“Two bodies, or what are left of them,” Pitt said, “and a third with his throat cut.”
“Haidar’s way of punishing those who fail him.” Rhys shook his head. “I think the wolves may have rescued Heather.”
“That would explain the foot tracks keeping pace with the wolf tracks,” Pitt said.
“Then we follow,” Rhys ordered.
“They set a fast pace and with the injuries to her feet, which probably have worsened the tracker does not believe Heather would make it far.”
“Then she should be close.” Rhys hurried and mounted his horse. “Which way do the tracks go?”
Pitt pointed as he mounted his horse. “Back toward McComb land.”
CHAPTER 29
Rhys stood alone, staring at his wife sprawled face down on the ground with at least half a dozen wolves keeping a tight circle around her. One large black wolf stood in front of the circle, his fangs bared and his growl deep.
When two of his men had come across the scene they had wisely backed away and had come to fetch him. Rhys had ordered his warriors to stay where they were and not approach the area. He had removed his leather armor and left all weapons behind against Pitt’s strong objections.
He approached the wolves with his hands held out from his sides, showing he meant them no harm. The black wolf was not impressed; he continued to snarl.
Rhys wanted to run over to his wife’s prone body and see that it was only exhaustion that had her lying so lifeless, but the wolf would never let him pass. And if it was not sleep that had claimed her, he had to know and do what he could to help her.
He took a chance and called out, “Heather!”
His powerful voice annoyed the wolf, and he lunged in warning, his snarl even more threatening.
Rhys did not back away, though he did change the tone of his voice. It sounded morecaring, though it remained strong. “Heather, wake up. I have come to take you home.”
The black wolf continued pacing in front of the circle, his snarl lessening.
“Heather, it is me, wake up.”
The more he called and the more she did not respond, the more his fear grew, and he began to pace as well.
The Dragon and the wolf paced back and forth, their eyes never leaving each other.
Finally, Rhys stopped and called out, “Heather, wake up, it is I... Quinn. I have come back to you. Please wake up. I have missed you terribly and I love you so very much.”
Never had he felt such joy as he did when he saw her body move.
He called out again. “Wake up, Heather, I want to hold you again. Kiss you. Tell you over and over how much I love you.”
She stirred even more, and Rhys kept talking, urging her with his loving words.
Pain shot through Heather each time she moved, but she heard Quinn calling to her and she had to get to him. She stretched her arms out from her sides and moaned louder, but it was when she moved her legs and feet that she cried out the loudest in pain.
She let the pain subside before moving again and more slowly this time, Quinn’s voice urging her to wake and sit up. When she finally got her eyes open, she was shocked to see the wolvessurrounding her. The awful memory came back to her then. The wolves had saved her and protected her until Rhys could reach her. She was ever so grateful for their friendship.
She wondered though, it was Quinn who had called out to her. She was not mistaken about that since he was still calling out to her urging her to wake up and sit up and telling her how much he loved her.
A smile sparked her strength and she managed to push herself up to sit, though her body ached terribly, and she cringed when she saw her feet. They were covered with dirt and caked with blood so she could not tell how bad her wounds were. She also could not see Rhys clearly with the wolves circled around her, so she attempted to stand.
A mistake. She fell to her side in pain.
“Do not try and stand,” Rhys shouted, and the black wolf lunged at him again in warning.
It took strength, she feared she did not have to sit up again and remain that way. Once she did, she began speaking softly to the wolves, thanking them for their help and protection and telling them it was all right for them to leave her now. She was safe. The man here would not harm her. He had come to see her safely home.
