“He didn’t scare me.” Amber’s hand trembled as she brushed her hair back from her face. “I was more surprised at first. And then the flight over the mountains… It was incredible. He’s incredible.”
“He is.” Kelos nodded in agreement. “And he thinks the same about you.”
“I’m honored.” Amber looked up at the high cliff which towered above them. “So why are we here?”
“I have something to show you.” Kelos held out his hand and Amber took it, their fingers entwining as he led her toward the solid rock cliff.
“I can’t see anything.” Amber’s foot snagged on a rock and she stumbled. Kelos reached out for her and caught her, holding his mate against his body.
“Just stay close. Once we get inside, we can use the flashlight.” He kept his arm around her as he half carried his mate toward the cave entrance hidden behind a veil of tree roots and branches.
“Why can’t we use a flashlight here?” she asked as she gave in and relied on his assistance.
“Because I don’t want anyone to see where we are going.” He didn’t want to say anymore. Not yet.
“A cave?” Amber asked as they walked right up to the cliff face and he brushed the roots aside. A small trickle of dirt showered them, and he used his body to shield his mate from the worst of it.
“A cave.” He ducked his head and went inside. Amber hesitated, pulling away from him.
“What about Margie and the children?”
“They are safe. As the dragon flies, they are close and I cannot sense anyone else around,” he assured her.
“Is this some kind of seduction routine?” she asked bluntly. If it were, she was not impressed. It was a good thing it was not. Although, the thought of bringing her to a cave and claiming her stirred his emotions and his arousal intensified.
Focus, his dragon told him.
“No.” He held his hand out to her. “I want to show you something. Something important to me. It’s almost a part of me.”
“In a cave?” Uncertainty laced her voice.
“Trust me, Amber. I promise your family is safe.” He leaned forward and beckoned to her.
With a sigh, she reached out and took his hand. “Okay. I trust you.”
With a smile of triumph, his fingers closed around hers and he led her inside the cave. As the veil of roots and branches fell back into place, they were completely alone at last.
Except for his treasure, which sang to him like a siren on the high seas. But his need for his mate was stronger. If she asked him to leave now, he would go.
If she asked him to give all his treasure away. He would. Without a moment’s hesitation.
Our mate is more important, more precious than any treasure, his dragon agreed.
Kelos had never thought to hear his dragon say those words. But they were in complete agreement. Their mate was as necessary as the air they breathed. She would always come first.
Chapter Fourteen – Amber
“Here’s the flashlight.” Kelos rummaged around in the dark before he straightened up and thrust something into her hand. Amber closed her fingers around the curved handle of the flashlight. “Press the button here to turn it on and off.”
Her thumb rested on the raised button and she pressed it. A beam of light instantly illuminated the area around them. It was a cave.
“There’s nothing here.” She swung the beam of light left and right across the cave floor. All she could see were lumps of fallen rock and dust. Tipping the flashlight, she shone it over the ceiling. “This isn’t about to fall down around us, is it?”
“Nope, it’s quite safe. Don’t worry.” He slipped his hand into hers. “This way.” The excitement in his voice was contagious and a shiver of anticipation threaded through her as he set off across the cave heading for the back wall, which looked like another solid rock face.
“Where…” The beam of light rested on a small gap in the rock. “We’re going in there?” Kelos was leading her deeper and deeper into the cave and a sudden wave of claustrophobia swept over her.
“There’s a short tunnel and then it opens up into another cave. It’s safe,” he assured her. “I wouldn’t have brought you down here if it wasn’t.”
He wouldn’t. He’d sworn to protect her and said he could never hurt her. It was safe. At least, Kelos believed it was safe. However, she lacked the ability to shift into a huge dragon with a tough scaly skin that would protect him from falling debris.
“I don’t like it in here,” she admitted. “But if this is important to you then I’ll follow you.”
She took a deep breath and forced the air into her lungs even though her throat constricted with panic as she followed Kelos into the tunnel. Whatever was here had better be good.
“Can you still sense Margie and the kids? Even through the rock?” Amber asked as panic over her sister-in-law threatened to overtake panic of being buried alive under tons of rock.
“I can still sense her,” Kelos assured her. “They are alone.”
“And if anyone came for them, would we get back there in time to save them?” Amber asked. If this was her idea of taking her mind off the enclosed space around them then she had to be a masochist. Torturing herself with thoughts of her sister-in-law getting kidnapped was not the way to go.
“I would.” He nodded, his face pale in the light from the flashlight. “I promise.”
She nodded grimly and followed him through the tunnel, thankful when they exited the other side. As the cave opened up, the air smelled sweeter, less stagnant, and she wondered if there was another entrance into this part of the cave.
“Is this it?” Amber still couldn’t see why they were here.
“This way.” He inclined his head to the right and she followed him, sweeping the ground with the flashlight.
“What is that?” The light reflected off
