Page 146 of The Hunter

Despite the risks posed by the weather, this was the best opportunity to cull the pack.

Telok’s fists tightened around his spears—one he’d crafted in his upper right hand, the one Lacey had made him in the lower. He braced his lower left hand on the ground, resting the rim of the heavy wooden shield strapped to his upper left arm atop it for support.

For as long as he could recall, Telok had not feared his own death. He knew he could not escape it. So he’d gladly risked himself to protect those he cared about. Even now, death did not frighten him. But for the first time, he feared for his life.

If he died, who would protect Lacey? Who would watch over her beneath sunny skies, beneath clouds and rain, beneath moons and stars? Who would teach her and learn from her? Who would hold her through the dark of night, or when she was sad, or when it just felt right? Who would not merely tell her she was beautiful, but show her?

Fucking no one.

There could be no one else. Would be no one else. Lacey was his, and there would be no other male for her. If death came for him today, he would send it scampering back to the dank, dark den it had crawled out of, because he would not leave Lacey alone.

His chest constricted, but his hearts burned with fury and determination.

At this very moment, his mate was crouched in the vegetation somewhere behind him, waiting. She’d joined Cole, Sophia, Koss, Wen’Xal Tas, and five male winddancers who’d volunteered to face this danger for the sake of their Nedrayas, forming what Sophia called the Rear Guard. Cole had jokingly suggested they call themselves the Hindquarters instead, prompting Lacey to counter with the Spider Butt Shields.

Telok had chittered at the time, but he found no humor in it anymore. His mate was too far away from him, and much, much too close to the kurghests. He curled his fingers, sinking his claws into the ground, and twisted to glance back.

He’d barely glimpsed a hint of red hair amidst the undergrowth when stone clacked against stone three times in quick succession somewhere up in the trees. Telok stilled, and heat crackled under his hide.

Gai’Tahk Var and Kin’Jahl Jehk had led their group of winddancers into position, overlooking the kurghest den from the branches above.

The wait had ended.

As Telok faced forward, the wind picked up, making the brush around him sway. Storm clouds swallowed the last patch of clear sky, obscuring the sun, and the first heavy, erratic drops of rain pattered on the leaves.

Telok firmly tapped the heads of his spears together twice, pausing for half a heartbeat between the sounds, and surged upright, raising the spear in his upper right hand over his shoulder.

To either side of him, the vegetation shook as his companions also emerged from hiding. Garahk, Okkor, and Elharat to his right, Droztar, Ayali, Ess, and Zesh to his left, each carrying a shield and two spears like Telok.

Kurghest heads snapped up in front of the group, their large ears perked. The beasts blanketed the ground, seemingly as numerous as fallen leaves on the jungle floor.

Telok hurled his spear. The rest of his group threw their own, and makeshift spears—little more than long, sharpened sticks—fell from on high.

Kurghests yelped, whined, grunted and growled as the spears struck them. Some beasts fell, some tumbled, and many more scrambled to their feet.

Telok passed his remaining spear into his upper hand and angled his shield toward the beasts.

Let Lacey be all right.

He charged into the confused, panicked beasts. His companions advanced alongside him, driving their spears into their quarry. Kurghests scattered as winddancers threw weighted nets and more spears from the trees.

A deep, powerful growl sounded from within the den, vibrating the fallen tree, the ground, even the air itself. Several more adult females kurghests emerged from within as something large stirred in the darkness behind them.

That quickly, the kurghests went from surprised to aggressive. Though many had been injured, far too few had been incapacitated, and their swiftness and strength seemed little diminished. The beasts rushed about in a frenzy, coordinating their attacks to try to isolate and encircle the hunters. Telok and his companions found themselves on the defensive before they’d pushed even a few strides toward the den.

The rain came in earnest, falling fast, hard, and heavy.

Telok heard the beasts that had already managed to get behind him. He heard Lacey and the others fighting, heard the shouts and battle cries of his companions all around, but all he could do was keep himself in frantic motion.

His spear struck like lightning, his hearts boomed like thunder. He stomped and kicked at the beasts, and his shield dealt as many blows as it blocked, but always there was another kurghest to find the gap in his defense. Claws raked him, fangs nipped his hide, and the beasts’ relentless assault forced Telok and the thornskulls apart.

A kurghest leapt at him. He slammed his shield into its chest and caught its throat with his lower right hand. The kurghest’s claws bit into his chest and shoulder as he buried his own claws deep in the beast’s neck and squeezed.

Beyond the beast, he saw a kurghest clamp its jaws on Ayali’s foreleg. She fell heavily onto her leg joint. Several kurghests swarmed her immediately. Growling, she grabbed and clawed at them, but she could not get them all off.

With roars, Zesh and Ess rushed to her aid, their hands little more than blurs as they clawed, stabbed, and bashed the beasts.

Telok tightened his fist further. The kurghest’s throat crunched in his grip, and hot blood oozed around his claws. As he heaved the beast away, its hooked claws tore his hide further. He barely felt the wounds; his hide thrummed, and fire spiraled through his veins.