Darlings of Paranormal Romance (Anthology) (63 page)

With Hortence words, Sonja’s alarm
grew. “I won’t be in time.”

“
Yes, you will. You are
stronger now. Take my hand and close your eyes. Don’t worry, let
the spell happen.”

Sonja obeyed with fear running cold in
her blood. She couldn’t see what was happening. Darkness surrounded
her as the rushing of the wind fanned her from all sides. Could the
vampires have done something to block her sight? Soon the train
appeared in front of her. The wagons swam in an irry haze of smoke
and heat. Sonja tried to contact Ty with her wolf senses. There was
no response. Struggling to drive down the panic, Sonja raced toward
her wagon where fire rose angrily from its bed. The children
weren’t there. “Ethan? Nathaniel?” Where could they be?

The shotgun blast took the last of her
words away on the wind. Soon other shots joined the first and Sonja
whirled in horror to see an Indian riding hells-bells for her. His
war cry was spine numbing. Without thinking, she dove under the
wagon. If Ty’d been there, he’d have already snatched his revolver
from the holster and shot the red man square between the
eyes.

She frantically searched the wagons to
locate Briann before remembering her sister didn’t need her
worrying about her. Tucked safely in Balch Springs with Hortence
watching over her, she was safe.

In a flash Ty’s familiar face filled
her vision. He was so real. “Stay here,” he commanded and shoved
the bear gun in her hands. “I’ve got to go help the
others.”

Sonja nodded, while her eyes darted
from one wagon to another. Muffled sobbing and screams permeated
the air. Smitty and the others of Ty’s detachment came rushing out
from everywhere. Some in their long johns, some wearing pants and
nothing else. Fire erupted near the Stevens wagon and she scurried
from under the wagon before she remembered Ty’s order to stay put.
If Mrs. Stevens needed help, she would go. Darting across the
semi-circle at a dead run, she spied Jeb fighting with an Indian
before sinking his fangs deep in the Indian’s neck. Reaching the
wagon, she helped Mrs. Stevens pour water out of her precious
supply barrel to douse the flames. With water sloshing, she aimed
at the flames licking at the back of the wagon’s canvas cover and
threw the liquid as high and precise as she could. Disappointed at
the outcome, Sonja hurried back for more water. The majority of the
first bucket had missed the mark completely. The fire picked up in
intensity.

Struggling under the water’s weight,
she didn’t have time to see where Ty had gone or what was happening
at the moment. The second bucket made more of an impact. Small
flames still sizzled and smoked around the perimeter of the fire,
but most of the blaze was out.

“
Thank you so much,” Mrs.
Stevens said breathlessly as the women crouched near the back
opening of the wagon. She worked loading pistols and a shotgun
almost as big as Sonja’s before handing them over to anyone who
needed a gun. “Where’s your bear gun?”

Sonja’s mind went back the moment when
Ty’d shoved the bear gun at her under the wagon and commanded her
stay put. Laying a hand on Mrs. Stevens, she yelled over the noise
and confusion. “I have to go!” Racing back across the opening where
men now lay sprawled, she tried to find Ty. Suddenly, the sound of
the mules braying, stomping and stirring in fright came to her
ears. “Daisy!” A large Indian held her rein while he tugged her
backward.

Without thinking, she snatched up the
bear gun. Smoke poured from the wagon as she flew by.

He yanked harder on Daisy’s
led.

Giving a loud yell, she tried to fire
the gun. It didn’t go off. “Damn!” She’d forgotten the shells.
Frantic to stop him from stealing Daisy, she charged the Indian
swinging the gun butt wildly. “Leave them alone! Get back! Get
away, you vulture!”

The Indian threw back his head and
laughed from deep in his gut. He mocked her!

A surge of adrenalin fueled her
temper. Sonja’s eyes glowed golden.

The Indian smirked. “Vulture
indeed.”

Sonja froze. She’d seen that smirk
before. That voice – so familiar but quiet impossible. The Crow
Indian stepped toward her.

“
Did you think you’d be rid
of me so easily, my pet?” Robert had always used the endearment for
her.

“
Robert?”

“
In the
flesh, or should I say in the
undead
flesh.” He spread his hands
and kept advancing.

Sonja stumbled backward and turned to
flee. He grasped her around the neck and threw her to the ground.
Every bone in her body shook with the jar of hitting the hard
packed earth. Her focus was gone. She struggled to see. Two and
three of Robert swam in front of her eyes. “Ty! Help me!” She
cried. Rolling sideways, she did her best to escape. Robert’s
strength was immense and Sonja, so addled, couldn’t focus on
shifting. He punched her hard across the face. Vampire fangs
hovered over her face before the lights went out.

Chapter 10 Rescue

After all they’d been through, why would the
Indians would pick this particular night to show up. Ty cursed low
as he shot another. The Indian slumped and fell. The fact they
attacked after nightfall disturbed him most. He’d never encountered
an Indian attack after the sun went down. Grateful Jeb had been
able to locate the children and whisk them to safety, he struggled
hand to hand with yet another Crow Indian.

Sheer terror filled him as the call of
his name came to him on the smoke coated breeze. The sound drove
the wolf to surface in record time. Snarling at the startled
Indian, Ty lunged for his neck and tore at his airway. The Indian
dissolved into dust.

Stunned, a couple of seconds passed
before Ty realized the trouble all around them. Using his
telepathic connection with Sonja, he could see the Indian vampire
bit her neck. “No.”

Surging toward her, Ty berated himself
for taking time to finish off the other bloodsucker. Using all his
weight, he charged the attacker. Rolling with the Crow, he managed
to pin him on the ground before he recognized the stench of Robert.
“You.”

Robert’s mouth, coated liberally in
Sonja’s blood, shown plainly in the glimmer of the full moon.
“You’ll be sorry you were ever born, wolf.” He spit in Ty’s wolf
face, the blood of Sonja’s mingled with his spit.

“
You’re their leader,
aren’t you?” Ty said as his eyes widened with the
realization.

“
Bravo, wolf, you’ve solved
the puzzle of how I can still live.” He struggled to loosen Ty’s
stance on his body. “You’ve got more sense than I gave you credit
for. Too bad, you’re a Liken. I could use your
intelligence.”

“
What you could use is a
long, slow death, you son-of-a bitch.” Flicking a glance in Sonja’s
direction. She didn’t move. “If you’ve killed her, I’ll keep you
alive for as long as I can to make sure you suffer as much as
possible.”

The vampire’s eyes grew red. “Um, I
can feel her life’s source coursing through my veins. Her gift is
powerful. I knew she was the one. Even when Hortence’s spell didn’t
bring me back to life, I waited patiently to reclaim her as mine.
The vampire leader was an old one and couldn’t stop me from taking
over the coven. I fought my way to the top and took him out as
well. Perseverance and I managed to survive until I have her at
last. No one will defeat me now!” With his words, the vampire
knocked Ty off him as if he weighed nothing. Standing, he surveyed
his condition. “Humans are so simple to kill. Don’t you agree,
Liken?” He waged a finger at Ty. “Oh, I forgot, you still hold on
to ‘right and wrong’, don’t you, wolf?”

A glimmer of something flew past Ty’s
side. The werewolf-god stood nearby.

“
Guardian, come to protect
your protégé?” Robert licked his lips. “I’ll enjoy this for
sure.”

Guardian tossed Ty a sword. Looking
closer, the gleaming steel was his own weapon. He’d lost the sword
the night of the battle. “Where—”

“
I’ve been with you since
the start, Tyler. You weren’t alone then and you aren’t alone now.
Finish the hell bound scum so we can be on our way.” The Guardian
flashed a wolfish grin at him.

Ty couldn’t contain the smile creasing
his lips. Their blades sang out in unison and Robert’s head went
flying off his shoulders. “Are you sure he’s dead this
time?”

The Guardian nodded. Taking a
vampire’s head is the surest way to rid those you’re protecting of
his sorry ass. The werewolf-god smiled wickedly with the
comment.

“
Ty?” Sonja’s voice was
nothing more than a whisper.

Rushing to her, Ty examined the wound,
which had already started to heal. “Don’t worry. He’s gone. The
others will run without their leader.”

Sonja smiled weakly and glanced behind
him to see the Guardian standing there. “Thank you.”

“
No need to thank me.
Neither of you have needed my help. You’ve had each other from the
start.

Sonja studied Ty. “He’s right you
know. I’ve been such a fool, Ty, trying to protect you and
attempting to do everything myself. Can you forgive me?”

Ty’s breath warmed her cheek as he
lowered his head and kissed her soundly on the lips. “There’s
nothing to forgive, Nymph. You’re my mate. I love you no matter
what and I always will.”

Chapter 11
Celebration

Cheers rose up from the Rebels as they gathered
around. “We’re so grateful to you.” The people on the wagon train
crowded near and shook Ty’s hand with enthusiasm. “You did it. We
weren’t sure what happened. Somehow you managed to save us.” Major
Stevens and his wife gripped Ty in a hug. If you hadn’t taken that
vampire out, I don’t know what would have happened.” Mrs. Stevens
reached up and kissed him on the cheek.

“
I didn’t do anything
really.” Ty tried to downplay the whole attack. The less expanding
on what had happened the better off for everyone.

Mrs. Stevens stepped toward General
Stewart. “We’re grateful to you too, sir.” Mrs. Stevens reached out
and took his hand in hers, pumping it in excited appreciation. “My
but you’re cold. Are you coming down with something?”

Major Stevens took his wife’s hand.
“That’s enough, Marie, the General’s had a long night. We should
let him get some rest.”

Briann slipped an arm around Jeb and
smiled up into his face. “You are my hero, General.”

He pulled her close as Ethan and
Nathanial stood next to them.

Ty’s arms came around Sonja and drew
her into his side. “How are you?”

“
Better. The wound’s almost
gone. The bandage is for the others.” She smiled hesitantly at him.
“You saved all our lives, Ty. Thank you!” For the first time in
over five hours, she could breathe without a weight on her chest.
“You’re wonderful!”

With relief and joy, she flung her
arms around Ty’s neck and hugged him hard. “I could kiss you!” Her
arms looped around his neck and her mouth hovered under his so
close she could feel his breath, all warm on uneven exhales. Did he
feel that? The exquisite rush of fire up his neck and down his
backbone had to be intense, it was for her. Sonja slowly released
him and inched back. “I’m sorry. I’m so happy, I’m afraid I got
carried away. Everyone’s watching.”

Ty reached out and snatched her back
into his arms. “No, Nymph, you have every right to share in the
victory. I couldn’t have done it without you.” With a wicked grin,
he growled, “Let everyone watch.”

Their lips met in a coming home kind
of kiss where body parts molded to familiar territory.

The End

Books by Catherine
Wolffe

The Lady in the Mist (The
Western Werewolf Legend #1)

The Civil War took Sonja Brooks'
husband and left her alone. Unprotected and scared, she runs
headlong into a life changing event when she's attacked by a pack
of wolves. Her fate as a werewolf is sealed. When she stumbles upon
Ty Loflin, a Rebel solider dying of his wounds, she nurses him back
to health. He's the perfect mate, but will he want her once he
knows the truth?