Never Let You Fall (The Prophecy of Tyalbrook) by Michele G Miller Page B

truth about everything and she’ll give you directions. Got it?”
    “What? No, Ri! I’m not leaving you! What’s going on? We can take them!”
    I pulled my arm from his grip and tried to look beyond the building, but his large frame blocked my way. He immediately pushed me against the brick façade, and pulling close to my ear, he forced me to listen.
    “Xander, you will go! I’m protecting you, and I’m protecting Skye. You’re the important ones here, and you must get home, Xander. There is something stronger at work here than just the Semvon…” He pulled back and leveled his face with mine, whispering, “McClintock has men here - I can feel it - and you must go NOW!”
    “Okay! Where’s your car?” I asked. I tried to keep calm, even as the fear of losing the only family I had left in this world was beginning to eat at me.
    “It’s three blocks south. The keys are where they always are.”
    Looking to Skye he added, “Skye, listen to Xander, please. Without question.”
    I glanced over to see that Skye had sunk down to the ground against the wall next to me. Her face was pale as she shook her head and started to pull herself up.
    “Go. I will be in touch soon. I promise, Xander,” Rioden vowed, and then pushed me forward and turned back towards the hotel.
    Whirling quickly, I grabbed Skye’s hand and pulled her along; keeping one hand in my jacket, wrapped about my dagger in case of danger.
    “Come on! His car is down a few blocks and we need to hurry.”
    “Xander, what is he doing? What’s wrong?” she asked, as she practically ran to keep up with me, her hand squeezing mine tightly.
    After a moment my hand was yanked backwards, and Skye stood there in the street, mulishly looking at me. I glared at her questioningly and she began to verbally flay me. “Xander! What is he doing? Where are we going?”
    “He’s trying to protect us Skye! Protecting YOU! We need to go now before they find us!” I snapped. I continued to try pulling her along, but she wasn’t having it.
    “No! You can’t just leave him there to fight those things by himself! Go help him!”
    “Damn it, Skye! He told me to leave . You heard him, and he also told you to listen to me and you said you would. We have to go NOW! There aren’t just Semvon back there, but men - trained men - and I…” The truth crashed down, causing my shoulders to fall as I admitted the truth to her. “Skye, I don’t think I can win against them. That’s why he wants us to run.”
    Her eyes widened at my revelation, and she abruptly turned around and ran back towards the hotel. I seized her before she could get but a few feet away, and she yelled at me; jerking wildly.
    “No! I’m not going to let him risk his life for me, Xander! I’m not worth it! Please, let’s just go get him and run away together! Please!” she cried as tears sprang to her eyes.
    I cradled her face in my hands and stepped in closer to her. “That’s the last time you’re gonna say you’re not worth it, do you understand me, Skye? You are worth everything - everything - that has been done for you or will ever be done for you. You are everything…”
    My emotions got the best of me and I heard my voice crack, as I peered into her eyes and willed her to understand me. To see how much I loved her. She tried to shake her head no, but I tightened my grip and held her head still; shaking mine ‘yes’ back at her.
    I rubbed my thumb along her bottom lip and forged on. “Skye, I can’t breathe when you aren’t near me. I need you with me, and I need to protect you. Please come with me…because while I’m willing to go back there and fight to save Ri, I’m not willing to let anything happen to you. And if something happens to me, then no one can save you. Let me save you, Skye. Let me, please…?” I trailed off.
    She closed her eyes briefly, and lifted her hand to cover mine on her cheek. Ever so slowly, she turned her face and pressed a soft kiss to my palm,