by T. S. Ryder
“There is a killer on the island. Now isn’t the time for this—"
Kurtis’ grip tightened on his sleeve. “Ricky. Cedric. I’m sorry.”
Ricky hesitated a moment. Eventually, his shoulders sagged and he turned to his former friend. “You know this isn’t about you, Kurtis. What you said . . . it’s not the only thing I’m mad about. I’m just confused. The way I feel for Diana . . . She makes me feel like I’m walking through the clouds. Like I’m full of warmth and light. I’d kill for her and I’d die for her. It makes me feel . . . the way I used to.”
“That’s how I feel, too. She’s a real spitfire, isn’t she?”
Ricky had to laugh at that. “Yeah, she is. Like a little wildcat. I just don’t know what she wants.”
“Oh, you do.” Kurtis gave him a hard look. “You just don’t know what you want.”
“I want her.”
“But what else?”
Ricky grunted and pulled away from him. He was not going to get drawn into this conversation.
“Hey, I’m just trying to get some honesty here. You always do this as soon as things get the least bit complicated. You just shut down.”
He ignored Kurtis as he headed for the cave. Memories slipped unbidden into his mind. Memories of campfires, of talking about everything and nothing. Swapping CDs and books, complaining about their dads. Sometimes crying together over some injustice. Getting into fights and feeling like the world was ending.
That final argument that really did end the world.
Ricky shook his head, trying not to focus on that. He wanted Diana. She made him feel like there was more to life than work. Her body had him hardening whenever he saw it. The sparkle in her eyes made his heart beat a little faster. She made him feel things he’d only ever felt when he was a kid, thinking that it was just what having a best friend meant.
Until that night, here in this cave, when Kurtis kissed him for the first time. And the days that came after were the happiest and most terrifying of his life. He couldn’t stand to be away from Kurtis, and yet, every time they were together, he couldn’t stop thinking about what would happen if his dad found out.
And then the rumors spread. And his father never addressed them directly, but he didn’t have to. Not when he took every opportunity to say that a man could only mate a woman. Not when he kept becoming more and more aggressive toward Kurtis’ family and talked constantly about how terrible the Ridgelines were. How they wanted to destroy their traditions and way of life. Ricky knew it was all directed to him. He sighed as the cave came into view. He still hated his dad for all of that.
A gunshot cracked through the air. Ricky whirled to see Kurtis collapse. A strangled yelp burst from his throat as he threw himself forward, catching Kurtis as he fell. Kurtis’ eyes rolled in his skull, mouth hanging slack. The sheer weight of him made Ricky stagger. He looked behind them and saw a man crouched on the other side of the car. A gun was clutched in his hands.
Ricky shouted again. He dropped, reaching for his radio as he did so. Another gunshot rang out. The bullet buried itself into his shoulder, sending him spinning. He hit the ground hard.
His bear charged against his ribs, but the sheer amount of pain he was in stopped him from shifting. The car engine’s roared to life. He looked up in time to see the car hurtling toward him and Kurtis. With a snarl, he threw himself up, but all that accomplished was that the grill of the car smashed into his face.
Everything went black.
***
Water dripping on his face woke him. At first, he thought it was Kurtis splashing a bucket of water over his face, but as his eyes flickered open, the sharp drops increased, shooting from the sky like little pellets. The sky was pitch black, ominous thunder rolling in his ears. Ricky groaned as he managed to roll over. His chest burned with every breath he pulled in and there was a strangeness in his heartbeat. Like it was just a little bit smashed. He lifted his head and it spun so badly that he nearly vomited.
His hands groped for his radio, only to find it completely smashed. He patted the ground around him and found Kurtis’ wrist. He was still warm. Good. It had been dark when they had arrived, and now it was raining full-force. Half an hour at least.
The last few moments before he had lost consciousness returned. His stomach churned. The killer. He’d come after them. To stop them from being able to protect Diana? They were lucky that he didn’t know about bears’ healing abilities . . .
With a grunt, Ricky managed to push himself to his hands and knees. His bear whimpered, sounding so pained it caused a tendril of panic to rise in his throat.
No time for that. He shook Kurtis’ shoulder. “Wake up. Diana’s in danger.”
Chapter Twenty – Kurtis
“Diana’s in danger.”
Kurtis growled low in his throat as Ricky kept shaking him. “I’m not asleep, you dolt.”
Even talking was difficult. His brain was in such turmoil that it was difficult to know if the words actually left his throat or not. He’d been trying to move ever since the car had smashed into Ricky and run over them both.
But the pain that came jolting down his spine over and over again and the numb tingling in his legs, like he was burning but too far gone to feel it anymore, proved that he was alive. Even if he wasn’t sure he wanted to be at this moment. Everything tipped up and down, and suddenly, he was drowning. Then Ricky leaned over and slapped his cheeks.
“Stop,” Kurtis moaned. “I need calories. I got shot.”
Ricky grunted. He disappeared and then they were moving. Pain exploded to every inch of Kurtis’ body and his mind shut off. When he came back to himself, he was moaning and writhing, Ricky pinning him down.
“Stay still!” Ricky growled. “If you’re going to heal, I’ve got to get this bullet out of you.”
Was it sweat or tears on his face? Kurtis dug his nails into his palms, trying desperately to pass out as the pain shot like lightning up and down his spine. Eventually, he blacked out. With a sigh of relief, he sank back into unconsciousness.
***
His mind returned to him slowly. The pain receded and he managed to glance around, though he still lay on his side. They were in the cave. The lightning outside illuminated it.
Ricky bent in a corner, vomiting. Kurtis could smell blood.
“Rick,” he gasped.
His old friend turned a haggard face toward him. “Stay still. The bullet was lodged near your spine, I don’t know—"
“My radio,” Kurtis interrupted. His hand jerked as he looked for it. “Diana!”
“Both our radios were smashed when the car hit us.”
“We need to get back, to warn them.”
Kurtis tried to push himself up, but as soon as he started to put his weight on his arms, the pain returned full-force and he fell back down. Ricky dragged himself over to him and put a hand on his chest. His touch was familiar and comforting. If only Diana was there to curl up under his other arm, then everything would be okay.
After this was over, they should bring her here. They’d have to clean out the vomit first—
“Stop,” he mumbled to himself. He couldn’t afford to spiral out of control. “We have to get back.”
“I’m coughing up blood and you had a bullet near your spine.” A flash of lightning showed that Ricky’s expression was furious and devastated. “I can’t . . . I tried. I tried. I just can’t.”
He fell down beside him. It was only then that Kurtis saw just how white his face was – like he didn’t have any blood left in him. The smell of blood wafted over his face. A dark smudge smeared Ricky’s chin. His eyes were wide and tears tracked down his face. It had been a long, long time since Kurtis had seen him cry. It made his heart ache, but they didn’t have time. The killer was out there. After Diana.
“He didn’t make sure we were dead,” he mumbled. That seemed significant, somehow. “Why didn’t he make sure we were dead? We were both out of commission. All he’d have to do was shoot u
s in the brains. We saw his face . . . ”
Ricky coughed, splashes of warm liquid hitting Kurtis’ face. “He didn’t think we’d survive that.”
“No. No, that’s not it.” Kurtis closed his eyes, trying to force his brain to concentrate. “It’s a game. He’s playing a game . . . He must have been watching us. Getting to know us. He decided to attack now . . . Why?”
Thunder crashed overhead, answering him. With this weather, it was going to be difficult to get a message through even with the radios. There was no calling for help from the mainland, no escaping the island if worst came to worst. He was a hunter, and he had trapped his prey.
Kurtis tried to push himself up again to no avail.
“Stop,” Ricky rasped out. “You need to give yourself time to heal. Otherwise, you’ll end up like me, unable to move. And then we’ll both die here.”
“You’re not going to die.”
Ricky coughed again. The scent of blood got stronger. “Wouldn’t be too sure about that. I’ve never . . . ”
“Then stop talking.” Kurtis managed to move to his side. While his fears for Diana still burned in his gut, Ricky was the more pressing concern. Diana had Noel and Bobby and whatever other bears they’d brought to the house to protect her. Out here, Ricky had a punctured lung and who knew what other kinds of internal damage. Bears could heal, but could they heal that much? “Stop talking. You always put your foot in your mouth, anyway.”
Ricky managed a weak smile at that. “Yeah. I guess I’m an idiot.”
“A huge idiot.”
“A huge idiot,” Ricky agreed. His eyes fluttered. He shut them and pulled in a shallow breath, which caused him to start coughing again. By the time he got his breathing under control, his whole body was limp, as though on the cusp of consciousness. He licked his lips. “Always been an idiot.”
“Yeah, well, everybody is. Try not to beat yourself up about it.”
Ricky’s hand found his. His eyes opened. In the darkness, all they were was a glitter of light. “I love you.”
Kurtis’ eyes widened. “What?”
“You don’t have to sound so offended.”
“I’m not.” His brain spun. Was he conscious or was this a dream? “I just . . . what?”
Ricky chuckled shallowly. “I love you. I have ever since we were teens. I didn’t understand what it was then, but I love you. I tried to stop it. I thought that it meant there was something wrong with me, but it never did stop. I have always loved you.”
Kurtis didn’t know how to respond to that. It was so impossible. Hearing Ricky say it was everything he’d dreamed of, but also everything that wasn’t going to happen.
And then it hit him. Ricky thought he was dying. That was the only reason that he was saying this. He was too stubborn otherwise. Too certain of having to rely on himself, not allowing anybody to see any vulnerability in him. Wasn’t that why he had pulled away from Diana? Because he thought that if she saw him as needing help, it made him weak and he couldn’t have that?
Or were there other reasons for pulling away?
“Rick.” He kept his voice soothing. “What about Diana?”
A boom of thunder made them both wince. Ricky groaned, raising one shaky hand to wipe the blood from his lips. “Diana . . . I love her, too. I feel for her the way I used to feel for you before I let myself be so angry that I couldn’t feel it. Then we were getting along again. It was almost like the old days. Only better, because Diana was with us. When she’s snuggled between us in bed . . . even with the others there, I have never been happier.”
Kurtis felt a lump rising in his throat.
“But that’s not how it’s supposed to be, is it?” Ricky’s breathing grew more labored for a moment before it eased again. “It’s so confusing. How can I want to hold her in my arms, tell her I love her . . . and want the same thing with you? I want to make love to her and you and not just in a both of us with her sort of way.”
“Rick . . . Do you think that Diana’s capable of loving both of us and Bobby and Noel?”
Ricky’s brow furrowed. “What?”
“The way this thing was going to work from the start. It would be that Diana had four mates. Four men to love. Four men she wanted to hold and love and cherish. Do you think that’s possible?”
“Yeah . . . ” Ricky still looked confused.
Kurtis couldn’t help himself laughing. The movement hurt, but the pain from his back was lessening with every passing minute. Perhaps it was healing, or perhaps it was from him just not moving. He couldn’t tell. He took Ricky’s hands in his and kissed his knuckles. “If it’s possible for her to love more than one person, why is it so impossible for you?”
“Don’t know.” Ricky’s lids fluttered again. “Cause . . . that’s not how it works . . . ”
“It can work that way.” Kurtis gripped Ricky’s shoulder and shook him. “Hey! Stay awake. I need you with me on this one, bud. Remember the first time we stayed here? Hey? Remember that?”
“Remember the last?”
“No. We’re not doing that. We are not dwelling on our regrets. You’re not the only idiot, okay? I could have done more. I could have tried to help you out rather than hiding and thinking that you had just been using me.”
Ricky shook his head. “I wasn’t using you.”
“Yeah, I know. I was an idiot. And I looked at you over the years and hated that I couldn’t be with you without ever considering why that was. I told myself that you were like your dad and that you blamed me for, I don’t know, corrupting you or something.” Kurtis sucked in a deep breath. His heart slammed into his ribs as the words he’d been holding in for years and years tumbled out. “I tried, over the years, to extend an olive branch. To show you that I was willing to be your friend with no expectations of anything else, but . . . ”
“I was an idiot,” Ricky mumbled under his breath. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so very sorry. I want to be with the people I love. Diana . . . You . . . I want it so bad that when we’re not together, it’s like a knife in my heart. I thought the pain would go away if I left it long enough, but it’s only getting worse. I want you both. And I hate being so angry. At you, at Diana. There is something wrong with me if I can’t just accept . . . ”
He trailed off.
Kurtis’ heart jumped to his throat as Ricky’s lashes fluttered shut. His breathing slowed to a point where he might as well not have been breathing at all.
“Ricky!”
The pain made sweat bloom on his face, but he managed to get to his hands and knees. To hell with needing to heal. He could move. That was good enough. He clasped Ricky’s damp, bloody face in his hands. His pulse beat so wildly he didn’t know if it was Ricky’s or his own thudding in his fingertips. It didn’t matter. Ricky needed medical assistance, and Kurtis needed to warn the others about the killer. Waiting was not an option.
“Don’t worry,” he mumbled as he grasped Ricky’s arms and slung them over his neck, then maneuvered himself so Ricky was on his back. He winced to think about what further damage he might be doing, but he was also certain that Ricky would die if left here alone. Bears were not invincible. “I’ve got you. Don’t worry . . . I love you, too.”
He pulled him out of the cave and then shifted into his bear form. Rain pelted onto his tender ears and nose – almost more hail than rain. He could only imagine how much worse it would be for Ricky, unsheltered and in his human form. Grinding his teeth together, Kurtis started to walk. He kept his head down as the wind buffeted him. The only warmth came from Ricky’s body on top of his own.
Hold on. Just hold on. Diana needs you. She needs all of us.
He just hoped that he wouldn’t be too late.
Chapter Twenty-One – Noel
The world was near pitch-black out there. Rain lashed against the windows and thunder hurt Noel’s ears. It was so bad that he had to wear earplugs. He had always had sensitive hearing, but storms had gotten worse for him since his father had been lost at se
a during one. He stared out of the window, watching as it came down. Not just rain; this was sleet and would cover everything with a veneer of ice. Unusual for this time of year.
He grabbed the radio. “Kurtis, Ricky. Come in.”
Static.
It’d been only half an hour since they were supposed to check in, but even that time had his hair standing on edge. The storm could have been interfering with the radios, yes, but he had been able to get calls out to town and his clan.
“Kurtis, Ricky, pick up. I don’t care if you’re boning out there. You need to answer.”
If they had been able to hear that, it would have gotten a reaction. Noel cursed as he put the radio back on his belt. This weather, this situation, was ideal for an attack. Was this what the killer had been waiting for?
“Noel.”
Noel jumped at Bobby’s voice. That was the bad thing about wearing earplugs. They helped muffle the painful thunder, yes, but made it more difficult to hear such things as padding footsteps.
“I’ve checked up on the bears who were supposed to be coming out here,” Bobby said. “They had some delays, but they’re on their way now.”
“Finally.” It had been hours since he’d radioed for backup. This kind of incompetence was unacceptable. He sucked in a deep breath, held it for a moment, then let it out slowly. He had to remain calm. “I’m going to check on Diana. Keep an eye out, okay?”
Bobby nodded.
Noel headed upstairs. There was only one room in the house that didn’t have a window facing outside, meaning it was the only room where they could be assured that Diana wasn’t going to get shot through the window. His bathroom. A red glow spilled out from under the door. They were keeping the lights off, in case the power went off. Then their eyes would already be adjusted to the dark and they wouldn’t have to risk bumbling around in the dark. They gave the red light to Diana because she was too nervous to be in utter darkness and the red helped keep her night vision intact.