Wolf-Bound: Unfamiliar Territory (24 page)

Jake was on his feet now. Jenny held their enemies in place with the wind as he weaved his way to her side. A cut near his eye bled, crimson droplets dotting the earth. He reached out, resting a paw in her lap.

She grasped his leg, opening her mind and senses to him. Power flowed into her.

Goddess, he was strong, so much stronger than any of them. His cut bled, his blood mingling with theirs, sinking into the ground. Jenny reached out with her mind again, grasping their four wriggling streams of energy. With his strength, she tamed them, shaping the flows.

Jake’s was the anchor thread. She flung this out, surrounding their vast holdings and the small town of Alabaster with the gleaming river of light. She wrapped the other threads around it, fortifying, weaving the ancient power of the Way and the magic of the Mother into something new. Something stronger.

The threads came together, a barrier of light wrapped around the land to which they were bound.

The ground beneath them shook. Golden light emanated from her, illuminating the clearing, bright as day. Power seethed, waiting for her command.

She glared at the trespassers, and gasped.

Her sight blazed through them, illuminating their very souls. Darkness dwelt in each of them, a black tangle wrapped tightly around their hearts. As she looked to their leader,

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loathing nearly overwhelmed her. He was filled with a writhing, seething mass that flung tendrils outward. She sensed its dark purpose and shuddered. The thing was trying to rip its way out of him, drawn toward her and her husbands, craving the light. It wanted desperately to sink its blackness into their souls, to suck their power dry, to shape them into the ultimate tools for its dark purpose.

To quench the light.

Jenny clenched her fingers. The mountain trembled again. Roots ripped up from the soil, entangling her enemies’ arms and legs. “Out!” she commanded.

Wind screamed. Two of the trespassers sailed into the trees, where they were caught by limbs and thrown roughly down the mountain.

Roots encased the others, including the leader, hauling them into the tree line. There, vines and lower limbs dragged them onward, immune to their struggles, imbued with only one purpose: to cast them outside the warding Jenny had woven.

She closed her eyes, mentally following their progress. Kicking and screaming, bruised and battered, the trespassers were yanked off the mountain, and the land did not stop until they were gone from within the boundaries of light. She had a sense of time expanding, altered by the energies placed into use. In a matter of minutes, they had been exiled to a place outside the limits of Blake influence, including the town of Alabaster. To return, even in a vehicle, would take at least three hours.

Clothes torn, skin scraped raw and bleeding, six of their enemies scuttled away like spiders. Some spouted gibberish, and she sensed their minds were broken. But they were alive, when they had been ready to kill three innocent babes just to be sure of one.

She considered their fate merciful.

But the leader still was not cowed. He stood and strode purposefully back toward the perimeter limned by their power.

He slammed backward as though hit by a shotgun blast the moment the toe of his black sneakers encountered the edge of that boundary.

He lay gasping on the ground, glaring into the trees. She sensed that he could not quite see what protected them. He struggled back to his feet, approaching more slowly this time.

He could not see the warding, but having been alerted, he did sense it this time. Just outside the cord of forces that was visible to her, he halted, reaching out a tentative hand. His fingers touched the edge of her warding and jerked back. He snarled, hugging his hand to his chest, flexing the fingers as though they’d gone numb.

Their land was sealed. None of the Dark Guard could enter now.

And he knew it. She sensed it in his tightened jaw, his angry stance. He stared up the mountain, his gaze so intense she almost thought he could see her. “My compliments, witch.”

He grinned and bowed with a flourish. “Until we meet again.”

Turning, he disappeared into the night.

136

Rachel Bo

Jen sagged, her body drained. It is done, Gaia whispered. The balance is restored, for a while, at least.

How long? Jen thought.

Come to me, the Goddess sent. Tomorrow. Her presence retreated.

Strong arms lifted her up. “I’d really love to know what just happened, but for now --”

Jake’s face hovered over hers. He had shifted. There was a goose egg just below his temple, mottled black and purple, still oozing blood, but he was alive. Jen pushed at him, trying to make him put her down. “Not me. Get Damien.”

He tilted his head toward his right. “Don’t think that’s necessary.”

Damien and Devlin crouched together on the ground. Dev had a firm grip on the shaft of the bolt. “Push it through,” Damien grunted.

Dev obliged, forcing the tip of the bolt through Damien’s bicep, where it had almost gone through on its own. Damien’s breath hissed. Fresh blood dripped down his arm. “Now, break off the haft and --”

“Can’t.” Jake shook his head. “It’s tempered steel. We’ll have to wait until we get to the house. You have tools we can use to cut off the fletch?”

Dev nodded.

“Then we’ll remove it there and pull the bolt out clean. Save the muscle as much tearing as possible.”

Damien nodded and stood, leaning on his brother for support.

The trip back to the house took a lot longer than the trip out. Jenny wrapped her arms around Jake’s neck and clung. The higher temperature of his weyr blood took the edge off the cold, but she was still shivering by the time the greenhouse and stables were in sight.

“Take her to the birthing stable.” Damien grunted. “We have extra clothes stashed in there.”

Jake nodded.

It was the same stable he had occupied only a few months before, what now seemed like a lifetime ago. The padlocks and shackles were gone, of course. He carried her inside, out of the wind, and waited while Devlin pulled clothes from a canvas bag on one of the shelves.

Sweatshirt and a pair of sweatpants. Damien leaned against the wall for support while Jake and Devlin dressed her. Dev rolled up the overlong legs, but she tucked her freezing fingers inside the long sleeves, each into its opposite, using them like muffs to warm her hands.

She waited as the others pulled on sweatpants -- more to cover their naked bodies than for the warmth.

Jake studied her anxiously. “Are you feeling better?”

She nodded. “Just tired.” Her body shivered. “And cold.”

He glanced at her bare feet. “Let’s get you inside.”

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He went to pick her up again, but she pushed him away. “I can walk. You take care of Damien. I’ll be waiting.”

She walked cautiously on legs like rubber. At the steps up to the back porch, she struggled, weak knees threatening to buckle as she dragged herself up by the handrail. At the door, she remembered throwing the key into the brush. “Damn.” She knocked softly, hoping Tara would answer. Maybe there was a chance she could keep Marshall from seeing them in this condition.

But Marshall opened the door. He reached out, cupping her elbow with his hand, guiding her inside and shutting the door behind her.

“Ummm…” She frantically racked her brain for a remotely plausible explanation for her appearance.

“Tara explained, Jen.”

“She…explained?”

He held up a hand at her shocked expression. “Don’t worry. I’ve always thought there was something different about the Blakes. The truth was not quite what I was expecting, I’ll admit, but --”

“She told you everything?” The last word came out as a squeak.

He nodded. “Don’t worry. My grandfather told me that this mountain would never die as long as the Blakes were around. He didn’t know what they were, but he knew the family did everything in its power to protect this land, the town, and its people. That’s the way it’s always been, he said. I’m willing to offer that same loyalty. Your secret’s safe with me.

“Besides,” he said, putting an arm around her in a friendly hug. “Tara and I are getting married, and since she considers you the sister she never had, we’ll practically be related. I’d never betray family.”

“Married?” It was too much. She couldn’t grasp it all.

He grinned. “I asked her tonight. Right after she told me what was going on.”

Jenny shook her head in confusion. “Whatever possessed you -- it seems like an odd time for a proposal.”

“What better time than the moment I realized she trusted me enough to share that kind of secret? Or the second it dawned on me that she was right to do so. That I would never betray that trust, because I love her.”

“I guess congratulations --” She put a hand to her head, swaying on her feet.

“Whoa.” He tightened his arm around her and half-supported, half-carried her into the living room. A blaze crackled merrily in the fireplace. He deposited her in the recliner closest to the hearth. “Sit here. I’ll let Tara know you’re back.”

138

Rachel Bo

“Tara knows.” Her best friend stepped into the room. “I heard your voices from the babies’ room.” She walked over and knelt by Jenny’s chair. “Is everything okay? What happened?”

Jen pushed her tangled hair back from her face. “I still don’t know exactly why they’re after Jake, but it won’t happen again. Not here. Not on Blake land.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.” She reached out and squeezed Tara’s shoulder. “The babies are safe. Safer now than they’ve ever been, I think.”

“So they’ve given up?”

Jen remembered her brief glimpse of the ringleader’s face, his last words. Until we meet again. She shivered. “I’m not sure.” She remembered Gaia. “This will sound strange, but I think I’ll know more tomorrow.”

Tara nodded just as Damien, Devlin, and Jake stepped into the room and froze.

“Um, uhh --” the three of them stammered, obviously searching for words.

Jenny waved a hand. “They both know. Don’t question it; just trust me.”

Marshall nodded. He stepped toward Jake and held out his hand. “I’ll never betray you.

You have my word.”

Jake stared at his outstretched palm for a long moment, then reached out and shook.

Inside Jenny, something clicked into place, just as it had when she’d decided several months ago that they were meant to protect Jake. “That’s it,” she whispered.

“What?” Tara asked.

“Oh. Nothing.” Jen shook her head. “I know you’ve probably got a million questions, but can we fill you in tomorrow? I’m exhausted.”

“Of course.” Tara eyed her critically. “You look like death warmed over.” She winced.

“And you’ve got a nasty bump on your temple. Let me get some ice.”

“I’ll be all right. Really. I just need some rest.”

Tara surveyed her skeptically, but nodded. “All right.” She stood and slipped her hand into the crook of Marshall’s elbow. “Goodnight, all.” At the arch into the hall, she glanced back. “The babies are fine, Jen. They slept through everything.”

She nodded. “Thank you.”

“And you guys can, you know, go ahead and spend the night where you normally do.”

Her tone wasn’t suggestive, just supportive. “I know it’s probably important for you to be together right now.”

Jenny blinked back tears. “It is. Thank you.”

Their guests turned and disappeared down the hall. A moment later, their door clicked shut.

“That was interesting,” Jake said, raising his eyebrows.

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“I’ll explain tomorrow. Can we please go to bed now?” Jen could barely keep her eyes open.

Jake nodded, gathering her in his arms and carrying her -- this was becoming a habit --

with her other husbands flanking him, to their room. She was vaguely aware of being undressed and held between them in a warm shower, her hurts being cleaned, and then being tucked into bed.

140

Rachel Bo

Unfinished Business

The bed bounced, and Jenny reluctantly opened her eyes to see sunshine streaming in the window and Devlin grinning down at her, blue gaze bright and mischievous as a child’s.

“The weather broke. It’s sixty degrees and not a cloud in the sky.”

“Mm.” Jen rubbed her eyes. “What time is it?”

“Almost ten. We let you sleep in.” He looked awfully proud of himself.

Jen hated morning people. At least today she did. She touched a swollen breast and winced. No wonder she was so sore. “What about the babies?”

“They’re fine. We fed Collin and Cale their cereal. Theron had a bottle around seven-thirty, but he’s acting hungry again. That’s the only reason I woke you. I figured you might be getting a little uncomfortable.”

“Thanks, I am.” Sitting up, she pulled a couple of pillows over and stuffed them behind her back. “Will you bring him in?”

“Sure thing.”

Dev, Damien, and Jake trooped in, each carrying a baby. Damien handed over Theron, and they all three settled in to wait -- and watch. Her husbands liked watching her breastfeed. She didn’t mind; she wanted them to be as much a part of the boys’ lives as she was, and it only seemed natural to have them there while the boys fed. Also, it was incredibly erotic. Sometimes, after she had nursed the babies with the guys watching and then put the boys down to sleep, her husbands would nurse as well, two of them sucking her nipples while a third sucked her clit, not touching anything else, just sucking her nipples and clit until she came so hard she screamed.

Jen reluctantly pulled her mind away from such thoughts. She nursed Theron first from the breast that was most engorged. She smoothed his tousled hair, dark brown with bright strands of auburn that caught the sun’s light scattered throughout. All three of the

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boys had hair unusually thick for babies, Collin’s and Cale’s straight and golden as cornsilk, while Theron’s tended to stick out every which way, just like his father’s.