Saving Courtney (Bryant Station Curves Book 4) (11 page)

The demon’s laughter bounced off the stone, making it sound even eerier.

*              *              *

For the next forty minutes, Courtney searched for places to put her hands and feet as she used every muscle she had and every ounce of her strength to pull herself up the side of the mountain. Several times, she lost her footing or her hand slipped, sending her sliding down until she was able to grab something to stop herself. The higher she climbed the colder the air grew. Her hands were numb and raw in places where she had scrapped off skin.

More than once, Courtney stopped herself from looking down. She knew if she did look down, her fear of heights would paralyze her, and there was no telling what Jared would do to her if her fear caused her to stop moving.

A pair of hands reached down and grabbed Courtney’s wrists, causing her to scream and slip. Courtney knew there was no way she could stop herself from falling. She closed her eyes.

The hands clamped down around her wrists. Courtney’s arms felt like they
were being jerked out of their sockets. She could not scream. Her heart pounded in her chest. Whoever held her, pulled her up and over the edge. Sharp rocks dug into her stomach and thighs.

Her wrists
were released, and Courtney collapsed into a pile. She did not have the energy to move or even open her eyes. She hoped the rocks she had loosened hit Jared in the face as they tumbled down the mountain.

“Get up. We don’t have time for you to take a nap.”

Courtney groaned. She forced her eyes open and looked up. Jared stood over her. “Why can’t you just fall off the mountain?”

Jared hissed. He grabbed Courtney by her hair and started dragging her.

Courtney grabbed at Jared’s hand, trying to keep him from ripping out her hair as he dragged her across the top of the mountain. Stones and sticks poked and dug through her clothes and into her skin, but she couldn’t do anything except endure it.

Jared suddenly dropped her. It did not take much effort on his part to shake off her hands. “Get up and take off your clothes.”

Courtney just stared at Jared.

“Get up.” Jared kicked her hip. “Take off your clothes.”

The pain barely registered because of the various other injuries covering her body were hurting and bleeding. Courtney rolled to her side. She did not want to obey Jared, but she could not lay there either.

Courtney dug deep, searching for anything to give her the strength not to give up.

Would your bears want to see you like this? Would they want you to give up hope?

Courtney was not sure where the voice came from...probably her imagination.
I haven’t given up hope, but I don’t want them to suffer because of me.

They will suffer without you.

They will find someone else to love.
Courtney was sure of that. She had no illusions of being that beautiful and unforgettable.

They will only have one mate. Would you deny them happiness?

Bitch,
muttered Courtney, but she pushed herself to her feet.

“Get your clothes off.”

Courtney shook her head. “That’s so not going to happen.”

“You must be cleansed of their odor on the outside and on the inside. I will not have their offensive odor on you when I plant my seed in you.”

Courtney’s eyes widened.

Cleansed inside and out.

His seed.

She shook her head. Anger ignited deep inside her. It lit her eyes. “You can take your seed and go to hell, because there’s no way I’m letting any of that near me.”

“You will take my seed. My spawn will grow inside you, and when it is born, it will destroy the shifters. Finally, I, and the others, will rule both worlds like we were meant to before the gods created those abominations.”

Courtney was shocked. The demon wanted to use her to destroy the shifters…to destroy the very men she loved and was trying to protect. “No way is that going to happen.”

Jared’s face changed. The human features slowly fading away. “You are the chosen. You will be the vessel for my spawn. Your blood will give them the strength they need to destroy the gods’ pets once and for all.”

Courtney took several steps backwards. Her muscles screamed in protest. Cuts and scrapes stung and bled. An eerie calm descended over her. The corners of her lips slowly turned up and a smile spread across her face. “You can take your plans and go straight back to hell with them.” There was no question in her mind. She knew exactly what she had to do to save her bears…to save Todd and Harrison. She just hoped, one day they would be able to forgive her.

Todd and Harrison were already out of their truck when Scott pulled up next to old man
Bleechman’s abandoned car. “Have you got anything?” Scott asked as he got out of his SUV. He slipped the knife Abby had given him into the back of his jeans.

“He had her in the trunk.” Anger and fear rolled off Todd in waves. “I smell her blood too.” Guilt ate at his insides.

You left our mate alone,
snarled his bear.

I left her with her other mate…with Harrison.

“We’ve got to get to the top of Sugarloaf. I pray to Mother Bear he hasn’t done anything to harm her. I can’t believe I was so stupid. I should never have left her alone.” Harrison’s bear pushed and shoved, trying to get out so it could find and protect Courtney. It only fueled Harrison’s anger at himself for not staying with Courtney and protecting his mate, as he should have.

“Quit blaming yourselves. The demon orchestrated everything to get her alone. Right now, we have to focus on finding Courtney and saving her.” Scott took a deep breath. The stench of sulfur was still in the air mixed with Courtney’s vanilla and cherry scent.

Have knife. We kill demon.

That’s
the idea.
Scott told his bear.

His bear growled.
They let demon take her. They not good enough mates. They let demon take sister.

Scott wanted to agree with his bear…to point the finger at someone.
We are not much better. We were supposed to be protecting her too, and look at how that went.

A distant scream ripped floated down to them.

*
              *              *

The twins and Scott took different routes up the mountain. They hoped at least one of them would be able to rescue Courtney, while the other took out the demon. They reached the top of the mountain within minutes of each other.

Todd glanced at Scott and Harrison. He nodded and stepped into the open. The sight of
Courtney’s torn, bloody clothing pierced his heart. Anger rippled through him.

Courtney was hurt.

His mate was hurt.

Todd growled. His bear was close to the surface, ready to attack the demon.

“I wouldn’t come any closer, if I were you, Sheriff. Something might happen to sweet Courtney.” Jared sneered at Todd. “But then, maybe she prefers me to you. I am quite convincing.”

Courtney’s heart skipped several beats. Was Todd really behind her? She wanted to turn
around and look, but was afraid to turn her back on the demon. “Todd, if that’s really you, leave.”

The demon laughed. “Looks like I’m the one she wants.”

“Don’t believe him. Please, just go.” Courtney swallowed. “I love you. Tell Harrison I love him and I’m sorry.”

“Isn’t that so sickening? If I were you, I would go, unless you just want to watch me plant my seed deep into her belly.” The demon laughed. His face lost what little human features it had left. Jared was completely gone. Only the demon remained.

“And I told you there is no way that will ever happen!” Courtney knew her time was up. She had to act now. 

“Harrison, grab Courtney!”

Courtney grabbed one of the branches lying around her. She knew the demon would kill her bears if she did not do something to stop him. “Go back to hell!” Courtney lunged at the demon. She used every ounce of strength she had left and drove the jagged edge of the branch through the demon’s chest.

The demon screamed.

Todd and Harrison yelled at Courtney.

The demon stared at the branch sticking through its chest. It looked at Courtney. The surprise in its eyes slowly turned to anger. “What have you done?”

“I told you to go back to hell.”

The demon screamed.

“Courtney, look out!”

Courtney heard Harrison yell. She heard the growls of bears. The side of her face exploded with pain. Her vision shimmered with black spots and silver sparkles. She heard her name, but could not tell who called it. She felt her body fly through the air and then she hit something hard and bounced several times. The impact forced out what little oxygen she had in her lungs. She kept rolling.

Blackness swallowed her.

Todd screamed. He dived for Courtney but missed her by inches. He watched…stunned as she rolled down the side of the mountain.

His bear roared. It shoved its way to the surface.

The demon’s laughter filled the air.

The thirteen hundred pound Kodiak bear wheeled around and charged the demon. Joined by its twin, the bears ripped the demon to shreds. By the time Scott reached them, there was nothing left of the demon for him to stab.

The bears roared.

Scott tucked the knife into the back of his jeans. “We have to get to Courtney.”

The bears recklessly charged down the side of the mountain. There was little care for their safety. Their sole focus was getting to their mate.

In his human form, Scott followed at a slower pace. His bear roared its grief for its lost sister. Scott blinked several times. This was not supposed to happen. Courtney was supposed to live.

The anguish filled roars of the twins echoed through the valley.

*
              *              *

The pecan trees gently swayed in the soft, warm breeze. Courtney closed her eyes and turned her face up to the sun. The warmth felt good against her cool skin. The scent of fresh grass and wild flowers tickled her nose, making her smile. Somewhere in the distance, she heard the splashing of water bouncing off of rocks.

“You look beautiful.”

Courtney opened her eyes and spun around. “Hagen?” Her eyes widened. “Is it really you?”

“Yeah, baby girl. It’s me.” He held out his arms.

Courtney squealed and ran to him. She flung herself into his open arms.

Hagen caught his sister and spun around. When he stopped, he hugged her even tighter. “I’ve missed you, kiddo.” He kissed the top of her head.

“I’ve missed you too.” Courtney could not believe her brother was really with her. She froze.

“What’s wrong?”

Courtney slowly pushed away from her brother. “Am I dreaming?” Her voice was soft and barely audible.

“No, you are not dreaming.”

Courtney’s whole body shook. She took several steps away from Hagen. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Are my bears safe? Harrison and Todd…are they alive?”

“They are alive. All the shifters are safe. You did it. You stopped the demon from harming the shifters.”

“Then I’m dead.” Tears ran down her cheeks…not for herself, but for the pain, she had caused Todd and Harrison.

Hagen walked up to Courtney and pulled her into his arms. “Don’t cry.”

“I’m not crying for me. I’m crying for Todd and Harrison, my bears.”

“Courtney, you have some choices you will have to make.” Hagen rubbed her back.

“What do you mean?” she asked amid several hiccups.

“You are not dead.
At least, not yet.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your body is at the bottom of Sugarloaf Mountain. You are alive, but barely. There is a lot of damage…not just on the outside. It’s a miracle you are alive at all. Your bears are with you. They are willing to trade places with you. They are actually pleading with Mother Bear.”

A look of horror covered Courtney’s face. She shook her head. “No! They are not to trade places with me. I want them to live…to have a family and cubs.” She took a deep breath and let
it slowly out. “I love them too much to change places with them. No! It’s not happening.” Courtney moved away from her brother, and wrapped her arms around her waist. She stared at the pecan trees.

“Kiddo?”

“What’s death like?”

“You don’t have to choose death.”

“But you said—”

“I said your bears are willing to trade places with you. I
didn’t say it was one of your choices. Your bears…your mates will live.”

Courtney turned and looked at her brother. “Exactly what choices are you talking about?” She raised an eyebrow at him.

“You and I are different.”

Courtney nodded. “Meaning we can see things most humans cannot.”

“Among other things. You actually tapped into the power inside you and used it to send the demon’s soul to hell, leaving its body easy to destroy. It will not be able to ever return to the mortal realm.”

“I did all of that?”

“It was probably your desire to protect that gave you the strength to tap into your power.”

Courtney sighed. “But what good those it do me now?”

A really large bear slowly lumbered up to Courtney. The old sow butted her head against Courtney’s hip. She sat down and stared at Courtney.

“Hello.” Courtney stared at the bear. She had never been this close to one. Heck, she
hadn’t even seen Todd or Harrison’s bears.

The bear sniffed the air, and then rubbed its massive head against Courtney’s leg.

Courtney looked at her brother, and raised her eyebrows.

Hagen smiled at his sister. “Our grandfather had power too. So did mom, though she never used it. I think it scared her.”

“I take it, there’s a source to this power.”

“Straight to the point.”
Hagen laughed.

“Sometimes it’s easier that way.”

“Our great-grandfather is the source of our abilities.”

“He’s the source? How’s that even possible?” She shook her head. “Are you telling me our great-grandfather was a—” She could not quite bring herself to finish the statement.

“A god.” Hagen finished it for her. He watched his sister grow pale and lean against the sow that had picked her.

“And it’s this…it’s because of him I have to make these choices.”

Hagen nodded. “Mother Bear is not happy with her mate’s actions with mortal women. It seems he like them a little too much.”

“We’re the result of an affair that some god had decades ago with our great-grandmother.” Courtney frowned.

“I have to go now. You don’t have much more time and you still need to see Mother Bear.”

“Don’t go.”

“I have to…at least, for now. I will watch over you.” Hagen walked over. He hugged her and planted a kiss on the top of her head. “I love you, kiddo.” He released her and walked away.

Courtney took a couple of steps toward his retreating form, but the bear got between her and Hagen and sat down. It chuffed at her, but refused to let her follow her brother.

“Okay, I get it. I can’t go with him. We have different paths to follow.”

The bear got up and walked a short distance away. It stopped and looked back at Courtney. The old sow made a series of chuffing noises.

“You want me to follow you.” Courtney shrugged her shoulders. “All right. Lead the way.”

Courtney followed the bear for a long time, until the bear finally sat down. Walking up to the bear, Courtney absent-mindedly scratched the bears head.
“Now what?”

“Do you really want your bears happy, even if it means the find someone else to love?”

Courtney frowned. “You’re the voice I heard earlier. I thought you were a figment of my imagination.”

“I am real.” A tall woman with long, ebony hair stepped from behind a small grouping of trees. “Do you really want your bears happy with someone else?”

“Would I prefer them alive and safe with me? The answer is yes. But if I must die, I want them to find love again and have a family. Anyone who truly loves someone would want the same thing for that person.”

“But we can’t always have what we want. Sometimes we must accept the hand dealt to us by fate.”

Courtney rolled her eyes. “So says the woman who obviously was hurt by a man.”

“And how do you know this?”

Courtney shrugged her shoulders. “Just a lucky guess.”

“You can choose to live, but your bears will find someone else for a mate. They will have no memory of you, but you will remember everything and everyone.”

Courtney shook her head. “What the hell kind of choice is that?” She held up her hand. “No, wait. Don’t answer that because I don’t want to hear you sob story about how your man played the field.”

The woman’s dark eyes flashed with anger. “How dare you speak to me that
way.”

Courtney looked around. She saw bears…
lots of bears. She looked back at the woman. “So you’re the Great Mother Bear. Where were you when the demon started targeting shifters?”

“I was here, watching.”

“More like wallowing in your pity. I’m assuming your mate left you. You weren’t his true mate, were you?”

“He was my mate. I chose him.” The woman hissed.

“So why are you trying to make me suffer. What have I ever done to you?”