Page 41 of Sweet Giant

Chapter34

Two days later…

MASTORR

The wind had calmed.Also, to my great relief, the temperature had risen. I stood on the porch in the early morning light, saying a silent prayer of thanks to the Great Spirit for the more bearable weather.

Liv would be able to travel to my people’s cavern today in comfort. I would ensure she dressed warmly, and I would also carry her for much of the way. If I carried her, we would make better time. Light as she was, I could probably hold her and run the whole way there without stopping.

I turned toward the door, intending to go wake her, but froze when I sensed a vibration in the air. Panic clutched me. A hovercraft was in the area. Wait…no. Not just one hovercraft, but at least four of them. As I detected the multiple vibrations, my panic deepened.

I rushed inside and slammed the door behind me, making sure to secure the locking mechanism. Bolting upstairs, I repeatedly called Liv’s name. I found her standing in the bedroom doorway, her eyes wide with worry.

“What is it, Mastorr?”

“There are multiple hovercrafts in the area. I feel them coming.” The vibrations kept getting louder, and there was no doubt in my mind that they were headed toward the cabin. While I hoped they would simply pass overhead, my gut told me they would land in the clearing. My gut told me we needed to flee out the back door and rush into the trees.

Liv cursed and immediately started getting dressed. Instead of removing her tight sleeping ensemble, she pulled pants and a shirt over it. After she yanked on some socks, I lifted her in my arms and raced downstairs. I stuffed her into a pair of boots, a jacket, a hat, and gloves.

No words passed between us as I carried her out the back door. I raced into the trees, not bothering to look over my shoulder, though I tried to keep my footfalls as quiet as possible.

As I ran, I tried to listen for the slight thump of a hovercraft landing, but my heart was pounding so loudly in my ears that if any of the vessels had already landed, I’d missed them.

Liv clung to me, trembling. It pained me that she was shaking so hard, that she was so frightened. I wished we had time to pause so I might comfort her. But it wasn’t safe to stop. Not until we traveled a long distance from the cabin.

A crash through the trees up ahead sent me veering to the left. But just as soon as I changed course, there was another crash in front of me. As I turned right, I finally saw it—two hovercrafts were landing in the middle of the forest, breaking branches along the way. Another crash, and then another.

“We’re surrounded, Mastorr. Oh my God, we’re surrounded.”

When I tried to run past one of the hovercrafts, the hatch opened and dozens of human males poured out, all of them holding the same strange weapons that Mountain had used to shoot me.

Just as I turned to attempt another path, a blast rang out and a sharp pain hit me in the back. I stumbled and fell, though I was careful to roll safely to the side with Liv cradled in my arms. I didn’t want to crush her with my weight.

“My darling wife,” called out a familiar voice. “Ah, there you are. Interesting that the Sasquatch is still with you. He won’t be chasing me off this time though. I’ve brought my friends along to help.”

I turned in the direction of the voice and released a fierce growl.

Liv shuddered as she looked at Mountain, and I hugged her more tightly to my chest, though we remained on the ground. I could better shield her with my body if all the males opened fire. No matter what, I couldn’t allow her to get shot. I raged at the thought.

“Those are military hovercrafts,” Liv whispered. “This is bad. Really bad. Mountain probably told the government about my healing abilities. I’m so sorry, Mastorr. I’m sorry I got you into this mess. I don’t want anything to happen to you.” Her voice quavered, and she sounded so utterly heartbroken that, despite all that was going on around us, I pressed a quick kiss to her forehead.

“I won’t let them take you, sweet one. Please do not be afraid.” Was I lying to her? Would I really succeed in overpowering a few dozen armed males? If they all shot me at once… well, I wasn’t certain I would survive it.

Suddenly, all my pain ceased. When I glanced down, I caught a glow around Liv’s hand. She hadn’t touched my back where I was injured, she’d only touched my stomach, but the faint touch to my stomach had managed to heal me anyway. I marveled at her powers, and I was deeply touched that she would take my pain away and heal me even when I knew she was terrified.

“Liv, sweet one, you don’t have to do that right now. I will be fine, and I know you are frightened. I don’t want you depleting your energy.”

Her tear-filled eyes met mine. “I can’t stand to see you hurting, Mastorr.”

I clutched Liv to my chest as the soldiers approached, circling us on all sides. Some of them appeared surprised as they took in the sight of me, while others didn’t. I sprang to my feet when they got too close, still holding Liv, and roared at the top of my lungs.

Most of the soldiers took a step or two back, but they kept their weapons aimed at us. I turned around slowly, searching for a gap in their defenses. A weakness. But there were too many of them.

“Mountain,” Liv said in an angry tone, “leave us alone. I’m not going anywhere with you. We’re through. You can consider us divorced.”

The evil man released a dark chuckle, and he walked closer, flanked by more soldiers. He was large for a human, and my wrath grew when I imagined all the hurt he’d inflicted upon Liv. My sweet one. He’d spent years terrorizing and using her. He deserved naught but death, and a slow, agonizing one at that.

Mountain grinned at Liv for an unnervingly long moment. Then he glanced at the soldiers nearest to him and said, “Kill the Sasquatch.”

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