One True Mate: Shifter's Solace (Kindle Worlds Novella)(15)

The guys crowded round, silent, as he listened for her response. It faded in and out, staticky and indistinct, like a radio station with bad reception.

…don’t know where I am. But a couple of miles back…guy with a can of spray-paint…ey walk among us…

He told her to hang tight, that he was coming for her, then he spoke to the guys.

“Bad news is, we’re on graffiti cleanup next week. Good news is, I know where she is.”

The Chief clapped him on the back. “Let’s go!”

As the fire truck roared into motion, heading for the water tower near the edge of town, the wolven piled into their squad cars and peeled away from the pavement. They fell in alongside as an escort, sirens blaring.

As they moved through the busy center of town, cars pulled onto the sidewalk to get out of their way and pedestrians gawped from the sidewalk, probably wondering what had all of Serenity’s emergency services tearing through town like their asses were on fire.

“Find out as much as you can about where they’re taking her,” the Chief instructed Rory.

“I will, but she fades in and out. What’s out there anyway? Mostly farmland, a few abandoned barns and stuff, right?”

The Chief’s nod was grim. “It’s a lot of ground to cover. And if Khain’s coming for her…”

He didn’t have to finish his sentence. They were racing to beat the clock.

*

Ms. Renard glanced over sharply at Ivy, and she realized with dismay that her lips had been moving as she concentrated on speaking to Rory over the miles that separated them. His answers were faint – she didn’t actually know whether it was really him or just wishful thinking. But she answered as though it was real, because what other hope did she have?

“You’re communicating with him, aren’t you?” the foxen demanded. “Shit. Nothing about you is easy, is it?” She thumped the steering wheel with her bony fist, then pulled over sharply to the side of the road, yanking on the handbrake.

She tore her scarf from around her throat and tied it tightly around Ivy’s eyes, knotting it roughly at the back of her head. Pity, really – Ivy had been trying to work out if there was a way she could throttle her with it.

“Try leaving him a trail of psychic breadcrumbs when you can’t see where you’re going, Promised,” she gloated. “At least I know now that you really are one of them and I haven’t been wasting my time on some random little hussy.”

“Hussy?” Ivy said. “Ooh, can I guess where we’re going? Is it 1953?”

Ms. Renard gripped the knot at the nape of Ivy’s neck and yanked her head back. “Let’s see how feisty you feel when I hand you over to Khain,” she snarled.

And now the fear was beginning to creep back, because Rory had been her only hope. If she couldn’t tell him where she was being taken, how would he find her? She remembered the prophecy Brady had recited.

In twenty-five years, half-angel, half-human mates will be discovered living among you.

Warriors, all, with names like flora.

Pity she wasn’t a warrior. Right now it would have come in really handy to know Kung-Fu or kick-boxing, or have a ninja throwing star hidden in her panties. Smack-talk probably wasn’t going to cut it.

*

Rory was sitting with his eyes closed, fingers pressed to his temples, thinking so hard it made his head ache.

“It’s just vague impressions. A rutted road – she’s being jounced around a lot. She can smell strong perfume…and cow shit.” He thumped the wall of the fire truck with a metallic clang, then shook his hand, wincing with pain. “That’s all I’m getting – cow shit. What good is that?”

From the expressions on their faces, the other guys could plainly hear the rising panic in his voice, but they were out of ideas.

“There are two cattle farmers out this way,” said the Chief as they barrelled up the road toward a T-junction. Culkin to the East. Jeffries to the West. Left or right. We choose wrong…”

He didn’t have to finish the sentence.

“She’s my mate,” Rory said, his breathing fast and panicky. “It’s my responsibility to make the right choice.”

“No,” said Ben.

Rory turned desperate eyes to him.

“Brady should choose.”

“She’s not Brady’s mate,” Rory protested. His voice shook.

“No, but Brady will choose right,” Ben said. He held Rory’s gaze, steady and true. “Brady always rolls lucky dice. He never picks the short straw. He always chooses the right card. Trust him – he’ll make the right decision.”

Rory shifted his gaze. “Brady?” he asked, grabbing his arm hard enough to leave bruises.

Brady nodded, face grim. “I’ll make the choice,” he said. “East. We’ll go east.”





Chapter Thirteen


Boots hit the ground as soon as the vehicles came to a halt. The last part of the run had been made without sirens, so the foxen wouldn’t be alerted to their arrival. They could only hope the people who’d taken Ivy weren’t aware she could communicate with Rory in ruhi.

It was clear at once they were in the right place, from the vehicles parked around a large farmhouse, and the stench of foxen. There must be a couple of dozen of them at least; the air was thick with their musk. Rory clasped Brady’s hand in silent thanks. Brady clapped his shoulder.