Hunger Untamed (Feral Warriors #5)(40)

"We'll get them back, Roar." There was an answer, and he wasn't giving up until they'd found it.

Lyon met his gaze with eyes rife with worry. "I hope to hell you're right."

As Lyon continued through the dining room and into the hall, Kougar turned to where Wulfe was making what appeared to be a sandwich. A small one. Since when did the wolf shifter bother with bread?

At the lift of Kougar's brow, Wulfe shrugged. "The humans are hungry."

Kougar stilled. "Humans?"

Wulfe bristled, a snarl in his throat. "Three of the humans attacked by the Daemons in Harpers Ferry survived, but we haven't been able to wipe their minds. As soon as we can, we'll release them."

As long as the humans posed no threat to the Ferals, Kougar didn't much care. All he cared about was Ariana's returning to him, hopefully with the answers they needed. He grabbed a plate and was piling it high with ham when he felt it, a pulse of raw emotion blasting down the mating bond, stronger than he'd felt since the bond was reattached. A blend of anger. And fear.

He dropped his plate with a clatter, closing his eyes as he tried to sense her in the Crystal Realm, but the door was closed to him. She wasn't there. She must have already headed to that damned temple. And he had no way to reach her. No way to communicate with any of them other than to send his emotions, his demand, roaring through the mating bond, and hope someone other than Ariana felt them and responded.

His muscles spasmed with his need to do something. Shoving through the back door, he caught a whiff of pine, felt a tingle of Ilina energy and began to breathe again.

Brielle shimmered to form before him, the look on her face telling him she already knew something was wrong.

"What happened?" he demanded.

"They're in trouble. Ariana and Melisande went together to the Temple of the Queens, but Melisande's been caught in a trap. Mel thinks it was set by the Mage. She can't be certain, but she thinks there are Mage in the temple."

Hell. "Take me to them."

"So that we can be captured, too?"

The need to reach Ariana was a live wire streaking through his blood, but he forced himself to think.

"They went directly into the temple?"

"To the Chamber of Life below the temple."

"Then you're going to deliver me outside. Far enough away that no one will know we're there and that you won't be caught by the magic."

Brielle's tight expression eased. "All right."

"Can you transport two of us?"

"Not two Ferals."

"Then get help." Kougar ran for the back door of Feral House. "Roar! Jag!" He was yelling even before he stepped into the dining room.

Lyon met him in the hallway. "What's up?"

"Ariana and Melisande ran into trouble in the temple. They've been captured."

"By whom?"

"Only the Mage would be able to capture an Ilina."

Lyon growled. "Where is this place?"

"The Himalayas."

"You've got to be kidding."

"The Ilinas can get us there. I'm taking Jag as backup."

Lyon lifted a brow. "Not Wulfe?" Hawke and Wulfe had been Kougar's partners of choice for years, now.

"We'll have to slip into the temple. Jag can downsize." And Wulfe couldn't. When he was shifted, he had only one form--huge gray wolf. Jag, like Kougar and a number of the others, had perfected the ability to take on smaller forms. He and Jag could pass for house cats, or close enough.

Jag joined them in the hallway, and Lyon filled him in.

"How in the hell are we getting there?" Jag demanded.

"Ilina."

The jaguar shifter made a sound of excited disbelief. "No shit. Hey, Chief, tell Olivia where I've gone, will you? She's with Kara."

"I'll tell her. I don't have to tell you two to be careful."

Kougar turned back toward the dining room.

"So how does this work, traveling by Ilina?" Jag asked, catching up with him.

"You'll feel like you're falling. Then you'll puke your guts out."

"Reality check, Kougar-man. Don't apply for a job as an ad man for the travel industry."

Lucky for Kougar, his link to Ariana had long ago tamped down the worst of the effects for him. But he remembered all too well his one trip to the Crystal Realm before they were mated. He'd sworn he was never traveling like that again. Jag wasn't going to enjoy himself, but there was little help for it. Ariana needed him, and he needed Jag.

Brielle and an Ilina whose name Kougar didn't know were waiting for them when they reached the patio.

The mist warriors flew at them before they were fully out the door.

"Hey!" Jag complained, then said nothing more as they were both encased in a warm, mistlike energy glow.

As long as they didn't fight the Ilinas, the energy didn't hurt unless the Ilinas wanted it to. But Kougar had never been particularly fond of the scratchy feel. It always reminded him of lying naked in hay. He closed his eyes against the blinding light, concentrating on the mating bond inside him to anchor himself against the spinning.

Moments later, he came back to himself in a bitterly cold wind that whipped at his face. On the hard, rocky ledge beside him, Jag began to retch. Ahead rose a steep, rocky path. Behind them, the cliff face dropped away, offering a view of rugged snowcapped peaks as far as the eye could see.