Scar's POV
Markov was ordered to stay behind.
I was informed that he was suffering a great deal, and would likely not live much longer if not reunited with his consort.
With that being said, if or when we found Katherine, we would have to convince her to stay with Markov.
He would have to so some serious reconstructing of their relationship as well.
Henry offered that when we got within a twenty mile radius of Katherine he would be able to sense her since she had been in his coven at some point in time. Since she was no longer a Vampyre though, is why the radius was small.
He mentioned that if a Vampyre was in his coven, generally, he could sense where they were for much longer. So, if he were standing in the middle of the country (That happened to be perfectly round) he would be able to tell if any of his coven members were present from the center and then all the way around the country line. That would be at least three times as much as 20 miles, if not more.
Talon and I shifted so we could go on ahead to scout the roads from Felain to Dentrow.
It was suggested that since Katherine was a fugitive, that used to be a Vampyre, she would most likely run to Lycanthrope territory.
We agreed and were now running through, trying to catch her scent which was provided to us by Markov.
It was from her scarf that she wore a lot. She smelled like sickly sweet honeysuckle to me, but, then again, the female scent we were designed to be attracted to was that strictly of our mate.
This seemed like a helpless way of searching, because in truth, it was. We really had no freaking idea where this crazy witch was.
Well, not until we found a very large man, laying in the middle of the road, clutching his knee, and with tears streaming down his face.
He cried out in fear when he saw bear-sized wolves trotting towards him.
I immediately caught a faint scent though.
The light showers that had been coming on an off for the past hour must have diluted it, but the Jasmine was still lingering.
Talon and I shared a look.
Henry didn't seem to miss it "What is it? I mean, besides the Giant..."
I pawed the ground and growled, then lifted my nose and scented the air.
Henry's eyes widened "Katherine, you..."
I growled and he stopped "Well, who's is it then?"
I didn't have time to change...
I looked at the ground and saw that the dirt was wet. It was taking marks and keeping them much better.
I moved my paw deliberately.
When I moved away, I had a harsh "V" drawn.
Henry frowned at the ground "Which way?"
I sniffed around before finding which way the scent went.
If Vas was really out here...
It made me want to howl thinking about it.
If I find her, I will strap her ass when we get back home.
I will.
Talon and I took off running and hoped the Vampyres could keep up. They were fast, but we were faster.
As we ran, her scent got stronger and stronger.
I heard Henry calling out that he could sense Katherine.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
I ran harder than I ever had before.
I felt a sort of electricity jolt me. It was like when you have water in your ears and you finally get it out, and then you feel like it's the first time you can hear clearly in what seems like a lifetime.
Then a wave of fear rolled through me.
It wasn't my fear.
It was Vas's.
And then it was her anger.
Our bond just connected and obviously she'd found Katherine.
I pushed harder and harder until I reached a clearing and then I stopped.
Everything seemed eerily serene, until I smelt the overwhelming smell of smoke.
The cottage across the field was on fire.
Most of it was already engulfed in the raging flame.
Was Vas in there?
I ran for it anyway.
Vas couldn't be in there.
Not my mate.
Please, not my mate.
I heard a high-pitched scream that I knew did not belong to my mate.
I closed in on the cottage until a flame jumped out a little too close for comfort.
I found the door, took a few steps back, and then lunged for the door, feeling it give beneath me.
Black smoke fogged up the whole house, blurring even my vision.
I quickly searched through the house, hearing faint grunts and shouts over the deafening sounds of the flames.
I saw two figures wrestling back and forth "Crazy bitch!" Yelled, who I think is Vas.
"Impure Pagan!' Shouted Katherine.
"You're a witch, you idiot!" Vas shouted back
Katherine screamed in frustration and objects went flying everywhere. The roof above shifted, and cracked, smoke puffing up.
But when they'd try to hit Vas, they would bounce off an invisible force field.
I barked stopping both of them.
They turned towards me with wide eyes, Vas coughing into her hands. Katherine's were fearful, but Vas's were a little guilty.
Just a little. I growled at both of them, causing Katherine to back up, and Vas's eyes to flash to her.
She must have realized that Katherine was distracted and decided now would be a good time to lunge at her, taking her down at the waist.
I ran forward...just as the roof give out.
There was two cries of pain from the women that had been wrestling and it made my heart drop.
I shook my head, trying to see through the heavy smog.
I shifted, running through the smoke to where my mate was.
I needed to find her, and protect her.
"Scar!" I heard her voice call out hoarsely, followed by heavy coughing.
I ran towards where I'd heard it and dropped down, running my hands over the floor hastily as I watched the fire closing in around us.
"Vas! What happened?" I called, trying to keep her talking as I crawled along the ground, trying to cover my nose and mouth as much as I could to keep the contaminated air from filling my lungs with the smoke. My throat burned already.
She replied with a croak "Roof...my foot is so broken. Katherine isn't awake."
I searched faster, knocking kitchenware about and running into a shelf of knick-knacks.
"Can you move it? The lumber, not your foot?" I asked, coughing.
She whimpered "No. Scar, please..."
I saw her laying on her stomach, half on top of Katherine that was indeed unconscious, her ankle caught underneath a heavy piece of lumber that caused her foot to become turned at an unnatural angle.
She'd pushed Katherine out of the way.
"I'm right here, Vas." I said. Her head turned slightly towards me where tears shimmered on her cheeks and she nodded in a jerky movement.
I staggered to my feet and quickly lifted the heavy piece of lumber off of Vas in which she let out a choked cry of pain.
I lifted her upper body pulling her towards my chest where she clutched at my hand that was holding hers in a solid grip "Vas, honey, I need you to focus. Calm the flames. I can't get both of you out unless you lessen them..."
She took shaky breaths, but nodded that she understood.
My heart ached to see her in such pain, but my main goal was to get her out alive now.
Her eyes closed and her breathing slowed "That's it..." I murmured, stroking her hair.
The flames nearest us slowly did start to lessen until we were no longer in immediate danger "You're doing good..." I encouraged her softly.
A path was definitely starting to clear up.
"I'm going to move now..." I said when her eyes snapped open "No!" She exclaimed.
"You need to take her first..."
I opened my mouth to argue with her, but then I saw the gleam in her eyes.
I exhaled in defeat and kissed her forehead. Against my better judgment, I laid Vas gently back on the ground and picked Katherine up, over my shoulder as I carried her through the burning building.
Henry and Talon were just now entering the clearing, Talon having shifted.
I yelled "Over here. Watch her!" Henry and Talon came running towards Katherine as I went back in for Vas.
More of the flames had died down most likely thanks to Vas.
When I reached her again, her head was hung in exhaustion over her bent knee of her good leg.
I reached down and gently put my arms beneath her thighs and around her back.
Her eyes tiredly looked up at me and I met her gaze for a moment before focusing on getting her out.
When we reached the outside, I sat down sluggishly and leaned back against a thick tree, holding her to me and whispering to her "If you ever do something so stupid again, your ass will be tender for weeks."
She gave a strangled laugh.
"What's so funny?" I asked.
She snorted "I thought you were going to say that you'd put me back in the dungeons."
I saw Henry hand Talon a roll of gauze. Talon came our way holding it up.
I glanced down at where Vas's lids were getting heavier and heavier.
I held up my finger, telling him to wait a moment.
When I felt her drop off through the bond, I motioned Talon forth and he started looking at her foot "What the hell happened?" He asked.
I looked him in the eyes and smirked "My mate took the situation into her own hands."
Talon rolled his eyes "Got herself hurt...again, more like it. I tell you, if her sister is anything like her, I'll have to keep her tied down."
I raised my brows at Talon and he scowled "Not like that. God, I thought I was supposed to be the pervert here."
I gave him a small smile and leaned my head back against the tree "Don't wake her up yet." I muttered before falling asleep myself.