Jewel Of Atlantis

“Jesus. Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?”

“My mother’s dead.” She said it simply, merely stating a fact.

“God, Jewel, I’m sorry.” Contrite, he reached out and wrapped his fingers around her forearm, squeezing gently. The heat of his grip banished any lingering cold caused by the wind. “I never would have said that if I’d known.”

“It happened so long ago, I barely remember her.”

“Still, I shouldn’t have said it and I’m sorry.”

His hand left her, and she heard the zip of his bag, a rustle of movement, a crack—almost like glass breaking. A golden glow of light erupted, surrounding them in a luminescent halo. Gray held a long, thin tube, she saw, eyelids closing to half-mast to dim the bright rays.

“What is that?” The object fascinated her, as she’d never seen its like. It looked as if he were holding pure fire in his hands.

“It’s got a technical name, but I just call it a glow stick.” Gray’s gaze met hers, and he claimed her fascination. The cloth he’d worn on his head had slipped off, so his pale hair was plastered to his scalp. Streaks of green and black paint remained on his cheeks, but most of it had washed away.

Droplets of water trickled from his forehead to his nose, then onto the leaves. His lashes were black and spiky, his eyes a liquid silver, as mesmerizing as the water itself. Her gaze devoured him.

He smoothed away a dark strand of hair from her cheek. His fingers were callused but, oh, so gentle. The night air should have made her miserable by this point, but the chill barely touched her wet body. A growing sense of warmth and lassitude wove through her, starting exactly where he’d touched her.

As he studied her, his lips dipped into a frown. “Have we met before? I mean, sometimes when I look at you, I’d swear I’ve seen you before.”

She’d dreamed of just such a circumstance, of meeting him; she’d wanted it, craved it, but the answer was an unequivocal no. “I promise you, we have never met in person until this night.”

“Still.” He shrugged away the mystery. “Be honest. Are you really all right?”

“Yes. Promise. How do you feel?” She longed to reach out and trace her fingers over his face.

Had the poisons begun weakening him yet?

The question popped into her mind, reminding her that they had not yet escaped all danger. Had the demon and vampire poison already begun to interweave, clashing together, fighting for dominance? Destroying Gray little by little?

Nausea churned in her stomach, rising to fill her throat. She could not let this wonderfully alive man die. There had to be a way…something to do…but at the moment, no miraculous answer came to her.

Arms stretching over his head, he twisted each vertebra of his spine. “I’m good to go. Stronger than ever.”

He did look healthy and capable, his skin bright with color, his eyes sparkling. Maybe the venoms wouldn’t affect him, she thought hopefully. Maybe she worried for nothing.

“Come on,” he said. “We’ve hung around here too long. We need shelter ASAP.”

He pushed to his feet with the agility of a jungle cat and readjusted his bag over his shoulder, one hand continuing to keep the glow stick elevated, lighting the surrounding area.

She, too, pushed up, her movements a bit slower and less sprightly than his. As she shifted her weight to her feet, her knees shook. Dizziness struck her, and she massaged her fingertips into her temple.

Gray wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her up. “Lean on me.”

“I’ll be fine,” she said, stepping from him. Gods, he’d felt so good, but she would not be a hindrance. He’d had enough of those in his life. At last her vision cleared, and she said, “I can lead us to shelter. Follow me.”

“With pleasure. Your robe is sticking to your skin, so I can see the outline of your a—”

“Gray!”

He chuckled.

“Your gaze better remain straight ahead.”

“Ah, come on. Cage Prudence, and let Blaze come out and play.”

Smothering a laugh, Jewel moved in front of him, her hands covering the object in question. “We’ll need to stay along the river’s edge.”

“Take your time. I’ll just be enjoying the view. Your fingers don’t hide anything, baby.”