Regali (A Walker Saga) by Jaymin Eve Page B

lowered me down. Ria said she would get everyone as close as possible; we would be downwind to hide our scent, but we still had to stay quiet. On the ground I hugged close to the base of a massive redwood tree and waited for everyone else to join me.
    Brace’s arms encircled me from behind.
    I’ve done a lot of things in my life. But that was definitely fun. He sounded happy.
    I tilted my head back so he could lean down and gently lay a kiss on my lips. We pulled apart as Ria, followed by Lucy and Colton, crept out of the bushes to our right.
    “The rest of the packs are around us in the trees.” Ria’s words were so low I barely caught them. “There was no activity in the fringe entrance just before, so follow me and we will hit them hard and fast.”
    I gathered energy, keeping it close to the palm of my right hand. Josian had been teaching me how to load my arm up like a gun , saving precious seconds when I needed them.
    “Let me go first,” Brace murmured . “I’ll clear the initial path.”
    With a nod Ria made sure Brace stayed close to her. She waved toward a large leafy overhang that was bordered on one side by a waterfall . On the other was a massive ravine. There was only one entrance, under the overhang.
    I t was the perfect camouflage from anyone looking down from the canopy. You would be able to see nothing but overhanging leaves framed by two natural wonders. Although, unless I was mistaken, there seemed to be animal furs hung in the branches of the trees surrounding the area.
    “Under the canopy ,” Ria murmured.
    Brace shifted around her . I could feel him gather energy. Our powers were connected with each other, but his energy dominated mine. The buildup sent shivers along my skin. The hairs stood up on my arms.
    Could everyone feel the powerful storm he was about to release?
    It felt as if the jungle knew . The leaves around us turned inward, moving toward the source of power.
    My mate took two large steps and , with both hands thrust forward, he released his energy. The leaves ruffled on the fern-like plant, but I knew the real burst would come in the underground lair.
    He held his hand up for one moment, halting our shifting.
    “Okay,” he finally spoke, “we can go now.”
    Klea let out a rumble, which was quiet, but seemed to echo through the trees, ricocheting from one large branch to the next , and before I knew it the rumbling sound filled the space.
    All of us moved as one – and we weren’t alone. The pack guards came in from all sides to join us. I ducked my head as we hit the entrance, although leaves still brushed along my curls. The sensation was wet and unpleasant.
    Under the canopy was a large tunnel opening . My eyes adjusted as we moved into the initial darkness, but there was light just ahead. The space wasn’t really underground. Instead it moved along the edge of the waterfall, and we emerged on the other side into a large space hidden behind the falling water.
    “So clever,” Ria said, “the thunder-falls hide their activities . They have plenty of food and water here. It is the perfect place to set up a base.”
    The space wasn’t empty . Brace’s energy had knocked down the ones who must have been closest to the entrance. I noticed that the fallen fringe were mainly bera, and I was glad to not be facing these seven-foot enemies straight up. Although there were a few bodies that didn’t look like pack.
    I stepped around three small ones , squinting as I looked closer. They reminded me of garden gnomes with bulbous noses and rosy cheeks, and they’d be cute if they didn’t have that creepy gremlin feel to them.
    Next to them was a stick insect in man form, about the size of a large rabbit , and lastly something that resembled a boulder with eyes and short arms and legs.
    “What ’s that smell?” Lucy asked, wrinkling her nose.
    “Blood ,” Brace said shortly.
    “Yes,” Colton agreed, “much blood has been spilled in this area.”
    “This is where they