“There, you saved me from having to give another speech.” He grinned. “You know I could carry you and this extra pack.”
“I know.” She pushed herself to try to match his pace, realizing he’d been slowing down so that she didn’t get left behind.
“This would be a good time for a dragon to descend from the sky and give us a ride on his back.” Jason looked up, searching the skyline for a dragon. But the skies remained empty except for a few birds seeking a roost for the night.
“Will we reach the cave before it’s dark?” Shannon asked. “I don’t like the idea of climbing over the landslide debris in the dark.”
“We should.” He nodded and glanced sideways at her. “We’ll manage even if we don’t.”
“I get the feeling you would cope with anything.” Shannon ignored the dull ache in her shoulders from carrying her pack.
“I try to keep positive. Although, that isn’t always easy. It’s something I’ve had to work on since the attack on the village.” He turned around and walked backward for a few strides while he looked down at the valley below. “I just hope that I haven’t made a mistake telling the dragon hunters to come here.”
“You’re scared they’ll hurt the people of Bear Creek in the same way the rebels hurt the people of the village?” Shannon hadn’t looked at it from any other perspective but her own.
“I think the people of Bear Creek, on the whole, can look after themselves. But I do feel responsible for them.” He looked troubled. “This is weirdly starting to feel like déjà vu.”
“Then we’d better make sure that our ambush at the sawmill works.” They continued along the trail. “We don’t have a plan for if the dragon hunters don’t arrive tomorrow.”
“If they don’t arrive tomorrow, we just push the main plan back until they do.” Jason took a long stride and placed his foot on top of a large boulder. After heaving himself and his extra pack up, he leaned down and held out his hand for Shannon. “Up you come.”
Shannon half-scrambled, half-climbed the boulder with Jason’s help. Standing next to him, she looked down at the view of the town. To the right of the town, the silvery creek was tinged with red as the sun dipped down behind the mountain peaks. “It’s worth fighting for, isn’t it?”
“The view?” Jason asked and received a light, playful punch on the arm.
“The town, the people in it, your family and friends.” She breathed in a deep, cleansing breath and then turned away and jumped down from the boulder. “Come on, no one has the right to take this away from you guys, or anyone else.”
As she strode up the trail, she dug deep and found a new inner strength. Jason loved it here and she could see why. Moving to the town had given him a chance at a new life, one he loved, with people he helped and who helped him in return. There was no way some crazed dragon hunters were going to rob either of them of their happy ever after.
Chapter Twenty-One – Jason
“It doesn’t matter,” Jason told Shannon as she shook her head at her own slow pace.
“The others got to the cave, dropped their gear and equipment and came back down the valley before we even got over the fallen trees.” She hauled herself over the top of the pile of rock and debris and wearily climbed down the other side. She was exhausted, but that didn’t stop her from putting one foot determinedly in front of the other.
“They’re on fresh legs,” he reminded her as his senses followed his friends down the valley. They had shifted on the other side of the fallen trees and were racing each other down the mountain. His bear tugged at the edges of Jason’s mind, itching to get free and join the others but aware that their place was with Shannon right now. She needed him more than ever as the events surrounding Lorcan unfolded.
“And I’m on very tired legs.” Shannon slithered to the ground and he reached out to stop her from falling to her knees.
“Nearly there.” Jason helped her take the first steps toward the cave before she pulled free.
“I’m okay.” She pushed herself to keep going as they approached the entrance to the cave. “But I sure wish you had brought some of your coffee.”
“That I can help you with.” Jason patted his pack. “I filled a Thermos flask.”
“Oh, you are a lifesaver,” Shannon’s steps were lighter at the thought of caffeine infusing her veins.
“Come on, let’s get inside and we can drink coffee while we unpack the equipment.” He rushed forward, climbing up toward the entrance of the cave which was half-concealed from the valley below. At least his directions had been clear enough to lead the others to the cave where they had dropped their packs before turning around and going back down the mountain.
As they went inside, Jason took out his flashlight and shone it around the cave. Carefully walking across the cave floor avoiding the rocks and boulders, he reached for a pack containing solar lanterns. Opening the flap, he took them out one by one and set them down on the ground. Once they were in place, he switched them on and the whole cave was illuminated by their steady pale glow.
“Looks more homey already,” Shannon commented as she helped Jason. “To think people once lived in caves just like this one.”
Jason looked up at the roof of the cave, it was dry and relatively safe and the air inside was warmer than that outside the cave. “Once, long ago, people or shifters might have lived in this very cave. With its concealed entrance it would have made a nice and cozy home away from the winter weather.”
“I hope you don’t intend for us to live in a cave,” Shannon joked as she tucked her arm in his and surfed the brightly lit cave. “Even a nice pair of curtains and a cheery fire wouldn’t make me want to live here.”
“No, I don’t think my old bones would appreciate life in a cave either.” He kissed her cheek as he reluctantly pulled away from her. “Although, I think it might be time for me to leave the apartment over the bar and find a nice cozy cabin in the mountains. One where Lorcan can have some privacy when he wants to shift.”
“I hadn’t really thought about that. I haven’t thought much beyond finding the treasure and dealing with the dragon hunters. It’s like I have tunnel vision. No pun intended.” She looked down at the rest of the packs. “What do you need me to do next?” Her voice wavered and he caught hold of her arm and pulled her to him. “Things seem to have changed overnight, my son has grown up and can shift into a dragon and I don’t know if my dad is safe or if I’ll ever see him again.” She gave a short, humorless laugh. “A couple of weeks ago the only decision I had to make was what we were going to have for dinner...”
“And this time next week that could be your new life. This is just a short moment in time that we have to get through. Think of it as a stepping stone, linking one part of your life to another.” He hugged her and then let her go. “I’ll empty this pack, if you can empty that one. We can arrange all the tools and get some kind of order to the place before the others get back.”
Shannon nodded. “Just tell me what goes where.”
They worked together side by side to empty the packs and place the equipment they needed to dig out the tunnel within reach. Patrick and Killian were taking the first shift and then Gunner and Jason would take over. They would work for an hour at a time while the other team rested. Their intention was to work through the night and into the morning. They would do whatever it took to get through to the cave with the treasure.
Although part of Jason feared they were taking on the impossible, he was damned if he was going to let his mate down.
“The others are back.” Jason raised his head and listened to the sound of small rocks rolling down over the larger rocks of the landslide as the three men climbed the last obstacle between them and the cave entrance.
“More stuff to unpack.” Shannon joined him and they waited near the entrance for the three bear shifters. “I’m not sure there is enough room in here for much more equipment.”
“Most of the stuff in the other packs is more for emer
gencies or if we need a contingency plan.” He cocked his head as Gunner squeezed through the gap at the entrance. “Don’t get stuck.”
“I’m okay,” Gunner said with a grunt as he yanked his shoulder forward to get the pack through. “Maybe take your pack off.”
“Will do,” Patrick replied.
“Here, pass it to me.” Jason went to the entrance and Patrick handed the pack to him. “Got it.”
“Pass me yours, Killian.” Patrick waited at the entrance for Killian’s pack while Jason hauled the first pack to the side of the cave and opened it up.
“What’s in there?” Shannon asked curiously as she looked over Jason’s shoulder.
“A small number of explosives.” He glanced up at her as she took in a sharp breath. “Don’t worry, Gunner knows his stuff.”
“What if you bring the mountain down on your heads?” Her face paled. “Or is this in case the dragon hunters come here?”
“No.” Jason put his hand up to stop her from saying anything more. “That is not what the explosives are for, I promise. We brought them because we don’t want to hit a section that we can’t get through.”
“Thank you.” Shannon flung her arms around his neck and hugged him.
“What was that for?” he asked as she pulled away.
“For being so...thorough.” Her eyes were dark bruises against her pale skin as the light from the solar lamps reflected off her face, making her look dead on her feet.
“We aim to get this down tonight. Then Lorcan can decide what to do with his treasure.” He cupped her cheek in his hand and rubbed his thumb along her cheek. “Why don’t you go sit down? I’ll bring you some coffee.”
“I want to help,” Shannon insisted then she sighed as Killian had to sidestep around her as he carried a large tripod toward the back of the cave. “And the best thing I can do to help right now is to get out of your way.”
“You’re not in the way. But I am worried about you.” Jason grabbed a couple of the empty backpacks and laid them on the ground in a corner of the cave. “Sit here. Once we have Patrick and Killian set up for the first shift, Gunner and I can join you.”
“Okay.” She sat down and immediately took out her phone. “No signal.” Her disappointment was palpable. “I’d hoped to hear from Lorcan.”
“He’s okay.” Jason went to his pack and pulled out an energy bar. “Here, eat this and drink some water. I’ll be back with the coffee before you know it.”
“Thanks,” Shannon unwrapped the energy bar and took a bite. “Go, you don’t need to babysit me.”
“I’m not babysitting you, I’m just taking care of you.” Jason dropped to his knees and pressed his lips to her forehead. “Stay here and rest. I’ll be back soon.”
She nodded. “Go help the others. I’ll be fine.”
Jason got up, took one last look at his mate and then crossed the cave to where Gunner was attaching one of the solar lights to the tripod so they could get some light into the tunnel. “How’s it going?”
“Good. We’re nearly ready to start digging.” Killian hauled a large pickaxe up off the ground and slung it over his shoulder. “I feel like one of the seven dwarves.”
“Well, we might not be mining out gems from the rock, but I sure hope we find some on the other side of this tunnel,” Jason said. “I’d hate for this to be all for nothing.”
“If Lorcan can sense the treasure, it must be there,” Patrick assured him. “Unless dragons can have phantom treasure hoards.”
“What are you talking about?” Killian asked.
“You know, there’s such a thing as a phantom pregnancy, so why not a phantom treasure hoard?” Patrick shrugged as the others rolled their eyes at him. “What? Are you so sure it’s not a thing?”
“Let’s just focus on getting through this tunnel,” Jason told them. “If Fiona hears talk of phantom treasure hoards, she might choose to bury you behind a tunnel herself.”
“First, let me do a safety check.” Gunner stepped forward and began assessing the exposed rock inside the tunnel. “I agree there doesn’t seem to have been a landslide here.”
“So the dirt and rock were brought in either from outside or gathered from the larger cave?” Jason asked, glad his assessment had been accurate. If not, they might have had to put off the job and wait for Mac to bring up some wood to make the tunnel safe. No treasure was worth them risking their lives over.
“I think so.” Gunner clapped his hands together. “Okay, you two get to work while Jason and I watch.”
“Hey, it’ll be your turn soon enough,” Patrick said as he and Killian moved into the tunnel. Soon the cave echoed with the sound of picks as they began the task of opening up the tunnel in earnest. Jason sure hoped young Lorcan knew what he was talking about and his treasure was safely stowed in the cave beyond.
“We should put up the protective sheeting to stop all the dust from getting into the cave,” Gunner suggested.
“Good idea.” He glanced over his shoulder to where Shannon lay on the floor. She’d finished the energy bar and was sipping water, her eyelids heavy as she pulled her pack toward her and used it as a pillow. “We don’t want dust to get in the rest of the equipment.”
“Or choke your mate.” Gunner grinned. “We were beginning to worry it was never going to happen, you know?”
“You thought I was going to remain mateless?” Jason asked as he pulled a large piece of plastic sheeting out of one of the packs. Gunner grabbed the end of it, and they fixed it in position across the tunnel with a couple of bolts that pierced the rock.
“That should do it.” Gunner put his hands on his hips and surveyed the makeshift cover. “Hopefully the farther they get into the tunnel, the less dust will make it back this far.”
“You didn’t answer my question.” Jason turned to Gunner.
“We were worried. Yes. But we figured out of all of us, you were the one who deserved to find their mate. We hoped fate would see it the same way.” Gunner took a step closer to Jason so that he could be heard over the sound of the pickaxes. Patrick and Killian seemed to have quickly developed a rhythm of hitting the rocks in the tunnel and the sound of the metallic picks kept a steady beat.
“I don’t think I’m any more deserving than the rest of you.” Jason pressed his lips into a thin line. “Probably less so. I have blood on my hands, Gunner.”
“You never talked about what brought you to Bear Creek.” Gunner paused and looked directly at Jason. “And we’re all okay if that’s the way things stay.”
“Once this is over, I’ll tell you.” He nodded. “It’s time I let go of it and that means opening up to the people I love.”
Gunner grinned. “We love you, too, man.”
Jason and Gunner stood in silence watching for a few minutes to check that everything was okay before they backed away from the sound of the others working and went to join Shannon. “I’ll grab some coffee.”
“You brought coffee?” Gunner asked eagerly.
“A small Thermos, I thought it would keep Shannon awake.” But as he looked at his mate, he realized he was too late. Despite the sound of the pickaxes ringing around the cave, her eyes were closed and her breathing deep.
“Maybe you should save it for now,” Gunner told him.
“You’re turning down caffeine?” Jason asked.
“I think Shannon is going to need it more. She’s had a rough few days.” Gunner’s concern for Jason’s mate showed on his face. But then Gunner had been through similar problems when he’d first found his own mate. They’d all risked their lives for her. Just as they would risk their lives for Shannon.
“Thanks for doing this.” Jason took off his jacket and covered Shannon with it. The cave was warming up, but it was still cool.
“We’re Silverback Saviors. It’s what we do,” Gunner reminded him as he began to sort through the rest of the equipment. Jason took one last lingering look at his mate before he joined Gunner.
Just like old time
s, his bear said.
This is what our lives will always be, Jason assured his bear. Four Silverback Saviors working together to make things right in a world where things often go very wrong.
Chapter Twenty-Two - Shannon
“Shannon.” Jason’s hand on her arm, gentle but firm, woke her from a deep sleep where she dreamed of flying over the mountains on the back of a dragon.
As she opened her eyes, she reached for Jason’s hand and held on to it, afraid her dream was real and he was the only person who could stop her falling from the back of the dragon as he glided down the valley, past the cave where they were searching for treasure. “Jason.” She blinked rapidly as her eyes adjusted to the bright light of the solar lamps. “Did we find it?”
“No.” Jason shook his head and smiled, his eyes bright with excitement.
“Are you teasing me?” Shannon didn’t think Jason would attempt to tease her over something as important as the treasure. But as she sat up and the sound of pickaxes hitting stone rang in her ears, she realized this wasn’t a case of Jason winding her up. There was something else.
“No. I’m not teasing you.” He grinned and as her eyes came into focus, she could see the dust clinging to his clothes while his face was dirty, the only clean parts were where rivulets of sweat had washed away the dust. “There’s someone here to see you.”
“Someone here?” She looked around, half-expecting to see her father. But the cave was empty.
“Outside.” He nodded in the direction of the cave entrance as he helped her to her feet. She stood still, her legs weak as they took her weight, her muscles complaining. All she wanted to do was collapse in a heap on the ground and go back to sleep, but Jason’s insistence that she follow him made her mentally shake herself awake. “Come on.”
As she plodded behind him, her brain tried to figure out what could be so important. But as she ducked her head and slid through the cave opening and out into the cold night air, she saw it. She saw him. “Lorcan.”
Before her, huge and intimidating as he swung his head toward her and puffed smoke at her, stood a large green dragon. His scales rippled in the moonlight as he turned to face her, his huge feet splayed out as he walked toward her. Closer now, so close she could reach out and touch his cool smooth scales, he bowed his head and rubbed his cheek gently against her hand. “Lor.” She cupped his face in her hands in the same way she’d cupped the bear’s head in her hands hours earlier. Then she lowered her head and pressed her forehead to his. “You did it.”
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