Page 31 of Tucker's Strike

“If we get to them, think you can get us all the fuck out of here before that thing sees us?” I ask, a plan of action forming in my head.

“I think so.” That’s not exactly the answer I’m looking for, but I’ll take it.With us being this close to them, there’s no way in hell she’s leaving without them.

“Then let’s go, little Fae, and you best hope that we don’t get eaten before we get to them.” I grunt and start walking, not giving her a chance to say another word.

I’m still pissed with her, and that’s not going to change. Not until I get her the fuck out of here and can be sure that my brothers are safe. This bullshit can’t be happening. I sensed the danger just outside the clubhouse right before the she’d took us away.

Fuckin’ made us vanish right out of my room. I didn’t even think it were possible.

The very fact she’d been able to do it in the first place astounds me. She’d only just come into her gifts. Yet, she’s growing stronger with every breath she takes. Orpheus’s words ring in my head about the prophecy and how she needs me. Without me, things for her could go very wrong, and I won’t let any of that happen.

Not again.

Together, Lake and I move around the tower, edging closer with each step to the door. The smell of shifters becomes stronger, and the scent becomes intangible. It’s more than just a few shifters inside. All of them remained quiet. Barely even breathing.

I give Lake’s hand a squeeze and move through the open doorway, only to come to a halt as I take in the cell that’s holding no less than twenty shifters, all of them tigers.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

This isn’t what I expected.

“Daddy,” Lake whispers and starts forward, but I squeeze her hand, stopping her before she can do anything more.

“Easy, little Fae,” I tell her, hoping like fuck that beast can’t hear us.

Already, I can hear the shifting in its breath.

Callum’s eyes go from Lake to lock on mine. He doesn’t speak a word. He just stares at me with hard eyes. His body is scarred worse than I’d ever seen on a shifter.

“You have to unlock the door and get us out of here,” he mouths. “Magic won’t work in here.”

How the fuck . . .

I shake my head and reach into my pocket. I’m not about to ask him right now. I’ll wait until we’re in the clear. I pull out my knife and move to the heavy wrought-iron door. Lake stays right at my side, her hand touching my lower back. Keeping constant touch, like she knows I need her to do this.

I can feel her emotions. I hear her thoughts in the back of my mind like a whispering echo. She’s upset and blames herself for the condition of those behind the cell walls. If I weren’t trying to get us the fuck out of here, I’d take the time to reassure her everything was going to work out. Right now, however, time is of the essence.

I work the lock until I hear the clink of it unlocking. Stepping back, I fold the knife back up and shove it in my pocket. Taking Lake’s hand in one of mine, I yank the cell door open with the other and move back a handful of steps. One by one, each of the tigers in the cell steps out, eyeing me cautiously.

Callum steps forward first, not looking at his daughter, and I feel the hurt inside her that he hasn’t looked at her again. But I get his reasoning. He’s a warrior, and she’s his weakness. His daughter. Just as she would be mine, as my mate, I’ll kill anyone who gets in my way.

I nod to Callum, then jerk my chin toward the entrance of the tower. Time to get the fuck out of here. Moving to the door, I peek out to see that the three-headed beast is still asleep. Thank fuck for that. Smoke rises from the thing’s nostrils.

Holding tight to Lake, I motion for everyone to proceed toward the burning woods. Once we’re far enough away, I’ll see what Lake can do about getting all of them and us out of here.

Time is of the essence, and it’s only a matter of time before we’re found if we don’t get out of here soon.

Finally, we all reach the burning woods, and I look to Lake. “Think you can do it, little Fae?” I ask her quietly.

Her emotions are swirling through her and around her. There’s no way none of those surrounding us can’t feel it. She’s projecting a bit more than my liking.

“Yes,” she finally murmurs and plops to the ground, sitting with her legs crossed and eyes closing. I open my mouth to say something when I realize what she’s doing. She’s connecting with the earth.

A moment later, she stands, her eyes opening, a slight haze over them. She reaches out, and suddenly, our very surroundings begin shifting. The particles of the world strip away, circling around us all until they come to a halt once again. Getting my bearings, I quickly realize we’re back at the clubhouse, and the back door opens to Corbin along with my other brothers standing there.

“Everything good, brother?” Corbin asks, brows drawn up, his eyes darting behind me. “What the fuck?”

“I was able to bring us back to when we were outside when you came out to get to me,” Lake announces quietly, lets my hand go, and rushes to the clubhouse, past the others, and inside.

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