Final Hours
Page 18
“We did a—test.”
“What?” Shock had her stepping away from him. “You changed history?”
“The portal is a technology we don’t always understand—a technology so far beyond us, everything we do is barely one step above an experiment. It is the reason there are so many protocols in place. Beth,” he ran one hand through his hair. “The test was necessary, for the exact scenario we just lived through. The historians chose a small thing, that would not affect the future in a dramatic way if it didn’t happen.”
“What was it?”
“A Victorian artist who did not become famous. Have you heard of John William Waterhouse?”
Her mind drew a blank, and she knew her artists. “No.” She moved in, and took his arm, leaving his hand free. “And if I ever run across this Waterhouse, I’m going to change history back.”
He kissed her temple. “There’s my spitfire.” His fingers punched in the date, and Elizabeth watched it appear on the screen. His time, the day they left. “This is the goal, but there are no guarantees. Are you certain you still want to do this?”
“Absolutely.”
He smiled down at her. “A kiss for luck?”
She didn’t have time to say yes or no before his lips covered hers. He spun the kiss out, pulling her close, his heart pounding under her hands. By the time he let her go, she couldn’t see straight.
“Hold tight, love. This is going to be a bumpy ride.” Elizabeth wrapped both hands around his arm, took a deep breath. “Ready?”
She nodded, and he pushed the button.
~***~
Thank you for joining Elizabeth and Kane on their first adventure! Want more? First Breath, book two in the series, and Loving Kane, a short story that takes place right after First Breath are both available at your favorite retailer.
Want to be the first to know when the next book is released? Then join my list here: http://catedeanwrites.com/join-my-list.
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And now – a teaser, just for you. Turn the page for a sneak peek of First Breath.
Excerpt from First Breath
The portal threw Kane and Elizabeth into the cold night air—and straight at a wall.
This time he couldn’t put himself between her and danger. They both slammed into the wall, and tumbled to damp grass.
“Beth—” Kane rolled over, flinching at the movement. Elizabeth was on his right, visible against the lighter stone, and hunched over like she was in pain. “Talk to me, Beth.”
“Ouch,” she whispered. One hand pressed against her left temple. “It doesn’t get any easier.”
His shoulder agreed; it ached like the devil. Hell, his entire right side was stiff, and useless. That hardly surprised him. What did surprise was the absence of nausea he usually experienced when he traveled with an injury.
He pushed up to his knees. “Give me your hand, love.”
She started to straighten, and halted with low moan. “I think my head hit harder than I first thought.”
Kane shot to his feet, ignoring his own pain. He knelt beside her, used his stronger left arm to help her sit. When she lifted her head, her waist length blonde hair slid away from her face—and revealed blood. Too much blood.
“Stay still, now.” He settled her against his chest, carefully tilted her chin, and used the moonlight to illuminate her face. Blood streaked her left cheek, from a gash just below her hairline. “Hell.” His right hand fumbled for the handkerchief in his pocket. Even now, after more than two months of physiotherapy, he had little strength, and less control. Finally, he grasped it, transferred it to his left hand. “You’ve got a right nasty gash, love. I am sorry—this is going to sting.”
He touched the wound and she recoiled. “God—”
“I’m sorry. Please—I need you to keep still.”
“Okay.” She closed her eyes when he dabbed at the blood. “God, that hurts—ow—” Her voice spiraled up as she jerked away. “No more—it feels like you’re drilling into my head.” She touched her forehead. “Damn.”
“We need to get you out of this cold.” Kane looked around. Aside from the wall stretching above them, the moonlight revealed nothing but hills, field and trees. “Arm around my shoulders, now.”
“No—your shoulder—”
“Is strong enough.” The lie came out smoothly. Maybe because he had been telling it to himself since he was injured.
“I can walk. Just help me stand.” She laid her hand on his right arm, and froze. “Oh.” Her fingers dug in as she stared out at the landscape.
Kane ignored the twinge. “You know where we are.”
She swallowed, turned her head. “I’ve never been here, but I’ve seen hundreds of photos. That hill, the curve of the wall, they are distinctive. I want to be wrong,” she whispered. “But I think we’re on Hadrian’s Wall.” Her fingers brushed the pale stone. “The wrong side of Hadrian’s Wall.”
~***~
Final Hours
Love in Time Book One
Cate Dean
Copyright, 2014
All Rights Reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission of the author, except for use in any review. This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, locales, and events are either pure invention or used fictitiously, and all incidents come from the author’s imagination alone.
Cover design by Jes Richardson.
Books by Cate Dean
Love in Time
Book One – Final Hours
Book Two – First Breath
Book 2.5 – Loving Kane
The Claire Wiche Chronicles
Book 1 – Rest For The Wicked
Book 2 – A Gathering of Angels
Book 3 – Carry On Wayward Son
Book 4 – Annie's Song
Book 5 – What Doesn't Kill You
Box sets
The Claire Wiche Chronicles Volumes 1-3
The Claire Wiche Chronicles Volumes 4-5
Young Adult
Alex Finch: Monster Hunter (The Monster Files Book 1)
Truth and Consequences (The Monster Files Book 2)
When Walls Can Talk (The Black Mountain Saga)
Danel of Black Mountain (The Black Mountain Saga)
Fantasy
Choices
Last Chance Jack
Anthology
Tales From The Mist – The Messenger
Lore: Tales of Myth and Legend Retold – The Barricades
Something to Take on The Trip (Charity Anthology) – More Than A Feeling, A Change of Heart
Author’s Note
Like all my books, this one is a collaboration with people who make me look better, and I just love hanging out with them. This is my chance to thank them for all their hard work. To my critique partner and first reader, Theresa – thank you for scraping all the bad out of my draft. To my beta readers Ann and Colette – thank you for your enthusiasm, and your quick turnaround. Your reaction made me want to write a better story. To Janet, at Dragonfly Editing – thank you for polishing my story, until it shines. And thank you, Jes, for the most beautiful cover ever. I am proud to have it speak for my book.
And a final thank you to my contest winners, Carrie, Chelssie, and Colette – thank you for letting me invade your lives a bit, so I could bring your characters to life.
About the Author
Hi there - thanks for checking in. My name is Cate Dean, and I write romantic suspense and paranormal, with some action packed YA paranormal and fantasy thrown in.
I am a huge history buff, and with my English/Irish heritage, I have always gravitated to English history. That love has taken me across the pond on a regular basis for the last 15 years. Now I get to combine the thrill of being in a country I love with my research addiction. :)
The Love in
Time series is the culmination of those trips - and my love for romantic suspense. I hope you enjoy following Elizabeth and Kane on their adventures – I have a blast writing their story, and watching them grow and change.
If you want to be the first to know when the next book is released, or be in on some fun, exclusive contests and giveaways, join my list here: http://catedeanwrites.com/join-my-list.
You can learn more about me and my books at my website: http://catedeanwrites.com
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I look forward to meeting you. :)