by L. E. Wilson
“Where the hell could they be?”
Resting his elbows on his knees, Nik contemplated the far wall for a moment before saying, “Emma and I did a wide loop around this place. I didn’t see or scent anyone besides us, and those things.”
“It wasn’t these piss poor vamps I scented,” Aiden told him. “It was someone else. Hard to tell who or what. The scent was kind of wonky.”
“Wonky?” Nik asked.
“Mm hmm, the wily sods covered it up to confuse us. And they did a bang-up job, I tell you. Even I can’t place it.” Despondently kicking away his disintegrating head, Aiden got up and grabbed some water out of his pack to wash his hands.
“Well, I’m not going to waste my time worrying about it.” Nik stood up. “Daylight is coming, and tonight we’re going after Luukas and Emma’s sister, with or without the rest of the guys. I’m tired of waiting.”
Aiden dried his hands on the tail of his shirt and came back to the fire, throwing on another log before joining them on the rocks. “And how do you propose we do that, Nik? Not that I’m complaining, mind you. You know I fancy a good fight.”
Locking eyes with Emma, Nik answered, “I have no fucking idea.”
Chapter 36
Emma came back to consciousness as if in a fog. Disoriented, she lay still as she tried to place where she was—hard ground digging into her hip and shoulder, some kind of lumpy pillow under her head, the smell of smoke from a low-burning fire, and she was cold.
Except for her back. Her back was warm. She was laying on her side, fully dressed, knees pulled up in front of her, hands tucked under her cheek, facing the fire.
Why was her back warm when it was her front facing the fire?
Then she felt the warmth against her back move closer, and a large, male hand swept roughly up her leg, over her hip, and around her waist. The muscular arm it was attached to pulled her even closer to the warmth and snuggled her entire length.
Emma’s eyes popped open wide, scenes from the last few days flashing through her mind. “Nikulas?” she whispered into the semi-darkness. Had he been here with her all day? The last she remembered before she’d drifted off, he’d been talking quietly with Aiden on the other side of the fire pit, ironing out their plans for tonight.
“Shhhh. We don’t want to wake Aiden.” His husky voice was right in her ear, his breath tickling the tiny hairs on the back of her neck. It sent chills down her spine and made her shiver. Nik tugged her in closer, pulling her blanket up around them.
Aiden? Her sleep-muddled brain belatedly noticed the soft snores coming from the other side of the fire. “What time is it?” she whispered.
“We have about two hours until nightfall. Sorry I woke you up, I just—” He paused. “I just needed to touch you.” She felt cool air on her belly as his hand played with the bottom of her shirt. “Is that okay?”
Emma gave the fading embers of the fire a worried frown. He should be sleeping. They couldn’t afford for him to not be at his best tonight. All of their lives depended on it. She crooked her head around to tell him so, only to swallow what she’d been about to say when he came into view. He looked so—
Vulnerable.
“Um, yeah. It’s okay,” she whispered. She laid her head back down and moved her arm so her hand covered his on her belly. Truth was, even if he wasn’t nervous about tonight, she was. And having a strong, handsome vampire wanting to hold her didn’t sound bad at all. She could use the reassurance.
But as he hugged her to him again, she squirmed, his hand pressing into her lower belly…and her bladder. “Nik?”
“Hmm?”
“I have to get up for a minute. I have to…um…I need a moment. A human moment. Outside.” She could feel her face flaming as she tried to discreetly tell him she had to pee.
Nik’s big body stilled behind her, but he didn’t let go of her. Finally, he whispered, “It’s still light outside.”
She started to try to wiggle out from under his heavy arm. “I know,” she whispered back. “I’ll be quick.”
“No, Emma.” His arm was like a steel bar trapping her as she tried to shove it off. “No. You can’t go out there by yourself.”
She tried to roll over and slide out of his grasp, to no avail. “But I have to go to the bathroom.” Oh no, she was about to pee her pants.
“Do it here,” he ordered.
“No!” Her face flamed at the thought. “Jeez, I’m just stepping outside.” Renewing her efforts, she managed to get about halfway out in spite of his determination to hold her there, when his hand fisted her shirt in his grip and his deep voice rang through the cavern.
“I can’t fucking go with you!” They both froze at his outburst and slowly looked over at Aiden. He twitched in his sleep, giggled, mumbled something about marshmallows, and rolled over. His soft snores soon filled the cavern again.
Nik clenched his jaw and lowered his voice. “I can’t let you go out there alone.”
Emma temporarily gave up the struggle. His jaw was tense and his eyes frantically skipped over her face in the dim light. He was not just being a pain in the ass. He was worried.
“I’ll just step right outside the entrance. I won’t go far, I promise.” She tried to reassure him she’d be ok for the few minutes she’d be out of his sight. “If I see or hear anything at all besides a bird or a deer, I’ll call for you. You’ll be able to just reach out and pull me in to safety.”
Gritting his teeth, he looked away. She could tell he hated this. Despised this weakness that kept him from protecting her. A minute in the sun and she’d be toasting marshmallows over him.
With Aiden, apparently.
She tried again to reassure him. “I’ll be fine. Really. Those things are vampires, right? They can’t be out in the sun either.”
“No. But what if something else happened? I wouldn’t be able to get to you!” he whispered harshly. “Not in the sun.” He looked around the room, and she followed his gaze, but there was nowhere private inside the cavern, not even a small alcove.
“The tunnel. You could stay—”
“No, I’m going outside,” she whispered as she got up. “You stay in the tunnel.” Grabbing up the little flashlight, she turned it on and quickly headed out of the cave.
Nik got up with her and followed her as far as he could. As they reached the entrance, he stayed far enough back so the suns’ rays wouldn’t hit him when she went out.
Looking back at him, she gave him a small, reassuring smile before lifting the branches just high enough to step outside into the late afternoon sunshine.
Chapter 37
A minute went by. Then two. Then five. What the hell was she doing? Tanning? How long did it take her to piss for God’s sake? Nik started pacing up and down the tunnel. When almost seven full minutes went by and she still hadn’t come back in, he walked right up to the entry. Fuck the sun.
“Emma?”
Silence.
“Emma?” he yelled louder this time. Still no answer. She’d promised she wouldn’t go far. That she would only be a minute. Fear hit him hard in the chest as his worst nightmare unfolded.
“Emma!” He pushed the branches back a bit, ignoring the smoke and sizzling skin on his hand and arm. “EMMA!!!”
The birds sang happily in the sunshine, mocking his fear. He looked as far as he could in either direction, but saw nothing but trees and sun-dappled grassy patches on the uneven ground. Invisible hands squeezed Nik’s heart in terror as he jumped back from the light before it was too late.
A thunderous roar reverberated through the tunnel and into the cavern, dislodging debris from the ceiling, as Nik lowered his head and charged the branches disguising the entrance. Fighting his body’s natural instinct to stay far away from sunlight, he bellowed for Emma at the top of his lungs, and retreated only after flames broke out on his skin. He slapped them out and did it again.
Aiden appeared at a dead run through the dusty air. “Nik? Nikulas! What’s wrong, mate? What is it?”
<
br /> As Nik jumped back inside, staggering into the wall and slapping out flames, Aiden tackled him before he managed to throw himself outside again.
Rolling around on the ground, Nik roared with frustration as he tried to rip Aiden off of him. But Aiden clung to him like a suction cup.
“Nikulas! Stop! You’re not accomplishing anything by turning yourself into a barbecue.”
Screaming with rage, Nik threw himself onto his back on top of Aiden, trying to break his captor’s hold. “Let go of me, you fucking asshole!”
Nik slammed him into any surface he could find, trying to dislodge him, but the harder he tried, the tighter Aiden’s grip became.
“Nikulas,” Aiden yelled in his ear, “if you don’t stop, I’m going to rip off both your bloody legs! Then how are you going to get to Emma while you’re stuck here regenerating them?”
Nik ceased his struggle, knowing damn well that Aiden meant every word. The bastard. He would rip his legs off. He’d done it when Luukas disappeared to keep Nik from going off on a suicide mission to save his brother. It had only been one leg then, but growing it back fucking hurt like hell. And it took forever.
They lay there in the middle of the tunnel, Aiden wrapped around him like a parasite, catching their breath. When Nik’s chest stopped heaving and his body relaxed a bit, Aiden finally spoke, “All right?”
“Yeah, I’m good,” Nik gritted out.
Aiden loosened his hold, and Nik shoved him away and scooted back on his ass until he collapsed up against the wall. His face, chest and arms were black and blistered, but he barely felt it. He couldn’t feel anything except the fear running through him. He wasn’t sure if it was all his, or his fear and Emma’s combined. Just the thought of her hurt and afraid…
“So what did you do to her this time?” Aiden asked between deep breaths.
Blinking his charred eyelids, Nik tried unsuccessfully to focus on his friend. “She’s gone.” His voice was hoarse from yelling. “She just stepped outside to piss. She said she’d only be a minute. That she’d stay right by the entrance. But she didn’t come back.”
His entire body shook with fear and the effort it was taking him to sit still.
“She didn’t come back. She wouldn’t have just left. She’s not fucking stupid! She wouldn’t have left me. She’s hurt! Or something’s taken her…”
He couldn’t finish the sentence as the invisible hands squeezed his heart and he gasped, struggling to breathe.
Aiden gave a consoling squeeze to an unburned area on Nik’s thigh. “Don’t fret, mate. Emma’s tougher than she looks. There’s nothing to do for it now, but we’ll find her. As soon as the sun sets, we’ll head out, and you’ll be able to find her.”
As long as she wasn't too far away…and still alive.
Standing up, Aiden held out a hand. “Come on then, let’s get you back together. You’re in no condition to play the knight like this. Do you have any more of that bagged rubbish laying around?”
Nik staggered to his feet, pushing Aiden away when he tried to help.
“Yeah. It’s in my pack.”
Hands held out in front of him, he bounced off both walls before finally careening toward the cavern.
Chapter 38
Emma sputtered with rage as she was unceremoniously dumped facedown out of the burlap sac she’d been thrust into. Spitting out dirt and leaves, she struggled to stand up and brushed off her clothes. “Who the hell do you think you are? You can’t just…just…” Lifting her head and pushing her hair out of her face, her anger faded right along with any thread of coherent thought as she got her first good look at her captors. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
She blinked in the bright sunlight, not trusting what was right in front of her eyes—three of the most alluring males she’d ever laid her eyes on.
Or her anything on, for that matter, other than Nik.
With expressions that ranged from amused to downright hostile, they blatantly returned her scrutiny, eyeing her up and down as she returned the favor.
Dressed in jeans, T-shirts, and hiking boots, each one of them was at least 6’2”, and built like they could toss cars around with ease.
The tallest one stood ramrod straight. His long, black hair was pulled back harshly from his chiseled face, with a strong, square jaw and broad cheekbones. His arms were crossed in front of his massive chest, muscles bulging, as he regarded her with bright eyes so pale they nearly looked white. They blazed at her from under the dark slashes of his brows, mesmerizing her with their intensity.
By his stance and his air of superiority, she deduced he was the leader of the group. She gave him her full attention. “Who are you? And why have you taken me?” she demanded.
He ran those unsettling eyes from her head to her toes and back again. There was no malice in his gaze, just a calm curiosity. “Feisty little lass, isna’ she?” he said to the redheaded god closest to him. His deep voice rumbled up from his chest, sending sensual shivers across her skin.
“Aye.” Red had blue eyes also, though the color was deeper. They reminded her of a stormy blue ocean, and just as intelligent and intense.
Emma bristled with irritation as they stood there looking at her like she was some sort of freak show attraction. She stiffened her spine. “I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t talk about me as if I weren’t here.”
The dark one gave her a half smile, a slight dimple showing in his cheek. “My apologies. What’s yer name, lassie?”
“You kidnap me and you don’t even know my name?”
His smile widened slightly. “Not only are ye bonnie, but ye’re smart too. However, you truly have me at a disadvantage, as I don’t ken your name. But if you'll be a sweet lassie 'n' tell me, I will tell ye what we are.”
His heavy Scottish brogue gave her a moment’s pause, but she could get the gist of what he was saying. Not seeing any harm in telling him, especially if it would get her more information about whom she was dealing with, she said, “Emma. My name is Emma.”
“Emma. That’s a bonnie name for a bonnie lass.” Uncrossing his arms, he bowed formally at the waist, the perfect gentleman.
She narrowed her eyes at him as her heart slowed to a more normal rhythm.
Straightening up again and giving his head a toss to throw his long ponytail back over his shoulder, he introduced himself. “They call me Cedric Kincaid. Leader o' the Kincaid pack.” Indicating the males to either side of him, he introduced them. “This one with the red locks is Lucian. 'N' this handsome, green-eyed devil is Duncan.”
Lucian gave her a stern nod, while Duncan gave her a lusty wink and a broad grin. He was obviously the friendlier of the two.
Wait a minute. “Pack?” Emma asked. “Don’t you mean ‘clan’?”
“No. I'm the leader o' the northwest pack. We’re werewolves, you see.” He smiled again, showing off strong, white teeth and long dimples in a smile that would make any girl swoon.
It took a second for his words sink in. Had she misunderstood him? “We…wer…Werewolves?”
“Aye. Werewolves,” he confirmed with a firm nod.
Emma swayed on her feet, barely managing to step back out of his reach when he put a hand out to steady her. She’d half-thought Nikulas had just been messing with her when he’d told her about the “wolves”. And maybe when she was younger, before she’d ever seen the things she’d seen, she would’ve laughed in their faces.
But now…well, now…
She blinked until she could focus again and took a closer look at them.
They stared at her as one, gazes steady and direct.
Holy shit. They weren’t lying.
“Dinna look so worried, we won’t hurt ye, lassie.” Tall, dark, and yummy informed her nobly. “You came here with Nik 'n' the daft one? Aye?”
What had he just said? Something about Nik? “You know Nik and Aiden?”
“Aye, I do. Very well. We’re old mukkers…uh, friends,” he clarified. “We saw them pull up
with ye’ last night.”
“Friends, huh?”
He gave her a reassuring nod.
“Then why did you kidnap me right out from under your ‘friends’ noses?”
Knowing Nik was right there in the tunnel, she had just stepped right around the corner, wanting a little privacy. No sooner had she finished her business and walked out from behind the tree she’d been using as a screen when a rough sac had been yanked down over her head from behind and she’d been scooped up and thrown over a burly shoulder. The owner of which had then taken off at a dead run. It had knocked the air out of her, and by the time she could breathe again, let alone scream, she’d been dumped back out again.
He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand, looking up at her sheepishly from under long, dark lashes. “Well now, that's a funny story.” He gave her a shrug. “It seemed a good idea at th' time,” he said a bit arrogantly.
“And what about now?” she asked, sarcasm dripping from her voice. “Does it still seem like a good idea now?”
“Well, ye dinna have to be like that about it,” he said, obviously taken aback by her tone. Settling his weight on one powerful leg and his hands low on his narrow hips, he had the decency to look a bit guilty. “Although, I have to admit, we may have acted a wee bit rash. We didna really stop to think about it.”
Emma took a step closer, about to give him a large piece of her mind. Immediately, the other two stepped up to flank their leader, and she rethought her decision. Pissing off a group of bona fide werewolves was probably not the smartest thing to do. A change of tactics might be a good idea.
She gave him her sweetest smile, “Well, it’s not too late! You can just take me back.”
His eyes widened and he glanced at his companions with a look that said he clearly thought she was completely off her rocker. “We canna do that! Are ye mad, lassie?”
So much for her attempt at womanly wiles. “Why the hell not?” She nearly stamped her foot with frustration. She was tired. And she was hungry. And, dammit, she wasn’t in the mood for this shit.