“My dreams come true. I didn’t kill my old man just for Gage to come home from the service and take his place as the leader. I will destroy Gage, and I will be the leader.”
“You need a tic-tac,” I said as calmly as I could. I knew that taunting him could be a dangerous move, but I hoped that if Amon was already angry and emotionally worked up when Gage came, Amon would not be thinking clearly. That would give Gage the upper hand.
While I tried to be calm, my mind and heart were racing. Did I hear Amon right? Did he say that he killed his father? If he did, that meant he really wouldn’t hesitate to kill Gage or me.
It took every ounce of courage I had to remain calm. It wouldn’t help Gage, the situation, me, or the babies if I became all worked up.
After a few minutes, Amon said, “Alarik, go outside and do some scouting to see if anyone is coming yet. Don’t be seen.”
There was no answer. He must have been the bear that I saw sneaking out of the cave earlier.
“Where is Alarik?”Amon demanded.
The other two men looked at each other and shrugged. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen him since we got here,” Blister Face answered.
“I knew I shouldn’t have trusted him. He was always a little goody-two-shoes. That’s fine. He likely went back to tell Gage where to find us. That could be a good thing,” Amon said.
“That could also be a bad thing. If he went to the den, then it means that more than just Gage knows where we are. He won’t be coming alone,” Non-Blister Face said.
Amon snarled at him. “I know, Captain Obvious.”
“We can’t win if he brings back up,” Blister Face said.
“Yes, we can, Frank.” Amon was beginning to sound a little exasperated with his friends. “We have her,” he said, nodding to me.
I wave. “Hi. We haven’t been properly introduced. I’m Luka. I’m the wife of the man who is going to tear all three of you bear shifters up into itty-bitty, tiny, little pieces and throw you away like the sorry garbage you are,” I said cheerfully.
I got the reaction I hoped for. Frank lunged for me, but Amon grabbed his arm.
“Don’t touch her. She’s mine,” he roared.
If looks could kill, the glares that Frank was sending my way would have destroyed me. I would have burst into flames or exploded into tiny pieces of confetti.
I figured I would egg him on. “Your blisters are leaking. You really should have those looked at by a doctor. I imagine that you have some pretty nasty third-degree burns there. Those are going to leave a scar,” I said.
“You little—”
I interrupted him. “Now, now, Frank. You really shouldn’t call people names. After all, it was your own fault. You really shouldn’t touch women who don’t belong to you. Some of those women don’t appreciate it.”
He was growling. Good.
“It really is too bad about your face,” I continued on. “You were a handsome young bear shifter. I imagine you would have found your own beautiful woman who would win your heart and soul.”
He was starting to turn into a bear. I didn’t know they could do it slowly. I learned something new about my new family every day.
“Perhaps you could be the newPhantom of the Opera. In your case, it would bePhantom of the Cave. You could wear a mask to hide your burns from the world. Although, if you make it out of here alive once Gage finds us, your nurse from the hospital ward might be able to overlook your new horrifying countenance and fall in love with who you are on the inside if there is anything lovable about you.”
That did it. He finished turning and charged at me. I dove out of the way, and he ran straight into the wall. I laughed. He raised a paw and was going to take a swipe at me, but Amon knocked him out of the way.
“Get out,” he snarled at Frank.
“Oh, my hero,” I said sweetly.
“You shut up. I’m getting tired of your baiting. I’m not stupid, and I know what you are up to.” He got in my face. “Have all the fun you can, sister. Because after I destroy Gage, it will be my turn to have fun. And you won’t like it a bit.”
About that time, Non-Blister Face rushed in.
“They’re coming,” he announced breathlessly.