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He laughed and stood again. “They’re only trees. I’m glad they didn’t hurt you worse. It’s not like either of you can file a complai—oh, that reminds me. I know the NLPD couldn’t catch a cold, but I’ve given them a call anyway. It can’t hurt to have them aware of what’s happened.”
“It’s worth a try,” Osric said. His eyes fixed on Ceci tending to me, his face glowing in an emotional way I wasn’t used to seeing. He stepped closer to us. “That’s twice I’ve seen you ashimand twice I’d rather have not, but excellent work, old bean, saving the day like that. And no gallons of blood as a consequence. Quite remarkable.”
“Thanks, buddy. But I’d gladly have one dead body lying here. I can’t believe my grizzly let that guy get away.” I looked up at Ceci. “I’m so glad you weren’t hurt. My bear, he’s doubled in size and strength, perhaps even more than that. You must have been terrified when…I’m so sorry for frightening you.”
It had to be Ceci’s mysterious power, her amplifying aura that had transformed my grizzly from abnormally sized to bordering on prehistoric proportions. I didn’t give a damn, if that was the price of being near her. And I’d witnessed how tender my grizzly had been with her. He loved her, just as much as I did.
Ceci paused in her splinter-hunting and kissed my forehead again, harder than before, her lips lingering. “I wasn’t terrified. Well, maybe for a moment when I saw the sheer size, the teeth of your creature.” She stroked my hair. “But then I looked into those brown eyes and just knew he’d never hurt me. He’s nothing like you, but he’s a part of you, and I know you’d do anything you could, to keep me from harm.” She paused and took a deep breath. “I hope you know, I’d do the same for you. To the best of my abilities. I hope you know, I feel the same about you, as you do for me.”
“I do.” I really believed that. And I finally had enough strength to reach up and cradle her cheek.
Vesta’s hand was still burning brightly, the flames licking and roaring, creating a dome of light around us. Her manner was calm, but her words were sharp. “If Finnian and Jax end up dragging that son of a bitch back here, I can’t promise I won’t roast him alive for what he did.”
Osric huffed, his cool, slightly swaggering attitude returning. “That would be satisfying, fiery friend, but I suspect he’s far away by now.” He looked at me, his face masked in thought. “Your beast wasn’t able to stop him?”
“He certainly tried,” I said, sitting up, but still being fussed over by Ceci. “My grizzly hit him like a goddamn wrecking ball.”
Osric’s brow wrinkled. “Hmm. And yet, he was up and gone almost immediately. Sounds like this asshole recovered from what would’ve put most beings, regardless of breed, out for the count, if not into a casket.”
“Yeah.”
The prince sighed. “Then he’s no common paranormal thug or hapless pervert. Unless his bones are made of titanium, he seems to have powerful magic protecting him.”
I remembered the grenade he’d lobbed into the stream. The way it had transformed into a deadly flow of electricity. “That would explain the stream. He threw a bomb into it and coated it in electricity.”
“He could be an elemental,” Vesta said. “Though any electrics I’ve known have never bothered to make bombs from it.” She nodded at her flaming hand. “Why do that when you can shoot it from your fingertips just as easily?”
I was finally able to stand, and got to my feet with Ceci helping, both of us mindful of my towel keeping my academic secrets. “I want to apologize to all of you, for any distress my grizzly caused. I didn’t mean—”
A chorus of rebuttals coursed through the chilly night air. I couldn’t make them all out, but the consensus was that my beast, despite terrifying everyone, had done a great job in averting disaster.
“Thanks.” I glanced down in embarrassment but did feel proud he had been a force for good for once, considering how wildly unpredictable he was. Though maybe I was too hard on him. Last time he’d appeared, he had saved Osric.
When I looked back up, Xander’s grin was smug. “Though, I think we’ll need to book a new DJ for our next party. You scared the living shit out of our regular one. I don’t think he was expecting such a huge party crasher.”
Xander’s words, and the thought of my grizzly saving Osric, flashed a memory into my mind. One from the last time my beast had broken free at a gathering of booze and dancing. Where the violence had been considerably more gruesome. And the victims had sported tattoos.
The same type of tattoo I’d caught a glimpse of just as my grizzly had floored Ceci’s would be kidnapper. On the inner wrist, it was exactly the same design as before: three columns joined by a thin roof, like an ancient Greek or Roman temple, sitting under a white bird, perhaps a dove, with outstretched wings. It was a tattoo worn by followers of the Temple of the Pure Breed.
“Guys, I may have—” I didn’t want to sound conspiratorial and decided to think it over before I talked more about it in front of Osric. I didn’t want him unsheathing Juniper and storming off to do something stupid, like head to the nearest temple gathering and slash someone up. Besides, there were literally hundreds of thousands of temple members who had that type of tattoo, and probably plenty of wannabes too. In all likelihood, this was just some random nutcase who’d taken a shine to the design.
Jax returned, back in human form, his apron re-tied around his waist, closely followed by Finnian. They were only gasping slightly, after all that sprinting. Testimony to how good they were on the football field too.
“Anything?” Ceci asked. But the answer seemed clear.
Jax shook his head, pointing in the direction he’d just come. “There’s another stream, a river actually, about two miles south. Far wider, deeper. The scent disappeared on the water’s surface. But I’m thinking he must have crossed it. Assuming he did, with that fast-flowing current, he’s an impressive swimmer.”
Vesta’s expression was hard as she welcomed Finnian with her non-flaming hand, clasping his tight. “I hope the bastard drowned.”
Then Xander said what everyone was thinking. “This may or may not be connected to Jack 2. Let’s not jump to conclusions though. There are plenty of maniacs in New Nebraska.” He glanced around with a raised eyebrow. “And that’s just counting the ones gathered here.”
His expression of humor faded suddenly, and he stumbled to one knee, steadying himself against a cracked and crumpled tree branch—courtesy of my grizzly. Jax, surprisingly, was the first to aid him, steadying him by looping his head under Xander’s shoulder. “What’s up?” Jax looked down at Xander’s still sodden jeans. “The stream? Something from the magic?”
Xander waved a backhand, his words drowsy and his face pale. “The stream just reeks, that’s all. Who cares?”
“Tell the truth, vamp,” Jax said, a bit harshly, to be honest, but there was a gentleness to Jax’s actions as he gripped Xander around the waist.
“Okay, it’s my blood levels. I haven’t been feeding, can barely stomach the pre-packaged stuff. And nothing fresh… I don’t have appetite for any, except—” He glanced at Cecilia, forcing a weak smile. “I’m so glad my little orchid is okay. Now, Jax, and Finnian you handsome Stallion, would you help me walk for a few minutes, make sure I don’t fall over in that fucking stream? I feel fit for a coffin.”
