She emerged from the trees and raced toward me.
“Oh, my God! Roman! I thought I’d never see you again,” Olivia said as we squeezed one another in a fierce embrace.
I eased back and slammed my mouth against hers, kissing her with hunger and need.
Oh, the taste of her. I couldn’t get enough. My heart pounded in my chest. I was so overjoyed to see her—beyond joy. I ground my lips against hers, passionately, fiercely, reclaiming her soul to mine. To hold her in my arms again—the feeling was exhilarating.
I eased away from her to behold her beautiful face. “My beautiful flame, I’m so—”
A loud splash exploded into the air. I whipped my head to the side to see what had made that noise.
Marcellious had fallen in a dead faint a few yards away, face down in the creek.
Olivia
With a roar, Roman sprinted toward the stream where Marcellious had fallen.
I followed, right on Roman’s tail. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Marcellious was here with Roman, which meant I was right about him. He was Roman’s brother and a Timeborne, just like us.
Water tumbled over and around Marcellious’ limp body as if he were nothing but another boulder in the creek. The moss clinging to the bank of the water trailed over his bruised and battered back and tangled in his long hair, making him look like a strange sea monster.
“Oh, no, you don’t,” Roman said, grabbing him by the back of his neck and hauling him free of the water.
Marcellious spluttered and coughed, and then, he cried out in agony. A bloody bandage was wrapped around his shoulder.
“What happened to him?” I said, lifting up Marcellious’ feet as Roman hefted his torso. We hauled him from the stream and gently placed him on the ground.
I paused to catch my breath. Hauling over two hundred pounds of dead weight was hard work.
Bare-chested, dressed only in his loincloth, Marcellious was peppered with gooseflesh.
“He was shot. We were captured by American soldiers and held captive.”
“We were, too,” I said, reaching for Marcellious’ ankles.
“We?” Roman said.
“Me and a woman named Emily. Long story. I’ll tell you after we get him to the fire.” I inclined my head toward a small campfire where the hare I’d caught lay roasting.
Emily sat by the fire, staring at us.
The horses Roman had arrived with had wandered out into the meadow to join the two Emily, and I had stolen. They all stood, heads down, contentedly munching grass.
“Ready?” I said, gripping Marcellious’ ankles.
Roman nodded.
“Here we go.” I lifted Marcellious’ legs, and we carried him to the fire with Roman supporting his torso.
“What happened to him?” Emily said, hurrying toward us.
“He has been shot and severely wounded,” I said, easing Marcellious to the ground.
Roman looked at Emily with a curious expression. “And you must be Emily, am I right?”
“That’s me,” she said with a quick smile.
“Where are my manners?” I said, stepping forward. “Emily, this is Roman. Roman, this is Emily. Emily helped me escape the American soldiers. She feels like a sister to me.”
