Reagan considered walking upstairs to ask about it, but then she heard a knock. She almost jumped out of her skin. Looking up, she saw her brother in the kitchen window. He motioned to the side of the house, and she nodded. Her heart was beating a mile a minute. One last prayer couldn’t hurt. God, please let him be alone. She repeated it several times to cover her bases. If God wasn’t listening, maybe her powers could have some effect.
When she opened her eyes, Sam was standing there. Relief washed over her, and she cautiously stepped toward him with her arms open.
He walked into her embrace, and she squeezed him.
“I’m so glad to see you. Even though I heard your voice, I just wasn’t sure until I could touch you.”
Tears flowed.
She knew she should stay on guard, but her brother was alive. After months of thinking he was dead, she deserved to relish in the moment.
“We don’t have long to talk. I had to sneak away. After last time, Rafe has been watching me very closely,” Sam said as he pulled a chair out from the kitchen table and sat down.
Goose bumps erupted over her skin. Although she was glad to hear he’d snuck away, she was worried about timing. Glancing at the clock, she decided she had about fifteen minutes to convince him to run with her or drink his tea. After that, she’d be forced to consider more drastic measures. “Oh, I put some water on. It should be ready any minute. Would you like some tea?”
“Sure. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about Papa.”
Breathe, Reagan told herself. She wanted to be as honest as possible without escalating the situation. “I’m sorry. It’s been so hard. So many people have been in my head about Rafe. I didn’t know what to do. And I didn’t know if you’d believe me or remember anything about him.”
As she said the last word, the tea kettle whistled. She turned off the stove, reached up into the cabinet for the tea bags, put them in the cups, and poured the water, careful to hand Sam the one meant for him. “Here you go.”
He picked up his cup and blew away the steam before taking a sip and putting it back down. “How’s Mom?”
“Devastated. She wants her family back. So do I.”
“If we run, where would we go? Are Mom and Dad planning to meet us somewhere?”
Reagan stole a glance at the clock. She had ten minutes left, and Sam had only taken one small sip of the tea. “Anywhere. Just get in a car and drive far away. I told Mom and Dad we’d meet them at the border, heading into Nebraska. We can easily run that far and then they’ll have the car. They’re staying in a hotel there waiting to hear from us.” She and Papa planned this answer before she left this morning. “So can we just go? I have people waiting for me, too, so I don’t have much time.” Drink up. She chanted the words a few times in her mind, anxious to get on the road.
Sam drank a few more sips of tea, and she took another nervous glance at the clock. Time to push. “So? Can we go? I’m getting the creeps being here without Mom and Dad.”
“I want to, but there’s just one thing. There’s this girl.”
As he said the last three words, she was lifting the tea cup to her mouth. His worried expression and admission caused her to gasp and almost choke on the hot liquid. Coughing and trying to regain composure, she went over to the sink to get a hand towel, wiped her mouth, and turned back to her brother. Before she spoke, she saw the clock and realized her time was up.
“I’m not sure we can take anyone else with us. Do you think she’d even want to go?” Why was she entertaining this conversation? She was out of time. Then she noticed her brother shake his head and wipe his forehead with the back of his hand. “Are you okay?” Please let it be the tea.
He opened his mouth to respond, but all Reagan could hear in her head was Winona’s voice. “We’re out of time. Someone or something is pushing against my shield. We need to go now!”
“What’s wrong with me?” Standing up to go to his sister, his knees buckled. He caught himself on the table edge before he hit the ground. “Oh my God, Reagan, did you give something? Dammit!” He hit the table with his fist. “Rafe said I couldn’t trust you.”
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t have a choice. We have to go.” She tried to pull him up to standing, but he pushed her away and bared his teeth. Reagan ran to the bottom of the stairs and screamed for her sister. As Reagan turned to go back into the kitchen, Sam tackled her.
They tumbled into the living room, and she ended up on the bottom. Even with the effects of the tea, he was strong. Needing leverage, Reagan got her feet up under his belly and pushed. He flew backward, but wasn’t disabled for long. He came back at her full force and knocked her into their mom’s china cabinet. Both rolled out of the way, scrambling to be the first to stand. Plates dropped to the ground and shattered. Looking for any advantage, Reagan grabbed a piece of broken china and lunged toward her brother, slicing the air and eventually finding the top of her brother’s arm.
Clutching the gash, he knocked the weapon out of Reagan’s hand and followed it with a punch, hitting her square in the jaw. She could taste blood, and then she heard a loud pop just before he fell off her.
Looking up, she saw Winona holding the tranquilizer gun.
“We have to go now. I’ll take Sam the first part. Tell Rowan we’re coming, and that we might have some company.”
They rolled Sam onto his back and picked him up, and then Winona threw him over her shoulder. Reagan grabbed the backpack and motioned for her sister to follow. Still light out, Reagan knew they had to be cautious. She went into the garage and found her Mom’s keys right where she said they’d be.
Winona threw Sam into the backseat and got in the passenger’s side.
Reagan started the car and hit the garage door opener. It seemed to take forever to open. As soon as it did, she threw the car in reverse and backed down the driveway. In the street, she jerked the car into drive and squealed the tires as she hit the gas.
Her heart was racing and her hands shaking, but she knew she had to calm down. The last thing she needed was to be pulled over by the cops with her brother passed out in the back. “Can you tell if he’s okay?”
Winona stretched to see behind her. “Yes, I can see him breathing. Just focus on driving.”
“So what did you sense back there? Something seemed to spook you.”
“It was like someone was banging against my shield. I’ve never felt anything like it.”
“Oh God. I forgot to warn Rowan. I’ve never contacted anyone with my eyes open, but since I’m driving and all, I guess now’s a good time to try it.” Reagan reached out to Rowan. Within seconds, he responded back they’d be on guard. She told him they were on their way.
“Did it work?” Winona asked.
“Yes.”
What should have been an hour drive ended up being an hour and a half with traffic. A couple of times Reagan checked in with Rowan. So far, everything was okay on his end. Could it be this easy? With each passing minute, she began to let her guard down.
Her nerves didn’t settle until they reached their rendezvous point. Pulling to the side of the road, she put the car in park and breathed a sigh of relief.
Sam was still passed out in the back.
“Guess we’ll have to carry him.”
Reagan opened her car door and began to exit. Just as she put her first foot out the door, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She turned to Winona and saw a flash of fur right before it rammed the car.
Reagan fell halfway out the open door, one leg out and one leg jammed under the steering wheel as the car started to tilt toward her. Scrambling to get up, she pulled her leg out and heard a pop. She tried to stand, but her leg gave and she landed on her butt on the pavement.
Heavy breathing caught her attention, and she turned her head to the left to see a demon wolf rounding the back end of the car.
“Reagan!”
She whipped her head toward Winona who was lying across the front two seats and stretchin
g the tranquilizer gun out.
As Reagan reached for it, the wolf slammed into her and they tumbled a few feet. In pain and struggling, she morphed. One leg was still hard to put weight on, but she stood and started backing away from the car.
The wolf bared his teeth.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw two more at the edge of the woods. Hoping a few would chase her into the trees, she ran.
“Rowan! We’re under attack.” She darted in and out of the trees, not sure of her planned destination. All she wanted was for the wolves to follow her and give Winona some time to figure out a plan. Reagan had only seen three wolves total, but she knew there’d be more soon. She stopped suddenly, as if she hit a force field, took a sharp turn, and headed back to Winona and Sam. Odds were they wanted him back. Reagan didn’t come this far to lose him now.
As she leapt over a fallen tree, one of the wolves hit her mid-air and both of them flew into a tree. With the wind knocked out of her, she gasped for air. As she was opening her eyes, she felt the wolf’s hot breath as some of its drool fell onto her face. It pressed down on her, two paws on her sides. Still struggling to breathe, she focused her energy in the wolf’s direction and pushed. It flew backward, and she stood again. Before she could run, another wolf came up on her right, and then one came out of the clearing directly ahead of her. She was cornered. Frantic, she racked her brain for options. An image of the burning corner of the library filled her mind.
Rearing back and focusing all her energy, Reagan opened her jaws as wide as she could and breathed fire like the dragons in some of her books. She aimed it first to her left and then turned her head in a half circle to spread the flames to each of her predators. All she could hear was yelping as the wolves were engulfed in flames. Smoke filled her nose, creating a burning sensation as fire moved up the tree trunks and spread. She feared the heat and smoke would consume her before she could rein it in.
Exhausted and disoriented, she stumbled backward as she morphed back into a human. She didn’t seem to have any control of the flames as she collapsed.
Her world went dark.
Rafe’s face filled her vision. “You thought you could save him. You fool.”
“No!” Reagan screamed, pushing him away.
“Reagan, Reagan, it’s me. Please wake up.”
Sitting straight up, bright lights bombarded her senses. Rowan had his hands on her shoulders. “Don’t worry. You’re safe.”
“Sam? Winona?” Reagan assumed she never made it back to the car. “Please tell me Rafe doesn’t have them. I have to get up,” she said, struggling.
“Whoa, Sam and Winona are fine. They’re here with us in the cave.”
She focused on Rowan’s eyes and began to calm. “How? The last thing I remember was fire.”
“We arrived at the car just as you took off. Papa, Madeleine, and I ran after you while Sasha and Ricardo stayed with your brother and sister. I thought we lost you. Finally, we found you and saw one of the wolves had you pinned.” Rowan brushed a hand down her arm. “Then you became this fire-breathing wolf. Flames were everywhere. You incinerated the wolf closest to you. Caused some trouble for the local park rangers in the process, they’re still trying to control the burn.”
Grateful to be alive, she threw herself into his chest, burying her head under his chin. His scent made her feel safe and she breathed it in. “Thank God you came.” Then she remembered her brother and pulled back. “I have to go to Sam. Has he seen Mom yet? Dad? Met Winona?”
“Your parents have seen him. For now, we aren’t revealing Winona’s part in this. It’s just a precaution. Nana put the same spell on him you have. We had to make sure Rafe couldn’t read his mind and locate us or find out about your sister. But, we also have to trust that Sam won’t send Rafe any information.”
“Why would he do that at this point? He’s home.” Details from their conversation back at the house started to filter in, and she realized there might be a reason. “Damn, there’s a girl. He mentioned a girl back at the house.”
Rowan shook his head and cursed.
“Can I go talk to him? I have to figure this out.”
“Yes, I’ll take you to him, although we’ll stop by and see Jed first and discuss what you can and can’t tell Sam.” He helped Reagan off the bed.
She winced when she put her right foot down.
“You broke your ankle, but you’re already starting to heal. Should be as good as new soon. Here, let me help you.” He took her arm and placed it around his neck while he put his arm around her back, steadying her.
“Thanks.”
She hobbled down the hallway, leaning into him the whole time.
They found Papa in the command center.
“Good to see you up and about.” Papa walked up and gave her a quick hug. He pulled a chair over and motioned for her to sit down. “Sam is safe, but he’s angry. We’ve had to keep him somewhat sedated. Nothing too heavy, but enough to calm him.”
“I need to see him.”
“I knew you’d say that. For now, we can’t tell him about Winona. I hate it, but I’m just not sure we can trust him yet,” Papa said.
Reagan noted his scowl and clear concern. “I hate it, too, but I think you’re right. I was just telling Rowan a bit about the conversation back at the house. Sam hesitated when I asked him to run away with me. Said there was a girl.”
“Hmmm.” Papa pursed his lips and shook his head. “A girl. Nobody ever accused Rafe of being stupid. Reagan, take my advice, and don’t push your brother. Tell him the truth; that you brought him here to protect him. Tell him what Rafe did to you, to me, to Rowan. Just not about Winona. Not yet.”
Reagan nodded and tried to stand. The pain was lessening, but she couldn’t keep having Rowan walk her around the cave. “You wouldn’t happen to have any crutches around, would you?”
Already by her side and helping her up, he snickered. “Are you complaining about my nursing skills?”
“No, not at all. I just figured you didn’t want to be my personal walker for long.”
“What gave you that idea? Like I said before, you’ll be healed in no time. Until then, I’m at your beck and call.” His gaze was intense, and she felt herself go hot from his look. What she wouldn’t do for an hour break in the drama of her life. An hour with him in the dark. She shook off the thought as heat spread across her face.
“Okay, let’s go,” she said as she put her hand out to him. Instead of pulling her up, he bent down and scooped her into his arms. To keep from falling, she put her arms around his neck. “This might be easier. Sam’s just down the hallway.”
She tried to stay focused on the task at hand instead of the beating of his heart echoing in her ear and the chin stubble scratching against her forehead. “You really were amazing today.”
“So amazing I passed out right after my little trick.”
“You’ll get stronger. I have no doubt.” As he finished the last word, he let go of her legs and guided her to standing.
“Thanks, again. I’ve got it from here.” She steadied herself against the cave wall.
“I’m going to wait here until you’re done.”
She edged the door open and hobbled in.
Sam was lying on a bed with a white sheet over him. Mom and Dad were standing nearby. When Sam saw his sister, he glanced at her and looked back down before pushing himself to a seated position. Seeing him there reminded her of waking up in the hospital after the Yellowstone attack.
She made her way over.
He was shirtless, and Reagan noticed the Algiz symbol on his chest. One just like her own.
“I’m so sorry. I owe you an explanation.”
“Like I’ll believe anything you have to say at this point.”
Arrow straight to her heart. “I understand why you feel that way. But there’s so much I need to tell you. I didn’t have time back at home. I needed to get you here, and make sure you were safe first.”
“Who was the gir
l with you?” Sam didn’t waste any time.
Reagan couldn’t bring herself to lie to him again, so she provided the simplest truth. “She’s helping us. There’s so much you don’t understand. Rafe—”
Sam’s outburst cut her explanation short. “I’m not a kid anymore. I understand a lot.”
This wasn’t going to be easy. Reagan was angry. She’d only known Rafe a few months and his impact on her life was devastating—she refused to lose anything else thanks to his machinations. “Do you know Rafe is the one who attacked Papa?”
Sam’s eyes went wide. “That’s impossible. Rafe is just a little bit older than you. Papa disappeared almost thirty years ago.”
Reagan was impressed with his observation; she hadn’t put it together so quickly. “We don’t age like normal humans now that we’re werewolves. Rowan and Rafe are in their early forties.” She still found it hard to believe, so she could understand her brother’s misgivings. “Rafe and Rowan are brothers. I’m assuming you know that.”
“Yes. Rafe said his brother killed his father. Then, their mother committed suicide. For a long time, Rafe kept Rowan around because they were brothers. But all he saw when he looked at him was a killer.”
Wow. Rafe had really spun this tale in his favor. “Actually, their mother killed their father when he threatened to take Rowan and leave. Do you know why he did that?” Reagan paused for dramatic effect and watched her brother’s expression. He stayed silent, so she continued, “Because Rafe wasn’t his son. He’s the son of the Devil.”
Sam started laughing. “Really? That’s the best you’ve got? Rafe is some kind of demon-wolf.”
Tala Prophecy: The Complete Series Page 31
