Passion Untamed (Feral Warriors #3)(65)

Tighe's voice cut through her head with hard warning. If you harm Delaney, witch, you die.

She answered him in kind. She's a good person, Tighe. I would never hurt her.

With a warning growl, he turned and bounded off after Paenther.

"Was he threatening you?" Delaney asked beside her. The wind whipped at her loose hair, sending it flying about her face like a dark mist.

Skye threw her a wry look, then went back to watching the cats. "You know him well."

"Oh, yeah. They're prickly as hell about who they let in their inner circle, but once you're in, watch out. The cavemen had nothing on these guys for sheer stubborn protectiveness."

"That's nice for you. To be protected like that."

"Do the Mage do that?"

"Protect their females? Some do. When I was a little girl, I lived among Mage would have risked everything to keep me safe from the outside world. Unfortunately, it was another Mage who wanted me, and there was nothing they could do to stop him." She sighed. "The only one who ever tried to protect me in the caverns was Paenther. And he was chained at the time."

She felt Delaney's probing gaze. "He's more than protective of you. I've seen the way he looks at you, Skye. It's a lot like Tighe looks at me. Some of the Ferals think you've enchanted him, but I don't think it's that simple."

Skye met Delaney's gaze. "I love him. And he told me he feels the same."

Delaney grinned. "Well, there you have it. Sounds like we're going to be sisters-in-law...or whatever it would be. Feral Warrior wives-in-law?"

Skye smiled, the rush of longing making her chest ache. "I'd like that." She'd more than like it. Having friends, a home, a family again was a dream she'd barely dared to imagine.

Look left!

Tighe's voice rang in Skye's head, tearing her thoughts from the fragile hope. At her side, Delaney's head jerked left and she knew he was speaking to them both. Two men. Do you recognize either of them, Skye?

She saw the two he was talking about a distance away, walking casually, like humans out for a stroll. They were dressed in casual jeans and barn jackets rather than the blue tunics of Birik's sentinels. But as one of them turned, she caught his profile. They're Birik's men, Tighe.

The two cats gave chase. Immediately, the Mage took off, running in two different directions.

Get in the car and lock the doors, Tighe barked. Both of you.

Delaney made a sound of disgust. "I hate getting relegated to the role of helpless..." She whirled, pulling her gun. "Freeze!"

Skye spun around to find a third man running directly for them. A man she recognized all too well. Devrell, one of Birik's cruelest sentinels.

"He's Mage." In her head she screamed, Tighe! Paenther!

The sound of gunfire exploded in her ears as Delaney shot at the man, but he was immortal and the bullets did nothing to slow him down.

"Skye, run!"

Skye hesitated, wanting to help her new friend, but there was nothing she could do. Besides, she knew it was her the Mage wanted. She turned and fled in the direction she'd watched Paenther go.

Beauty! What's happening?

There's a third Mage. Delaney shot at him, but...

She glanced behind her and gave a mental shriek. She's down! He's coming for me.

Run, Beauty! I'm coming.

Her feet felt awkwardly heavy in the borrowed running shoes as she ran through the woods, leaping over the uneven ground, the forest-scented wind whipping at her face. The heavy thud of her heartbeat pounded in her ears as terror crawled up her spine.

She wouldn't go back there!

All around her, birds landed on nearby branches. Squirrels chattered angrily in the trees as if preparing to come to her aid, but she didn't call them. They'd only get hurt.

Behind her she heard the low chant of a Mage spell and her heart sank. Seconds later, a rock the size of her fist rose from the ground and flew at her. She turned her head and raised her arm, but the rock slammed into her shoulder, knocking her off stride. More rocks flew at her, as if Birik's nightmare had come to life, hitting her legs and sweeping her feet out from under her. With a thud, she landed on her back on the forest floor, the wind knocked out of her.

Before she could leap to her feet, Devrell was over her, staring down at her with cold eyes ringed in a copper as bright as her own. He grabbed her and hauled her to her feet. Skye fought him, struggling against his hold as he dragged her back toward the road. Even though his strength was nothing compared to Paenther's, it was still far greater than her own.

Paenther!

I'm coming, Beauty.

Moments later, a flash of black caught her eye.

Devrell released her, pulling a knife from his belt. As the panther leaped at him, going for the throat, the Mage slid the knife between the animal's ribs. The sleek animal knocked the man to the ground with his powerful body, taking two more stabs to the chest and throat before he bit clean through Devrell's wrist, tearing off his hand.

Blood sprayed from the Mage's arm as the great cat lay across him, lengthwise, his deadly teeth mere inches from Devrell's face. Tail twitching, blood matting his fur, the cat stared down at his captive like a hunter about to take a juicy bite out of his prey.

Paenther snarled, his eyes glowing green. But as Skye stepped closer, he swung his head toward her. Are you okay?