"He's going to kill you," Paul assured. "Dead. For certain. But he'll make you suffer first."
"Don't look so happy about it, bro," Josef said. "He's going to kill you, too."
Paul shrugged. "Better him than Zacarias. I've got like five of the craziest Carpathians known that are going to be eager to strangle me; you've only got a couple."
"We'll get in and get out with no one the wiser," Skyler said. "That way no one will get killed."
"Sky, I'm going to be in the ground when you go wandering in the woods," Josef said, worry taking the laughter from his voice. "You'll be very vulnerable. Paul won't be able to be too close to you, so you have to make certain that there is as clear a line of sight as possible from Paul to you at all times. He's your only protection until sunset."
"I honestly don't think the Lycans are going to worry about me rescuing Dimitri. Our papers are in order. We've set the camp up perfectly to be a working environment, and they must know of Dimitri's organization to save the wolves. He's set up preserves all over the world. Of course they have no idea it's that Dimitri they've wrapped in silver."
"There are other things in this forest to worry about than just the Lycans," Josef pointed out. "Wild predators live here."
"I know, but most of them come out at night. Really, I feel like between you and Dimitri, I could use a little encouragement."
"I think the plan is solid," Josef said. "I think your presence will draw a Lycan to you. Just make noise. I want you aware, that's all."
She heard the reluctance, the concern in his voice. He would be in the ground, unable to aid her if she got into trouble. She knew, like Dimitri, being helpless would be the most difficult thing of all. "I'll be hypervigilant," she promised.
"Were you able to remove the silver from his body?" Paul asked. "All of it?"
Skyler nodded, relief sweeping through her. She hadn't realized how tense she was until that moment. "Yes. And one of the Lycans gave him blood. He's been starving for over two weeks, so it wasn't nearly enough to bring him to full strength, but it should be enough that he can get out on his own after I remove the hooks and chains."
"There is no way you, or either of us, could ever carry Dimitri. He's too big of a man," Paul said.
"Excuse me." Josef blew air on his fingernails and polished them on his shirt. "You're forgetting my mad skills. I could float him out of there."
Skyler rolled her eyes at his blatant bragging. "And every Lycan in the forest will feel that rift in the energy field and come running."
"I just wanted you to be very aware of my talents," Josef said. "I could do it if it was necessary, that's all."
"Could you carry him out of the forest on your dragon's back?" Skyler asked, suddenly very serious.
The smirk disappeared from Josef's face. "If it was just him, sure, but not with the both of you as well."
Skyler reached out her hand to him. "It won't be necessary. You can give him blood. Paul and I will as well. He'll be fine. Even if he has to go to ground for a night or two, we can hide. And if we can't do that, we'll have our fall back plan." She spoke with far more confidence than she felt.
"So the silver is out of his body and a Lycan gave him blood," Paul said, his tone speculative. "Maybe all of them aren't bad."
"Dimitri knows I'll be coming for him tonight and he'll be ready. I just have to figure out how to get the hooks from his body and the chain from around him. It's burned into his flesh. Literally burned into it. His arms, his chest, all down his legs. They wrapped him up like a mummy in silver." There was disgust and anguish mixed together in her voice.
Paul slung his arm around her shoulders. "He's alive and he's waiting for you. We're getting him out."
"So we laid a trail for you," Josef said. "I'll take the two of you deeper into the woods. There's no sign of Paul anywhere, leading in that direction. Our tracks will go in two opposite directions, clearly searching for you. If a Lycan stumbles across, or goes looking for tracks, we've done a good job of making it look as if you've been gone several hours."
"I'll need a sprained ankle," Skyler pointed out.
Josef frowned. "That's the one part of the plan I'm not wild about. You can't run with a sprained ankle."
Paul burst out laughing. "Hello, you idiot. Have you forgotten who she is? She can heal anything, including a sprained ankle."
"I just am squeamish about giving myself any injury," Skyler admitted.
"Cause she's such a girlie girl," Paul teased.
Skyler made a face at him. "I don't giggle."
"You giggle," Josef said, flicking her chin with his finger. "I'll help you with your sprained ankle, but you'll be hobbling around until someone comes. Groan a lot."
"If someone comes," Paul emphasized. "It's a big forest." He suddenly grinned. "This is your big chance to really show your girly side. Weep and look beautiful while you're doing it, like they do on television."
Josef snickered. "Her face turns red when she cries."
"So does the end of her nose," Paul contributed.
"Way to make a girl feel beautiful. Neither of you are ever going to find a woman who will put up with you."
Paul shook his head. "Zacarias has a woman doting on him. Seriously, Skyler, if that man, as mean and as scary as he is, can get a woman, anyone can. It gives a man hope."
Josef smirked. "I'll have a lifemate. She'll have no choice," he added.
"Poor woman," Skyler said. "I'll befriend her and teach her how to box your ears when you get obnoxious."
"What makes you think I'll get obnoxious?" Josef demanded.
"You will never give up playing pranks. She'll be afraid to go around a corner in case you fly at her in the form of a giant bat or something worse."
Paul punched Josef in the shoulder. "She's got you there, bro."
The smile faded from Skyler's face. "I have to figure out how to get the silver chains off of Dimitri. I know I can remove the hooks. I was able to get the silver to back up to their point of origin, and I could melt the hooks if I had to, but that chain. It's actually in his skin. Any ideas that don't include triggering the Lycans' ability to feel a spike in energy?"
The two men looked at one another.
"Can you cut it off?" Paul said. "Josef can provide the tools you would need."
"That depends how deep it's embedded in his skin," Skyler said. "I guess I'll have to see it before I can make a decision. I haven't really taken a look around him. I've been so busy concentrating on getting that silver out of his body that I didn't think to see what his surroundings were."
"Don't sound so disgusted with yourself," Paul chastised. "The truth is, his surroundings wouldn't matter if he'd been dead. If you hadn't worked so hard to save him, there would be no point in any of this. We have a plan. Let's just stick to it and go one step at a time. If this works today, and you plant that tracking device in our Lycan, then we'll figure everything else out quickly."
"Agreed," Josef said.
6
Skyler glanced around her. The trees towered above her, branches swaying and dancing in the wind. She'd been hobbling around for several hours, and no one had come to rescue her. It had been a long shot, they all knew that, but they had to try. She could follow the psychic trail, knowing it would eventually lead to Dimitri. Truthfully, that's what she'd been doing, mile after mile, but wandering as if she was trying to find her way. Several times she took care to turn in different directions, starting out, going a distance and then turning back as if confused.
Her ankle was throbbing. Josef had ensured that it wasn't just a little sprain. He wanted her to appear as no threat to anyone at all. It would be dark in a few hours and Josef would come for her. She followed the sound of water, struggling over the uneven ground and exposed roots. Little animals scurried in the vegetation, rushing for the shelter of brush and leaves in an effort to avoid her.
Twice she thought she saw that little fox. Intellectually she knew it couldn't be the same one, but she told herself he was her guardian, watching out for her. That would be something Dimitri might do for her. Her heart seemed to always melt a little when she thought of him. He had watched over her for years, so selflessly, and hobbling around on a sore ankle, terrified she might really come in contact with a strange man, seemed a small price to pay for his steadfast loyalty and love.
She made her way to the small ribbon of a stream and found a large enough rock to sit down on. It was close to the running water as it bubbled over the smaller pebbles, making its way down a slight slope.