“What is it?” I demanded.
“Lanavours,” Corson panted from behind her.“A lot of them, Kobal.”
Rage burst hotly through my veins and myfangs burst free at the knowledge that lanavours were so close toher. I crushed River against my chest as I spun and raced throughthe woods. I jumped over fallen trees and ran over the top of aboulder before leaping off the other side.
“The others!” she cried in my ear as Ithrust my hand out to keep branches from slapping against her. Shesquirmed in my hold, trying to break free as I ran faster. “Kobal,we can’t leave them!”
“Yes, we can,” I told her then grunted whenshe jammed an elbow into my ribs.
“No!Stop!”
“They’ll be fine! I’m getting you tosafety.”
She continued to wiggle in my grasp, but Ikept her pinned against me. “I’m not going anywhere without them,”she said stubbornly in my ear.
I didn’t look back. “Corson will keep themsafe.”
Bursting into the encampment, I ignored thestartled looks of those closest to us as I raced across theclearing toward the bar. Bale, Verin, Morax, and Shax were standingby one of the pickups, dividing what remained of the supplies. Iveered toward them.
“Lanavours are coming,” I told them, my armstightening on River when she renewed her struggle to get free.
Bale dropped the bag of potatoes she’d beenholding, spilling its contents on the ground. I could count on onehand the number of times I’d seen her show any distress over thecenturies I’d known her, but her red-hued skin paled visibly at mywords.
“Get the humans grouped together,” Icommanded. “We’ll get as many of them into the bar as possiblebefore the lanavours arrive, but there will be casualties.”
“There will be,” Bale muttered. “Where isCorson?”
“On his way. I’m taking River to the bar.I’ll be right back.”
Turning away from them, I ran across theclearing toward the bar. It was not the best place to put her, butit was far better than in this clearing or in one of the vehicles.It was the only real shelter I had to protect her. When the otherhumans joined her, they would be able to make a stand againstanything that might get inside. They would also be able to get backout if something came out of the gateway.
“No!” River shouted and shoved her handsinto my chest while her feet kicked against my knees and shins.
I ignored her protests as I took the stairsto the doors three at a time. I nearly tore one of the doors offits hinges when I shoved it open. It crashed into the wall withenough force to dent the plaster and silence the noise of therevelry going on upstairs. Skelleins approached the top of thestairs, their irritation over the disruption evident in the set oftheir jaws.
Placing River down, I snagged her wrist andjerked her back to me when she spun toward the doorway. Her eyesburned with anger; her chin jutted out in defiance as she glared atme. “You can hate me all you want as long as you stay alive,” Itold her. “But you will be staying inhereuntil this isover.”
“No, I won’t!”
“Yes, you will!” I snapped, causing her eyesto widen before narrowing once more. I rarely raised my voice withher, but she had no idea the amount of destruction the lanavourscould rain down. I would not have her exposed to them.
“No, I won’t,” she hissed.
At the top of the stairs, some of theskelleins laughed, while others gasped loudly. Inhaling a calmingbreath, I restrained myself from hauling her upstairs and tying herto the railing of the bar.
Turning away from her, I focused on theskelleins. “Lanavours are closing in. Get ready to fight.”
All of their skeletal faces broke intogrins. Most of them were only four and a half feet tall, some weresmaller, some were taller, but they all relished a good fight.
“Well, alrighty then!” a male skellein witha bowler hat shouted. “It’s time to play!”
A loud whoop went through them. They allturned away from the stairs and darted back into the bar. Momentslater, they reappeared. I pulled River out of their way as theywaved their swords in a circle through the air and descended towardus.
They ran down the stairs or slid down themetal banisters in a clattering of bones before they piled out thedoor in a rush. Their cries echoed across the field as they racedout, scaring some of the humans and causing them to scatter indifferent directions.
I turned my attention back to River. “I’llsend Erin, Hawk, and Vargas in here soon—”
“You left them behind!” Sparks flew from herfingertips as her body thrummed with fury.
