189.

were swept along. It was a dizzying experience, looking up at the night sky after so many days seeing nothing but canopy overhead. Stars, scattered across the dark backdrop, glittered like gems in spite of the clouds. The rain fell lightly, a fine mist, more than an actual shower so that Rachael turned up her face to feel the spray.

The river wasn't nearly as ferocious as when it was raging in the storm. There were no dragging undercurrents trying to pull her down. Rachael found she rather enjoyed the experience after lying hi bed for so long. Rio stayed very close to her, hovering protectively, which made her feel cherished, something she'd never experienced. It was like a dream. Neither spoke as sound traveled great distances at night on the river.

They were swept around a bend and down a mini waterfall. Abruptly, Rio caught her around the waist and put his feet down. He struggled against the current, walking in the waist-deep water, dragging her with him. Rachael couldn't help him, other than to try to stroke strongly in the direction he wanted to go. Even with Rio's incredible strength, it was a battle to reach the small waterfall. He put his mouth against her ear. "Wait just a moment, I'm going under."

She held her breath as he disappeared. She felt the tug of the rope around her waist, but she was able to hold against the pull of the water. It seemed minutes before he rose up out of the water. She sighed with relief and flung her arms around him.

Again he put his mouth against her ear. "You'll have to hold your breath and duck underwater, we're going to swim through a tube."

She nodded to show she understood and went with him, allowing the swirling water to close over the top of her head. It was impossible to see anything and she didn't even try, hanging on to Rio with all her strength. He pulled her through a small channel, a tube beneath the water. She felt the walls brushing against her shoulders and when she 190.

reached above her she could feel the roof inches from her head. She fought back claustrophobia, concentrating on the unexpected feelings she had for Rio to get her through. She detested small enclosed places, and swimming in the dark waters through a tunnel she'd never seen was a true test of her trust in Rio.

How had she come to feel such faith in him in such a short time? It didn't feel like a short time. She felt the tug on her body indicating she could stand. Rio wrapped his arm around her waist to help her out of the water. Her head broke the surface and she opened her eyes. It was pitch-black. The waterfall was a loud echo matching the continual sound of running water.

"Where are we?"

"It's a cave. You have to wade through water and keep your head low for a short distance and then we'll get you settled. I made the tube and hollowed out most of the entrance to the chamber. The chamber was a great find. It seemed a good place to escape to if I was seriously wounded."

She caught the small bit of pride in his tone and smiled. "It sounds lovely.

I've always thought being a troll's lover was incredibly romantic."

There was a small silence and then he laughed softly. "I've been called many things in my life, but troll is a new one." He swung her into his arms. "I'm going to carry you across the threshold."

"Lovers don't get carried," Rachael reminded. His ear was close to her face so she leaned forward and nibbled. "Only brides do."

"Well then, consider yourself married. And stop doing that thing with your teeth because I'm having one h.e.l.l of a reaction to it."

"That sounds like it has possibilities. But I've been thinking. Why wouldn't some horrible reptile have discovered your handiwork and made a little nest inside your cave? If I were an alligator I'd be happy to use your hideaway. And

191.

if you came to visit, all to the good. Meals are hard to come by sometimes."

He laughed. "You have no faith, woman. I put in a plug to keep the creatures out. I unfastened the locks and opened the door, that's why we were in the tube so long."

"You didn't close the door."

"I'm taking you to high ground first. That's the gentleman in me."

She nuzzled his neck. "I do appreciate it, Rio, I really do, but in this one instance, I'll be happy to sort of stand here while you go back and secure the tube. I'm not ready for visitors yet, especially reptilian ones."

Rio caught the little tremor in her voice. "I'll do that immediately, Rachael.

We're already in the cavern. Fortunately we're back far enough and the cave opens up into a wide chamber here so we can light a lamp. I brought several with me over a period of time." He set her down on a flat surface.

Rachael waited anxiously while he lit one of the lamps and hooked it above their heads for maximum coverage. She looked around her. The chamber was fairly large.

Roots protruded and water dripped continually from several walls. There was no sign of alligators. Rio had quite a supply of items in the cave.

There was a large plastic container she a.s.sumed was waterproof inside a cage of roots. She could see there were several blankets and one of his many medical kits inside. She was sitting on a flat slab of stone. It was the only rock she could see in the entire cave. The floor around the walls was damp, but most of the water ran back toward the river. Rio had hollowed out a ditch to keep the water from dampening the floor of the cave.

"So what do you think?" Rio returned, soaking wet, sweeping his hair back with careless fingers. "Not too bad."

"I think it's wonderful," Rachael said. She was soaked and uncomfortable. She looked down at the shirt and realized it didn't do her much good. As wet as her shirt was, it 192.

was nearly transparent. "If you don't mind, I'd like to get out of these clothes. You should too, Rio."

"I've got a few things packed in waterproof bags for us," he said. He opened the container and rummaged through the supplies until he found a towel.

Rio knelt beside her and unb.u.t.toned the shut, dragging it off her wet skin and tossing it aside. "Come on, sestrilla, stand up so I can get rid of these jeans."

His voice was gentle, tender even. Rachael allowed him to help her up, leaning into his body as he peeled the material from her hips. He wrapped the towel around her and began rubbing the drops of water from her skin. She swayed with weariness and it embarra.s.sed her. He was the one who had jogged through miles of forest with her in his arms. He had been the one to use his strength to keep them from being swept apart in the river. And he was as soaked as she was.

"I've never met anyone like you," Rachael said. "Sometimes I'm not certain you're real."

Rio wrapped her in a dry shirt. "I have my good side," he teased.

"Unfortunately, it just doesn't come jout that often." He laid a mat on the slab of rock and covered it with a thick sleeping bag before helping her to sit down.

Rubbing the thick ma.s.s of curls, he studied her leg. "The green gunk held up. We want to get that off the puncture wounds in case they still need to drain."

"It does feel better," Rachael said. "I'll have to remember to tell Tama he's a miracle worker."

Rio made certain she was comfortable before he peeled off his own clothes and rubbed the towel over his body,

"How long do you think we'll have to stay here?" Rachael asked.

"I'm going to use the rest of the night to hunt the shooter. He's leaving his own trail and he was injured. It will be easier for me to find him. I'll know you're safe and won't worry about him circling back and finding you alone in the house. Franz is already scouting for me. He'll pick up the trail, and he knows how to stay out of sight."

193.

Rachael's eyes widened in shock. "You can't do that, Rio. Not after what you told me."

"He's hunting us. The only way to stop him is to go after him. Did you think we were going to live in a cave for the rest of our lives?"

"No." Rachael wanted to pull the covers over her head. There was no way to shield Rio from her past. "But before you go out and risk your life maybe you'd better find out who you're risking your life for."

"I know who you are."

"No you don't. You have no idea who my family is."

"I don't need to know about your family, Rachael. We'll talk about it when I get back. Wait here for at least forty-eight hours. If something goes wrong, head upriver toward Kim and Tama's village. Ask them to take you to the elders. The Han Vol Dan is your first changing. You can't allow it to happen until your leg is strong enough to stand up to the change. You'll have problems with s.e.xual feelings. Emotions will continue to heighten, the heat, the need, the edgy, moody feelings you can barely control. You have to stay in control, especially if you haven't gone through the Han Vol Dan. The combination of the two pa.s.sages can be explosive."

"Do you know how completely ridiculous that sounds? If I was watching a movie, I'd burst out laughing."

"Except you know what I'm saying is true. You've felt the animal roaring to get out. I've seen you come close to the change."

"Why wouldn't my mother tell me? In all the stories she told me, she never once mentioned I could a.s.sume another

form."

"I don't know, Rachael, but I'm certain you're one of

us.

"And if I'm not?" Her dark eyes moved over his face. "If you're wrong, would that mean that we can't be together? Are you allowed to be with someone that isn't a part of your people?"

194.

His palm cupped her face, his thumb sliding over her skin. "I've been banished, sestrilla, no one can tell me what I can or cannot do." He leaned down to kiss her. "I'm coming back for you."

"You'd better come back for me. I don't want to wrestle alligators by myself."

She tried not to cling to him, although she wanted to hold him to her. There was nothing she could say or do to stop him. Rachael knew how stubborn he could be.