The pillars of creation

CHAPTER 29

In the distance, across the landing, Je

"Stop!" He called out in a deep, powerful voice. Even above the racket around her, Je

Nyda was staring at her, as if the spark of recognition was but an instant away. Je

"Nyda, you have to stop him."

Nyda broke the gaze to look over her shoulder at the man rushing toward them. She looked back at Je

Je

Je

"But he might only-"

Gripping the fistful of red leather tightly, Je

Invoking the name of Lord Rahl tipped the balance back.

"Go," Nyda said. "Hurry."

Je

Je

She hadn't realized how it would affect her to see someone who was related to her. She hadn't expected to see it in his eyes. There had only been her mother and her, before. It was the strangest feeling-a kind of pensive longing-seeing this man who was in some way her blood.

But if he caught her, her doom would be sealed.

Together, she and Sebastian raced down the steps, dodging people who were on their way up. Some people grumbled at them to watch where they were going, or cursed them for ru

When they reached a level where soldiers were stationed, they slowed. Je

Sebastian's arm around her waist held her close as he wound his way through the flowing river of people. To avoid soldiers on patrol moving by near the balusters, he had to guide Je

The landing was choked with people buying trinkets and treasures of their visit to the People's Palace. The air was filled with the aroma of meats and spices from some of the stands. Couples sat on benches eating, drinking, smiling, talking excitedly. Others simply watched people pass. There were shadowy spaces between stands and pillars where some couples sat tight together on short benches or, where there were no benches, stood close in the dark, cuddling, kissing.

When Je

Je

Je

With his hood up as it was, they wouldn't see much of him. If they noticed them at all, they would only see enough to notice she was a woman. They would look like nothing more than a couple of completely unremarkable people. Je

It was quieter back in their small sanctuary. The sound of their heavy breathing drowned out the voices not far away. Most people couldn't see them, and the ones who could have were turned to other things. It had made Je

Sebastian's hands were on her waist. Her hands held his back, so that they would look the part as they waited for the soldiers to pass. She was grateful beyond words that the good spirits had helped her get Sebastian out.

"I never thought I'd see you again," he whispered, for the first time alone with her since he'd been released, for the first time able to say what he wanted.

Je

He shook his head. "I can't believe what you did. I can't believe how you talked your way into that place. You had them wrapped around your will. How did you manage such a thing?"

Je

"That's how you managed it, then? Her magic?"

Jermsen shook her head as she gazed up into his eyes. "No. Althea couldn't help me-it's a long story. She told me how she's been to your homeland, to the Old World." She smiled. "Like I said, it's a long story for another time. It has to do with the pillars of Creation."

One eyebrow lifted. "You mean, she's actually been there?"

:,What?"

'The Pillars of Creation-she really went there when she was in the Old World?" His gaze followed a distant soldier for a moment. "You said it has something to do with how she helped you. She actually saw the place?"

"What…? No… she couldn't help me. She said that I had to do it on my own. I was terrified for you. I didn't know what to do. Then, I remembered what you told me about bluffing."

Je

But then her words, her very thought, trailed off as he gazed into her eyes and smiled that wonderful smile of his.

"I've never seen anyone pull off anything like that."

It felt unexpectedly wonderful knowing that she had surprised himpleased him.

His arms felt so good, so powerful. Pressed back into the shadows, he was holding her close. She could feel his warm breath on her cheek.

"Sebastian… I was so afraid. I was so afraid I'd never see you again. I was so afraid for you."

"I know."

"Were you afraid, too?"

He nodded. "I could only think about how I'd never see you again."

His face was so close she could feel the warmth radiating from his skin. She could feel the entire length of his body, his legs, his torso, pressed against her as his lips gently brushed hers. Her heart pounded at a furious pace.

But then he pulled back, as if having second thoughts. She was thankful for his arms because, realizing that he had almost kissed her, she wasn't sure her legs would hold her up, just then. What a heady notion a kiss stolen in the shadows like this would have been. Almost a kiss.

Feet shuffled past nearby, but the people seemed miles away. Je

He drew her closer, then, as if overcome, as if he was in the grip of something he could no longer control. She saw in his eyes a kind of helpless surrender.

He kissed her.

Je

And then her arms tightened and she was holding him, too, kissing him back.

She had never imagined that anything could feel so wonderfully intoxicating.

In all her life, Je

And now, magically, it was.

A helpless moan escaped her throat as he held her tight, hugging her fiercely, kissing her with passionate abandon. She was acutely aware of his arm encircling the small of her back, his other arm behind her shoulders, her breasts mashed against the hard muscles of his chest, his mouth pressed to hers, his own needful moan in answer to hers.

Unexpectedly, it ended. It was almost as if he had recovered his composure and forced himself back. Je

It was all so startling, so quick, so unexpected. So confusing. So right.

She wanted to melt into another embrace, another delicious kiss, but when he checked who was around, who might be watching, she gathered herself, remembering where they were and why they were pressed back into the dark niche.

Nathan Rahl was after them. Only Nyda stood between them. If he told her who Je