Alisa stared after Korgan as he disappeared around the bend to make his way down to the forest where the Land Rover was hidden. She was still trying to catch her breath. Her fingers were clumsy as she finished getting dressed. Those moments of passion had gone by so quickly and crazily that she was still dizzy with emotion. That was probably what Korgan had intended. He’d wanted to take her mind off any threat to Sasha and the fact that their plans had to go into hyper speed. And he was so damn good that he’d been able to distract her until he’d just walked away from her.

But now reality was striking home again.

Who knew what else could happen when horror seemed to be all around them? She moved out of the boulders and looked down at Jubaldar. It was dark except for the glow of the garden lanterns and the lamps shining from an occasional window.

She’s handling it.

That was what they always said about Sasha. It was as if they took it for granted.

But how long could Sasha handle all the ugliness and horror that was constantly attacking?

“Are you going to stay out here all night?” Margaret asked as she came to stand beside her. “If you are, we’d better go get our sleeping bags. Because I’m not leaving you alone.”

“I’ll come back to the cave soon. I was just looking at the castle.”

“You’re always looking at the castle,” she said. “I don’t know how many times I’ve seen you come down here and stare at the place.” She shrugged. “Who could blame you? Particularly now.”

She glanced at Margaret’s face. “Now? Korgan talked to you when he went back to the cave to get his backpack?”

She nodded. “He told me to take care of you. As if we didn’t do that all the time anyway. He’s getting repetitive. Though I’m glad he did this time. You might have gotten all quiet and made me dig.” She added, “Korgan will see that nothing gets dropped between the cracks. It just means we’ll have to move faster.”

“I know that. I know everything you probably want to say to me.” She smiled shakily. “I guess I’m in worry mode. Ignore me.”

“I will. The minute you tell me if I should go get our sleeping bags.”

She shook her head, then took Margaret’s arm and started back toward the cave. “I’ll be fine, and Juno will be upset and come looking for you if he wakes and finds you gone. Korgan will let me know soon enough if I have to worry.” She grimaced. “Or maybe he’ll let you know and let you break it to me gently. That appears to be the way he’s handling things these days.”