Wicked Edge (Realm Enforcers, #2)(14)

The lead bear charged, teeth sharp and bared.





Chapter 5


Oh God. There were at least eight large beasts running at them.

“Hold on, Cee Cee,” Daire said, twisting the throttle. The powerful vehicle jumped forward, and snow sprayed.

She clamped her hands together, her body flush with his, her legs vibrating. Piercing cold air rushed against her face, and she leaned her cheek into his back. “What about Vegar?” she yelled.

Daire swerved to avoid the head bear.

Two more leaped toward them, hitting their bodies square on and knocking them off the rapidly moving snowmobile. Daire turned in midair and tucked her close, wrapping his body around her as they landed hard on the ice and skidded several yards. Before she could catch her breath, he was up and in front of her, facing down a line of snarling beasts.

She scrambled to stand, her boots sliding on the slippery surface. Panic cut off her air, and the wind shoved at her from behind. The snowmobile continued on without them for a distance, slowed, and slid to a stop, its engine still running.

The nearest bear lifted its head and growled. Insanity glowed in its eyes, or maybe that was hunger. Definitely pure animal with no shifter inside. Judging by size, three of the animals were male, five female. All were a mangy white with thick coats and deadly claws, ranging from nine feet to seven feet tall, and about a thousand pounds. How in the hell could she and Daire take all eight of them?

A female to the leader’s left turned and ran over to Vegar on the ground. Cee Cee cried out and tried to move toward the downed witch, but Daire shoved her back behind him.

“Too late. Concentrate on the immediate threat,” he ordered, his stance set, his large body between her and the snarling beasts.

A sickening crunch echoed as one of the beasts sank its teeth into Vegar’s neck. Within seconds, the animal had beheaded the witch. Two more bears leaped over and started to feed.

Oh God, Oh God, Oh God. Cee Cee swallowed down bile.

Daire angled slightly toward the sea, facing the remaining five beasts. “I’m going to charge them, straight in the middle, and you run for the snowmobile,” he said under his breath.

“No.” She couldn’t leave him to five of the snarling monsters. “You’re tough, Enforcer, but one of those animals just ripped off a witch’s head with minimal effort.” She’d never fought a real bear before. “Go for the throat and incapacitate quickly,” she whispered.

He nodded. “Get to the damn snowmobile. The throttle is the right handlebar—just twist forward the second you jump on. I can’t charge them and cover you.”

She quickly calculated scenarios in her head. He was right. The five remaining bears began to spread out and circle them. “Okay.”

“When you get on, go north, past the buildings, and keep going until you reach the base of that peak over there. I have allies, polar bear shifters, and they’ll help you. Tell them you’re mine.” Daire shook out his hands and angled to keep himself in alignment with the leader as it moved. “Now. Go.” With a breathtaking roar, he jumped forward, arms outstretched, taking down three of the massive bears.

Cee Cee ducked to the side and ran full bore toward the snowmobile. Panting and the clacking of nails on ice sounded behind her. Claws raked down her arm, shredding the coat and digging into her skin.

Pain flared—hot and brutal.

Her heart rate increased, and her lungs panted out. She half turned and kicked out, nailing the animal in the snout. It went down, and Cee Cee turned to run again. Blood poured from her torn artery, but she didn’t have the time or resources to heal herself right now.

She reached the snowmobile, leaped onto the seat, her hand already twisting the handlebar. The machine lurched forward, and she jerked to the right, swinging the back skis around. No way was she leaving Daire to the animals. The machine wobbled, and she tightened her hold, opening the throttle wide. Ducking her head, she drove over the ice, straight at the melee.

Blood already flowed across the white tundra. Daire stood in the middle of the four remaining predators, kicking and striking, forming fire balls and throwing. The beasts used sharp claws and deadly teeth, alternating between striking and avoiding the burning plasma.

Cee Cee ran right into the biggest animal, hitting it in the back and sending it flying toward the sea. She whipped the vehicle around and reached out a hand for Daire. Blood covered him forehead to ankles, and most of his clothing was shredded. “Get on,” she yelled.

He shook blood from his eyes and threw a succession of deep green fireballs at the bears, swinging his arm and creating a graceful arc of flame. With his free hand, he grabbed hers and jumped behind her, still forming and throwing deadly fire through the swirling storm. The horrifying smells of burned fur and blood swirled with the barrage of snow. “Go,” he bellowed.

She leaned down and opened the throttle again, kicking out with one leg to nail a bear in the neck. It fell back, teeth mashing together.

Daire wrapped his body over her, his thighs outside her hips, bracketing her. With an unholy howl, the lead bear came at them from the left, while another male came from the right. “Strike to the right,” Daire ordered.

Her lungs compressed. She held on to the handlebars and cocked her leg to kick. Daire threw fire from both hands, nailing each bear before turning to deal with the lead Alpha bear.