Chapter 27

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

MIKO

I managed to catch a break in the woods, leaning against a tree for a few minutes.

The sounds of the horde were muted, Dawn's showing off possibly draining some of the energy out of them.

Hopefully.

The rain came down in aggressive sheets, beating the shit out of the branches. Icy wind lashed me, getting into my bones. God, it felt wintery today.

Right. Onto my next move. From the looks of it, these woods didn't appear to be too big. I'd patrol them on high alert, waiting for the first hint of my people.

A warm tingle filled my belly, similar to excitable butterflies but without the anxiety.

"Miko?" Orion's sweet voice sent that tingle across my whole epidermis.

" Orion? Oh my God!" It was him. It was really him.

I almost collapsed. "Ori? Please tell me you're alright."

A vicious sizzle drowned the connection.

Hell no. This bullshit wouldn't be blocking us.

"Ori!"

Sizzle. Sizzle.

Pop! "Miko?"

"Holy shit…" I collapsed, sliding down the tree. Bark scratched my back through the thin hospital scrubs, my mind filling with giddiness, draining my strength.

"Miko? By the stars!"

I smiled at the final word, loving the sound of it. Yeah, it was a fae thing, the stars part of their praise and prayers. But it didn't stop it being a million times cuter coming from Orion's mouth.

"You're not hurt anymore?" I asked, pulling my knees up, head between them.

He explained his story quickly, as if reading through bullet points on a piece of paper. Thank God for Prince Dorian and the biker fae.

The fae blood, though. Would Dawn's attack on Faery weaken it?

"But you're alright?" I said at the end of his story, back on my feet at the knowledge of him being here on Earth.

"I'm fine. You?"

I paused under a stab of guilt. I had a shot at survival again with the honey being here. But I'd been ready to die before, ready to leave him behind.

I rolled my shoulders, keeping the coolness in my tone. There'd be time to chew on that later, along with jumping for joy and squeezing my mate so hard he wouldn't know what hit him.

"I'm alright. Where are you?" I asked, ready to link up with him, those butterflies flapping frantically.

"I'm not sure," he answered. "Heading north. Let me ask." Silence for a moment. "Tilda says Potters Bar. Aiming for the M1 motorway. Where are you?"

"Hemel Hempstead."

A second pause. "Can you get to Junction 8 of the motorway? We can pick you up there."

Shit. Hesitation held me in place for a couple of seconds. "I…"

"What's wrong?"

"My pack…"

"Stars! Are they okay?"

Good question—a question to curdle my insides. "They're missing. I can't trace them. We got separated."

"I'm so sorry. Shall we come help find them?"

If I left now, I might not see any of my people again. The honey might be back in play, but there were no guarantees.

Where the hell were they?

"Miko?"

My love for my pack was as bright as my love for Orion. I wanted nothing more than to get to that junction and see his face again. But I had to know my pack were alright before the final stretch.

Ridiculous. Wasting time again. They might be sheltering somewhere, their situation dire, counting on me to do the right thing and get this done. Standing here twiddling my thumbs didn't serve their future.

"Miko?"

I couldn't answer, frozen by my inner torment.

You fucking idiot! Move!

"Miko? I'm worried," Orion pressed. "Answer me."

Sweet, sweet voice. The promise of his face, the return of his touch. God, I missed him so much, pining like I'd never pined before. He needed me and I needed him, and I needed them . My pack. They were part of my heart, too. Special pieces I couldn't abandon, couldn't leave out there to the mercy of Dawn.

"Tilda said we can take her bike."

I blinked, unsure of what I'd just heard.

"Miko?"

"What did you say?"

"She said she'll lend us the bike. If you can ride it, that is. For the greater good."

Handed the keys to a motorbike, given a somewhat clear path to Dunstable? What sort of fool would turn that down? And I wasn't about to reject it. I just wanted a sign of my people, a hint of?—

"Oh my stars!"

I jumped up at the volume in his tone. "What happened?"

The connection broke.

"Ori?"

Oh, God. I'd dawdled, squandering a chance to?—

"Miko!"

For a moment, I thought Orion was back inside my head. But that wasn't his voice, not even close.

It was Paige's.

She ran through the trees, the others on her heels. She crashed into me, shaking in my arms. "You're safe."

I hugged her, stroking her back as she sobbed into my chest. "Thank God you're here."

The others slowed their pace on the approach, Basil and Trev both bending over at the same time to catch their breath.

Here was my sign.

I ended the hug. "I have to go."

"What? Why?" James wondered.

"Sir?" Paige said, wiping her tears.

"Orion's back. He has the honey. But something's happening." I broke into a run. "Get somewhere safe! I'm ending this."

"Sir!"

"Miko!"

I shifted into wolf form, leaving their cries behind me.