“Where is this temple?” he asked.
Bea drank deep, the water bitter and strong. Her stomach clenched, her headache worsening.
“South.”
“Colin,” Bea persisted, attempting to focus on his handsome face.
“What?” He merely glanced at her.
She started to ask him what the hell was going on. Instead, her stomach cramped and she grimaced. Dash it, she didn’t feel well.
His brows drew together. “What’s wrong?”
She shook her head, afraid that if she opened her mouth, she’d get sick all over him.
Colin turned back to the old man, ignoring her, which was exactly what she wanted at the moment. “This temple, where is it exactly?”
Anish narrowed his eyes and pointed toward a cluster of fig trees. “That way.”
Colin’s gaze flickered in the direction. “That way?”
The old man nodded and smiled. “South. But you want the Statue of the Lost first. It will give you the answers you seek.”
“Of course,” Colin sighed. “And where is that?”
The old man shrugged. “Follow the river.”
Colin cursed. Bea didn’t understand why they were there, but at the moment she didn’t care. She didn’t feel right. Nothing felt right. For a fortnight she’d been on a downward spiral and she feared she was close to hitting the bottom.
She closed her eyes for the briefest moment. Vaguely, she was aware of the cup slipping from her fingers. Vaguely, she was aware of falling back. Vaguely, she was aware of the back of her head hitting the hard ground.
“Bea?” Colin’s voice sounded so far away.
Desperately, she tried to focus on him, tried to open her eyes, but it felt as if she were in that river all over again. Something heavy settled over her forehead.
She tried to lift her hands, tried to push the heaviness away, but someone was holding her arm down.
“Bea.”
Slowly, she opened her eyes and stared into a brilliant blue sky. Where was she? Her body felt numb, her limbs no longer attached. Dear God, had she died?
A man came into view, his beautiful face wavering in and out of focus. Who was he? An angel come to take her soul?
“Bea,” he snapped, his voice rather surly for an angelic being. “What is it? What hurts? What’s wrong?”
The man’s name came to her as if whispered from heaven, a mere memory that clung to the back of her mind. “Colin?”
She parted her lips to say more, when her stomachclenched. Sweat broke out on her forehead. She blinked her eyes rapidly as acid rose in her throat. “Oh God.” With a groan, she pushed Colin out of the way and rolled onto her side, emptying her stomach in the dry dirt.
“Damn it, Bea. When did you start feeling sick?” Colin demanded, as if it was her fault she was ill. She slumped back onto the dirt and closed her eyes. It was just like him to blame her for being ill. A warm, soft hand covered her forehead.
“She sick,” Anish said and she realized he was the one pressing his hand to her face.
“How? When?” Colin asked.
Bea opened her eyes again in time to see Anish shrug. “Water? White people not drink water. Make them sick and she get fever.”
Colin’s jaw clenched and unclenched, his gaze pinned to her. She couldn’t decide if he was angry or not. “Will she be all right?”
The old man shrugged again.
“Bea, look at me.”
Colin’s strong hands cupped the sides of her face. He hovered over her, his face drawn tight with worry. For her? She let her lashes drift down and pushed aside the slight thrill that swept through her body. No. He was only worried because if she died, Leo would be furious and she’d put a damper on his plans.
Annoyance gave way to fear. Blimey. She might die.
She felt like it, too.
Her insides cramped once more and she groaned, rolling onto her side into a tight ball.
“Damn it,” Colin snapped.
A muscled arm slipped under her back, another under her knees. She was lifted, then cradled against a hard chest. Her head rolled back, hitting his shoulder, and her mind began to hum. It was a strange sense of comfort that washed over her the moment his hands touched her body. Bea sank into Colin, trusting he’d care for her. She had no other choice. She didn’t know where they were going, but she didn’t mind. She only wanted to be closer.
His heart beat strong and sure against the side of her face. She focused on that thump, the sound ethereal and beautiful, like nothing she’d ever heard. Like the streams in Scotland, the birds in morning, like the soft rain on a summer day. With a sigh, she nuzzled her face into the area where his neck met his shoulder. His scent swirled around her … heady, calming, and captivating.
“You’ll be all right,” he whispered and she believed him.
His hold loosened. Bea wanted to cling to the man, yet couldn’t manage to open her eyes, let alone lift her arms. A soft mat cushioned her back. Colin’s touch was gone, and with its absence, the pain returned. She whimpered. Nausea rolled in her gut, a deep ache flaring through her limbs.
“She needs help,” Anish muttered from somewhere. “I go and get plants for medicine.”
Bea managed to peer through her lashes. It was dark, the heat stifling and heavy in the abode. The only light came through an open doorway so small, you’d have to hunch low to enter.
“Will it work?” Colin knelt beside her, his face shadowed by the darkness.
She couldn’t read his features and she desperately wanted to know what he was thinking. If only she could look into his eyes, she’d know if she was going to die.
“Sometimes it works, if the gods will it.”
Colin leaned closer, his jaw clenched, a fierceness in his gaze. “Yeah, well, I can’t leave it to the gods.”
Bea’s lips trembled, the words resting in her throat but refusing to move past her lips. How badly she wanted to ask what the hell was happening. But she was too tired to demand an explanation.
Heat flared through her body, slicing down her spine. Bea arched her back, whimpering. A hand pressed to her forehead. Instantly, the fire lessened, swept aside by cool relief. Bea reached up, her fingers grasping the wrist, keeping the hand in place.
“I’ve seen this in South America.” Colin’s voice. Colin’s hand. Colin’s touch. His fingers moved to the side of her face. “The symptoms. The fever, chills. You’ll be all right, Bea. I promise.”
She opened her eyes and stared into his brilliant blue gaze. She believed him. She actually believed him. There was a calmness on his face now that gave her hope.
“Leave us,” Colin said, and although she knew he spoke to Raj and Anish, he kept his eyes locked on her.
“You’re him, aren’t you?” Anish whispered. “The one they speak of.”
“Leave,” Colin demanded.
Raj scampered from the dwelling. Anish paused only a moment. He bowed low, then shuffled from the building, leaving Colin and Bea alone.
“Close your eyes, Bea.”
She nodded and let her lashes drift down. Colin’s hand left her face only to press on her lower belly. Oddly, she wasn’t embarrassed by his touch, but welcomed the sudden warmth that seeped from his fingertips and numbed her pain.
A surreal calm entered her being and poured through her veins, traveling to her limbs. Bea surrendered to the feeling, welcomed the sensation. Heat shimmered through her lower belly, and white light burst behind her eyelids. She no longer heard the birds outside, no longer felt the stifling heat of the day, only a heavenly weightless sensation.
She knew she smiled. Somewhere in the deep recesses of her mind, she knew she smiled although she couldn’t feel her face. She felt as if she were floating, as if she could fly, yet at the same time, she felt his presence. Colin’s anchoring presence there, just beyond. A soft thump beat around her, pulsing through her being. She tried to turn, tried to locate the vibration, but could see only brilliant white light.
Colin.
The thump grew louder, her body vibrating with the sound. Colin’s heart, she suddenly realized. The feeling surrounded her, enveloped her, and she found she didn’t want to leave wherever it was she’d entered.
“Come back to me, Bea,” Colin whispered.
Just as quickly as it had come, the light started to fade. Coldness replaced the warmth and ice began to crystallize in her veins. She wanted to reach out, to cling to the warmth, but with a roar it was gone. Air filled Bea’s lungs. She gasped, her eyes popping open. Her heart beat loud and fast in her ears. She didn’t dare move for fear the action would be too intense.
Slowly, the thump faded and Bea became aware of her surroundings. There was a muskiness in the air, the smell of vegetation and dirt. The scent was strong, stronger than normal. She remained still, afraid to move. It was dark, the light dim. Where was she? She felt languid and heavy, as if she’d slept for days. It was difficult to move. How long had she slept? She pointed her toes, stretching her legs like a lazy cat.
“Colin,” she whispered.
There was no response.
She moved her right hand, her fingers touching cool, silky strands. Someone lay next to her. She pushed herself upright. A large form lay sprawled upon the floor beside her cot, his face away from her. Bea’s heart jumped into her throat. He wasn’t moving, didn’t seem to be breathing. Bea slipped from her bed and rested her fingers under his chin. Slowly, she turned his face toward her.
Colin.
Chapter 10
Low voices entered his muddled mind. He squirmed, straining to make out the words, even as each muttered oath sent a deep ache pulsing through his body, beating in time with his heart. With a groan, he dared to open his eyes. Instantly he knew where he was. The dimness, the musky scent of earth and reeds …
He was lying on the mat in Anish’s hut. His fingers clenched, his heart skipping a beat as fear settled icy cold in his body. Where was Bea?
Something wet and cool settled against his forehead. Water trickled down the side of his face, pooling annoyingly in his ears.
“And this statue has magical powers?” Bea’s voice drifted through the layers of haziness.
Relief sank into his gut. Bea was here. Alive. Well enough to talk.
The relief immediately gave way to panic.
Statue? Magic?
Hell, what had Anish told her and how much did she now know? Colin reached up and shoved the cloth away from his face. It fell with a thud to the dirt floor. “What happened?”
There was a rustle of clothing and then Bea was there, leaning over him. Her dark hair fell in waves down around her shoulders, the top of her chest exposed by an open collar of the men’s shirt she wore. Even in his pathetic state, he found his body heating at the mere sight of her.
“You fainted.”
He scoffed, pushing up onto his elbows. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m a man and an American, we don’t faint.”
She lifted one dark brow and leaned back on her heels. “Well, then you took a nap, a very deep, very long nap.”
Damn. There was no point in arguing. He’d fainted. Like a corseted lass in an English drawing room. Warmth swept to his cheeks. He slid Bea a glance, trying to read her face. The sun shone through the open doorway, highlighting her body with a halo as if she were some damn angel come to offer him mercy … or take his soul.
“How long?” He gritted his teeth and pushed himself completely upright.
The movement sent his mind spinning. He pressed his fingers to his temple, but the pressure didn’t help. There was no magical elixir that swept away his pain. He could merely wait as the room stopped blurring and Bea’s face finally came into focus. Her brows were drawn together, her lips in a tight line. She looked worried. More than worried. Even in the dim light of dusk, he could see the dark shadows under her eyes, contrasting against the paleness of her face.
“How long? How long have I been out?”
She released a soft breath. “Two days, Colin. Two days.”
Shock swept through him. “What …”
But she was serious; he could see that in the concern turning her amber eyes gold. He jerked his attention away from her, afraid she’d see the surprise. His heart hammered its protest against his rib cage, his body eager to bolt. He’d never meant to stay this long. He’d learned early in his life to keep afoot. When you were in one place too many days, they’d find you.
He tossed aside the thin blanket covering his legs, glad to see he was still dressed. “We need to leave soon.” He’d needed the rest, whether he wanted it or not. Now that he was rested, they needed to move.
“Yes, soon,” Anish croaked from the doorway of the hut. “They come. Soon.”
“They? Who?” Bea demanded, standing. She’d changed. Gone was the traditional woman’s garb and in its place were tan men’s pants that hugged her backside indecently and a beige shirt that showed every damn curve. The stiff Englishwoman he’d met had disappeared. She looked like a damn adventurer. He didn’t know whether to be amused or irritated. What else had happened in the past two days?
“Men are coming,” Anish said, as if that explained everything.
Colin didn’t need to know more. He’d seen enough of the unexplained to know to trust the man’s eerie predictions.
Apparently, Bea did need to know more. “What do you mean?” she demanded.
“Bea, let’s go.” Colin settled his stocking feet on the ground and stood. Too fast. The top of his head slammed into the low, straw ceiling. He swayed, the room wavering. Bea was there, slipping her arm around his waist. It more than bothered him that he had to rely on a woman to hold him upright. And that damn sweet scent of hers wasn’t helping to clear his thoughts.
“But … but now? You feel well enough?”
He moved away, collapsing onto the mat. “Of course I do.” He pulled on his boots, annoyed she was treating him like some weak child, more annoyed that he felt like one. He was supposed to be protecting her. When had their positions changed? When he’d fainted like a weak … Englishwoman. He grabbed his hat and stuffed it onto his head.
Anish watched them from the shadows, his gaze too knowing.
Bea nodded, but he could see a flash of suspicion cross her eyes. The question was, how much did she know … about him … about the statue … about his abilities? How much did she remember of what he’d done? He’d rarely stuck around long enough after healing someone to find out what they remembered. But there was one person, one person he’d been able to ask. Ella.
He’d saved Ella.
“It was … wonderful.” He could still picture her face that day he’d gotten the courage to ask her what she’d experienced. There was a strange happiness, an odd sense of knowing that had swept through his cousin’s eyes. “Warmth, love. I felt free, free of hurt, free of pain.”
Her answer had made him jealous. How he wished he could feel that way, just once. All he felt was a damn headache afterward.
A thump shook the ground, jerking him back into the present.
“What the hell was that?” Colin demanded.
Bea looked away, a telltale flush of guilt staining her cheeks. In two long strides, Colin swept outside. Brilliant light stabbed his eyes, making him blink rapidly. When he could finally focus, his mouth fell open. A monstrous gray beast munched vegetation on the edge of the camp, a wooden chair atop his back. Next to the animal Raj stood with a brilliant white smile against his tanned face.
“Good day!” he called out, waving, his excitement almost tangible.
The scent of clover and lavender alerted Colin to Bea’s presence. He spun around to face her. “Is that … is that …”
“An elephant,” Bea supplied.
He pinched the bridge of his nose and took in a long, deep breath, attempting to regain control of his temper. How dare she make plans while he was unconscious. “What
the hell is an elephant doing here?”
“Elephant,” Raj said. “You see elephant?”
“Of course,” he snapped, knowing exactly why the beast was here. He closed his eyes briefly. The woman tried his patience. One moment she was a quivering mess, the nextshe was making plans and ordering him about as if she were in charge.
“An elephant for your travel. I’ll be Mahout,” Raj explained, puffing out his chest like a peacock.
The animal lifted its long trunk as if in greeting and gave a little snort. His cream-colored tusks gleamed wickedly in the sunlight. Colin wasn’t sure what the beast found so amusing, Raj’s vanity or his own obvious trepidation.
“Please tell me you’re joking.”
“No,” Anish said, moving past them. “No jesting. You ride on elephant. He take you to temple.”
Surprise gave him pause. “Temple?” Colin’s attention flashed to Bea.
She shrugged and looked away, avoiding his gaze before he could read her emotions. “It’s where you wish to travel, right?”
“I …” He didn’t know how to respond. He wasn’t sure if he should be irate that she’d planned their travels without his consent or if he should be apologizing for not telling her about his intention to research the temple in the first place. “Bea, I can explain.”
She met his gaze, her eyes hard, her body stiff. “It’s why you’ve been in India; it’s why Leo and Ella came here. It must be important. Correct?”
If keeping unimaginable power and wealth from the hands of evil was important, then yes, it was. He rubbed the back of his neck, unsure how much to admit. “Well …”
She nodded and something shifted in her eyes, something subtle that he couldn’t quite decipher. Gone was any softness and in its place stood a tall, cold woman. The type of woman he expected to find in the ballrooms of England. Suddenly, Sarah stood before him in all of her arrogant finery. Colin shook his head. Bea wasn’t Sarah. He knew it wasn’t fair to compare the two, but when Bea looked at him that way … with that coldness in her eyes … damned if he didn’t remember his last encounter with his fiancée.
Wild Desire Page 12