by S. E. Smith
Slinging the rifle strap over his shoulder, he picked her up, fireman style, and retraced his steps back to the van. He kept a wary eye on his surroundings as he trudged back the way he came. He needed to warn his team that there was something far more dangerous out in the blizzard.
Adalard reappeared behind the building that contained Samara’s apartment. He reached out to her again, searching for some thread. Silence greeted him.
He scanned the snow-covered ground, searching for any signs of intrusion. There was a line of depressions leading from behind the structure to the covered area where Samara parked her vehicle. He stepped forward just as Mason called out to him.
“I found something,” Mason said.
He stepped under the covered area and walked over to Mason. Mason stood and held out his hand. A small metal dart lay in the center of his palm. Adalard picked up the dart and examined the casing before he lifted it to his nose and sniffed. A rush of burning rage filled him when he recognized the scent.
“Pi’nae. It is a strong sedative derived from a plant on my world,” he snarled, squeezing the dart in his fist.
Mason breathed out a deep sigh. “Well, I guess that answers the question of whether the culprit is human or alien,” he muttered.
“The answer is actually both,” Jaguin said, stepping under the covered area.
Adalard frowned. “Both?”
Jaguin grimly nodded and looked at Mason. “Unless you have a patrol of camouflaged humans carrying weapons and heading this way through the woods, it is more than just one person,” he said.
Mason shook his head. “We quit doing trainings after you guys decided to keep popping in. The crew doesn’t even come up here—well, besides Bear and Chad,” he amended.
“What did you see?” Adalard asked.
“Nine humans moving in this direction from the northwest. They are moving in a military formation, so I would classify them as hostiles. I wanted to warn you before I searched farther out. The weather is making it difficult, but I thought I saw parallel tracks, only moving away from the building,” Jaguin replied.
“What the hell is going on?” Mason grumbled.
Adalard stared out at the growing white-out. “They want Samara—and Adaline,” he guessed. “If I were to guess, the alien is Hamade Dos. I don’t know who the humans are, but I know Samara was worried that someone may have seen Adaline using her powers.”
“What do you want us to do, Adalard?” Jaguin quietly asked.
He was torn between his need to protect Adaline and his need to protect Samara. Out of the two, Hamade was the most dangerous. Mason and Jaguin could handle the human team with no problem.
“I have to go after Hamade and finish this once and for all,” he finally said.
“We’ll take care of the others,” Jaguin replied with a nod.
“Don’t you worry about that little girl of yours. She’ll be safe. You go find Samara and bring her back,” Mason added.
“Thank you, my friends,” Adalard replied.
“Jaguin, if the weather still permits, you take to the air and we’ll show these sons-of-bitches what happens when they mess with this family,” Mason muttered.
Confident that the two men would take care of the threat heading in their direction, Adalard turned and disappeared into the blinding snowfall.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Adalard followed the tracks until they disappeared. The weather condition was rapidly deteriorating. Pulling on the power of his connection with Samara, he breathed and lifted his hand, allowing the power inside him to flow outward.
“Show me,” he murmured.
A thin ribbon of his aura reached out, searching for a connection to Samara. He grunted with satisfaction when the beam of violet energy shot forward. He clung to it, following the faint thread through the blinding, wind-driven snow.
He slowed in his progress as the snow on the ground became thicker. He ducked when a tree branch snapped in the high wind. The distraction broke the fragile connection between him and Samara. He gritted his teeth, lifted his hand, and focused again. The thin strand of energy flickered like a whip in the wind before fading.
“No!” he hissed.
Ice clung to his jacket and coated his eyelashes and cheeks. There was no way Samara could survive for long out in the dropping temperatures—and there was no way he would be able to find her in time if Hamade made it to his transport. He swallowed his fear and held his hand out again.
“Show me where my mate is,” he commanded with clenched teeth.
This time, the energy thread burst out and greedily cut through the blizzard. He watched in amazement as the band expanded and glowed. The white veil in front of him radiated with color, expanding and engulfing the hunched form struggling to walk.
He rushed forward when the form staggered and dropped to one knee. As he came closer, he noticed the person was cradling another in his arms. Anger coursed through him, melting the ice that had settled in his veins, and a sword formed in the palm of his hand.
Surging forward, he lifted the sword to strike before Hamade realized he wasn’t alone, but when he got close enough to recognize the man’s familiar attire, he stopped in mid-motion. He lowered his arm when Bear looked up at him.
“We need to get her back to the house,” Bear breathlessly choked.
“I’ll take her,” he said, bending and gently lifting Samara’s limp body into his arms. “Hold onto my arm.”
Bear stiffly rose to his feet. Adalard was thankful that the man didn’t question his request. He focused on Mason and Ann Marie’s house. In seconds, they stood next to the table. Bear groaned and sank down onto a chair while Ann Marie uttered a startled shriek that drew Sara and her symbiot into the room.
“Land sakes! You have got to quit doing that!” Ann Marie snapped in an angry voice before she saw Samara. “Oh my, follow me. Sara, please get Bear a cup of winter coffee. The whiskey is in the small cabinet in the corner,” she instructed.
Adalard followed Ann Marie out of the kitchen and down the hallway to a guest bedroom. Ann Marie pulled back the covers, and he lowered Samara onto the crisp, powder-blue sheets. Ann Marie reached down to remove Samara’s boots. Her low hiss of dismay pulled his attention away from Samara’s pale face.
“The bastard who took her tied her legs up,” she said.
“I’ll take care of her. You might want to check on Bear. Transporting for the first time can cause a bit of disorientation,” he said.
“I’ll get a kettle going and make some tea. Samara will need to be warmed up from the inside out,” she replied.
“Thank you,” he distractedly murmured.
His attention was already back on Samara. He focused on the restraints, removing the ones around her legs first, and then those on her wrists. With a wave of his hands, he also removed her boots, gloves, and jacket. A soft knock on the door behind him caused him to look over his shoulder. Sara stood in the doorway with her symbiot by her side.
“I don’t know exactly what abilities the Curizan have when it comes to healing, but I thought Honey might be able to help,” Sara offered.
Adalard held Samara’s icy hand in his. He looked at the symbiot. It was in the shape of a large dog. He knew the power of the symbiot’s healing ability—it came from the Goddesses and was not something they, nor the dragon-shifter they were attached to, would casually lend to another.
“I would like that very much,” he replied.
The words had only just left his lips when the symbiot surged forward. He was about to protest when he saw it leap into the air, but before he could admonish it, the symbiot transformed into a golden fleece, settling over Samara’s body.
He tucked Samara’s cold hand under the golden blanket. Behind him, Sara was pulling up a chair for him to sit down. He looked at her with a surprised expression.
“I know how I would feel if that were Jaguin. I wouldn’t want to be away from him. I’ll bring some winter coffee for you and some tea
for Samara,” Sara said.
“Thank you, Sara,” he murmured.
She gave him a brief smile before quietly leaving the bedroom. He pulled the chair closer to the bed and sat down. Sliding his hand under the symbiot blanket, he breathed a sigh of relief when he felt that Samara’s skin was already warm. He bowed his head and closed his eyes.
I’m so sorry. I should have protected you. I have done so many things wrong but loving you is not one of them, he silently said, unsure if she could hear him. Letting you go seven years ago was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. My biggest fear was that something would happen to you, and today, that fear came true.
“I knew… why. It-It wasn’t… just you. I-I wasn’t… ready,” Samara murmured.
He looked up and studied her. A contrite smile curved his lips when she gave him a crooked smile. Reaching out, he caressed her cheek. The color was returning to it.
“Hello,” he said softly.
“Hi, yourself,” she replied before uttering a soft groan.
“Are you in pain?” he asked.
She started to shake her head before she grimaced. “Just the normal tingling when your fingers and toes defrost.”
“You are supposed to heal her without pain,” he growled at the symbiot.
She frowned, lifted her head as far as she could, and looked around the room. “Who are you being so grumpy at?”
“Honey, Sara and Jaguin’s symbiot. It is healing you,” he said.
She raised her hand, lifting the golden blanket up, and released a long hissing breath. The symbiot shimmered in response, and a corner lifted and waved at her. She looked back at him, her wide eyes filled with wonder.
“My blanket just waved at me,” she whispered.
“Symbiots tend to have a mind of their own,” he replied with a chuckle.
“Thank you for saving me,” she said, reaching for his hand.
He looked down at their joined hands and gently caressed the back of her hand with his thumb.
“I wish I could take credit for that. Bear saved you. Do you know what happened?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No. One minute I was on the verge of having a meltdown and, the next, everything went dark. I honestly don’t even remember being cold except for a brief moment.”
“It’s good to see you awake.”
He turned on the chair and rose to his feet when Bear spoke from the doorway. Bear gave him a smile and held up two cups, stepping into the room and handing him one of the cups.
“You’ll want to sip on that. Ann Marie got a little heavy-handed with the whiskey,” he murmured.
Adalard placed his cup on the nightstand when Samara struggled to sit up. Sliding his arm behind her back, he propped her up against the headboard, cushioning her back with a plump pillow. Bear handed her the second cup he was carrying.
“I might have added a little whiskey to your tea,” he said with a wink.
“Thank you. Where’s Adaline?” she asked in an anxious voice.
“She’s in the kitchen with Ann Marie and Sara. They are making after-the-battle chocolate chip cookies,” he said.
She laughed with relief and relaxed against the headboard. “Thank goodness,” she murmured.
“How did you find Samara?” Adalard asked.
“I was heading back to the ranch from town when I saw a white cargo van and a box truck on the service road that led to the cell tower substation. I thought it was weird that they would be doing anything with the storm coming. Hell, Casper looks like a ghost town. The only places open are the bar and the Chinese restaurant—which, let me tell you, were packed. Anyway, it seemed off, so I pulled over and decided to see what was going on. After about ten minutes, this guy climbs out of the van all dressed in white and carrying a military-grade weapon. He takes off heading south toward the houses. My first thought was that the government finally figured out what the hell was going on here and decided to use the storm as a cover to attack. Anyway, I cut through to the old logging road just west of him and parked at the top near Copper’s bridge so I could follow him. That’s when I saw the spaceship down near the river. I tried calling to warn you guys, but my cellphone is crap, and I didn’t bring the satellite phone with me.” Bear paused and took a deep breath.
“You saw a spaceship?” Adalard asked.
“Yeah, down in the canyon near the river,” Bear replied.
“That sounds like where you landed before,” Samara murmured.
“What happened next?” Adalard impatiently demanded.
Bear rubbed his neck. “I wasn’t about to get between the government and an alien shoot out, so I hung back a bit. The storm was picking up which gave me some cover. I followed behind him, and that’s when I saw him stop. There was another man dressed like him lying in the snow—and Samara. I saw him pick Samara up and toss her over his shoulder. He seemed real spooked. I thought it strange he would just leave his man down until I saw why,” Bear said with a shudder.
“What do you mean?” Samara asked.
Bear looked at them both with a haunted expression. “Whatever happened to the dead man wasn’t natural. His skin was all sunk in as if he had been drained dry. Anyway, it scared the shit out of me, and I knew I needed to get Samara out of there. I had the advantage because he was carrying Samara, and I knew the terrain. I caught up with him and pulled a gun on him. That’s when I realized I knew him, and he wasn’t from the government.”
“Who was he?” Adalard asked.
“The guy from Vegas—Campeo’s or whatever he was called—security guy. You know, the one from the bar,” Bear said.
“Alberto Campeau? Why would he kidnap me?” she asked with a frown.
“I don’t know,” Bear said with a shrug. “All I know is he dropped you in the snow and disappeared.”
Adalard had heard enough. He had warned Campeau to stay away from Samara. If his security guard was working on his own, then he would deal with the man. If he was working under orders from Campeau, Adalard had promised the man a visit he would never forget. He needed to keep his priorities straight, though. Hamade was still out there. It didn’t make sense for Hamade to discard Samara unless he had discovered a bigger prize from the deceased man.
“Where are you going?” Samara asked, reaching for his hand when he moved.
“There is only one reason I can think of for Hamade to leave you, and only one that I can think of that would motivate Campeau to send his men here,” he said.
She watched him with a worried expression. “Adaline.”
“Yes.”
“Mommy, do you want a cookie?” Adaline asked.
Samara turned from the window and smiled wanly at her daughter who was carrying a small plate of hot cookies.
“That would be lovely,” she responded.
Adaline placed the plate on the coffee table. “I saved some cookies for Daddy, Uncle Mason, and Uncle Jaguin,” she said.
“They’ll be back soon,” she replied.
Adaline sat down on the couch and swung her feet back and forth. Love filled her when Adaline clasped her hands and looked up at her. She walked over, sat down, and wrapped her arm around her daughter.
“How would you feel about going on a spaceship to Daddy’s world when the storm blows over?” she asked.
“Daddy says I have a cousin there my age, and I have a grandma and grandpa, and the flowers he likes to give you grow there,” Adaline said.
“It seems like you and your daddy did a lot of talking,” she mused.
“I like him,” Adaline said.
“Me too.”
“He says Bear and Uncle Mason and Aunt Ann Marie and Chester can’t go with us,” Adaline replied with a droopy lower lip.
“Chester? You asked him if you could bring Chester into outer space?” she exclaimed.
Adaline nodded and sighed. “He said Chester would be happier here.”
“Yes, I think Chester would be happier here than on a spaceship,” she agreed.
Samara looked up. The expression on Sara’s face made her pick Adaline up and rise to her feet. Honey paced back and forth in front of Sara in agitation.
“What is it?” she asked.
“My dragon is sensing danger, and so is Honey. I think it would be best if you and Adaline find a place to hide. I’ve warned Jaguin,” she said.
“I’ve got the perfect place,” Ann Marie said.
Samara nodded, hugging Adaline to her. She followed Ann Marie down the hallway. They crossed the large master bedroom to a floor-to-ceiling bookcase. Ann Marie pulled the third book on the bottom shelf and the bookcase popped open. Behind the bookcase was a thick metal door with a manual lock. Ann Marie spun the dial, unlocking the massive safe, and pulled it open.
“This is a fireproof walk-in gun safe and shelter. Mason went a little overboard when he left the military and wanted to make sure none of these weapons fell into the wrong hands,” Ann Marie explained. The lights turned on automatically when she stepped inside. “There is a battery backup. You can open the safe at any time from inside by pulling this lever. Check the video cam to make sure it is clear before you do. It has its own environmental system.”
“What about the rest of you?” Samara asked with surprise when Ann Marie started to step back out of the room.
“Those men are after you and Adaline. Trust me when I say that is never going to happen. Mason isn’t the only one that is good in a fight,” Ann Marie said with a surprisingly ominous smile.
Samara watched in disbelief as Ann Marie closed the door, sealing her and Adaline inside the safe. She turned in a slow circle as she took in the weapons lining the walls behind clear glass panels. Never in her life had she seen so many advanced weapons in one place except in the movies.
“Boy, Uncle Mason sure has a lot of guns,” Adaline murmured in awe.
