DD+LD+KD = ♥
I slid off Dash’s back and spun around, and there, in the thick growth, stood my father, looking the same as he had that day, an enormously proud grin in place. He pointed toward the huge tree and winked before disappearing into the forest.
“It’s over there.”
I hurried toward the tree, putting my hand over the weathered but still visible carving. I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling the sting of tears as the beautiful memory played behind my eyelids. My father was still guiding me.
The others approached the tree. Dr. Carl, in his Lycan form, sniffed around the base before he returned. He whined until Adon took off the backpack he was wearing and set it on the dried leaves in front of Dr. Carl. He took it between his teeth and disappeared, returning in his human form fully dressed.
“Okay, this is it. Did anyone think to bring a shovel? It will be best not to damage the tree.” Dr. Carl’s gaze went from me to Dash, and we both shook our heads.
When the good doctor’s eyes landed on Adonis, he lifted his hands with a smirk. Long sharp nails grew from his fingers as he turned to Dash, who lifted his hands in unison, his nails doing the same.
A shiver slid down my spine as Dash walked over to the tree and knocked on the exposed roots under the arrow. Was it possible to find new, sexy things about my husband?
“Here?” He studied me, and I nodded.
Dash and Adonis slowly clawed the dirt away from the base of the tree. There was a dark, shimmering figure lurking in the forest. It was trying to hide, but I saw it.
I took a breath and concentrated on sending my husband a telepathic message.We have company. Pretend not to know. Let it come forward, so we can see who it is and what it wants.
Dash turned and made a cute kissy face, which had me chuckling. “You shouldn’t have to dig too deep. Dad had mehelp dig the hole with a small shovel, and I’ve never been much of a digger. The box was white with gold, red, and black embellishments.”
“What’s in it? Do you remember?” Dr. Carl was staring at me.
I smiled. “Being the kid, I got to go first. I put a favorite tiny truck inside and a Spiderman T-shirt I’d had since I was three because I wanted to be Spiderman. Mom put in a handkerchief of her grandmother’s that carried the scent of rosewater perfume—which wasn’t as pleasant as it might sound. Dad didn’t show me what he put in the box, but I know there was a hand rolled Cuban cigar he was saving for some reason he never explained. Does that help?”
Dr. Carl nodded, and the three of them went to work. I saw the shadow in the woods again, so I stepped closer to them. “Stop. There’s an entity here we need to investigate before we unearth the box, in case they’re here to take the bottom of the scroll.” I kept my voice low on purpose.
Whatever was out there didn’t give me a friendly vibe, and I wasn’t about to lose my husband or the war before it started. I had a hell of a lot at stake.
Chapter Six
Dash
Keir had become an enhanced human, more or less. He’d developed a keen radar for trouble. He’d sensed earlier that something in the vicinity wasn’t good, just as the three of us had, but only he could see it better than any of us. His focus was much better than ours.
Whatever the hell was following us was a dark entity, according to the sulfuric scent I picked up, and after glancing at my friends, their expressions of concern confirmed my assessment.
When I stopped digging, I stood and turned toward the darkest part of the forest. I glanced at Keir and shrugged. Even with my enhanced abilities, I couldn’t see shit.
I started walking toward my husband because I wanted to know what the hell was out there. Carl and Adon were behind me, but Keir put up his hand. “Wait. Let it come to us first.” They nodded and sat down beside a tree. I kept going.
Finally, the being came into view as I cleared a few more yards of forest. Keir was speaking to an entity with a coal-black aura, and I wasn’t thrilled. I was ready to charge ahead to protect my husband, but I heard Keir in my head through our connection.
Give me a minute. Stay near, but don’t come any closer until I signal you.
I closed my eyes and concentrated on Keir.
Who is it? What’s going on? I’m not leaving you alone.
Keir’s voice cut through the air. “Lorraine, what are you doing here?”
She spoke in a foreign language I’d never heard, but Dr. Carl was quick to call out the translation so Keir could hear him. “She said, ‘I’m here to get you, Claude. You’re avoiding me, and I won’t stand for it any longer.’”
The woman’s harsh tone had me moving closer. There was no way I’d let her do anything to harm my husband.
Keir sensed my movement behind him.Love, wait.
