“We can’t move Lia,” Raiden’s Other flared golden in his eyes, and the denial was a growl on the edge of feral. “She is too weak.”
“Rai,” Wade’s tone held alpha command. There was a visible resistance between the two werewolves, one exhausted and injured, the other aging out of his prime. Wade changed tactic when the resistance failed to give either way. “Lucian will be coming for her.”
“F-k,” Raiden snarled, but he could not deny the truth of the statement. He released the rope that bound Lia, wrapped her into his blanket and lifted her into his arms. She muttered something under her breath about his injury and wrapped her arms around his neck in an effort to help him but did not open her eyes. “Let’s go.”
Wade considered protesting the injured werewolf carrying his mate but knew when to fight and when to cede. “We will split up,” he said to Will as they went up the stairs. “I will take Tara back to the pack, and you go with Raiden.”
“I will go too,” Alatar looked up as they passed by the kitchen. He was straining a foul smelling, thick green liquid through a sieve. “If Lia uses magic again, I am better equipped to handle it, than a bunch of wolves. No offense guys.”
“Alatar,” Wade paused, battling between the truth of what the warlock said and the potential of Alatar being injured or killed in the crossfire. “We appreciate the help, but I do not want to be accountable to your family for your loss.”
“Nor will you be,” Alatar said. “I am an adult, Wade. I can make my own decisions, and you need me.” He stuck the saltshaker into a pocket and scooped up the bowl of liquid blowing on it as he brought it over to Lia. “Down it goes,” he told her holding it to her mouth.
She fought against the liquid, gagging on the bitter taste, but he was merciless, although it dribbled around the edges of the bowl and down her face. She heaved, fighting the urge to vomit.
“Yeah,” he said with empathy even as he made sure the last dregs with tadpoles of fibres in it were consumed. “Not nice, eh?” He clapped a hand over her mouth as she continued to retch. “Nope, you vomit, you swallow it back down,” he told her sternly. “So, you better hope you don’t vomit, for all our sake, as I don’t want to be spoon feeding it back to you. Done that before to someone, and I never want to do it again. Not pleasant for either party.”
“Gross,” Tara pulled a face.
“Truth,” he replied grimly. “I still can’t eat stew. Don’t even ask me why, because I will be gagging with Lia and that won’t help anyone.” Lia moaned but kept the potion down. Alatar released her mouth. “Good.”
“I am sick of people gagging me,” Lia complained, her head heavy against Raiden’s shoulder.
“We need clothes,” Raiden realized as Wade opened the door and the night air hit them. “Lia needs more than one of my singlet tops on, and I need shoes at the very least.”
“I will grab his bag,” Tara ran back down the stairs as they moved out into the night.
Will drove a glossy silver 4WD and opened the passenger door, shoving things over the back of the seat into the boot space to make room. “Sorry,” he said over his back. “I have been short of time recently and the car has gotten out of hand.”
“We don’t mind a mess,” Raiden replied, sliding Lia onto the seat as Will stepped to the side. “As long as it has petrol and takes us the f-k away from vampires, we are fine.”
Tara ran out of the house and pushed Raiden’s bag onto his lap before running to her father’s car. Wade had the engine going, ready and began driving almost before she closed her door, spraying up gravel beneath the tyres.
Will started the car, and the door chime sounded as the werewolf began to drive, with Alatar’s door still slightly open.
The warlock slammed it shut. “Shit man,” Alatar complained as he did up his seat belt. “Surely we have a moment-”
“Vampires know where pack lands are,” Will replied. “We let them know, so they don’t cross into them. Our relationships have always been civil. They know where we run. If they don’t find us near the city, this will be their next stop.”
Raiden shoved his bag into the boot and pulled Lia to him, lying her across his lap. Her head lolled against his shoulder. “She is out cold,” he said with concern.
“That is okay,” Alatar assured him. “The potion sedates a bit. She probably needs the rest anyway.”
“F-k, f-k, f-k!” Will exclaimed as they neared the fence, he threw the car around, going off the dirt track, causing Raiden to have to grip Lia with one arm and brace against the seat. “There is someone at the gates, I can see the headlights. It wouldn’t be pack.”
“Are you sure?” Alatar asked
“Dad and Tara!” Raiden craned himself around in the seat. “They are ahead of us.”
“They are turning. Wade has seen them. Definitely not pack, Alatar. We head to our dens in times of trouble, not to the runs. We need to hit the trees for cover and shift,” Will said. “Make for the creek to disperse our scent.”
“Alatar,” Raiden said. The warlock could not shift, nor would he be able to keep up with the werewolves when they were in wolf form. “I’m sorry, man.”
“Don’t worry about me, Rai. I can cast a shield,” Alatar said, gripping the dash as the 4WD bucked along the rough terrain, the bash plate screaming in protest. “I can hide Lia and myself for a time, maybe long enough they will give up.”
“If Lucian is with them, it won’t work,” Raiden clutched her to him. He closed his eyes. “He will find her through the blood bond or will be able to call her to him.”
“No, Rai,” Will protested, realizing that Raiden would stay to defend his mate, even if, in his current condition, it would mean his death.
“What would you do?” Raiden replied grimly. “I can’t let him have her again, Will.”
“Shit,” Will’s voice broke on his despair. Like any other wolf, he knew he would not leave his injured mate.
They hit the treeline, and Will pulled the car over and killed the lights. “Maybe we can get to the creek carrying her between us?” He said as they got out of the car.
Raiden set Lia against the trunk of a tree as Wade pulled up behind him.
“Rai,” Wade put his hand on Raiden’s shoulder. “They are only minutes behind us. The gates will not hold them long, even with the spells warding them.”
“Go dad, keep Tara safe, get home to mum.”
“Rai.”
“I can’t hide her. He can find her through the blood bond or summon her to him.”
“Rai, it is suicide.”
“I know,” Raiden stood and embraced him. “But she is mine. Go dad.”
“Oh, how touching.” The Other luminesced in all four werewolves’ eyes as they whirled. Cael leaned against the tree, picking at his nails. “I could help you I suppose.”
“How did you get here? This whole area is warded, only pack can get through!” Raiden growled.
“It was pathetically easy to get past the wards,” Cael sneered. “Is that the best you have?”
“Who are you?” Alatar wondered.
“Cael’s a warlock,” Raiden supplied.
“Not one that I know,” Alatar muttered. “But that apparently means nothing.”
“What I am doesn’t matter,” Cael replied. “I am here for Lia. She is dying, and she seems to have an uncanny ability to summon me to her when her light is almost extinguished, so here I am again.
“So,” Cael made as if to lift her and the werewolves growled. He paused. “Be sensible. If I leave her here with you, she dies or spends the rest of her life as a blood slave. If I take her, she lives. What would you prefer?”
“You can help her?” Raiden knelt beside Lia and stroked her hair back from her face.
“I can take her to people who can,” Cael replied.
“I don’t know if I can trust you,” Raiden’s voice was quiet but carried the full weight of alpha command.