Leap of the Lion (The Wild Hunt Legacy #4)(114)

As the car approached Cold Creek, Owen spotted a vehicle parked on the shoulder, barely off the road, in fact. The van was black with darkly tinted windows. “Alec, that’s a Scythe vehicle.”

Alec braked.

“Looks empty.” Alec scowled. “I can’t stop, not with…” He glanced at the passengers in the back. The babies and females. Putting them in danger wasn’t acceptable.

“Drive past and let me out. I’ll run back and see what’s up.” If the Scythe were off in the woods, he’d wave Alec away and do some hunting.

Owen approached the vehicle from the rear, since the car was pointed toward Seattle. Moving up, he glanced in the back. Empty.

Looking in the driver’s side, he realized the car had occupants, after all. When he opened the front door, the escaping scent was so filled with fear that he jerked back a step.

But the two dead humans posed no threat. The driver and passenger were slumped over each other, with no signs of injury. No blood. Just stark terror in their faces.

After a second, Owen slammed the door shut…because the scent lingering in the back was that of a very angry Cosantir.

The Cosantir had turned himself over to the Scythe. Had probably been bound and shoved into the back seat. By these two humans.

“You poor bastards,” Owen muttered, remembering the look on Calum’s face when he’d said, “I will be in the heart of my territory.”

*

Finally home. Vic realized Alec had parked the car in front of the side gate. Oh, hell, it was a long walk around the side and up the stairs to their second-floor rooms. And she was so…fucking…exhausted. It was taking all her strength to sit upright.

Gawain jumped out and helped Darcy out.

Vic swung her legs around and found her way blocked.

“Soldier or not, you’re all in.” Darcy turned to Alec. “You carry her. The guys and I will bring in the babies.”

Alec raised his eyebrows and grinned at Owen. “You’re going to have your hands full with this one.” A minute later, Alec took Sorcha from Vic, handed the baby to Owen, and scooped up Vic.

She rested her head against his shoulder and sighed. “Normally, I’d belt you one for carrying me around.”

He rested his cheek against her head for a second. “Not today?”

“Not today. Thank you.”

“Vixen, you have no idea how much I need to hold you…for a long, long time. It’ll be a while before I can shed my fear, and Calum is even worse. He already—he didn’t sound good when I spoke to him.”

Oh, fuck. Calum’s first mate had been slaughtered by a human. Vic kidnapped by humans…no, he wouldn’t be a happy camper. “Let’s get in there.”

“Aye.” Alec led the others around the side of the house and up the stairs. The door was ajar, and he pushed it open and walked into the living room. The room was dark and silent.

Calum was on the couch, head in his hands, and power was so thick around him she could almost hear it rumble.

“Brawd.” Still holding her, Alec went down on one knee beside the couch.

Calum looked up, and his eyes were black and unseeing. “Did you lie? Is she—”

“Oh, Calum.” Vic reached out. When she put her hands on each side of his face, he gripped her wrists in an unbreakable hold.

“Victoria.”

“Here, brawd. Hang onto her for a bit.” Alec set her on Calum’s lap.

“You’re here. Alive.” The arms that came around her felt like finely forged steel as he wrapped her in his strength and power. When he bowed his head and rested his cheek on the top of her head, she felt the tremor go through him.

And the shimmering heat of the God slowly diminished.

After a minute, when he let her take a breath, she asked, “Have you been sitting here all this time?”

“Aye.” He lifted his head and slid over so Alec could join them on the couch. “After I…disposed…of the Scythe agents, I had nothing I could do—and too much anger to be trusted around anyone. I could only”—his words descended to a low deadly growl—“wait.”

She rubbed her cheek on his shoulder. “Yeah. Waiting is the worst. I’d rather be shot at any day.”

Alec snorted. “It really bothers me that I know you mean that.”

“Are you unhurt?” Calum asked, finally releasing her enough to look at her. His eyes were returning to the silvery-gray she loved.

“Just tired. Um…” She glanced at Alec, and he nodded. “How about a nice surprise for a change?”

Calum’s lips curved. “About the captives?”

Damn, he was off his game. His powers of observation rivaled Wells’s, and he hadn’t even noticed she was a hell of a lot lighter.

“Huh, I guess you could call them the most recent of the captives.” She looked over his shoulder and motioned to the three standing as far away as they could get without falling down the stairs.

Owen—brave cahir—came first and went down on one knee in front of Calum. “Congratulations, Cosantir,” he said gently. “The clan increases.” He held Sorcha in the curve of his arm.

Calum went deadly still. “You—”

Gawain went down on one knee next to Owen. “Congratulations, Cosantir. The clan increases.” Toren kicked his pint-sized feet and made a burbling sound.