“Who cares? We’ll kill it, too,” another answered.
“No, you brought them. You knew you shouldn’t have been here alone. You knew what it was about. That’s why you left a note and thought you’d sneak away before any of us figured out what you were doing. Kind of chicken-shit of you, Hell. I figured you for more courage than that.”
“I’m here alone! How much more courage do you need?”
“That’s not courage, that’s stupidity. Courage is knowing when you should ask for help. You knew this was not acceptable, and it was not even slightly smart to go off on your own, and you did it anyway.”
“I’m trying to get enough information to get back to my bosses so that we can stop them and save the animals.”
“I am your mate!” he just barely managed not to shout.
“I was trying to keep you out of it to protect you, too.”
He blinked slowly as her meaning sank in. “You’re saying I’m not capable?” he asked.
“No! I’m saying you’re not fully healed. It’s not worth risking your safety right now. Another couple of weeks, maybe. But not now.”
“But it’s worth risking your safety?” he asked.
“Something has to be done, and it needs to be done, now.”
Three more quick calls sounded, followed by the sound of Bears, Wolves, a Fox, and a terrifying, deafening screech that Hellen knew all too well. “Oh, shit,” she murmured. “Remi!”
“Alright! That was not fucking normal!” the male giving orders shouted at those working with him. “Find whatever the fuck it is and kill it!”
“You find it! I’m out!” one of them answered, tossing the armful of animal skins he held and running for the boats they had anchored at the shore.
Another high-pitched screech sounded and Lucien reacted immediately. “Stay out of the goddamn way,” he snapped, physically lifting her off her feet and setting her down further back inside the protective overhang of the Cypress and Blackgum trees they were sheltering in.
“You stay out of the goddamn way!” she countered.
“You have no idea what we have planned! You’ve kept us all blocked! All you’ll do is get in the way.”
“Then tell me so I can help!”
He actually bared his teeth as he glared at her and an unending hiss poured from him.
“Didn’t scare me off before, it’s not working now,” she snapped at him.
“Fuck, Hell!” he growled.
“Tell me how to help! What the hell are you doing?”
“First I’m getting you out of the damn way, then we’re trying to release the animals that are still alive, and killing all those responsible. Remi’s burning it all. There will be nobody left.”
“I’ll start releasing animals,” she said, darting away from him as best she could in the hip deep water.
Left with no other alternative, Lucien set out behind her, intent on using his own body to shield her if he had to. As she ran as best she could through the water and soggy ground, shefollowed the directions from Lucien who stayed right on her heels. “Left! Go to the left!”
She moved to the left, and ran for a few moments before he was shouting instructions again. “See that water oak?! Turn toward it, run right at it. The cages are behind it.” As she ran, she heard the sound of carnage taking place behind her. Roars, screams, gunshots.
There weren’t many animals left, just a dozen or so, and most of them were still caught in the traps they’d been captured in. Hellen wasted no time as she began to fight the traps clamping down on legs and paws. Lucien joined in, and in a short amount of time, they’d freed all of them. Even the two bears who’d been tangled in large nets roaring and baying to be set free.
The sound of engines carried to them as three of the males responsible tried to make a getaway though most of them stood and fought Brandt, Kaid and the clan. As the boat churned the water, leaving a wake behind as it sped away, the air began to swirl and the trees bent nearly all the way to the ground with the force of the wind, Hellen paused and looked up at the sky as it darkened.
“Holy shit,” Lucien said, taking her by the arm and pulling her further inland without taking his eyes off the huge, black Dragon rising into the sky and blocking out the setting sun.
“It’s Remi,” Hellen said.
