Finally XD

I took out the last energy bar I had from my jean pocket and offered it to Kierran.

He shook his head. "You need it"

Damn! This one was stubborn! "You haven't eaten anything during the whole day, and you - " I coughed " You've been carrying me"

Kierran set me down carefully and I reluctantly untangled my arms from his neck. "Please, Summer I don't want to discuss this again"

"I'm only saying I ate the last one it'd be fair if you ate this one"

"Maybe later"

I narrowed my eyes at him, knowing he was just trying to appease me. We had been walking, or rather, he had been walking for hours, with no success. The sounds of the dark and cold cave had been driving me nuts, which made me realize something. I could no longer hear those sounds. It was just the utter cavernous silence.

"Kierran?"

"I know. Keep your eyes open"

I instinctively took his hand thinking about how he would react when I told him... Would he be happy? I mean, his world was in danger, would he be relieved his people would survive?

With each turn, the place looked more like the maze it was. The echo of our steps was the only audible sound.

"Do you think my father and Grim are alright?"

He laced his fingers with mine sending warm tingles along my skin. "Don't worry about them. Puck's been around for a while, and he knows how to defend himself, and Grimalkin... well, you know him"

I nodded convincing myself that was true. I needed to believe it.

Suddenly my back felt warm, which was odd, since I was freezing. I turned around and caught a glimpse of a bright light in the distance. "What's that?"

Kierran broke contact and usheathed his sword. "This is bad"

"What? What's happening?" The light seemed to be getting brighter and closer.

"Run now!" Kierran yelled.

I tore my gaze away from the light and started running the opposite direction. "What is that thing?!"

My senses were in alert and I was conscious the thing had already seen us and was following us.

"An Hydra! It has three heads! The middle one spits fire! Keep on running and don't look back! We've got to lose it!"

Soon, I was panting, and I was angry at myself for slowing him down. "Maybe we should split. In that way he won't know who to follow"

"If you think I'm letting you out of my sight, you've lost your mind Summer!" Now I could hear the creature's roars and heavy steps thundering inside the cave.

"It's the only way!"

"It'll just make you an easy prey!"

My ribs ached from the effort, but the pain kept increasing until it settled in my heart. Oh, not now!

I gritted my teeth, preventing any wimper from escaping my lips. The air came in ragged breaths from my lungs, it felt like a bunch of oompa loompas were dancing on my chest. Why on earth I'm thinking about oompa loompas now?

I wasn't paying attention on the path ahead of me so I didn't notice the rock until I had tripped over it and fell face down to the ground. I inmediately tried to push myself up again, but failed. My legs wouldn't move.

Kierran stopped when he noticed I was no longer beside him. "Summer!" His face was frantic, he helped me up, and I was amazed that he hadn't yelled at me for my clumsiness. I would've punched him if he had.

"Come on, it's hot on our heels!"

I shook my head fighting against tears, how was I supposed to get where I had to now?. "I can't"

"Of course you can!" He urged me kneeling in front of me. "I know you're scared but I'm gonna get you out of here, I promise"

The creature was almost behind us, I took two deep breaths to calm down. "Kierran, I can't move my legs"

Once again, I thought he would curse or something, but he didn't. His face softened, and looked at me in a way that almost made me forget the pain. "I'll carry you"

"But..."

He lifted me off the ground like he had done before and took off running barely missing the wicked flames coming from the monster behind us. It wasn't giving up.

"We must fight, we'll never get rid of it like this"

Kierran pressed his lips together in a thin line "You can't fight right now"

"I don't need to use my legs for that, I can... I can throw my daggers at it"

He picked up some speed. "Okay, we'll use your idea"

"Really?" The world must truly be ending if this man was listening to my ideas.

"Yes, be ready" He was approaching one of those right-straight-or left divisions.

I nodded, but what I didn't expect was to be thrown to a side. I watched as Kierran continued running and then turned left. So that was the idea he had been referring to. To split.

I moved farther into the tunnel, hiding in the shadows, when the Hydra made its way near the opening I had been thrown into, but it didn't stop. It was following Kierran.

Looking around, I realized I couldn't do anything to help him. The pain had vanished leaving me exhausted and shivering from the adrenaline rush. It didn't help that I was alone, and that Kierran was being followed by a huge three-headed dragon.

With my back against the rough surface of the wall I closed my eyes and eventually fell asleep.

"Summer!, Summer! Wake up" A deep angelic voice jerked me awake.

"What? What -?" Kierran was staring back at me breathing heavily with his dark hair falling over his blue eyes.

I was so happy to see him I threw myself at him, almost knocking him down. "Kierran!"

His arms came around me and pressed me against him, cradling me in his lap. "Shhh, I'm okay"

"How did you escape?"

"I did what you suggested. I fought"

I pulled back a little to see his face. "Are you hurt?"

Kierran smiled "No"

"Well then let me know next time you decide to throw me!"

He grimaced "I'm sorry, he was too near... I was afraid you would get hurt"

His words reverberated in my brain. "Oh, don't worry. We'll make it, I'm gonna make sure we save the Nevernever, Kierran"

Kierran scowled. "Summer, it isn't because of that"

"What else can it be? When I tried to save your life, that's what you said, you've been always worried about that" I tried to put some space between us but he stopped me tightening his grip on me.

"Summer" He sighed. " I... I've done my best to ignore it, and then to hide it, but I can't keep doing it anymore"

"What are you talking about?"

He put his hand under my chin forcing me to look at him. "All I've done, and what I haven't, it's been because I care about you. I can't stand the thought of you in danger." He gently caressed my cheek with his other hand "I know I've been acting like an ass, and I'm sorry. All my life I've been told to not get too involved with other Courts, but I no longer care about that"

My heart was racing, what was that supposed to mean? And if it was what I was thinking, why couldn't he just say it! "I can take care of myself"

He rolled his eyes and leaned in, pressing his mouth to my ear. "Maybe it's time for someone else to take care of you" He kissed my cheek and stared deep into my eyes. "Let me be that person"

A shiver ran through me. Since Dad left us, I had been the one that took care of Mom, and myself, it had always been like that "I... How do I know you're not going to leave me? Like Dad and Mom did"

"I won't"

"But...-"

"Summer" He cut me off. His voice was barely a whisper.

"Yes?"

He pressed his lips to mine leaving me breathless. The jolt of electricity that raced through me was better than any rush of adrenaline.

"Shut up"

I grinned "Sure."

C'MON GUYS THERE'S THIS WONDEFUL THING CALLED STORY STATS, IT DOESN'T HURT TO POST A "=D" If you don't feel like writting a review