A Leopard's Path (12 page)

He kissed her, hard and quick. “Then lower the wards around the cabin. There’s not much we can use against her. Bullets would only slow her down.”

Ana nodded as she stepped out of his embrace. Her mind turned over the information she’d received about Savannah, which wasn’t much. Shit. “Kieran, I don’t like this either. I’m not prepared to face her. I’m not strong enough. She could wipe us all out—”

In two steps, he stood in front of her, cupping her head. “She would come to the den eventually. I’d rather let her think she’s got us in whatever fucked up trap she’s laid. We have to injure her enough where we can prepare for the next wave in this war.”

She took a deep breath and released it slowly. He was right. “How much ammo do you have?”

“I have a few rounds left.”

Nodding, she absently walked to the door. “It’ll have to do.” When she opened the door, she sagged in relief to see Sable standing against the railing of the porch, staring out into the forest.

Sable spoke without facing her. “My mother is headed this direction.”

“We know. Somehow I sense her.”

“I was counting on that. By sharing my power with you, I shared a small amount of that connection.” Sable turned, tears shone in her eyes. “I’m sorry.”

Ana’s chest ached. She drew Sable into a tight hug. “I called for backup. You should leave.”

Drawing back, Sable smiled weakly and shook her head. “I’m tired of running. Besides, you need my help to fend off the wicked witch.”

“As an Elder, I can’t speak for you.” Kieran’s soothing voice drew their attention. He held up a hand and continued. “I can only tell them what I witnessed while in Onyx on my assignment.”

Hope bloomed in Ana’s chest that the sister she’d grown up with might not face the death penalty. Beside her, Sable stiffened. Dread washed over Ana like a hot, heavy blanket, then cooled slightly when she picked up on Jared’s and Haden’s scents.

Whirling around, Ana descended the steps. “She’s here to help. Savannah is coming.”

“She’s here.” Sable’s flat tone made Ana freeze for a moment.

Scanning the woods, Ana stretched her fingers over her gun. Sable stopped beside her and took her free hand, linking their fingers together. Warm, familiar magick traveled from Sable into her and mingled with her own.

Kieran appeared at Ana’s other side and rolled his neck. “Savannah, show yourself.”

An evil, humorless laugh echoed around them. Ana’s skin did the creepy-crawly thing again. The witch materialized several yards from them. Her dark hair flowed around her as if it were alive, yet there was no wind blowing. Teal eyes identical to Sable’s glowed with an inner light.

“Look, dear, I found our girls.” Savannah’s lips lifted in a wicked grin.

Felix emerged from the trees behind her. “Yes, and their friends.”

Ana glanced to Sable in question as to why Felix and Savannah spoke like parents about to scold their seven-year-olds. Savannah and Felix were psychotic. Sable didn’t look at Ana, instead, she squeezed her hand and sent her a thought.

Yes, they are crazy, but use it to your advantage.
Use your magick to its full strength, and don’t show them weakness
.

Ana fixed her stare on the witch.
No weakness. Can she be killed?

I’m not sure.

Twigs snapped and branches cracked. Ana’s heart hammered as she caught the stench of mutants drifting on the air. Damn. They were outnumbered. “Sable.”

“What do you want, Savannah?” Sable growled.

The witch flicked her gaze to her daughter. “Revenge on those who imprisoned me and turned my daughter against me. I
will
get it.”

Savannah raised her hand, and the mutants charged forward. Ashwood’s sentries appeared out of the trees and other hidden places around them, meeting the creatures halfway. Hayden, Kieran, and Jared joined the cluster of bodies and fists in a battle dance. Gunshots rang out through the forest.

Sable tightened her grip on Ana’s hand. “Follow my lead.”

Nodding, Ana focused on Savannah while opening her senses to Sable. White and blue power surrounded them, twining around their bodies. Ana added her own magick to the flow of energy. It strengthened and grew brighter. When she felt Sable push the energy out, Ana did the same.

Aim it toward Felix.

Ana didn’t question her sister’s thought. She trusted her.

Together, they thrust the wall of magick to Felix. The male tried to dart out of the way but he was too slow. The power surrounded him, enclosing him inside a circle.

“Then there was one,” Sable taunted. Savannah moved to Felix, but Sable stopped her with her words. “I wouldn’t. I could end his life with a thought.”

Ana held back her surprise. She couldn’t tell if Sable was lying or not. By the way Savannah stopped, Ana wondered if they’d found the witch’s weakness.

With narrowed eyes, Savannah pointed at Sable. “A mate for a mate.”

“Who, Jared? Go ahead. You’re smart enough to know that we hate each other.”

Ana squeezed Sable’s hand, letting her know she felt the lie. She just hoped Savannah didn’t pick up on it, as well.

“I was talking about Ana’s mate.” Savannah directed her attention to Kieran.

Ana screamed, broke the connection with Sable and ran to her mate. Kieran met her gaze, glanced at Savannah, then back at Ana. He screamed her name and ran toward her. His face was a mask of terror. Confused, Ana glanced to Savannah and realized her mistake. The witch threw an energy ball at her.

Kieran grabbed her by the waist and turned her away from the blast. Pain flooded their mating bond. He froze, his eyes round before he went limp in her arms. Ana screamed, “No! Kieran!”

Tears streamed down her face as she dropped to her knees, holding on to her mate’s lifeless body. Rage replaced fear and fueled her power. Lightning cracked through the sky and the forest grew dark. The wind picked up, and she barely heard Sable yelling at everyone to run.

Fixing her tear-filled glare on Savannah, Ana sent out a blast of her own, like the one she’d done at the rebel camp earlier. Fire, air, water, and earth collided with the magick in her veins. She gathered it and rolled it into a ball right before thrusting it at Savannah and Felix.

The blast hit the ground and blew through the forest, wiping out everything in its way. Everything but her targets. The damn coward of a witch teleported her and Felix out of there a split second before the energy field hit where they’d been.

“This isn’t over, Savannah!” she yelled as she rocked Kieran in her arms.

Chapter Nineteen

The ache in her heart numbed to the emptiness in her soul.

“I’m so sorry,” Ana whispered as she brushed the hair from Kieran’s forehead. He was alive, barely. Yet, he lay so still on the hospital bed in the Medical Center. It was her fault. If she hadn’t reacted to Savannah’s taunt, he wouldn’t have been hurt. Even in the aftermath of it all, Ana wasn’t sure it had been just a taunt. The witch would have killed them both anyway.

Dani and Sasha had worked on Kieran for the last few hours with no results. Nothing they tried woke him from the magickally induced sleep.

“Please, K. Come back to me. I love you.”

Her vision blurred again, then the tears rolled down her cheeks as the hole in her heart grew. Images of the first time she’d spoken to Kieran filled her mind. It’d been ten years ago as she was setting out on one of her mutant tracking missions.

“Where are you going, Princess?”

She rolled her eyes to hide the effect Kieran’s lean, muscular body resting against a tree trunk had on her. His black hair was cut short but still begged for her fingers. “I’m going for a run.”

He pushed off the tree and advanced toward her. A desire she’d never felt before bloomed deep within her, and she took a step back. Her experience with her father’s soldiers had taught her they couldn’t be trusted. Yet, Kieran seemed different.

“It isn’t safe to be out alone.”

She nearly laughed and told him to tell her something she didn’t already know. Instead, she said, “I can take care of myself.”

When she moved to walk by him, he gripped her arm, pulled her body against his, and kissed her. It wasn’t the hard, lust-hazed kiss she’d expected. No, it was soft and exploratory, like he was savoring her.

Breaking away out of his hold, she slapped him and ran off.

More tears fell at the memory. So much time wasted. If only she’d been less naive of Felix’s evil plans. Then what? Would it have mattered?

The click of boots against the title floor, followed by Sable’s ocean scent, drew Ana’s attention to the door. The sister she’d grown up with, her protector, came to stand next to her seat and peered down at Kieran, an expression of sadness and regret etched into her features.

Ana glanced down and noted Sable’s wrists were handcuffed in front of her. Looking over her shoulder to the male standing in the doorway, Ana scowled. “Are the cuffs really necessary?”

Jared shrugged but didn’t reply.

Sable gathered Ana’s hand in hers. “I chose this. It makes the Pack feel safer if I’m locked up.” She frowned briefly then let out a breath. “I requested that Jared bring me here to help you.”

Ana sniffed. “Help me how? Nothing will help except bringing my mate back to me. I can’t feel him anymore. It went from a low hum to nothing.”

A hiccupped sob stopped her ramblings, but it was Sable’s soft voice that broke through Ana’s grief. “As cats, we have nine lives. Share one of yours with him.”

“What do you mean?”

Sable smiled weakly and stared at Kieran. “Share your magickal signature with him. Fill him with your love and will him to wake.”

Ana shook her head. “I can’t bring him back.”

“Yes, you can. It’s part of your gift to connect to one’s soul and spirit.” Behind them, Jared grunted impatiently, drawing a growl from Sable. “Ana, you can reconnect the bond and break the spell. Just focus on what you desire the most.”

Sable left the room and Ana studied Kieran’s peaceful form. Wiping her eyes and cheeks, Ana sat up straighter and linked her fingers with his. His hand was warm, and she could feel his pulse just under the skin.

She leaned over and kissed his lips, then whispered. “I love you and will not let you go. Ever.”

With her eyes closed, she searched for the link that connected them. Once she found the dull, quiet thread, she filled it with all her emotions. If the last few days had taught her anything about her powers, it was that they were stirred by her emotions. She’d use that in healing her mate.

The thread brightened, and a spark of hope pushed her to direct the energy into Kieran. She followed the new life she was offering him and hoped he was still there somewhere to accept it. “Kieran. Come back to me. Come home. Your Pack needs you.”

Dread settled in the pit of her belly, and fear that it wasn’t working threatened to bring the rain of tears and sorrow back. She brought his knuckles to her trembling lips. “Please, K…”

Just then, his fingers twitched. She snapped her gaze to his face, waiting and hoping it had worked. When his gold eyes opened, she cried happy tears and kissed him. His confusion mixed with pain flooded the mating bond, and she couldn’t have been happier to receive the extra emotions.

She framed his face. “Hi.”

He held her gaze for a moment. His brows dipped, then his eyes grew round as if he remembered what had happened. “Are you okay?”

A soft half-sob, half-laugh escaped her. “I’m fine. You took the hit for me. I thought…I thought I’d lost you.”

He wrapped his arms around her and tugged her into a tight hug. Crawling on the bed with him, she rested her head on his chest. His heart beat steadily, and she allowed it to sing her to sleep.

****

Kieran held Ana as she drifted off to sleep in his arms. Her fatigue told him she hadn’t slept in God knew how long.

Dani entered the room. “Oh, thank God.” She drifted to him, taking his wrist in her hand. “Ana exhausted herself with crying and worrying about you.”

“How did you know I was awake?”

The Healer met his gaze. “It stopped raining and the sun came out.”

Ana stirred and muttered, “My powers are linked to my emotions.”

“I’m not surprised.” Kieran kissed her head, then directed his next question to Dani. “When can I go home?”

“Whenever you’d like. Physically, there is nothing wrong with you. It was like you were under a spell.” Dani glanced at Ana and smiled. “Apparently, a strong mating bond broke it.”

“Thanks, Dani.”

“Don’t thank me. Your mate brought you back to us. Thank her.” She turned and left the room.

His mate snuggled into his side as if cold. He pulled the blanket over them and hugged her closer. “Sleep, beautiful.”

“Love you, K.”

“Love you, too. Just promise me something.”

Ana picked up her head and stared at him. “Anything.”

“Never stop being who you are, and never underestimate Savannah again.”

Her grey eyes darkened. “Believe me. I will be fully prepared to face her the next time. The witch will pay for messing with what is mine.”

A chuckle escaped him. After kissing her on the forehead, he settled into the bed with his mate. “Teleport us home so I can release all this built up energy by pleasuring you.”

“Yes, my mate.”

Epilogue

“What’s on your agenda today?”

Ana glanced up from the book she’d been reading as her handsome mate entered the living room. Tilting her head slightly, she studied him, drinking him in with her eyes. Since she’d opened up her magickal senses and tore down the walls containing her power, she’d felt more relaxed. It was as if she were finally at peace with herself. And with Kieran.

She’d never realized how much of the tension between them was because of her constant focus on hiding who she was.