Rain (Stranger in the Woods Book 1) Read online

  “Hold on! Need hands!”

  Adrenaline helps me tighten my legs and arms. I wonder what I can’t see behind me. Gunner lets me go. I cling to him. Suddenly, Gunner’s arms work frantically, grabbing exposed roots to help him climb up a sharp embankment. Watching the ground getting farther away below us, I wonder why he’s taking this rough, slower route until the trolls catch up, standing at the bottom. They start climbing but struggle to gain ground. I don’t know how Gunner knows this, but the trolls have a weak spot: climbing. Gunner keeps us going higher.

  I can’t see why, but Gunner stops. His knees bend, and he pushes off the little bit of dirt under his feet. I gasp as we spring upward and then land on flat ground and sturdy feet. When did my friend get so strong?

  Running down the other side of the hill, we pick up so much momentum I’m not sure how Gunner is staying in control of our descent. And if the trolls are being left behind, why are we traveling at such a speed? One by one, trolls pull themselves over the embankment’s edge. Their speed astounds me. Legs blur. Gunner must be aware of their strengths: their tree trunk legs. Without another sharp embankment to buy us time, the trolls from hell gain on us. “They’re coming!”

  “I know. Hold on. Gonna have to fight.”

  In life and death situations, your body finds a way to do what’s needed. Even though exhausted, my legs and arms tighten yet again. Gunner pulls out knives, one palmed in each hand, and gets ready because these horrid creatures are almost to us. RYDER! PLEASE… I Reflect, even though it will do no good.

  Rose! What’s wrong?

  With the horror of what is chasing us, I become hysterical with a glimpse of hope. “He hears me! Ryder hears me!”

  Gunner, running for our lives, takes no time to rejoice. His orders are as desperate as our situation. Our survival depends on his next actions. “Tell him to run north along the Sachy river. We’re about to cross it.”

  Ryder! Run north along Sachy river. We’re about to cross… kidnapped… Gunner running… Trolls chasing…

  Ryder’s urgency blows through my soul. I’m coming. Tell that male to fight—

  My mind fades Ryder out and shows me what’s coming. “Gunner!”

  “Tell me at the last minute when I have to turn and fight. Read off distance to me.”

  I beg myself to be of use because I’m a terrified mess. “Okay.”

  It’s like a horror movie. The scariest thing I have ever seen is gaining ground and about to catch us and most likely kill my best friend, our unborn baby, and me.

  I give out the warnings he wants. “Thirty feet… twenty-five… I love you, Gunner.”

  His voice vibrates with his running. “Forever, Rose.”

  I can barely breathe, choking on the final moments of my life. “Fifteen… Oh, God, Gunner!… Ten!” I’ve never wanted to live more. I’m so frustrated because I have no say—no control—on how my end is to be. I don’t even have the strength to at least help him fight!

  “Hold on!” Gunner leaps into the air as two trolls leap toward us. I scream as I watch them fall from my sight because Gunner is turning to face them while we’re still in the air. We land in cold water with a splash. Gunner swings his knives before even getting settled on his feet.

  Grunting, Gunner stabs anything close enough for him to reach. The water deepens as he moves backward in attempts to retreat. The fighting gets more ferocious. I can’t see, but voices are all over, hands yanking on my hair and trying to pry my arms loose from Gunner. I only tighten my hold and scream and bite at anything that touches me. One troll pulls on me so hard that the rope is the only thing keeping us attached.

  Gunner yells and gives these creatures hell. He screams as a knife digs into his side. I scream when the blade continues and slashes down through my thigh. Crying, I watch as the fairies fly high into the sky. Envy fills me as I watch their escape.

  It’s like a dream when I see a blue, glowing Ryder leap from one side of the river, clear over my head. I don’t know how he lands or what is transpiring behind me, but two limp troll bodies fly by. Guardians and Vikes join the fight, weaving and dodging the dead troll missiles.

  Lightning bugs join us again, but this time, they bring large birds with them. The birds dive into the water, drenching themselves. The fireflies take flight, along with the birds. “Gunner, they’re leaving again.”

  Gunner doesn’t stick around to be part of the winning team. He puts his back to the battle and follows the fairies as they cross the river and head into the woods. My view is now of the carnage we leave behind. The savages are being ripped to shreds, and I don’t have one ounce of pity for them. I reflect, Kill them all, Ryder.

  Gunner swims us across the deep part and runs us out of the river in no time. It feels as if he were defying gravity. Dripping water blows in the wind behind us. I no longer see the river or any of the Warriors. Gunner takes us far from the chaos, and without warning, we’re headed up a tree as if Gunner has become half gorilla overnight. I knew the males had been working endlessly with his training, but Gunner’s skills have become unreal. My best friend has transformed into Wind, the Guardian Warrior.

  As he climbs, I watch the birds continue on their path. Water drips from their feathered bodies. My back scratches against tree bark, but I don’t care. Maybe I even should be afraid of the height because we’re so high up this tree, but I know Gunner won’t release me. Wind will not let me fall. The lightning bugs stop, so Gunner stops. The fairies land on the surrounding branches, and their lights diminish. They’re moving, so I know they’re alive, but they don’t blink. Gunner observes this and holds me to him as he turns to face whatever else may attack. I face the tree trunk, my thighs resting over his as he balances us on a thick branch. Knives are back in his hands as he pants like a madman.

  One firefly takes flight and lands on Gunner’s lip. Instead of swatting it away, he nods, understanding the message. Get quiet. The lightning bug goes back to its branch. Adrenaline is thick between us. We look around for the next onslaught. The fairies instructed us to climb for a reason.

  Gunner’s embrace suddenly constricts my breathing. There’s only one reason he would want me to stop breathing: Clones. Looking down, we watch as four Blood Demons quietly pass by, following the bird’s water trail, far beneath our perch. We don’t move until long after they’re gone. I know I’m allowed to breathe again when his arms give my lungs room.

  Slowly, my body comes off a panicked high and molds to Gunner’s embrace. I rest my head on his shoulder and take deeper breaths for the first time since being abducted. Gunner moves my feet so they’re not pressed to the tree behind his back. Blood circulates quickly as my legs hang loosely over Gunner’s thighs. Gunner doesn’t relax, but his arm—still carrying a knife—rubs my back.

  No words are shared, none are needed.

  Rose?

  I’m fading into my exhaustion again. Yes.

  We are seeing a trail of Demons.

  Already passed us.

  Where are you?

  I’m like a tired, lost child when I answer simply, In a tree.

  I’m following your trail. Tell Gunner so he doesn’t attack.

  The fairies float toward the ground, which makes Gunner’s body tense to follow. My head gets heavier on his shoulder, and my eyes close. “Ryder’s coming.” He leans his head on mine and lets the fairies light the way.

  It’s not long before I hear them coming. A strong voice I don’t recognize says, “Father, I’m so sorry. I should have paid more attention to the other trail, finding you—”

  “Son, we deed not know eether. Release yor guilt.”

  “Gunner, I’m coming. ’Kay?”

  Ryder. My eyes open.

  Gunner nods. So I skfen, Okay. I forget Ryder sees like an owl in the night.

  “Oh, shit. H
e’s a goldy,” I hear Blaze say from below. I wonder what he means.

  As Ryder races up the tree, Gunner’s body tenses, and his hold on me tightens. Ryder slows his approach. Too tired to lift my head and look, I wonder what Ryder is seeing in Gunner that has him so cautious.

  He perches on a branch next to us. “Gunner, I’ve got to check on her. Keep breathing.” Ryder touches my back. Gunner trembles. Lethargically, I stare at Ryder and his glowing vital fluid. I want to reach out and wipe it on me to help calm Ryder, but my hands are tied, and I think my arm would refuse to move out of pure exhaustion. He goes to touch my head, but his hand shakes violently. He retracts his hand and closes his eyes, as if trying to compose himself.

  When they open, wild blue eyes meet mine. “I have to mark her, Gunner. I’m so sorry. Don’t attack and bring Rose harm.” Neither Gunner nor I say a word or stir. Gunner breathes hard.

  Ryder nods. “Sage, can you come up here?” He wipes his vital fluid on my cheek. “Can I take your knives, brother?” Ryder hesitantly takes one, with some effort, and then the other from Gunner. He looks at his brothers on the ground. “Heads up.” He drops the knives to them.

  I feel the movement of a branch nearby. Ryder says to someone, “I think they are in shock.”

  “This is mind-blowing…” The language changes to their own. Sage appears in front of me. “Easy, Gunner. I won’t hurt her.” He touches my face. “Bad gash. Older injury.” He examines my eyes. “Definite head trauma. She needs Crystal.” He looks past me and takes a deep breath, looking like he doesn’t know what to do next. “You saved her, Gunner, and you are doing real good. But you both are extremely pale.”

  “What’s happening to me?”

  Sage looks down and shakes his head. “Gunner, brother…” Sage securely braces his hands on surrounding branches then says over his shoulder, “Ryder, we have no time. Let me mark her for him.”

  My fatigued brain struggles to understand because I’m already marked.

  Ryder charges forward, bumping into a prepared Sage. Sage tells others, “I need help up here.” He argues with Ryder in their language again. None of the elves do this when I’m near so as not to make me feel awkward. If they revert back to their language now, it means I’m not to comprehend what is happening. I’m simply too spent to care about whatever they are hiding.

  The tree bounces as more Warriors join us. Struggling with Ryder behind him, Sage tells someone, “They’re losing color by the second. Search for a bleed…”

  Blaze pushes Ryder on the shoulder, hard. Ryder falls from the branch but quickly recovers. He swings under the tree limb like a monkey and is right behind Sage again, his eyes trained on me. “Give. Her. To. Me.”

  Blaze tries again. “Ryd! Her life’s still in danger!”

  Ryder growls, “Sage, move.”

  Sage is still examining me and ignoring Ryder, asking someone else, “Anything over there?”

  They need to know about our severe injury. “Ryder?”

  Everyone looks at me. Still resting on my motionless best friend, I say, “We’ve been stabbed.”

  Horror crosses Ryder’s face. “What? Rose…” He pushes into Sage to get to me.

  “I knew it. Where?” Sage keeps searching, yet is careful not to touch me.

  I feel numb inside. “Ryder?” He stops pushing. “Can you help me and Gunner? We need you.”

  After a slight pause, Ryder nods emphatically while his eyes change to a calmer state. “Yes.” He looks at his brothers. “I’m good. I’m good.”

  Blaze inhales. “Ryd is back. He’s not lying.”

  Sage moves out of Ryder’s way. “Time’s of the essence.” He balances behind Ryder. “Gunner, can we help you with Rose now?” Gunner doesn’t move. Sage puts a hand on Ryder’s shoulder and speaks the elf tongue.

  Ryder drops his head. “You do it. I-I can’t.”

  Sage leans over Ryder and me, touches Gunner, then pats my head. Gunner exhales and finally nods. Sage says, “I appreciate that, brother. Ryder is going to hold her for you, and we are going to get you home.”

  Ryder reaches for me. I don’t move. I whisper, “Don’t think I can.”

  Gunner’s voice echoes against my chest. “She’s tied to me.”

  “No,” says Ryder, looking apologetic. “You are Tied to her.”

  Gunner has no rope on him. Ryder is misunderstanding him. Parker is on a branch on the other side of the tree. “Sage, I found the entry wound on Gunner, and we have the exit in Rose.”

  Sage rushes over to the other side as Ryder begs. “Rose, I need you to let Gunner go and come to me so we can help you both.”

  “No,” says Gunner. “Her hands… tied behind me… I can’t move… Might pass out.” Ryder lifts my stiff arms over Gunner’s head. I whimper. Ryder’s eyes almost bleed as he sees my tied hands. Gunner sounds beaten. “I’m sorry… Had to do it.”

  Ryder shakes as he pulls out his knife and cuts the rope. “It saved her life, Gunner. As much as I hate to say it, I would have done the same.” With me still sitting on Gunner’s thigh, Ryder massages my hands gently to get blood flowing again. I wince. Blood entering my fingers hurts. Sage touches my thigh. Ryder growls.

  Sage ignores the warning. “We have a bad one here. He’s got to go.”

  I don’t know who or how, but Gunner and I are traded among different arms and moved all the way down the tree, passing familiar faces until I’m in the arms of one I’ve not seen before. He has long blond hair, matching some of the Vikings. His eyes say sorry to me, but I can’t fathom why.

  Gunner and I are laid flat on the ground. I glance to my side and notice a human-size cloth bag moving with someone trapped inside. My body jolts in panic. I want to scurry away. Gunner tries to sit up and help me as we get pushed back to the ground.

  “Gunner, she’s okay.”

  “Rose, you’re okay.”

  Parker gives instructions. “Get that thing out of here. Keep a look out.”

  Sage, Hunter, and Ryder look us over. I hear Gunner grunt as someone says, “Push that cloth deeper.” Something’s tied around his waist, and then Gunner is over a Vike’s shoulder and taken away in a blur. Some males follow. Some stay behind.

  “That thigh is cut deep.”

  “Put that over her hip.”

  “She’s bleeding.”

  “Can you wrap that around her head?”

  Soon, Ryder cradles me in his arms and sets a quick pace home. Even with all that has happened, the depletion I’m experiencing is a shock to me. It’s the longest I have gone without food or water since becoming pregnant. I think I’m coming to terms with the truth about what is growing inside my body. I stare up to the trees, lying in Ryder’s arms, thinking about how my body is too delicate for the demands of my baby. My blood too weak for her, to begin with, and now it’s barely existing.

  “I’m empty,” I softly say.

  “What? No! Just hold on, Rose.”

  I fight to even stay conscious.

  “Ryder, give her strength.”

  “Rose, please… we’re almost there.”

  My eyes close. “Save us.”

  A loud bellow escapes Ryder—a plea for mercy—then he bites me.

  Chapter Thirty One

  Ryder

  Here I am again with Rose unconscious in my arms as I get ready to run home. I want to allow my rage to take over. I want the power of my anger and frustration to eat me alive so I don’t have to feel this anguish any longer. I love her. I love this female so much that I’d rather die than bring her one more ounce of pain or suffering.

  “Ryder.” Ivar steps in front of me.

  “Put pressure on her neck,” Sage demands.

  Ivar does, but he refuses to stop talking to me. “Leesten. Yu too angry to hear.
This eez a gift—”

  “It’s a curse!” I yell as I let some anger take over.

  “No, my friend. If my female vere dying een my arms, I could no save her life like yu can for yours. I kan already heer a stronger hart beat. Rose weel be okay now because yu are her gift. Now, leesten closely.”

  I look down at Rose and do see color coming back to her face. Then a miracle happens. The faintest second heartbeat enters my ears. The unborn.

  Ivar smiles. “See? A gift.”

  Hands pat my shoulders, one by one, as my brothers and friends hear the best sound in the whole world: my baby’s heart pumping my blood.

  Rose fights the way my blood makes her so tired. She keeps trying to open her eyes on Crystal’s medical cot, bundled in blankets. Gunner’s blue one is on top. Her voice is so groggy. “Gunner?”

  I hold her hand. “He’s alright.”

  “The baby?”

  “You are all okay.”

  “Ryder.”

  I squeeze and kiss her hand. “Yes.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Rose!” Gunner wakes in the hanging cot nearest hers.

  “She’s here.” I walk in between them and help join their hands. “She’s right here.”

  Gunner seems torn up, inside and out. “I’m—I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have left her—It was daytime—”

  I stop him, squeezing their hands together. “Gunner, Rose can’t be hounded every minute. We thought days were safe. Underestimating the Demons was my fault, not yours. Storm told me you found her, untied her, told her to run home as you followed the trail of thirty flesh-eating trolls alone.” Gunner and Rose both gasp. I nod. “I’m sure they were working for the Clones, but I’m not sure Rose would have been delivered alive. We haven’t been up against those guys in some time.”

  The trolls, named Kreets, live within the earth, and even though they prefer the darkness, for a good price, they are for hire.