Bolt

11

Bolt took a step closer to her. He could feel himself breathing harder as her scent ran up his nostrils like a delicious perfume. He couldn’t help but notice how her chest heaved harder with his proximity.

“Maybe it's a military thing you don’t understand,” Bolt said.

Kara pursed her lips.

“Don’t sell yourself short, Bolt. You’re smarter than that,” Kara remarked.

Bolt frowned.

“What’s your angle here?” he asked.

“I don’t have an angle. I just think you have more interest than you’re relaying,” Kara said with a smirk.

She wasn’t wrong. But he could feel his resistance to her beginning to diminish, and he didn’t want that to distort his focus.

She was so appealing, though. He hoped they could have a proper conversation soon.

“Maybe I am wondering,” he said.

He took a step away from her and went back to the stream. His face went red and hot with the thought of having Kara so close to him.

She was still standing near him, which didn’t help his resolve.

“I can tell you if you want,” Kara said.

Bolt stood and shook his head. “We have to get going. There’s no time,” Bolt said.

He walked away from her, back to the cave. She stood there, and he could feel her eyes on him.

“I almost got you there,” she yelled back at him.

Bolt smiled without any self-control. He went back into the cave and changed his shirt. The rest of the team was awake and waiting for further instructions.

Elle pushed past him, and the rest followed. Kara was waiting outside too. Taking the chance to lead the group again. Bolt tried to center himself to focus on the mission.

He went back outside and stood over the group. Everyone but Elle was looking at him.

“Okay, everyone,” Kara said. She took a map out from her pack then pointed in the opposite direction. “We should reach the location of the gem in half a day. Stay alert, and let Bolt know if you hear or see anything suspicious.”

Bolt began to make his way forward, with Kara walking beside him once again. Elle moved to the back, and they were on their way.

Bolt tried not to think about the fact that Kara was next to him. She was growing more and more attractive, despite how frustrating she could be. Thoughts about holding her in his arms kept popping into his head, and he swatted them away like flies.

She trotted beside him as he began to hit a quick stride.

“You’re going to tell me about that dream you had,” she said confidently. “I promise you that.”

Bolt rolled his eyes, then continued walking on. He saw Kara smile then fall back in the line behind him.

What the hell was he getting himself into? He needed to get the mission done so he could go back to living his shifter life. He had been cooped up for too long in that prison, missing out on all the glorious tastes of life.

One of those tastes could include Kara — he hoped.

KARA

It took the crew almost a full day, but they finally made it to the cave she’d been searching for. According to Kara’s research and knowledge, this was the location where she would find the statue of the tiger where the gem would be embedded.

Kara ran ahead of Bolt, her blood heating with excitement. The cave was higher and wider than the last one, so she was sure that something like a statue could easily stand tall within it. She moved ahead of the group like she was an Olympic runner.

When she got to the cave, she hurried inside without any safety assessment. She could hear Bolt’s feet scuffling behind her.

“Kara, wait …” he called out.

Kara ignored him. She zipped into the cave while the others trailed behind her. This was her mission, and no one was going to stop her from achieving her goal.

But disappointment washed over her as she ran through the opening. The statue was supposed to be dead center in the middle of it, easily found by any adventurer willing to go inside.

She swayed her flashlight over the walls, over the dirt and snow trickled ground. She stomped her foot like an angry toddler.

“f**k!” she exclaimed.

Bolt came in behind her, grabbed her by the shoulder, and twirled her around. Kara was so high-strung from the adrenaline that she almost tipped over.

“Don’t do that!” Bolt said through gritted teeth.

Kara took his hand off of her shoulder and wiped it away.

“Don’t touch me,” she replied.

“You can’t just run ahead like that,” Bolt said. “I have to assess the area first to be sure there aren’t any booby traps.”

Kara tightened her jaw and then turned around to observe the cave.

“Do you honestly think you know more about these caves than a person who has studied Afghan culture for years?” she said.

She could feel Bolt standing behind her, finally silenced. Elle and the rest of her camp came through the cave, stepping slowly and carefully.

“It’s not here,” Kara yelled back.

Her team murmured among themselves while Kara evaluated the walls, inch by inch. If the statue wasn’t here, maybe there were clues about where it could be located. She took the rock key from her pocket and studied the glyphs carved into it. She was sure this was the cave depicted. So if not the statue, then what? Another clue? Damn, she felt like she was in one of her favorite movies National Treasure. Clue after clue until the end of the film.

She could hear her heart beating in her ears as she moved along the stone wall, looking for something, anything. Bolt clicked on his flashlight, then began observing the walls as well. He moved to the opposing side, and she was glad he wasn’t getting in her way.