Page 122 of Dream Weaver

“Okay, okay!” Jay reached for the brazier, cringing.

“Put out the fire,” I ordered.

He hooked one of the brazier supports with his boot and flipped it sideways. The embers rolled onto the scorched lump that had been Liselle. They flared, then died down to a dim glow.

My stomach turned, but hey. I wasn’t the one who’d tried to tap into the earth’s hidden power.

By then, both cougars had dragged themselves toward the road, where Jay’s truck stood.

I motioned to Jay. “Get them and go.”

“You are one crazy bitch, you know that?”

Cooper snarled while I retorted, “Says the guy who sold his soul to the devil. A guy prepared to sell out his own daughter.”

Shame passed over Jay’s features, but only momentarily. Then he went back to thinking of his number-one man — himself.

“Just don’t…don’t…” he stammered, backing toward his vehicle.

I fired over his left shoulder, making him duck.

“Get out of here, Jay. I never want to see you again. Ever. But if I do — and if I ever hear another word about custody — I swear I will kill you.”

My Dirty Harry side scared him, all right. It scared me too, because I meant every word.

Jay stumbled to his truck, shoved the cougars into the back, and started the engine with a roar. Then he peeled away — out of sight and out of my life.

Good riddance.

Cooper let out a long, continuous growl until the sound of Jay’s engine faded.

I glanced at Cooper. What would he say? What would he do?

Of course, as a bear, he wouldn’t say much. But what was going through his mind?

I took a few deep breaths. As long as Claire was all right, nothing else mattered.

Then I froze. “Claire…”

I ran into the metal shop and grabbed my phone. But Erin didn’t pick up, and neither did Pippa. When I reached out with my mind, that barrier was still there.

When I glanced up at the sky, my gut lurched. Dark clouds swirled overhead, blotting out the stars. Really dark clouds, especially over to the west. The direction of home.

Home. Claire. My family.

“No. Please…” I murmured, running to Cooper’s truck.

He followed, flicking his ears up.

I hesitated. I had no right to ask him for anything more. But I sure wouldn’t mind his help on one last matter.

“Something’s wrong,” I explained. “Something at home.”

His fur bristled, and his eyes flared.

Two minutes later, he was in human form, behind the wheel of his pickup, and roaring down the road, speeding me homeward.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

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