Bronto had had enough of that asshole’s shitty antics. The day Bronto met Ivy, Wisteria was, for the second time, at the mercy of the whip-happy prick. He’d used Ivy as bait to barge his sneaky ass into the Barbarians’ camp and take Wisteria hostage. While he’d held an ax to Wisteria’s throat, Ivy sat bound to a tree. Bronto deserved a medal for the amount of restraint he’d utilized to maintain control. If Vulcan hadn’t commanded him to halt, Bronto would’ve plugged an arrow right between the abducting lug’s eyes. One wrong move would’ve earned him a third eye socket.
Bronto pulled on the reins and guided the horse left when the creature flew around a bend. In the backdrop he spotted what appeared to be a dark haze but he knew it was a distant forest wall. The trees appeared no bigger than an inch tall. It would take them fucking forever to get there and breach the border. Precious time they couldn’t afford to lose.
The creature swooped low then gained height then swooped again. Trying to keep an eye on it while looking from side to side for Ivy was more difficult than he’d anticipated. They traveled so fast she would’ve been easy to miss had the aliens stalled within the surrounding trees.
And then the bird landed on her talons in a thick patch of knee-high brush. She didn’t move as Bronto barreled ass to reach her. As he narrowed the distance he slowed to a trot, positioning his finger on the rifle trigger in case she showed any signs of aggression. A short distance behind her through the trees a purple haze glowed. And then he heard a waterfall. The damn bird had guided him the long route to the exact place he and Ivy encountered when they’d fled from the cave lion.
He steadied his mount, which sidestepped as if spooked, and he listened for voices or, God forbid, screams.
“What the hell is that?” Zypher asked as he and Vulcan settled on either side of him.
“This is where Ivy and I found the baby dinosaurs.” He pointed toward the purple background. “In there.”
“Caw.” Birmon’s mom waddled to the wall of trees then took flight.
Without a second thought, Bronto galloped to the forest border and dismounted. He tied his horse to a conifer and entered the small stretch of pines and evergreens. On the opposite side he saw the waterfall, the pond and the stones where Ivy sat to watch the fish.
His eyes burned and his breath caught but he contained the sick feeling bleeding through his veins and trudged forward until he reached the plush grass.
He thought he heard whimpers and he stiffened in alarm but it was hard to focus with Vulcan’s and Zypher’s footsteps shuffling through the dense bed of ferns.
Then he heard them again. He whipped around and held up his hand. “Shhh.”
Swoosh-swoosh.
The sound of the bird’s wings broke the silence as she landed on top of the opening of a golden cave, her talons gripping the edge.
Muffled screams echoed from the belly of the rock tunnel. Bronto wanted to rush inside and shoot everything that moved but he controlled the urge and backed up until he disappeared inside the line of trees near the men.
Zypher’s eyes flared and his mouth dropped as if he wanted to speak but he snapped it shut and peered at the cave.
As quietly as possible they made their way to the entrance. They didn’t need to venture deep inside to see bright lighting reflected at the end of a narrow rock tunnel. They crept along the wall, spurring each other on, stopping periodically inside deep crevices to listen. The closer they got to the dead end, the louder the whimpers and screams tore through the enclosure.
One was very distinctive and Bronto rested his head against the wall and squeezed his eyes shut. Suddenly the pained cries stopped. Dread hung in the air.
“Go,” Zypher whispered while giving his shoulder a nudge. “We can’t stop now.”
Sucking air through his nose and steeling his nerves, Bronto inched forward. He kicked a rock that skidded across the stone floor, making enough noise to sound an alarm. He veered off the path to a dark section carved in the wall. It was big enough for two men at most and only a second passed before Zypher was standing beside him.
A gut-curdling scream pierced Bronto’s ears. He clamped his teeth and clenched his fist around his rifle.
“Keep it together,” Zypher advised. “We’re too close to fuck this up now.”
Bronto filled his lungs through a shaky breath and stepped back into the path. Vulcan was squatted near the opening of the lightened area. He glanced around the corner then bolted backward and dropped to his ass, hanging his head.
Bronto’s guts churned. Not once in nine years had he witnessed Vulcan react so grimly. What the hell was taking place inside that room?
It took every morsel of strength to avoid bursting inside and demolishing the place. Trying to mentally prepare himself for the worst, he stepped over Vulcan and looked in.
Jesus God!
He back-slammed into the wall and inhaled while trying to compose himself. A slight foot-tap on the ground stole his attention and he glanced at Zypher. He was moving closer and pointing in the direction of the room. Bronto nodded then peeked inside again.