[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
have no way of knowing. I think it would be wise to leave the
portal open. The link keeps the times in sync."
Deryn shook her head and rushed towards her uncle. "No,
don't agree to this. It's suicide. Make them take me with
them. Please."
"I claimed her," Alejandro said, so soft that Deryn almost
missed it.
Her uncle, on the other hand, heard it loud and clear. "You
did what? You claimed my niece within three days of being
back around her? Are you insane?"
Ondrea cleared her throat. "Umm, Uncle Will, he's been in
love with her his entire life. Be happy he waited that long.
Geesh, he branded her as a baby for crying out loud."
292
Warriors of the Darkness
by Mandy M. Roth
"Her father or the others like him will find her if she's with
me. She stays. End of story." He walked out, leaving Deryn
standing there on the verge of tears.
Kane caught her in his arms and hugged her tight. "I'll get
him home safe to you. You have my word."
293
Warriors of the Darkness
by Mandy M. Roth
Chapter Eleven
Alejandro stood, staring out into the jungle, his mind
wandering again to thoughts of Deryn. It had been close to
three weeks since he'd left her standing in the lab on Earth
and walked out of her life. It had been the single hardest
thing he'd ever had to do but he didn't have a choice. The risk
to her was too great to be around him. No part of him wanted
Deryn harmed because of him.
"Colonel," a soft voice said from behind him.
He turned to see Vonni standing there holding a tray of
food. She lifted it slightly. "I thought you might be hungry.
Rodriquez said you haven't been eating. Are you sick?"
"I'm not hungry, Vonni, but thank you for thinking of me."
"It was for the best, sir," she said, setting the tray on the
ground and walking towards him. "She is a slayer. She
doesn't belong with us."
"She's my wife." He didn't bother to hide his disgust.
Vonni ran her hand over his upper arm and brushed her
body against his. "Come on, I think we both know that she
bespelled you somehow. Be happy that you cut her out of
your life when you did. She would have staked you in your
sleep or something."
Crossing his arms over his chest, Alejandro rolled his head,
doing his best to avoid the temptation to knock Vonni on her
spoiled ass. "I would prefer to be alone."
She ignored him and went to work on trying to pull his tee
shirt free of his pants. Alejandro caught her wrist and held it
294
Warriors of the Darkness
by Mandy M. Roth
firm. Vonni cast him a seductive smile. "I can help you forget
her."
"You are excused. Now go."
"Colonel, let me help you take your mind off her." She ran
her free hand up his torso. "You don't really think she hasn't
moved on from you, do you?"
He went rigid.
"Oh, sorry. Did I strike a nerve?"
"Leave."
She didn't move. "I'm sure she's moved on. No woman
would wait that long for a man to come back. Umm, err, I
mean, three weeks would feel like a long time."
He sensed it then, she was hiding something. He glanced
down at her and arched a brow. "What did you do?"
"N-nothing."
"Do not lie to me, Vonni. I don't have the patience to deal
with it right now. What did you do?"
She glanced at the ground. "I, umm, I overheard Kane
telling Issac to keep the portal open so the times stay linked."
"And?" he asked, positive he wouldn't like where this was
headed.
"And I just thought you needed to move on. To get over
her. It was a mistake. I know you didn't mean to bind
yourself to her. I know that she tricked you somehow that
you...."
"What did you do?"
"I closed the portal when Issac wasn't around. Just for a
little bit and just a few times."
Alejandro's stomach dropped. "You did what?"
295
Warriors of the Darkness
by Mandy M. Roth
"You're better off without her. You'll see. I can guarantee
she moved on. She isn't...."
Storming away from Vonni, Alejandro stopped in front of a
purple tree and slammed his fist into it. Pain radiated up his
arm and he knew he'd broken a few bones but he didn't care.
He'd heal. The pain of not having Deryn was worse and the
need to drown it out was great. He punched the tree again
but didn't stop with just one hit. He wailed on it, using it to
work out some of the frustration he felt.
"Hey!"
Something slammed into him, taking him to ground.
Immediately, the beast within him tried to surface. Growling
out, Alejandro twisted, ready and willing to kill something.
Fulk's face greeted him and he stopped in mid-motion.
"Colonel?"
"Everything hurts, Rodriquez." He collapsed on the ground,
not caring what he looked like.
Fulk arched a brow. "I'd imagine so, sir. The tree looks
worse though."
Shaking his head, Alejandro thumped his head against the
ground. "Not that."
"You mean it hurts on the inside." The hulk of a man
dropped down next to Alejandro and stared up at the sky. "I'd
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]