Free Crimson Dahlia by Abigail Owen Page B

cried.
    “Can’t
talk, or I’ll lose it,” Lila answered, her jaw clenched with the effort.
    “Almost
there, keep it up,” Selene urged.
    And
then Lila gasped and opened her eyes as the sharp wail of sirens pierced the
air.

Chapter
12
     
    “Time
to go!” Ramsey yelled over the blaring sound.
    He
scooped Lila up off the table and turned to leave. They ran out into the
hallway and headed for the elevator. Selene frantically pushed the button to
call for the car, but the light didn’t come on.
    “ They must’ve
shut them down when the alarms went off!” she said.
    “Stairs?”
Ramsey motioned.
    They
tried several doors close by. No luck.
    Selene
sucked in her breath.
    Lila
could see her friend’s anxiety ratchet up a notch. “What?”
    “Griffin’s
talking to me,” Selene told her. “He’s made it down there and is trying to
help. They’re all fighting wolves. Charlotte can’t get everyone out all at
once. She’s pulling them out as she can get to them.”
    “Someone’s
coming!” Lila gasped.
    Without
hesitating the three of them opened the closest door and jammed inside.
    “Can
you turn off the wolves they’re fighting down there?” Ramsey asked Selene in a
low voice.
    Selene
nodded and began to concentrate. After a moment she blinked several times. “I
got everyone I could feel. There may be some behind the blocker that are invisible
to me.” Her shoulders relaxed a little. “Griffin says that worked. Charlotte’s
getting them out of there. But she says more are coming.”
     “Then
let’s give them something else to concentrate on,” Lila said.
    “That’s
my girl,” Ramsey murmured.
    Lila
frowned at him, but he merely shrugged. “I knew you were going to say that.”
    She
rolled her eyes. “You can put me down now. I’m pretty sure I can walk on my
own.”
    “Ready?”
Selene asked from the doorway.
    They
opened the door, but just as they stepped out, four wolves appeared at the end
of the hall. Hackles raised and teeth bared and growling, the beasts slowly
approached. Selene flipped the switch on their powers, and, suddenly, four men
stood before them with bewildered expressions on their faces.
    Before
they could make their next move, Charlotte appeared. They took her hand and
were instantly above ground and in the woods.
    “I
can’t take the time to get you to the castle yet,” Charlotte said. “I’m still
getting people out. Everyone is here somewhere… try to find them while I’m
getting the rest.”
    And
she was gone.
    “Griffin’s
calling me. They’re over here.” Selene took off at a run.
    Lila
hobbled along slowly. Selene looked over her shoulder, but Ramsey waved her on.
“You go and help the others. We’ll be right behind you.”
    Without
another word he turned back to Lila and scooped her up in his arms again.
    “I
told you I can walk,” she said, struggling to get out of his hold.
    “We
keep going at your pace and we’ll get there around Christmas,” he said, and
tightened his grip.
    “I—”
    Lila
didn’t get to finish her thought. Ramsey jerked to a halt and then suddenly set
her back down on her feet.
    She
looked at his quizzically. “What?”
    “Griffin
says a mass of wolves is closing in on them, but Selene has already gone back
to the castle. She’s not there to turn them off. And Charlotte is busy.”
    “What
do we do?”
    Ramsey
glanced down. “I have an idea, but you’re really going to have to trust me.”
    Lila
didn’t hesitate. “You do what you have to do.”
    Ramsey
gave her an oddly intense look and then shook his head. “Based on what
Griffin’s showing me, we’re between the line of wolves and our people.”
    “Okay…and…?”
    “And
I’m going to blaze a fire between us and them. Create a wall of flame those
wolves will never get through. But in order to control it, I need to be right
in the middle of it. And I can’t protect you from the fire unless you’re right
here with me. You’re too slow to make it to