by L. A. Boruff
“Right.” The voice faded a little as he walked away. “Is she alright? Do we need to get some help out here?” There was an undertone to Kragen’s voice I didn’t understand.
It was like he was asking more than what he actually asked.
“No, she’s fine other than bumps and bruises. The blood you’re smelling is a cut on her forehead that I want to bandage. When the lady rubbed at her face, she tore the skin some more causing fresh blood to flow again. Then we need to get her, the wolf, and the vehicle out of the middle of the road. In our spare time, we need to move the tree,” the stranger chuckled.
The understanding of their words was there for me to decipher, but it was like I wasn’t making the right connections. I wasn’t sensing any bad vibes from either of these two men, so I sat there in silence while I waited. I never wait.
The healing process had already kicked in, but it was working on my neck. My healing abilities always went to the worst place first. A crawling sensation shivered down my spine as glass worked its way out of my neck and the back of my head.
More blood dripped into my eye. I grabbed for the bottom of my shirt once more only to realize my hands were still being held by the stranger next to me. The name Kia, Kia blazed through my mind in neon letters, shaking me from my mental stupor.
Sigrid? Everything alright? I’ve been delayed. The car ran into a tree. I should be back on the road soon. I needed information on my daughter.
Nothing. Sigrid? Sigrid? Can you hear me? Please answer. I shouted mentally.
The two strangers’ conversation intruded for a moment.
“Here’s the kit. I’ll go put the cones out and move our truck to the side. We need to get her and the wolf out sooner rather than later, just in case. I’m actually surprised there haven’t been other cars already, Jareth,” Kragen spoke, puzzlement clear in his tone.
The sound of a kit opening, and rustling noises told me the now named stranger next to me, Jareth, was opening a bandage for my head. I turned my attention back to trying to get Sigrid or George to answer me.
George? Are you and Kia okay? I called out.
Jareth’s warm, calloused finger gently turned my head towards him; I was pretty sure to check for any discomfort on my part. Our eyes connected again, and that same sensation of fate caressing our souls, tempting us to look beyond this moment.
I dropped my eyes. Guilt rose up like a noose around my neck. Why was I even thinking about anything other than Kia? Getting to her. Punishing the assholes that took her. Hell, about our world ending or the death and destruction soon to follow. So, so much happening. I didn’t understand this, whatever this was. Moisture gathered at the corner of my eyes. I closed them trying to prevent the spill over.
“You okay?” The one called Jareth asked in a compassionate tone.
All I could do was nod my head, except the firm hand on my chin prevented it.
“Yes,” I whispered refusing to open my eyes.
Still, nothing from George. Nothing from Sigrid. Oh, Goddess! I moaned. Horrid, nightmarish impressions flashed across my mind at their lack of response. Please, Gaia, I beg you. Please keep my daughter safe! I threw out into the universe, hoping and praying with everything in me.
A pinching pain where the cut was at quickly faded, followed by the smell of a medicinal wound treating agent being applied. I felt the sticky backing of the butterfly bandage soon after, as Jareth smoothed it out with his finger. Another tearing sound, and the scent of antiseptic wipes. I almost jerked away at the cold wetness of the wipe as it started tracking the same path as the blood had taken, gently cleaning my forehead and blood coated eye.
A howl of distress behind me recaptured my trampled attention. Dread gathered in the pit of my stomach. A sense of urgency overcame all else. We had to move. I pushed Jareth hard, startling a yelp out of him as his arms wind milled before he lost his balance. Since, he was bent just enough forward to treat my head wound, his body hadn’t been braced for such a sudden action. Scrambling out of the car, I stared west. A billowing darkness raced across the sky. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen, chilling me to the bone.
“Come on!” I yelled, grabbing Jareth by the arm, attempting to lift him. He gave me wide eyes, before turning, forcing my hand to drop, and regaining his feet. I could see the other stranger, Kragen, putting the cones out at the height of the curve.
A giant BOOM of thunder had me jumping, the same with the other two. A jagged bolt of lightning brightened an already dimming world. The clouds were now a wrathful, hateful thing boiling into and around each other as they raced in our direction. I turned to my wolf who was still stuck under the seat. I grabbed the seat attempting to wrench it loose, but it wasn’t moving. It was cockeyed. I needed another, stronger form, but these were humans. I couldn’t let them see me change. Frustration grew.
A deep breath was drawn inward. “Why didn’t you tell me your neck and head were injured too,” Jareth snapped but more in annoyance at himself. “I should have smelled the other blood,” was a barely heard mumble.
All I cared about was getting Grim out immediately then getting to Kia.
“Kragen.” There was a pause, another indrawn breath. “Get your ass over here, we have to move.” Another slight pause. “Look up!” Jareth’s voice was loud and clear as if he was answering an unspoken question.
I’d squatted down to see how Grim was penned when I heard running foot beats on pavement. An arm went around my shoulders, and an undignified squawk escaped me when another arm slid between my butt and calves dead lifting me and getting me out of the way.
“No! I have to get Grim out!” I shouted and started struggling.
“Shhh. Kragen will get him out. We have to go, and I need to get you buckled in the back of the SUV.” Jareth words were meant to be soothing but Grim was mine.
Mine to protect. Unfortunately, he-man was big and strong, and he suited actions to words, placing my still struggling form in the back seat.
“I need my backpack, too. Let me out!” It was no use, before I knew it the buckle was on.
I reached to undo it, when a big hand clamped over the one trying to get the buckle undone.
“Stop. We will get your things and your wolf. Please just stay here. You’re injured and will just be in our way,” Jareth’s words were gruff and blunt, yet he still kept his voice calm and soothing.
“Fine.” I pouted.
I wasn’t being very gracious or thankful. I needed to do better. These two strangers were helping me. Saving my wolf.
Another screech of metal, something I’d heard way too many times today had me looking around Jareth’s big shoulders. My brows wrinkled in puzzlement, Kragen was pushing the protesting seats further back into the vehicle. It was then I finally started to put all the little pieces I’d seen and heard together. Fear sizzled along my nerve endings. Fuck! Shit! Damn! How could I have been so stupid? The Mother gave you fucking senses to use, and you act like a damn human. What if they are the ones that helped take Kia? Fuck! Shit! Damn! I berated myself.
Freezing when Jareth took a deep inhale, he pulled back and looked at me, his eyes full of understanding. “Ma’am we won’t hurt you. We just need to get you and us somewhere safer. I swear,” Again with the gentle voice, but it had my gaze returning to his.
My eyes scanning his face for deceit. I think he was trying for nonthreatening in his expression too, but he didn’t have the look for it. It was a strong, ruggedly handsome visage, showcased by a well-maintained black beard that covered the lower half of a firm jawline, while from his nape to just above his temple, his black hair was buzzed, with the top being only slightly longer. Realizing for the first time, I hadn’t really looked at Jareth, I now focused all my attention on him. Barely catching his next uttered words.
“The world is going to be topsy turvy for a while. That’s for damn sure,” He continued to try for harmless, and I so wasn’t buying it.
It was a well-proportioned countenance with a str
aight nose over full lips and just above those kissable lips was a close-trimmed mustache. Framing those cognac colored eyes were long, lush, black lashes, and sitting above those were slightly arched, thick black eyebrows. He was big all over. I would guess height wise he topped six foot six or seven and was half as wide. A thickly muscled chest was displayed by the tight black t-shirt he wore, while thighs as big as my waist were encased in jeans that showed every muscle definition. Skin a dark, golden brown said he was outdoors a lot. The overall impression was big, tough, and rough.
“I’m not cut out for this shit, calming human ladies down. Why isn’t she answering, and why fuck is she staring at me like that?” Jareth had let go of my hand to rub his head vigorously, a brief flash of frustration swept across his face, before it went back to what… softer? “Where is that smooth talker Kragen when I need him.”
There was soft male laughter that faded on the wind, swiftly coming from behind Jareth. I’d caught his almost sotto voce words, and I was equally sure he didn’t think I could hear him. Jareth shot a look over his shoulder, before returning his eyes to me and his hand laid gently on my leg.
“Lady, I swear we will help you and get you to safety,”
That expression was not one he used on a regular basis that’s for damn sure, but I was caught in the trap of his eyes for the third time. Something instinctive rose up within me acknowledging something I wasn’t ready to face. Jareth’s eyes reflected this same knowledge and was shocked. He stepped back, and another body replaced his cutting off the bewildered expression I saw. Grim was thrust across my lap, whimpering in distress but not fighting Kragen.
Kragen stepped back as another crack of thunder accompanied the slamming of my door. Closely followed by a bright flash of light. “Let’s go!” were his shouted words since the wind had picked up significantly. “What’s the matter with you? Get in the damn truck.” That sinful voice now deeper with vexation and unease.
I wiggled on that damn hook again at the sound of Kragen’s voice. Goddess? What was wrong with me? Why the hell was I being distracted with stupid, pretty eyes, and damn it all to hell, sexy voices? It made no freaking sense with everything else happening.
“We need to grab the kit and her stuff. Let’s go!” I heard the shouted words by Jareth, followed by expletives from Kragen, then running footsteps.
“What the hell is all this? Where did she get bags and bags of… is that elk meat?” Jareth shouted to Kragen over the now howling wind.
“Who cares! Let’s just grab it and go!” Kragen responded forcibly.
A noise of several something’s being thrown into the back, then retreating footsteps followed by the shaking of the truck as more items were thrown in. I knew it was the elk meat by the smell. I wanted to scream at the delay, but I was also realistic enough to know we would need this meat soon. Kia, baby, stay safe for mommy, please! I’m coming! I promise, baby!
Sigrid? George? Answer me damn it!
Finally, the click of the hatch closing registered for a brief moment. Then as if by magic, Kragen appeared in the passenger seat buckling in. I didn’t even see or hear the door close. While Jareth smoothly slide into the driver’s side. Within another two heartbeats, the truck was moving along the tall grass and around the tree before it was back on the pavement heading in our original direction.
Grim shifted and gave a soft whine. When Kragen had placed him in the vehicle, he’d put him in butt first, so his head lay in my lap. Slowly, I ran my hands over him trying to figure out where he was hurt since he hadn’t spoken to me.
“I have to find and rescue my daughter.” My words dropped into the tense, focused silence like a buzzer going off at the end of a basketball game.
11
October 30, 2026
At my words, the passenger seat creaked, and I looked up to see hard, espresso colored eyes that reeled me in even as I fought to stay free. What the hell was happening? The hardness gradually changed to something akin to sheer, ebullient, unreasoning joy. Cocking my head, I stared back trying to figure out the strange expressions, my unreasoning thoughts, and the weird feelings coursing through me. He must have noticed something on my face. Those eyes bled back to look more thoughtful before he broke eye contact to look at his partner. Jareth returned his stare, nodded, and returned his attention back to the road while Kragen looked back at me.
“Your daughter? Someone took her?” Kragen’s tone was questioning.
A soft yelp escaped Grim, I looked down to see I’d grabbed onto his fur and was squeezing. Instantly, I released him. “Grim, I’m so sorry,” I murmured into the wolf’s ears.
I used the time to gather my thoughts. I really wasn’t getting any evil vibes from them. I needed help, and they already showed a penchant for helping damsels in distress. Unfortunately for me, they were Kindred, which was a mark against them in my book. Yet, they couldn’t know what I was as I was keeping my true aura hidden. They couldn’t guess I was a guardian. Right? Gaia? What do I do? Should I trust them? I begged for an answer; I was almost sure wouldn’t be returned.
I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, indecision a heavy weight pressing in on me from all sides, only to hiss in pain as a piece of glass dug further into my scalp. This one must be in deep not to have worked its way out yet. Opening my eyes, a startled yip left my lips as a large body somehow gracefully maneuvered its way over the console to alight next to me even as Kragen carefully lifted Grim’s hind end into his lap.
Kragen gave a low chuckle that did something to my insides that I wanted to stop immediately. This should not be happening!
“What,” I snapped, using anger to cover the hot mess I was becoming much to my disgust.
“Nothing, you just looked startled and it was cute,” Kragen replied blandly.
Cute? What did he mean by that? In a panic, I looked down at my body just to make sure my glamour hadn’t broken.
I sagged for a second in relief. I should still be mostly average looking, forgettable.
Fingers slide through my hair, shocking me out of my thoughts. “What are you doing?” I squeaked.
“Looking for the glass,” he replied absently.
How did he know it was glass? Before I could say anything like ‘get your damn hands off me,’ Jareth redirected my attention.
“You said your daughter has been taken? Explain. Please.” The please was tacked on almost as an afterthought.
My eyes narrowed on the back of Jareth’s head as I was fairly certain he was used to giving orders and people jumping to obey, and he only used the ‘please,’ to hide the order he had originally intended for me. Jareth’s eyes lifted to look at me in the mirror, and they were full of questions. I nibbled on my lip; my thoughts racing, trying to decide if I should trust them. This was my daughter’s life I was talking about.
Returning my eyes to the mirror, I answered enough. How they reacted would, should tell me a lot. I told them the events of the day. About how my daughter went with Calista and Electra and why. That I’d gone hunting and why. That my two friends had been shot with some type of sleeping agent, and how all of them had been kidnapped. That I’d been on my way to rescue them when the accident happened. They’d interjected with a question or two but mostly listened. I was glad they hadn’t asked about how I’d found out, since I did leave out about my bonded companions. The need to tell all for my daughters’ sake warred with my inability to trust fully.
Somewhere along the telling, there was a stinging sensation on the back of my head, and I felt the glass slid out of my scalp. I relaxed further; I hadn’t realized the glass had been bothering me that much until it was gone.
Pausing, I turned to look into Kragen’s dark espresso eyes, I gave him a half smile and a warm, “thank you.”
Kragen gently smoothed the hair back from my face even as his finger ran lightly above the butterfly bandage before his eyes returned to mine. The corners of his eyes crinkling upward as Kragen returned my smile. “You’re welcome. Please,
continue.”
Why was he touching me like that? I wanted to scoot away, put some distance between us, but he dropped his hand even as his lips quirked up briefly. Shaking my head to get it back on straight, I continued the story on automatic as I studied the man beside me.
Stunning didn’t even begin to describe this dark god. If Jareth was ruggedly handsome, then Kragen was sharp, elegant angles. A dark five o’clock shadow covered a chiseled jawline. High carved cheek bones, straight aquiline nose, sharp predatory eyes, defined lips, arched, black eyebrows, long, thick black lashes, and unruly, shiny, jet black short hair painted a picture of perfection. The only detracting thing was a small scar just above his eyebrow. To me it only made him more devastating to look at since it was also topped by a long, lean body, with a scrumptiously defined musculature. He was not as broad as Jareth, but he was just as tall.
It was all I could do to tear my eyes from his as I talked. I told them of my suspicions about Theo’s group and all the illegal stuff he was into. The interest they showed in me when we passed through Spokane, but quickly glossed over why they would be interested in me.
Pausing as Grim was stirring restlessly, I hadn’t realized that he’d been so quiet the last few minutes. I stopped talking to focus on my bond partner.
Grim? Can you hear me? Please. Tell me where it hurts. I stroked his back, then came to his front legs and gently ran my hands down them.
So far, I wasn’t finding anything. I ran my hands over his head until my fingers found a small lump just beneath his left ear. Plus, he yipped in pain when my fingers had touched it.
When the seats had been pushed forward, I bet part of the underside clipped his head.
Head hurt, his mental voice whimpered.
I know, just lay still and I will get some ice for it as soon as I can. I can’t reach Sigrid or George. They aren’t answering. Can you help me? I’m sorry to ask, buddy, but can you please keep trying to contact them? We need to know where Kia is so we can get her back. I think these two will help us. I explained as quickly as possible.
