Page 45 of Country and Clove
“I think there’s a goddamn tornado and the animals have lost their minds.” Tawny’s face was tightly drawn. Lycans were rushing all around. The wind picked up and an eerie howling filled the air around them. All at once the animals turned, rushing away from the woods and toward the approaching darkness.
“What can we do?” Clove asked, adrenaline bursting through her veins.
“Get ’em turned around and open up as many pastures as you can. Then pray they’re smart enough to avoid the storm. And keep an eye on that.” Her eyes flicked up to the dark sky. “Then get back to the house. If it comes to it, there’s a shelter ’round back.”
Tawny rushed away from them, calling out commands and sending every lycan to their tasks. Horses were already running past them. Clove and Aaron exchanged a look before rushing into action. They met Davey in the barn. He hadn’t finished releasing the horses yet. Clove and Aaron pulled two mares from their stalls, fighting to get them tacked as the horses continued to trot anxiously in place. The moment they mounted, they were off. Several riders were ahead of them, moving to a pasture in the top right corner.
Colton burst out of the trees nearby on a huge white stallion. He raised his hand to Aaron and Clove and then pointed at the longhorn pasture. The great beasts were in sight, but quickly heading toward a border with an intact fence. If they cornered themselves there, they would have no way to escape.
The animals ran as if terror itself were on their tails. Clove and Aaron veered off, racing toward the longhorn herd and splitting up. Clove’s horse took the lead as she fought to get to the front.
A sharp crack split the sky, with an accompanying boom of thunder that rattled Clove’s bones. Her horse reared so sharply the animal nearly fell back. Clove’s boots slipped from the stirrup and as the wind blasted past them again the reins were snatched from her grip. She landed hard, a sharp crack resounding from somewhere within her spine.
Terror slithered into her bones as the ground trembled beneath her. She looked up just in time to see the longhorns approach. She willed her body to roll away, but nothing happened. Something was wrong. She couldn’t move.
Oh god, I’m going to be trampled.
A hard body slammed against her a second before the first hoof hit. Aaron’s scent enveloped her as his body shielded her fallen form. She heard his bones shatter as the weight of the animals drove them down into the dirt. In the midst of the chaos, only one thought breached the surface. One overwhelming thought that screamed inside Clove’s mind:We have to save our mate.
A brilliant golden light flooded her vision. It was brighter than lightning and hotter than the blaze of a burning tree. The air shifted, taking on a metallic taste and pulsing with magic. Clove screamed as the world around them exploded.
And then everything fell silent.
CHAPTER18
The last thing Aaron remembered was the desperation he felt to save his mate. It was overpowering in a way that was all-consuming. He had finally claimed Clove, the love of his life. Was he really going to lose her now? He refused to believe it, refused to give in. He begged the stars and the old gods to grant him the ability to save her.
The thousand-pound beasts stomped over him at a sickening pace. His body was being destroyed. He only had seconds left before his death was guaranteed. Clove screamed and his own lungs expelled a horrified cry in return. All he could think about was Clove. Then a blinding light enveloped them. His body spasmed and burned in a way that was so similar to a shift and yet entirely different. It was as if his every cell were being painfully rewritten.
When the screaming finally stopped, the world fell quiet. Aaron opened his eyes, finding Clove in his arms. Her skin was still glowing when she opened her eyes.
“What happened?” She peered up at him, her gaze filled with the same confused exhilaration he was feeling.
“I don’t know.” He shook his head. No answers came.
“The storm’s gone,” she observed, looking up at the sky. Aaron followed her gaze and his confusion grew. In place of a dark, cloudy sky, he now found a clear expanse of brilliant blue.
A snort of hot breath tickled the back of his neck, and his gaze was drawn to the animals. He and Clove were sitting in a small open circle surrounded by longhorns who all faced in toward them. The animals were perfectly calm and completely still, watching Aaron and Clove with unique interest.That’s unusual, to say the least.
“Aaron! Clove!” came a familiar, panicked voice. “Move! Go on! Get!” From the sounds of it, the rest of the pack was struggling to reach them through the thick herd. Clove sat up, reaching her hand out to brush one longhorn along the nose.
“Come on guys, clear the way.” Her voice was gentle, soft. The animals immediately moved, spreading out and clearing several pathways for those approaching on horseback and foot. Aaron looked down at her in shock.
“Did you just do that?” Their eyes met and something passed between them.
“Oi! You fuckin’ cows, git or I’ll have you all for supper.” Graham tore into the small circular clearing, his eyes wide and wary. “I thought you were dead. What the bloody hell happened to you two? Are ye hurt?” He dropped down, running his hands along their arms and faces, twisting and turning them to check for injuries.
“I’m okay. But Aaron—” She grasped his shoulders.
“I’m fine. I’m healed.” He stroked her cheek reassuringly.
“How? You were trampled.” She shook her head.
“What about you?” Aaron asked, his hands roving over her. “You weren’t moving…”
“I…I think my back was broken,” Clove said. Graham helped them both stand. “But it’s fine now.” She took a few steps and Aaron’s heart lifted. He pulled her in, embracing her tightly.
“So who’s going to explain what the hell just happened?” Graham ran his fingers through his long hair.
