'Til the End of Time: A Loveswept Contemporary Romance

by Iris Johansen

  He gazed unseeingly into the darkness. His muscles were stiff and unyielding as he tried to fasten his thoughts on something, anything to keep them away from the woman whose cheek still lay pillowed so trustingly in the hollow of his shoulder.

  Three

  “A labone is a sewer? No wonder you told your friend I’d need a raincoat.” Alessandra gazed distastefully at the round, gaping mouth of the manhole. “I presume it’s damp as hell down there.”

  Sandor nodded. “Sorry. Belajo is a very old city, and the walls of the sewer system have a tendency to spring leaks.” He glanced over his shoulder and grinned. “But you’ll be glad to know I’ve seen only a few rats when I’ve been down there.”

  “How very comforting,” she said dryly as she edged closer to the manhole. She shivered and drew the folds of the black oilcloth poncho closer to her body. She wasn’t sure if the shiver was caused by the thought of going down into the darkness of another unknown labyrinth or from the predawn chill. She should have suspected Karpathan would have an unpleasant surprise for her when he had led her to this alley behind Jannot’s café. She didn’t like burrowing around beneath the ground, dammit. “I’m going to present you with a formidable bill very soon, Karpathan. I’m definitely going to get you.”

  “I hope so,” he murmured as he watched her negotiate the first rungs of the ladder. “Or vice versa.”

  She glanced up and had to smother a smile. She was grateful it was still dark and the smile went unnoticed. She wouldn’t have wanted him to know of the strangely companionable mood she’d found herself experiencing since he’d wakened her twenty minutes earlier.

  After a night spent in his arms, she was having problems convincing herself he was still the enemy. It was really a pity. He would have made a wonderful comrade in the old days. Together they would have run rings around the guards, and he wouldn’t have been intolerant of Dimitri, as the others had been.…

  “There are several inches of water in the sewer. When you reach the bottom rung, step to the left. There’s a foot-wide ledge that’s usually above the water level. Be careful. I can’t risk turning on the flashlight until I’m in the sewer and the cover is back in place.”

  Usually above the water level? She cast an apprehensive glance downward. The air here in the sewer was moist and heavy and smelled abominable. She thought she could faintly discern the glitter of water just below her, and she shifted uneasily on the ladder. She had no intention of landing in that murky water if she could prevent it. There was no telling what manner of disgusting debris was floating in a sewer. She carefully lowered a foot past the bottom rung of the ladder. The tip of her shoe touched liquid, and she quickly jerked it back.

  “Are you all right?” Karpathan asked.

  “Did you ever hear the story about there being alligators in the sewers?”

  He laughed with genuine amusement. “Yes, but it’s just a myth.”

  “I’m glad you’re so confident.” Her foot touched the ledge, and she carefully moved to it from the ladder and pressed back against the damp wall of the sewer. “I wouldn’t think of questioning your source. If you’re wrong, I don’t want to know. I’m on the ledge now.”

  She cautiously sidled a few feet forward. It was awfully slippery. She wished Karpathan would turn on the flashlight. It was even darker down there than before, now that he’d replaced the manhole cover. She heard his steps echoing on the metal of the ladder, but he was only another dark silhouette in a tube of shadows. Then he was on the ledge, and she breathed a sigh of relief. It was odd how much more secure she felt with Karpathan at her side.

  The slender beam of the penlight pierced the darkness. His gaze quietly searched her taut face with concern. “There’s nothing down here to hurt you. I never would have brought you with me if there had been.”

  She knew he wouldn’t. In spite of the unpleasantness of her surroundings, she’d been certain Karpathan would never expose her to any real peril if he could prevent it. She smiled crookedly. “There had better not be. I’m not skilled at alligator wrestling. The fist one we run into is all yours.”

  “Right.” His hand was on her elbow, propelling her forward. “I welcome the challenge. We modern men are handicapped by the lack of dragons to fight for our ladies. I guess an alligator would do nicely.”

  His lady. A warm contentment touched her like the crackling heat of a fire on a crisp winter day. She should resent the possessiveness in the words. Yet she found it difficult to do so when it made her feel so exquisitely treasured. She had the irrational feeling that now that she had experienced this warmth, she would miss it when Karpathan took it away. She must be going soft. She had never missed being cosseted before. “I think I’d enjoy watching the show.”

  “The question is, which one of us would you be rooting for?” he asked dryly. His hand tightened as she slipped a little on the fungus-coated concrete. “Watch it. I wouldn’t want to have to pluck you out of that water. You’d be even more perturbed at me if you came out of here smelling like …”

  “A sewer,” she finished for him. “I think I’m already in that condition. How much farther do we have to go?”

  “Another half mile or so. This sewer empties into the Gratani River about a quarter of a mile outside the city. Unfortunately there’s a road directly across the river controlled by Naldona’s troops. We’ll have to wait for the diversion Jannot’s arranged before we leave the sewer. That should be in about forty minutes.”

  “Diversion?”

  “A guerrilla attack.”

  “Quite a diversion just to get me out of the city.”

  “But very worthwhile. I’m becoming more convinced of that with every passing moment.”

  She glanced back to see a faint smile on his lips.

  “Now all I have to do is to convince you, my dear Amazon.”

  “You’ll never—” She broke off and looked away. No doubt Karpathan would regard the denial she’d been about to make in the same light as the alligator challenge. She wasn’t sure she was up to facing that particular kind of challenge at the moment. She closed her lips, her steps unconsciously quickening. “Let’s get out of here before this odor becomes embedded in my bones.”

  She didn’t know whether the sound echoing behind her was a chuckle or a reproving cluck. It didn’t matter. Whatever his response, she knew it would not be meant unkindly. She had discovered that beneath the hard facade Sandor Karpathan assumed, there lay a surprising gentleness.

  “For the love of God, move!” There was no sign of gentleness now on Karpathan’s face as he jerked her after him up the incline. “Jannot’s men can’t keep up the artillery fire much longer without being spotted. We have to get beyond the summit of the hill so they can get the hell out of there.”

  “I am hurrying.” She twisted her arm out of his grip. She cast a glance across the river. The attention of Naldona’s soldiers was concentrated on the bluff bordering the highway, but that could change at any moment. “Go on. Run. I’m not a doll to be carried. I can keep up with you.”

  Something warm flickered in his expression before he turned away. “I believe you can. Let’s prove it, shall we?” He began to run, keeping as low as he could on the open terrain of the path.

  Alessandra followed him, moving with the same speed and caution. The path was steep and went almost straight up. By the time they crested the hill, her breath was coming in labored gasps. Good Lord, she was out of condition. But Karpathan was a little out of breath, too, she noticed with satisfaction, “Were we seen?”

  “You would have known it if we were.” Sandor’s lips twisted. “There would have been bullets whistling over the pretty brown bun on the top of your head. But we should keep on going until we get behind our lines. Do you need a rest?”

  She shook her head, too breathless to answer.

  There was again that flicker of pride in his face. “It’s only across the next hill. Our base is a few hours’ hike away, but once we’re behind the lines, it wil
l be safe to let you stop for a while.” He turned away and began to cover the ground at a half trot, trusting her to keep the pace.

  Karpathan’s trust filled her with the same strange, fierce happiness as the pride she had seen glimmering in his face. In that moment she could understand why Karpathan was supposed to be able to inspire his followers to perform miraculous feats. She would probably have done a hell of a lot more than stretch her physical resources to the limit to have him look at her again, with admiration and pride.

  However, her limit of endurance had nearly been reached when Sandor called a halt. There was a bead of moisture running down her back and every breath was causing an agonizingly sharp pain in her side as she collapsed against a huge maple tree and leaned back against the rough bark of its trunk.

  “We’re safe now.”

  “How do you know we’re behind your lines?” she asked curiously as soon as she could get her breath. “We haven’t seen any soldiers.”

  “That’s because they know who I am.” Sandor dropped down beside her. “Guerrilla warfare. Naldona’s men would have been cut down a hundred yards ago.”

  “I’m glad your men have good eyesight.” She grimaced. “I suppose they would shoot me, too, if I wandered away from you.”

  “Not after they’d seen you with me.” He went still. His eyes narrowed on her face. “Don’t even think about it, Alessandra. You might be safe from them, but you wouldn’t be safe from me. I’d stop you long before you reached the labone.”

  “I have to think about it.” She leaned her head back against the trunk of the tree. “I told you, I have something to do in Belajo. I can’t leave until I’ve finished what I started.”

  “What the devil is important enough to risk getting killed for?” His tone was roughly impatient. “For heaven’s sake, tell me.”

  She opened her lips and then closed them without speaking. She was tempted to give him the information he demanded, but the trust she was learning was too new. Sandor Karpathan’s charisma was forceful enough to persuade an angel to give up its wings. What if she were wrong to give him her trust?

  An expression close to pain fleetingly crossed his face. “Very well. I can wait. You’ll have to talk to me eventually.”

  She met his gaze and felt a flutter of panic. He was right. If she stayed with him, there was no question that she’d tell him what he wanted to know. It was only a matter of time. Why, she had been trailing after him as meekly as a blasted camp follower! It was incredible how far they had come since she had walked out on the terrace last night.

  “No!” She jumped to her feet. “Dammit, Karpathan, I won’t let you manipulate me. You’ve already mesmerized half of Tamrovia. Just let me alone.”

  “I can’t seem to do that,” he said simply. “I’ve given up trying. I believe you’ll reach that point, too, before long.”

  “The hell I will.” She whirled and was running back in the direction from which they had come. She heard a low curse and then the rustle of the brush behind her as he started in pursuit. She flew over the ground, adrenaline lending strength to lungs and muscles she had so recently strained to the point of exhaustion.

  “Stop, dammit.” His voice was low and intense, close behind her. “Alessandra, this isn’t—” He broke off as she had a spurt of speed and pulled a few yards ahead of him. She might make it! The sudden effort to escape had been sheer impulse prompted by panic, but there was no reason why she shouldn’t succeed. She was strong, and heaven knew she had endurance. Karpathan wouldn’t call for help, because he would be afraid it would trigger his men to hurt her. If she could gain a few more yards …

  She fell to the ground with a stunning force. He had tackled her, she realized dazedly. Karpathan moved quickly astride her. His powerful hand on her nape pressed her face into the grass. She couldn’t breathe! She tried to lift her head, but his grasp wouldn’t permit it.

  “Stop struggling.” His tone was as coolly ruthless as his hand on her neck. “You’ll either promise to quit fighting me or I’ll keep your face pressed into the dirt until you pass out.”

  She was close to unconsciousness now. She was fighting wildly for breath, and the darkness was lifting and falling.

  “Your word,” Karpathan demanded.

  Damn him, how did he think she could speak if she couldn’t breathe? The thought must have occurred to him, for his grip shifted and she was allowed to turn her head so her cheek was pressed to the ground instead of her mouth and nose. “I promise,” she said, gasping.

  She was flipped over, and found herself looking up at Karpathan’s tense face. He was pale. She was the one who had nearly suffocated. Why was he so pale? Her breasts were lifting and falling as she tried to force air back into her starved lungs. Her gaze blazed at him. “For now, Karpathan.”

  “Oh, God!” The words were wrenched from him. “Why are you making me do this to you?” He lifted the short rain poncho over her head and threw it aside. He placed his hands beneath her breasts, with his thumbs on her breastbone. Startled, her eyes widened in apprehension. Then the tenseness flowed out of her as she realized the action was completely impersonal. He was gently compressing and releasing her diaphragm to help her breathe. “Tell me. Let me help you. You know I can’t let you go.” There was a muscle jerking in his left cheek, and her gaze fastened on it in bemused fascination. “Whatever you have to do in Belajo, I can arrange to have done for you. We can work it out. Trust me.”

  His hands felt warm and gentle through the cotton of her shirt. His dark blue eyes were also gentle in his tormented face. Her anger was suddenly gone. He had done what he had to do. She probably would have done the same.

  “Trust me,” he repeated coaxingly. “You won’t be sorry, Alessandra.”

  Lord, she hoped not. Because she knew she was going to trust him. The decision brought such a lessening of tension it made her a little dizzy. She hesitated. “There’s a priest, Father John Dinot,” she said haltingly. “I was to see him today to make final—” She broke off to glare up at him fiercely. “If you betray me, I’ll come back and cut your heart out, Karpathan.”

  “You haven’t given me anything to betray yet,” he said dryly. “What are you up to with the good father?”

  “It’s for the children.” Her gaze moved to a point beyond his shoulder. “They’re the ones who are hurt the most by war. You and Naldona will tear the country apart for your damn principles. I’ve seen it happen before. And all that’s going to be left will be the hunger and the suffering. And the children. The children will survive. They always survive. But someone has to help them.”

  “And is that what you’re doing, Alessandra?” His fingers reached out to tenderly brush a tendril of hair from her temple.

  She nodded, still not looking at him. “James supplies the money. I find a distributor, such as Father Dinot, who has no allegiance to either side, and we channel food and medical supplies through a neutral network. In that way we bypass the government bureaucracies which have a tendency to pocket a hefty percentage of relief funds.”

  “I see.”

  There was a raw savagery in the tone that brought her gaze flying back to his face. She inhaled sharply. Hurt. Besides anger, there was hurt in the eyes looking into her own.

  “And I suppose you’re lumping me with the bureaucrats who would rob those children. My God, what kind of monster do you think I am?”

  “I didn’t know you. You and Naldona deal in power. Power changes people.”

  “Enough to turn me into a man who robs children?” His eyes were blazing fiercely. “I’m fighting this war as much for those children as for—” He stopped and drew a deep breath, struggling for control. She had struck him where he was most vulnerable. No one knew better than he how power corrupted. Naldona had become a ruthless dictator after his first sip of the heady vintage. Why should he blame Alessandra for thinking he might do the same if given the opportunity? “What do you want me to do? How can I help you?”

  Now there
was weariness as well as hurt in his eyes. For some reason she couldn’t bear to think she had caused Karpathan to look so utterly world-weary. “I do trust you, Karpathan,” she whispered. “I know you wouldn’t hurt my children.”

  “Thank you.” The grimness disappeared from his expression as he smiled gently down at her. “I think you’ve given me one of your rare compliments. I don’t believe trust in your fellow man comes easily for you, but I have an idea I still have a long way to go. It wouldn’t take more than a flicker of suspicion to have you threaten to cut my heart out again.” His hands were still pressing and releasing her diaphragm, though her breathing was now as steady as his own. She really should tell him to stop. But the movement was very … pleasant.

  “Now, let’s set a plan in motion to accomplish our objectives.” His brow wrinkled in thought. “I can’t risk security by bringing Father Dinot into camp to talk to you. Besides, it would be dangerous for him. The best thing would be to send a courier with your instructions. He can also bring a message back.” His gaze searched her face. “If you think you can entrust a confidential message to one of my men.”

  She nodded slowly. “I imagine you’re a good judge of character, Karpathan.” She grinned up at him. “And you’ve recently given me a demonstration of the treatment you mete out when someone displeases you. I doubt if your messenger would risk having your wrath turned in his direction.”

  “This particular messenger doesn’t give a damn about my wrath, but I believe you’ll agree he’s reliable.” His expression became grave. “I’ll also have a message sent to Bruner to let him know you’re safe. The only promise I’ll ask you to make is to cooperate in letting me smuggle you over the border into Switzerland.”