"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.
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.
The moment she sank down onto the rock and leaned down to remove her boot, she knew she wasn't alone. A chill went down her spine and she lifted her head and carefully looked around. Paul, can you see me? She made certain that her telepathic path to Paul had clean lines so that no Lycan could discern it or feel the psychic energy. She let her gaze move from tree to tree, a woman lost and alone and scared there in the forest. Unfortunately, the emotion was all too real.
I'm here, honey, I've got you covered.
Do you see anyone?
No. Do you?
He's here. I can feel him. Which was strange, because according to Josef, no Carpathian could sense a Lycan. She wasn't even Carpathian—she was human—and yet she knew with a certainty that someone was there. The only explanation could be that Mother Earth had passed her so much information that she was tuned to the rhythm of nature.
Maybe it wasn't a Lycan watching. Maybe it was a real wolf pack hunting her. Or worse. Was there worse? Her imagination was getting the better of her. Paul had a gun and he would protect her. She just had to hold on to that.
She unzipped her boot and pulled it off, playing the part of the lost intern, her foot swollen and bruised and hurting. A human would be nervous, but would never know someone was out there watching every move. She could feel those eyes burning through her. Her heart began to pound and her mouth went dry.
She knew terror. Real terror, and right now, she had to fight it off. She was no longer a child to be abused sexually or physically or even emotionally. She was a grown woman with power of her own. With friends. With an ancient hunter for a lifemate, and he needed her. Dimitri needed her to be strong. She took several deep breaths, fighting off the need to put her head between her legs to keep from feeling so light-headed. Her body shivered continuously, and there seemed little she could do to prevent it.
As a child she had retreated to a place in her mind where no one could harm her. She didn't have that luxury now, no matter how frightened she was. If the fear became too great, Dimitri would know. She didn't want him any more upset than he already was. Skyler forced herself under control. She could do this. She'd planned every move out carefully. She had been a helpless child when evil men had dominated her life, but she was no child—and she sure wasn't helpless. She straightened her shoulders, determination settling deep.