Chapter 18
Timber followed the scents of the others out of the station, through an empty field, across a couple of streets, and into a park full of evergreen trees and walking paths. He could hear the others up ahead of him and he jogged that way.
He smelled the strong, sulphury smell of the Pravus wafting in the night air. He picked up speed, sprinting through the darkness, hearing shouts in front of him. He rounded some trees and saw the others clustered together in a group, then Mac socked Crew in the face!
Timber yelled out and ran forward, expecting the others to jump on Mac, but what really happened was Crew hit the ground, then disappeared!
One minute there, the next minute just gone!
Timber stopped running and rubbed his eyes, then looked again.
Crew was still gone. The others were gaping and staring at the ground where he had been, except for Mac—he was looking at his fist in awe.
Timber was speechless for the second time that day. He turned around in a slow circle, wishing for his brother.
Bro, he tried in ruhi.
No response.
Timber turned back to look at the others.
Bruin was looking around theatrically. Jaggar stood in one spot, looking traumatized.
Troy and Trent were sniffing the ground, following a scent out of the park.
Mac was on his phone, barking to Sergeant Rockford that he wanted an ambulance and several patrol units sent immediately.
Timber drifted toward Mac, wondering what had happened to Crew’s mate. Mac hung up and made another call. When someone answered, he said, “We’ve found Paisley and she appears unharmed. We’re taking her to the hospital now by ambulance,” in a neutral voice.
Mac waited a beat then said, “Good, drive safely please.”
He hung up, then he made another call. Timber turned around till he saw Wade, who was walking toward the road with the little girl, who looked to be sleeping in his arms.
The ambulance rolled up on the street, with lights flashing but no siren. Wade carried the girl to it, stepping inside and disappearing from Timber’s view.
Jaggar rushed by. Timber reached out and grabbed his arm, asking, “What in the hell happened?”
Jaggar looked at him, eyes haunted. “The One True Mate fucking died, man. We found her first, but she died anyway, because the demon set it up that way. He had the little girl so Crew couldn’t fight him, and we couldn’t do anything.
He slit Dahlia’s throat with his gross-ass claws and she fucking died. ”
Timber put a fist to his mouth. “Shit…” he whispered. “Talk about worst-fucking-case-scenario.”
Jaggar only shook his head.
“Where’s the body?” He leaned forward and whispered. “Did Khain take it?”
Jaggar shook his head still, eyes wide, mouth open. “Her body disappeared,” he whispered back. “I fucking saw it.”
Timber looked around. “Disappeared like it decomposed? Or was whisked away somewhere?”
“Disappeared like she was beamed up by Scotty.”
“Shit,” Timber said, not sure what to do with that information. “And Crew?”
Jaggar just shook his head. “He wanted Mac to hit him… then he disappeared, too.”
Jaggar swallowed convulsively and wandered off.
Timber watched him go, not sure what the fuck to do now.