Colin paused at the bottom of the shallow steps leading to the main building. “It’s even more impressive than I realized.” His intense gaze scanned every inch. Bea couldn’t imagine him being impressed with anything, but he seemed genuinely interested in this old building. “Doesn’t look like many looters have gotten to it. Amazing.”
Bea tilted her head back to take in the enormity of the monument. Banyan trees wrapped around the building, clasping on to the yellow stone like lovers embracing. Inlaid into the stone was pure white marble, forming a variety of swirling designs that sparkled and glowed in the setting sun. A large round temple stood in the middle, while plateaus of columns were scattered around the perimeter. Who would believe that it had once been even more impressive than it was now?
Colin snatched his hat from Bea’s head, plopped it on his own, and climbed the shallow steps. Bea hesitated, glancing around her. She felt as if they were invading someone’shome. But the field lay empty and barren. Only statues of gods long forgotten were there to glare down at them.
“You coming?” Colin glanced back.
“Of course.”
He pulled the knife from the sheath attached to his thigh and hacked through the thick vines covering a dark doorway. As Bea reached the top step, he disappeared inside.
“Colin! Wait.” Bea stepped cautiously into the building.
The musky scent of dust and age tickled her nose. Bea sneezed, the sound echoing against the stone walls. Just barely visible through the dim light that managed to filter through the cracks, she could make out Colin’s form ahead.
Bea sniffled and stepped over a thick vine that had found its way through the walls and lay dormant, like a sleeping python across the stone floor. A soft squeak rent the air. Bea froze, her heart jumping into her throat.
“What was—”
The squeak sounded again.
She spun around, but could see nothing. With her heart thundering in her chest, Bea turned back toward the tunnel where she’d last seen Colin. Freshly disturbed dust floated on a beam of sunlight that sliced through the open doorway, but Colin was nowhere to be seen.
“Colin?” her soft voice whispered down the corridor.
No response came. Frantic fear clawed at her lungs, choking the air from her throat.
“Colin?” she cried out louder.
High-pitched screeches answered her call. Dark shadows darted toward her, wings beating against the air. Bea gasped and dropped to the floor as the bats disappeared into a cloud of black outside.
“Oh dear God,” she whispered, stumbling to her feet. A warm promising whisper caressed her skin, an odd sensation that set her mind at ease.
“What is it?” Colin asked.
Bea spun around. Colin stood in the corridor. Tears of relief sprang to her eyes and she had to resist the urge to throw her arms around him. He hadn’t disappeared, he hadn’t left her. “Nothing. I … I thought you’d …”
He took a step forward, looking so bloody beautiful she wanted to memorize every inch of his face. “What?”
She clasped her hands tightly together. “I thought you’d left me.” It was an honest mistake. After all, it was obvious the man cared more about the damn treasure he hoped to find than some woman he considered a spoiled lady.
He sighed and moved toward her, his boots thumping against the floor and sending puffs of dust into the air. “Bea, I swore I’d protect you. That includes not leaving you alone in an abandoned temple in the middle of nowhere.”
“I know,” she whispered, glancing up at him through her lashes. Of course he wouldn’t leave her. Leo would murder him.
He held out his hand. “Come on.”
She hesitated only a moment then rushed forward and grabbed his fingers. In his defense, he didn’t smile at her obvious unease. He merely led her down the hall.
“It’s not funny,” she mumbled.
He slid her a glance. “Of course not.”
But there was definite amusement in his gaze and she was thrilled to see it there, even if it was at her expense. Their shoes tapped against stone, echoing mournfully like the heartbeat of lost souls. Bea shivered and moved closer to Colin’s warmth. “Who do you suppose lived here?”
Colin shrugged. “A king or commander. It’s built to their gods.”
“The castles back home are nothing compared to this,” she whispered.
The amazing detail of scrolls, plants, animals, and gods carved into the rock had to have been done by the most delicate of hands. She reached out, trailing her fingers along a wall, rough stone weathered with age. Tiny pieces crumbled to the floor.
“It’s beautiful and a bit frightening,” she admitted. “Why do you think Anish sent us here? What does he want us to find?”
Colin shook his head. “I haven’t the slightest.”
The tunnel flared into an open room. Colin swept inside like he owned the place, like they’d been invited to bloody tea. Bea followed more hesitantly, her wide eyes scanning the large room. If he wasn’t going to be cautious, she would.
A high dome rose into the darkness above. A curved window pierced the stone on each side of the room, lending enough light to see the mystical beasts carved in the pale walls. Bea followed the trail of animals up to the ceiling.
“Heavens,” she whispered.
But Colin ignored the artwork and moved to the middle. With his gaze pinned to the ceiling, he slowly turned. “I don’t get it. What are we missing? What are we supposed to find?”
Bea shrugged, wishing she could help, but more interested in the statues that lined the perimeter of the room. Naked, marble women stood on pedestals. Lots of naked women. Their arms were turned in delicate positions as if they’d been dancing when they’d been frozen in time.
“Talk about a needle in a haystack.” Colin clasped his hands behind his head and sighed, staring at the ceiling as if looking for answers.
But Bea could barely take her gaze from the feminine statues. She wanted to be embarrassed, yet she couldn’t find anything wrong with the amazing detail in their frozen faces. There was something magical about those women, something lifelike in the way they stood around the room, the way they were posed, as if pausing in action.
She started toward one of the statues when something small fluttered across her vision. A familiar movement that sent her heart racing. Bea jerked her head toward the right. An orange and black butterfly floated on the still breeze, his long, narrow wings softly moving up and down, barely moving yet he stayed aloft. She’d never seen the species before.
“Oh my,” she whispered.
“What?”
Bea didn’t bother answering but raced across the room, following the insect. This was why she’d traveled to India. Why she’d risked her life and reputation. The butterfly landed on a vine that sprouted from the walls. What was he doing here, of all places, in a dim and dusty cavern of a temple? Bea paused, afraid if she moved, he’d fly away. Instead, he crawled farther into those thick vines, disappearing from sight. Her heart fluttering nervously, she reached out to brush aside the vegetation when she caught sight of something blue. She moved a leaf. Blue paint on stone wall.
“Colin,” she called out.
Not willing to wait, Bea wrapped her fingers around the thick, heavy vines and pulled. A painting emerged. A man sat cross-legged on a lotus, barely visible, the painting so old and faded. Her butterfly was nowhere to be seen.
“Brahma,” Colin said softly from just behind her.
The god that Anish had spoken about. Bea spun around. Colin was close, so close her breasts touched his chest, but Colin was staring at the painting, completely unaware of their intimate position.
“Who is—”
Colin reached over her shoulder, his fingers brushing softly against the stone, as if he were caressing a woman. “A god. One of the gods on the statue. God of creation. The same god on Ella’s necklace that Henry stole.”
Her heart thundered in her ears. What he was saying, it
meant something, didn’t it? So why wasn’t he more excited? “What does it mean? Have we found the treasure?”
The left corner of his mouth rose into a crooked grin, and finally, he looked at her. “No, it’s not here, but it means we’re damn close.”
His happiness was contagious and she found the insane desire to laugh. His lips only inches from hers, he finally seemed to notice their precarious position. Slowly, Bea lifted her gaze from his mouth, to his eyes.
He was staring at her so intensely that she felt the heat to her toes. He was going to kiss her. She knew it, in that moment she knew without a doubt he was going to lower his head to hers. Giving in to temptation, she allowed her lashes to drift down and leaned up on tiptoe.
A soft neigh broke through the heady sensual cloud Colin had spun. Bea sucked in a breath as her eyes opened. Had she imagined the noise? Colin turned, his back to her. Apparently, she hadn’t.
“What was that?” Bea asked, peeking over his shoulder.
“Horses.” He took a few steps forward, pulling the knife from the sheath on his thigh. “Looks like we’ve got company.”
Bea’s shoulders sank. Their attackers had bloody bad timing. “Not again,” Bea complained, slumping back against the stone wall.
A soft groan rent the air, then the patter of pebbles falling against stones. Suddenly, the wall was gone. Bea tensed, but it was too late. There was nothing to support her weight. She swiped her arms wide, attempting to latch on to the vines, but missed.
With a yelp, she fell backward into the darkness.
Chapter 15
Colin shifted the knife from hand to hand, taking comfort in the feel of the hard, bone hilt. The need for retribution coursed through his body sweet and hot. This was what he’d been waiting for. This was why he’d traveled the world. This was the fantasy that had kept him up at night. “Come on, you bastards.”
He started forward when a scream interrupted his progress. Colin spun around. The wall was gone, Bea was gone. A dark, gaping hole remained. He paused for one brief moment, shock holding him immobile.
“Son of a …” He rushed forward and placed his hands on either side of the crumbling wall. Peering into the darkness, he could see nothing. Revenge forgotten, his heart slammed against his chest, so loud it practically echoed against the dark cavern. “Bea?”
“In here, Colin,” she called out from somewhere slightly below.
“Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine.”
Relief made his knees weak. “Stay there, I’m coming.” He latched on to a vine hanging from the ceiling and gave it a quick jerk to see if it would hold.
“Please hurry,” Bea said in a steady voice that sent an unwanted grin to his lips.
Always feigning courage, but she had to be cringing in there. She was brave in a way even she didn’t realize. She didn’t deserve this life, the kind of life he’d led since he was a child, the kind of life he would always lead. On the go, running, hiding, killing before they killed you.
His mind was set in that moment. He’d get her out of there, drop her off in Leo’s capable hands, and leave her in peace. “I’m coming, keep quiet, we don’t know—”
“Stay where you are,” a familiar English voice echoed down the corridor.
Colin resisted the urge to curse. His fingers tightened on the vine, anger and frustration boiling beneath his skin. Too damn late. Always too damn late. Flashes of light danced across the walls, illuminating faded paintings of gods and goddesses from long ago. The light wasn’t close enough to find Bea, but it was enough to get a peek of the hidden room. High ceiling, stone walls, broken columns. Bea would have plenty of places to hide.
Please hide, Bea.
“Turn slowly, arms up,” the familiar voice snapped out.
Colin slipped the dagger into his shirtsleeve and turned. The tip of the blade slid down his forearm, slicing open the skin, but he didn’t dare flinch. Five men stood in front of him, torches in hand, the light highlighting their lean, fierce faces. Only one man was familiar. He wasn’t surprised to see Stephan again. He was surprised that Demyan wasn’t with him. Where the hell was the Demon?
Forcing down his disgust, Colin smiled a slow, easy grin, feigning an ease he sure as hell didn’t feel. “Well, we meet again, how lovely and serendipitous.”
“Quiet,” Stephan demanded, shuffling forward and separating himself from the four natives he’d either hired or forced into working for him. Most likely forced.
Colin’s gaze slid to the man he needed to worry about.
Stephan’s steps were slow and unhurried but not because of arrogant assuredness. No, it was obvious the man was near exhaustion. Gone was the charming gent they’d met at camp. This man looked beaten down, his clothing torn and dirty, his energy dissipated. It would have been amusing if Colin hadn’t been outnumbered. Although Stephan looked half-dead, the other men were fit and young.
Even as he kept Stephan’s gaze, Colin searched for a nearby weapon, something other than the damn knife he had in his shirtsleeve. “Really, there was no reason to track us down merely to thank us for our hospitality.”
Stephan narrowed those beady eyes. “You are quite annoying. Like a fly … sneaky, but once caught, easy to kill.”
Colin sighed. “Well, that’s no way to show your appreciation.”
His guests didn’t respond, merely edged closer, jackals after a sure kill. Colin’s entire body stiffened, preparing for the attack. He was outnumbered, but it didn’t matter as long as he kept them occupied until Bea found a way to escape.
“Where is he?” Colin asked, lowering his arm so the knife slid down his sleeve, the hilt coming to rest in the palm of his hand. If he took out Stephan, most likely the natives would run. He could tell by the shifting of their eyes and the hesitancy in their steps they didn’t want to be here any more than he wanted them here. No, they were here for the money. Take out their source of income and they’d leave.
Stephan paused for a brief moment, the torch highlighting his grim features. “Who?”
“The evil bastard you work for. Demyan, I believe you called him.”
Stephan tilted his chin high, recognition and annoyance working across his face. “I haven’t the slightest idea what you’re talking about.”
So, there was dissention in the ranks. If they were fighting among themselves, he might be able to use that to his advantage. Still, he had to know where Demyan was. Hedidn’t believe for a moment the bastard had let Stephan escape his clutches. No, the devil’s spawn was lurking somewhere nearby. He could feel it in his bones … the evilness heavy and as suffocating as the heat.
“Now it’s my turn. Where is it?” Stephan asked.
Colin curled his fingers, moving the knife down his hand. Inch, by wretched inch. “What would that be?”
“Playing dumb?” Stephan gave the natives a quick nod. Immediately, they lifted their arms, wicked pistols gleaming in the torchlight.
Well, hell.
Colin’s relief faded as quickly as it had come.
Pistols against a damn knife. Not exactly a fair fight. He’d be dead before he could release the dagger. He should have known they’d be at least smart enough to come prepared. But still, if his eyes hadn’t deceived him, their arms were trembling.
Stephan handed one of the men the torch and crossed his arms over his chest. “You know exactly what we’re looking for.”
Colin tilted his head ever so slightly, straining to hear movement beyond. Where the hell was Bea? He prayed she was hiding, or at the very least trying to find a way to escape.
A slow smirk worked its way across Stephan’s face. “Where is she?”
Colin blinked his eyes wide with innocence. “Who?”
Stephan chuckled. “The girl.” Stephan started an easy, unhurried pace down the narrow corridor. “You think we don’t know who she is?”
Colin stiffened, panic flaring bitterly cold through his body. He’d been right. Leo and Ella had been right. B
ea had been in danger all along and they’d brought her here, where the danger was worse, more real. He’d brought her here. Into the lion’s den.
The men moved closer. “We know what family she belongs to. We know what she’s capable of. Now, hand me the girl and you can go. We don’t need you.”
Colin’s fingers fisted, his lip curling into a snarl. He had to resist the urge to reach for the arrogant bastard. Shit. They knew. They knew they needed Leo or Bea to open the map. But how? How had they uncovered the truth? His father had been the only person to know and he’d taken the truth to his grave.
“We don’t need you.”
Stephan’s words flitted through Colin’s mind. If they didn’t need him, that meant they had someone else with an ability like him and Ella. Who? Demyan?
Stephan shook his head, holding his arms wide. The man’s confidence was coming back fast, perhaps knowing he suddenly had the upper hand. “Come now, we know she’s here.”
Of course they were going to go after Bea. She’d be easier to catch. Hell, maybe they hadn’t been after Leo at all. Perhaps all this time it’d been Bea they wanted.
Bea.
She was in more danger than they’d realized. His heart stopped. His mind screamed for her to run. Run! Damn it, if only she could read his mind as Ella could read Leo’s.
Swallowing hard, Colin forced the words to come out calm and unhurried. “Don’t know where she is, I’m afraid. She became a nuisance, I left her behind.”
Stephan chuckled, an annoying sound that grated on his already frayed nerves. “Really, then who were you talking to when we arrived?”
“Myself?”
The man frowned. Growing impatient, he tapped his booted foot. “Hand her to me now, or you die.”
Colin shrugged. “I’ve heard that before, and as you can see, I still live. The threat has sort of lost its meaning.”
Stephan started forward in a flurry of irritated movements. “Well, allow me to make it more meaningful.” He nodded toward the natives. They stepped closer, their pistols trained on Colin’s head. He had only a split second to act.