I debated on shouting out for Veck or if I was better off keeping my lips shut and just running like a bat out of hell.
I took option number two, figuring if Veck wasn't close enough, I'd just be giving myself away.
We all know how well it turned out when I had the gun and tried to shoot him the last time.
I am not made for this kind of shit!
"Willy!" George screamed, "Don't you run away from me! LET ME SAVE YOU!!"
"Light! I see light!" I whispered excitedly.
I didn't recognize any of these tunnels or this particular part of the caves, but I could care less right now.
There's light!
I reached an exit and plowed through, looking around wide eyed when I saw nothing but forest before me.
"Willy!" George screamed again.
Oh, god! He sounds so close now!
I looked back and saw him charging towards me like a bull.
"Stay back!" I warned, pointing the gun at him.
He kept coming, fire in his eyes as he forged on, full steam ahead.
"Why are you running from me?" he barked when I fired a warning shot at his feet and he froze in place, a small distance away from me.
"You're fucking insane, that's why!" I shouted.
I didn't feel a moment of indecision this time as I kept the gun trained on him.
"I am not fucking crazy!" he bellowed, looking just as crazy as he sounded, flinging water everywhere from his impromptu swim.
"You shot someone! You've followed me around, stalking me! You've deluded yourself into thinking we're something we're not! And I'll bet good money you're the one who set that hut on fire! Which makes no fucking sense! So, if that's not crazy, then what the hell is?!"
George lifted his shirt up and pulled a gun out from his waist band, aiming his right back at me.
"You didn't think I was stupid enough to bring only one, did you, pumpkin? I had this one in my bag."
I gulped, trying to swallow past the lump in my throat.
He raked a hand through his hair, pushing the wetted strands away from his face, gun in his bloodied left hand.
"It all made perfect sense," he snapped at me, hazel eyes spitting fire. "Candy's the one who went and screwed it all up because she didn't want to fuck that useless lump of hair!"
He waved his gun around a little.
"NO! She couldn't do that one little thing! What does she do? Runs away to find me! I was going to kill her useless ass too, but I missed. Dumb bitch is wilier than she looks," he said muttering at the end.
He glanced at me and then the gun, then me again.
"You know," he said after a moment, the ice in his voice chilling me to the bone, "this could work too."
He motioned between us with his gun.
"It's... fitting," he said on a laugh.
It wasn't a nice laugh and I don't care for his tone much either.
I narrowed my eyes at him.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked fearing his answer.
"I shoot you, you shoot me. We all win," he said simply.
My eyes widened.
He just smiled.
"We could be like Romeo and Juliet. Destined to love each other in death, if not in life."
"I don't love you," I told him coldly, "but I'd gladly see you rot in hell."
His face hardened and he grimaced.
"Well, if I can't have you, then no one can. Does that work for you?"
He cocked the hammer on his gun back and my heart raced wildly in my chest.
This is it, Mina, now or never.
My palms were sweaty as I gripped the gun.
There was a loud whizzing noise and I watched as an arrow whipped by out of nowhere and shot straight through George's left hand.
I saw it first and moved, ducking down and rolling right before George screamed in anguish.
He gripped the gun in his hand right before the arrow hit and it fired, the bullet hitting where I'd been standing just moments before.
I used both hands to steady myself, aimed mine and fired.
It hit its mark and George jerked, dropping his gun, gripping his chest as crimson spilled out across it.
He looked at me shocked and held his hand out to me, the one with the arrow pressed to his chest, right over the bullet wound.
I felt sick, choked cries escaping me as I stared in disbelief at what I'd just done.
I shot him.
Oh, god...
I shot him!
"Give me... th... the... gun. It's m... my...turn," he garbled, his eyes trained on my face, choking on his own blood, foaming blood bubbles garbling out of him as he lurched towards me.
I let out a cry and squeezed my eyes shut as I kept firing in his general direction.
I kept going until all I heard was the 'click click click', telling me it was empty.
There was a loud thump and I peeked to see him slumped on the ground, dead eyes staring sightlessly at the sky, turned the slightest bit towards me.
One of the bullets had gone through his head and the hole left behind stared back at me, gaping at me as blood spilled out, splashing onto the forest floor.
My stomach lurched and I turned away, stumbling a ways away before I puked, retching violently, sobbing and clutching my stomach.
I closed my eyes and scooted further away from the scene before me.
The mental image of his sightless dead eyes, staring off and upwards in my direction, his hand held out towards me, the bullet wounds that I had put there, leaving bloodied gaping holes in his once living corpse, had me on my knees.
I cried out and dropped the gun, burying my head in my knees as I rocked myself and sobbed.
"Meanie?" Veck's voice called out.
"Meanie!" Kirch bellowed.
Two strong arms wrapped around me and just held me there, rocking me as my mates all called for me from a distance.
I looked up and it was Tarnk cradling me, his bow slung over his shoulder.
"Meanie no cry. Brave. Very Brave. George want shoot Meanie. Meanie shoot first," Tarnk soothed.
"But I... I shot him," I whispered, "I killed him."
"Meanie protect babies. Meanie good mate." His hands smoothed down my hair, rubbing my back.
I hadn't thought about it that way.
I just keep going back to the fact that I shot somebody.
I shot somebody.
He's right, though... George would have killed me and my babies if I hadn't acted first. He was going to shoot me.
He'd wanted to kill me first.
Doesn't exactly make me feel all warm and fuzzy about this whole thing though...
Veck and Kirch rushed in.
"You saved my life," I told Tarnk through my tears as I reached up and hugged him, voice as unsteady and distressed as the rest of me.
Tarnk cleared his throat uncomfortably and hesitated for a moment before he pulled me to him and returned my embrace.
"Bia!" Kirch bellowed, then started shouting out in Lo denaii.
I was plucked out of Tarnk's embrace and sandwiched between Kirch and Veck.
"Meanie okay?" Veck asked worriedly, wiping the tears from my eyes.
"Meanie hurt?" Kirch demanded, his hands roaming over everywhere to check for injury.
Fresh tears slowly slid down my cheeks and I let them, sobbing openly.
"I shot him," I admitted, then buried my face in Veck's neck and cried about it all over again, letting everything out from the warmth and safety of Veck and Kirch's embrace.
****
I watched as the steam from the water in the tub misted around me, staring off into space as I tried to let everything sink in, particularly the fact that it was all over.
It's all over.
George is never going to bother me again.
He is never going to hurt anyone else... ever.
He's dead.
I glanced over at the door, the spot where Berkr had lain bloody, the image still fresh, branded
into my mind.
A hand dipped into the water and Bia caressed my knee.
"How are you feeling?" Bia asked tentatively, face stormy.
Just from the look in his eyes, I knew he felt responsible somehow, guilt eating him up, it was clear enough in his expression and demeanor.
He feels like he's failed me somehow because he wasn't there to protect me, to help me, there for me when I needed him most, but how could anyone have guessed that's what would have happened?
I mean, it could have been a lot worse...
I cupped my hand over his and squeezed. I reached a hand up and cupped his face, stroking it tenderly.
I couldn't really say this was truly anyone's fault, except George's.
Yep, all George's.
Now I just have to keep telling myself that fifty or sixty million times until my gut stops clenching and the guilt goes away.
"I love you," I told him honestly, stating the only absolute in my life at this moment, my mind a scrambled up mess.
"I love you too," he said kissing me sweetly, his eyes softening.
I took a deep breath and smiled at him a little.
"I'll try not to beat myself up about all of this as long as you don't either."
"But, Mina, you didn't... I was the one who..."
My lips thinned.
"Deal?" I asked loudly, a sharp edge to my voice.
He leaned over the tub, water sloshing out everywhere and hugged me.
"Deal," he whispered hoarsely, burying his face in my neck, inhaling deeply.
He shuddered for a minute, his emotions getting the better of him and I held him to me, stroking his hair, murmuring to him softly.
"Bia not fit in water with Meanie," Veck teased.
I let go and gave Veck a small smile, chuckling the tiniest bit.
"How is Berkr?" I asked them all.
"Berkr live, Dorothy think. Berkr tough Lo denaii," Kirch said after a moment.
I had already told them everything that had happened and everything George had admitted as they'd steered me out of the woods, further away from the body, and taken me home.
The body... I shivered a little in the water, trying not to shudder.
"Meanie hungry?" Kirch asked.
"Thirsty?" Bia prompted.
"Meanie tired," Veck announced.
He strode towards me and scooped me up, placing my feet on the floor gently to dry me off.
His hands were gentle and thorough as he methodically dried me off with a large piece of cloth.
Once he felt I was sufficiently dry, he placed me in the middle of the bed. He motioned for Kirch and Bia to join us.
Bia crawled in from the bottom and rested his head on my lower stomach, his arms wrapping around my hips as he cuddled me.
I stroked his hair and he purred, nuzzling my belly.
Veck and Kirch each took a side, Kirch wrapping his arm over my breasts, his head on my shoulder as he kissed me sweetly.
Veck put his arm over my lower ribs, his chin resting on my head as he started to purr happily.
I felt myself relaxing, all of the tension draining from me. I basked in their protection, their love, their warmth.
"I love you," I whispered, closing my eyes.
Safe.
I feel safe with them.
So loved, so safe.
I smiled when I got three loud purrs and three 'I love you too's back.
Chapter 22
Eight months later
"I feel like I'm going to pop," I whined as I tried to stretch my back.
"Meanie feels good to Kirch," Kirch murmured huskily, his hands rubbing over my enormous belly, kissing wherever it thumped from one of the baby's playing Olympic gymnast in there.
I giggled and swatted his hand away.
"None of that or you might break my water," I joked.
"Meanie water not break from Kirch's cock, Kirch not read that in here."
He held up the pregnancy book one of the men had gotten a hold of.
I prefer not to think about how they'd gotten it. I just like to remind myself that it was to ease my fears as I creep closer and closer to impending motherhood.
"No, but if I'm far enough along, it could help send me into labor," I shot back.
"Where it say that?" Kirch argued, waving the book around.
"You know," I grumbled at him, snatching the book back, giving his mane a teasing yank, "not everything is in a book! I liked you sooo much better when you couldn't read or talk all that well."
Kirch snorted and rolled off the bed, teeth flashing in a predatory smile.
"Meanie likes Kirch juuust fine."
He winked and sauntered from the room.
I could hear his laugh as it echoed down the hall after he'd ducked when I threw a pillow at him.
"Veck!" I shouted, "Kirch is being mean to me!"
"Kirch hurt Meanie's feelings?" he shouted back after a moment.
"Yes! I'm feeling delicate!" I hollered back.
There was a loud thump and I grinned as Kirch yelped and then growled.
"Bad Meanie!" Kirch growled at me from the other room.
He always reverts back to his caveman talk when he's mad, I thought with an evil grin.
I tried to roll myself over and struggled to get up off of the bed.
"Need some help, my sweet?"
Bia helped me the rest of the way up and kissed my lips, then leaned down and kissed my belly.
"How are you feeling this morning?" he asked as he followed me into the bathroom.
"Like a whale," I admitted, sighing when I poured a pitcher of water into a basin bowl and splashed cold water on my face. It helped cool me off.
"Well, you look beautiful to me," he purred.
I elbowed him and grimaced as I pulled something in my back, a sudden sharp pain hitting me.
Youch!
"Hey, are you okay?" He rubbed my back a little.
I waited until the pain eased up and sighed in relief.
"Yeah, I just kinked my back or something and it’s been bugging me."
I moaned when his magical fingers soothed my sore muscles.
"Bia!" Veck shouted, "You be late!"
"Coming!" he shouted back.
"I think we only have one volume in this house," I laughed.
"Will you be alright here by yourself for a little while? We want to make sure everything is ready."
"Yeah, yeah," I grumbled, "Unless someone rolls off with my roly poly-ness, I don't see how I'd really go anywhere."
"You're perfect," he contradicted, shutting me up with a kiss.
With one more fare well kiss he was off, hurrying after.
When I heard them hurrying off and slam the door behind them, I laughed.
Then the door slammed again as Bia hurried out too.
Can't do that once the babies get here, I thought and chuckled.
I walked around the house, trying to straighten everything up as I went, working off my sudden burst of energy.
About an hour passed and then there was a knock at the door.
I waddled up to it and looked through the peep hole, the one I'd insisted they put on our new house's door.
Our new house, I sighed happily.
A lot has gone on since the whole George nightmare.
Some days I have trouble with what happened.
I really struggle with it... nightmares… guilt… the whole spiel…
…And some days I don't.
I don't think you ever get over something like that.
I know I haven't.
It changes you...
It also makes you appreciate what you have that much more too and I do.
Life is precious and I have three wonderful mates to help me get through my rough patches and vice versa.
The knocking on the door sounded again and I jolted out of my musings.
I glanced at the door and admired its beautiful design, the wood carefully shaped and decorated the way my mates th
ought I'd like it.
We've been living in the home they'd built, just for me, for the last few months and I couldn't be happier.
They'd given me free reign to have it done up how I saw fit and I did, getting exactly what I wanted and then some. Within their snow beastie means, of course, let’s be realistic here.
Still, though... Woo hoo! Go me!
But enough of that.
There was another knock, this time more insistent and I could just imagine the person on the other side thinking 'answer the damn door, Mina!'
I opened the door and found Tarnk standing there, his arms full as he waited patiently for me to invite him in.
"Come on in," I said grinning at him.
Tarnk's whole face lit up as he walked into the living room.
He's really an awesome man beastie once you get to know him.
It was odd to me at first, how quiet he is. He doesn't usually say much, but when he does, I find I always enjoy myself.
He’s very entertaining.
I feel a little guilty about our little chats, but the guys don't seem to mind, not like they would if it was anyone else.
They know Tarnk was the one who truly saved the day with the arrow he shot into George's hand, stalling George from firing the gun at me.
We’ve sort of bonded over it.
I'll forever be grateful to him for it and so will they.
He's become somewhat of a permanent fixture in the house lately, popping over all the time for little things or just to simply say hello.
"You know they aren't having the party for another four hours, right?"
"Tarnk give to Meanie," he said awkwardly.
He set the two large objects down in front of me.
Hmmm… presents early? Well… I thought happily, trying not to appear too eager, if he insists.
"Open," he said excited yet nervous.
I leaned down carefully and opened the first one, pulling the sack off of it that he'd covered it with.
I gasped in delight and hurried to pull off the other one.
"They're gorgeous!" I exclaimed as I studied the two wooden cradles with pictures carved in.
I ran my hands over them, admiring all the little creatures he'd etched into them and looked up at him.
I recognized some of the critters by sight, having seen them hopping or scurrying around from time to time, the images very detailed and accurate.
The Bridal Hunt Page 19
