Page 46 of Red Marked

Her face crumples, and she hates it. She pulls me in before I can see it happen. She holds on hard. Her arms are almost strong enough to crack my ribs, and I hold her back and put my chin on her shoulder, breathing in the smoke and the mountain in her hair.

“If he hurts you,” she says into my neck, “I’ll find him.”

“He won’t hurt me.”

“I’ll find him, and I’ll end him.”

I smile. “I’d expect nothing less.”

She lets go. She wipes her face with the back of her hand once. Then her chin lifts, her shoulders go back, and the second-in-command I have leaned on for five years is standing in front of me again.

“You have to let me go. I have to do this. There is no other choice.”

She nods, a tear sliding down her cheek.

17

Flint

It’s too late to back out now, even though a part of me wants to.

Shit!

We all look toward the movement on the upper path. Star appears first, moonlight on her shoulders, and behind her, in single file, are three more females.

My heart picks up.

As they get closer, I note that there’s no red on them. They’re the missing females. All three of them.

Holy fuck!

It’s true. I did see two of them, but all three are here, and by tomorrow this time, they will all be home safe. At least, they will be if all goes to plan.

I feel my chest lighten.

I can breathe easier.

They stop on the far side of the flames. Two of them hang back, shoulder to shoulder. One has her arms folded around herself, a little behind the other two.

“It’s okay,” Star says. “This is Savanna, Caldera, and Koa.”

One of the females steps forward. The first thing I note is that she’s young. She lowers her arms to her sides and swallows thickly. I feel my mouth fall open before I can stop it.

She’s with whelp. Her belly is lightly rounded, with her belly button protruding just a little. Her breasts are full and veined.

There was no talk of a pregnant female the night they were taken. She almost looks too young to be with child.

I’m frowning.

Realization dawns, and horror fills me.

It can only mean that one of those animals put that whelp in her.

Rage rises through me so hard and fast that my vision darkens at the edges. My dragon slams against the inside of my skin, wanting out, wanting to fly back down this mountain and start ripping ferals apart until I find the right one. My hands curl into fists at my sides, claws begging to be let out, and smoke builds up in my throat.

I bristle.

The female shrinks and moves a step closer to Star.