Page 64 of Bear
Chapter Twenty-Four
Nadia
“Youhavetotakeher. She isn’t safe here,” a male’s voice said inside a large tent.
I was looking at the scene from a distance, but I could hear everything so clearly.
The snow was coming down in thick white blankets, blanketing the land in soft, fluffy pillows. The tents were scattered around, tucked into the sides of the massive trees, like little specks of color against the evergreens covered in snow. The fire was blazing in the center, providing warmth and light to the area of the thick surrounding forest.
Men and women were bundled up in furs, coats, and jackets. Their faces were nearly white with pink noses and sharp cheeks that almost sparkled green in the light. I squinted to get a closer look as they huddled next to each other. Those who didn’t have a warm body nestled closer to the trees that surrounded the small clearing.
As I got closer to look at their faces, a baby’s cry came from inside the largest tent. I winced at the pitch of the sound, but I wasn’t deterred to stay away. I was even more curious as to why a baby would be in such harsh, cold conditions.
An argument broke out, and fists banged on the table when I entered.
“He is looking for her. The babe is putting all of us at risk. Do you not understand that? It’s for the greater good that she is taken away.” The tall male hovered over the table that held a map pinned with ornate daggers at each corner.
At a glance, it looked like a map of Russia, but none of them were speaking Russian nor had an accent like my parents had.
A woman at the back of the tent was shushing a baby; a hood covered her face, and she was whispering, cooing at the baby she was rocking. The woman was smaller compared to the others in the room, reminding me of my own height.
“Ignore, Shhkuk,” a woman who sat next to the asshole said. “Listen, Nina, the baby won’t be able to stand the cold out here,” she soothed, “and we don’t have enough magic to conceal Kraven’s looks and keep you and the babe safe. Our kind is only safe in larger numbers. This is no place for a child, especially one that is more human.” She stood, and the hood that concealed her face fell, showing an angelic face. She had specks of green sparkle on her high-pointed cheekbones.
The baby cooed, and my attention was brought back to the couple that were holding each other. The male, Kraven, held them both tightly. “I didn’t want this. I didn’t want us to be separated.” He shook his head. “Are you sure there isn’t anything else we can do?”
Shhkuk, who was cloaked in white that blended in with the surrounding snow, scoffed. He had a stern face, crossed arms, and his lips curled into an arrogant sneer. “Yes, you can break this pseudo bond sickness you have on this human and let her go with the monstrosity child you have created.”
Kraven’s jaw clenched tightly, and his eyes blazed with fury as he grabbed the man’s neck. The tent erupted into chaos with voices rising in anger and fear. People shouted and scurried around looking for safety, pushing and shoving to get away from the confrontation.
The baby cried, and the mother held the baby tight against her chest. She bounced the child, singing, and tried to stay away from the chaos.
The woman who had sat gently across the table came to comfort the mother. Her hand grazed the baby’s forehead. She whispered to the mother, calming her, then whispered to the baby. I moved closer, trying to listen to what she was saying.
“She has no pointed ears, no coloring in her cheeks. The babe will look just like her mother.” She smiled up at Nina. “She will be safe with other humans, I promise you.”
The woman waved her hand over the baby’s forehead and said, “Usana cripta senna kamora tena siepta retum human lam.” And a burst of light illuminated over the baby’s forehead.
Kraven let go of the offending man, shoving him aside and went to stand by his partner. His hand rested on top of his baby’s stomach.
A horn blew somewhere in the camp. Everyone froze as if waiting for a pin to drop. Then another blow came, and everyone gathered their supplies from the table.
“It’s time.” Kraven picked up the mother of his child and led them out of the tent.
I followed, watching the panic. Everyone was pulling their tents down, stomping out the fire. Within seconds, the camp was torn to the ground. Cloaks were wrapped around their bodies, the supplies were on their backs, and they were all running.
Nothing was left except footprints in the snow.
Kraven attempted to take the child from Nina, and she cried out.
“No, please, I just can’t leave her.” A sob broke from her.
Kraven appeared to be just as heartbroken as her. She reluctantly gave the baby to him, and she stroked the tiny child’s cheek.
“We have to. We will find her again, I promise.” His voice cracked. “If we keep her here with us, he will find her. There’s just not enough magic, my darling. Not enough help for us.”
She sniffed and placed a kiss on the baby’s forehead. I still couldn’t see her face. A darkness hovered over her. I wanted to rip it away; I wanted to push the shadow, the remnants of a nightmare, darkness, whatever it was away. But I was too afraid.
Who were these people? Why was I having this dream instead of a nightmare?
