Oh God, that hurt. That hurt so bad.
“You were and still are nothing but a fucking whore,” Arthur screamed. “She knew every time he could sense you. You wouldn’t let him go. Not even long enough for him to save her.”
His foot connected with her hip, and the agony that streaked through her pulled a hoarse cry from her throat. The pain shattered her senses, causing her stomach to heave sickeningly.
“Enough, Arthur,” Ranger ordered. “Leave something for your dogs to chew on later or they’ll feel cheated.”
“She deserves to pay.” His breath heaved in and out of his chest. “If she had left him alone, Lauren would have lived.”
Chelsea fought to keep from passing out. Dark waves of agony kept rolling through her senses, making her wonder if he’d broken her hip.
“Breeds never mate children,” one of the Coyotes sneered. “The animal won’t respond to a female who’s physically incapable of enduring the Heat.”
“Lauren knew he would mate her . . .”
“That sounds like a personal problem to me.” The other Coyote laughed. “I don’t care what the bitch did, I just want make sure she still has a little fight in her when it’s time for us to play.”
“And you wonder why I call them dogs, Ranger,” Arthur sneered, moving away from her.
“I didn’t say I wondered why.” Ranger laughed. “I said one day one of them will end up killing you for it.”
She wished they’d kill him now.
Where was Cullen? He really needed to hurry and rescue her now. If he didn’t hurry, then she might not survive the night.
What were they waiting for anyway?
Chelsea fought the shudders threatening to tear through her body. She was too cold to restrain the deep tremors, and that made it harder to push back the pain. Cullen’s shirt and her thin cotton sweats weren’t much protection.
“What time is it?” Arthur snapped from where he paced by the fire. “Have they contacted yet?”
They. The Genetics Council. She had to find a way to get away from them; she didn’t have much time left.
“Not yet,” the third Coyote answered. “They shouldn’t be much longer. They had to make a stop first.”
Cullen had told her the Genetics Council would love to get their hands on a Bengal Breed mate. And it looked like Arthur intended to give them one.
“You won’t get away with this, Arthur.” She had to swallow back the need to vomit. “Cullen will make certain of it.”
“Cullen will be too busy grieving for his mate.” He laughed gleefully. “This is actually much better than having you killed as I first planned. This way, Cullen suffers as Ranger suffered. Terran knows the hell I’ve lived, and you get to pay for Lauren’s death. It works out beautifully. Once the Council scientist who’s arriving confirms the mating, you’ll be taken to one of their facilities. That’s your punishment and Cullen’s for letting my daughter die.”
He was crazy.
Chelsea stared back at him in shock.
“Arthur, don’t do this.” She couldn’t believe the horrible evil spilling from his mouth. “Lauren wouldn’t have wanted you to do this.”
“Lauren’s dead, Chelsea,” he stated brutally. “She’s been dead for a very long time and I’ve waited long enough to make certain Cullen pays for it.”
There was no convincing him. She could see the insanity gleaming in his eyes.
I love you, Cullen. Closing her eyes, Chelsea sent the thought out, hoping he was right about sensing the strongest of her emotions.
She turned her head to look at the stones behind her when she realized the boulders she’d been resting against before Arthur’s blow held darker, deeper shadows stretching out behind them. Her eyes narrowed, realizing that behind the rocks there was actually what appeared to be a small entrance into the wall of the shallow canyon they’d brought her to.
Dragging herself back to a sitting position against the rocks, she had to keep from blacking out as pain shot from her hip, exploding in it as she struggled to pull herself up.
Resting back against the rocks, she lowered her head and drew in a deep breath, watching them from beneath her lashes.