Page 20 of Heart of the Hunted
"Well, I'm not," Donovan was adamant.
"I know you're not," Natalia said. "I'm going back for her, and I'm going on my own."
"You can't go alone, Natalia. At least take someone else with you," Amberly said.
"No, I'm not going to risk anyone else for her," Natalia said.
"Don't go at all," Donovan told her. "Just leave her to fend for herself."
"I can't do that either," Natalia told him.
"Why?" Amberly asked.
"You know why," Natalia said.
Natalia could see Amberly was getting upset about it, but there was no other choice. Natalia could never live with herself if something happened to Bella and she didn't do anything to prevent it.
"Fine," Donovan sighed. "I'll come with you."
"No, you won't," Natalia told him. "I need you and Amberly to make sure everyone else makes it safely through the pass."
"I can do that on my own," Amberly said. "Take Donovan with you."
"No. I've made my mind up. I want you two to look after the rest of the group." Taking Amberly's hands in hers, she added: "I will be okay, I promise."
"But..."
"No buts, Amberly," she said sternly. "I need to do this, and I need you two looking after the rest of the group."
Natalia could see the worry in Amberly's eyes, but there wasn't anything she could do about it. At the end of the day, it was Natalia's responsibility to make sure everybody in the group was safe.
Softening her voice, she said: "I promise I'll be okay, and I'll catch up with you before you know it."
"You best do," Amberly told her. "If you don't, I'll find you and beat the shit out of you."
Natalia laughed. "You couldn't hurt a fly, let alone beat the shit out of me."
"It's not funny, Natalia," Amberly said. "I'm serious, you best catch up with us."
"Amberly may not be able to beat the shit out of you, but I certainly can," Donovan told her. "So, you best do as she says."
"I will, I promise," she said again.
Natalia didn't know how many times she was going to have to promise them before they believed her, but she was definitely coming back. There was no way in hell Natalia was going to let Bella keep her away from Amberly and Donovan for too long. So, the faster she left, the faster she was going to be able to catch up with them again.
"Fine, but be as quick as you can," Amberly told her.
"And if you can't find her quickly enough, then just leave her," Donovan said. "Because she obviously wants to go her own way."
"I'll give it a day," Natalia said. "If I can't find her in that time, then I'll turn around and come find you. How's that sound?"
"I would be happier if it was just half a day," Amberly said.
"You know I can't do that," Natalia said, shaking her head. "I have to give it at least a day."
"Okay, one day, but no longer than that," Amberly said sternly.
Natalia stuck out her tongue. “Yes, mum.”
