Page 72 of High Noon

I tried. For her. Again and again. I cut Maru’s healing skin three more times before I pursed my lips and threw the knife across the room with a curse I’m sure rattled Enoch’s nerves. “I can’t do it. I’m sorry.”

Maru blew out a shaky breath. “You tried.”

“And failed.” I hated to fail. “I’ll keep thinking. Maybe something will click,” I promised.

Eve hugged Maru. I was glad that she’d stopped talking crazy, asking me to rip her tech out, once I suggested Enoch would be waiting for her in our time – a time with much more advancements in medicine, surgery, and life in general. And that he would catch her. I hoped he heard that part loud and clear and would act on it. Make plans. Execute them.

Eve pulled away from Maru. Suddenly, he stood and gasped, clutching his stomach.

“What’s wrong?” Eve yelled, slowly standing up.

And then… Maru disappeared.

“Holy shit.”

Eve looked all around the room. “Did they pull him?”

“Yeah, I think so…”

I tugged my stolen shirt and pants off. If I was going home, I wanted to do it in my suit, not smelling like a drunken old fart who hadn’t bathed in months.

“Do you feel okay?” I asked her.

“I don’t know. My heart is beating so fast,” she answered, holding a hand over her heart like she was trying to keep it caged in her chest.

In an instant, Enoch was beside her, stroking her face. Telling her he would catch her, that I was right and not to worry.

Minutes dragged by and Eve managed to calm down with Enoch’s reassurance. “I don’t feel anything,” she said. “Do you?”

I concentrated. “No. I feel normal.”

“We aren’t linked. They’re pulling us one at a time.”

“Three landing at once would be a bit much…” I agreed.

I stood, waiting to be jerked through time and space, which hurt like hell, but still wasn’t as bad as landing. It wasn’t even a conscious sort of pain. It was like there was a body-mind disconnect during travel, but an awareness of the torment the body was going through. It was bizarre.

Enoch was tense as he stared at Eve expectantly.

I felt like a major third wheel, but wanted to stay with her in case they pulled one of us. Blowing out a breath, I waited…

And waited.

And relaxed, because nothing happened.

The haze of sunset faded away, replaced by a cool blue outside the window. Eve looked at me. “Yarrow pulled him.”

I nodded. “Maybe so.”

“What do you want to do?” she asked.

I shrugged. “I have no idea whatsoever. I guess we just hang out until Kael or Yarrow decides to yank one of us home.”

* * *

Eve

Titus told me to meet him downstairs. He didn’t want to let me out of his sight, but Mary cooked dinner and he wanted to eat before we left. In case it was the last time…

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