Page 14 of Ruin

B’nar walked forward and put his hand into the water. “No need to risk anymore lives.”

Stone’s suspicious gaze followed his movements, but those same narrowed eyes soon widened as B’nar’s magic turned the raging river to ice.

“This won't last long, so you’d better run! Now!” urged the fae prince, grabbing Blue’s hand. “With me, human,” he said and sprinted down river, freezing the flow as he went. Blue looked as white as a sheet at that display of his power, but had the sense not to argue with his demands this time. We needed to get away from the prison. Part of me didn’t want to abandon my search for my mate, and Prime was all kinds of angry at leaving Connor behind, again, but it would be suicide to stay.

My feet slipped on the ice and I fell more than once, but at least I had boots on. Without shoes, the poor women were falling behind. They had no energy to shift. Dammit, they’d soon die out here with no protection—so would their babies. That was if they still lived. My heart pounding at our stupidity, I turned back to help them. Myles and Kawan saw where I was headed, so did Owen. Watching us approach, Selina gripped her son to her chest, attempting to shield him from the cold. My heart squeezed, the babies were utterly silent. Too silent, after all that screaming I’d heard earlier. I didn’t know much about babies, but I knew that was bad news.

We all got to the small group of women at the same time. All three men ripped their coats and shirts off immediately. Owen beckoned another two men over. “Get your clothes off. Give your coats and trousers to the women and wrap the babies in the shirts.”

Selina eyed him suspiciously and shuffled away from him, inhaling deeply, scenting him. In a sudden move she snatched the shirt from his hands. “Thanks. Pity you all didn’t think of that before our babies were nearly dead with cold.”

Owen’s wolf rolled across his eyes, even though his voice remained steady, so tightly controlled, I thought he might snap. He was always calm, so it showed how badly he wanted away from this place.

“Yeah? Lady, my priority is the lives of my soldiers. If you want something, you have to speak up, or go without. Now cover that child before you put this fucking coat on. Or don’t. Either way, we’re moving out.” And he dropped the coat as he stripped, his boots, trousers and boxers quickly coming off, totally unbothered by his nakedness. “You! Shift! Now!” he ordered the shifters who had stripped off their clothes to give to the women. He looked around and every other shifter had run after B’nar. The ice below our feet began to crack and a couple of the women squealed in fright. “Shift! Now!” he bellowed at Kawan, Myles and I, and he did the same.

I let my wolf slam through my flesh. She was quicker to my aid than Prime. Owen’s wolf snarled at the naked woman who had just managed to wrap her baby in his shirt. It was clear he wanted her to get on his back. She scowled, but looked down at the ice beneath. More cracks appeared, water covering our feet. Owen growled. Selina quickly shoved her arms through the thick coat. In one arm she gripped her child, with her other hand she grabbed Owen’s fur and pulled herself onto his broad back. The others did the same and took off after him. I ran behind the slowest, to make sure they all made it. I’d use every bit of Prime’s power to make sure these shifters saved these poor women.

We made it to the bank down river just as B’nar’s magic faded and the river sent huge chunks of ice tumbling away.

“Bloody hell, that was close,” muttered Blue.

“Yes, it would have been worse if we’d had to swim, though. It would have ruined your armour,” B’nar said, and Blue looked at him as if she wasn’t sure if he was being funny or not.

Owen howled, a loud haunting sound that carried through the snow laced forest, calling the rest of the pack to him.

I stayed in wolf form, content to let Mea keep me warm, sorry that Blue, Alex and the women didn’t have the option to shift to protect them from the cold. Most of them had only managed to get a coat on their bodies before we’d had to run.

Owen led us on, and we were joined by more shifters as we went. I was utterly exhausted and completely lost. The forest was coated in a white blanket and the scents my wolf picked up were all unknown, except the brothers’. There was nothing I would be able to follow back to the prison.

Chapter 5

Ember

I losttrack of time as Owen led us on, Selina clutching to him with her boney fingers, the baby caught under her chest. The warmth from Owen’s fur must have been keeping the little thing from freezing to death. We travelled through thick snow until a rugged cliff face came into view.

The closer we got, the more scents I picked up as the cliff face disappeared behind the trees. Around us I could sense shifters watching. Owen had this place locked down. No demons or Weres were getting close to this camp without his knowledge.

Through the trees, a fissure in the rocks became visible. I gave my wolf a nudge. Within moments, I stood fully clothed, armed and walking beside Owen’s wolf. All of those who had shifted had left their clothes behind. Shifting was only used as a last resort, or when planned to allow our animal spirits to run free. Unlike me, most shifters couldn’t make their clothes disappear and return at will. The tension in Owen’s wolf seemed to ebb a little the closer we got to the cave. Stone strode over, not having shifted. Even his face had lightened a little.

“Welcome to camp,” Shannon said, eyeing Selina who was sliding semi-conscious from Owen's back. “Whoa!” Shannon’s hands were outstretched as she made a move to grab the emaciated woman. Stone moved quicker and caught Selina. Shannon ran around and grabbed the baby that was bundled in Owen’s shirt. “Mother Wolf, he’s so pale.” Her worried eyes caught Stone’s.

“Shit! Get these women inside right now!” bellowed Stone. “And get something to feed these babies with.”

“Like what?” said Shannon

Stone’s brows dipped. “How the hell do I know what babies need? I’ve never been this close to one before.” And he peered down at the child looking so perplexed even Shannon had to smile. “Don’t worry, Stoney, I’ll sort something. Let’s get them inside first.”

The wolves shifted back, still not in the least bit self-conscious about their nakedness. I guessed in a camp like this, full of shifters, where clothes were in short supply, there was no place for bashfulness. Owen shifted and frowned at Selina and then the baby.

“I’ll take her,” he said to Stone whose expression remained stoic as he handed over the half naked woman.

“I’ll bring the baby. Where are we going, boss?” Shannon’s expression tightened, and when I looked around, I saw that anxiety mirrored on the faces of the other shifters, who now carried a woman, or a silent baby.

Myles strode up with a tiny bundle in his arms. “We need to get them warm quickly, or they’re going to die. This one’s blue. The women have been outside too long, and they have no reserve, they’ve been starved, and if they die, their babies will die, too.”

I poked at Fire. She stirred agreeing with my request. “What’s it like in there? I can warm a small area for them if you have one. Do you have any blankets or extra clothes for them?”

Kawan passed a baby to me. I took the child, trying not to freak out when it was pale and still. Gods, the poor thing looked dead already…

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