Goldilocks (25 page)

Relief gripped Hannah as she spotted Jake, crawling towards the lifeless bird with determination; he was alive.

There was no time to go to him, Creed was on her, quicker than she could bring the daggers up again, the wind knocked from her body as he pinned her against the wall. His fangs sunk deep into her shoulder, searing the flesh and ripping back muscle and ligament that left her right arm dangling and lifeless.

Hannah fought blindly now, the pain consuming her, yet pushing her forward in a barreling roll. He fell with her, snarling and snapping, his claws trying desperately to meet their mark. She had him, on his back, her weight pinning
him just as she sunk her teeth into his throat. Creed’s snarls became mangled, blood gushing from the wound that would have been fatal for most.

Finish him!
Jake’s command brought her up on her hind legs, her eyes narrowing at the laughter that shook the beast beneath her.

“I die, YOU DIE!” Creed grunted
, his face slowly changing as Hannah’s hind claws sunk into his haunches.

“Wrong,” Hannah murmured,
partially shifting so that he could see the very human girl that would take his life.

Blood spurted from her shoulder as she punched the right dagger into his side. “You die, we live,” she breathed through gritted teeth, every ounce of strength she had left pulsing through her arm
as she sunk the left dagger through his heart.

Creed’s mouth opened in surprise, but no words came, his
black eyes growing dull as life ebbed slowly away. Hannah shifted once again, backing away as the beast dissolved in front of her, fur turning to dust, muscle and skin to ash.

You should
go…

The sound of Jake’s voice brought Hannah from her daze, her eyes widening at the trembling that had started beneath them. Her father had told her enough horror stories about
the mine for her to know that the entire room was about to come down on them.

The bird was barely breathing, and Jake could not yet stand, his broken back only beginning to heal. Hannah shook her head as she looked from one to the other, she couldn’t leave them.

I can’t. I won’t.
She declared, her heart breaking just as the walls around them begin to shake.

There’s a way out now. The blast… You
r father will be waiting…
Jake insisted.
Go! Before…

Hannah whipped around at the sound she’d just heard, her eyes searching the cavern for any sign of Creed. She’d
just watched him die. What remained still stained the floor in front of her, yet her ears piqued again.

A growl started in her belly at the yelps coming from a tiny tunnel opposite them, her body lifting protectively over Jake and the dying bird.
Six pairs of frightened eyes peaked back at her, their bodies quivering as they inched forward. They were only cubs, the latest product of Creed’s efforts to expand his army. She needed them.

Come…
Hannah lowered onto all fours, bowing her head low, so that the cubs knew that she meant them no harm.

Kill them…
Jake urged her, trying to rise to a stand.

I can’t carry you both…
Hannah shook her head, taking a step back as the cubs crept forward.

The two largest cubs were the first to reach them, sniffing at her bloodied claws before looking mournfully to the spot where their master had taken his final breath. They were only babies, but they understood what she wanted. Gently Hannah lifted Ryan’s head until it was high enough to drape over a cubs back. Five more times she repeated this, positioning the massive bird until his
weight was completely off the ground.

Stones were starting to fall around them, crashing from the walls and shattering in a million pieces over the floor. There wasn’t much time, Hannah lowered herself as Jake had done so many times for her, scooting under his broken body until he lay on stomach, draped across her back.

Follow!
She gritted out under the nearly unbearable weight that she now carried, her eyes now on the light at the end of the tunnel in front of them.

It was finally over.

THE END

Epilogue

A scream stuck in her throat as Creed buried his claws deep in her back. She was finished, dying, memories flashing bright and fast as she fought to focus on something that would give her peace. The golden daggers adorning her paws became flowers, claws giving way to human fingers that reached for the brigh
t white light coming to claim her.

“Jake!” Hannah gasped as she jumped up in the chair, the nightmare dissipating as her surroundings came into focus.

“Goldilocks,” Jake whispered, a smile tugging the corners of his mouth at the surprised look on Hannah’s face.

“How long have you been awake?!”
Hannah cried, tears springing to her eyes as she rushed to the side of the bed.

“Long enough to see your dream,” Jake murmured, his eyes meeting hers as she caressed his face.

“It took you so long to heal; it’s been days,” Hannah sighed in relief, shaking her head at the nightmare that kept coming back. “I thought…”

“He’s dead,” Jake stopped her.

“He is,” Hannah confirmed, swiping at the tears that streaked her cheeks now.

“And Ryan…?”

“Is…recovering,” Hannah responded carefully, not sure if now was the right time to tell Jake that his friend might never be the same again.

“I blacked out before we got out of the tunnel,” Jake admitted. “I thought I’d broken my promise. I thought…”
“Shh…” Hannah quieted him with a gentle kiss on his lips. “The town is safe, my father is proud of you, and we have forever.”

“Forever,” Jake whispered, pulling her down so that she was wrapped safely in his arms once again.

“I should go get your parents…”
“No, stay,” Jake stopped her from moving, sharing the newly formed memory his father had just shared with him. “They already know.”

Tears pricked Hannah’s eyes once more as she watched Rone gather Marigold in his arms, both of them shedding tears of joy.
It was a memory that she would cherish forever.

“So what now?” Hannah smiled up at Jake, carefully snuggling under his arm so that her head rested on his chest.

She felt his heart quicken, a past memory of their time together at the glass lake filling her vision.

“Wanna go for a ride?” He teased, taking the playful punch she immediately delivered to his shoulder

“You just concentrate on getting better please,” Hannah giggled, her own pulse quickening at the possibilities for their future.

There would be plenty of time to tell him about the six cubs that had helped save his friend’s life. The council had agreed with her decision to let them live, and had each adopted one to be raised under their wing, with the hopes that Creed’s evilness would dissipate as they grew separate and apart from each other.

A new legend had been born, and even though Hannah had spent every waking minute since the mine collapse at Jake’s bed side, she knew the town would be forever grateful for Goldilocks and her three bears. She couldn’t ask for a better ending, or a more certain future.

“I love you,”
Hannah whispered into his ear, her mind opening fully so that he could see all that those three little words fully meant.

“I love you too,
” Jake echoed on a sigh of contentment, his knuckle pushing back the strand of hair that had settled on her cheek. “Goldilocks.”

Want More Fantasy Fiction From This Author?

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The Gifts Trilogy:

The Gifts-
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Signs & Wonders-
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Revelation-
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The Zerrin Trilogy:

Smitten-
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Bitten-
http://tinyurl.com/mjesshc

Hidden-
http://tinyurl.com/m7gvwkc

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