The Judas Relic: An Evangeline Heart Holiday Adventure (16 page)

I wish I’d have taken the time to get a better view of the backside of the hill when we were on top. “Where are these people coming from?”

“The city,” Rom answers with a grunt as the horse leaps forward. “They went in to trade early this morn, but know the river will trap them if they don’t cross before the storm.”

I glare at him. Just “mere rain,” my ass. He knew this was coming.

He scowls back, the unsaid threat clear.
Do not alarm Aurelia any more than you already have.

Then stop working against me.
I scowl back.

He breaks contact as Aurelia says, “Those people will die if she speaks the truth. We cannot let them.”

Rom stiffens and glances at me. Now the unsaid is worry and a plea.

I’m in agreement and grip Aurelia’s elbow. “You can’t go. I’m here to keep you safe. There’s no way I’m letting you anywhere near that water.”

She leans dangerously over the edge of the chariot. “But all those poor people.”

I open my mouth and close it again. Nothing I can say will make this easier. But I can’t exactly stand here and watch them die, either.

“Will you stay?” I ask her. “If Rom and I go to save them, will you stay put?”

She sucks her lower lip between her teeth and nods. “I promise.”

A worried pallor lightens the skin around Rom’s cheekbones. “This is a bad idea. We need to worry about Aurelia.”

“But those people—” she says.

“Are not you,” Rom says, interrupting and lowering his intense gaze until their noses almost touch.

She plants her hands on her hips, lifts her chin, and glares back, managing to look imposing. “You will obey me, Rom.”

He crosses his arms and mimics her. “I obey your father.”

“Fine, then I’ll tell him you killed hundreds of people today and put me in danger.”

His flinch is nearly imperceptible. If anything, he increases in size. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Would, too.”

“Seconds matter here, people,” I say, interrupting. “Aurelia, I agree with Rom. Your safety is paramount.”

“Look.” She points toward an outcropping on the other side of the road. “Take me there and I’ll wait. I promise not to stray.”

The spot isn’t as high as I’d like, but we might have plenty of time to get her out of here before the water rises much more. Unless something goes wrong.

A shiver coils around my spine. This is stupid. I need to get her safe, not the rest of these people. Ilif would never let a tourist get in the way of an arc. “No.”

“Please.” She grabs my arm and tugs. “All these children. Please.”

The plea in her voice breaks my heart, and for no other reason than because Ilif wouldn’t, I relent. Unless Rom tells her no.

Rom uncrosses his arms. “Five attempts,” he says. “After that, we go.”

Dammit.

She looks to me for a counter, but I nod. An uneasy nausea builds as she beams and kisses our cheeks. First mine and then Rom’s, with a lingering touch at his jawline.

Even though I avoid his attention, there’s no mistaking Rom’s glare as he urges the horse toward the outcropping. “Use your magic if it will keep her safe.”

I clench my jaw. This is beyond stupid. I assume his reference to five “attempts” gives me less than fifteen minutes. Barely enough time to alert everyone near the bridge and get the stragglers across it, but hopefully it’s enough for Aurelia.

Rom eases us back through the swarm of people until the outcropping edges alongside the chariot. Raindrops slide down my forehead and drip from my jaw, but I’ve stopped trying to stay dry.
 

Hordes of travelers bump against our metal basket, making it sway and rock in the wheelset. Any confidence I’ve had in its construction wanes. Every small movement grates on my nerves, and I can almost hear the second hand of an invisible clock ticking loudly beside my ear.

The horse prances in time to the second hand, our own personal metronome of impending doom.

Aurelia turns to Rom. “Be safe. Please come back to me. . .”

He lifts a dark hand to her porcelain cheek, but halts before making contact, leaving a stretch of air between them. Aurelia presses forward, closing the inches. His caress is butterfly soft. “I must come back. Who else will keep you from trouble?”

She doesn’t laugh at his weak attempt at levity, but curls her slim fingers around his, answering his unsaid feelings. A cold river of rain leaks under my collar. I force myself not to fidget. Come on, come on.

He clears his throat and straightens, dropping his arm. She spins and grabs my hands. “Come back and teach me these fantastic things you know.”

I bite back my antsiness. She’s a whole lot of Constantine with a sprinkle of his sister, Anna. I could like her.

But first, I have to save her.

Keep reading Shadow Boxer on
Amazon
.

To download the first book in the series, Lightning Rider, for
FREE.