Redeeming Rue AP4 (10 page)

Rue gasped and came to stand with them.  “Who?”

“I don’t know.  I can feel him calling for help and,” he rubbed his nose and winced, “I can smell blood.  Dad, please?”

John looked at Rue in confusion.  She said, “It might be Dom.”

“Why would Henry know?” James asked.

“I don’t know,” Rue said, chewing on her bottom lip.

Henry trembled and then his body jerked, and he gritted his teeth as if he was in pain.  “Please, Dad, I can feel him.  He’s going to die.”

“Where?”  Rue grabbed Henry’s shoulders and turned him to face her.  “Where is he, Henry?”

“I can find him.”

“No way, it could be dangerous,” John said.

Rue looked at John, and he saw her hands tighten on Henry’s shoulders.  She released her grip and stepped back.  “I’m sorry, you’re right.”

“No!”  Henry grabbed her hands.  “We have to go now.  I’m not staying here.”  Henry’s shoulders squared and the look that he gave John was an expression John thought he’d remember for the rest of his life – a look of pure determination.  Henry was going, with or without his permission, and John would rather be there with him.

“All right, but you have to do what we say.”

Henry’s shoulders slumped in relief and instead of turning to John, he turned to Rue.  “Now, before it’s too late.”

With last words from Dag and James about leaving weapons behind and not instigating anything, Hanai gathered two volumes of clan history and walked next to John as the group filed out of the boarding house.  Nearly every male member of the pride was there, aside from those who were watching over the mates at Rhett’s.

“Why do you need the books?” John asked Hanai.

“If they question the laws, I want to have everything at my fingertips.”

“Why would they question anything?”

“People who like to use the law to their advantage tend to overlook rules that aren’t in their favor.  They took Domino and plan to hold them both accountable for his life.  We’re showing up to tell them that you and James will be standing in her place for the Rite of Dekray, and Gerarli might refuse.  The books will help.”

“If he still refuses?”

“Then things will get ugly.  No one is dying today.  I don’t care what Gerarli’s plans are.  He can’t use half of the law.”

John was glad these panthers were on their side.  He watched Rue walk ahead of him, her hand tightly holding Henry’s, as his son led the group into the woods.  It was two hours until sunrise, and John was thankful for the flashlights that some had the foresight to bring.  Henry headed to the woods but not toward the clearing where the clans were staying.  Instead, he skirted to the right, and the group followed away from the clearing and deep into the darkness of the woods.

* * * * *

James felt Rue’s anxiety.  Even though they were not fully mated, they were connected through the marks that he and John had left on her neck.  He could still taste the sweetness of her blood on his tongue.  Many members of the pride carried flashlights and lanterns, which helped him not feel as though they marched into hell.

His son Eryx walked next to him and said with a low voice, “Dad…”

“I know you want me to say the right thing to do is get the force and show up at the clearing and demand they return her son.  But there aren’t that many of us, and according to Dag and Hanai, if this asshole who took Rue’s son even gets a whiff of cop, they’ll scatter. 
After
they kill her son.  You wouldn’t risk your kids’ lives, Eryx, so don’t ask me to either.”

Eryx cleared his throat.  “I wasn’t going to say any of that, Dad.”

James snorted.  Eryx was a very by-the-book sort of guy.  It’s why he made such an excellent sheriff.  James was the same way, for the most part, but after finding out what might happen to Dom if flashing lights showed up, James didn’t want to do anything by the book.

“Okay, maybe I was going to say something like that.  I get it, though.  She’s your mate, and that’s your stepson out there. I just wanted you to know that I support you one hundred percent.  Whatever happens, I’m like glue.”

“Thanks, Son.”

Henry made another strangled sound, and Rue wrapped an arm protectively around his shoulder.

“What’s up with that?” Eryx asked.

“He’s feeling connected to Dom.”

“Why?”

“I don’t have the foggiest.  I’m grateful, though, and I know that Rue is, too.”

“Panthers are weird.”

James made a sound of disapproval even though he was smiling.  Panthers
were
weird, but he was glad for it.  Because of that weirdness, he and John had a mate and a new son. 
If we can find him in time
, he thought.

They continued trekking through the woods, and James thought they were nearly to the road that bordered the far side of it, when Henry stopped and James held up his hand.  Peering into the darkness, he saw the flickering lights of flames.

“He’s there, with the lights,” Henry said.

Rue hugged him.  “You did so good, honey.  I’m proud of you.”

“What if we’re too late?” Henry asked, his voice scratchy.

“We’re not.  And it’s not your fault no matter what, honey, because we couldn’t have found him without your help.”

Hanai joined them and said, “I’ll lead the way.  Everyone stay close together.  Our united front will go a long way toward showing Gerarli that we mean to see this through lawfully.”

James didn’t care what awaited him.  He would gladly take a whipping from Rue’s clan leader to set her and her son free.  He didn’t care about the physical cost; he only cared that they all got to go home together.

John and Rue walked with Henry between them, and James came up on Rue’s other side and took her hand.  Dag joined Hanai, and the two strode ahead of them like guard dogs on a mission.

Rue looked up at James.  “Thank you.”

“You’re ours, Rue.  This is all fucked up to hell, but when it’s all said and done, we’ll still be yours and you’ll still be ours, and there’s no reason to thank us for taking care of you and your son.  It’s what mates do.”

“I don’t deserve your loyalty.  You don’t even know me.”

James squeezed her hand.  “My cat knows you, and that’s enough for me.”

It was true.  James didn’t know much about Rue.  He knew the quick version of her life, which was enough to make him man-up and help her out.  But he also knew that she was his mate and the snarling, pacing cat in his head wouldn’t let him do anything less than make sure she lived so they could be together.

* * * * *

Rue looked down at Henry.  She was as proud of him as if he was her own son, and if she was really mated to his dad, then she guessed that he kind of was her son.  Which was all sorts of fucked up, since she was probably going to die soon.  There was no way in hell she was letting James and John take a beating for her.  But instead of asking Dag to raise Dom for her, she would ask the pride and know that he was in good hands.

Her cat made a miserable sound in her head, and she said, “You’re a good son, Henry.”

“M-mom?” he whispered, looking up at her.

She sniffed and reminded herself that falling apart wasn’t going to help anyone.  Squeezing the back of his neck, she forced a smile.  “Take care of Domino for me, okay?”

Facing the glow of torches, she straightened her shoulders, pushed her fear into the farthest reaches of her mind, and marched toward hell.

Chapter 10

 
The trees passed by as she strode through the woods.  The flickering lights grew until she saw that they were actually torches being held by members of her former clan.  An uncle.  Cousins.  People she had grown up with now seemed like strangers intent on her death for an ancient law that made no sense.

Someone gasped when she stepped into a small clearing.  Many of the clan members were watching from the woods, and only a small group was actually in the clearing.  For a moment, her memory dragged her back to that moment when she’d first shifted and then been chained down and branded by her family.  She’d been terrified of what was happening, crying out for compassion from people who had claimed to love her but had tossed her aside like trash.

This was similar in many ways – the clan, the woods, the torches – but different as well.  She wasn’t a kid anymore at the mercy of people who valued outdated laws above family; she was an adult with a child to protect.

“You!”  Gerarli strode toward her, his finger pointing outward in accusation.  “You brought sin into our clan and destroyed us!”

She flinched but then felt two hands on her shoulders and knew that James and John stood beside her now, lending her their strength.  Henry stepped in front of her.  “Where is he?”  His voice wavered slightly, but he snarled the last word in anger.

Gerarli’s nose wrinkled.  “Get out of my sight.  You have no standing here.”

Hanai patted the top of one books he carried and said, “Hear us, Gerarli.  The laws must be heard.”

“We know the laws, Hanai.”  Gerarli turned a contemptuous glare to Rue and said, “She had only two laws to follow – to stay away and to keep her sinful legs closed.  She could do neither and now she dies.  By the laws.”

Henry growled angrily and lurched away.  Rue hadn’t noticed that a small group had gathered behind Gerarli, but now she could see that they were hiding something.  John called for Henry, but Henry shoved past the group and fell to his knees in front of a lump of matted fur.

Rue’s knees went out as she realized that Dom’s bloody shifted form was chained to a tree behind the clan members.  His beautiful white fur was dark with blood.  John and James caught her elbows as her mind spun.  Dead.  Gerarli had killed her son and her reason for living.  She hadn’t gotten to give herself for him.  All that time waiting for sunrise was a ruse.  They were torturing and killing him while she was with her mates.  Her heart shattered into a million pieces, and then rage filled her so hot and fast she couldn’t speak past the growl lodged in her throat.

Her body split into her shift faster than she’d ever thought possible, the cat’s instinct for revenge and protecting the body of her son from further harm fueling her.  She leapt into the air with a roar borne of anguish and rage; her fangs bared and her claws extended.  Her target:  Gerarli.

* * * * *

James felt Rue’s body begin to shift as he saw Henry fall to his knees next to a bloody cat.  His heart fell, knowing that they were too late to save the boy.  Rue leapt forward with a roar that chilled him to the core.  The law officer and the cat inside him fought for dominance.  He wanted to let her kill the male who had tormented her and killed her son, but the cop in him wanted the law to handle things and protect her from spending her life in jail for murder.

His cat wanted her protected as much as he did, and he drew on the strength and speed of his cat and tackled her, shoving her to the ground and covering her body with his own.  She screeched and roared, struggling under him, but he managed to wrap an arm around her neck and hold her tight.

“Rue!”  He growled her name with as much force and authority as he could manage.

She stilled and he tightened his hold, worried she was going to make another lunge for Gerarli.  Instead, she whimpered and let out a mournful howl and her whole body shuddered under his.

“Shit, baby,” he nuzzled the side of her head.  “I’m sorry but this isn’t the way.”

A shadow fell over him, and he looked up to see Gerarli with a knife lifted over his head, his face taut with anger and sweat beading on his forehead.  James rolled with Rue as the blade slashed down and then a shot rang out.  James froze overtop of Rue again, covering her with his body once more against whoever was shooting.  No one was supposed to bring weapons, so he thought it must be a panther.

Gerarli gasped and the knife smacked the ground near James’ head.  He looked up to see red blooming on Gerarli’s chest as he gaped down at the bullet hole in surprise.  James looked back and saw John, gun trained on Gerarli, grim determination on his face.

Gerarli went to his knees, gurgling something unintelligible, and fell forward.

Rue whimpered and James sat up.  She stood shakily to her feet and shook her body out.  She crept forward and sniffed Gerarli’s body, her nose wrinkling in disgust.  Then her head lifted and she looked to where Henry was crouched next to Dom’s body.  She leapt over Gerarli and raced to her son, yowling in distress.

“I’ve called the Popes.  Sarah and Don are coming for medical help, and Ethan is coming over, too,” Eryx said, hurrying over and offering James his hand to stand.  Don Pope was the fire chief in Bracks, a town north of Ashland, and an EMT.  Sarah Pope was a midwife with emergency training.

John came over to them and handed Eryx the gun.  Eryx shrugged when James looked at him.  “I agreed with you on principle, Dad.”

James glanced at John who said, “Eryx handed me the gun when Rue jumped at Gerarli.  It was the right thing to do.  We protected her together.”

“And now we need to help her take care of her son,” James said.

James looked at the panthers as he walked the short distance to where Rue was mournfully howling next to the body of her son.  Hanai and Dag had gathered the panthers in Gerarli’s clan together, and a young male who he’d not seen before was talking to the clan.  James snarled at the clan members and was about to change direction and go over there when John grabbed his arm.

“First, we need to help Rue, and then we’ll deal with the panthers who hurt Dom.”

James ground his teeth together and snarled a loud warning to the panthers.  He was glad that they had the decency to look afraid of him, since he was feeling very torn between his duty as an officer of the law and the mate of a female whose pain was so raw and heavy he could taste it.

He and John knelt next to her, and he looked down at the white panther lying chained.  A thick chain was padlocked around his waist, attached to another around his neck.  The smell of blood was so heavy in the air that it made James’ eyes water.

James looked at something coiled on the ground next to Dom’s body and realized it was the whip that he and John would have had used on them if Gerarli had his way.  It was a gruesome torture device.

James studied the ravaged body of the young male and realized that he was still alive.

“How is he still breathing?” James asked no one in particular.

“He’s got to live, Dad, please?”  Henry lifted his eyes and looked at John, and then he stared at James.  “Uncle James?”

Henry’s fingertips rested on the top of Dom’s head.  There was some kind of supernatural connection between the two, but he didn’t know what that meant.

“Let’s get him unlocked and carried back to the house.  The Popes might be able to help him,” James said.

Wyked crouched down next to them and pulled a small pouch from his back pocket.  Lock pick tools.  James raised a brow, and Wyked smiled tightly.  “I always keep them with me.  You never know when you might need to pick a lock for someone you care about.”

It was a veiled reference to when Jilly had been kidnapped by the females.  James nodded and Wyked went to work, deftly unlocking the chains.  James and John eased the chains from around Dom, and James tugged off his dress shirt and laid it over him.  “I’ll carry him,” he said, lifting the heavy cat into his arms as gently as possible.  Dom made a soft, pained noise, but didn’t appear to be conscious.

As James strode through the woods in the direction of the boarding house, John and Rue walked beside him, and the pride joined them.  No one spoke, and that was okay because he wasn’t sure what he would say.

It took ten minutes to walk to the yard behind the boarding house.  By the time they arrived, Don, Sarah, and Ethan were waiting for them.

“Put him on the table, and let me take a look,” Sarah said.

James laid Dom on top of an empty picnic table and pulled the shirt away from him.  Sarah let out a gasp and covered her mouth with her hand.  “Who did this?”

“A panther,” James answered.

Sarah’s eyes narrowed when she looked at James.  “I hope he’s dead.”

James nodded once, and Sarah turned her attention back to Dom.  “Good,” she muttered.  The pride was gathered around the table as the minutes dragged by.  Dom’s wounds bled freely, pooling around him on the table and dripping onto the grass.  The sun was beginning to rise, coating the area in an amber glow.  Rue’s paws were on the seat of the picnic table as she watched over her son.

Slowly, Dom’s breathing grew erratic, and Henry sobbed quietly next to John, who wrapped his arms around his son.

Rue began to shift back into her human form.  She seemed to struggle with shifting, but she wrenched herself back and braced her hands on the top of the table.

“I’m sorry,” Don said.

“No.  No.  No!”  Rue’s voice rose steadily until she was screaming, the heart-wrenching sound tearing James apart.

John took off his dress shirt and laid it over Rue’s shoulders as she curled over top of Dom’s body and wept.