Chapter 23 #2
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Felix said. Liam jumped at the warlock’s voice and shoved his hands into his pockets.
“What next?” Chase asked Felix.
His eyes rounded. “You’re asking me? I don’t know the specifics, but I’m pretty sure whatever has to happen next, she needs to be at the ruins for.”
Chase grunted and hefted Jena higher, her face pressing against his neck. “Then let’s go.”
He started down the tree-lined drive, the tugging easing now that he was headed where it wanted him to go.
That didn’t make him feel any better. Neither did the scenery.
Chase warily eyed the trees as he made his way down the muddy, gravel drive.
Their limbs were too sharp, subtly shifting independently of each other, the tips glinting.
Beneath the menacing branches, things flitted at the corners of his eyes and the surrounding forest smelled wrong.
At the gate, there’d been the distinct odor of fresh blood, but here, the air was threaded with a subtle tinge of corruption.
Meat left out to spoil, a fresh kill bloated by the sun until it’d split…
the unclean sweetness of death teased his nose and raised the hair at the nape of his neck.
And, save for the rain, it was silent; the woods around them completely still. Not a breath of air stirred the oddly prismatic leaves, no small animals rustled over the forest floor or birds in the trees. Only the ever-present patter of rain.
He blinked it away as it ran into his eyes, his breath fogging and his clothes sodden, dragging at him. Christ. He was so fucking sick of being wet—
The woods abruptly opened up, and a nightmarish version of the tor he’d seen in his dream was before him. Last night’s frost had blasted the landscape, wild flowers rain-beaten and jumbled into rapidly decaying mounds tangled into treacherous heaps.
Ruins crowned the top of the hill, fire scarred stones stabbing out from the vines and brambles strangling them. Above, the sun was on its descent, occluded by ominous swirling thunderclouds. Bursts of lightning flashed in the distance, too far away to hear the rumble of thunder.
“Welcome to the house of Usher,” Felix murmured.
“Jesus Christ, we’ve got to go up there?”
Felix turned to Liam. “You’re welcome to wait for us,” he said, flipping a dripping curl from his eyes. There was definitely a challenge in them.
“No,” Chase said. “We need to stay together. Jena said he was here.”
Felix paled. “Malcom?”
“I’m assuming.” And he’d be able to see them coming as soon as they left the trees. Aside from the rain, there was zero coverage out there. Unless…Chase turned to Felix. “Can you—”
He shook his head. “Not without going into a deficit. My karma hasn’t recovered from yesterday. I’m not sure I’d even be able to distort myself for more than minute or two.”
Chase frowned “Then there’s nothing for it. Let’s get it done.” He started forward, the other two trailing behind him.
The footing was even worse than it’d looked. He swore, stumbling over rocks and into rabbit holes opening up in his path, the crystalline rain lashing down. Halfway up, Felix cried out, limping. He scowled as Liam shouldered under his arm, steadying him, then begrudgingly let the were help him.
They hit what was left of a stone patio in front of the ruins, and Chase took a knee, dashing the rain from his eyes.
His clouded breath spiraled away, the temperature at least ten degrees colder up here than it’d been at the base of the hill.
They needed to find cover. Being in the open like this was just asking for trouble, if it hadn’t already found them.
He smoothed Jena’s wet hair from her face as Felix and Liam joined him—
A long, low howl echoed in the distance.
“Was that from town?” Felix asked, all of them looking in that direction.
“Yeah,” Liam said grimly at an answering cry. “My dad just challenged for alpha, and it sounds like Fayet answered.”
Christ. Shit had officially hit the fan back in Havers, and Chase was pretty sure whatever was going to happen here wasn’t far behind. “We need to find some shelter.”
“I think there’s an overhang around the side,” Felix said, chewing his lip.
Chase hefted Jena back up, his legs burning and that tugging in his chest abruptly worse.
He carried her around to the side of the ruins, stumbling over the canted pavers.
There wasn’t an overhang exactly, but the remains of the chimney had listed and crumbled, creating a low arch of stone that didn’t look like it was going anywhere.
Vines of withered bittersweet and brambles hung around it in a veil.
He ducked through, and settled Jena on the ground against the stones.
It wasn’t much drier, but at least it was out of the driving rain.
“Here,” Liam said, handing him a crinkling packet from his knapsack. “It’s one of those space blankets. She needs to stay warm.”
“Thanks,” Chase gratefully took it and tucked it around her. His brow furrowed when she didn’t stir.
“You don’t happen to have another one of those, do you?” Felix asked, favoring one leg, arms around himself and his teeth chattering.
“Yeah, if you don’t mind sharing,” the were said, not meeting his eyes as he took another crinkly silver packet from his bag—
“Well now, if this isn’t just precious.”
Felix yelped, and Chase’s head jerked up at Malcom’s dry rattle. The son of a bitch had his claws around the warlock’s throat, and a bright line of blood dripped from his grip. Chase growled, crouching in front of Jena. If Malcom thought he was getting his hands on her—
“Don’t hurt him!” Liam growled, springing to his feet.
Malcom laughed, taking a step back as two other burly weres came into view. “Hurt him? I wouldn’t dream of it,” he said, his gaze squarely on Chase. “Not as long as you cooperate.”
Liam screamed, a flash of silver around his throat. He fell backwards, scrabbling at it, his flesh smoking as a third were with heavy gloves hauled him into the rain, thrashing. Felix cried out in horror, and Malcom’s claws tightened, digging into his jugular.
He tsked. “I wouldn’t struggle too much, boy. More you do, the deeper you’re gonna drive that chain—”
“Leave them alone, you sack of shit!” Chase spat, fighting the urge to lunge at him.
A wide grin split Malcom’s face. “There’s my boy. Why don’t you and that whore of yours come on out? We’ve got things to talk about, like how you managed to extract yourself from your previous predicament. I was almost impressed until you delivered yourself here, not that I don’t appreciate it.”
Like he’d had a choice. Chase glowered at him, pain blooming through his chest. “Fuck you.”
The trickle of blood at Felix’s throat widened. “You sure that’s what you want to lead with?” Malcom rasped.
Chase’s gaze met Felix’s. An odd determination had bloomed in the warlock’s eyes. He glanced down, his fingers moving in a deliberate pattern—
“She’s not in there with him anymore,” the were crouching over Liam’s convulsing body growled.
Malcom’s eyes narrowed, and Chase’s gaze flicked back to Felix. He shot him a pointed look. Shit. The warlock had to be using his power to hide her, but after what he’d said, he wouldn’t be able to do it for long.
“Where’d she go?” Malcom growled, Felix rising onto his toes with a pained cry.
“To claim the node,” Chase lied, his wolf frantic as he crawled out from the overhang, leaving her unprotected. “And I’m pretty sure you being here’s bought her enough time to do it.”
Malcom’s grin got wider as the two weres beside him moved to flank Chase. “Is that right? Then how about we go wait for her in the garden? There’s someone there that’s eager to meet the both of you.”