by Lauren Dane
“She’s around here. I know it. We need the light. We can’t afford to stop.”
“I think you’re right. And yet, when we get there we may have to fight our way through a crew of who knows what. If you’re ragged, you’ll suffer for it. And so will Nell. Stop for ten minutes and eat something. Drink something. I’m not joking.”
Her mouth hardened as he knew she was thinking of arguing. But in the end she nodded. “You should get dressed if you’re staying human. I don’t want you to get cold.”
“I’ll be fine for the time being. I’ll shift again when we move.” He fixed her hat, pulling it down a little more. “There are gloves in there as well.” He bent to dig through until he found them and handed them her way.
“Thank you.” She wolfed down the protein bar and he frowned.
“If we have to stop at dark, I’m going hunting for our dinner.”
“We can’t afford to camp. We have to go.”
Ignoring that, he gave her some jerky. “Eat that. Drink some more water while you’re at it.” He drank some himself as well.
“Every second we’re not there is a second they might decide to kill her. I can’t have that. She’s depending on me.”
He knew her so much better than he had even a few days before. On the outside she may have been confident and badass, but she cared so deeply, was always concerned that she do her best not just for herself, but for those she was responsible for. So afraid to fail when the entire world seemed to rest on her shoulders. The hunters in other cities had to deal with their own people disappearing. So much depended on her and she knew it.
He knew she suffered for it too.
“I’m all for pushing to find her. But if you push so hard that we miss a sign, that’s not helpful. Or if you keel over from exhaustion. You need to be strong when we find her.”
She frowned and he wanted to laugh but managed not to.
Standing, she dusted the snow from her legs. It fell around them, giving a hush to the forest.
He loved it out there. Yes, there was alarm. He wanted to find Nell as much as she did. But this was second nature for him. They needed to do this more.
“After,” he began, tucking things back into their pack, “we are finished saving the world we need to come out here more often. I like hiking with you.”
She smiled and the worry lines on her forehead softened a little. “Yes. We can even bring a tent the next time.”
He’d brought a small, two-person one anyway but he didn’t say anything about it.
“Let me lead for the next stretch. You can use your othersight from a distance. I want to be in between you and anything coming at us. Plus I can scent better with you behind me. Even my beast loves your butt and I might get distracted.”
“Says the guy with the smoking-hot hard body standing there stark naked.”
He kissed her and then shifted back, holding still as she got the bags back into place.
And they began again.
SHE’D begun to consider stopping again but kept on. As long as he continued to walk ahead of her, she would keep up. She used the time to meditate, to let her magick do what it was supposed to. Her othersight was wide open as she took in the vibrance of the trees. Even in winter they were so very green.
Birds had come along with them for most of the day. She’d gotten used to it a long time ago and rarely noticed. But that day they served as an early warning system. This late into fall she was surprised to see many birds at all, but they were around. Winter wrens and even the occasional loon when they were near water. They’d alight in the trees or on fallen logs, examining her as they went past. Sometimes they’d chirp at her and she’d speak to them.
It wasn’t like she spoke bird language or anything. But they knew her, spoke to her in their way and she responded in her way. It wasn’t exact but she got the gist usually.
Speaking of winter wrens, one perched nearby, cocking its head to look at them both. Lark paused. “Tell me, mister bird, have you seen any bad guys out here?”
He continued to cock his head at her and then chirped.
“Yes, something not natural. Something you might be afraid of.”
The bird puffed up and she reached out to brush the backs of her fingers over him to soothe.
He looked up a nearby rise. Hopped and took flight and then landed a few feet away.
“Looks like we need to climb a bit.”
Simon looked dubious but he padded over, keeping her behind him.
“I know, it seems weird but I think they sort of get what I’m saying. And really, what’s the harm? You said we’d have to stop if we didn’t find anything by the time it got this dark anyway.” There’d been fresh snow, which had hidden any tracks, annoyingly enough. Simon’s nose had been good enough to find the place the lone car they’d seen had turned off and they’d been heading east ever since.
He snorted but kept walking and the bird chirped again and that’s how they ended up following a wren for what felt like a thousand miles uphill.
It was slippery with the snow and wet. She lost her footing and fell back, whacking her arm against the ground a lot harder than she’d wanted. Pain brought a flash of red against her eyelids. He shifted and helped her up. “I’m going to stay in this form. There’s a house just up over there.” He squatted as he dug through the bags and found his clothes. “Sit there or you’ll get hurt.”
“I wish it was lighter so I could see you getting dressed better. Damn, you’re pretty.”
“Did you hit your head?”
She laughed quietly. “Girl would be crazy not to see how gorgeous you are naked.”
He tied his boots and stood, stretching.
The bird took flight and circled above the house and then flew off into the deepening dark.
“Fucking Snow White.” He shook his head and bent to kiss her. “Are you warm enough?”
“Snow White?”
“You talk to animals.”
She found that delightful and tiptoed up to kiss his chin.
They moved a little closer to look better. She used the field glasses. The place wasn’t right. Not at all.
“It’s bad there. I don’t know why or what it is. But the ground is sort of dead all around the house. But there are tendrils of magick reaching toward it now.” Maybe to Nell.
She hoped.
“It’s dark and it’s nearly winter, but the forest is very quiet here. Unnaturally so. Even the creak of the trees goes silent.”
“We need to see if it’s the place.”
“We need to call for backup. We have the spot on GPS now.”
“Their car is parked to the right of the house, just near that outbuilding. We can take her out in it.”
“I’m not denying that. But she might need medical care. We don’t know what’s in there. What if it’s manifested and already there? Inside the house. And you can’t beat it. So then what? We all die? Be smart. I know you want to help her. I do too. But let’s be smart.”
“We should be totally sure before we call for backup.”
He looked at her and drew her away, far enough that they couldn’t be seen by anyone who happened to come out.
“Listen to your gut. I’m listening to mine and it’s telling me something very bad is down there. The forest itself is telling me that. And you too. Call.”
“Fine.”
They moved down the rise a little, out of earshot and sight.
The spell did the trick and before long, Gage answered. “Did you find her?”
“We have the house in our sights. I’ve marked it on GPS and sent you the file.”
She heard the click of keys. “Got it. We’re on the way.”
“I’m not going to wait much longer.”
Simon growled at her, which sounded just as spooky when the man did it.
“Just give us a few hours. This is too dangerous to go in alone.”
“She’s in there, Gage. Alone. Probably scared as hell for the baby.
I can’t just sit here and wait for you guys. Every moment we delay it’s worse. And it’s already dark. It took us all day hiking to find this place. It’s deep back in the wilderness. It will take at least four hours for you to get out here. How can you expect me to wait?”
“Because though all you’re saying is true, it might be more than you can handle. And then what? We’ve got another missing witch? They move you before we can get there and we have to start all over to find you.”
She blew out a breath. “Here’s what I’ll do. We’ll get as close as we can to scope it out. If I judge it acceptable to go in, we’ll do it and take one of their vehicles to get out. We’ll take her to a real hospital. She’ll need more than anything we can provide. You know that.”
She heard him ordering other people around and the sound of an elevator opening and closing.
“Don’t be an idiot. Meriel says that’s an order.”
“Simon won’t let me be. Hurry.” She hung up and looked back to Simon, who stood with his arms crossed over his chest.
“What?”
“Really? All this time I’ve known you, you’ve never resorted to that ditzy-woman bullshit. Don’t insult me, or yourself. You know what.”
She frowned, busted.
“Fine, fine. But you used to like that ditzy-woman thing.”
He stalked to her and she found herself rather roughly hauled to his body as he got about an inch from her face. She shivered but it sure wasn’t from fear.
“I never liked ditzy anyone. Also, we’ve made it clear you’re not like anyone else for me. Part of that is your not playing coy and being blunt.”
“I can’t be out here while she’s in there. All I can think of is how I’d feel in her place. You know? She must be scared. I can’t imagine.”
He groaned and hugged her. “We’ll give it a look. Not too close. We don’t know what they’ve got for security. If it’s less than four people we’ll go in.”
“Six. Come on, you know you can take three and I’ll take three. Also, I know how to hot-wire a car.”
“Why do you scare me so much, Lark?” He set her away from him and shook his head. But the smile he was trying to repress blew his gruff cover.
“It’s a gift.” She smiled weakly and he heaved another giant sigh. “I really am lucky you like me so much.”
“Six. But no more and I mean it. Promise me. I have no plans at all to go endangering you on top of everything else. You’re mine to protect. I’m not letting those assholes touch you.” He drew gentle fingertips down her temple.
“I promise. I’m not stupid. I just can’t wait for hours. Not until after we’ve made sure there’s no other way. They took three people, Nell included. They might be in there too. Also needing help.”
He knew she had to do it. Understood it. Felt much the same way. He cared about Nell Hunter and that she was inside that house, scared and possibly dead, bothered him too. But now he had Lark. He had Lark to think about and protect.
She was so fucking small as she moved ahead of him. She’d pause every few minutes and do something magickal to undo a spell. He’d wanted to shift back but just as he started to, he’d had a very strong urge not to. So he listened to that. He still had excellent hearing and smell even though he wasn’t in his other skin. And this way he could communicate with her. And shoot one of the weapons she’d brought along. Smart girl.
There were motion-controlled lights on the roofline of the house. He knew she noticed them because she spoke to her fingers the way she’d done before and blew a spell toward them. She tossed a stone in the path and they didn’t turn on. He let his breath out and followed as she got closer to the house. He was taller, so he’d already convinced her to let him look in the higher windows. But she went low at first, checking the windows in the basement. She continued around the back of the property and froze.
He smelled it. Had been smelling it for a while, but on the way up he’d seen a dead raccoon so he must have turned it off, associating the stench of death with it.
But back behind the house, under a small cluster of trees there lay several bodies. Her hand went to her mouth as she paled, her eyes wide.
“Stay here.” He held her arm a moment until she nodded. He knew what Nell smelled like; he’d know if she was back there. It wasn’t as if Lark was too weak to handle death. She’d seen enough, delivered enough. But this was different and he’d shield her if he could.
He edged closer, his beast recoiling at the stench of death. Witches here, yes. Nearly unrecognizable though as they’d been sucked dry of their essence. A Were. No, two. No Nell. For which he was eternally grateful as he turned and headed back to where she waited.
He shook his head and she nodded, clearly relieved. “I think the other two witches they took may be back there though.” He was sorry for that. Sorry any more had to suffer. Sorry for the pain on her face. He knew she was busily blaming herself in her head right then and wished he could just have it out with her. But there wasn’t time for it.
They inched around the house again, peeking in windows. There were four mages in the house that he counted so far. He hoped there were less than six because after he saw that grisly pile of death out back, he was ready for some payback.
And then they saw her. Nell, her hands bound behind her back, her head tilted to the side, clearly drugged. He caught the rise in Lark’s pulse at the sight. He took her hand and squeezed.
He spoke very quietly, his lips pressed to her ear. “I’m going to look through the last windows there on the side. Then we sweep the outbuildings and if it’s clear, we take her.”
She nodded, moving away from the window. She motioned to the outbuilding and then to the windows. She wanted to split up? He really should insist on being her partner from now on because if she acted this way every day, he’d have a heart attack if he couldn’t be around to get her back.
Lark didn’t wait for his acceptance. She knew he’d be pissed and would try to argue, so she ignored it and moved toward the building beyond. There weren’t a lot of traps out this way. Probably because the house was so far away from anyone and anything. But it kept her extra cautious as she slipped into the side door. Empty except for a car, also empty. She pocketed the keys that were in the ignition. No sense in letting them drive off if they got away. And then she wouldn’t have to hot-wire anything either. Win/win.
She sent a text to Gage that they’d cleared the property and were going to go in and take Nell. She had been drugged and given the dead bodies outside, Lark didn’t want to take any chances. Nell wouldn’t be one of those victims. Not if Lark had anything to say about it. And she did.
He texted back that they were speeding their way and to be careful and call when they got out.
Now it was time to take care of her friend and these clowns who’d harmed so many.
Chapter 28
BY the time she got back outside, Simon had moved to the building. “There are four males here. Mages by the looks of them. I’m concerned about the last one. The helper. He’s nowhere to be found.”
“They’re taking witches in other cities now. He could be there. I don’t know. But he’s not here and we are. Let’s go.” And though she wasn’t ready to say it out loud, she was relieved that the helper wasn’t there.
“Are you charged enough to do this?”
“Yes. I’ve been sucking up all the energy I could all day long. There’s so much life here. I’m good.” It wasn’t a lie. Adrenaline pumped through her system in anticipation. Her magick crackled through her veins. Her weapons were loaded and ready. “What about you?” She paused to reach out and touch him, to reassure herself he was really there with her, at her back to help her do something stupidly dangerous to get a friend safe.
He smiled slowly. “I’m fine. Let’s go then.”
“You get Nell. Take the back window. I’ll go in through the front and draw their attention and fire. I’ve got the keys to the Jeep in the outbuilding. Take her out there and wai
t.”
“Fuck off. I’ll do no such thing. I’ll take the front, draw fire and you get her out. You never know if they’ll use magic to try to keep her or harm her.”
“Or again you. I can defend against magic. I have magick, my own magick that isn’t stolen. This is Owen land, Gennessee land too. It knows me. They are not so fortunate. Plus, you’re bigger, you can carry her more easily than I can. Oh and also, I have guns. You know it’s the best idea.”
“I know no such thing.”
“Yes, you do.” She tiptoed up and kissed him. “I love you, Seymeon. Don’t get hurt or I’ll be really mad at you.”
He caught her as she tried to walk away and held her, kissing her soundly. His mouth on hers, taking, demanding, and she gave over. Loving the feel of him. His taste.
“You totally owe me for this.”
“I’ll let you see my boobs later.”
He rolled his eyes, but she knew he’d remind her of this promise anyway.
AT the front door she waited a few moments until she knew he’d be in place and then she shot a ball of fire through one of the windows and came in low through the door, gun drawn.
Chaos all around as she shot two before they even noticed she was in the room with them. She used the special ammo and it worked better than she’d even imagined. The two mages just sort of fell apart into a pool of gunk. Gross, but effective.
Two down, two to go. She heard shouting and then narrowly avoided the ball of sticky, ugly death magic someone had hurled her way.
She crouched and crawled around the low buffet and saw one of the mages head toward the stairs. Up to where Simon and Nell were. She didn’t want to take a chance of a bullet passing through the wall to where Nell and Simon were so magick would be her best bet.
She stood quickly, took a centering breath and opened herself up to as much magick as possible and aimed it at him, knocking him against the wall and then he crumpled, falling down the stairs he’d managed to climb up halfway.
