Chapter 7

• Konner glanced in the mirror at his two traveling companions. Niema and Baylee, a mother and daughter that had been held by Tomas for the past ten months. He’d learned a few things from them that had caused his blood to chill in his veins. They’d been held all this time while Tomas looked for a male of their kind. There was only one reason he would want a male from the polar bear clan, and it sickened him. They’d been sleeping for most of the trip, and he didn’t blame them, they probably hadn’t slept much during their captivity. The few stops he’d made were to get food for them, real food, not protein bars and jerky.
• He rolled his shoulders, fatigue was starting to set in, he’d have to find water soon and stop for a break. Hopefully, the one he marked on his map had plenty of fish because he was almost out of water to mix the Biotrien with, and to be honest he needed something more to sustain him.
• A sound behind him had him glance over his shoulder. Baylee was waking up. “I’m going to stop in a bit for a break and go for a swim.” He watched her in the mirror.
• “I’d love to go for a swim.” She smiled a sleepy smile.
• “Only if it’s safe.” Her mother said in a quiet voice.
• “It’s pretty secluded,” he wasn’t sure if they were talking about shifting and swimming, but no matter where they were two white bears were going to stand out.
• “You can swim, no shifting though.” Her mother settled that issue right now.
• “I can do without shifting ever again.”
• Something in her tone stabbed him through the heart. Had they been forced to shift during their captivity? “Where we’re going, to the prince’s campground is very remote and very protected,” he was assuming the last part, “so you can shift any time you want while you’re there.” His Alliance-issued phone rang. He glanced at it, forgetting it wasn’t going to reveal any number on the screen. Grabbing it, he answered. “Hello.”
• “Konner.”
• It was Wynter, there was no mistaking her gruff voice with anyone on the planet.
• “Boss.” He smirked, he enjoyed calling someone else that.
• “I’m finding out shit after it happens and it’s pissing me off.”
• Konner watched the road, he didn’t know of anything that didn’t aggravate his team leader, except maybe strong drinks and loud country music.
• “I just found out they yanked you from the team at the prince’s bidding. What the hell happened?”
• He glanced to see his passengers were foraging in the snacks. “I’m not sure, but I am currently transporting two of your kind, from the White clan to the prince’s campground until we can get them home.”
• “What? Who? Two of mine were found on your raids?”
• He nodded, “Yes, Niema Brycan and her daughter, Baylee.”
• “Shit on a stick. Why the hell wasn’t I told this? I’m going to,” she stopped abruptly, “how are they?”
• “Would you like me to put you on speaker and you can ask yourself?”
• “Yes, do that.” She sounded more impatient than normal.
• He put the phone back into the holder and glanced at Niema, “my boss wants to say hello.” He tapped the speaker button.
• “Niema?”
• Konner watched in the mirror to see the reaction. When the woman’s eyes widened, he knew she recognized the voice.
• “Wynter?” Niema looked relieved.
• “I just found out, god damned red tape bullshit, I should have been told sooner. Are you okay?”
• Konner noted there was genuine concern in his harsh leader’s voice.
• “We’re unharmed, tired though and I don’t think I’ll ever leave the house again.”
• “Listen, my man, Konner is one of my best. You can relax and know he’s going to get you where you’re going safely.” She yelled something away from the phone, “I’m going to get a hold of Lois as soon as I hang up and make sure they’re on the way to get you.” she made that grunting sound she always did, “even if I have to come and get you myself.”
• “I told mama you’d find us, Wynter,” Baylee said, and it was the first time Konner had heard her speak louder than a whisper.
• “Doesn’t matter who got you out, Baylee, what matters is you are, and you can be sure that those responsible for taking you will be—” she cleared her throat, “handled.”
• Baylee relaxed against her mother’s shoulder, looking relieved for the first time since he’d picked them up.
• “How far out are you, Konner?”
• Konner glanced down at the map sitting on the passenger’s seat, “About four hours, maybe five, this part of the drive is redundant.”
• “Middle of nowhere always is.” Wynter said something again away from the speaker, “have you been driving this whole time?”
• Konner inhaled a deep breath, “mostly. I’m stopping in about twenty for a quick recharge and then I’ll push on until we’re there.”
• “Right, good. Head on a swivel, that’s precious cargo you’re carrying there.”
• To his surprise, her tone had softened briefly. “I’ll protect them at all costs, Boss, you know that.”
• “I do. I’m going to call Lois right now. You tell our prince he’ll be hearing from me.”
• “Will do, boss.” The line went quiet.
• “You work with Wynter?” Baylee asked.
• Konner nodded, “I do, I’m part of her team.”
• “She’s great, so much fun.”
• He glanced to see the young woman smiling. He’d known Wynter Carr for eight years now and fun had never been a word he’d use in relation to her. Not knowing what to say, he just smiled at her in the mirror and then turned his attention back to the road. “It will be close to dusk when I stop, so make sure you stick close to the van,” he motioned to the trees along the road, “it’s too easy to get turned around in there.”
• “We’ll be careful.” Her mother told him.