Part 4 (2/2)

They were the only ones with enough resources to help me save my friends. Half of the pack had been on that mission. Most of the wolves left at the lodge were mothers and children. When the news of the loss reached them, they wouldn't be in any shape to mount a rescue mission. With the alpha pair gone and Charlie missing, chaos would drive them into a panic. Better they didn't find out for as long as I could put it off.

Ducking under the shade of a tree, I fell to my knees and screamed in pain. The sun was rising higher, and I couldn't see or hear a human anywhere. I couldn't die. Not now. If I didn't find help, no one would go after the pack until it was too late for the ones still alive. If I didn't live, no one would know Manda had betrayed us.

Survival was paramount.

The Texas border fence was coming up fast. I had to make it through, but the border patrol wouldn't let me through in the state I was in. As hungry as I was, I also didn't trust myself not to kill and feed on soldiers in a desperate attempt to quench the thirst that burned inside me.

Jumping was going to be difficult with my injuries, but was my only option. I didn't have time to get to a tunnel.

I blurred again, this time making it to a part of the fence that lay below a ridge. I'd come through this way before. If I could build enough momentum, I should be able to clear it. My weakened state aside, I still had enough energy to hurl myself over.

I had to leave the protection of the shaded woods, and the sun was rising higher. If I didn't find shelter before it rose completely, there wouldn't be any of me left to find help.

Pain doused me from head to foot. I squinted through my blurry vision, gathered the energy I had left, and ran. The ground flew beneath my feet as I blurred forward, leaping from the top of the ridge and hurling my body across the top edge of the fifty-foot electric fence.

The ground rushed toward me, and I hit it with a thud that broke at least half of my ribs. I couldn't contain the scream as pain lanced through my body. I twisted on the ground and crawled to my feet. The sun was still rising over the horizon, colors flooding the sky. I had mere minutes before I would be nothing more than ash blowing in the wind.

I blurred through the trees and followed a road, trying to keep an eye out for anything that looked like a driveway. One appeared a few seconds later, and I rushed down the gravel. A large gray barn loomed ahead of me. A heavy padlock locked the ma.s.sive sliding door, but it was no match for my desperation. The metal snapped in my hand, and I slipped inside, closing the door behind me. The darkness of the barn soothed my burning skin, but something else caught my attention. Blood.

Dried blood spattered the walls... the floor. The scent of death hung fresh on the air. Another scent also coated the building. Male. Magick. An Other lived here.

d.a.m.n it. Feeding on Others was tricky. Why couldn't some stupid hunter live here? I needed to feed. Hunger clawed at my insides. My head rang from the need to eat. G.o.d forgive the next living being to enter this barn. They wouldn't stand a chance.

For now, I'd just have to wait. The sun was s.h.i.+ning, and I was trapped.

Chapter Nine.

KILLIAN.

Setting my helmet on the long seat of my bike, I took a deep breath of the sweet morning air. The cafe door of Rose's swung open. Miles and Eli Blackmoor emerged, pausing to hold the door for the beautiful blonde woman I recognized as Diana-their wife.

Miles caught my gaze and raised a hand in greeting. I returned the gesture and started toward them.

”Killian, it's been weeks. What have you been up to?” Miles' voice rumbled.

Eli flashed a grin. ”You haven't met our wife since she returned to us.” He turned to the small woman standing between them. ”Diana, this is Killian. He lives a few miles outside of town. He's Elvin.”

Her face brightened, and her perfectly shaped lips turned up into a smile. ”You are from the Veil?” she asked, walking forward and taking my hand in hers. ”My son Mikjall will want to meet you. He was raised by Elvin. Please come by the Castle if you have time.” She squeezed my hand and then dropped it, moving to lean against Miles' chest.

”Thank you, Diana.”

She smiled and nodded as her hands absently stroked her round stomach in a circular pattern.

A baby on the way? And a grown son raised by my people? Questions burned in my mind, but they could wait. It wasn't my place to interrogate the Snen mor. I was just thankful to see her safe with her husbands and happy. I knew Miles and Eli thought she had been lost to them forever.

Her blue eyes were soft, compa.s.sionate, but burned with the fire of a Drakonae meant to rule. She and Miles and Eli belonged in the Veil. They belonged on the stone thrones, not those Incanti b.a.s.t.a.r.ds.

”May the Blackmoor house grow strong and live in peace.” I used the old words from court to show respect. They weren't my kings and queen here, but if life had gone differently a thousand years ago, they would've been.

”Peace and strength to you, friend,” Eli returned. ”Don't be a stranger, Killian. You are always welcome in our house.”

Diana waved as they led her away. I waved in turn before going inside the cafe.

Raven's bright voice greeted me the second the door swung closed behind me.

”Killian,” she said, sauntering over to my side. ”Where have you been?” The Pixie planted a kiss on my cheek. Her hand traced my shoulder and then along my back, grazing over the two swords sheathed and strapped in place. She circled behind me and came around on my other side. It was like being stalked by a hungry cat. A starving, gorgeous cat, though.

”Just taking out the trash.”

”You should take a break from that more often than once every two or three months.”

”Thanks, Raven.”

She flashed a wide smile and walked off, her hips swaying enticingly with each step. d.a.m.n. That girl knew how to work her a.s.s.

I slid into the closest booth and sighed. The smell of freshly baked bread, pies, and other sweets clung to the air. Heaven for the tastebuds. This was the closest I came to freshly made food -ever.

A second later, Bella slid into the seat opposite me. I wanted to reach out and pull her bright blue hair loose from the high ponytail it was twisted up into and drink in the sweet scent of jasmine drifting from her smooth alabaster skin. Her wide doe eyes sparkled with life.

If I could grab her around the waist and disappear into her house for the next twenty-four hours, I could be a happy man. At least I should be able to be happy with a woman like Bella in my bed. But I'd be lying to myself if I thought even s.e.x with her would help my present mood. Plus, s.e.x with Bella or anything with Bella for that matter always came with strings attached.

Only one woman could make my heart happy again, and she was lost to me forever.

”It's good to see you, Killian.”

”How did you know I was here?” A grin tugged at my mouth.

”I heard you. There's only a few bikes in town, and none of them sound quite like yours.”

”What do you want, Bella?”

”I just wanted to say h.e.l.lo. Can't a friend say h.e.l.lo?”

”You want something.” I crossed my arms over my chest and glared. This wasn't a friendly visit. Her vibe had Rose's scent all over it.

”I want you to move here. Everyone does. That old run down farmhouse isn't good for you. There's more to life than killing wayward SECR soldiers unlucky enough to wander into your sandbox.”

”By everyone, you mean Rose put you up to this.”

She frowned, but nodded.

<script>