The Dove (Prophecy Series) by Sharon Sala Page A

my pain. I ache for you, Yuma, only you. I belong to you. I want to be with you.”
    Yuma leaned forward until their foreheads were touching, and this time he was the one who groaned.
    “I have waited a long time to hear these words, but here is not the place. I cannot put you in danger, and laying you down in the middle of the jungle is that and more.”
    He felt her frustration as she hid her face against his chest. “Walk with me,” he said and took her hand.
    When she acquiesced without a sound, he picked up his spear and turned around.
    “Where are we going?” she asked.
    “Back to the palace.”
    Her heart sank. It was an impossible place to be when all she wanted was to be alone with him.
    “When we get there, I will find a place where we can be alone, and I will ask you again if you are sure.”
    Tyhen’s heart soared. She turned, her eyes flashing. “I said yes here, and I will say yes there, but I will not walk with you.”
    “But why—?”
    “You’ll have to catch me.” She flashed him a grin and turned around. Leaping forward, she began running back the way they’d come.
    Yuma didn’t hesitate as he gave chase. He could hear her laughing ahead of him and grinned. Making love to this “woman on the verge” was suddenly out of his control.
     
    ****
     
    Tyhen heard Yuma thrashing through the undergrowth behind her and ran like there were wings on her feet. She wanted to be caught, but not too soon. When she burst out of the jungle behind the temple, she was running at full speed and laughing.
    Adam saw her first and had a moment of panic. She’d gone in with Yuma, but was coming out alone. And then he saw the joy on her face and heard the laughter and knew it was a game. Seconds later, Yuma ran into view, giving chase.
    “Run, Yuma, Run!” Adam shouted.
    Evan turned to see the race in progress and added his encouragement, but he was cheering for Tyhen. “Run, little whirlwind! Don’t let him catch you!” Evan shouted.
    Tyhen’s head was down and her legs were flying as she dashed across the playa toward the street leading through the market. It didn’t take long for the people there to realize a race was in progress. They quickly joined in the excitement, cheering the chief’s daughter as she ran.
    Yuma was running hard and slowly gaining, but it wasn’t easy. He had watched her play baseball plenty of times, but never realized how fast she really was. If he hadn’t needed the breath to run, he would have laughed. She needed this moment of joy as much as he needed her.
    Tyhen heard the shouts and laughter, but the faces were a blur. She was all the way through the market and starting up the slope toward the palace when Yuma’s shadow suddenly loomed in front of her. Her heart skipped a beat. He was closer than she thought!
    Just the thought of being taken down from behind made her lengthen her stride, putting everything she had left into the effort. But her best was not enough as the shadow grew bigger, coming closer and closer. Now she could hear the thump of Yuma’s footsteps and the short, rhythmic sound of his breathing.
    Her capture was imminent and the joy that shot through her was physical. She looked up at the palace. When she saw it was too far away and she was never going to make it, she started laughing.
    Yuma grinned. She knew she was caught and still she wouldn’t stop. He dropped his spear and lunged forward, grabbing her left arm and bringing her to a sudden halt.
    She spun around so fast he nearly fell on her, and then she launched herself at him, throwing her arms around his neck.
    “You caught me!” she cried.
    “Yes I did,” he said, laughing. He swung her off her feet and threw her over his shoulder, then pointed at a young boy who was standing nearby. “Boy! Hand me my spear!”
    The boy bolted out from behind the table where he’d been standing and grabbed the spear, then ran all the way back to Yuma, excited to be touching the weapon of such a mighty