Time Raiders: The Whisper by Elle James Read Free Book Online Page A

feel of his full sensuous lips against hers.
    “How long does it take to know your soul? A year, a day or a moment?”
    Marisol stood for a few seconds, gathering her wits around her. The man had her head spinning, even without the kiss. His words and his kiss made her want to forget everything and return to the pallet on the floor.
    “Let us go.” Gunner yanked the door open.
    Marisol took a step forward and stopped.
    In front of her stood Kentar with a dozen eagle warriors.
    Kentar raised his eyebrows. “Going somewhere?”
    Gunnar moved up beside Marisol. “We were going out for a stroll in the garden.”
    “Your plans have changed. The emperor requests your presence at Machu Picchu.”
    “And if I refuse?”
    “You will not.” Kentar raised his hand.
    In the second it took for Marisol’s mind to process Kentar’s intent, she flew in front of Gunnar, blocking his body with hers.
    A bolt of electrical current hit her hard, the pain immediate, followed by an incapacitating numbness. She fell at Gunnar’s feet unable to move, her mind wavering, her vision blurring, shocked by the use of a weapon far too advanced for Incan technology.
    Another flash of light erupted from the weapon in Kentar’s hand, hitting Gunnar square in the chest.
    The big Norseman staggered backward and toppled to the ground.
    Marisol tried to cry out, but her mouth wouldn’t work, the room darkening before she could utter a single syllable. Her universe went black.

 

    Chapter Six
     
    Marisol awoke with her face lying against stone, her body sore and bruised in more places than she could number, and so cold she shivered uncontrollably.
    A fuzzy memory of Gunnar toppling to the floor of his bedchamber burst through Marisol’s mind, and she pushed to a sitting position, staring around at dark stone walls.
    “Where the hell am I?”
    “Machu Picchu.” A female voice cut through the silence. A voice she recognized immediately.
    “Imac?”
    “Yes.”
    “What’s happening?”
    “The shaman of Machu Picchu prepares for a great ceremony to honor the sun god.”
    Marisol leaped to her feet, swayed and braced her hand against the stone wall. She prayed the shaman hadn’t already taken Gunnar. Her heart skipped several beats at the thought of losing the big Norseman to an insane ritual. “We have to get to Gunnar before he is sacrificed to Inti.”
    “The great sun god will receive three sacrifices today.” She bowed her head, her shoulders slumping, highly uncharacteristic of the jaguar warrior.
    “Three?” Marisol stared at the dark-haired, sultry woman. “Are we to be part of that sacrifice?”
    “Yes.” Imac looked toward a solid wall, a tear sliding down her beautiful face. “I thought he loved me.”
    “Does Pachacuti know you are to be sacrificed?”
    “It was his order.”
    “And you know this how?”
    “I was asked to lead the warriors in defense of Machu Picchu, but once I got here, I was thrown into this cell with you.” She tipped her head up, staring down her nose at Marisol as though something smelled bad…that something being Marisol.
    “Why are you still here?” Marisol asked.
    Imac frowned. “What do you mean?”
    Marisol strode across the room and grabbed Imac by the shoulders. “Why are you still in this cell?”
    “I am to be sacrificed. Were you not listening?”
    Marisol pushed aside her desire to claim the medallion for the more immediate need of staying alive. “You can escape.”
    Imac shook her head, more tears sliding down her cheeks. “I can’t.”
    “Yes, you can.” Marisol tipped the woman’s chin up. “As a jaguar, you can leap up to that window and escape. Why haven’t you?”
    Imac stared at the meager light streaming through the window high on the wall. Too high for a human to reach, but not for a cat as powerful as a jaguar. “Why should I? If I escape, what do I have to go back to?”
    “You would have your life. You are a beautiful woman. I bet Pachacuti did not sentence