East

"I wouldn't be so sure of him. He destroyed Taylor, and I don't even know why."

"Nor do I. But, we have a means to contact him. If he intends to come for you or me, it is better we meet him head on."

The warrior side of him was speaking. I didn't know enough about Carter to know if being proactive was going to work, but I suspected he wasn't going to let me go. I didn't know his deal with Batu.

"I feel like I'm losing everything," I murmured. "I feel like I had the world, and now it's slipping away."

"We have one another, Moonbeam," Batu reassured me. "Carter can't take our love."

I smiled weakly.

"Do you still love me, my goddess?"

"Yes." I lifted my head to meet Batu's gaze. He touched my face gently. "In any time and place, I will always love you, Batu."

"And I you, Moonbeam. I will find The Persian now. We can face Carter together." He released me and rose, striding out without bothering to stop and grab his outdoor layers.

I watched him, unable to shake my fear and doubt about Carter letting us go.

I curled up by the fire for a short time, mentally wired yet spent from the emotional extremes of the past few days. It took me a moment to register the strange buzz coming from my pocket. Shifting, I reached in and instantly recognized the cool combination of plastic and glass.

I pulled the cell phone out and stared at it, dread charging my system once more. I sat up, heart pounding, and swiped the screen awake.

Josie? Please respond. Carter had written the message three times.

My stomach felt like it dropped to my feet. I unlocked the phone and stared at the messages briefly before responding.

Leave me alone, Carter. I'm happy here. I want to stay with Batu. Tapping the send button, I waited.

Carter's answer brought tears to my eyes. You can't stay, Josie. You have to trust me. You have to leave that era immediately before his people pull you in and dissect your brain or worse. I know about you and Batu. You being there places him in grave danger as well.

I began sobbing. I had never quite shaken the fear of my presence hurting those around me, and Carter knew exactly what button to push. I texted him a lengthy message, blasting him in a way I wanted to do in person.

You have to trust me. He responded.

"Well I don't!" I said, anger bubbling forth from the depths of my hurting soul. I told him as much.