Calum ran forward and fell to his knees beside his daughter.
Feeling herself sway, Vic shook her head. This being a furry-thing was majorly bizarre. And how the hell was she supposed to shift into a people-thing again? Had any of those bozos mentioned the way to get back? God, would she stay stuck like this for… She spotted it, up in the corner of her mind. The door.
She hurled herself through. Whoa, major dizziness. Blinking, she saw bare arms buried elbow-deep in the snow. Her arms. "Fucking-A."
When she looked up, Alec was staring down at her, his green eyes almost glowing. "Vixen?
You shifted?"
Beside Jamie, Calum raised his head. "Victoria. I caught your scent, but didn‘t believe it."
With an effort, Vic pushed to her feet. Her legs wobbled like half-melted Jell-O as she dropped down beside Calum. The little panther‘s eyes were open, but glazed, and it was panting.
"Oh, God, is she okay? They shot her—a tranq, I think."
Calum ran his fingers through Jamie‘s fur and yanked out a feathered dart. "Just one?"
"Yeah, their last. They were scared she‘d wake up before they got her caged." Vic couldn‘t keep her hand from stroking the snow-dampened fur, needing to feel the warmth underneath and the comforting beat of the child‘s heart. She was growling under her breath—as was Calum. She jerked her chin at the rock lying beside the dead man. "He planned to bash her—" She choked, couldn‘t even say the words as the horror washed over her again. The absolute wrongness of the act.
Alec‘s gaze touched on the bad guy, followed her leaping trail back to where it disappeared over the edge of the ridge. "You were below, weren‘t you," he stated. "That‘s why you shifted?"
"Yeah. Too far away." She shivered at how close she‘d come to being too late, and then shivered again at the bite of snow and wind on her bare skin.
At the sound of voices coming up the trail, Vic rose, placing herself in front of Jamie. The door flickered in her vision, reminding her she had other options. Alec stepped beside her, his shoulder brushing hers.
But the people that appeared through the swirling snow weren‘t more thugs. The grocery store owner, Baty, trotted in the front, carrying a pistol. Behind him, Kevin Murphy lugged a double-barrel shotgun, his brother, a deer rifle. After that came Kori and Angie, and they had, halleluiah, blankets.
Baty stepped over the dead man‘s body as if it was a log on the trail and halted in front of Calum. "Cosantir, what do you require?"
*
Calum kept one hand on his daughter, unable to stop touching her, reassuring himself she was alive. Across from Jamie, Alec did the same. Bless the clan members who had arrived. He and his brawd could stay beside Jamie and still discharge their duties.
He glanced at the corpse behind him. The claw marks on the slashed throat were too obvious. The same on the man he and Alec had savaged and killed. Deaths from mountain lion attacks always made the news. The bodies must not be found. "Go through the wallets and get their information, then replace everything. Don‘t leave fingerprints, just in case."
Baty held up his gloved hand. "I‘ll take care of that." He knelt beside the dead body, calling to the women, "Kori, do you have a pen and paper?"
As Kori bustled forward, Angie spread a blanket over Calum‘s shoulders, then did the same with Victoria and Alex.
Victoria wrapped herself in it, shivering so hard her teeth chattered. Calum put his free arm around her and pulled her against his warmth.
"Cosantir." A man of few words, Kevin waited for orders.
Calum glanced at Alec. "Suggestions, cahir?"
"Cold water might preserve them too well. Best let the forest animals clean up the mess."
Calum nodded, then said to the Murphy brothers, "Wrap them in plastic to prevent a blood trail. Drop them from the steepest cliff into Dead Mule Canyon."
Cody gave a short nod. "I know the one you mean."
Alec added, "Take as much of the bloody snow with the bodies as you can manage. No need to leave extra evidence behind."
Kevin glanced at the gory mess around Victoria‘s victim and grimaced. "Gee thanks, Alec."
"Got your information," Albert Baty said, returning to stand beside Calum. "What next?"
"Thank you, Albert. I think Victoria abandoned her clothing and probably a pack, down below." Calum nodded at the tracks leading over the steep cliff.
Baty‘s eyes widened. He bobbed his head at Victoria. "Nice job of climbing, missy. I‘ll get your stuff for you, don‘cha worry."
She smiled her thanks.
"Thank you, Albert." As the little shopkeeper bustled away, Calum bent over Jamie. Her eyes focused on him, and she was breathing normally. He stroked the fur on her neck. "Jamie. It would be best if you trawsfur. Do you remember how?"
Her muscles tightened under his hand, but he felt no tingle of magic. His mouth went dry. If she couldn‘t find the way back… He looked at Alec, unable to speak.
"Parents, so quick to panic." Alec stepped to where Jamie could see him. "Look at me, baby, not that ugly thing you call a daddy."
Jamie‘s gaze shifted.
"You‘re safe, sweetie. All the bad guys are gone. Find the door, and let‘s go home." He waited.
Jamie‘s muscles didn‘t loosen, and she was panting again. Fear whipped at Calum‘s control.
The first few trawsfurs needed to be calm and quiet so the youngster wouldn‘t panic. A bad experience while an animal could make a child subconsciously avoid the vulnerable human form…and be unable to find the portal.
Although his brother‘s hand fisted, Alec‘s laugh was normal. "Guess you want us to carry you, eh? Now, isn‘t that just like a teenager?"
Calum bent to pick up his daughter, letting go of Victoria. Instead of rising, she elbowed him out of the way and took his place. She cupped Jamie‘s muzzle. "Hey."
Jamie‘s eyes fixed on Victoria‘s.
"You‘re scared," Victoria said. "Well, hell, that shows you‘re not stupid."
Calum
