Lupi 04 - Night Season

direction.
    Cullen was nearly a football field away. Before she was halfway there, another body fell, even farther off. It didn’t look like Lily, but with only moon and stars for light, she couldn’t be sure. Then two more came through together—one large, one small. They fell on the other side of a slight rise, so she couldn’t see them once they landed.
    Cullen pushed up to his hands and knees, his head hanging. “Shit.”
    Relief pounded through her. “Where are you hurt?” she called.
    â€œEverywhere.” But he made it to his feet, though he swayed a bit. “You’re all right?”
    Winded, mostly. Snow was as bad as sand for running. She nodded.
    â€œNo bleeding?” He made that more demand than question.
    Oh—right. A little jolt went through her as she realized what he meant. Falls weren’t good for pregnant women, were they?
    She came to a stop in front of him. “No bleeding. I’m fine. The gate was closer to the ground when I fell through. Ruben’s back there. Broken leg and wrist. McClosky’s with him—he wasn’t hurt. Timms and Gan are with Ms. Wright. They’re okay. She’s unconscious. I don’t know if Lily—”
    â€œI got her away from the gate, I think.” Cullen was grimly pleased about that. He looked up, scanning the sky. “Speaking of which, it’s gone. Where’s that damned gnome?”
    â€œI think he fell on the other side of that rise. One them was really small, anyway. And someone fell just this side of it. I need to see if—”
    â€œI’ll check on them. Here, hold on to this for me.” He handed her his ring, the one with the charged diamond.
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œBecause I’m bloody freezing. I want fur.” He reached up to unfasten the chain at his neck.
    â€œNo!”
    Cullen scowled. “What do you mean, ‘no’?”
    â€œYou want to go rip out the gnome’s throat, and it won’t help. We’re going to need him. He got us here, and he can damned well get us back. And I need you to have hands. I can’t set Ruben’s leg, and Ms. Wright is hurt and I don’t know what to do for her, and…” She stopped, gulped, and shivered. “I know you’re cold, but I…I need help. If you could wait a little longer, I could use some help.”
    The scowl lingered. He flicked a glance at the sky, where a half moon hung near the horizon, and muttered, “She sings loudly here. All right. I can be cold awhile. But you—where’s your coat?”
    â€œRuben’s lying on it. I don’t want him going into shock or something. Though maybe I should…I haven’t done anything for Ms. Wright. I sent Timms to check on her, and Gan to keep her warm, but—”
    Cullen put his arms around her. “Shut up, Cynna.”
    â€œWe can’t cuddle now.”
    â€œWarmer this way. Okay, Brooks is in charge, but he’s injured, so it falls on you until he’s well enough to take over. Does—”
    â€œWhat does all that matter?” It was warmer this way. A lot warmer. “You’re heating up.”
    â€œI can do it for a few minutes, take the chill off. Cynna—survival by committee doesn’t work out well. Someone has to be boss. Rule’s got the innate authority to pull that off with humans. I don’t, so it’s up to you. Does Steve have his gun?”
    â€œHe landed with it out and ready to fire. How’s your foot?”
    â€œAchy, but okay. Give me back my ring. I’ll go see if…Guess I won’t have to,” he said, setting her aside. “Here they come.”
    Cynna saw two figures topping the rise. Both were too tall to be the gnome. Both seemed to be carrying something, but it was too dark for her to see what. “Is that Tash and…what is his name? Somebody of Wen.”
    â€œNot somebody of Wen,” one of the figures said loud and clear. “Wen of Ekiba.”
    Cynna stared. “That’s English. He spoke English.”
    â€œHe’s got a charm translating for him.” Cullen raised his voice slightly. “Don’t you, Wen of Ekiba? You’ve been pretending only the gnome understood us, but that was bullshit.”
    â€œPretending?” sputtered a high-pitched voice. “Is pretending you, Cullen Seabourne! You pretending being lupus! Not telling us you being sorcerer! Only sorcerer