Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night

'No, wait,' she whispered, snatching his hand. 'Don't go.'

He waved the others on. 'We'll catch up.'

Tera said, 'You okay, Mari?'

She gave a pained smile. 'Ducky.'

'Let me carry you over,' he said again once they were alone. 'Then you can keep your eyes closed.'

'B-but both of us, together? You must weigh two hundred and fifty pounds.'

'Look at the others,' he said. Tierney was walking on the rope railing—and taunting her.

She narrowed her eyes. 'Did he... he didn't just call me a skirt?'

'That he did.'

She exhaled as if defeated. 'Peer pressure always was my weakness.' Glancing up at Bowe, she asked, 'If I walk across the bridge by myself, will you follow me?'

Always. 'I'll be right behind you.'

'Really close,' she said, then added in a rush, 'but don't stand on the same board as me.'

'Aye, noted. Now doona look down. Keep your eyes on Rydstrom's back. See, he's halfway across already.'

'Okay.' She gave a firm nod and reached for the railing. 'I c-can do this. No looking down.'

She was fear-stricken, her pupils like saucers and her hands shaking on the rope, but she still put one wee boot out onto the bridge. He'd known she was a brave lass, but when she took her first step, he wanted to howl with pride. Instead he said, 'Was thinkin'. Maybe Lorekind would like you witches better if you were less mercenary.'

'We are mercenaries!' she snapped without turning back.

'I ken that, but must you be?'

'For a thousand years, the House has been filled with mercenaries. That'd be like saying that people would like Lykae better if they were less wolfy. And let me tell you, you are very wolfy.'

'Well, it's a good thing I'm rich so I can support you, kitten. I doona guess you've made too much money for the House.'

Between gritted teeth, she demanded, 'Why would you say that? And don't call me kitten!'

'Let's be realistic. I canna imagine you've been raking it in with your magicks, blowing up things the way you do. Does your coven have a money-back guarantee—'

'You're trying to goad me, to make me forget my fear.'

'Aye. It was working. You're already halfway done.'

'Tricksy, damned wolf—'

Birds shot from the canopy on both sides of the gorge.

Moments later, the earth rumbled. Everyone on the bridge froze in surprise except for Bowe, who hooked his arm around Mari's waist, locking her tight against him.

'Oh, gods! MacRieve?' she whispered in a tremulous voice, her palms glowing with magick, as if in reflex.

'I'm right here, Mariketa.' In mere seconds, everything had stilled. 'It's over. Do you hear the forest quieting—'

Another rumble. With her bright hands death-gripped on the rail, her legs seemed to give out, but he held her upright. 'No, no, Mari, I've got you. Come, then. We can even go back the same way, if you'll just let go.'

She shook her head wildly, her eyes mirrors.

'Mari, you have to let go—I doona want to hurt your hands.'

A sudden surge of pressure built in the air. When he jerked his head up, he met eyes with Rydstrom, who had his brows drawn.

'Duck!' Rydstrom bellowed and Bowe just yanked Mariketa down before a boulder dropped directly over their heads. The force of it punched into the bridge, sending it rippling like a whip before rupturing it.

Looping his hand in the rope and locking his arm around her, he could do nothing but hold on as they swung like a pendulum straight for the sheer rock face.

33

Mari screamed as they hurtled closer and closer to the mountain. MacRieve had a one-handed grip on the railing so they went spinning in the air. She squeezed her eyes shut, her scream cut off by his painful hold around her growing even tighter.

This can't be happening!

Just before they slammed into the rock, he twisted, keeping his body between her and the impact. They bounced off, and he twisted again.

When they finally settled, he said, 'Are you hurt? Mariketa? Answer me!'

The rock slide had stirred grit and sand, and she coughed before she could cry, 'Oh, gods, this isn't happening.'

'Shh, shh. I've got you. Easy, then. I've got you now.'

She ignored the urge to wipe her eyes, and instead tightened her grip on him. She clutched his arms so hard, her nails sank into the muscles, yet he said nothing. 'A-are you okay?'

'Aye, fine. As soon as the dust clears, I'll climb straight up.'

'What... what was that?'

'An earthquake. The area's known for them.'

'The others? Are they safe?'

'Give me a second to see, lass. The dust is still settling over there as well. They're doubtless hanging on just like we are.'

Bowe's jaw slackened. When the air cleared, he saw the bridge on the other side was... gone.

'Do you see them?'

'They're fine. They made it across,' he told her. Not necessarily a lie. They might have leapt up before the bridge was lost—no matter how much more likely it was that they'd fallen.

Still, unless they lost their heads, a fall couldn't kill them. And until he got Mariketa down from this mountain, and safe from their present predicament, he didn't think it wise to tell her that her friends might have plunged hundreds of feet.

'Now, we've got to get ourselves to safe ground, too. I can use the bridge's wood slats as rungs. We'll just climb up. Verra well, Mari?'

'B-Bowen, wait! If you d-don't drop me on the climb up, I'll be nicer to you, and... and I'll sleep with you! I really will.'

'Well, in that case, I'll be sure to hold you tight,' he said, reaching above him.

'You're laughing at me.'

'Nothing on earth could make me drop you.' Almost to the top. 'Even if you've been cruel to me.'

'I've been cruel?'

'Aye, and toying with me.'

'What are you talking about?' she demanded.

'About leading me to think you were going to 'give it up' then reneging.'

'I never led you on!'

'Did you no' jump me?'

'You're trying to distract me again—' Her words ended in a shriek directly in his ear when he leapt from the bridge over the edge.

'There, we're on solid ground again. See, everything's fine.' As soon as he'd gotten them back down under the trees, he set her on her feet, holding her shoulders until she was steady enough to stand on her own. But she launched herself right back at him, wrapping her arms around his waist, like she'd hug a tree.

He stared down at her. 'Mariketa?'