A Love For Lera (Haikon) (18 page)

“Well?” she asked, wanting to know what they
thought should be the next step.

“I have no idea,” Kori said.

‘Neither do I, vaj.’

She glanced at Kori, who looked a bit unsettled.
A look which did nothing to ease her mind.

The truth is within you
. Words told to her
by Herald Siencyn. She tugged off her glove and took Kori’s hand.

“Lera?”

“I want to try something, Kori, but I need you
with me.”

“Whatever you need,” he replied immediately.

‘Adric?’

‘I will keep watch, vaj.’

She closed her eyes and skimmed her memories,
conscious of Kori’s strong presence beside her, making her feel safe. The
things Herald Siencyn shared with her were a jumbled mess, and in an almost
frantic way, she searched them, wanting to find a map.

‘Vaj!’

‘Just a minute.’

‘Something approaches, vaj.’

‘Kori, Adric says something is approaching.’

‘How much longer, Lera?’
His voice tense.

‘Not long.’

‘Will you be okay?’

She knew what he was asking. He had to let go so
he could defend her.

‘Yes.’
She felt him retreat and her
confidence wavered slightly.

‘I’m always with you,
mo anam.
’

She dug deeper and finally found what she needed.
As fast as she could. she memorized the map. Returning to her body, Lera
blinked a few times and struggled for her breath. She could see Adric and Kori
fighting some nasty creatures. Pushing to her feet, she sighed with relief when
her weapon slid into her hand. Picking a target, she joined the battle.

“Which way?” Kori demanded as he ripped the head
off a mole-like creature.

“Right.” Her stomach churned as dark liquid oozed
from the belly of the spider creature she just impaled. It was like an endless
wave of beings.

“Move!” He barked the command.

‘Go, Adric!’

A deadly growl erupted from her vaj as he made
short work of the things in front of him. Then, he sprang for the right tunnel
branch, the green light leading the way.

“Go, Lera!”

Dispatching another, she entered the tunnel and
ran.

‘Kori!’

‘Right behind you. Keep going.’

She did. They ran until the tunnel opened into
another cavern. The walls were damp, and the sound of water was easily heard.
Weapon in hand, Lera scanned what she could see. There were five ways out of
this room. Not including the one they entered via.

Kori increased the light and frowned. “We need to
keep going. I don’t like this.”

She agreed. “This way,” she said, pointing to the
left.

He sent the light ahead, and again, they were off
at a fast jog. Adric, then her, and Kori bringing up the rear. It was narrower
now, and she struggled to not think of the walls closing in on her. Four
caverns and several hours later, Lera stumbled. Kori caught her and stopped her
from falling. Adric paused and waited.

“I need a break,” she admitted. Running on her
own feet was way different than travelling long distances on motorcycle.

“Okay.”

They slumped to the floor, and she sighed in
relief to be off her feet. It was much colder, and she was grateful for the
coat. Although, she did wonder if she’d be cold without it.

“Herald Siencyn,” Kori said in an imploring tone.

“What about him?”

“Tell me what he said.”

Lera leaned against him and closed her eyes. “He
told me of the betrayal which scattered the tribes. How some ceremonies were.
He spoke of the honor the Haikon had…have and how many their numbers used to
be.” She shifted so she could also touch Adric. “He also said his father had
known some but he’d never met one…until me.”

Kori’s lips brushed her forehead. “Did he say
where to go once we get out of here?”

“No. He just said this comes up in the center of
an area used for sacred ceremonies, and he’d bet anything it’s watched by
either Haikon or their vaj. We’d be noticed.” She licked her lips. “He also
said you two had a history.”

He stiffened slightly. “Ready to press on?”

“Yes.” Right now, she was too exhausted to argue
with him on this point. And restless.
‘Adric?’

‘Ready, vaj. I long for fresh air.’

‘Me, too.’

The dank and stale air down here had the scent of
death and decay. With a slight groan of protest, she got to her feet. Her males
followed suit, both looking more energetic than she felt. Bastards. They headed
off again, silence between them as they strained to sense any attack before it
happened.

They walked until she’d just had enough. Shaking
her head, she leaned against the wall. “No more. I’m done. I need to rest.”

Kori stared at her and nodded. “Okay, we’ll crash
here for a while.”

Digging into her bag, she withdrew some food and
went to the floor before handing some to both Kori and Adric. Her body had no
reason to move. She didn’t want to eat but she knew better than to skip that.
It didn’t take her long before she was sleeping against Kori. When he woke her,
she still wanted more sleep. But she got up and prepared to move on. What good
would complaining do, anyway?

The globe of light hovered above Adric, and she
gave him mental direction so there was no need to talk. She’d drawn a rough
sketch for Kori as well before it was smeared away with a booted foot. They
remained underground for a few days. She hated it. Each day took more from her,
and she didn’t feel like there was much left to give. When they woke, she
divided up the remaining bit of food she carried, and they pressed on. Many
hours later, her feet were screaming, and her muscles echoed the sentiment.
Lera slowed when natural light illuminated a cavern’s far end. Kori got rid of
the light as they cautiously moved closer.

She could see outside and longed to run into the
openness. The sky was cloudy, and there was snow on the ground. Nothing she
could see indicated it was sacred ground.

“What do you think?”

Neither of them answered her. Kori studied the
narrow opening with slow and careful movements. Adric stared off into the
tunnel they’d just left.

“Let’s go,” Kori said.

This time, he went first. Lera followed, and
Adric brought up the rear. The air, crisp and cold, stung her face but she
didn’t care. She took numerous deep breaths of it. It was so fresh and
rejuvenated her. Senses alert, she searched for any sign of life and came up
empty.

“What now?” she wondered.

“Let’s set up a camp. I’m sure our presence has
been noticed.”

‘Adric?’

‘I sense nothing, vaj, but I agree with your
mate. Our presence has been noticed.’

Lera tugged her coat closer and followed Kori
through the evening to a partially secluded area. They would be protected from
the cold wind, and there was only one way to approach. It didn’t take them too
long, and there was a fire going and some rabbits Adric had hunted cooked on a
spit. The grease popped and sizzled when it dripped in the flames. Her stomach
growled with anticipation. Life was good. No cave and hot food.

Kori crouched beside her, and she worked her
lower lip in her teeth as she stared at him. His black trench pushed back,
exposing corded legs encased in skintight leather. Longing slammed into her.
The flickering firelight highlighted his tanned skin, making it appear even
more golden.

He tilted his head, and a lock of thick black
hair fell forward. Lera struggled with the urge to reach out and move it. His
gray eyes held her prisoner. Hard as flint and as unforgiving as rock, they had
the power to melt her on the spot.

“Hungry?” he asked.

“Starved.”

With some form of determination, she reached for
her bag and withdrew a knife, flipping it so it extended handle first to him.
He took it and cut her a piece of the seared meat. A groan of approval slipped
from her as she blew on it and bit into the flesh.

“Wonderful, thank you.”

Kori removed some and sat back to eat. “I just
built the fire and cooked it.”

It was true. Adric caught it; she skinned it.

‘Did you eat, Adric?’

‘I did, vaj. Thank you for your concern.’

They ate until only scraps remained. Adric
happily ate those then slipped away into the night which was beginning to
become dark. Sitting near Kori by the fire, she almost would consider herself
content. If not for being unsure where she was or what was going to happen.

“Do you have any idea where we are?”

“Nordic.”

She frowned at his single word.
Nordic. What
the hell did that mean?

“That it?” she snapped. “Nothing more to share
other than ‘Nordic’?”

He shot her a smoldering look but no words passed
his lips for the presence of others was felt, and as one, she and Kori stood.
She couldn’t help but notice how Kori kept her slightly behind him. Instead of
fighting him on that, she focused on what may be approaching.

One second, they were alone, and the next, they
faced a semicircle of warriors. All men. Tall and powerful, dressed in furs and
leathers, each one of them carried weapons, which were unfortunately aimed at
her and her mate. Most of them had blond hair and pale eyes.

I really feel out of place.
But she
understood Kori’s Nordic comment. It was like she faced Vikings.

The one in the middle shoved his massive sword
into the snow-covered ground and rested large hands on the hilt. Then, he
spoke, his tone low, guttural and powerful.

Leader.

Of who or what she wasn’t sure but he was their
leader.

Deep within her, she felt she should know the
meaning of the words he spoke but she didn’t. And it frustrated her. Placing
herself directly next to Kori, she said, “Does anyone speak English?”

Kori’s anger flowed to her. She ignored it.

“Quiet, woman.”

She bristled at the Viking’s command, fingers
flexing, seeking her weapon.

‘Calm yourself, Lera.’
Kori’s words came.

‘No, Kori. I can’t back down if I’m supposed
to get the Haikon to resurface. Being quiet and demure won’t help.’
She
sent a cry to her wolf and got no response.

Forcing her hands to remain at her sides, she
took a step forward, doing her best to ignore the numerous arrows which zeroed
in on her.

“I seek the Haikon.”

The large man chuckled and raised his bushy
brows. He lifted a hand and stroked his close cut beard. “Of course you do.” He
said something which caused the others to laugh. “And once you find these
people, what are you going to do?”

She cocked her brow. “That’s between me and
them.”

“How about we kill your man then have our way
with you?”

“You can try.”

Kori hauled her up to his side. The rumble that
emerged from his chest said it all. She knew without looking at him, his wolf
was visible to those they faced.

“You should control the wench’s mouth better.”

Kori tightened his hold on her arm.
‘Don’t let
them antagonize you.’

Exactly what had been happening. With a deep
breath, she dipped her head slightly. “Forgive my rudeness. Although I am
weary, it is still no excuse.”

“Let’s go,” big blond Viking demanded.

“We should kill them here,” one growled, and
another man stepped forward.

Damn! They grew them nice here. This one stood
similar in size to Kori but was light where Kori was dark.

‘Lera.’
Her name was drawn out, and she
could have been deaf and dumb and still picked up on the possessive anger from
Kori.

Ignoring him, she stayed focused on the blond.
His eyes were a startling pale silvered blue. When they locked onto hers, the
hairs on her arms stood. There was a not-so-subtle push in her mind, and she
shoved it back. Those haunting eyes grew wide, and she knew she’d shocked him.

A menacing growl rose up from him, and he raised
his sword without warning and lunged toward her. Her own weapon in hand, Lera
leapt to meet his attack. Kori moved, she assumed, toward another. The weapons
clashed and as the shockwaves reverberated up her arms, she struggled to keep
the gasp at his powerful blow.

I won’t last long against his strength.

‘Stop!’

The mental command was so strong it almost took
her to her knees. And she’d thought the strike was intense. This made his
attack pale in comparison. Her opponent’s eyes told her he’d heard it as well.

‘Kori?’
She sent the question, not daring
take her eyes from the man before her.

‘I don’t know,
mo anam.
’

‘Enough, vaj.’
Adric’s tone reprimanded.
‘Put
down your weapon.’
She growled at him.
‘Vaj!’

Licking her lips, she stepped back and lowered
her weapon. The warrior’s eyes had followed her tongue then watched with
suspicion when she moved her weapon away. Then, he mimicked her action and his
sword lowered so the tip cut through the snow.

‘Kori?’

‘Right behind you.’

She loved the fact they were so in tune. Cutting
her gaze to the left, she was taken aback to see Adric walking toward them with
a large cat on each side of him. A tawny mountain lion and a snow leopard.
Movement from above drew her attention to see some feathered creatures settle
upon snow-covered branches.

“Who are you?”

Her gaze snapped back to the leader. His sword
rested along one beefy shoulder, not that it made her feel any better. She breathed
easier when Kori touched her briefly on the small of her back. Even through the
leathers she wore, the heat from his touch warmed her. It definitely calmed
her.

“Cormac MacLochlainne.”