Christina peeled a banana and handed it to the other tyke who finally took his thumb out of his mouth. She whispered something to them that made them giggle, handed them the doll and they toddled off to the sleeping mat he’d created.
With the children occupied, he focused on Christina. “How are you doing?”
“Fine.” The sheen of sweat on her face belied the smile she gave him.
“Let me check your leg.” He peeled back the blood-stained bandage and examined the wound. It was red, the flesh around it hot to the touch. When he flicked a glance at her, she was staring at the wound, her brow furrowed.
“Llama biscuits.” She hissed the words, and looked away.
“Llama biscuits?” Once again her unique swearing methods caught him off guard. “You can’t just say ‘shit’?”
“Nope. It shows no imagination, so it’s llama biscuits.” She took a deep breath and then gave a weak smile. “Red isn’t good. It clashes with my hair.”
“You can carry it off.” He reached out and lightly tugged on a lock of her hair. “You’d look good in any colour.”
“Flattery, Stone?”
“Just the truth.” His gaze locked with hers for a moment before he cleared his throat and looked away feeling strangely uncomfortable.
“I wish you’d been around in high school.”
“Why’s that?” He moved to get the bandages.
“Anthony Spallinni.”
“What about him?”
“He was a high school jock. I had a crush on him.”
“Already I don’t like him.” He crouched beside her and began to clean the area.
A hitch in her breathing and the clenching of her fists was the only indication she gave that she was in pain. “Brave girl,” he murmured.
“Thanks.” She exhaled slowly.
“So, tell me about the jerk.”
“How do you know he was a jerk?”
“Isn’t that how the story always goes?”
“Probably. He was a bit of a jerk, but it was also my fault for building a fantasy around him. He never promised me anything and Sam tried to warn me.”
“Sam? That’s the Chicago Alpha?” He took a fresh strip of cloth and continued to gently cleanse the area.
She watched him for a moment before returning to her narrative. “Yeah. Sam and I went to high school together.”
“I bet she offered to kick the guy’s butt for you.”
“Sort of. After Anthony and I did the dirty deed, he dumped me because I was too boring, too ordinary.”
“You were boring and ordinary?”
She finger combed her hair. “Hard to imagine now, isn’t it? But yeah, I was back then.”
“So what did Sam do to avenge your honour? I’m assuming she did, of course.”
“We did it together. She helped me let the air out of his tires and then we put sand in his gas tank.”
“What? That’s it? No hexes from you? Sam didn’t corner him in an alley as a wolf and snarl until he peed himself?”
Christina laughed. “I wish, but like I said, my hexes never work. And Sam’s grandfather was Alpha at the time and he’d have grounded her for a year if she’d pulled a stunt like that.”
“It might have been worth it.”
“True.”
He applied a light dressing from the first aid kit. “So because of this guy, you dye your hair all different colours.”
“No. He might have given me the initial push, but I discovered a hidden talent because of him. My face and hair are the canvas for my artwork.”
“Artwork? Is that what you women call a haircut and getting your nails done?”
“You’re thinking about a cosmetologist or a hairdresser. We take some of the same courses, but a make-up artist works in theatre or movies turning actors into anything from an ape to a zombie.”
“Learn something new every day.” Stone sat back, having finished his task. “Okay. I’m all done.”
“Thanks for taking care of my leg.” She visibly relaxed, letting him know the process hadn’t been easy on her. “And for trying to distract me.”
“Is that what I was doing?” He began to pack away the supplies, keeping his face impassive.
“Never admit to doing anything nice. Is that your credo?”
“Pretty much.” He used his machete to open another coconut. “Drink this. I’m going to call Reno and then we’ll rest for a few hours before setting out.”
She nodded and leaned back. He propped her leg up and then went back to the fire. As soon as he was gone, the children approached her again. Part of him wanted to shoo them away so she could rest, but maybe it was for the best. They’d keep her mind occupied and she’d keep them entertained while he made his call. He picked up the phone and dialled. Reno answered immediately.
“Reno, we’ve got a problem.”
“You didn’t get the pups? Hell, High Council is going to—”
“No, we have the pups. Christina’s been shot.”
“Shit.” There was a pause before Reno spoke again. “Explain.”
Stone delivered the details as succinctly as possible, only leaving out Dante’s part; that was his own personal vendetta. “We’ll need to use the chopper to get out. There’s no way she can make the hike back to the jeep.”
“Where are you now?”
Stone pulled out the map. “I’m not exactly sure. We had to leave the path, but I’d guess three or four clicks from the river. As for getting to the rendezvous site, I’d say, at best, another day. We’re moving slow.”
“That’s not good. The longer you’re there, the greater the chance you’ll be discovered.”
“I know, but it can’t be helped.”
There was a pause, then another voice came on the line. “Fielding here.”
“Fielding?” Stone recalled the name from his Enforcer days. He’d never met the man but remembered him being touted as an up and comer.
“That’s right. I was put in charge of this situation and High Councillor Duffy is breathing down my neck wanting an update. What’s this about a hold up?”
Stone held back a growl and re-explained. Neither he nor his wolf had any use for bureaucracy. However, since Lycan Link was supplying the chopper, some concessions had to be made, like not telling the man to go screw himself.
“Humph.” Fielding didn’t sound impressed. “It’s a shame about the witch but remember speed is of the utmost importance. You need to get those pups out of there, no matter what.”
“I know.”
“Good. I’m counting on you to do whatever it takes to make this mission a success. A lot of people’s butts are on the line over this.”
Great. Just what he didn’t want to hear. “Understood.”
“And Stone?”
“Yeah?”
“I know you’ll do the right thing.”
Fielding hung up and Stone sat there, clutching the phone in his hand while he watched Christina softly singing to the children. It was something about a spider and a waterspout. Strange choice given how much she disliked spiders.
He put the phone away and scrubbed his face with his hands. ‘Speed is of the utmost importance’. ‘I know you’ll do the right thing’. Hadn’t he always done the right thing, the just thing, the thing that was in the best interest of the whole group? Sometimes those choices had been easy. Other times, they’d sucked. He hoped this wasn’t going to be one of them.
Progress was slow that day. Walking, resting, walking, resting. At one point, his Lycan hearing picked up the sound of men nearby. He’d hidden Christina and the children then shifted to his wolf form to investigate. It was two of Mendoza’s men. Rather than wasting precious time waiting for them to leave the area, he’d dealt with them and then dragged the bodies into the river. Dead men told a lot of tales. If the corpses were found by Mendoza’s militia it would be like a beacon pointing the way. He’d let the crocodiles hide the evidence for him. When he’d returned, Christina hadn’t que
stioned him on what had happened. Her face, however, had seemed paler, her eyes wide. No doubt, she’d heard the snarls and screams.
“It’s safe for us to move on now.” He looked her directly in the eye, not offering any explanation. Justice wasn’t always pretty and he made no apologies for it. He was used to being judged harshly.
She swallowed hard, then awkwardly rose to her feet. “Thanks for keeping us safe.”
He nodded and they continued on their way.
Mendoza was still looking for them. It had been too much to hope the bastard would have just given up; that kind didn’t like to lose. With that in mind, Stone pushed his small entourage as much as he dared, balancing the need for speed against Christina’s stamina and how weary the children were of being carried.
They were still mute, but the wiggling of their small bodies in his arms indicated when they needed a break. While they might not be comfortable around him yet, they respected him as an Alpha figure, looking up at him with big eyes and nodding in understanding when he spoke. It was more than he’d initially hoped for.
When he finally called a halt, Christina nearly crumpled to the ground.
“Sorry. I pushed you too hard.” He cursed himself as he set up their camp. The children could sleep in the hammock. He and Christina would share the lean-to he’d fashioned for them out of the plentiful palm and banana leaves.
“Don’t blame yourself. We needed to keep moving.” Christina wiped her sweaty face with the edge of her shirt, strain showing in her features.
He nodded in agreement, knowing she was right. It didn’t mean he liked the fact, though.
Dinner was mostly fruit; there was no time for fishing and he was meting out the rations just in case. Under Christina’s direction, he wiped the children’s faces and hands before putting them to bed in the hammock, placing the doll, Clarice, alongside them. As he tucked the mosquito netting into place, he paused to study the tiny beings. Paul Jr. and Lily. Chubby cheeks, curly hair. Dark lashes framing wide eyes. What would have happened to them if Dante had gotten his hands on them?
It is good that we were here to save them, his wolf stated. They are fine pups.
Yes, fine pups indeed. They’d been much easier to deal with than he’d expected.
“Stone, is there a problem?” Christina called to him from where she lay.
“No.” With a final glance he moved away from the hammock and sat down beside her.
The small fire he’d lit flickered, casting a glow around them. Christina shifted her position, wincing with the movement but not complaining.
“We’re like an old married couple out camping with the kids,” she quipped.
He made a non-committal sound. Were they? He’d never gone camping with his family. Sleeping out of doors when they had a perfectly good house had never made sense to his mother. His father had always been too busy working, trying to multiply their already large fortune. Always concerned about appearances and money and where had it got them? Killed in a private plane crash. He’d vowed to never let his priorities become skewed as theirs had.
Christina touched his arm. “You’re being strong and silent again and look way too sombre. That’s not allowed on my shift, you know.”
He allowed the corner of his mouth to twitch. “I thought that was only at Club Mystique.”
“Usually, but you’re a special case.”
“A special case? Should I feel honoured?”
“Yep. I don’t waste my efforts on just anyone.”
Stone studied her features. Without any make-up she was just an ordinary girl-next-door. Slightly rounded face, dark lashes, average mouth. Of course, right now there was sweat and streaks of dirt on her cheeks, a scratch on her chin, a few mosquito bites and hints of sunburn. Her hair, still colourful, needed combing, wisps sticking up here and there. Her brown eyes sparkled despite it all and humour curved her lips. He reached out and cupped her face, his thumb stroking her cheek.
“Damn, you’re beautiful.”
“What?”
He cleared his throat, having no idea what prompted the statement. It was true though and he’d stand by his word. “I said you’re beautiful.” He leaned in and gently kissed her.
When he drew away, her eyes searched his face and she gave a funny half smile. “Okay, now I know things must be bad. I look a disaster and you just said something nice to me.”
Stone hesitated, not sure what had prompted him and then shrugged. “A momentary madness.”
She gave a brief nod, still looking puzzled.
“I’ll get the first aid kit and check your leg before we turn in for the night.” He could feel her watching him. Little wonder after his unexpected statement.
He returned and squatted by her side, keeping his attention focused on her leg. It was inflamed with streaks of red in the flesh around the wound.
“That’s bad, isn’t it?”
There was no point in lying to her. “Yeah. It means the infection is spreading.”
“So what do we do?”
“Maggots have been known to help.” He gave a soft chuckle at the expression that passed over her face.
“You are kidding, aren’t you?”
“Perhaps.” He waited a moment and then winked at her. She relaxed just as he’d intended and he dressed the wound, not mentioning his real concern. A Lycan would be able to fight off the infection, if they were in good health, but he had no idea how a witch’s metabolism worked. A lot like a regular human’s, he suspected, which meant she was considerably more fragile than he was. He thought of the scar on his cheek, a reminder of what an untreated wound could become, of how ill he’d been. He’d pulled through but would she be as lucky?
Why hadn’t he brought along antibiotics? They were easy enough to get over here. Problem was he’d been thinking only of Lycans. Having an injured witch on his hands had never crossed his mind.
“Stone?”
“Hmm?” He hadn’t realized she was talking.
“I said not to worry. It’s going to be okay.”
“A vision?”
“No. Just being optimistic.” She smiled at him, but it didn’t light up her face as it usually would have. “No point in worrying about the future.”
“True.” He nodded in agreement even though it was a lie. “I’ll put this stuff away and be right back.”
A few minutes later, he was beside her again, arranging the mosquito netting around the lean-to as best he could. “Mind some company?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
He eased down beside her. “You won.”
“I did? What did I win?” She rested her head against his shoulder.
“The other night. You wanted us to camp out rather than stay inside the mission.”
“Ah! The circumstances were supposed to be a bit more romantic as I recall.”
“This isn’t romantic?”
“With kids nearby and a bullet in my leg? Nope.”
He stroked her hair. “I suppose you’re right.”
She shifted her position a bit and slid one arm over his chest.
“You can’t get comfortable?”
“I’m fine. I just wanted to be closer to you. I feel safer that way.”
“I’ll take care of you, don’t worry.”
“I know.” She was silent for several minutes, her breathing even. He thought she’d fallen asleep, but then she spoke again. “What’s ‘the good of all’?”
He stiffened. “Where did you hear that phrase?”
“The other night, when you had that bad dream. You mumbled it several times.”
“It’s a Lycan saying, part of the Book of the Law.”
“Sam has mentioned that book in the past. It contains all your important rules, doesn’t it?”
“Yep. It serves as a guide, governs how we live and interact. It’s a bit like the American constitution only it encompasses every aspect of our lives.”
“And it was written ages ago when Lycans were al
most extinct.”
“Sam taught you well.”
She nodded. “So what is this ‘good of all’? A law or part of one?”
“I suppose you could say it’s our ‘last resort’ law. If you’re in doubt about what to do or how to interpret a law, you ask yourself what action do you take that would be in the best interests of the majority of the pack. A Lycan should always act in a manner that is for the good of all.”
“It sounds like a good law. Acting selflessly, putting the needs of others first.”
He tightened his grip on her and stared at the banana leaves overhead, not really seeing them, thinking back to his earlier conversation with Fielding. “Yeah. It sounds good.”
Tina slept fitfully, fevered then chilled, her leg aching. She tried not to wake Stone. He’d borne the burden of all the work that day; carrying the children, cutting through vegetation when it blocked the path, gathering food, caring for her. Tomorrow would be more of the same and he needed his rest.
Her good intentions were for naught, though. Every movement had him waking to check on her, wiping her face, offering her a drink.
“I’m sorry,” she apologized when once again he awoke in response to her shivers.
“Quit apologizing,” he growled.
“Hey, don’t grumble at me.” She tried to smile even though her teeth were chattering. “Nurses are supposed to be friendly and chipper.”
“I thought they were battleaxes who woke you up to give you a sleeping pill, took your blood and then gave you a cold bedpan.”
He pulled a spare t-shirt from the backpack and laid it over her then spooned his body to hers. His warmth seeped into her and she began to relax, the shivers that had wracked her earlier easing.
“I guess I’m in luck. No bedpans in the jungle.”
“Nope, just bushes.” He stroked his knuckles over her cheek, her hair. The soft touch was soothing.
At some point, she must have dozed off though it seemed like only moments later that she was too warm. Irritably, she shoved away the material that covered her and pushed at his arm, the heat from his body seeming to scorch her.
Wolves, Witches and Bears...Oh My! Page 17
