Chapter 21

Chapter

Twenty-One

WRAITH

W e are so close to the base now.

So close to her.

But something is bothering me.

Bothering and needling in the back of my mind.

Needling more and more as we get closer.

Something is not right.

Something has happened.

But what?

Paranoia?

Or the instincts of a beast?

Vehicle grinds to a halt on dirt and gravel.

Thane and Plague chatting quietly up front.

Oblivious.

Too trusting of Valek and Whiskey.

I'm out before it stops moving.

Thane calls something out.

Sounds like he wants to see her first.

Be the first to scent her, hold her.

Ignore him. Need to see Ivy.

Now .

Boots pound dirt, then concrete.

Each step echoes.

Too loud.

Heart racing.

Pulse thundering in my ears.

Something's wrong. Can feel it. Smell it.

Know it.

Palm slams against reader.

Lights up blue.

Fingerprints scan.

Door hisses open.

Thane's voice behind me. "Slow the fuck down!"

Can't. Won't.

Burst through doorway.

Eyes scan room.

Heart stops.

Whiskey.

On floor. Sprawled. Unconscious .

No Ivy.

No Valek.

No. No. NO!

Rage erupts.

Vision blurs red.

Hands shake.

Rip off mask.

Need to smell her better.

Need to find her fucking immediately.

Filters gone.

Air hits face.

Exposed.

Don't care.

Nothing fucking matters anymore.

Inhale deep. Nothing.

Her scent… gone.

Valek's scent... gone.

He fucking took her.

Fucking took her that fucking snake?—

Thane and Plague enter.

Stare at me.

Stare at my exposed face.

Shock on their faces.

Fuck them.

Fuck everything.

Grab Whiskey.

Shake him hard.

No response .

He reeks of alcohol.

Shove him down hard.

Snarl rips from throat.

His eyes snap open.

Terror. Good.

Roar in his face. All my fury. All my fear.

Hope he is a fraction as terrified as me.

"What the fuck, man!" he half-slurs, half-yells.

Weak punches. Shoves. Tries to get away.

Grab his leg. Hurl him into recliner. Body flies. Crashes.

Can't speak. Snarl. Roar.

Hands move frantically, signing.

WHERE WHERE WHERE IVY WHERE

Thane steps between us.

Fear written all over his face.

Plague's voice cuts through chaos. Demands. "Where's Ivy?"

Whiskey's eyes dart. Confused. "Don't know what you're freaking out about. We were just drinking?—"

Brother's face darkens. "You got wasted and now Valek and Ivy are gone?"

"What? No!" Whiskey yells. Drags hand through hair. "What do you fucking mean, gone ?"

Drag my hands down my face, down my scars, down my sharp teeth, snarling, groaning, growling, never been so afraid, no, no, no…

Thane shoves Whiskey. Whiskey shoves Thane.

Plague gets in the middle.

Trying to stop Thane.

Protecting Whiskey.

Says he smells poison.

Poison on Whiskey's breath.

"I'm telling the fucking truth!" Whiskey bellows.

He staggers, but he's fully awake now.

"Valek must have taken her," says Plague.

I already know that.

I'm already two steps ahead.

They're too slow.

Can't stay here.

Need to find her.

Have to save her.

Charge past them.

Out the door.

Into night air.

Scent trail. Faint. But there.

Ivy.

Valek.

Snow and dirt mingled where boots shuffled.

A small bare footprint in the snow.

Ivy was struggling.

Trying to get away from him.

Drag marks from legs.

And then only boot prints.

He picked her up here.

Threw her over his shoulder like a prize.

Blood pounds in ears.

Muscles coil.

Ready to spring.

Ready to kill.

Images flash.

Ivy hurt.

Ivy scared.

Ivy...

No. Focus.

Follow scent.

Hunt like beast.

Rip Valek limb from limb.

He fears the noose?

I will strangle him with his own entrails.