Page 67 of Pack Ruin
Glen muttered, “Fucking Southern,” as he examined the wounds.
The smell of the silver was even stronger now. I sighed and ran into the tiny kitchen area, fishing out some leather gloves from a drawer, and grabbing a pair of tweezers from the bathroom. By the time I got back in, Luke was pouring waterover the bloody entrance wounds, and I nudged him out of the way.
“You look like a whole-ass scout troop got their BB gun merit badge on your stomach,” I grumbled as I started picking out the silver. A bowl appeared on the sofa next to Grigor, and I nodded a thanks, dropping the silver pellet in it. “What happened?”
“I wanted to make certain… the women got out. There was one who had fallen, carrying an injured girl. They had your… scent on them.”
“Iris and Delia? Are they all right?” I took a deep breath, steadying my hands for the next piece, and the next. He was bleeding too much for my comfort, and I couldn’t stop. There were dozens and dozens of silver pellets in him. If I left even one in…
“They both escaped. I was not quite so fortunate. I’m afraid I have… very little strength.” He groaned. “At least I destroyed… the gun that did this.”
Small favors, but it made me feel slightly less enraged. “Food,” I said firmly. “How long has it been since you’ve eaten?”
Grigor closed his eyes. “Luke needs it more than I, my queen.”
I glanced at Luke. He was drinking a glass of water at the small table, while Glen rummaged in the cabinets. He’d found a pair of sweatpants somewhere, maybe some of Del’s. I’d need to find clothes for all of us, and more towels, and…
Glen’s voice interrupted my thoughts, bringing my attention back to the job at hand.“We can’t cook, but I found some crackers and a jar of mustang grape jelly, whatever that is.”
I almost smiled, but kept working on Grigor, wiping the blood away and using the tweezers without hesitating. “Wild grapes. Really good. Big seeds, though. Del and I perfected that recipe. I reckon that’s the… the last jar.” Drops splashed on the bloody skin beneath my face, but I kept going. “There oughta besome canned beans somewhere in there. Spoons in the drawer left of the sink.”
Glen found enough food for a sparse meal. He served Luke, then carried a bowl to me. “Not yet, thanks,” I murmured. “I need to finish with the silver.” I knew I couldn’t eat with that stench in my nose.
“Your hands are shaking, Dream Girl. You have to be thirsty, and hungry. Let me take over.”
Grigor’s eyes snapped open. They were wild with pain and power, bright red fires burning in the pupils. “My wolf… is very near the surface, little br…” For some reason, he stopped, and when he spoke again, his voice sounded odd. Different. “You are my brother. Yes. You may help me.”
Glen moved closer, keeping his head bowed and slightly tilted to one side in submission. “Thank you, brother. Flor? Please eat.”
For some reason, watching me eat the cold beans and jellied crackers seemed to soothe Grigor. No, Grigor’s beast. That’s who was watching me, unblinking, out of those fire-black eyes, as if he were deciding whether to claim me or kill me.
My gaze kept returning to his, then sliding away, my own wolf intrigued and wary. She liked seeing his wolf rise. Honestly, I did, too. I knew I shouldn’t find it attractive, that show of magic and slipping of his control. He was a killer and a criminal. A monster.
I shivered. I guess I had a thing for monsters.
I perched on the edge of the sofa next to him, giving him a sip of water and feeling very much like I was hand feeding a dragon, or a gator. “I read about you in some books back at Mountain. They said you killed thousands. Tens of thousands.” He snarled slightly, and Glen went still. I just took another drink from the cup. “So, did you? Kill a whole lot of people?”
His voice was still odd when he answered. “Winter kills every year, little queen. Ice and snow and frost take countless lives. The ocean drowns ships and submerges entire cities. It is the way of things.”
Was he comparing himself to natural disasters? “Well, I’m not about to consider a whole season of the year or the Pacific Ocean as a suitor. So answer my question,Joaquin.” I arched an eyebrow and met his gaze, even if the fire there was way over the edge of creepy.
This time, it sounded like the man I knew was speaking. “I did, little queen. I killed many. At first, I killed for my father, at his command. Later, I killed my father, and his pack, and everyone who ever raised a hand to help him, or pledged allegiance to him.” He paused. “But they killed me first.” Grigor’s words hung in the air for a long moment, ominous and confusing.
“What does that mean?” Glen muttered, saving me the trouble. “They killed you first? Did they shoot you with silver back then, too?”
“No.” My throat was tight, but I spoke clearly as his meaning dawned on me. “He’s talking about his mate, Anya. They killedher.You loved her, didn’t you?”
Grigor was still staring at me, but a flicker of unease dimmed the flames. “I will tell you my story, little queen. But you have no reason to fear. My heart is yours.”
“Was she your true mate?”
“She was… my soulmate. But?—”
Gutted, I closed my eyes and turned away. I’d wondered about the woman who’d been mentioned in the books. The spark that had ignited Grigor’s most famous killing spree had been her death, and his own father had been the one to kill her. But hearing that Grigor had loved someone else was a pain I hadn’t been prepared for.
I looked over at Glen, who was still picking the shot out of Grigor’s stomach. “Glen, you finish up. I’m going to put Luke to bed.”Luke had fallen asleep at the table. I got up, made sure Del’s bed had a pillow and sheets, and helped Luke shuffle into the small bedroom. He was asleep again before his head hit the pillow, and I got clothing out of Del’s drawers for all of us.
I let myself cry for a moment then, holding one of his old t-shirts up to my face, and smelling him. I missed him so much. He’d been my one safe place in this pack. My rock.
