Red Night ((Book 1) Timewalker Chronicles)

by Michele Callahan

  He moved closer to her, reaching out a hand. Not with malice, but with something else. Concern? “Princess you’re going to hurt someone. May I assist you?” he asked, chivalrous.

  Princess. He must be a nutcase.

  She yanked at the straps of her gown, resettling them on her shoulders and pulling the bottom down as far as it would go but it was too short to cover much.

  “Stop.” Her voice shook, though she tried to steady it. “Don’t come any closer.”

  “You must listen. You must come with me.”

  She screamed at the top of her lungs. “Help! Help! Help!” What was wrong with the people in this building? Were they all deaf?

  “Princess.” His voice washed over her like warm chocolate, comforting her. That wasn’t right. Why wasn’t he attacking her? The soothing voice didn’t stop her. He was a stranger. In her bedroom. “Help! Help!” she screamed, keeping the pink lamp aimed at him.

  She lunged across the bed, reaching for the telephone.

  “Now, Princess, please calm down.” He reached for the phone, and ripped it from the wall. “I mean you no harm, but we must talk and there is little time.” He fell to one knee, bowing in front of her.

  Her eyes wide, she swung the pink lamp at him at him. He deflected the blow with his forearm as he stood, denting the lampshade in the process.

  “Princess. Someone is going to get hurt if you do not allow me to speak.” He wrestled the mangled lamp from her. “Hear what I have to say. Please,” he implored. “You must return home. Immediately.”

  “Help! Somebody help me!” Screaming, she kicked out at him with her foot, tried to take his head off but her skills were no match for his. He blocked her kick with one arm, grabbed her leg with both his hands, flipped her completely around and back on to the bed.

  “No one can hear you. Stop screaming.” His voice never rose. He sounded…exasperated.

  Somewhat reassured that he didn’t attack, Audra stopped to catch her breath. Breathing hard, she rolled to her back, the sheet cool beneath her and eyed him from top to bottom. “You look like you just came from a Star Trek convention.” And just like the man in my dream.

  Could it be?

  “Yes, I have trekked across the stars in search of you, Princess.” His words were odd, clipped, very formal, as though learned from a book.

  “What are you talking about?” This man, dream or not, was in her bedroom and she couldn’t imagine how in the world he got in there.

  He held out his hand to help her up but she swatted it away.

  “Who are you? Really? How did you get in here and...and who are you?” She lunged for the lamp in his hands.

  Placing the lamp out of her reach, he said. “I am Coridian, brother of your betrothed. I am here to escort you home.”

  “Betrothed? You’ve escaped from the asylum, haven’t you? You’re some kind of nut and...”

  “My lady, I am not an escapee from an asylum, and I am not a pecan.”

  “Then, why do you keep spouting nonsense? I’m not a princess!”

  “May I rise? I’ll explain--.”

  She shook her head and backed up a step. “You--”

  He held up his hand to stop her. “Then you can ask your questions.”

  “You--you stay right where you are.”

  In the next instant, she grabbed the hairspray can from her dressing table, threw it at his head and bolted for the door. He leapt forward and caught her before she’d taken two steps, slamming her up against his chest, trapping her there within his arms. The lamp crashed to the floor, shattered.

  Kicking wildly, Audra connected with his groin. His knees buckled, but he was quick to recover and never loosened his hold on her. Her heart raced as she twisted, freed an arm, and slammed the heel of her hand into his face. If he hadn’t turned, she would have broken his nose. Her strike was solid enough though, she heard him groan in pain before he released her.

  Triumphant, she spun around, connecting her right foot with his solar plexus, knocking the wind from him. Now on the attack she switched feet and with her left foot, launched him backward, sending him landing on his back. Regaining her balance before he did, she straddled his chest, her knees and feet trapping his arms. “Now. Tell me what I want to know or I’ll make sure you don’t see another day.”