Obsession Untamed (Feral Warriors #2)(60)

He slammed his fist into her jaw.

“I want that bastard found!” Lyon’s hard growl echoed through the war room, giving voice to Tighe’s own frustration. He turned his hard gaze to Kougar. “Anything on those Daemon traps?”

“I’m close. I’ve got three that may potentially work if I can finish piecing them together, but they have to be done at night.”

“Tonight, then.” When Kougar nodded, Lyon turned to Hawke. “What have you found out, Wings?”

Hawke folded his hands on the table in front of him. “The Shaman’s been digging through old Daemon lore and believes the clone can indeed steal Tighe’s half of the soul. He just isn’t sure how he’ll go about it. He’s come up with a spell he can place on Tighe’s soul so that if the clone tries to steal Tighe’s half, both halves will be destroyed.”

“What the f**k good is that?” Jag drawled.

Hawke’s expression was grim. “It won’t keep Tighe alive, but it will at least contain the further threat of the clone.”

Lyon shook his head. “The only solution I want is one that destroys that clone and leaves Tighe alive.”

“There’s still only one of those. Kill the clone. Straightforward and simple.”

“And damned impossible to do.” Lyon’s fist slammed into the table. “It shouldn’t be this hard to catch him!”

Tighe looked up to see Kara standing in the doorway.

Lyon held his hand out to her, but she shook her head. “Sorry to interrupt. I was just wondering if Tighe’s seen Delaney. I can’t find her.”

Tighe was on his feet in an instant.

So was Hawke. “She was with you.”

Kara’s brows drew down with confusion. “I haven’t seen her. I just came downstairs a few minutes ago.”

“I saw you,” Hawke insisted. He blanched. “Or someone who looked just like you.”

Tighe’s blood went cold. “He’s got the witch’s glamour. He’s taking on the form of other people.”

“Anyone he’s seen.” Hawke’s mouth tightened. “That’s how he’s been eluding us. It’s how he got away when Kougar and I had him cornered.”

Lyon pulled out his knife. “Palms. Pink! Join us please.”

A fist of terror tightened in Tighe’s stomach, every muscle raging to take flight, to find her. He drew out his own knife and sliced his palm, holding it up for his chief to see, then he pulled out his phone and called the phone he’d given Delaney just that morning. Maybe the clone was still pretending to be Kara. Maybe Delaney would answer. But as the phone rang and rang, he knew that son of a bitch had her. His skin felt as if it were tying to crawl off his bones.

That son of a bitch would kill her. No, not kill her. Not yet. His chest felt like someone were stabbing him through the heart with a hot poker. He’d make her suffer first. He’d feed off her pain and her terror, little by little, like the Daemons of old. Until her tears were spent, her mind was gone, and her body couldn’t take any more.

He had to find her. Now. He turned to Hawke. “We can track her if she still has the phone.”

Hawke ran for the door. “I’ll get my laptop.”

“Wulfe, follow her scent,” Lyon barked.

“I’ll grab Tighe’s pillows for you,” Kara said.

“No need.” Wulfe stood. “Her scent is all over Tighe.”

Within moments, they burst from the doors of Feral House. As Wulfe shifted into his animal and followed Delaney’s scent, Tighe, Hawke, and Jag ran for Jag’s Hummer.

“I’ve got the signal,” Hawke said as Jag swung out of the circular drive. “It’s fixed. Over on Oak Woods.”

Tighe braced himself in the backseat, his senses going out to her. Call for me, Brown Eyes. When she’d been trapped, lost in that vision, he’d heard her calling for him. He’d been able to follow. Call for me, Delaney.

Was it possible she didn’t yet realize she was in trouble? No. She’d have answered her phone.

Only one reason she wouldn’t answer either call.

Goddess. Don’t let her be dead. Not when I’m just starting to understand how much I need her.

Minutes later, Jag pulled onto Oak Woods.

“Here.” Hawke snapped the laptop closed as Jag pulled the Hummer to a screeching halt. Tighe dove out the door, his senses open. She wasn’t there.

But her phone was. He saw it gleaming in the light. As he picked it up, as he touched the metal that had been in her hands such a short time ago, he felt a piece of himself die.

Wulfe came bounding out of the woods, a monster of a gray wolf. He sniffed around the area where the phone had been, then lifted his head to Tighe.

The scent ends here. She must have gotten into a car.

Fury rose in a hot wash, burning through Tighe’s blood. He had her. That son of a bitch had her.

A hand gripped his shoulder, and he turned to face Hawke.

“I’m sorry.” Hawke shook his head, his expression grim. “I’d like to give you platitudes like we’ll find her, but I’m out of ideas of how to catch him, buddy.” His eyes narrowed. “How did you find her the last time? After she set you up?”

“I heard her. I think I inadvertently formed a mind connection with her when I was trying to steal her memories. I heard her crying out for me that night and followed. I can’t explain how I knew where she was, but I knew.” He met his friend’s gaze. “She’s not calling out for me, this time.”