Home > Pure Blooded (Jessica McClain #5)(8)

Pure Blooded (Jessica McClain #5)(8)
Author: Amanda Carlson

I agree. That means we have to find a reasonable way to get around the swamps once we get to the edge.

Like what?

We’re going to need an airboat.

Okay. That sounds doable. We’re in a swamp after all. I’d put Marcy on it once we met up.

The pace Rourke set was fast. My wolf worked overtime to keep up with him. We hit scattered patches of swamp, but we were moving so swiftly, flying over berms and channels, I hardly noticed. When we did hit a deeper patch, the water went no higher than my flank.

After a half hour of solid running, the topography changed to sawgrass growing on a firmer landscape with less water. It was much easier to maneuver over and we made great time. There were no sounds of any planes overhead, and that made us both breathe easier.

After another fifteen minutes, Rourke slowed. I smell humans up ahead, Rourke said. We’re too exposed to keep going straight toward them. We’ll have to go around.

I came shoulder to shoulder with him, both of us still loping. I was a fairly big wolf, but I was dwarfed by Rourke’s massive frame. He was indeed a Big Cat. Which way has less water? I vote for that.

Let’s veer west. We’re supposed to do that in another fifteen minutes anyway. East will likely bring us closer to humans, so west it is.

We turned, heading left, and Rourke picked up the pace again. As we ran, I glimpsed the humans in a huge truck in the far distance. They were likely parked at the end of some lonely road that ran out here or had gone off-roading for fun. They couldn’t see us unless they had binoculars, but I could see them.

As we ran, we dodged the growing smell of more alligators and deeper swamp water. I shrieked internally as my paw hit something scaly, but we passed over it too quickly for me to see what it was.

Jessica, is that you? Are you in trouble?

Dad? I nearly skidded to a halt hearing my dad’s voice inside my head. It had been too long since we’d spoken internally. His voice was fuzzy, but I could make out most of the words. I can hear you! Where are you? Please tell me you’re okay. There were a million things I wanted to tell him, but I had to settle for the immediate concerns first.

Rourke sensed the change in my emotions and turned his head back to huff at me as we ran. I bobbed my head up and down and kept running. I didn’t want to switch off the channel with my father to tell him what was going on, so Rourke would have to wait until I was finished.

I’m fine. Good gods, Jessica, are you okay? I’ve been worried sick about you! Please tell me you’re not still in the Underworld. Not knowing where you are and what is going on has been killing me.

I’m not in the Underworld. We’re back, and actually heading toward you as we speak. There is so much to tell you, but in order to do that, I need to know how to find you.

It’s not going to be easy to find us. We’re in the middle of the godforsaken cypress swamp, deep in the Glades. There’s an entire area in here that’s mystically spelled. It can’t be seen by humans. It looks as though the priestess who’s been causing all the trouble has called this place home for more than a hundred years. There’s very little land and lots and lots of water.

Rourke says we need an airboat.

Yes, that’s the only way in, unless you can fly. We’ve set up a wide perimeter around the main homestead we think she’s using, but it’s complicated. We’re trying our damnedest to keep the rabid wolves contained, but it’s taken all of our resources. The only thankful thing is that this place is in the middle of nowhere. Literally. We’re living cobbled together on little spits of land—which consist mostly of old tree roots—and held together with nothing more than magic. But the Made wolves are creeping closer and closer to civilization each day. We’ve been able to find a way to kill them, once we catch them, but it’s been dicey.

Naomi, the female vampire you met, flew over your area yesterday. I instructed her not to stop because none of your Pack know her, but she overheard a conversation that you were planning to swap yourself for some of your wolves. Please tell me that isn’t in the works yet.

I’ve tried to broker a deal, but so far she hasn’t taken the bait. The priestess is elusive at best. I have to find a way to stop it, including offering myself as ransom, because my wolves keep disappearing. Things have gone from bad to exceedingly worse in the last week. Five of my wolves have vanished into thin air, one a night for the last five nights. It’s unacceptable.

Have you had a chance to talk to Tyler? He’s on his way down from the panhandle.

Our communication has been spotty. I can’t get any tangible information from him. It’s been frustrating not being able to communicate with either of you.

I know, it’s been hard for us too. I realized in that moment how much I missed my father. I looked forward to reuniting with him—I felt the need to be near my Alpha. There was so much for us to catch up on. He had no idea what had happened to me over the last week, which had actually been three months on this plane. I’m not sure I’ll be able to talk to you once I shift out of my wolf form, but I promise we’ll find you. We’ll figure out the airboats as soon as we arrive someplace more inhabited. I have Rourke, Marcy, Ray, and Naomi with me, and Tyler and Danny are on their way down. I sprang over a small waterway, plunging after Rourke. He knew something was up and had slowed his pace a bit to allow me to better maneuver.

We will await your arrival. Send a vamp in to let us know when you get close. We’ll likely have to come out to meet you, as this area is tricky. There was some hesitation lingering in his voice.

   
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