Page 52 of Own to Obtain

The roaring of the blizzard caught Kardos’ attention. It was getting too close. He still had people to tend to in the mountains. Rising to a standing position, he looked over to see his team was still hiding, waiting for his instruction.

He lowered down to the man, gripping his head. “You have gained some honor by sharing this information,” he growled. “But I will save my sorrow for those you killed, and the many that were killed while you kept quiet. Sometimes we have to be brave and speak up for others, even when detrimental to ourselves. If my Omega can do it without even a thought for herself, a trained warrior like yourself should have said something to someone before now.” With that, he twisted the man’s head, hearing the snap of his neck.

Shaya took a sharp breath in but said nothing as he rose back up to standing. Turning, he ran back over to his team and gathered them close to give them instructions. The most important thing was to get everybody out of the mountains before it collapsed, then take them to the shelter. Children were the priority, then women and any man who could not walk or stand.

As his team flared out, running to climb the mountain, Kardos headed to the row izak-rocks installed in the base of the mountain, feeling each boulder to see the strength of its warmth.

“Do you think it’s worth warming them up?” Shaya asked.

“I’m not sure,” Kardos said thoughtfully. “If they warm too quickly it could still cause the mountain to collapse before the people are able to get out. But I think it is worth trying so that the ones we can’t get to can help themselves out.”

“Untie me so I can help,” Shaya said.

“No.”

“Kardos,” Shaya said sharply. “I know how to rotate them. Let me help!”

“You will not be removed from my body!” Kardos stressed. “There are people set to destroy me by hurting you. I will not allow that to happen.”

Shaya slipped her arms around his neck tighter, pressing her nose to his neck. “I will not leave your side. I promise. It’s better if the two of us do it—it will help the people if the heat spreads quicker. Please. You said these are my people too. Let me help them.”

Every ounce of Kardos’ body wanted to tell her no, but this was what every person who had been through the Discovery Mountains was trained for. This was why he did it, why he needed her to learn, and as much as he wanted to wrap himself around her and never let her move, he could not keep her from helping his people. His seat as high chief included her, and with it came all the risks. Just like Rozalia’s reluctance to do anything against the well-being of the high chieftess, he had to respect that it was her role just as much as it was his—and he was the one who had given it to her.

Bellowing out a roar in his annoyance, he untied her from his back.

They worked quickly and methodically, Kardos giving her instructions how often rotate the rocks so they didn’t warm too quickly. The heat spread up the mountains as his warriors led people out, and the warmer the mountains became, the more people they saw leaving.

Soon the blizzard was almost on top of them and they had to yell to be heard over the roaring wind.

“We’ve got to go,” Kardos shouted at Shaya from the other end of the rocks.

“Is it going to collapse?” she yelled back.

“Once the blizzard arrives anything that can collapse will. The mountain has weakened.”

“But not everyone is out.”

“It is too dangerous to stay, Shaya!”

“Let’s wait for your warriors,” she yelled. “Just a few more moments.”

They continued working on the rocks until finally one of the warriors gave him the signal that there was no more to be done but he was interrupted by a loud groaning rumble that echoed through the cavernous mountain and Kardos knew it was too late. “Shaya! Come here!”

They headed toward each other, staggering in the wind that blustered around them, but the mountain groaned again; the blizzard had arrived in full force.

White fire crackled down around them and a thunderous crack echoed in Kardos’ ears. He ran as hard as he could to reach Shaya and grabbed her just as rocks fell around them, and when a heavy slab hit his back, he managed to pull her underneath him, then everything went dark.

CHAPTER TEN

SHAYA

A glint of light pierced through the darkness.

Shaya held off the fear, pushing it to the edge of her emotions. The one thing that kept her unafraid was that Kardos was on top of her, but she couldn’t figure out why it was dark.

“Kardos,” she whispered.

He mumbled, shifting his body to close in on her. As he shifted, the sound of rocks tumbling alerted her to danger.

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