“People who think their lives shouldn’t be disrupted by mother nature?”
He grinned. “Yeah, those people.” He released her hand. “You okay here?”
“Yep. Fine.”
She watched him walk away, and then she let her gaze wander back to the enormous spout of water. Some of the water was freezing in midair and crashing to the ground in dangerous slivers.
She eased back a few feet, wrapping her arms around herself.
Another voice entered her mind, shocking her. “Laurie, darling. You’re there at the site, yes?” It was Mimi. This was the first time they’d communicated in any form. And Laurie still wasn’t used to the concept of communicating in human form. She’d understood intellectually she would be able to do so with her mates after the claiming, but not her sister, and certainly not her grandmother.
“Yes. I am. It’s beautiful. Daunting. Impressive.”
“Is it natural?”
“It seems that way, yes. I don’t know how a human could have caused this. Or why they’d want to.” Her nose felt extraordinarily cold. She covered it with the mitten on one hand.
“I’ve been sitting here on my recliner, rocking and channeling your feelings. I almost feel as though I’m there with you. It shocked me when I realized I could reach out to you in human form.”
Jeez. That was intense.
“I’m also watching the news—only because they cut into my talk show. They’re changing the forecast to unseasonably lower temperatures than projected for tonight. Warning people to stay away from that section of road.”
“Yeah. I can attest to the drop in temperature. I’ve never felt this level of cold. What is the current reading?”
“It’s below zero already. And it’s still early. The sun isn’t down yet.” Mimi sounded like a reporter, making Laurie smile.
“I’ll keep you posted if anything changes.”
“Be careful, my sweet girl.” Mimi’s connection abruptly disappeared, startling Laurie.
Corbin made his way back to her side. She watched him navigate the side of the road, sticking to the area where at least grass and gravel made his route less treacherous.
Still covering her face, she reached out toward him with her free hand. “What the hell is the temperature out here?”
“Dangerous. I need you to get back in the car, babe.” His expression was serious, his mouth grim, his eyes narrowed.
Zach interrupted them by speaking into their minds. “Where are you guys?”
“South side of the geyser. You?” Corbin wrapped an arm around her and pulled her into his chest as he communicated with Zach, opening up the line so both she and Zach were privy to his thoughts.
“North side.”
“You’re here?” Corbin turned around and scanned the horizon.
Laurie opened her eyes wider and lowered her hand to cover her mouth and nose. She saw nothing except the gathering of emergency responders and the people from the few vehicles who had come upon the disaster and couldn’t pass. It wasn’t a widely travelled road, but nevertheless, a sizable audience had amassed.
Zach reached into both their minds again. “Yes. Trace called me. When he told me the situation, I knew this was where I would find you.”
“I need you to take Laurie. She’s trapped on this side. I’ll probably be here for hours. It’s too cold for her. And she must be exhausted.”
“How do you propose I get to her?” Zach asked.
Corbin turned his neck in both directions and blew out a breath. “I’ll figure out something and get her to you.”
He tipped his face down to meet her gaze. “Let’s work our way around the side. It’s too bad we have to do this in our human form,” he muttered. “Be so much easier in lupine.”
She agreed, but there was no way to take that kind of risk with so many humans around.
They had to make a wide arc to get to the other side of the water spout. Corbin held her hand tighter as they moved into the tree line, leaving the geyser between them and the road.
“There’s no way they’re going to be able to do anything about this in the dark,” Corbin said as he lifted his gaze toward the waning sun. “I predict an impressive mess on our hands tonight.”
“And that ice is going to get thicker by the minute.”
Corbin held back a branch as they made their way to the north side of the jam.
Cars were already turning around and heading back in the direction of Cambridge.
The hairs on the back of Laurie’s neck stood on end, making her halt. She scanned the area while Corbin jerked to a stop when her arm stretched all the way out.
“What is it, babe?”