“’Tis disgusting, that,” Niall muttered.
Octavia shrugged. “We taste to them like venison tastes to us.”
“I may never eat again.” This from Alistair.
“Angus brings up a good point,” Octavia interjected. “We need to look for anything dead, be it human or otherwise.”
“We can cover more of the area do we split up,” Angus pointed out, “yet my gut is telling me dinna do that.”
“Then we listen to your gut.” Octavia nodded toward the forest where Finlay, Oliver, and the horses were waiting. “We should cover as much of the terrain nearest to the water as possible.”
“But that won’t explain why an alien that needs heat and arid weather is suddenly keeping close to the frigid water,” James reminded her. “We can find bodies all day long, but until we understand why its behavior has done a 180…”
“I know.” She sighed. “But a body can at least lead us in the proper direc—”
A tortured scream pierced the air, sending shivers down Octavia’s spine. She took off running at top speed, her rifle at the ready, towards Finlay and Oliver. Angus quickly caught up to her, running alongside her. The others followed suit behind them.
“Jesus God,” Angus said, crossing himself as he came to a halt. His breathing was as labored as his wife’s. “Holy Mary.”
Oliver, soaked in blood, stared back at them through wide blue eyes. Clearly in shock, he backed up against a tree until he hit it then fell to his knees. A few feet away from him were Finlay’s remains—what was left of them anyway.
Octavia and James immediately went flush against each other’s backs. They both looked through their scopes as they traveled in a circle, the guns Octavia had stolen from the human collaborators ready to kill. She could hear her husband and his men drawing their swords.
“Do you see it?”
“No. I’ve got nothing in my sights.”
“Me neither. I see nothing.”
Oliver’s scream caused everyone to turn towards him. Octavia and James fired rounds at the feeder as it tore open Oliver’s head. Angus bellowed, running towards the horror scene, his sword lifted and ready to throw. The feeder was caught off guard. Angus dispatched his sword into the air, a whooshing sound going by as if in slow motion. The heavy thing found purchase in the Xenocann’s heart. It fell to the ground.
“Don’t go near it!” Octavia shouted, still fearful for her husband’s life. His aim had been true, but she was taking no chances. Octavia and James both opened fire, bullets piercing the feeder’s heart until the organ was pulverized.
Her breathing shallow, she turned wide-eyed to Angus. “You did it,” she murmured, laying down her gun. She ran into his awaiting arms and hugged him tightly. “You killed it.”
His breathing was as ragged as her own. He kissed the top of her head before declaring, “I but stunned it. ‘Twas you and James who killed it.”
“No, it was you—all you!”
Truthfully, she didn’t care who had rendered the death blow. Octavia’s only concern was that the Xenocann was well and truly dead. She wished she could rewind time and bring back Finlay and Oliver, but she knew there was no going back.
The men all gathered around, clapping backs and cheering. It wasn’t until they set about to do the grim work of gathering their dead that Octavia’s gaze found James. Neither one of them said a word, though both of them were thinking the same thing: they still didn’t know why the feeder had stayed close to the water.
It was knowledge that would give them both nightmares for weeks to come.
Angus explained to his clan that Finlay and Oliver had met a bad end by a bear. The families of the fallen had been inconsolable during the funeral, which Angus could hardly blame them for. He wished there was aught he could do, yet understood there wasn’t. Only time itself would heal them mayhap a wee bit.
By the time he was able to join Octavia in their bedchamber, his wife was already naked and sound asleep. Pulling off his plaid, tunic, and boots, Angus joined her on their bed. He kissed all over her body, his fingers tweaking her erect nipples. She moaned a bit afore waking in truth.
“I love you, wife,” Angus told her as he plunged his cock deep inside her. He groaned. “I have loved you since the moment I first saw you.”
Octavia wrapped her arms around him. Her breathing hitched as he slowly rode in and out of her. “I love you too, husband. I have loved you since the moment I first saw you.”
Angus made love to her with an overflowing heart, hoping to put his bairn in her belly this very eve. He would mayhap never ken the forces that had brought her to him, yet wouldst he ever be thankful for them.
“I love you,” Angus whispered again. “I will always love you.”
“And I you.” Octavia smiled. “Forever.”
