Dark Moon (24 page)

“You will slow us down.”  He said gently.

Andric watched as the redhead slumped against Tristan for a moment before turning and staring into the fire again.  Leta crept over and wrapped her arms around the Red’s waist as Tristan kissed the back of her shoulder and squeezed her hip before turning to the others.

“Nicholas, you – “

“No, father.”  Nicholas repeated himself.  “I am going with you.  Leo is here, and Doran and the others will be back by tomorrow morning.  Dani said there were at least a dozen Lycans.  You’ll need my help.  You know you will.”

“I would be happy to stay until you return.”  Andric offered suddenly.

The man named Marshall stared at him suspiciously.  “Who are you, and why are you so eager to help?”

“Daddy!”  Dani glared at him.  “Stop it.  He saved my life, remember?”

“Aye, I remember.”  Marshall answered.  “But it still does not explain why a Lycan is without a pack.  Why were you in town?”

“My pack was killed by leeches two months ago.”  Andric said quietly.  “I am travelling to Vanden.  I have a cousin there.”

“I’m so sorry, Andric.”  Dani whispered.

Marshall scrubbed at his face.  “Maya, what do you think?”

Dani’s mother studied Andric carefully for a moment.  “We’ll be safe with him.”

Marshall stared at Tristan who gave him a slight nod as an older female Lycan stood up from the couch.  “I may be old Tristan, but I can still fight if need be.  I will keep Avery and the others safe.”

“I know, mother.”  Tristan answered.  He glanced around the room.  “We leave in ten minutes.”

* * *

They stood in the cold sunshine, staring solemnly at each other for a moment as Leta wrapped herself around Tristan’s legs.

“Papa?  Pick me up.”

He bent and scooped her up, burying his face in her hair before kissing the top of her head.

“I love you, papa.”

“I love you too, Leta.  Be good for your mama.  I will see you soon.”  He kissed her again and set her down gently before moving to Avery.  He hugged her tightly before kissing her firmly on the mouth.  She stared up at him and he brushed a strand of her hair away from her cheek.

“Tristan, if he hurts her – “

Her lips trembled and a tear slid down her pale cheek.

“Sophia is strong and smart and brave.  She’ll do whatever it takes to survive.”  Tristan said hoarsely. 

He wiped away the tear from her face as she took a deep breath.  “Be careful, my love.”

“I will.”  He stepped away from her and she caught his hand, squeezing it firmly as behind them, James picked up Bree and hugged her tightly.

“Tristan?”  Avery refused to let go of his hand.

He looked back at her, his heart aching at the fear etched into her face.

“Bring her back to me.  Promise me you’ll bring my child home.”

“I promise.”

Chapter 22

Sophia stared calmly at Kaden across the camp.  He smiled reassuringly at her but he was afraid.  She could smell his fear.  She looked around the camp.  Just over an hour ago, Draken had retired to his tent.  He had invited her to join him, and she had politely declined.

“Very well.”  He grinned, his eyes glowing at her, before lifting her hand and kissing her knuckles.  “I’m willing to wait until tomorrow.  Remember your promise, pretty one.  When my brothers bring back the human’s head, you will join me in my bed.”

She hadn’t replied and he had kissed her hand a final time before disappearing into his tent.  He was the only one with a tent.  Two of the Lycans kept watch while the rest of the pack had shifted into their wolf forms and curled up on the hard ground.  Only Draken’s second-in-command, Terrence, had remained in his human form.

She suddenly stood and the two Lycans standing guard, growled in unison.  She glared at the giant wolves, her eyes flashing at them, and her hands in tight fists.  “If he freezes to death in the night, you won’t get your hunt tomorrow.”

She moved towards Kaden.  Terrence held up his hand and shook his head as the Lycans stalked towards her.  They whined uneasily and Terrence gave them a warning look.  They hesitated and then sat down, staring suspiciously at Sophia as she sat on Kaden’s lap.

His hands were chained behind his back, and she rubbed his arms briskly as she pressed her warm body against his cold one.  She cupped his face and kissed him before moving her mouth to his ear.

“The Gallante River is only two miles north of here.”  She breathed.  “It is wide and deep.  Go to it.  The Lycans won’t be able to swim and will not go into the river after you.”

“I can’t swim either, remember?”  He breathed back.

She kissed his warm mouth again.  “You won’t have to.  Even going chest deep will be enough to deter them.”

“I won’t leave you.”

She squeezed his bound arms.  “You must.  It is your only chance.”  She glanced at Terrence.  He was staring at them and she placed her mouth closer to Kaden’s ear.  “My family will find you and save you.”

“You don’t know that.”  He murmured.

“I do.”  She insisted.  “They’ll come.  Once you’re with my family and safe, you can come back for me.”

“Sophia – “

“Enough talking.”  Terrence said abruptly.  “I will allow you your last night together but keep your mouths shut.”  He glanced nervously at Draken’s tent.

Sophia stroked the back of Kaden’s neck and stared at Terrence.  “Your leader has gone mad.  You know that don’t you?”

“Aye, I do.”  Terrence said quietly.

“Then why do you follow him so willingly into his madness?  You and the rest of his pack are going to die.  My family will come for us, and believe me when I say they will show you no mercy.”

Terrence sighed heavily before glancing at the two Lycans watching over them.  “Your mate will die tomorrow.  My brothers will chase him down like a dog and take his head.  You will be forced to share Draken’s bed and carry his pups.  When your family comes for you, Draken will make you watch as he murders them one by one.”

Sophia smiled bitterly.  “The last time you met my family, you and your master ran like cowards in the night.  Have you forgotten how easily we killed your brothers?”

Terrence shook his head.  “No.”

“Draken has.”  Sophia replied.

Terrence nodded.  “Aye, his obsession with you has blinded him to the sorrow and death you will bring upon us.”

Sophia gave him a look of bewilderment.  The Lycan, although more stable than Draken, was obviously on the cusp of madness himself.

“You speak in riddles, Lycan.”  She suddenly snapped at him.

He smiled.  “Aye, I suppose I do.”

She turned away from him and touched the puncture wounds on Kaden’s neck.  They had scabbed over but they looked sore. 

“How is your chest?”  She pulled his shirt open and looked down it.  The wound from her sword had clotted and she ran her fingers over it lightly.

“It’s fine.”  He grunted.

“Do not be afraid, my love.”  She smoothed her hand over his hair.

“I’m afraid for you.”  He stared at Draken’s tent.

“I can take care of myself.”

“Aye.”  A faint smile crossed his face.  “I have noticed.”

“I can’t leave you, Sophia.  Do not ask me to.”  He said suddenly.

She rested her forehead against his.  “You have to.  Please.  It is your only chance to survive.”

He gave her a helpless look and she kissed him again.  “Do not make me watch Draken kill you, human.  Promise me you will run.”

“Sophia – “

“Promise me.”  She insisted.  “Watching you die will destroy me.  Do you understand?”

“Leaving you here alone with Draken, knowing what he will do to you, will destroy
me
.”  He replied softly.

“Whatever he does, whatever he
tries
to do, will not matter.  I belong to you.  Nothing will ever change that.”  She whispered.

He leaned forward and gave her a brief, warm kiss.  “I love you, little Lycan.”

She drew in a trembling breath as tears slipped down her cheeks.  “I love you too, Kaden.”

“I should have told you before but I was afraid.  I never believed I would love a Lycan, love anyone, the way I love you.”  He admitted.

She stroked his cheek with her thumb.  “I was afraid too.”

“This is all very touching.”  Terrence interrupted solemnly.  “But tomorrow the human will die in the hunt and you,” he gave Sophia a look of pity and regret, “will wish you were dead.”

Sophia tucked her body against Kaden’s and put her arms around him before smiling coldly at Terrence.  “Before tomorrow is over, it will be you and your lord Draken who wish for death.”

* * *

Draken stretched deeply before staring up at the cloudy sky.  It was just after dawn and he yawned and squatted next to the small fire.  “I believe it may snow today, Terrence.”

“Aye.”  The smaller Lycan said quietly.

Draken turned to Kaden and Sophia.  “It’s time to say goodbye to your human lover, my pretty.  My brothers are anxious to begin the hunt.”

He grinned merrily at Kaden.  “I will bring your head back to my home for the other slaves to see.  They’ve been most unruly since you and your sister escaped.  How is your sister by the way?  Still fucking the Red?  Perhaps I will pay her a visit after I kill the other Lycans.  Do you think she would like that?  Has she missed me?”

Kaden stared at him, his nostrils flaring angrily, and Draken laughed.  “Who would have thought that both you and your sister would fall in love with Lycans?  The irony of it is absolutely staggering, is it not?”

When Kaden remained silent, a dark look crossed Draken’s face.  “Answer me, human.”

“You’re going to die today.”  Kaden said softly.

Draken laughed.  “The humans are so ridiculous, are they not Terrence?”

“Aye, my lord.”  Terrence replied.

Draken stood and clapped his hands together briskly.  “Unchain him.”

Terrence unchained Kaden’s hands.  He stepped back quickly as Kaden rubbed his wrists and then put his arms around Sophia’s waist.  He hugged her hard, burying his face in her throat and inhaling deeply as she put her mouth to his ear.

“Remember what I told you, my love.  They will find you.”

He nodded and kissed her deeply.  She returned his kiss, threading her hands through his hair and holding him tightly as they both ignored Draken’s angry growl.

“I love you.”  She whispered against his mouth.

“I love you too, Sophia.”

They clung tightly to each other until Draken growled again.

“Enough!”

He gave Kaden a baleful look.  “I will allow you an hour’s head start.  You should thank me for my generosity.”

Kaden ignored him and kissed Sophia again.  “I will see you soon.”

She smiled at him and cupped his face.  “Aye, you will.”

“Go, human.  Before I change my mind and take your head right here.”  Draken snarled.

Kaden kissed Sophia a final time and without looking back, jogged into the trees.  He disappeared and Sophia took a shuddering breath.  Fear was eating away at her stomach and she traced the silver collar around her throat before sitting down.

Draken’s pack was pacing back and forth, whining and growling deep in their throats, and Draken held his hand up.  “Patience, my brothers.  You will have his head soon enough.”

He took a deep breath and smiled cheerily at Sophia.  “Now, how about we have some breakfast?”

* * *

Sophia stared silently into the fire as Draken sucked at the leg bone of a rabbit.  Twenty minutes had passed since Kaden had disappeared into the forest, and Draken’s pack was still pacing back and forth restlessly.

With a loud sigh, Draken threw the bone into the fire and wiped his hands on his pants.  “Go on, then.”  He said quietly.

The Lycans yipped in response and Sophia leaped to her feet.  “You said an hour!”

Draken laughed.  “Aye, but I must admit that I am impatient to have you in my bed.  The sooner my brothers bring back the human’s head, the sooner I can have you.”

“No!”  Sophia leaped for the Lycan nearest her but Terrence caught her neatly around the waist.  She twisted against him, her fist catching him hard on the jaw and he gave a grunt of frustration before hitting her hard across the face.  Dazed from the blow, she slid down his body and collapsed on the ground as blood flowed from a cut on her temple.

“Careful, Terrence!”  Draken barked at him.  “That’s the future mother of my pups, remember.”

“Forgive me, my lord.”  Terrence muttered.

Draken nodded and stared at his pack.  “You five go after the human.  The rest of you stay.”

They whined with disappointment and he curled his lip at them.  “Do not argue with me.  Go, and bring me his head.”

* * *

Kaden, panting heavily, leaned against a tree.  He had a stitch in his side and he pressed his hand against it as he laboured to catch his breath.  He had been running steadily for nearly thirty minutes, but there was no doubt in his mind that Draken would not honour the hour he had promised him.

He stiffened as he heard rustling in the bushes to his left and a low growling.  He stood frozen for a moment and then took off again, his heart pounding in his chest.  He could hear the river ahead of him and he forced his tired legs to pump faster.  There was a sharp bark and he risked a quick glance behind him.  Fresh adrenaline flowed through his veins at the sight of the two large brown Lycans loping after him.  They grinned at him, snarling and snapping their teeth, and he turned and ran for his life.

He could see glimpses of the river now, a bright ribbon of blue snaking through the trees, as the growls of the Lycan grew louder.  The trees were starting to thin and he leaped over a fallen log as the sound of the river filled his ears.  The ground was staring to slope downwards, he could see the shoreline of the river, and he put on a burst of desperate speed.

There was a flash of black and he turned just as the third Lycan came out of the trees to his left and leaped for him.  He caught it in his arms.  The bulk of the Lycan drove him backwards and they tumbled to the ground.  They rolled down the slope of the river bank, the Lycan snapping and growling and Kaden screaming hoarsely.  They hit the river with a cold, wet splash and Kaden screamed again as his foot slammed into a large rock jutting out of the water at the edge of the river.  It broke his ankle with a loud, sharp snap and pain roared up his leg and into his pelvis.