Page 26 of All's Fair in Lion and War
If it hadn’t been for the protected secret bunker most of them would’ve lost their mates that night.
“Matthew was a brave man and he died protecting this tribe. His memory will forever be honored.” Col’s voice broke through the silence of the room, with a sincerity that struck Saul deep in his gut. “These males have fought and killed on Reylea. They will bring pain to Mystery. We do not know how many more are with them and no action will be taken until we know if more innocents are being held captive. Your Lorelei may not be their only victim.”
Saul met Col’s gaze again.
He’d not considered that Lorelei wasn’t the only victim. He knew they were traveling in small groups—not as one pride. This was a new land. Were they scouting? Or had they knowntheywere here?
“Are they skirting Mystery because they know you’re here,Vraka?”Owen spoke this time. “Or any of us perhaps?”
“What about the boys?” Katherine’s tone pitched and rolled like wind in a blizzard. “What if that’s why we haven’t seen them in a few days?”
Knox put an arm around his mate and squeezed. “They are young, but they are strong. They will be fine.”
“You don’t know that.” Katherine snuggled against her mate’s shoulder. “What if they’re hunting them?”
Col rubbed his chin and then ran his hands through his long hair. “The Ka’lagh never bothered wolves before.”
“That was before.” The tone of Katherine’s voice dropped almost to a whisper. “You said these people were vicious and cruel and murdered people. They’ve been here a year and they’ve not been surrounded by other lion tribes. Just by people.”
“I will not send any of you out to find the boys. They will have to make it back to the cabin on their own. We don’t know how many are out there. How spread out they are. How adapted they are to technology. The younglings are our first priority and then the females.” Col made sure to make eye contact with each of the tribe individually.
Steps on the stairs in the foyer dropped the room into silence. Ava appeared, followed by Lorelei in a pair of black sweatpants and a grey Jurassic Park sweatshirt. Ava loved the Jurassic Park movies and wore what Naomi called “fan merch” all the time.
“I’m getting her some food. Then I told her she could nap,” Ava said, physically guiding a silent Lorelei to an empty chair at the edge of the room.
“Saul, help Ava feed your female.” Col’s order snapped Saul into action. He would’ve gotten up to do so a second later anyway, but when Col gave an order, it was nearly impossible tonotcomply.
Saul went immediately into the kitchen with Ava.
“If we’re not going to do any scouting of our own, how are we going to be prepared for them?” Penny asked. Kann gave her a quick squeeze. “Saul and Lorelei got here on foot. Less than a day’s walk. They are close. At least some of them. And if she’s some important queen from your world and Rivian is as royal fucking of a prick as you’ve described, there’s no way he’s not going to come all up in our business and try to get her back.”
Saul put some fruit on the plate next to the sandwich Ava had made for Lorelei. Then he took the plate and went and knelt next to the chair where she sat.
She took the plate and thanked him quietly, glancing toward the group hesitantly every few moments as though she expected them to suddenly all turn on her. The discussion about the impending fight was turning rather heated, but no one was paying her any heed. At least not that he could tell.
Ava stood next to Lorelei’s chair. Quiet and strong.
Saul could tell that Lorelei appreciated Ava’s presence, perhaps more than his own. His doubt only lingered for a moment. He stood and Lorelei’s hand shot out, grabbing his arm.
“Don’t leave.” Her voice lacked and command or confidence. She needed him. That was more than enough to make his heart swell.
“I’m not.” He took her trembling hand and squeezed it. “I’ll be right here behind your chair. I promise.”
“I remember more. About Rivian. I remember more. It keeps coming in flashes.” Tears blurred her vision. Pain flickered across her face and sliced at his heart like a dozen knives digging into his skin all at once.
“Anything you can tell us would be helpful.” He stayed on his knees on the floor next to her instead of moving behind her chair like he’d planned.
“Your tribe needs to know how many Rivian has…”
Saul nodded. “Look at me. Not at them.” He gently squeezed her hand again.
“There are many warriors with him, but they don’t travel all together. They stay in small pods of four to five males with a prisoner,” she said, her voice steady as long as she kept her gaze on him. It wavered every time she looked up.
The tribe had stopped talking. Everyone was looking at them now. Everyone was listening.
“Can you remember seeing them all together?”
“A little. There’s so many bits and pieces and I don’t know how they fit together. Everything is so foggy. I’m sorry. But I think there are at least four or five pods.”
