Remus (17 page)

“That still doesn’t explain why they are acting that way,” she said.

Nyx gave a little laugh.

“Well, isn’t it obvious? Rem is an alpha. You are his bonded.”

Jenna nearly choked on her own spit.

“They think I’m like their queen or something?” she whispered in disbelief.

Nyx nodded. “That’s exactly what they believe.”

* * *

Rem kept his distance from her as they trekked through the woods. He needed to stay alert, and there was no way he could do that with her close by, not that it was stopping him from turning around to look at her every few minutes.

“How much farther until we reach the meeting point?” Magnus said.

Rem looked over at him.

“We had to circle around the area of the cave,” he said. “We were spit out a bit too far north, but we should be there within the hour. If we aren’t there when they arrive, Titus will send scouts in for us.”

“You know… he’s not far away,” Magnus said and looked into the dense forest. “I can feel him out there.”

Rem knew what he was saying. Everyone in the woods, including the animals, seemed to sense the presence of Romulus.

Silence choked the forest. A pack of predators tended to do that. He could only hope that Romulus hadn’t been able to collect that many Glycons.

Something snapped nearby, and he froze.

Putting his nose in the air, Rem smelled for traces of the enemy. Only the night wind and the normal scents of the forest met him.

He turned to say something to Magnus when something caught his eye far off in the distance. Two glowing dots disappeared.

“Shit,” Rem said and pulled out the gun he had been able to salvage from Jenna’s bag. “They’re here.”

The group stared tensely into the forest.

“They will come for us,” Rem said to the group that so desperately needed some assurance. “They have been known to cloak their scents with chemicals. You’ll have to rely on your sight.”

A number of bright blue eyes stared back at him. These people had been through hell, and he was still going to ask them to fight.

“Remember where you were. How they put you there,” he said. Several of the larger men scowled at the memory. “If we don’t fight, they will take us back.”

He could feel the anger fueling them now.

Rem scanned the trees and swallowed as he made out many more pairs of red dots in the distance. They weren’t facing a few Glycons. They were facing an army.

“We’re surrounded,” Magnus said in his ear.

Rem nodded.

“Brother.”

Rem turned to the tree nearest to him and found Romulus’s red glowing eyes just behind it. They had walked into an ambush.

Chapter Seventeen

Rem glared at his brother between the trees. They kept ending up at the same spot, the two of them face to face, but Romulus protected by his Glycons.

“I see you survived,” Romulus said.

Rem smiled. “I think that’s my line.”

He knew what to say to needle Romulus, and, if he was lucky, maybe his brother would decide the fight was only with him.

“I see you’re up to the same tricks as before,” Rem said. “Using the Group’s toys to block your scent.”

“One of the more effective tools.” Romulus smiled.

Rem had to agree. Without the ability to smell them, the enemy would always have the advantage of surprise.

“So how did you know we’d come this way?” Rem said.

They had been quiet and careful. In addition, they had the advantage of surprise on their side. He doubted in Romulus or Agatha’s wildest dreams did they think anyone would blow half the base up with dynamite.

Romulus stepped into the light of the moon and grinned at him.

“I’ve got a few friends who are willing to help out with that,” he said. “Too bad your friends aren’t more careful.”

Rem frowned. The lodge had secured everything, and yet they still had a leak.

“Your side has been delayed with technical difficulties,” Romulus said. “Face facts, brother. You are outmanned and alone. Give up. You can still provide some value to the Horatius Group, of sorts.”

Rem shook his head. It wasn’t even an option.

“You know I always win,” Romulus said and snickered to himself. “Give up now, and I’ll only take the woman.”

Rem froze. Anger started clouding the rational part of his brain.

“She’s mine,” Rem said quietly. Rage prickled down his spine.

Romulus let his eyes flare bright red.

“You don’t deserve her,” Romulus said. “It was my right to claim her first.”

He stepped further out, his Glycons not far behind. Rem’s group was surrounded by the evil creatures.

Several of the hybrids growled at the sight of the Glycons.

“You can’t have her,” Rem snarled. He could feel the heat of the beast burning to get out and show Romulus who deserved Jenna.

Rem jumped out of the way as his brother lunged at him. His deadly claws stretched toward Rem and sliced through the air by his face.

Around him, Glycons jumped out from the woods. Bodies clashed around him but he sought one person in particular.

Jenna stood in the center next to Nyx. She struggled to see the things around her, and he knew that at this rate, she’d be hurt in no time. His eyes met Nyx’s.

“Get her out of here,” he yelled to Nyx.

He watched as she pulled Jenna behind her, and they raced into the woods.

“After them,” Romulus yelled, pointing to a group of Glycons and then Nyx and Jenna.

Four Glycons took off after them. Romulus stepped as if he would follow, but this time it was Rem who had the upper hand. He grabbed the other man by his shirt and threw him hard against the tree.

“We’re not finished,” Rem growled.

* * *

Jenna and Nyx raced through the forest, low-hanging branches slapping them in the face. Jenna had no idea where they were going, but getting away from the fight sounded like a good idea to her. As much as she wanted them all to be safe, there was no way she’d be able to help, being half-blind and not having a gun.

She almost laughed at the absurdity. Rem hadn’t even bothered to shoot at Romulus. He might as well have let her have the gun he found.

“Keep moving,” Nyx said behind her.

A Glycon screamed somewhere behind her. Jenna’s heart pounded in her chest.

“We’ll never outrun them,” Nyx said as they continued to run.

Jenna could see that. Her legs were already starting to burn, and it wouldn’t be long before they gave out all-together.

“There,” Nyx said and pointed ahead.

She couldn’t make it out, but it looked like there was a clearing of sorts.

“We’ll make a stand,” she said.

Jenna shook her head. There was no way she would be able to do much of anything, but she would try.

Nyx thrust a knife in her hand. “If one gets close, cut its throat.”

She wanted to gag at the thought of cutting someone like that.

They passed through the last of the trees and stood by the light of the moon in a clearing.

Her heart thundered.

“Here they come,” Nyx said.

Her mouth ran dry, and three blurry dots came into view. One of them let out a screech.

Jenna watched as Nyx took off in front of her.

She couldn’t make out what was happening, but the pained cry of one let her know that Nyx had killed it and was moving on.

Something screeched to her left. She whirled around to find one of the bestial man creatures leaping at her.

Jenna dropped to a crouch, awaiting impact.

Something dark shot out of the woods and knocked the Glycon to the ground.

“Run,” a familiar voice said.

Jenna sucked in a breath. “Nero?”

“No time,” he said quickly. “Just run. More are coming.”

Her heart continued to hammer in her chest. She turned to find Nyx, but could only see the blur of two figures as they tried to take her down.

“Go!”

She didn’t think; she ran. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been running when she stopped.

When she did, there was something oddly familiar about the place. Despite not being able to see, Jenna knew the way.

“The truck,” she whispered.

* * *

They weren’t going to win. Rem could hear it in the cries around him. There were just too many Glycons and not enough of them to defend.

“Looks like you’ll die here, brother,” Romulus said. “All that power and you can’t even take down your lessers.” He sneered. “Pathetic. I’m surprised you were even able to claim her like this.”

Anger built in Rem every time the bastard talked about Jenna.

“My Glycons will catch her and bring her back to me,” Romulus said with a wicked smile. “I’ll use my body to wash away the stench you’ve left with her.”

“No!” Rem screamed.

His blood turned hot, and he felt himself turn into the man they would need for the battle. For so long he’d kept the beast in check, but this once, he was going to need it to win.

The two raced at one another and clashed in the air. Their bodies hit hard, and Rem grunted at the impact.

Romulus worked his nails in the air, trying to scratch Rem.

One little prick, and it would be all over.

Rem grabbed his brother by the wrists, and they rolled on the ground, each trying to gain the upper hand.

It was Romulus that found himself on top. He pressed down hard against Rem and tried to shake his hands out of his grasp. Rem held firm.

Romulus grinned when his nails got dangerously close to Rem and pressed down hard. It would only be moments before they pressed into him.

“I wonder,” Romulus said quietly. “How does she taste? I look forward to running my mouth all along her sweet body.”

“No,” Rem growled. His vision went red for a moment.

The wrists in his hands snapped as he pushed them away. Romulus grunted.

“I will have her,” Romulus said. “You can’t stop me.”

Something clicked inside Rem. He turned the wicked claws inward and rolled hard. His body landed on the other man.

Romulus screamed in pain.

Rem stood and looked down at the man.

Romulus’s claws were stuck deep into his chest. Judging by the blood, he had pierced his heart.

Romulus struggled to speak but couldn’t seem to get the words out.

Rem leaned in toward the man.

“Mother is coming,” Romulus whispered. “You haven’t won anything.”

Rem’s eyes widened with shock.

Gunfire echoed in the night. He spun around. Several Glycons jerked and tumbled to the ground.

“Looks like you could use the help,” Titus said from behind him.

Rem stood and nodded.

“Took you long enough,” he said with a grin.

Val stepped out and grinned. “Damn satellite wentcrazy for a bit, but when it came back on, we saw that shit was hitting the fan.”

The Glycons backed away for a moment, growling and snarling. A moment later, they charged again. Several more Luna Lodge hybrids emerged from the woods and opened fire. Titus snapped up a pistol and downed a Glycon with two quick shots to the chest.

The remaining Glycons backed away again, snarling, but it was obvious they weren’t done, and there were still a lot of them.

“You get this under control,” Rem said. “I’ve got to find Jenna.”

* * *

The path was far clearer now. She could almost see the way despite her poor eyesight.

When the truck came into view, she nearly cried. So close.

Jenna went to the stump near the car.

“Oh, now, this is some good luck,” a bored-sounding female voice said.

She whirled around at the sound of the voice.

“Agatha,” she whispered.

The woman laughed and stepped into the light.

“I’m surprised that he would let you out of his sight,” she said.

Jenna glanced down at the stump. All she had to do was reach in and grab the stuff.

“He had other things to do,” Jenna said.

Agatha chuckled to herself. “I’ll bet he did.” She stepped forward. “You are the key to fixing all of this. All I need to do is bring you with me and show her what I can do.”

Jenna frowned. She had no idea what this woman was talking about, but it didn’t sound like it was going to work in her favor.

“Stop,” Jenna said. She held up her hand, as if she had some sort of power.

Agatha laughed loudly. “And what are you going to do, little girl? Cry?”

Jenna frowned. If only she had her glasses.

Agatha took another step, and Jenna was running out of time. There was no one else to save her.

Jenna reached into the stump and pulled out the flare gun and keys.

She could see Agatha stop in her tracks.

“You’re going to shoot me with that?”

Jenna shook as she leveled the gun. She wouldn’t be able to see to aim, but it might distract Agatha for a moment.

Agatha snarled and raced toward her. Jenna pulled the trigger and watched as the ball of light smacked the woman in her face. She screamed and turned away.

Jenna pulled out the keys and bolted for the truck.

She slammed the key into the lock and yanked the door open.

“I’ll kill you,” Agatha screamed.

Jenna jumped in and slammed the door shut. She stuck the key into the ignition and cursed as the engine choked.

She jumped when Agatha slammed into the glass. This close Jenna could see the destruction of the flare. Her left eye was matted shut, the burned skin melted.

Agatha stopped and looked over her shoulder and then back to Jenna.

“I will find you,” she hissed. “You can hide, but I will find you, and you’ll pay for this. I’ll make you suffer before you die.”

Agatha sprinted away, disappearing into the woods.

Jenna jumped when something came out of the other side of the trees.

“Jenna!”

Tears streamed down her cheek as his voice came to her.

“Rem,” she whispered.

She threw open the door and ran to him, stumbling over the forest floor. Not stopping, she threw herself into his arms and let him hold her like she needed.

“It’s okay,” he whispered. “We got them all.”