we couldn’t spare the time to appreciate its beauty. Another time, we’d have wanted to examine the new plants here, but we paced on, not allowed to care, focusing on one step in front of the other.

Another tunnel, this one with a small stream running down the rocky floor.

A small rockslide that we had to pick carefully around.

More passageways.

A new cavern.