Page 79 of Live Love Lasso

“What about Varek?” I practically beg. “How does he fit into this?”

She shrugs. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

Behind Letitia, the pit hells inch closer, drawn by the commotion. I recognize a few of them, including the little female Oz likes to feed bacon to. Gods, I wish they could help me.

“Help! Help! Someone!” I shout and shout, but Letitia chuckles as she disappears into the darkness.

“There’s no one for miles, Lemon. Sad to lose such a talented potioneer, but there’s no alternative…” Her voice trails off as the sound of an engine purring starts.

Oh my gods. I scream and scream until I’m hoarse, but there’s no use. The rope she tied me with is so tight, I can’t feel my hands or feet. It doesn’t stop me from shouting for help.

The pit hells creep closer. They’re juveniles, not quite as big as the ones that tend to hang around Furyon’s place. The smallest one, Oz’s friend, curls up close to my head and starts licking my face like she’s trying to comfort me. That small act of kindness opens the floodgates, and I burst into tears.

“Help me, please,” I beg. These damn dogs can’t understand me, but I’m beyond desperate.

The sound of a train horn wails through the night. Off in the distance, a singular light comes into view.

Oh my gods.

Furyon

I’m at my wit’s end. I’ve been up and down every inch of downtown, and Lemon’s fucking nowhere.

Her godsdamned father and brother hover behind me, useless, barking questions at me that I obviously don’t have the answers to.

Shrieking and howling interrupt my train of thought as two pit hells run up the street toward me. They crowd around with the other three who are still following me. The duo yip and yowl until they’re all at max volume, jumping and clawing at me.

The pit hell tattoo on my back lights up, on fire as I gasp at the new sensation. They need me. Could this be connected? I have to assume it could be. Tonight’s not the night to stop listening to my gut.

I hop in my truck, and the pups hop in the back. I’m squealing out of my parking spot as Lemon’s father and brother throw themselves in the bed with the dogs.

We rush out of town, foot to the truck floorboard, headed off into the darkness. Two of the pit hells leap out of the back of the truck, tumbling in the dirt. Quickly they leap to their feet and take off into the black. Yanking the wheel, I spin off the road and follow them through a wheat field.

The minutes pass like molasses as dread fills me. There’s nothing out here. Nothing but the train tracks. What in the hells would Lemon be doing out here by herself?

That all becomes apparent moments later when the tracks come into view. A lump is barely visible, but the closer we get, the more sure I am it’s her. Why? How?

Those are questions for later. I drive up over the train tracks and slam the truck in park. I’m out and clearing the hood in half a second. I drop to my knees by Lemon’s side.

She wails and struggles as I take in the situation. She’s tied to the fucking tracks with tight, intricate knots.

A train blast rends the night as Hunter and Rikard rush to us and kneel on Lemon’s other side. “Who did this to you?” her father demands.

I yank the knife from the holder on my belt and start sawing at the rope around her hands.

“Help me!” I shout at her father and brother. “Use your claws, anything!”

Her father slips his claws out and moves to Lemon’s feet.

She sobs, staring at me. “Furyon, I love you so much. If this is it, I wanted you to know. Oh gods, don’t let this be all the time we had, but if it is...”

“Hush, baby.” I try to keep my voice steady even though terror claws up my throat. Mabel’s light flashes on the tracks to my left, her horn blaring. The conductor will have seen my truck on the tracks. He’s warning us to get out of the way.

“Furyon, get out of here!” Lemon shouts. “Mabel’s coming. There’s no time!”

Rikard and Hunter yank and slash at the ropes, but she’s right, we’re out of fucking time. Mabel’s brakes squeal as she hurls forward along the track, sending vibrations along it.

Sobbing, I stab at the ropes until I get a hand free. Lemon squirms and flicks her claws out, slashing at the rest until we get her hands out.