She rested her head against Eli’s shoulder, drawing strength from the contact. “I suppose you’re wanting that explanation I promised.”
He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. “It can wait until we take these guys home, and you get some rest.”
“Thanks.”
Before he called Vedin and the others to come outside, she stopped him. “Tell me, Eli. How badly freaked out are you by all of this?”
His smile was a little bit sad. “Honey, as far as reasons to freak out go, I have personal experience with ones far worse. Remind me to tell you about it sometime.”
Maybe she’d finally find out what put those shadows in his eyes and why a man like him was living off the grid in this remote cabin. “I’ll do that.”
Five minutes later, their small parade headed back up the mountain toward the cave.
12
Did the barrier ever get less fascinating? Maybe. For sure, no one else seemed to pay it any special notice. With some effort Eli managed to drag his attention back to his companions. The Sworn Guardian and Safara were quietly chatting in Vedin’s native language, most likely for the benefit of his Blademates. He didn’t mind being left out of the conversation, at least not much. Besides, it was only fair. Vedin’s men hadn’t been able to understand much of anything that had been said since they’d first stumbled out of the cave.
Safara ended the conversation with a slow nod as if he’d said something of great import to her. Afterward, Vedin walked over to Eli. “We are grateful for your hospitality and inviting us to crash.”
His words were accompanied by a small smile, but then his expression turned serious. “You also may call upon my sword if ever you have need of it.”
It was hard to know what to say to the unexpected offer, but Eli did his best to respond in kind. “Uh, thank you, Sworn Guardian. I offer you my blade as well.”
Then he patted his sidearm. “And my gun, which would probably do you more good considering my lack of experience with a sword.”
Vedin responded to that last part with another of his quick smiles. Eli didn’t know if the people in the other world shook hands, but he held his out anyway. Vedin clasped his forearm instead, so he did the same. To his surprise, all three of the Blademates followed suit before they lined up across the cave facing the barrier.
Meanwhile, Safara positioned herself next to the Sworn Guardian, and they both raised their hands with their palms facing the barrier. She did all the chanting, but Vedin’s face was also showing definite signs of strain. The barrier immediately started to dim, finally disappearing with a crackling snap. For the second time, Eli tried to get his head around the fact that he was looking into another world. Fucking amazing.
Meanwhile, the aliens hustled their asses back across the line. They turned back to face him and Safara. Vedin stood in the middle with two of his Blademates at his side and one behind him. The four men bowed their heads slightly and then stood at attention until Safara released her hold on the barrier. When it reappeared, sparkling in all its beauty, she took a step back looking pale and breathing hard.
Eli closed the distance between them to put his arm around her shoulders. “That takes a lot out of you, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah, it does.” She brushed her hair back from her face. “It’s usually easier when there are two of us working to bring it down, but Vedin wasn’t up to full strength.”
He was pretty sure he already knew the answer to his next question. “And not everyone can do that, right? Like me, for instance.”
“The gift tends to run in families. My dad’s mother had it, but my grandfather doesn’t. That’s why I was up here on the mountain that first night. He’d been on the other side visiting some friends, and I was checking to see if he was ready to come home. When I brought the barrier down, it was my cousin Tiel waiting on the other side. You already know how that turned out.”
That rat bastard was her cousin? Before he could figure out what to say about that, he noticed she was shivering. “Let’s get out of here. It’s a little warmer outside, not to mention I don’t want to be trapped in here if Tiel and his buddies suddenly get homesick.”
“Good thinking.”
“Let me go first.” Figuring she might argue, he immediately drew his weapon just in case and started walking back in the direction of the entrance.
Safara didn’t try to stop him, probably proof of how tired she really was. That didn’t keep her from commenting on his high-handed behavior. “You do know that I’m a highly trained law officer. I’ve been protecting myself for years now.”
Should he remind her that she’d hauled her delectable ass up on this mountain twice since he’d known her only to end up in a sword fight each time? She’d survived the first instance because he’d come running when she screamed. This most recent escapade would’ve ended in a much different way if Vedin and his men hadn’t charged to their rescue. Yeah, he and Safara might’ve thinned out the ranks of the enemy, but the truth remained that they had been outnumbered four to one.
When they stepped out of the cave, she planted herself right in front of him. “Eli, you do know that, don’t you?”
He’d really hoped she’d let it go, but she was nothing if not stubborn. “Yes, I know you’re a deputy, Safara. I trust you can handle yourself in the course of your job, but even cops are vulnerable to attack.”
Pointing back at the cave, he let some of his anger come boiling out. “But tonight you could’ve been killed if I hadn’t been up in that tree. No, make that youwouldhave been killed.”
She met him glare for glare. “You don’t know that.”
“Honey, I’ve been in enough firefights to know the odds were stacked against you. God knows you’re hell on wheels with that fancy sword of yours, but eight to one are bad odds by anyone’s definition.”
