“Which hell-horse do you think we should aim for?”
Camryn studied the creatures before replying. “The smaller one on the left, on the edge of the dust bath. It looks younger. It’s not too small and moves well.” She frowned when a gust of wind brought their scent. “What have they been eating?”
“I’m not sure.” One bore a red muzzle, and Ry didn’t think the animal wore face paint. “They haven’t noticed us yet.”
He signaled Yep and Nanu to circle the creatures. They moved closer. A bird burst from the undergrowth and each of the horses lifted their heads and stood at alert.
“Now!” Ry called.
As one they rushed the horses, making loud noises and whacking leafy branches through the air. A big scarred black hesitated. The hell-horse stirred the dust with one front hoof then dashed over the open ground in the direction they’d hoped.
Ry watched the herd go with grim satisfaction. Now all they had to do was capture one. The crew tore after them, hollering to spook them. To Ry’s relief, this herd didn’t turn on them and attack like the one they’d witnessed across the river.
Camryn raced after the horses in bemusement. They were the ugliest creatures she’d ever seen and didn’t smell much better. She had no idea how they’d react to schooling, but they must be trainable if the planet held regular race meetings. Even their gait seemed awkward—an uneven caper with their forequarters appearing higher than their hindquarters.
“Fan out,” Ry roared.
Physically fitter than she, the crew worked well together. Camryn tried to keep up, but her sides heaved, her lungs burned. The remnants of the hangover still clung, her temples throbbing from the vicious glare of the sun.
“Faster, Camryn. Faster. You’re leaving a gap,” Jannike yelled.
The hell-horses seemed to realize this as well. They swung around, galloping at her with a thunder of hooves. Camryn sprinted to plug the opening, her heart pounding in erratic beats. The largest horse charged, and Camryn froze, fearing the creature intended to run her down.
Camryn, dive into the undergrowth. Ry’s clear panic rang inside her head. Confused, she glanced around, and when she turned back, the horse was almost on her. With no time to do anything else, she stood her ground and waved her hands, shouting. “Stop!”
The stench from the creatures surrounded her along with clouds of dust. Her pulse rattled inside her ears. The lead horse pulled to an abrupt halt. The shrewd intelligence in the creature’s eyes made her push all fear aside. The hell-horse snorted and pawed the ground. Sharp yellow teeth glinted in the bright sun.
Camryn’s stomach hollowed, but she shoved aside her dread. Instead, she extended her hand and took a step toward the creature. The herd milled behind the first, uneasiness evident in the way they pranced and yipped.
Camryn advanced another step. “Easy, boy. I’m not going to hurt you. Easy.”
No. Don’t go any closer. Camryn!
Camryn started on hearing Ry’s words in her mind. Imagination. Just another thing to add to a list of weird happenings.
Focus. She had to do a good job for her brother’s sake. For Ry’s sake.
“That’s it. Steady, boy. I won’t hurt you.”
The horse snorted and held still, watching her intently. Camryn took another step.
“You will not eat me,” Camryn said. “I am not edible.”
The hell-horse tossed its head and sidled closer, pure curiosity in its eyes.
“I won’t hurt you.” Camryn took another pace and ran a trembling hand over the shoulder of the creature. The glossy fur felt soft beneath her hands, and if she breathed through her mouth, the smell wasn’t too bad.
Camryn sensed rather than heard the crew walk up beside her. Without warning, a tender flew overhead. The rat-a-tat of gunfire sounded, each shot spitting clouds of dust around them.
“Camryn, down!” Ry tackled her, sending her to the ground with a bone-crunching crash.
The hell-horses closed in a circle and milled about in panic. The tender hovered, spitting out shot after shot in rapid succession. Ry rolled into cover, taking Camryn with him. Flares exploded. Cordite filled the air. A pained shout rang out and Yep collapsed.
“Yep!” Nanu seized his brother and dragged him behind a dark green and red bush.
Jannike and Kaya fired on the tender but it flew too high for them to hit. Ry fired as well and finally the vessel disappeared from sight.
Camryn climbed to her feet to survey the carnage. All but one hell-horse lay on the ground, killed in the crossfire. The live one had suffered horrific injuries and swayed, balanced on three legs, coat glossy with blood.
“Is anyone hurt?” Mogens appeared from behind a thorny green tree.
“Yep.” Nanu’s wail sent shivers down Camryn’s spine. The gurgling and harsh sucking from Yep’s throat added to her horror.
Mogens rushed past, a dark silhouette against the green and red vegetation. He wrenched his satchel off his shoulder and knelt beside Nanu.
A lump formed in Camryn’s throat. She hadn’t known Yep well, but he’d always laughed and joked, providing light relief to alleviate stressful moments.
“No, leave him alone.”
“Nanu, let me look at Yep. I can’t help if I can’t see the extent of his injuries.”
“Let Mogens look at Yep,” Ry said, squeezing Nanu’s shoulder in reassurance. When the engineer didn’t move, Ry gently drew him out of the way. “Let Mogens do his thing.”
Nanu rose, his look of anguish making Camryn’s chest ache. “It’s too late. He’s not gonna make it.”
Camryn understood the sense of helplessness assailing the other man. She’d felt it when she’d arrived home to find Gabriel unconscious on the floor of their city apartment. Swallowing the tight knot constricting her throat, Camryn walked over to Nanu and wrapped her arms around him, trying to offer the comfort she’d needed when Gabriel had died.
Ry growled low in his throat when she touched the other man, but she glared over Nanu’s shoulder and his rumbling subsided. After a return scowl, he stomped over to Yep and Mogens.
Camryn couldn’t hear what they said but their stiff stances and serious faces confirmed Yep’s death.
Mogens rose and walked over to them. “I’m sorry, Nanu. He’s gone.”
Nanu’s keen of grief lifted the hairs at her nape. His torment brought back horrid memories of Gabriel’s death, the funeral and the yawning gap in her life afterward. It was like slicing open old wounds. Tears filled her eyes and she swallowed hard.
The thunder of hooves jerked them brutally to the present.
“Where in blue blazes did they come from?” Kaya asked. “The entrance is blocked.”
“Someone must have opened the entrance,” Jannike said in a tight voice. “Driven another herd into the canyon.”
“Run,” Ry said.
“I’m not leaving without my brother.” Nanu’s wild-eyed look told Camryn he’d lose it if they didn’t act quickly.
“I’ll carry Yep,” Ry reassured his engineer. “We are not leaving him behind.”
The frantic yips and squabbling between the new arrivals and the vicious, uncontrolled manner in which they attacked the carcasses of the dead hell-horses sent fear dancing down Camryn’s backbone. A horse noticed them and charged, teeth bared. Others, attracted by the attack followed the call to charge.
“Run,” Ry shouted. “Head for the trees.”
Camryn didn’t hesitate. Gasping in fear, lungs burning, she forced her legs to pump faster. Jannike and Kaya raced in front of her.
They made the shelter of the trees. Camryn had thought it would slow the hell-horses but they kept coming.
“I can’t go any farther,” Camryn gasped.
The tender reappeared and started firing. The gunners in the tender ignored the horses and peppered shots at them, even though the trees obscured their vision and restricted clear shots.
“Fukk, behind the tree.” Ry cursed when a shot ricoch
eted off a branch and whisked past his ear. “Here hold on to Yep.” He flung Yep at Camryn and Nanu and turned, yanking a gun from his holster in one smooth move. Kaya and Jannike stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him and fired.
The horses went down in a crashing heap but more followed, the beasts determined to attack. Ry fired another round. The scent of blood filled the air, inflaming the hell-horses to a greater frenzy. The ones in the lead tore into the fallen horses.
The tender continued to rain fire down on them, creating confusion amongst the hell-horses.
Ry holstered his weapon, breathing hard. “Let’s go while the horses are occupied.”
They backed away until they reached Camryn and Nanu. Mogens appeared and they all ran into the thicker trees, heading for their tender. Sounds of the carnage faded.
Two hours later they arrived at their campsite, having taken a long route through the bush rather than traveling across open pasture. The intermittent hum of a tender overhead made Camryn glad they’d remained under the cover of the trees.
“What are we going to do now?” Kaya asked with a trace of disgust. “They know we’re here but we can’t leave and engage in a dogfight. It’s too risky.”
“We wait until darkness falls,” Ry said.
“Who are they? Why are they shooting at us?” Camryn asked.
“The tender belongs to Coppersmith Enterprises,” Ry said in a tight voice.
“Coppersmith?” Camryn asked, her tone one of disbelief.
“Yes.” Ry glared up at the hovering tender, hatred disfiguring his face.
Jannike scowled. “Your brother.”
“Yes.” Ry stalked over to Nanu. The engineer had collapsed to the ground beside his brother. He rocked, mournful keening coming from deep in his throat. He placed his hand on Nanu’s shoulder in support. “We will avenge Yep’s death.”
Camryn watched the way Ry clenched his jaw and the glitter of hate in his green eyes. Granted, she was a screw-up, but her brother had stood by her despite his wife’s censure. Camryn sighed, admitting she’d do anything for her brother. She bit her bottom lip in consternation. Why did one brother frame another for murder? How could they hate each other that much?
Chapter Seven
Another hell-horse hunt at a new location. They had to find one today. This was their last chance.
“Take ropes,” Ry said to Kaya. “It’s dangerous, but you’ll have to try to capture a hell-horse. Camryn and I will do the same. We’ll meet here before dark falls.”
Both Jannike and Kaya nodded, and Ry knew they’d do their best.
“Mogens, you’re in charge here.” Ry glanced at Nanu with concern and wished there was something he could do or say to help. But nothing would bring back Yep. “If the tender is in danger of discovery, move to a new position. We’ll find you.”
“Aye, Captain.” Mogens glanced at Camryn. “Take care of her, Ry. She is the most vulnerable.”
Ry agreed. She was also valuable. Her calm approach yesterday had almost netted them a hell-horse. Hopefully they’d have more luck today. Ry finished packing his supplies and turned to Camryn. He found her watching him and immediately both body and mind changed tack. His heart thundered and his blood rushed south. They hadn’t had sex since the previous morning but had bedded down together despite Mogens’ dark looks and silent reproach. Seemed the seer had appointed himself Camryn’s guardian. At least his verbal remonstrations had diminished and he now confined his disapproval to facial expressions and swirling skin color.
“Ready?” He walked over to Camryn and slid a hand over her back, finding both comfort and pleasure in the contact.
“Yes.” She turned in his arms and stepped back, her expression shuttered. “You promise to take me home once this is finished?”
The feline inside roared in protest at the idea of her departure.
“Ry?”
Her trepidation hit him, and he reacted by offering comfort in the only way he could. “Yes, I’ll take you home.”
They headed out together, separating from the others when they reached the bush. Ry went first and hacked through the thick vegetation to forge a path, his acute hearing letting him know Camryn followed him. The hum and click of insects surrounded them, the flicker of wings and squawk from a disturbed bird adding to the cacophony.
“When did you discover you were a kitty-cat?”
“Feline.”
“That’s what I said.”
Ry suppressed a grin. “Not long after I turned nineteen cycles. After I left Ibrox to escape the murder charges.” He severed a vine with a slash of his knife, pausing to wipe the sweat from his forehead and to scent the air. He caught the rank scent of a carcass and headed in that direction, suspecting hell-horses wouldn’t be far away. The terrain grew more difficult to traverse, the trees thick and full of trailing purple vines. The stench of the carcass grew stronger. They were close. He paused to wipe his forehead and pulled a canteen of water from his pack.
“Have a drink. There’s water nearby. I can hear it.”
Puffing with exertion, Camryn took the canteen and tipped back her head to drink. Her throat worked when she swallowed, attracting Ry’s attention. He wanted to lick the smooth column and press his lips to her warm skin. He closed his eyes, fighting the urge. He sucked in a deep breath and regretted it since all he could smell was Camryn. The whiff of cinnamon brought a rush of satisfaction since the scent of his soap clung to her skin.
“I can’t hear a thing. Are you sure it’s not your imagination?” Not a bit of teasing in her, just quiet determination to get the job done. “Was it scary turning into a kit…?”
Ry growled low in his throat.
“Ah, feline.” Camryn flashed a sweet smile, and he had to bite back his answering grin.
“Yeah, it was terrifying.” Scary didn’t begin the cover the fear and confusion he’d felt, and the blank hole of his past didn’t get any better. He rubbed one of his new tattoos before accepting the canteen back. He drank again and savored the faint taste of her on the bottle. What he wouldn’t give for a soft bed and clean linens at this very min. With a grunt, Ry replaced the cap and stuffed the canteen in his pack. He slung it over his back, picked up his knife and turned in the direction of the water.
Twenty mins later, they hit the riverbank. A herd of hell-horses grazed on the other side. Three fought over the carcass of an unknown animal while the rest fed on pink vegetation.
“We’ll have to cross the river,” Camryn said.
“Yeah.” Frag it, swimming wasn’t his favorite thing.
They both surveyed the wide river. The center ran swift and fast but both sides appeared negotiable, the current more sluggish. Several hell-horses stood in the river to eat the plants hanging from the bank, so the water flow couldn’t be dangerous.
“If we want to surprise them we’ll need to cross upstream or down.”
His thinking exactly. He lifted his nose to test the wind. “Downstream,” he said.
The riverbank proved difficult to navigate with trees and vines growing to the waterline. Ry headed back inland and hacked a path parallel to the river. Thorns tore at his face and arms. Insects bit, attracted by the sweat coating his skin. He paused to wipe his face and heard Camryn slapping her arms and legs. The muggy heat brought a dangerous lethargy neither of them could afford. At least the river would cool them off.
The trees thinned and they came to a small creek flowing into the main river. Good enough. “We’ll walk down here,” he said.
“Okay. So what did you do? The first time you changed to feline, I mean.” Camryn flexed her shoulders then slithered down the muddy bank to stand in the shallow water. Ry followed suit and slogged down the stony creek bed to the river. He couldn’t see the horses but could smell them. The bottom shelved rapidly and he cast a worried glance over his shoulder. He waited for Camryn to catch up. The water came up to her chest, the depth didn’t seem to daunt her.
Ry turned away, not letting his pride show
. He was used to working with Kaya and Jannike. Both women handled anything with aplomb. Camryn wasn’t as strong or battle hard, yet she never complained. Most women he’d known in the past would have whined until his ears bled.
He waded farther into the water, the swifter current tugging his body, his pack. Deeper, the water reached his chest. Ry glanced back at Camryn and halted. “Grab my shirt and hang on. I figured out I wasn’t gonna die, and the cat thing was something else. The tattoo I used to have on my arm appeared after the first change. I decided to try to change on my own. I’d had a bit to drink before I changed the first time. The second time I had a clear head.”
Camryn stopped when the water reached her neck. “Maybe we should have waited to find a shallow ford.”
Hell, Camryn was right. His focus on catching a hell-horse had placed her in danger. Again. “We’ll go back.”
Camryn shook her head. “We’re more than halfway. We should keep going. You’re braver than me. I would have freaked and gone to the pub. Alcohol is a good way to handle problems.” Her tone held self-derision.
Ry took a step, his boot hitting a slippery rock. He went down with a splash, dragging Camryn with him when she didn’t let go fast enough. Before he could gain footing, the current swept them downstream. He went under and came up spluttering. Camryn lost her grip on his shirt and bobbed out of reach. The river channel narrowed. Water ran swiftly, white waves churning.
“Camryn!” Ry drifted like a piece of flotsam, swallowed water. Gasped.
The thunder of water and the mist up ahead brought alarm and sheer terror. He wasn’t invincible but healed well. Not Camryn. Damn, he couldn’t even see her. Where the devil was she? He struggled against the pull of the water, battling to find purchase for his feet. His lungs pumped with exertion. Jutting rocks pummeled his body when he swept past. The boom of the water intensified, the raging torrent swirling into whitewater as the channel narrowed.
Fukk! Waterfall.
“Camryn!” Ry fought the current and bobbed along like a cork. A flash of white caught his attention. There. Hell, he couldn’t fail her. He struggled, fighting the suck of the water, the stirring of panic. He bounced off a rock and groaned at the rough gouge of his leg. Gritting his teeth, he grabbed hold of a jutting branch and struggled for footing.
Captured & Seduced Page 11