Hannah's Hero - Ruby Dixon Page 0,70

the cave. “Is it dark outside?” I ask J’shel.

He nods and throws again. ShhhhTHOK. It hits the mark, just as it does nineteen times out of twenty. And J’shel looks annoyed.

“Big Bird’s still out there, I take it?”

“Always,” he says flatly.

“Figures.” I glance around, my hands on my hips. “Any sign of Taushen and Brooke?”

“They are still down below.” He moves to pick up his spear, sets his target up on the ledge once more—a newer rotten fruit, I see—and comes to stand beside me again. He lines up his spear, ignoring me, and then lets it sail through the air once more with a swift, hard throw.

ShhhhhTHOK.

I bite back my sigh and move to the edge of the ledge. I wonder if Taushen is being as insane as J’shel is. Actually, I don’t even know if it’s insane. I just know his defenses are kicked into overdrive and I’m concerned about him. He acts like he’s going to have to take this thing on single-handedly and that worries the hell out of me. When I glance down, though, I don’t see anyone far below. I see neat piles of what look like weapons, and I suspect Taushen’s been at work on his own. I’m guessing they’re off to bed—or making love—somewhere hidden behind the vines.

Heck, maybe Brooke’s doing her best to distract Taushen, too.

ShhhhhTHOK.

I grit my teeth and turn around, watching as he retrieves his spear again. “J’shel, please. Can you stop for a while?”

“I do not have most of my weapons with me, H’nah,” he says simply, setting his target back into its spot. “I have the one spear and my knives. This means I must hit swiftly and strike true with my spear, because I will only get one chance.”

“Well, if he’s not going anywhere, it’s going to be days and days before we even have to think about such things, right?” Before he can throw again, I reach up and grab his arm, tugging it back down again. He’s slick with sweat and slippery in my grip, and when his camouflage flares, I know he’s wound up tight. My poor guy.

I’m not entirely sure when I started thinking of him as my guy, but he’s mine all right, and I’m not going to allow him to torture himself like this.

“Please come and lie down with me,” I say softly. “I know you’re worried, but you’re no good to anyone exhausted.”

J’shel looks utterly stricken at my words. “You are right. Apologies.”

I want to tell him that he doesn’t have to apologize, but he’s putting his spear down, resting it against the wall, and this is progress. So I just give him an enticing smile, tug him all the way across the cave back toward our blankets, and then lie down next to him. He lies on his back but doesn’t close his eyes, just stares up at the ceiling, frowning at it, and I know his mind is still working.

He needs distracting, and I’m the best distraction the man’s got.

“Can I put my head on your shoulder,” I ask, trying to keep my voice innocent. “There are no pillows.”

“Of course.” He reaches for me and I slide into his grip.

Two big arms curl around me, hugging me against his sweaty chest, but I don’t complain. I’m a little sticky with the muggy heat of the cave myself. I just tuck myself against him, and when he continues to stare up at the ceiling, I put my hand over his eyes. “You’re still thinking.”

“Apologies.”

“Don’t apologize, just rest, all right? Tomorrow’s a new day and you’ll have all the time in the world to throw your damn spear if you want.” I give him a little pat on the chest. “For now, just relax, okay?”

He touches my cheek. “I will try, little flower.”

I guess that’s all a girl can ask for.

I wake up in the middle of the night as the world shifts around me. I jerk upright, my thoughts immediately going to the ledge, but I’m still in our makeshift camp. The leathers underneath me twist and shift again and I look over. At some point in my sleep I must have rolled away from J’shel, because he’s a few feet away, muttering and trapped in a dream. He rolls onto his side, thrashing, his tail twitching and moving furiously.

“N’dek,” he murmurs, his body jerking. “No…”

“J’shel,” I say, touching his chest to wake him up. “You’re having a nightmare.”

His big hands grip me and he sits upright so