Kraven (VLG Series Book 2) Read online

  “You see that as a flaw?” It disgusted Kraven. The kid in question was probably weak like Bat and her sister, unable to defend herself properly.

  The kid hesitated and shrugged. “Decker thinks it is. She’s still alive because Lorn goes after anyone who threatens her. He practically castrated a few guys who thought she might be fun to fuck with once. He took them on by himself and left them bleeding in the dirt. I saw him fight. He could hold the clan if he wanted to. Most fear and avoid him.”

  The teen rushed away in the next instant, taking his fallen clansman.

  Kraven felt the weight of the world on his shoulders. The new information would help them take out Decker. He just needed to get Bat safely to his village and call the three other clans together to hold a meeting. They also needed to learn more about Lorn. It would be hell to help him gain control of that clan, only to later find out he would be a bigger problem than his predecessor.

  He checked on Bat, keeping his distance so she wouldn’t spot him. He hadn’t retrieved his clothes yet or cleaned up. It amused him seeing her by the fire. She held a rock and a stick. He scanned the area, sniffed, and then decided to quickly check on Drantos. It would only take a few minutes. Bat was safe for the time being. He trusted that the teen wouldn’t return.

  He’d almost reached where he’d picked up Drantos’s scent when the wind blew in his face. He froze as the scent of enforcers filled his nose. There were at least two of them.

  He spotted them in the distance, moving fast and heading right toward Bat and the fire. He regretted building the damn thing. He should have caught fish and made her eat it raw.

  He spun, rushing back to Bat. He needed to get her the hell out of there. Those weren’t enforcers from his clan.

  The sight of something caught the corner of Bat’s eye and she turned her head, gaping at the person coming at her. It was Kraven, minus his clothes. That didn’t faze her as much the fact that he was covered in blood.

  She dropped the rock and stick, rushing forward.

  “Are you all right? Oh my God.”

  He had a wild look in his eyes as he threw up his bloodied hands to avoid her making contact. “Don’t touch me.”

  “You’re hurt!”

  “It’s not mine.”

  She didn’t know what to say.

  He pointed to his right. “Run, Bat. The river is that way. Cross it and keep going. I’ll find you.” He turned, giving her with his back. “I’ll hold them off.”

  “Hold off who? Where are your clothes? Where did that blood come from?” It was splashed across his chest, hips, and thighs. He even had some down his back.

  “Damn it!” He turned his head, glaring. “Run!”

  Another loud, scary sound came from nearby and Kraven crouched, seeming to focus on something to his left. “RUN! They’re coming.”

  It wasn’t so much not knowing what kind of animal could make such frightening growls as the way he’d snarled the order at her, sounding vicious, that got her moving. She spun, darting in the direction he’d pointed.

  The sound of moving water helped her find the river. She paused at the edge, watching it rush by. The hundred or so feet between her and the other side alarmed her. Swimming had never been something she enjoyed.

  A roar came from behind her. It was a nightmarish sound, followed by a sharp snap of wood. It was all the motivation she needed to wade in, frantic to put space between whatever Alaskan wildlife could be that thunderous. It sounded huge. The icy water had her gasping but she kept going until the current knocked her over and she paddled for all she was worth.

  It’s a bear, Bat decided, fighting to keep her head above water. Maybe a few of them. Those thoughts motivated her to swim as unseen things bumped into her in the water. Something snagged on her shirt but she was able to get away from it. Her feet touched ground after what seemed forever and she saw the embankment. It was rough finding the strength to crawl out of the water. Her limbs felt heavy and her teeth chattered from the cold.

  Chills racked her as she used a tree to help get to her feet. Her head began to hurt more, a migraine of major proportions coming on. It had to be the freezing river that had caused the headache to worsen.

  Why was Kraven naked? She had no clue as she turned to peer over her shoulder. The river had swept her away, and it curved out of sight of where she’d gone in. There was no sign of him or the bear that had made that terrible roaring. She’d never heard them make those noises in any movie she’d seen but she was hardly a nature buff.

  Her clothes clung to her as she caught her breath, debating on what to do. Pure terror at their situation struck. She was soaked to the skin, night would fall soon, and she didn’t see any sign of civilization. Being alone in the woods, at the mercy of nature and hypothermia, would be a deadly combination. She turned, forcing her legs to move, and walked deeper into the woods to find some shelter. It would be nice to stumble upon a random cabin.

  She hugged her body and made it about half a mile before her aching bare feet made her stop. Her headache grew worse, until it caused her to drop to her knees. She curled into a ball, absolutely miserable.

  Oh God. Am I dying? My head feels as though it’s going to explode. Tears filled her eyes at the hopelessness of her situation. Find me, Kraven. Please. She reached out a shaky hand, grabbing leaves and trying to cover her freezing body.

  Chapter Seven

  Kraven used a log to float his clothing and boots across the river to keep them dry. His jacket slid off during the swim over and he hadn’t been able to rescue it before the current had swallowed it up. He tossed his remaining things up on the embankment and turned, going back underwater and scrubbing his skin. He surfaced and climbed out, dressing quickly and entering the woods. He needed to find Bat before darkness fell.

  It worried him that she might not have made it across. He shoved that thought back, refusing to contemplate that he wouldn’t find her. She was alive and out there. He just needed to find her before one of Decker’s enforcers did.

  He finally found a sign of where she’d come out of the river. He bent, examining the faint tracks she’d left where she’d crawled, then stood. He grinned.

  “That’s my hellion. I’m coming for you.”

  It was slow going to track her. She didn’t weigh much and was barefoot, barely leaving a trace. The sun went down and frustration rose. Where is she? He wanted to call out her name but it could attract unwanted attention. He sniffed the air every time the wind blew, hoping to pick up a hint of her scent. There was nothing.

  He started to worry that she’d been caught when he picked up a low moan. It was to his left. He crept forward, alert. Another one followed and he inched closer, prepared to attack—until Bat’s faint scent reached him. He lunged forward, tracking another good ten yards before spotting her shape curled up on the ground. He would have missed her if it wasn’t for the faint pained noises she made.

  He dropped to his knees near her head. Part of her was covered with leaves. He brushed them away. “Bat? I had a hell of a time finding you. You’re lying on a bed of leaves and they masked your scent. It was smart but I damn near passed right by you.”

  She moved as he touched her shirt. It was still wet and plastered to her skin, the material ice cold. “Kraven?”

  He didn’t like the way she said his name. It was too soft and pain laced her voice. “Fuck, Hellion. You should have taken your clothes off and wrung them out. You’re still so wet. You don’t know anything about survival out here, do you?”

  “Sorry, not a lumberjack.”

  He grinned, happy to hear her smartass remark. “Are you hurt?”

  He helped her stand up and began to remove her wet clothing. She didn’t protest as he stripped her all the way down to her bare skin. He just scooped her into his arms when he was done. “Hold on. I’ve got you. There’s a place real close that will afford us shelter.”

  He backtracked to a spot he’d found earlier.

  “Talk to me, H