by Anna Hackett
But he did.
Shit. Ry occasionally still had nightmares, and so much of what he did with his life was still driven by the horrors of his childhood. The horrors of being locked down in a dark basement and hearing the creak of steps above, and knowing what was coming.
He pulled Elana closer. God, she was stronger than he’d thought. A spine of damn steel. He pressed his lips to hers.
Then she pulled back and tilted her head. “Listen?”
He couldn’t hear anything. “What?”
“Nothing.” She smiled. “The storm’s passed.”
Then they both heard it. A faint shout. “Help!”
It was Goldie. Rynan scrambled up, Elana right beside him.
“Move it,” he growled, yanking his cold-weather gear on.
Chapter Ten
It didn’t take Elana long to yank on her trousers, coat, and gloves. As she whipped the hood up over her head, Rynan was already opening their tent.
Out in the bitter cold, she gasped. Goldie’s bright-red tent was shredded to pieces on one side. She watched as a disheveled Goldie stumbled out.
“What happened?” Ry reached her, grabbing the woman’s arm.
She clung to him. “Something attacked us.”
Elana yanked out her laser pistol and saw Ry slide his rifle off his shoulder. He gently nudged Goldie at her, his gaze scanning their surroundings. His body was tense.
Elana carefully patted Goldie down, searching for any injuries. She appeared fine, except for the shock on her face. Elana finished fastening the woman’s coat.
Ry ducked into the ravaged tent, and Elana waited, watching the high-tech fabric flap in the breeze. There was nothing around them except snow, as far as the eye could see. And while the storm had stopped, the clouds above were a dark, roiling gray that promised more flurries.
Ry reappeared. “Where’s Arus?”
Goldie shook her head, pressing a closed fist to her mouth. “I don’t know. It took him.” Her voice rose an octave.
Elana helped Goldie to sit down. “Deep breaths, Goldie. It’s okay. We’ll take care of you.”
“What was it?” Ry asked.
Goldie shook her head wildly. “I didn’t get a good look. It all happened so fast. Something slashing at the tent. Arus trying to protect me, and the next second, he was yanked out into the storm.”
Ry crouched, testing something on the ground with his fingertips, and that’s when Elana saw it, too.
“Blood.” He lifted his hand, blood on his glove. His face grim, he stood, and lifted his laser rifle.
“Where did it take him?” Elana scanned the snow.
Ry pointed at some tracks in the snow, followed by a slide of bright, red blood on white. Stars, it was a lot of blood.
Ry moved to follow the trail and Elana pulled Goldie to her feet. “He needs backup and I’m not leaving you here.”
The older woman nodded, and Elana watched her pull herself together. As Goldie set her shoulders back and took a step forward, Elana felt her regard for the woman rise. She gripped Goldie’s arm and they followed Ry through the deep snow.
Every now and then, Ry would crouch down, studying the marks. The blood was still a bright stain, marring the pure white.
Where are you, Arus? Elana’s jaw tightened. Hold on.
But all of a sudden, the tracks ended. Ahead, the snow was churned up, and beyond that spot the white snow was pristine—no tracks, no blood.
It was as though they’d disappeared into thin air.
“What the hell?” Ry muttered.
Elana frowned. “Maybe whatever took him can fly.” She looked up at the angry, swollen clouds above.
Ry scowled, his gaze moving to the horizon. A shiver skated down Elana’s spine. What the hell was out there?
“Come on.” Ry moved closer, gripping Goldie’s arm. “We need to get to higher ground.”
And find somewhere safer to hole up. Elana nodded.
“There’ll be more snow coming before too long,” he added.
“What about Arus?” Goldie’s face was pinched and her voice shaky.
Elana touched the woman’s shoulder, sharing a loaded look with Ry. “I’m sorry, Goldie. There is too much blood loss for him to have survived.”
Goldie closed her eyes, her body shaking. “He was a good young man.”
“He was.”
They made their way back to the tents, and Ry got to work, dismantling the intact tent, and packing the rest of their supplies into the backpacks. Elana saw that he filled her pack and his own with far more supplies, and gave Goldie a lighter one. While he was working, Elana opened one of the quick-drink pouches, snapping it to heat it, before handing it to Goldie. She sipped at the beverage, her face pale.
Ry helped Elana put her pack on, before hitching his own onto his back. “Let’s move.”
Then they set off, trekking toward the higher hills in the distance.
The accumulation from the storm made progress even more difficult. Several times, Elana sank up to her thighs. Goldie struggled to keep up, and was soon breathing heavily and coughing hard. Elana kept a grip on the woman’s arm, helping her whenever she stumbled.
“I am never taking a snow vacation again,” Goldie wheezed.
A reluctant smile pulled at Elana’s lips. “I hear you. I want sand, sun, and drinks with umbrellas in them.”
“You should try Duna. Wonderful resort world.” The old Goldie peeked through the exhaustion. “Have your man take you there for a sexy, sex-on-the-beach holiday.”
Elana laughed, and was glad her hood hid her face and the color in her cheeks. Was it that obvious what she and Rynan had been doing in their tent?
Ry wasn’t listening. He was tense, his gaze focused forward, and his weapon held loosely in his arms. He was in full security mode.
God, she loved him. She could look at that big, hard body and rugged profile all day long.
He glanced back and spotted her watching him. He shot her a half smile.
Yep. Completely head over heels. She could get used to seeing those smiles.
“We need to get to those mountains,” he pointed ahead.
Elana studied the long ridge of gray rock, and the magnificent peaks topping them, and nodded.
Goldie looked at the rock, her gaze narrowed. “Those mountains look like a line of ancient sailing ships to you?”
Elana frowned, studying the long silhouette, with its odd, pointed peaks. “Maybe, if I use my imagination.”
“They look like mountains to me,” Ry grumbled. “I’m not thinking of treasure right now, Goldie.”
“It’s all I have left.” Her voice was low and sad, her words punctuated with a cough that turned into a coughing fit. Elana patted her on the back and shot a worried look over the woman’s head at Ry. The cough sounded bad.
“Let’s get her to safety and warmed up,” he said.
They continued on, passing over a patch of rocky ground. When faint sunlight broke through the clouds, Elana almost pumped her fist in the air. Things were improving. They’d be okay.
The wan sunlight glinted off something frozen in ice, next to a nearby rock. She frowned. “Hey, what’s that?”
She pointed, and Ry knelt. He plucked the item out of the ice and held it up.
It was a silver coin.
Elana blinked. It was slightly irregular in shape, with things carved on it.
Goldie let out a cry. “Oh, my stars! It’s a Viking coin.”
She snatched it from Rynan’s hand, turning it over between her gloved fingers. Now that it was closer, Elana could see the runic script carved on it, and an image of a man in profile.
“We’re on the right ice world.” Goldie grinned.
Elana let the woman have her excitement, especially since it helped her temporarily shake off her exhaustion.
But Elana looked at Ry, and they traded a grim glance.
They were on the right ice world, sure, but with limited supplies and no idea if any
one would find them before they starved or froze to death.
Or disappeared like Arus.
“Keep moving,” Rynan said gruffly. “There’s more snow coming.”
Rynan fought his way through the snow, sinking knee-deep with every step. The mountains were farther away than he’d guessed.
He glanced over his shoulder and saw that Goldie was clearly exhausted. The older woman was stooped over, her face lined with fatigue, and her steps unsteady. But she hadn’t given up, and for that, she had his admiration and respect.
Elana, on the other hand, didn’t look tired. She was completely focused on the trek, and helping Goldie. She’d been in a spaceship crash, he’d kept her awake fucking her hard, and she was still going strong.
She was a hell of a woman.
His gaze returned to the unforgiving landscape ahead. He was falling in love with Elana Korra. Hell, he’d probably been in love with her for a long time.
That little revelation moved through him like a shockwave. But before he could do something about it and give her what she deserved, he had to get them out of here alive.
Movement to his left caught his attention, and he turned his head. He scanned the white snow and saw…nothing.
He frowned. Maybe it was just the wind tossing snow around.
Then he spotted another movement to the right. He whipped around, lifting his weapon. What the hell?
“What is it?” Elana asked. She’d halted and gone stiff.
There was nothing on the snow. “Don’t know. But move it.”
They kept walking and Elana moved up beside him. “What’s wrong?” She kept her voice low.
Damn woman could read him so easily. “Thought I spotted movement. Nothing concrete. I just have this sense…”
She looked around them again. “Of what?”
Ry felt the sensation now, like an itch between his shoulder blades. “That we’re being hunted.”
Elana straightened. “Let’s get to those mountains.”
They flanked Goldie, gripping her arms, and urged the woman onward. They picked up speed, but the snow and exhaustion slowed them down. Hell, even Rynan was feeling tired now.
All of a sudden, a creature burst up out of the snow right in front of them, sending a cloud of white everywhere. The animal growled, a deep, menacing sound.
Fuck. Rynan shoved the women to the side, and got a glimpse of a large stocky body covered in white fur that was lined with patches of white-blue ice. Down the creature’s back was a line of wicked spikes made of ice. The beast’s face was a huge, hideous thing marred with huge, tumor-like lumps and one lopsided blue eye. Ry also saw four paws, all tipped with razor-sharp ice claws.
Goldie screamed, and Ry fired his laser rifle. The green laser was bright in the snowy gloom. The creature let out a howl and dropped back into the snow, disappearing beneath it.
“A fucking ice monster!” Elana yanked Goldie upright.
“Go!” he yelled.
She pulled Goldie ahead, charging forward.
Another creature reared up off to his left, and he laid down fire. The alien animal dived back into the snow like it was swimming through water.
He strode ahead, keeping his weapon aimed. All around them, he heard snarls and howls coming from the snow. How many of the damn things were out there?
He sensed movement and glanced behind him. His gut hardened.
About a dozen of the furred creatures were pulling themselves out of holes in the snow.
Fuck. “Run!”
He laid down more laser fire, and ran to catch up with the women. A creature burst up right beside him, and for one horrifying moment, he was eye-to-eye with a face covered in lumpy growths and a mouth full of long icy fangs.
Ry shot the beast in the gut, and the creature dropped down. Turning his back to the women, he walked backward, firing on the creatures stalking them.
Then Goldie screamed.
He spun and saw a creature had sunk its claws and teeth into Goldie’s backpack. She was flailing her arms and screaming. The monster yanked and snarled.
Elana leaned past Goldie, aimed her pistol at the creature’s face and fired. It fell backward, tearing Goldie’s pack off with it. Both animal and pack disappeared into the churned-up snow.
Then another creature reared up right behind Elana. A big fucker.
“Elana!” Ry charged forward and sank to his waist. Damn, he couldn’t reach her.
She spun, cool as the ice lakes of Fria II. She aimed her pistol, but the creature swung an arm at her, knocking the weapon out of her hand.
Still calm, she yanked something off her belt and aimed it at the creature.
Bang.
Bright-red light flashed blindingly. It was a flare gun.
Ry blew out a breath, and watched the flare burning against the animal’s shaggy belly. The creature let out an inhuman scream and fell on the snow, struggling and tearing at its stomach.
Movement. Ry tensed and swiveled his rifle.
He watched dozens of the creatures leap out of the snow and bound on all fours toward the downed beast, before starting to tear into it.
Feeding frenzy.
Time to go. Ry heaved himself up out of the snow and raced over to Goldie and Elana. With one arm, he yanked Goldie upright.
“Move. Now.”
Then she wilted, and he saw the back of her coat was shredded. Blood had soaked through the fabric, and terrible scratches showed through the rips. Dammit.
“She’s hurt bad, Ry,” Elana said.
“I’ll carry her.” He swung his rifle onto his shoulder and swept Goldie into his arms.
“I’ll take point.” Elana had retrieved her laser pistol and held it up as she moved into the lead.
The creatures had lost interest in them, with the sudden appearance of fresh food. But as the trio neared the rocky mountains, she paused and looked back. Her face turned to stone and she went down on one knee and fired.
“Feeding frenzy is over,” she murmured, “and they’re coming. Looks like they’re still hungry.”
Ry studied the mountain face ahead. “There’s a wide ledge up there. See? Look.” He nodded his head.
She spotted it and nodded.
“We climb up the cliff face, and hope these ice monsters can’t climb rocks.”
Elana shrugged. “Our luck’s been shit this mission, but let’s hope. Go.”
“Elana.” He waited for her to look at him. Damn, there was so much he wanted to say. He blew out a breath. “Stay safe.”
A small smile. “See you soon.”
She turned around, holding her gun in both hands, and started firing again.
Ry tuned the laser fire out and kept moving. Moments later, he reached the rock face and set Goldie down. She was barely conscious. He looked up the cliff. It wasn’t too high. He swung Goldie around and hoisted her onto his back.
Then Rynan started to climb.
There were plenty of rocks jutting out for footholds, and deep cracks for his fingers. He shoved his boot into one niche, and inched upward.
Laser fire continued to echo from below, and he knew Elana was keeping the creatures off them. Stay safe, gorgeous.
Finally, he reached the wide ledge, and pulled himself and Goldie over the edge. He collapsed, panting. His muscles were burning. He sat Goldie back against the rocks under the small overhang, and then turned back.
Below, he watched as a fur-and-ice creature charged at Elana.
No. Ry fumbled for his rifle, yanking it off his shoulder.
Elana rolled, and scrambled away on her hands and knees. The creature grabbed for her, snagging her pack. It let out a fierce howl.
“Elana!” Ry sighted down the scope on his rifle, carefully aiming before taking the shot.
The creature bucked, paused, then went after Elana once more. Ry fired again. And again.
Finally, the animal fell back, wary. Elana sprinted for the rock face and started climbing.
She moved fast, b
ut he could see that her pack was damaged. One strap was torn, and the heavy pack was hanging off her, wrecking her balance. He watched her slip, the weight of the swinging bag pulling her away from the rock. His heart hammered in his chest.
“Drop the backpack,” he yelled.
“We need it!” she shouted back, stubbornly continuing upward.
She slipped again, and swung away from the cliff face, clinging to the rock with only one hand.
“Elana, drop the damn thing.”
She clung to the wall for a moment, then she moved her arm. The pack slid off and fell, crashing down to the ground.
It was only minutes, but it felt to Ry like hours had passed when Elana finally reached the ledge. He leaned down and grabbed her, pulling her safely onto the ledge.
Then he yanked her into his arms. Damn. His pulse was still pounding.
She pressed into him, her body shaking. Shock, cold, and adrenaline. He needed to get her warm.
She turned her head, and he followed her gaze down to the plain of snow below. They watched the ice creatures slink away on all fours and vanish into the snow.
“You think they’re gone?” she murmured.
“Nope,” he answered, hugging her harder.
Chapter Eleven
Elana tried to control her chattering teeth. Across from her, Goldie was shivering as well.
“We should try and climb a bit higher,” Rynan said, a deep groove furrowing his brow.
Elana lowered her voice. “She’s injured and too tired, Ry. She’ll never make it.” She fingered his sleeve. “And you’re bleeding.”
He waved a dismissive hand. “I’m fine.” Gray eyes took in Goldie. “You’re right. Let’s put the tent up here.”
They worked together and quickly got the tent erected. Elana helped Goldie inside, and followed her in.
“I have a small scanner drone I want to set up,” Ry said. “It’ll warn us of any unwelcome visitors. I’ll be in soon.”
Elana nodded, and got Goldie seated. Digging in Ry’s pack, she found a special heated blanket that had an internal warming mechanism for emergency situations. She wrapped it tightly around Goldie’s shoulders.