Leap of the Lion (The Wild Hunt Legacy #4)(36)
The surprise left her silent, and as her mentors turned to discussing their upcoming move, she stood between them, feeling content.
Chapter Eight
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On Monday, Gawain spotted a turnout on the forest service road and pulled the car into it. Time for shifter-soldier hunting as they’d promised Darcy.
Yesterday, they’d let her practice on her own while he and Owen had run up to his littermate’s remote cabin. The setting was beautiful—a tiny mountain valley with a stream at the front door—but also what the humans called “off the grid”. No electricity. No road.
While Gawain had looked around, his brother had figured out what belongings he wanted to move to town. After a few hours of savoring the peace, Gawain suggested Owen keep the cabin. Having a quiet sanctuary was good for shifters—especially introverts like his littermate.
This morning, over breakfast, they’d listed out what they each needed and wanted in a house, and shared some of their experiences in the years apart. Gawain glanced over at his brother, seeing the scattered scars on his arms, face, and neck. Owen had been far too nonchalant about the dangers of a cahir’s life.
Sliding out of the car, Gawain looked around and gave a sniff. Odd how the air smelled different outside of Calum’s territory. Even the feeling of the land was strange—thinner or less rich or something. Perhaps the lack was because the Gods had no influence over the Twin Sisters Range.
As Owen stepped out of the car, he was absent-mindedly scratching his neck and arms.
Being resistant to the effects of metal, Gawain didn’t suffer from vehicular-induced itching. But he knew better than to laugh. In fact, it had been a very quiet drive, since his itchy littermate had been as grumpy as a dwarf without any gold to his name.
Speaking of dwarves… “Did Calum find out if the dwarves had seen any shifters around here?”
“They weren’t any help.” Heading into the underbrush, Owen unbuttoned his shirt. “Their only hall this far north is within the North Cascades Territory, so they don’t know any more than Calum does.”
“That’s a shame.”
“We might get more help, though. Tynan, Donal’s littermate, lives in Seattle. Did you see him when we brought Darcy to the healer’s house?”
“Big male? Square jaw and Irish accent?” Gawain followed as Owen led the way into the underbrush.
“Yeah. The cop doesn’t come to Cold Creek often. He worries if he’s ever exposed as a Daonain, someone might track his movements back to the town. But he misses other shifters—he’s a wolf—so he and Donal want to join us next time we come to search.”
The poor bastard; wolves weren’t meant to den alone. “I don’t know how anyone could tolerate being in a city surrounded by humans. Of course they can join us.”
Reaching a place well hidden within the brush, Owen shed his clothes.
Gawain did the same and then tied the car key around a branch and out of sight.
Owen raised an eyebrow. “Why not leave it in your pocket?”
“This way I have a car, even if someone steals our clothes.” He shook his head. “And, having learned the painful way, I keep extra jeans and a shirt in the car.”
Owen snorted. “Painful? Like when Edwyn got revenge for our going to the lake without him?”
“Exactly.” Edwyn had never dealt well with being left out. He’d followed, and they’d returned to find their hidden clothing ripped to confetti. It had been a hot sunny day—and the ancient vinyl car seats had scorched their bare skin. “I think I had blisters on my ass for weeks.”
“Fuck, I couldn’t sit down for a day afterward.”
“That little weasel.” When Gawain’s gaze met Owen’s, they both grinned. The thought of Edwyn no longer caused agonizing pain, and even more, Owen had spoken his name with a smile. Time healed.
After Owen trawsfurred, Gawain did the same and followed his littermate down a tiny animal trail. The fir needles were damp and soft under his paws. He slowed to snatch a few tart huckleberries from a bush before loping after his brother.
The breeze came from the north and west. He could scent several deer, fairly distant. Coyotes had used the trail recently. No humans were anywhere close.
No shifters, either. His ears flattened with worry. What would Darcy do if they couldn’t locate her brothers?
He couldn’t imagine how it would feel to have Bonnie held hostage. It was such a joy to spend time with her again. He’d missed her almost as much as he’d missed Owen. But…by staying in Pine Knoll, Gawain had given both his littermates time to heal from their mother’s abuse.
And he’d figured those dues were his to pay. After all, it had been his fault Edwyn had died.
Chapter Nine
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Time passed far too quickly, Darcy thought, as she strolled toward downtown. A week had passed while Owen and Gawain searched for the shifter-soldier camp. In Seattle, Tynan was hunting for the female captives.
As for Darcy, her trawsfurring was improving, and she no longer shifted randomly. Unfortunately, her control still disintegrated if she was startled or hurt. Yesterday, while repairing the lodge’s refrigerator, a loose wire poked her arm. A second later, her clothes were trying to strangle her, and she dropped the screwdriver…right onto her furry hind paw.