Winter in Paradise Read Online Free PDF Page A

didn’t exist. The weapons that pummeled the planet’s surface had ceased. No, they had never existed in the first place. She and Grayson had a lifetime ahead of them. They would marry, have children. Her throat tightened. What would it be like to feel his child growing inside her? She’d never considered having children. Would their children have the weirdness ? Why had it taken death for her to understand the beauty of life?
    She buried her head deeper into his chest. His arms tightened around her as if he could protect her when the cavern walls collapsed on them. Her breathing slowed. Until the deafening crash of stone filled their ears, it would remain quiet.
    Kelly glanced at the clock. Two hours had passed since they’d returned. How long since the fighting had grown quiet?
    Quiet?
    Why would the fighting grow quiet?
    Realization struck.
    Grayson bolted upright. “By the Elders.” He leaped from the cot. “Shields down,” he shouted, and sprinted toward the exit.
    Kelly stared, too startled, too afraid to hope—”Grayson!” Her voice echoed off stone walls of the empty chamber as he disappeared down the tunnel.
    She jumped up and raced after him, heedless of the chill. With each pump of her legs her heart thundered harder. Grayson knew. He knew. Was this confirmation? Adrenaline rammed through her blood. Was his weirdness ever wrong?
    The final bend came into view. Kelly gasped. Grayson turned the corner into light brighter than that which she’d seen when they’d arrived in this desolate place. It was true!
    Her breath came in heavy gasps, lungs burning, but she pushed harder. Kelly turned the corner and came to a stop at the cave’s opening beside him. Her head reeled.
    Bright, blue sunlight glistened off the snow-white horizon. Kelly threw her arms around him, her eyes fixed on the sun she hadn’t expected to lay eyes on again. They had done it. The storm that had been created by the Kirsoval probe was gone. Their forces had brought down the mother ship.
    She tilted her head up and looked at him. “The quantum disruptor fooled them. You did it. You saved Onyx…saved us.”
    Grayson looked down at her. He pushed a stray lock of hair from her face. “We both did.” He swept an arm at the blue sky. “We all did.” He brushed his lips against hers. “But you saved me.”

    ~ End ~
     

~ About the Author ~
     

    T. C. Archer is comprised of award winning authors Evan Trevane and Shawn M. Casey. They live in the Northeast.
     

     
    Evan puts his Ph.D. to good use by writing about alternate realities, and Shawn channels the mythology and philosophy she studied during her wasted youth into writing about exotic places and times.
     

     
    Find out more about T. C. Archer here:
     
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