Page 79 of The Promise
He shook his head. "It doesn't make sense. I just crossed into your time,andleft the tunnel. And when I found you in the snow we were outside the tunnel."
"So maybe you're the time traveler, not me."
He sat down beside her, staring out at the sunlight. "But, you can see the sunlight, can't you? You can touch the lantern. They're both in my time."
He held the lantern out and she ran one finger along the base, a tiny flicker of hope blossoming within her. "But that's only in the tunnel."
He blew out a breath. "Well then it must be something to do with the locket."
She felt hope die. "Great. It's buried under ten tons of twenty-first century rock."
He wrapped an arm around her. "Cara, we're not giving up that easily."
"But I don't see how…"
"We'll try going out together." She opened her mouth to argue, but he covered her lips with a finger. "If that doesn't work, we'll figure out something else. I'm not leaving you."
"But your brother…" How could she expect him to choose?
He met her gaze, his eyes reflecting an emotion she suddenly found herself wanting desperately to identify. "I'mnotgoing to leave you." He grabbed her hand, his fingers wrapping securely around hers. "Ready?"
She nodded and allowed him to pull her forward slowly. She concentrated on the swaying green of the spruce tree. The warmth from Michael's hand radiated up her arm, infusing her with courage. One step at a time.
She stepped again and a wrenching pain seared up her arm. She jerked back, rocks scraping her. It was almost as if she was pulling her arm out of the debris. Black descended again, but this time the accompanying fear was duller, more resolute. Some part of her had already known what the outcome would be.
"Michael? Can you hear me?"
It happened like before. One minute it was dark, and the next, the cavern was filled with light, the change occurring so quickly it made her dizzy. Michael swept her into his arms, the force of his embrace lifting her off the ground, cradling her against his chest. "We're going again. Hold on tight." His voice was strained with anxiety.
"I can't."
"Yes you can." His tone brooked no argument. "You just have to hold onto me. I won't let anything happen to you. Believe inme, Cara."
She tried to push her doubts aside, wrapping her arms around his neck, comforted by the smell and feel of him. "Are you ready?" She nodded, afraid to say anything, feeling his muscles tighten and bunch as he prepared to run.
The dark was almost overpowering this time. She could feel it all around her. The stones scraped her arms and legs, the weight of all the rock crushing down on her. She tried to focus her thoughts on Michael, to hold tightly to him, but she could no longer feel him, only the darkness. It ebbed and flowed around her. Cold. So cold. She tried to fight it, to hold on, to find Michael, but there was nothing but the icy darkness and the crushing weight of the rock. She knew she was dying, was certain of it somewhere deep inside, and with a soft sigh, she let go.
"Cara, sweetheart, can you hear me?"Her hands felt like ice. He rubbed them between his own, willing her to open her eyes and look at him. Her breathing was shallow, but right now any movement was a positive sign.
He closed his eyes, for a moment reliving the absolute terror of their exit from the tunnel. He'd actually felt her being ripped from his arms. He'd tightened his grip, his muscles twisting with pain as he'd struggled to maintain his hold.
He shook his head. He'd taken a huge risk, literally dragging her into his time, but she was safe, and right now that was what mattered most. He opened his eyes and studied the porcelain texture of her face. Even asleep she was beautiful. His heart rateincreased as he thought again how close he had come to losing her. Nothing was as important as keeping her alive. Nothing.
She moaned, the small sound seeming to reverberate off of his soul. With a flicker, her eyes opened and she looked up at him. "Michael? Where are we?"
He helped her sit up, keeping an arm around her. "Judging from the size of the spruce, I'd say we're back in my time."
Fear flickered across her face, but almost as quickly it was gone, and she smiled hesitantly. "As long as we're out of that tunnel, I'm happy to be anywhere."
He ran a gentle hand along the line of her jaw. "I thought for a minute there I was going to lose you."
She shivered, lost in memory, then squared her shoulders meeting his gaze. "But you didn't."
"I'm sorry about all this." He waved a hand in the direction of the spruce, the little tree signifying everything.
"We've covered that ground before. You've saved me—again. Right now that's all that matters, that and finding your brother." She met his gaze squarely. "When the time comes, I'll find my way home."
Michael winced. He couldn't, wouldn't think about losing Cara again. Not now. Maybe not ever. He'd just have to find a way to convince her to stay.
