Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

R udi was half way back to the entrance cave when he heard Clarice scream. The water container slipped from his fingers, clattering against the stone floor. His antlers flared bright with panic, casting an eerie glow across the rough walls as he sprinted back through the twisting passage.

“Clarice!” His voice echoed off the cave walls, bouncing back at him in a desperate chorus. Each footfall thundered in his ears as he raced back to where he’d left her.

The protective instinct that had been growing since she entered his life exploded into something primal and fierce. His chest burned—not just from exertion, but from his mating lines flaring to brilliant life. The glow from his antlers lit his way as he ran, illuminating the path ahead.

Another scream ripped through the air, closer this time and mingled with the sound of snarls and scraping claws. His muscles burned as he pushed himself faster, vaulting over fallen rocks and ducking under low-hanging stalactites. The thought of her in danger clawed at his insides. She’d trusted him to keep her safe.

His antlers pulsed brighter with each racing heartbeat, matching the intensity of his fear. The red glow from his chest joined with the light from his antlers. For the first time in his life, he was grateful for these physical manifestations of his emotions—they lit his way to her.

Blood roared in his ears as he rounded the final bend. His breath came in sharp bursts, panic driving him forward. He had to reach her. Nothing else mattered. Not his past isolation, not his fears of connection, not his doubts about his place in the village. Only Clarice.

He burst into the main chamber, his heart nearly stopping at the sight before him. She’d wedged herself into a narrow crevice, an ice beast looming over her. Frost billowed from its maw like smoke, and its translucent claws scraped against the stone floor. The blue light from the creature’s eyes reflected off the cave walls.

He’d heard tales of these beasts from the village elders, but seeing one in person made those stories pale in comparison. He automatically reached for the knife at his belt, the familiar grip steadied him as primal instinct took over.

“Get away from her!”

His voice boomed through the cavern as he lowered his head and charged. Energy surged through him like lightning, spreading from his chest to his antlers. The sensation was unlike anything he’d experienced before—raw power flowing through his veins, turning his usual soft glow into a blazing beacon.

The chamber exploded with light. His antlers burned so bright they cast harsh shadows across every surface, transforming the cave into a maze of light and dark. The beast’s head snapped toward him, momentarily stunned by the sudden brilliance. Its pupils contracted to pinpoints, and it stumbled back a step, raising one massive paw to shield its sensitive eyes.

He gripped his knife tighter and lunged, aiming for the vulnerable spot beneath its jaw where the crystalline hide was thinnest. It still felt like solid ice beneath his blade, but his momentum and desperation gave him strength. The knife plunged deep, finding that vulnerable spot he’d aimed for. Hot blood spurted across his hands, startlingly warm compared to the creature’s frozen exterior.

A sound like breaking glass filled the cavern as the beast threw back its head. Its roar of pain reverberated through the stone walls, making his bones vibrate. The massive body swayed, then crashed to the ground with an impact that sent tremors through the floor.

As the echo of the beast’s fall faded, he became aware of his own ragged breathing. The surge of power that had filled him moments ago ebbed away, taking the brilliant glow of his antlers with it. The cavern dimmed, leaving only the weak light from their heating device.

His heart hammered against his ribs as he turned towards her. She stood frozen several feet away, her eyes wide and fixed on him. His stomach clenched. This was it—the moment when she’d seen him for what he truly was. The freak whose antlers glowed like some kind of beacon. He braced himself for her disgust.

Instead, she launched herself at him. Her arms wrapped around his waist, her face pressed against his chest. The force of her embrace nearly knocked him back a step. She clung to him fiercely, her whole body trembling.

Relief crashed over him like a wave, washing away his fear. He wrapped his arms around her, savoring her warmth and the simple fact that she was alive and unhurt. She wasn’t afraid of him. She wasn’t running away. She was here, in his arms, holding onto him like he was something precious rather than something to fear.

Her fingers clutched at his shirt and he held her closer. The fierce protectiveness that had driven him to fight the beast shifted into something gentler but no less powerful.

“Do you think there are any more of them?” she whispered, pulling back just enough to look up at him. Her face was pale, but her eyes were steady.

He brushed his thumb across her cheek, catching a stray tear.

“No. Ice beasts are very territorial,” he said softly, allowing himself to stroke her hair. “It would never have permitted another one in its territory.”

She nodded but didn’t let go of him. Her shivering hadn’t subsided, and he recognized the aftermath of fear working its way through her system. He’d experienced it himself enough times after close calls.

“There’s a hot spring deeper in the cave,” he said, his hand moving to cup the back of her neck. “The warmth will help. You should go soak while I deal with this.” He gestured toward the fallen beast.

The carcass would need to be moved before it began to thaw. The meat and hide would be valuable—ice beast pelts were rare and prized for their warming properties. But more importantly, he needed to ensure no predators would be drawn to their shelter by the scent of blood.

Her grip on his shirt tightened momentarily before she released him. Her eyes darted between him and the beast, uncertainty clear in her expression.

“Come on, sweetheart. I’ll take you to the hot spring.”

He kept his hand at the small of her back as they made their way deeper into the cave system. The passageway twisted, opening into wider chambers where mineral-streaked walls glistened in the dim light from his antlers. Their footsteps echoed softly against the stone floor.

The air grew thick with moisture, and patches of luminescent moss cast a soft blue glow across their path. Small, hardy plants sprouted from cracks in the rocks, their leaves collecting droplets of condensation. The temperature rose steadily as they approached the hot springs, and he felt some of the tension ease from his own shoulders.

A faint sound stopped him mid-step. His hand tightened protectively around her waist as he cocked his head, listening. There it came again—a weak whimper from the shadows to their left.

She gripped his arm. “Did you hear that?”

He nodded, scanning the darkness. His antlers brightened instinctively, casting more light into the corner. The whimper came again, slightly louder this time. It didn’t sound threatening—more like something small and hurt.

“Stay behind me,” he murmured, though his instincts weren’t screaming danger.

She nodded and followed him, her fingers gripping in his waistband for reassurance.

In the glow from his antlers, he caught sight of a tiny fokuso—no bigger than his palm. Its silver-white fur was matted, and enormous eyes looked up at them with such fear that his chest ached.

“Oh, the poor little thing.” She darted past him, then knelt down next to it, her movements slow and gentle. “Easy there, little one,” she cooed.

The fokuso’s big ears twitched at her voice. It hesitated for just a moment before launching itself into her lap, burrowing against her warmth.

“It’s a fokuso,” he explained, keeping his voice low to avoid startling the tiny creature. “They’re usually found in family groups.” He crouched beside her, examining the trembling ball of fluff more closely. “The ice beast must have killed its mother. They’re known to hunt them.”

The fokuso peeked up at him, its tiny nose quivering, and he couldn’t help smiling.

“We can’t just leave it here,” she said, cradling the creature protectively.

He shook his head, already knowing he’d lost this battle—not that he wanted to fight it. Something about seeing her with the small, defenseless creature made his chest warm.

“No, we can’t,” he agreed. “We’ll take care of it.”

She looked up at him, her eyes searching his face. “You mean it? You’ll help me take care of it?”

“Of course,” he said without hesitation, reaching out to rub one finger between the fokuso’s ears. “But first things first. Let’s get you to those hot springs. This little guy can come along too.”