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quivered and the flesh covering them shrank in fear.
    Keeping his hands on her upper arms, Yuri leaned back, scanning the woods and sky. “Oh, no.”
    â€œWhat’s happening?” she shouted over the growing noise.
    â€œRed wind.” Wide and alarmed, his black eyes fixed on hers. “We must take cover. Now!”
    â€œRed wind?”
    â€œIt’s a sandstorm off the Zavodnica Sea,” he said in a rush. “A giant wall of red will blow miles high in the sky, and move faster and further than an avalanche. The cloud will swallow everything in its path.”
    Ileana swallowed, her brain fighting to process the coming scenario. “How soon will it be here?”
    Yuri whirled quickly, looking in both directions before settling back on her.
    â€œMinutes.”

Chapter Five
    The word had barely registered in her brain before his hand clasped around hers tightly and he started running away from the noise. Legs pumping wildly, Ileana sprinted behind Yuri.
    Although she knew she shouldn’t, Ileana glanced over her shoulder. Ominous and blood red, the swirling cloud of particles raced toward them like a living thing bent on peeling the flesh from their bones.
    â€œIn here!” Yuri’s voice screamed through the deafening pain racking every nerve in her body. Ileana glanced up in time to see a decrepit shack almost perfectly hidden from view in the overgrown brush. Only a few more steps, she told herself, kicking her legs faster, using the last reserve of strength she possessed. She was thankful that every stride, Yuri kept hold of her arm, kept pulling her along when she thought she might falter.
    Finally at the crumbling building, Yuri tucked her arm against his ribs, easing her behind him as he kicked a booted foot on the door. The rotten hinges gave way and the door opened. Yuri ushered them inside and Ileana followed, releasing a grateful breath when Yuri slammed the door closed behind them.
    Ileana bent at the waist. Bracing her hands on her knees for support, she pulled air into her lungs.
    â€œWe made it,” she panted, the statement voiced more for her own ears than his.
    Closing her eyes, she felt Yuri pace the small room. Knew he checked the two small windows she’d spied upon entry, assessing their ability to hold back the coming storm. Had she the strength, she would have done the same thing. Being meticulously thorough was something they had both been trained to do. Yet right now, Ileana couldn’t move. Every muscle in her body felt like rubber. Her legs quivered and she wondered briefly if she might collapse.
    â€œAre you all right?” Yuri’s arms slid around her. Solid and warm, his hand pressed against her lower back, his other cupped the apple of her shoulder, guiding her into his arms. Offering her strength she didn’t have on her own.
    She nodded, opting instead to sink to the floor. A heartbeat later, Yuri crouched beside her, his body and arm arching around her like a shield. For the first time, Ileana became potently aware of his size, his solid strength and intoxicating maleness. She’d never needed anyone to protect her, never wanted to depend on anyone else for her own safety. Yet she recognized some inherently female part of her had awoken and thrived under Yuri’s wing. And for the life of her, she wasn’t sure it was a part she could dispose of, or if she even wanted to.
    Still fighting to catch her breath, Ileana turned off the thoughts warring inside her and simply allowed herself to lean into Yuri’s embrace. If he was shocked by the move, he didn’t show it. Instead, the hand resting on her upper arm flexed as if in approval and pulled her tighter. Ileana followed his lead and rested her head on his shoulder. She focused on the calm tempo of his breathing and trying to match it.
    The earth beneath them began to shake violently. The walls trembled, sprinkling years’ worth of dust from every crack and