Chapter Thirty
Mary listened to Rykaur profess his love for her, and an overwhelming feeling of home settled in her heart.
She’d never truly had a home before. Never been loved by anyone besides those kids. Yet there she sat, on a sink in a strange place, her body bruised and battered and her face in excruciating pain. And all she could think about was going home with Rykaur, growing old with him and dying with him by her side.
She couldn’t imagine her life without him either. He took her breath when he was near, turned her stomach to mush, and filled her heart with a longing she’d never experienced before. She loved him. God help her, but she was in love for the first time in her life. “I love you, Rykaur.”
He stilled, his eyes searching hers. “Mary?”
Mary reached up and cupped his face, closed her eyes, and opened her mind to him. “Feel it, Rykaur.”
She felt the moment he entered her mind. A warm, calming sensation overtook her like a dream she never wanted to wake from.
And then his voice invaded her senses. “I feel your love, Mary. It radiates from you in a warmth I could stand in for eternity. Will you mate with me?”
Mary’s eyes fluttered open. There was no hesitation or doubts in her next words. “Yes, Rykaur of Aukrabah. I would be honored to be your mate.”
His arms came around her, nearly crushing her in his tight hold. “You have made me the happiest Bracadyte in the world.”
Kissing her gently on the lips, he pulled back and lifted her into his arms once more. “Zaureth can help with your injuries, and then we will go find our children.”
Mary’s heart turned over. “Did you say our children?”
With a nod, he strode down the hall toward the bedroom. “They belong to you. If you can love them as you do, I can as well. They will never want for anything, and—”
The rest of his words were cut off by Mary’s lips closing over his.
She kissed him with everything she had. Every thought, every memory, every emotion.
“Jefferies is dead,” Zaureth announced, interrupting Mary’s tender moment. “But I was able to retrieve the information I needed before he passed away.”
Rykaur moved to sit on the bed, keeping Mary on his lap. “You found out Howell’s location?”
“I did,” Zaureth responded, his gaze glittering with intensity. “He is in Cuba.”
Mary felt Rykaur stiffen. “We must notify Oz at once. He could be Howell’s next target.”
Zaureth nodded, stepped forward, and laid his hands on Mary’s face. Though he continued speaking to Rykaur, Mary could feel the healing power in his touch.
“Even if Oz is not his intended target, Howell might use him to get to us. We need to get back as soon as possible and speak with Klause. He will want to know about this.”
Rykaur nodded, his hair tickling Mary’s face. “I agree. But Mary and I have to locate the children first.”
“Jefferies had them dumped,” Mary whispered, recalling the conversation they’d had. “But he didn’t say where.”
Gryke crossed his arms over his chest. “They could be anywhere.”
“I think I know where they’ll be.” Mary pushed to her feet, surprised that her pain was subsiding. “I told the oldest one, Hank, to take the children to the shack where we once lived, if I didn’t return. If they’re alive, that’s where they’ll be.”
It pained her to say those words aloud. Of course, they were alive. Her heart wouldn’t allow her to believe anything else.
“How far is this shack from here?” Zaureth inquired on his way to the door.
Mary thought about that for a moment. “About two miles.”
“Can you walk that far?” It was Braum who asked the question.
Rykaur lifted her into his arms once again. “I will carry her.”
“Or we can steal a car,” Mary suggested, noticing the odd looks she received from the room’s occupants. “It’s easier than you think. Besides, it’s not my first rodeo.”
Gryke shrugged, following Zaureth into the hall. “Humans have strange sayings.”
Mary smiled at the back of his head. “You have no idea.”
“Oh, I believe I do,” Gryke shot back over his shoulder. “I am mated to one.”
Once outside, Rykaur set Mary on her feet. She held a finger to her lips and motioned for them to stay put. “Give me your knife.”
Rykaur raised an eyebrow.
“I’ll need it to hotwire a car.”
“Here is his knife,” Braum murmured, handing her the blade. “I found it protruding from Jefferies’s stomach.”
Mary accepted the knife, grateful someone had wiped off the blade. “Thank you.”
Jogging silently across the street, Mary tested every car along the curb until she located one that had been left unlocked, and then opened the door.
She leaned in, removed the plastic cover under the steering column, and located the wiring harness connector before pulling aside the ignition, battery, and starter wire bundle.
Using Rykaur’s knife, she then stripped an inch of insulation from the battery wires and twisted them together. Once she located the starter wire, she stripped it as well and touched it to the battery wire. The engine came to life.
Quickly standing, Mary waved the slack-mouthed Bracadytes forward. “Get in.”
The sight of four massive Bracadytes filing into a small Honda Accord would have been comical on any other night. Not tonight. Mary was far too worried about the children to find humor in anything.
Once all doors were closed, she eased the car onto the road and crept slowly forward with the lights off.
After taking a left at the stop sign, she switched on the lights and pressed her foot on the gas.
No one spoke as Mary maneuvered the car through the side streets of Destin. She turned onto a dirt road and came to a stop in front of the small cabin on the bay.
Her heart squeezed in dread as she threw the car in park and jumped out.
“Wait,” Rykaur called out, climbing from the car.
But Mary continued to run. She reached the cabin in a matter of seconds, gripped the old brass handle, and jerked the door open.
Four sets of eyes stared up at her in terror from the corner the children huddled in.
Hank stood first. His little body trembling from fear or exhaustion, she wasn’t sure. “M-Mary?”
Mary opened her arms and dropped to her knees, ignoring the tears that slid down her cheeks. “You’re safe now.”
The children flew into her embrace, each trying to hug her tighter than the other. “We thought you were never coming back,” Hank breathed against her neck.
Mary pulled them closer. “I told you I would come for you.”
Hank suddenly stiffened, his startled gaze swinging toward the door. “Oh my God.”
Mary looked over her shoulder to find four giant Bracadytes hovering there. “They’re with me. They are friends.”
Pushing to her feet, Mary lifted Liza into her arms and held out her hand for Kelly. “Hank? Get Lance and let’s go home.”
“Back there with Jefferies?” Hank whispered, fear evident in his voice.
Mary shook her head. “Jefferies is dead. You never have to worry about him again.”
They arrived at the car, and the Bracadytes squeezed their giant bodies back inside.
Hank moved around to the passenger side and met Mary’s gaze. “Where are we all going to sit?”
Mary’s lips twitched. “Well, since I’m the only one who can drive a car, you’ll have to sit on their laps.”
Hank looked appalled by the idea.
“Come on,” Mary gently ordered. “It’s only for a few minutes.”
Hank handed Kelly to Zaureth and followed Lance around to the other side. They both got in, with Lance sitting on Braum and Hank on Gryke.
Mary passed Liza to Rykaur.
“How am I to hold her? Facing me or away from me?”
A laugh bubbled up. Mary met Rykaur’s serious gaze. “Facing you is fine.”
Mary got behind the wheel, put the car in reverse, and drove back toward the entrance of Aukrabah.