Page 36 of Queen Takes Sunfires 2
She told me about the sundogs trying to take Karmen, and the poison that had spread through her body until she’d started to catch on fire. In the darkness, I could picture all too clearly how awful that had been. Flames exploding out of her body. Her screams of pain.
“I think she fled the nest to protect me,” Helayna whispered. “If she’d caught the cabin on fire, we would have been exposed. Maybe she thought she could destroy them somehow. I’m not sure.”
“And they just took her? Where?”
“One of the skeletons grabbed her. He was on some kind of flaming horse and they galloped through a… hole.”
“A fucking hole? To where?”
“I don’t know. One minute they were all outside the nest, and then they passed through the hole and were gone.”
“But they left behind those things in the lake?”
“I don’t know that was their doing. It doesn’t make sense to leave a guard here if they had what they’d come for.”
True. Maybe there were factions of these soldiers. After the group had come after Karmen at the hotel, it made sense that not all of them were working together. “If the ones in the lake are after her, then why stay here?”
A small ball of shimmering white light illuminated Helayna’s face. “I think they expect her to return here. We’re the bait to force her to come back.”
“But they can’t get in.”
Her face tightened, and she shook her head slowly. “I’m not so sure. The sundogs with the first group were able to cross the blood circle. Maybe they’re waiting for more sundogs to be brought from wherever they came from. Or they plan to burn us out. I’ve been able to keep the cabin and most of the trees safe so far, but I can only do so much.”
Maybe it was the flickering light, but her face did look drawn. Shadows darkened under her eyes. “What have you done so far? Maybe I can help.”
“I’ve been pouring water on the house and the trees to keep them from going up in flames. Each time, I’m drained a little more, though.”
“She cannot refuel her power quickly enough,” one of the big dark shadows said. “If she had more than three Blood to feed on, it would help.”
“I’m here, now. Feed on me.”
Her head tipped slightly as she studied me. I couldn’t read her expression, but I didn’t like the speculative look in her eyes. “If help doesn’t come soon, then yes. I may take you up on that offer. Can you feel where Karmen is? Can you get a message to her?”
It took all my will not to drop my gaze, shrug uncomfortably, and avoid the question. I had been able to feel Karmen’s whereabouts before she’d been taken… which meant that she should have been my queen. I should have allowed her to bond me despite my reluctance.
If she’d had even a single Blood to help defend her, then maybe she wouldn’t have been taken by those soldiers.
I hadn’t even been here. I’d completely failed her and my sister as well. I’d allowed my fear to drive me to run. I hadn’t been here when they’d needed me.
But admitting that I had felt her presence aloud would acknowledge my cowardice to my sister. She already knew, but I’d feel worse if I admitted it out loud.
My wolf snarled in my head, whether in anger at the situation or at myself. I was pretty sure it was the latter. Wolves protected the pack. Always. And I’d left my pack to defend themselves while I chased rabbits in Chicago, rather than face my own fear.
Shame clawed through my stomach. If Karmen was harmed because of me… Or my sister…
“No,” I whispered hoarsely. “I can’t feel her. When I left, I could still feel her location. But she’s completely gone now.”
“Is she dead?” Helayna asked gently.
A sound escaped my throat. The groan of a wolf helpless to save one of his own. “No. I refuse to consider it. I’ll find a way to get her back.”
My sister didn’t say anything, but the pitying look on her face told me everything she was thinking.
Karmen was gone. There was no trail for me to follow. For once, my wolf couldn’t track down the missing person I most wanted to find.
And it was my own damned fault.
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