Page 97 of Dawn of Hope

A Castaway.

I scramble to put my hands underneath me, pushing myself backward and away from him. I stand and almost immediately my knees give out underneath me, and black spots mar my vision. My head spins as I gasp for more air. Strong arms catch me before I hit the ground, and I fall into a wall of solid muscle.

I try to push away, my limbs weak and difficult to control as I look around for anything that can help me. We are in a cave of some kind, with a stream of water flowing over the only visible exit.

I’d have to push through that strong wall of water to get out of here.

And him.

He is standing between me and my only way of escape.

“It’s alri?—”

He stops speaking and his head snaps away from me at a commotion coming from above.

“Did she surface?”

“Can you see her?”

“She can’t swim!”

I can barely hear the shouts over the roar of the water echoing through the cave.

Suddenly I am moving. No, not moving. He is lifting me. It happens so fast, I barely have time to process it before my back is pressed against the stone, hips pinned to the wall by his. He grasps both of my wrists and holds them over my head, then clamps his other hand over my mouth.

I suck in a breath, ready to scream, trying to alert the Voyagers above searching for me.

He lifts one finger off my face and puts it to his lips, his face coming so close to mine.

Heat pools low in my abdomen at the press of his body flush against mine, followed by absolute horror as I push the feelings away.

What am I thinking?

This man is theenemy.

“Shhh,” he hushes, eyes imploring me to listen.

I can finally see him clearly. His eyes are striking, but they are not the only striking feature. His strong square jaw is covered by the beginnings of a beard, shaved close enough that I can still see a muscle tick in his jaw as he urges me with his gaze to stay quiet. Short dark tendrils fall loosely over his forehead, still dripping wet, and his dark clothes cling to his drenched body, leaving little to the imagination. Every curve of muscle in his shoulders, arms, and abdomen stands out. A thick belt sits low on his hips, with a sword at his side.

He leans in closer, his body still trapping mine, cocooning it, protecting it from the commotion that is breaking the silence of this small, isolated cave.

“Please?” The deep rumble and earnestness of his voice makes my insides melt, and I blame the lack of air. My knees buckle, but the pressure from his body keeps me from sliding down the wall. Everywhere his body presses against me feels like it is on fire, my nerves sparking and igniting to consume me.

I barely muster a small nod, but the relieved smile lights his lips when I do makes me breathless again.

“I’m heading down! Keep the arrows nocked and cover me!”

He glances toward the water again before releasing me. The loss of the pressure feels like a weight has been lifted, not one I want to be rid of, but one that Ishouldwant to be rid of. He turns away from me and darts to the back of the cave, along the wall, and disappears around a bend.

“W-wait,” I croak, my throat still burning from coughing up buckets of water. I scramble after him and round the corner, only to see him place his hand on the stone wall in front of him. It opens under his hand, a doorway forming in the stone large enough for him to slide into it.

I am moving then, stumbling across the stone, trying to make it to the doorway, but by the time I reach it, it is solid again. I place my hand on it just as he had, but nothing happens. I push, slightly at first, then again using all of my weight.

“Wait!” I scream, banging on it with my fists, but nothing budges.

I spin around and look back at the cave.

I am alone.