TIMELESS FIRE - CHAPTER 45

CHAPTER 45

Michael stood on a hill overlooking the house and the beach beyond and stared through the binoculars. A speck out on the water had caught is attention. The supplies weren’t due until later in the week, but the speck had been growing increasingly larger throughout the day. An hour ago it had disappeared altogether, leaving him to wonder if a ship had come ashore.After several minutes of searching the visible shoreline, he started back. If a ship had docked on the island, it couldn’t be seen from his vantage point.

As he rounded the corner of the beach house, he could see that Dora had set the table. It wasn’t until he stepped inside that he spotted Niki.She was lying on the floor—unconscious. At first he thought she was dead, but when he bent closer, he could see the regular rising and falling of her chest. The large bloody wound in her head indicated she had been hit hard or with something heavy. She would need stitches.

“Dora?”

When the cook failed to answer, he moved to the kitchen to investigate. The room was empty—the back door standing wide open. He stepped outside to look around. The ground at the back door showed signs of disturbance. He would have liked to investigate, but the growing darkness and Niki’s uncertain condition prevented him.Back inside, Niki was coming around.

Her low moans grew stronger as her mind became aware of the pain pounding in her head. Her eyes opened to a hazy world even as Michael’s voice pierced her consciousness. He was kneeling beside her—his face pinched with concern. He was pressing a towel against the wound in her head.“Did you see who hit you?”

“No.” Her voice sounded weak and breathy. “I was sitting at the table, waiting for you, when someone hit me from behind.”

“Was Dora in the room at the time?”

“No. She had served the table and gone back into the kitchen.”

“Did you see anyone outside the house or down on the beach?”

“No. I thought we were the only ones on the island.”

“So did I.” He lifted her onto the couch. “I need to get a doctor to look at that. He brought an afghan to ward off the chill of shock. “Did you have any clue as to the identity of your attacker?”

She shrank back, looking at him with open suspicion.

“You’ve got to be kidding. You think it was me?”

“You said it yourself. We’re the only ones on the island.”

“What about Dora? She’s missing. Did I do away with her too?”

“How would I know? For all I know, you and her are in this together.”

“Fine. Believe what you want.” He pulled the cell phone from his pocket. “I’ll leave you alone until the doctor arrives.”

TIMELESS FIRE - CHAPTER 44

CHAPTER 44


The shopping trip was less stressful than she’d expected—at times, almost pleasant. At first, she’d been sullen, refusing to be drawn into his attempts at conversation. But as the day wore on, she relaxed, becoming used to his company. At lunch, she almost forgot to remember that he was the enemy.

By the time the evening came around, she was tired. He had bought her clothes, shoes, and cosmetics, while she tried to figure out his game. Why would a man she had forced into marriage be nice to her? He should be hating her or at least resenting her.

Dora finished making supper by the time they had finished shopping. Niki was too tired to be hungry, but knew he would insist she join him for dinner. The first thing she did when she got to the bedroom was kick off her shoes. Dora knocked on the door and announced dinner was to be served at seven. Niki had thirty minutes. Not even considering a change of clothes, she
lay across the bed for a nap. Another knock woke her up. Drugged with sleep, she entered the den area still barefoot and padded across to the table. Michael had still not arrived.

Dora served the food and disappeared discreetly into the kitchen. Niki sipped her tea, waiting for Michael—thinking it’d serve him right if she ate without him. She turned a couple of times in her in her seat and looked around. There was no sign of him. She waited another ten minutes and then began to serve her plate.

This was beyond rude. He had no right to keep her waiting while he took the nap she was missing. She picked up her fork and dug into the mashed potatoes with enthusiasm. When she heard the sound of the sliding glass door opening and closing, she ignored it. He didn’t deserve to be acknowledged. She kept chewing as his footsteps sounded increasingly nearer. She was poised to shovel up a second bite when she heard a swishing sound close beside her ear. Then, the world exploded—and turned black.

TIMELESS FIRE - CHAPTER 43

As the first rays of sunlight crossed the morning sky, Niki left the bed. She hadn't slept all night. How could she with Michael stretched out beside so close she could feel the heat from his body? He had played the part of the perfect gentleman, nevertheless, having him so close made sleep impossible.

She splashed water on her face and went back into the bedroom. He was gone. Tnank goodness. But where? Maybe he'd gone out for a morning swim. She pulled back the curtains of the floor-length windows. The beach was empty. Maybe he'd gone back to his own bed and would allow her to get some rest also.

She walkeed to the bedroom door and peeked out. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. Her stomach rumbled, making her realize how hungry she was. She closed the door and dressed quickly--too famished now to even consider going back to sleep.

When she entered the den a woman was setting the corner table in the nook overlooking the beach.

"Niki, this is Dora. Dora, this is my wife. Dora will be cooking for us while we're here."

She and the young woman exchanged a greeting. She was attractive, Niki noticed. Exotic looking. She wondered if she cooked for Michael before. Something in her expression had altered when he had said the word "wife"--a sudden tightening in her face. Surprise? disappointment?

"After breakfase, I thought we'd go shopping," Michal said when they'd finished eating.

"I'd rather just stay in my room."

"Is that a proposition?"

She felt the color rush to her face. "No."

"Then, be ready to leave in fifteen minutes."

His tone was quiet, but firm. He wasn't issuing an invitation. He was giving an order. She wanted to refuse, but was unwilling to fight in front of the woman staring at Michael with the liquid eyes. On the other hand, she was his wife--not his servant. She shouldn't have to go if she didn't want to.

He must have read her mind because when she looked at him again, his look was thunderous. "Then again, maybe you don't need time to get ready. We'll go as we are." As she stood up, he took hold of her arm and pulled her up with him.

She felt like a small child. Damn him. She make him sorry he'd forced her into this. This wasn't how she had meant for things to happen. Nothing was going as she'd expected.

CHAPTER 41 AND 42

CHAPTER 41


Nicadea circled the settlement, caution since her capture by the Romans. Even in a Celtic camp, there could be spies. She didn’t want anything to endanger her freedom. She rather live in the wild forever than go back. Waiting until the sky was completely dark, she moved forward slowly toward a group of dancers. They were swaying back and forth rhythmically to the soft tones of chanters. The movement was hypnotic, bringing back memories of her own village.

She squatted in the shadows, staying back too far to be seen. The dancers were young, but she knew the older family members would join in before the evening was over. A pot of stew simmered over a nearby fire causing her mouth to water. The village was large. Maybe she could pass herself off in the darkness.

She had almost convinced herself to join in when the approach of one of the village men stopped her. Even in the near darkness, he looked familiar to her, a fair-haired, strapping man from her home group named Evian. He had been a frequent visitor to her home, and they had become friends. He would help her. She knew he would.

When he was near enough to touch, she stepped out of the shadows. At first he was wary, tensing into a fighting stance. He was ready to attack. “Evian, it’s me. Nicadea.” She hesitated to say anything else, before she had gauged his reaction.

“Nicadea?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

He took a step in her direction. “But how did you get here? I thought you were dead.”

“I thought you were.”

He clasped her by both hands, pulling her forward. “You are welcome here, Nicadea. These are good people. How did you escape from the Romans?”

“I didn’t. I was taken captive. I’ve been working with the other slaves.”

“Did he hurt you?”

His concern seemed genuine. “No. I was left alone.”

“How did you get away?”

She explained what had happened. By the time she was finished, people were lining up to eat. He offered her a bowl of stew, which she eagerly accepted. For the first time since the Romans had invaded her village, she was happy.

CHAPTER 41


Mikelle stirred, his mind trying hard to cover the noise disturbing his sleep. Turning, he threw his arm across the woman beside him, pulling her close. She moved against him, her hips fitting snuggly against his. He didn’t want to wake up—to leave the warmth of his bed to check out the noise outside the tent. The sleep had been recuperative, and he felt more relaxed than he had since he’d left Rome.

Two men were arguing outside his tent. He recognized one as the voice of his guard. The other voice was unfamiliar to him.

“The General will want to see me. One of his slaves has escaped.”

“He has many slaves. The General will not wish to be awakened.”

“I demand to see him. His slave attacked me.”

Mikelle didn’t wait to hear more. His sleep was ruined already, and his curiosity was fully aroused. The men parted as he stepped outside the tent.

“What is the shouting about? ”

The guard spoke first. “I’m sorry, General. This man wants to report a runaway slave who he claimed attacked him.”

Mikelle stared at the red-haired man. “What do you have to report to me?”

“One of your female slaves hit me over the head and fled the camp. I demand she be found and punished.”

“How do you know it was one of my slaves?”

“Because I was with you in camp when she was first discovered. She was a priestess. You took her from a cave. Later, she fled into the woods. We searched and brought her back. I remember her very well.”

Mikelle turned from the man. He remembered her too. He had brought her on this crusade to teach her a lesson. After that, he had his own plans for the wench. He spoke to the guard.

“Get the men ready to move. I want this woman found and brought back to me before nightfall.”