Lured (The Brazil Werewolf Series Book 4) (9 page)

              Eli came soon after bringing me food.  He stared at me for a few moments when I refused to come near and sighed as he sat it down on the bed.  He raised a brow and pressed his lips thin as if upset I didn’t trust him. 

“It’s food,” he said, frowning, “I wanted to make sure you were fed.  I didn’t want you to starve.”

“I want you to let me go,” I said as a muscle twitched beneath his eye, “I want to go home.”

“You are home,” he whispered, frustrated, “No matter how much you fight it, this is where you will stay.”

“Do you think that Tamas won’t come for me?” I asked as my stomach twisted.  It had only been a few hours and the damage the Grey wolves had done was irreparable.  I winced as my mind drifted to Garridan and Mirella. 

Please let them be alive
, I thought,
Please, don’t let them be dead.

“It won’t matter if he does,” he said, tilting his head as he studied me further, “He’ll die as soon as you’re bonded with me.”

“I am bonded to Tamas,” I said through gritted teeth, “I’ll never be bonded to you and I’ll never want to be.”

“Yes, you will,” he said, narrowing his eyes, “I told the other one we knew how to break the bond.  We will do it with you.”

I raised my brows in a challenge, “You’re lying” I said, narrowing my eyes, “If there is a way, tell me how it’s done.”

“Eat,” he said, ignoring my demand.  I eyed the food suspiciously.  I wouldn’t eat anything he prepared.  Still, I couldn’t help but wonder if the food held the answer to breaking the bond.  He narrowed his eyes at me, “The food is just that food.  There is nothing in it that will separate you from Tamas.”

“What does break the bond?” I asked and he pressed his lips together as he rose.  He ran his hands through his hair in frustration before gazing into my face with his nostrils flaring.  He took a few deep breaths and shook his head.  When he looked at me again he was calm.

“You don’t have to eat,” he said, softly, “But if you need anything, all you have to do is ask for me and I’ll get it for you.”

“I want to go home,” I said, stepping toward him and he shook his head, “I need to go home.  If I don’t, I’ll die.”

He shook his head again, “You won’t die,” he said with raised brows, “You’ll get weak and you’ll be grateful for what I give you.  Then, we can begin.” 

              Fiona’s face flashed through my mind, “So, I have to be weak for you to break my bond with Tamas?” I asked, confused.

              “Not necessarily,” he said with a shrug, “It helps for you to get into the right mindset.”

              “And what mindset is that?” I asked, stepping toward him.

              He raised a brow, “If I told you, I’d give away the secret,” he said with a laugh, “I’m not ready to do that yet.”

              “When will you be?” I asked angrily.

              “Soon,” he said and then gave me a crooked grin, “Until then, I’ll leave you alone.  If you need me, tell the guards to come find me.”

              “I won’t ever need you,” I said, narrowing my eyes.

              He glanced at me once more, “We’ll see,” he said and left me alone in the room again.  My stomach twisted as my heart yearned for Tamas.  I glanced around the room desperate to get out and return to him.

**********

              I had fallen asleep when my door opened yet again.  This time Jaelle returned glancing at me warily as she moved close to me.  She studied my face as she sat across from the bed I laid on.  Her eyes were puffy from crying and when she sighed it was broken in sadness and regret.   

              “You’re really my sister,” she said, tilting her head as she spoke.  Her lip trembled as she continued, “Why didn’t you or momma or daddy come for me?”

              “We thought you died,” I whispered as guilt slammed through me, “We didn’t know you were alive or we would have.”

              She nodded, “I thought that was what happened,” she said and then bit her bottom lip as her shoulders slumped forward. 

              “I’m sorry for earlier,” I said as my heart clenched, “I realize that it must hurt to hear the woman who raised you say that she doesn’t love you.”

              Jaelle nodded her head causing her dark hair to shake with the movement, “It’s alright,” she said and raised her trembling chin, “It told me where I needed to be and who I needed to help.”

              “Help?” I asked with wide eyes as hope flooded me.

              She nodded as she met my eyes, “I’ve led your husband and his brothers inside without being seen.  I was told to come in here while they retrieve Garridan and Mirella,” she said with tears in her eyes, “Then, they’ll be back for you.”

              “You’re coming too,” I said, grasping her hand, “I won’t leave you behind.”

              She swallowed hard, “Are you sure that you want me?”

              “Of course I am,” I said studying her as my heart broke, “You’re my sister and our mother and father love you.  Pesha will love you too.”

              “Pesha?” She asked, frowning as she said his name.

              “Our little brother,” I said, giving her a small smile, “He’s four years old.” 

              She returned the smile but it faded as the door opened.  Her eyes widened in fear and we both jumped.  My eyes flew upward to find Tamas’ beloved face.  I ran to him and he embraced me.  He cupped my cheeks in his hands as his eyes roamed over me searching for injuries.

              “Are you alright?” He asked in a broken voice, “They didn’t do to you what they did to Mirella, did they?”

              “No,” I said as he kissed my forehead. 

              “Is Mirella and Garridan alive?” I asked, trembling, “I heard their screams.  I wasn’t sure if they had been allowed to live.”

              Tamas’ eyes darkened, “They are though they will need to heal,” he said as he glanced from me to Jaelle, “For now, we need to get you and your sister far away from here.” 

              I nodded as I turned and reached out my hand to Jaelle.  For a moment, she simply stared at my hand but finally she reached forward and took it.  A single tear fell from her eye as she glanced around and then took a step.  My sister who we assumed dead for ten years rejoined our family very much alive.

              Tamas led us outside as the long, low howl of a wolf rent the air.  Tamas’ eyes widened as he pulled us along toward the trees, no longer trying to hide.   Growls erupted around us as we joined Garridan and Mirella who were huddled together in the trees. 

              My heart clenched as I gazed into Mirella’s nearly lifeless eyes and I wondered again what they did to her inside the room but I realized a moment later that I didn’t want to know.  Garridan was rocking her back and forth as his own eyes, haunted by what had happened stared off into space. 

              A virtual war had broken out around us as we moved back further and further into the trees. 

              “Nadia,” my mother said as we moved well into the tree line.  Jaelle stiffened beside me and I squeezed her hand in comfort as I turned to face her.

              “Momma,” I said as Jaelle turned to face my mother.  A sob escaped her throat and a tremble worked its way down her spine as she awaited confirmation that her worst fears didn’t really happen, “This is Jaelle.”

              She raised her trembling hands to her lips as she took in her daughter’s face, “Jaelle,” she whispered as she took a step toward her, removing one of her hands from her mouth to touch Jaelle’s cheek, “It’s really you?”

              Jaelle nodded her head as tears escaped her eyes, “It is,” she said before my mother pulled her into a fierce hug. 

              Tamas glanced back at the neighborhood the Grey wolves occupied.  Wolves fought in the center.  Eli had just exited the house and sniffed the air, scenting it.  I realized he was searching for me.

              “We have to go now,” I said, terrified of being captured again and taken away from Tamas.

              “There is a car down here,” Tamas said, grasping my hand and pulling me along.  I glance back, noticing that Garridan carried Mirella and my mother was leading Jaelle. 

              I turned back to the trail and focused on getting to the car.  We turned the corner but stopped when we heard a yelp.  I turned to find Eli.  He had barely missed grabbing Jaelle.  My mother stood between them, her eyes glowed red as her wolf came to the surface threatening to spring free. 

              “Jaelle, get back!” I yelled.  She took two steps back and fell as my mother transitioned into a wolf. Eli’s eyes widened as she lunged at him with her teeth bared.  He didn’t have time to summon his own wolf before my mother’s teeth sank deep into his neck.  As his blood flowed into the ground I understood that Eli wouldn’t bother us ever again.

**********

              Tamas drove us into the motor home park with everyone in strict silence.  No one spoke until my mother who was naked and wrapped in a blanket directed us to stop by her house so she could get clothes on before heading to Ion’s motorhome so he could administer treatment to Garridan who had been stabbed in the shoulder at some point during our captivity.  He still refused to release Mirella as we walked inside.  Her head rested solidly on his hurt shoulder but he did not attempt to move her.  Instead, he pulled her closer as if afraid to let her go. 

              Ion gazed at them as his face fell.  He didn’t ask what had happened.  He didn’t need to.  The blood of Mirella’s lost innocence scented the air.  She’d been raped and whatever else that had happened only made it worse. 

              Ion stepped toward Garridan and gazed into his friend’s eyes, “You’ll have to release her for me to tend to your wounds,” Ion said, quietly to his friend. 

              Garridan faced him and shook his head, “Work around her,” He said through clenched teeth.  Ion opened his mouth to argue but thought better of it as he met Garridan’s glazed eyes.

              “Let me check on Fiona first,” he said, pained as he glanced down at Mirella, “She’ll need help too.  She’s been hurt.”

              “No one touches her,” Garridan said, almost shouting. 

              Ion frowned but nodded his head, “You’ll have to tend to her wounds,” he said in a gentle voice, “We need to make sure that she doesn’t get an infection.  There is a chance she will die if she does.  I’ll be back as soon as I make sure that Fiona is resting.” 

              Garridan nodded as Jaelle stepped forward, “Fiona is here?” She asked, glancing around the room with wide eyes. 

              “Yes,” Ion said, confused and glanced at me and then, my mother, “Did you find out how to break the bond between her and Emilian?”

              I shook my head as my heart broke.  I had wanted to save her but had doomed her instead by getting kidnapped, “No,” I said, “Eli was killed before we found out.”

              My mother stifled a sob, “He was going to hurt my daughter,” she said, glancing toward the room where Fiona rested.  Her voice broke as she whispered, “I’m so sorry.”

              Jaelle moved her gaze to me, “Was she ever in love before?” She asked frowning, “I mean…Was she ever in love before Emilian?”

              “No,” Ion said, shaking his head.

              “That’s not true,” My mother said, stepping toward Ion, “She loved you but she wouldn’t put Lilly at risk.  She couldn’t be selfish.  She told you that.”

              “She still left even after I asked her to marry me,” he said, blinking back hurt, “Lila, she didn’t love me.”

              “She did what she did for Lilly,” My mother said and glanced back at me and Jaelle, “She loved her as much as Aurora.  I’m a mother.  I would do anything for my daughters.  She would too.”

              “If she loved you,” Jaelle said, interrupting the argument, “You can break the bond.”

              “You know how to break the bond?” Ion asked desperate to discover its secret.  His eyes searched Jaelle’s face.

              “I wasn’t supposed to but I heard my….Eva talking about it.  I know how it’s done,” she said with a shrug, “It’s why I brought Fiona here when Eli asked me to.  I thought you would break the bond.  I didn’t realize that you didn’t know how.”

              “What do I do?” Ion asked, frowning. 

              “You just blood bond with her,” she said, shaking her head.

              “It can’t be that simple,” I said, frowning, “Eli would have blood bonded with one of us by now.”

              Jaelle shook her head, “Usually, it’s not that simple,” she said, glancing around, “Usually they make sure you are weak and then, they begin to give you the things you need.  They make you grateful and then, you do love them…At least in some way.”

              My stomach turned as I remembered the meal that Eli brought me.  I swallowed as I realized that he was attempting to make me grateful.  I glanced at Ion who was staring at Jaelle with suspicion. 

              “It wouldn’t hurt to try,” I said, tilting my head as I studied him but the bond would affect him too, “That is if you want to be bonded to her.”

              Ion blinked and stared at the room where Fiona lay dying.  He nodded once and moved to the back room.   Tamas and I followed as Ion stopped beside the bed where Fiona rested. 

              “I hope this is what you want,” He said and then, took out his pocket knife and slit across his wrist.  Blood rose to the surface of his skin as he placed his wrist against her lips.  Immediately, her eyes opened wide as she grasped his wrist pulling it closer to her mouth and sucking Ion’s essence down her throat. 

              Her face began to gain color and I understood in that moment that she would heal.  I glanced back to the living area wishing the same for the others inside the room but as grim as it was, I understood as I gazed at Garridan and Mirella that it would take a long while for them and that was only if they were able to heal.