Ecstasy Untamed (Feral Warriors #6)(51)

"We need to be on guard. The new Ferals may have returned here. If so, we leave and come back when our numbers are stronger."

Faith frowned. Wasn't Fox one of the new ones, too? Not that she was about to question Lyon.

Hawke pulled up in front, threw the vehicle into park, then took her hand and pulled it to his mouth, placing a gentle kiss on her knuckles. "Stay here. We won't be long."

"The draden?"

"Probably won't find us before we're done."

"Good." She pulled her hand from his and grabbed the door handle. She was going to be a worthless Feral Warrior. But right now she served a purpose, and not even Hawke was going to take that away from her. "Then I'm coming."

"Faith . . ."

She met his gaze. "There's only one thing I'm needed for, and that's to help you. Let me do it."

He sighed, then nodded. "I'd rather keep you where I can protect you, anyway."

She grinned at him. "See? We both win."

She was rewarded with an endearing Hawke smile that lit her up inside and, for a few precious moments, banished the horror of the past hour.

Lyon raised a brow as he and Hawke lifted the injured and growling grizzly out of the back. "What's this about her helping you?"

"She calms the rage. Not completely, but enough to help me keep it under control."

Lyon nodded, giving her a speculative glance. "That's good."

Fox swung the hatch closed, then ran ahead to open the front door.

She followed the three men and their burden through the foyer and down a long, long stair into the basement.

Deep below the house, they passed into a fully equipped gym and through a door hidden in a floor-to-ceiling mirror on the far side. The door led into another long passage, this one appearing to be cut directly from the stone. As soon as they passed through the mirrored door, the cry of an animal in pain met her ears.

"Lynks," Hawke said. "Limbs are a bitch to regrow."

As the animal's cries grew louder, the passage opened into a small prison, individual cells lining two walls.

"In here." Lyon led the way into the nearest open cell. He and Hawke dropped the injured and snarling grizzly, then backed out, closing the barred door behind them.

Lyon and Hawke exchanged a glance. Hawke looked at her. "Go back to the gym, Faith. I'll meet you there in a moment." The look in his eye told her this command wasn't up for debate. Whatever they needed to discuss didn't involve her.

Her pulse began to sprint. Did they know she'd gone feral? Had Maxim told them during the battle?

She turned and started back down the stone passage, a dull ache forming beneath her breastbone. Halfway down the passage, she heard a shout and the grunting sounds of a scuffle. Faith froze, uncertain whether to go back.

The clang of another prison door clicking shut reached her ears along with Fox's voice. "You feckin' idiots! I fought on your side."

"Nothing personal," Lyon replied. "It's just a precaution until we know what we're dealing with. Shift into your animal and stay that way until we return for you. Draden don't bother animals."

"And if those feckers return?"

"Let's hope they don't. I'm doing the best with what I have, Fox. Like I said, it's nothing personal."

Faith sank back against the wall, pressing her fist to her stomach, her heart hammering. Now probably wasn't the time to admit to them that she'd gone feral.

Hawke and Lyon joined her. Hawke slid his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close as they continued down the passage. "It's been a hell of a night," he muttered.

She shivered. He had no idea. "I'll be glad when it's over." But it would never be over, would it? Being marked as a Feral Warrior was a life sentence. She could never leave Feral House and the Radiant, not for any amount of time. Returning to Warsaw, to Paulina and Maria and her rolling-stone life, was out of the question.

Tears burned her eyes, a hopelessness sweeping over her.

The Ferals, the real Ferals, were going to be furious when they found out she'd been marked, that one of the animals had been wasted on her. She'd be useless to them as a fighter.

The only good thing to come out of any of this was that she now had no choice but to stay close to Hawke. For as long as he wanted her. Would he want her, once he learned the truth? Sooner or later, she'd have to tell him.

But for right now, she was keeping her secret to herself.

An hour later, Hawke followed Lyon through the front door of the Georgetown enclave - a long line of town houses that opened into a single mansion inside. He held Faith's hand tight in his, unwilling to let go of her. She'd been silent on the ride over. They all had, lost to their own thoughts and worries. But there was a turmoil in Faith's silence that ate at him. She'd been through hell today between the revelation that the man she thought she loved had been hurting her and the draden attack. He wouldn't have been surprised if she'd needed some time . . . and space. He'd have given them to her . . . anything. But she'd leaped into his arms as if the only place she'd wanted to be was with him.

Goddess, he adored her. Whatever happened, he would make sure she was safe, and that Maxim didn't come after her again.

Kara met them, her face pale, dark shadows under her eyes. "They're stable," she said, calming their fears as she slid into Lyon's embrace. "Paenther's still unconscious, but he's doing better now that Skye's here. Jag's torso is almost completely regrown, so his organs are no longer falling out, but his legs haven't started to re-form, yet. He's in terrible pain. But they're alive. They're going to make it."