Page 63 of Bound By Love
Something major had happened here; the ceiling wouldn’t have given way if it hadn’t. She had no idea what was done to him before these rocks entombed him.
Is he bleeding out? Broken? Searching for me?
She’d tried to connect with him, to talk to him, and ask him these questions, but he’d shut her out. He wasn’t communicating, probably because he was in severe pain and didn’t want her to know.
That didn’t help keep her calm, but at least the connection remained, though she feared it was growing weaker. She didn’t know if it was true or just her increasing dread that the more time it took to find him, the less likely it would be alive.
Even if she lost him, she would make it until she had this baby. It would devastate her to lose Killean, and she didn’t know how long she could hold on after their child was born, but she would do whatever it took to ensure their baby entered this world.
She couldn’t think about the possibility she might not be the one to raise their child; she remained focused on finding Killean andanyof the others instead of traveling that dark road.
Since they already knew they were all somewhere in this cavern, Brian wasn’t much help. Now that they’d removed the debris blocking the entrance and part of the tunnel, he might be a bigger help in locating where each member of the Alliance was, but so far, the amount of remaining debris was proving to be a hindrance.
It was taking a long time to remove the tons of debris that had fallen from the ceiling and do it carefully enough not to further crush anyone who lay beneath. Once they got a Bobcat down here from another entrance they discovered in the woods on the outskirts of White Bridge, things started going faster, but they still had to be careful.
Simone lifted a large rock and tossed it behind her. A hunter from Arizona threw it onto the Bobcat Saxon had steered back into the cavern. Now that they had some more room, they were bringing more machines down today, but they couldn’t get anything bigger into the tunnels and cavern.
She wished they would findsomeone. It would boost the morale of everyone in this place. Even with all the lanterns they’d brought down and set out around the cavern and tunnels, the area was dark and dreary.
No hope hung in the air, and no one spoke as they worked relentlessly onward. She couldn’t recall the last time she slept, and neither could anyone here.
When they were about to drop, they stopped to rest, but none stopped for long. She was starting to near the point of collapsing but pushed herself onward.
She would have to feed soon. They’d brought blood down and stored it in the tunnel. However, she wasn’t ready to pull herself away yet.
I want to find just one alive.
Not only was her mate buried here, but so were others who had become her family. At one time, she was supposed to marry Nathan. Kadence had been her best friend since they were old enough to walk.
Whenever she thought about her best friend, her heart ached more, so she tried not to focus on her lost mate and friend. Instead, she focused on using her shovel and hands to clear away the debris from the cavern’s collapse.
The constant beeps of the Bobcats Saxon, Logan, and Asher used and the rattle and clatter of rocks were the only sounds. It was rare when anyone spoke.
Thankfully, the collapse hadn’t alerted the humans to these tunnels and caverns beneath the earth. The cavern was too far below the ground, and the tunnels twisted deep into the woods. They were convenient for hunting but not where the demons had centered themselves.
At least fifty of the Alliance members from their compound remained, and all of Willow and Vicky’s family had survived. They remained to search for Willow and Nathan. A handful of the hunters from the Arizona compound had survived and stayed to help.
So far, everyone said they still had some connections to their mates. Logan was the only one who had briefly talked with Elena before she shut him out. The rest were closed down, but the bonds remained… for now.
They’d all been left here to work to free those they felt guilty about leaving. There was nothing they could have done, and though she didn’t know exactly what happened, she suspected they wouldn’t have survived if they had remained.
They were ordered away by those chosen to fight, but that didn’t make it any easier. She should have been with her mate, even if it meant her death because mates stood by each other no matter what.
The second she thought it, she realized how wrong it was. She would always stand by Killean’s side, but for some reason, this part of the war wasn’t hers to fight. And if she had died, then their child would have ceased to exist.
The knowledge of their child’s existence was new, but she loved it already. It was the most difficult thing she’d ever done, but walking away was her only choice.
With a sigh, she sat back and stretched her aching back. It was time to feed. She wasn’t ready to rest, but she wouldn’t make it much longer if she didn’t drink some blood soon.
She was rising to her feet when an excited cry came from somewhere on her left. From a few feet away, Vicky jumped up and staggered toward where Lucien, Callie, and Cabo were kneeling on the ground and using their hands to rapidly tear the rocks away.
“We have someone!” Callie cried.
CHAPTERFIFTY-THREE
Vicky stumbledand nearly went down when rocks and debris rolled out from underfoot. Her heart hammered with excitement, and her soul yearned for her mate.
Please be Nathan. Please be Nathan. Or Willow. Please be Nathan or Willow.
