Karen sighed. “I hope so.” She eyed the open distance to the trees. “We’ve got to go. Is everyone ready?” They murmured they were, but Karen heard uncertainty in their voices. “James, Matt, you guys bring up the rear. Nikki, Owen, stay near me.”
The group moved away from the safety of the building, running for the safety of the woods. Karen blew out a sigh of relief as the trees surrounded them, not feeling nearly as exposed as she did in the open ground. She held her hand up as voices drifted to her. She motioned them to get off the path and hide themselves in the thick underbrush.
“Mr. Troyington said I can twist her head off her skinny neck,” Cray said, malicious glee coloring his words.
“It’s going to be hard work, killing them all,” Harmon cautioned.
“Nothing we can’t handle.”
Karen shivered, and not from the chill in the early morning air. The men’s words sliced through her, stabbing at her heart. Time was officially up. “We’ve got to run,” she whispered to Nikki.
The girl nodded and passed the word down the line. “We’re ready.”
Karen crouched, taking off in a slow run, wanting to hurry, but keeping her young charges in mind. The gurgling of a stream reached her and she veered off toward it as the angry screaming of birds reached her. Risking a glance behind, she saw them massing in a black cloud, heading right for them.
“James,” Karen called. “You and Matt take the others and head for the stream. Call the water nixies. Nikki, Owen, and I will try and hold off the animals.”
James squeezed her arm. “Be safe.” He pushed through the brush, Matt herding the children along behind.
Karen checked to see where Nikki and Owen stood. They were off to her left and right, a few steps behind. “We’ll try not to hurt them,” Karen said. “The animals are still under Harmon’s control. It’s not their fault what they’re being made to do.”
“We know,” Owen said. “But the pack comes first.”
Karen gave him a small smile. The sandy-haired teen seemed like the serious one of the pack children. She wouldn’t fault him at all if he used extreme force. She nodded at him. “I understand. Let’s try, though, to keep the casualties to a minimum.”
“We’ll try,” Nikki said. She pointed over Karen’s shoulder. “Here they come.”
Karen dropped back to her defensive posture as she felt more than saw the werewolves shift. She threw her arms up, protecting her face as the blackbirds dove at them in a solid wave.
“Ow, damn it!” She yanked a bird none too gently from her hair, feeling like half her scalp went with it. Wave after wave of birds hit them, the tide seeming to never end. She grit her teeth as her arms started to feel like lead. Where are they all coming from? she thought.
She heard the growls and snarls from the werewolves and knew they were holding their own. Don’t look at the kids. They’re fine. She blocked two more birds as they dove at her head, their ceaseless calling grating on her nerves.
A last squawk and the attack was over. Bodies of birds littered the ground at their feet. The teens shifted back to human, their clothes tattered but mostly intact. The three of them were covered with scratches and blood smears.
Karen dabbed at the blood running from her scalp. “Stupid bird,” she mumbled.
Owen approached her slowly. “Angel, are you okay?”
She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “As well as can be expected.” She looked at the carnage at their feet again. “That wasn’t so hard.”
The three looked at each other, then burst out laughing. Karen draped her arms around their shoulders. “Come on. Let’s catch up to the others.”
Chapter Nineteen
They ran toward the stream and burst into a small clearing to see James and Matt fighting off an army of animals trying to get to the others. The three leapt in, Karen landing a solid kick on a large badger. Owen threw a fox into the trees as Nikki scooped an armload of squirrels to toss them as far as she could.
The attack slowed, then stopped as the animals backed away, finally running off into the woods. James half shifted, growling at two foxes who appeared to need a little more incentive to join their fellows.
“Everyone okay?” Karen asked, looking around at the children.
James shifted back, eyeing the three of them. “Looks like we fared better than you guys. What happened?”
Karen shook her head. “Birds. Lots of them.”
They all turned to her. “So, what’s next?” Matt asked.
She wanted to tell them it would be simple now, but it would be a lie. “Believe it or not, that was the easy part. They know we’re free and the general direction we’re heading. Unless we can get in touch with the wood folk, we’re on our own.”
James stood in front of the pack. “If you want to try to contact a water nixie, we’ll stand guard. Nixies are the fastest way to get news through the fairy realm. Whoever lives in this part of the stream may know a faster way back to the guardian.”
She clapped him on the shoulder. “Good thinking.” She pulled the smaller children to her. “You guys stay with me and watch my back while the others protect us.” They nodded and she smiled at the fierce determination on their young faces.
Karen sat on the damp ground and trailed shaking fingers in the stream. She had no idea what she was doing and was only imitating what she had seen Randall do. Soon, she could feel the power inside her glow brighter as it leaked from her fingers into the water swirling around her hand. “If there’s anyone here, I need your help.”
The water bubbled and swirled, forming into a large man. He scowled at her, pulling water into himself, giving him a terrifying appearance. “How have you learned to summon a nixie?”
Karen rose to her feet, not afraid, only relieved at finding help. “I’m so sorry to bother you, but these children and I desperately need your help.”
The youngest girl ran forward, her face shining with joy. “Lael, you’re here!”
The nixie reduced his size to peer at her. “Ari?” He stared at Karen. “You’ve rescued Caledon’s pack children?”
Karen watched him rise to look her in the eye. “Sort of. I need to get in touch with Raesheen, and I really need to find the guardian.”
He flowed around her as Brek had done, gazing at her from all sides before once again looking into her eyes. “You and the guardian are soul mates. The bond between you is stronger than any I’ve ever felt.”
She reached out her hand as she stepped closer to him. “Cray and Harmon are after us. We need to get out of this area as soon as possible.”
He flowed back into the stream. “I can lead you as far as the stream allows. As we travel, I will send a message to the wood folk and let them know where to meet you.”
“Thank you so much.” Karen ran to get the others. “Let’s go. Lael’s going to take us as far as he can. We should have help waiting for us a little farther down the hill.”
The group ran beside the stream as Lael flowed beside them. At times, he vanished, and they heard splashing and yelps from animals. Karen grinned. The nixie was certainly taking no prisoners.
As the trees thinned, Lael stopped them. “The stream bends in a different direction than you need to go. I’ve gotten in touch with members of the fairy court. Wait here. Someone should come soon.”
Karen bowed deeply to the water nixie. “Thank you so much for all your help. If there’s ever anything I can do for you, please don’t hesitate to call on me.”
He smiled at her. “I will remember your kind offer.” He disappeared, becoming part of the stream that was his home.
“Okay, gang, take five.” She waved them all to the ground and gestured to James. “I want you guys to stand watch. I’m going to check the woods around us.”
James nodded. “All right, Angel.” He waved Owen over. “You’ve got the best sense of smell. Shift and give a yell if anyone but the Angel comes near.”
“Will do.” Owen stripped out of his cloth
es, then shifted, keeping his nose pointed to the air.
Karen walked into the surrounding brush, careful not to go too far. She turned to look at the small pack. James was getting everyone settled and scanning the area around them. The teen was shaping up to be a good leader.
“Miss!” a tiny voice cried.
Karen smiled as Dayla hit her square in the face. She was never so glad to see someone in her life. “I missed you, Dayla.”
The fairy backed up, hovering about six inches away from Karen’s nose. “When Troyington took you, I couldn’t get to you. The metal stopped me. Then you disappeared and I couldn’t find you.” Dayla brightened. “But I heard you yesterday when you told me to help the guardian. I tried, miss, but I couldn’t get to him.”
“I knew you’d hear me.” Karen frowned. “Has anyone seen the guardian since yesterday?”
Dayla nodded eagerly. “Yes, miss. He joined with Raesheen last night and is actively looking for all of you.”
Karen sagged with relief. He was safe. She closed her eyes, feeling his arms around her and seeing his impish grin that made her melt.
“So, you ready to help me save these kids?” she asked Dayla, her mouth curling up in a wide smile.
Dayla snapped off a salute. “Yes, miss. Raesheen has sent most of the court to guard us as I take you back to the guardian. They’ll be hidden, but watching.”
The two headed back to the kids and James ran over to them. “Owen’s detected someone coming.”
Karen glanced over her shoulder at the trees. Knowing the wood folk were there made the knot in her stomach finally start to relax. But someone was out there who wanted to do them harm. Time to get moving. “Let’s go. We’ve only got a couple of hours of daylight left. Dayla, where can we stay tonight that’s sheltered?”
The fairy motioned for them to follow her and she flew ahead. “I’ll show you.”
“James, take the lead,” Karen said, not being able to stop looking for whoever was coming. “I’ll bring up the rear.”
They set off at a quick pace. Karen felt the ground slope more and more under her feet as she hiked. She glanced over her shoulder again, still not seeing anyone. The girl, Ari, tripped and fell, skinning her knee.
Karen helped her up. “Are you okay?”
Ari sniffed hard as tears rolled down her face, her bottom lip trembling. “I’m tired and hungry, and I want to go home.”
Karen smoothed her hair back. “I know, sweetie,” she murmured. “We’re headed that way now.” She pulled the girl close, holding her as she cried. She looked up as James approached.
“Is she okay?” he asked.
Karen nodded. “She’s just a little tired. She fell and hurt her knee.”
Ari turned and held her leg up. “See?”
James tried not to smile. “Come on, Ari. I’ll carry you for a while. Then at least you won’t be tired.” James knelt down, letting her climb onto his back. He jogged back to the front of the line. “Let’s move, people.”
The sky turned lavender as the sun began to set. Dayla stopped them at the edge of the woods and pointed to a small cabin. “We can stay here tonight. No one’s been here in months.”
Karen wondered if that was the decoy cabin and turned to the children. “Stay here. James, come with me.”
They slowly crept up to the front door. Karen turned the knob and the door swung in, raising the hairs on the back of her neck. “I don’t like this,” she muttered.
“Me neither,” James said in a low voice. “But we need to check it out. It’s going to get cold tonight, and the little kids can’t stay out in it.”
Karen nodded. “Let’s do it.”
This had to be the cabin the wood folk had pinned their hopes on. The two of them entered side by side, scanning the room. The smell of new wood, paint, and varnish hit them as soon as they opened the door. Karen saw the furniture wrapped in plastic and knew this was the hunters’ cabin Bradford rented out. They split up, Karen heading for the kitchen, and James, checking out the bedroom and small bathroom. They met back in the living room.
“There’s no food, but there’s running water,” Karen said. She flipped a switch on the wall. “And no power.”
“There’s plenty of blankets in a closet in the bedroom,” James said. “This place stinks of a trap.”
“I agree.” Karen stared at the living room, nodding toward the fireplace. “But the kids are tired, and we need to be out of the cold. I think we’ll risk a fire so we can keep warm.”
James chuckled. “It’s not like they don’t know which way we’re going anyway.”
“Exactly. You get a fire going. I’ll get the kids.” Karen trotted to where the group waited.
She took a deep breath. “This place looks okay, but James is worried it might be a set-up. I need you guys to do what we say in case there’s trouble.”
They all nodded, and she led them to the cabin. Karen went in last, locking the door behind her. “Matt and Owen, make sure all the doors and windows are locked. Nikki, go grab some blankets from the back room. I’m going to see about getting some water for us.”
She handed out the small cups and watched as they drank it all. They slowly settled down as the blankets and the fire warmed them. Karen went over to James. “Get some rest. I’ll take the first watch.”
He nodded and chose a spot near Nikki. Karen smiled as the girl readjusted herself, laying her head on James’ shoulder. Definitely a relationship in the making. Her thoughts turned to Randall. What she wouldn’t give to be curled up with him like that right now. Closing her eyes, she pictured him holding her as he smiled. Loneliness crawled through her, making her want to run down the hillside and find him. She wanted to feel those rough fingers caress her. She wanted his arms around her. She wanted to lose herself in those magical wild eyes.
Karen, can you hear me?
Karen stopped as the telepathic contact touched her. Rena? Thank heavens.
Where’re you at? We can’t get any information from anyone in this lousy town.
Karen could hear Rena’s annoyance. I’m not sure. I’m in a cabin in the woods somewhere. Keep an eye on the people there. You’ll know when things start going down.
We’ll keep our eyes open.
Karen smiled, even though she knew Rena couldn’t see it. Thanks, Red.
****
James shook her the next morning as sunlight sparkled throughout the cabin. “Wake up, Angel. Someone’s coming.”
Dayla took to the air as Karen jumped to her feet, staring at the door. “Is it Troyington?”
James shook his head. “We don’t know. We can’t get a good look.”
She laid her hand on his shoulder. “Stay inside. Keep everyone away from the windows. Check out back just in case whoever it is isn’t alone. And lock the front door when I leave.”
James nodded as Matt took off for the back of the cabin. He opened the door just wide enough for her to squeeze out, then pushed it shut, clicking the lock.
Karen, people are starting to leave town. They could be coming your way, Rena said telepathically.
Understood. Do what you can on that end. I’ll take care of things here. Karen stepped off the porch while she was in contact with Rena. She turned to the fairy hovering by her head. “Dayla, get the wood folk. This is it.”
The tiny fairy took off as Karen ducked behind a large tree, watching the intruder’s shadow approach.
Close enough, she thought. She sprung out, struck his chest, then knocked him to the ground with a leg sweep. “Wrong cabin, buddy.”
Randall groaned from the ground and rubbed his chest. “Remind me never to startle you.”
Karen’s hands flew to her mouth. Randall was here! He was safe! She threw herself on top of him, straddling his lap. Grabbing his shirt, she kissed him fiercely.
“Where have you been?” she demanded. “I was scared something had happened to you.” She kissed him again, feeling him respond favorably to her greeting.
&
nbsp; He grinned, holding her by her waist, running his thumbs over her ribs. “I went to call the guardians. They’re in the town. They’ve told Caledon the children are free.”
She pushed his hair off his face. “We need to go inside before the children get an impromptu demonstration of Sex Ed.”
He winked at her as his hands moved slowly upward to brush against her breast. They barely got in the door when Randall was mobbed by the werewolf children.
James came away from the window, clasping Randall’s hand before allowing himself to be pulled into a tight hug. James stood back, his face serious.
“Troyington’s coming,” the teen said. “And he’s not alone.”
Chapter Twenty
Troyington, Cray, and Harmon strode across the front yard with about twenty men from the town, splitting off to circle the building. The sheriff marched behind Troyington toward the cabin.
“Come out with your hands up, Dupré,” Troyington called. “The sheriff is here to arrest you for the murder of Edna Strathmore.”
Karen turned to Randall and he nodded, confirming the accusation. “I didn’t have a choice.”
Karen squeezed his hand. “I understand. When you told me what was happening, if I had been there, I would’ve killed her myself.”
Randall gave her a quick smile before turning to stare out the window. “I’m going out there.”
“Are you crazy?” Karen asked. “They’re going to kill you.”
James walked over. “The Angel is right, Guardian. You can’t go without us.”
Randall smiled at James, then turned to Karen, laying a hand on her cheek. “I wasn’t planning on being alone for long. When they approach, you, James, and Matt come out. Nikki, you and Owen stay in here with the kids.”
Matt slammed his fist into his open palm. “Is it finally butt-kicking time?”
Randall gave him a thumbs up. “Yes. Today, all this ends.” He pulled Karen close to him, kissing her hard. “Let’s have the end to our story.”
“Please be careful,” she whispered.
He grinned. “I’m always careful.”
Night Angel (Angel Haven) Page 17