Moon Kissed (13 page)

Enough bullshit already.

Arden thrust aside the blankets and tried to stand. She grimaced as her body protested, white-hot prickles of pain shooting up her feet and into her legs. What the hell? She’d fed from Wolfe recently and she’d obviously gotten enough sleep. Trevor had removed the toxins in her system. Her muscles felt sore and unused. That meant she’d been out of commission for longer than she’d thought.

What had happened during that time? How long had she been sawing logs?

“Would someone please tell me what in the hell is going on?” She remembered Wolfe’s panicked face, the way he’d promised her he’d get her the help she’d so desperately needed. “Where’s Wolfe?”

“He went to meet Taylor Martinson,” Luke answered, moving aside to give her space.

“Why would he do that?” She shot him a questioning look. “What happened?”

“That’s what I’d like to know.” Luke’s irises changed along the pupil, becoming an iridescent share of green. “He never made it back.”

Fear hit, hard and fast. “How long has he been gone?”

“He left three nights ago,” Trevor replied softly.

“Three nights ago!” She stumbled from the bed, uncaring that the only thing covering her was a skimpy black T-shirt. “Why did you wait so long to wake me up? Why did you let him go alone?”

“I didn’t
let
him do anything. The man has a mind of his own.” Trevor reached out and grasped her forearms to keep her steady. “Wolfe didn’t want you to go, Cricket. He went to meet Taylor the night he brought you to me to work out an agreement. When he didn’t come back, I had to track down Luke. That took time.”

Her stomach twisted—creating a horrific spasm in her gut—and for the first time in decades, it wasn’t due to bloodlust. She recognized her fear, knowing precisely what it meant. She’d had the same reaction when she’d learned Portia was being sent to her death. She pushed Trevor away, grateful her reflexes and mind were finally engaged.

“Where do you think he is?” It was hard to keep her temper in check. Panic consumed her, the terror of the unknown making her sick. “Who do I need to pay a visit?”

“He’s with Lucius Mercoix.” Luke crossed his massive arms over his chest. “The bastard contacted Adam this morning. He says Wolfe will be killed in twenty-four hours unless his demands are met.”

“What does the son of a bitch want?”

“To arrange a swap.”

“A swap.” Bitterness rushed through her. She faced Luke, noting his grim face, knowing the answer to her question before she even asked it. “What kind of swap?”

“My cousin in exchange for you.”

She kept her face smooth, determined not to let the men in the room see her fear. A war raged inside her, logic and emotion locked in a heated clash. Handing herself over to the vampyren king meant eternal servitude or death, with death being preferable. There would be no middle ground. If she stepped willingly into the clutches of Lucius Mercoix, she would seal her fate. She’d killed his kin, therefore she would never be spared or pardoned.

Not by him. Not by his brethren.

He would pull every scream he could from her, torturing her in ways she didn’t want to think about. In his hands, she would experience the most brutal kind of torture imaginable—an eternity of misery. An image of Wolfe’s face flashed in her mind, his devastating green eyes haunting.

But if she didn’t go…

“I’ll do it.”

Trevor snagged her arm again, his accent thicker than usual. “Heed me, Cricket. The vampyren king will
kill
you. Perhaps not right away, since he’ll want to make you suffer, but eventually he’ll tire of fucking with you. He will not wait forever to see if he can bring you to your knees. Revenge comes second only tae self-preservation. He’ll see the matter done, and that will be that. You’re going to have tae let this go.”

“Lucius will kill Wolfe.” She pried her arm free. “I won’t stay here and let that happen.”

“Don’t go soft on me now! You’ve not mated the lycae. You will survive his loss.”

She shook her head, disturbed at just how wrong Trevor was. “I won’t let him die.”

“You don’t love him. It’s not possible. You’ve only just met. Think rationally.”

She wrapped her arms around herself.

How could she explain what she didn’t understand?

An invisible weight crushed her chest, making it difficult to breathe. The thought of Wolfe’s absence in her life snuffed out a portion of her soul. Did it make sense? No. But the emotions rushing through her were very real. She hadn’t experienced true fear in a very long time. Not like this.

“It’s very possible,” Luke interjected calmly. “Wolfe saw something in her and she saw something in him. It’s the way it works with mates. Regardless of who or what they are.”

Trevor nailed her in place with his tumultuous indigo gaze. “Damn it! I won’t let you go. Do you hear? I refuse to allow it!”

“It’s not your choice to make. I won’t leave him to die.” Her voice almost failed her when she added, “
I can’t
.”

Waves of magic trickled from Trevor’s body, tiny currents of energy buzzing through the air. The hair on her arms stood on end as the bed and several pieces of furniture rose from the ground. Trevor’s blue irises flashed white and his debilitating power crashed into her. A terrifying vibration in the wall sent decorative artifacts to the floor.

“Calm down, Sheriff,” Luke commanded.

“
I doona go by that title anymore
!” Trevor turned on the alpha. He lifted his arm and the casting wand nestled in the corner rose from its place and flew into his outstretched fingers. Pointing the blinding white orb at Luke, he snarled, “I allowed you into my home as a courtesy, but I have no obligation to you or yours. That girl is the closest thing I have to family, and I will not allow her to leave. If you try to take her, I
will
kill you.”

“Don’t make me rip out your spine.” Luke’s shoulders shifted, the muscles in his shoulders and arms broadening as they flexed. He took a step forward, his nails changing into claws. “I’ll serve your ass to you on a plate.”

“I’d bloody love to see you try!”

“Stop!” Arden quickly moved between them. She faced her friend, softening her voice, imploring him to listen. “Do not make this harder on me than it already is. This is my decision. Not yours.”

“Like hell,” Trevor whispered.

Scraping noises drew her attention. She gazed through the doorway in time to see the couch rise into the air. Nearby, the kitchen table and chairs did the same. Power oozed from her friend, so painful it burned like the rays of the sun. Lights flickered on and off and cabinets opened and closed.

God help us.

 
Trevor had only lost control once in her presence, and that was when he’d faced the lich that’d murdered his lover. She’d witnessed his fury, strength and pain. She’d watched as he’d been consumed by magic that had horrified her. He wasn’t a man in that moment. He was like a demigod. Up until then, she’d underestimated how powerful a Warlock Judge could be.

“Stop,” she whispered, moving closer despite the painful pricks of electricity as his magic slid over her body. “Please.”

“Calm down.” Luke sounded as cool as a cucumber as he addressed Trevor. When Arden spun around to face the idiot werewolf, a smile spread across his face. “Do you honestly think I would sacrifice the only mate Wolfe will ever have to a fucking leech?”

“You haven’t given me reason to believe otherwise,” Trevor spat.

“I’m trying to right now.”

“Then you’d better start talking,” Arden said, worried Luke was about to send Trevor over the line. “You’re pissing him off.”

“Wolfe needs to get over his personal shit and moved on with his life. I’ve waited for him to do that on his own without interference. Unfortunately, he’s lacked the proper motivation. That’s why Adam asked him to come here. It’s also the reason I wouldn’t take the position of alpha in the pack. If you can’t make Wolfe open his fucking eyes, nothing will.” Luke’s lips lifted at the corners, his eyes becoming bright, grass green. “If we force Wolfe to ascend to his rightful place, the vampyren won’t know what hit them. It’s time they remember why they don’t fuck with lycae.”

“His rightful place?” Arden studied Luke. “What are you talking about?”

He smirked in a manner that reminded her of Wolfe. “As the alpha of the pack.”

Flashes of what had transpired in her apartment came rushing back, including Wolfe’s seemingly timeless shift. Only the most powerful lycae could change form that quickly. Man one second, beast the next. He’d shifted in the blink of an eye. No wonder he hadn’t been afraid. He’d known he could take on just about anything that posed a threat to her.

“An alpha?”

Luke nodded. “A damn powerful one.”

She couldn’t believe it. “If he’s an alpha, Lucius wouldn’t have touched him.”

“Wolfe’s an alpha without a pack,” he informed her quietly. “He assumed Adam’s position but not his true place. Without wolves to draw power from, he’s vulnerable.”

Trevor lowered his casting wand and the furniture crashed to the floor. “It won’t matter what you try to do.” He stepped toward them, the hum of magic surrounding him strong as ever. “Wolfe won’t involve the pack. He refused to discuss it when I brought up the topic.”

“He will if she’s at stake.” Luke lifted his chin in Arden’s direction. “Our kind will do whatever it takes to protect our mates.” Shooting her a disapproving look, he continued, “My sources tell me you have a helluva lot of enemies, female. Mating the alpha of a powerful pack will keep that pretty head of yours on your shoulders.”

The insult hit its intended target. Balling her hands into fists, she struggled to keep her temper in check. “I’ve done just fine on my own, thank you very fucking much.”

“Arden,” Trevor chided in a warning tone. He turned to Luke. “What do you intend to do?”

Luke smiled, revealing perfect white teeth. “I thought you’d never ask, Sheriff.”

“I told you,” Trevor grumbled with a scowl, “I don’t go by that title anymore.”

“If you want us to pull this off, you do. We need the strength of a judge on our side. Without your help, our odds fall considerably.”

“Damn it.” Trevor glared at her. “
Damn you
.”

Even if he tried to hide it, she could see the pain in his eyes. She understood how much it would cost him to help her. Calling on the souls of the past came with harsh consequences. The last time he’d reached for that measure of power, he’d lost the person he loved most. She tried to speak, but he lifted a hand to silence her.

“Don’t bother. I know you’re sorry.” With a resigned sigh, he turned to Luke. “What do you need me to do?”

The alpha’s smile broadened. Instead of putting Arden at ease, the gesture made her uncomfortable. There was a gleam in Luke’s eyes that warned her things were about to get extremely nasty.

“How long has it been since you’ve cloaked an army?”

Trevor’s chin shot up. “You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, but I am.” With a wave of his hand, Luke motioned toward the living room. “Why don’t we sit down and iron out the details.”

“Give us a moment,” Trevor said, his irises unusually dark as he studied her. “I need to talk to her alone.”

Luke didn’t want to do as he’d been asked—his pause indicated as much—but he left the room.

“You owe me for this, Cricket. What I’m about to do comes with a cost.”

The gravity of the statement hit home. He was putting himself at risk. Once he channeled his true power, he opened gates he couldn’t always close. Fear for his well-being made her want to reconsider. She didn’t have to work with Luke. If necessary, she could attempt to find and rescue Wolfe on her own.

“Don’t even.” Trevor lifted one of his large hands and cupped her chin. “I’m already involved. I won’t let you face the unknown alone.”

“Does anyone care to join me?” Luke yelled from the living room. “We don’t have all the time in the world.”

“Come on.” With a comforting smile, he reached for her hand. “In for a penny, in for a pound. If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it right.”

As much as she longed to take comfort in her friend’s confidence, a part of her was prepared for the worst. She’d always known that when she faced Lucius, she might not come out of the battle alive. It was a risk she had always been willing to take. A life for a life—just as she’d promised Portia. If she didn’t succeed, at least she’d tried to exact revenge. She’d been so close to her goal.

Not anymore.

With a resigned sigh, she allowed Trevor to lead her from the room.

Damn you, Wolfe.

Leave it to a cocky and reckless lycae to turn her world upside down.

Chapter Eleven

Everything was covered in a thick red haze, preventing Wolfe from comprehending things clearly. He tried to focus and think of a way to break free. Each line of thought snapped like a thread as the animal took control. His cage rattled, undoubtedly being kicked by one of the men who’d been put on guard duty. He tried to call on his anger, but the taunts of impending death and torture no longer mattered.