Pricolici (15 page)

What was he doing? Stelian said his power was instinctive; had he managed to stop Stelian’s fall without even trying? The well of power inside Tucker was rising, but he didn’t feel like he was performing any magic. Had his power grown so much?

He tried to will Stelian back up to the balcony, but it didn’t work. Stelian slowly began to float away toward the back lawn. “Stop,” Tucker shouted—though he had no idea why. Like that would help?

What the hell was going on?

The two Hunters who’d been on the front doors came running around the corner of the house. They had guns out, sweeping them side-to-side. “What’s wrong?” one of the guards demanded.

“Grab him!” Tucker pointed at Stelian who was hovering about five feet off the ground, still floating toward the hedges at the back of the garden. They both began running, but then they froze mid-step, like those plastic toy soldiers who came stuck in fighting forms. They toppled to the ground, face first.

Tucker’s knuckles were white where he gripped the railing. He looked down at the gray concrete pavers below. He’d never manage a jump without breaking something. Clouds rolled in, muting the sunlight, but they couldn’t help him. Bile rose into Tucker’s throat, burning all the way up, as he almost vomited again. What was he supposed to
do
?

Pounding on the doors behind him distracted Tucker. He half-turned, but then Stelian’s body slowed to a stop. An arm appeared out of nowhere and grabbed him by the armpit.

Then the arm, and Stelian, disappeared into thin air.

Chapter Fourteen

In that moment, Tucker’s heart stopped beating. For an interminable amount of time before it began again, his mind raced, seeing Stelian disappear, just wink out of existence, over and over and over. It wasn’t possible. It couldn’t be. He couldn’t be just… gone.

Thunder rolled, and the wind shrieked with all the rage Tucker couldn’t voice. His power rolled up and surrounded him, lifting Tucker until his toes barely scraped the balcony floor. Branches were ripped off trees and saplings uprooted in the gale force winds, littering the grounds like hurricane debris.

But there was no one for him to target, nowhere for the power to go.

The doors behind him slammed into the walls. Tucker spun.

“Tucker. Tucker, it’s just us!” Marevin held up his hands.

“Fuck. His eyes are black again,” Calos whispered.

Who cared about his eyes? Tucker ignored Calos. “He’s gone,” Tucker said, his voice hollow.

“Where did Stelian go? Did he fall?” Marevin asked. He took a step forward, still holding his hands up. “Gunther, Demetrio, go downstairs. Stay calm, Tucker, I’m just going to take a look.”

The winds died down, and Tucker’s feet settled back onto the balcony. He stumbled, and Calos jumped forward, catching him and easing Tucker to his knees.

Marevin leaned over the railing. “Where is he, Tucker?” He looked back. “What happened?”

“He’s disappeared.”

“Over the edge?”

Tucker shook his head. “Someone took him.” The betas exchanged a look. “What?” Tucker asked. “I know it sounds crazy, but someone fucking took him. You don’t look surprised. Why don’t you look surprised?” Were Stelian’s men against him? Was this all some sort of power bid?

“We found something.” Marevin’s voice was strained. His eyes were glowing yellow.

“What? Where?”

“Inside.” Calos bared his fangs.

Tucker pushed himself up. “Show me. Now!” He stumbled back into the room, not even noticing the stench. “What did you find?”

“This.” Calos picked up a paper from the desk. “This wasn’t here the last time we came. Nothing was on top of this desk, and there were nothing in the drawers, other than office supplies.”

“
Your alpha is mine. Don’t follow, or I’ll kill him
,” Tucker read. It was like when Phell took him, but in reverse. Someone had taken Stelian, someone who had powers.

Tucker’s brother had stolen his mate and was threatening to kill him.

The room began to shake. Tucker staggered, but didn’t fall. Pictures crashed down off the wall, glass shattering. The tremor grew until the house was rocking; cracks split the walls. The foundation groaned and the floorboards split apart.

Men shouted.

Chaos reigned.

Tucker didn’t even see the fist coming at his face until it was too late.

“Ow.” Tucker’s jaw ached. He reached out to the grass under him, pulling energy from the earth and the plants to heal. The pain and the pounding in his head faded, and Tucker breathed a sigh of relief. “Stelian!”

Tucker sat upright, looking around wildly. “What happened?” He was on the ground, outside the house, on the back lawn. The two Hunters who’d frozen were next to him, on their backs, their bodies relaxed from the rigid postures they’d been stuck in. Tucker felt a surge of relief when their chests moved up and down.

Marevin crouched down next to him. “You were about to bring the house down on top of us.”

“I’m sorry I hit you,” Calos said.

Tucker waved aside his apology. “It’s fine. I’ve already healed it anyway. Is there any sign of Stelian? You did send men into the woods, right?”

“The note said—”

“Fuck the note! You know what, never mind. Maybe it’s good you didn’t send anyone yet.” The other Hunters stood in a knot not far away. “Keep them over there.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Try to find out where the hell my evil fucking twin took Stelian and how he did it. Stay back, so you don’t muddy up the auras.”

Tucker and Stelian weren’t mated yet, but their auras had connected. There was a thin filament, binding them together. Tucker could try to follow it, if he focused. His will was all he needed. Well, and some power.

Tucker pulled his shirt off and then shucked his pants. The lupes looked nervous, glancing away from him. Tucker snorted; he’d think they were concerned about seeing his cock and balls hanging out, if shifters weren’t so casual about nudity. Then again, Stelian was pretty firm that no one was to come near Tucker when he wasn’t around.

When Tucker relaxed back against the grass, letting the earth cradle his body along every bare inch, they all backed away. The real source of their nervousness became clear when they began whispering harshly as Tucker accessed his power and began to glow.

“Shit! You’re not going to cause another earthquake are you? I don’t want to be near that metal and glass monstrosity if it comes down, and you already cracked the foundation!” Marevin said.

“No. Now shut up; I have to focus if I’m going to find Stelian before it’s too late.” Tucker had no idea if there was a limit to how far he could travel, and the energy he expected never flowed as more than a trickle. A mere two weeks before, though, and Tucker would never have told a beta to shut up, much less expected him to listen. “Don’t disturb me, unless it’s a dire emergency. And
don’t
touch me!”

Marevin clamped his mouth shut.

Tucker had to force his power to expand. He must have used up too much when he broke down inside the house. He pushed away his fears he wouldn’t have enough power, focusing on his will to do what he
had
to do, and searched the property around the house. His brother hadn’t stuck around; faint traces of a black power, as putrid to behold in Tucker’s sight as the smell had been, wove around the garden, but Stelian’s aura wasn’t there. Tucker called up an image of Stelian. He pictured him—his dark hair and skin, his fierce gaze with his teeth bared as he snarled.

So fierce, and scary as hell, if you didn’t know the alpha lupe better. But Tucker did. He knew the heart of the man who cared for Tucker and wanted to keep him safe. He could feel the ties binding their souls through their auras.

“Stelian,” Tucker whispered.

He was in a small, dark place; barely any light filtered in. He wasn’t moving, but Tucker could tell from his aura that he was alive. He’d been shot with something. Tucker didn’t understand why, exactly. It seemed like his brother could freeze people, so why did he drug Stelian?

Maybe there was a limit to his power.

Tucker held onto his need to see Stelian, to know he was all right. He didn’t know how long he hovered there, wishing he could touch Stelian’s face, his hand, anything. The light flared, all of a sudden. If Tucker had been there in person, he would’ve thrown a hand over his eyes.

Instead, he stared down at Stelian, hungrily devouring his features. He looked unharmed. Tucker turned his attention to the man holding his mate captive. It was like looking into a distorted mirror. He looked like him, but with subtle differences. He had a scowl on his face, and it looked like it belonged there—as if he never smiled.

His eyes were laced with darkness, the color barely visible, as he gazed through Tucker’s astral projected form, staring at Stelian.

“Time for you to give me what I want,” he hissed. The sound of his voice shocked Tucker. Everything about him was cold and soulless. Stelian’s body rose up from the trunk, floating. The man grabbed Stelian by the armpit again, and then they both disappeared.

But Tucker could sense them. His tie to Stelian’s aura helped him follow them, even though he couldn’t see where they were or where they were going. Not until he saw the gates standing open and the Hunters who stood in the shadows beside it, letting the enemy in without even knowing.

The gate and guards disappeared as Tucker was wrenched away from Stelian. He gasped and shook as he became aware of his body. He was freezing cold and it was raining. Not even the energy he was receiving could keep him warm.

Tucker looked up at Marevin and Gunther. Both betas were hovering over him, holding a car blanket to block the rain. They hadn’t touched him, just like he said, but they’d tried to help him.

“C-c-call t-the guards at the house,” Tucker said, his teeth chattering. He clenched them together, trying to make it stop. “H-he’s t-t-there!”

“In there? How is that possible?” Gunther turned toward the broken structure. “Is he even alive?”

“N-not h-here. Home.” Tucker’s joints ached. He reached for the blanket, clumsily wrapping it about himself. “We have t-to go. Now.” He tried to stand up, but he couldn’t make it to his feet. “Help me.”

Calos was on his cell, speaking rapidly. The other Hunters were already in the vehicles, avoiding the rain from the clouds Tucker’s power had brought down on them. Marevin and Gunther helped Tucker into the house. Hanging between the two lupes, Tucker grimaced as pins and needles flooded his arms and legs, making it impossible to stand up and walk on his own. He held the blanket while they each grabbed him by and arm and helped haul Tucker to the cars.

“We’ve got your clothes in the car; you can get dressed in the backseat.”

Without Stelian there, Tucker would have it to himself. He closed his eyes and pushed away his fear. His brother needed Stelian for something. He wouldn’t kill him until he had what he wanted.

At least, Tucker hoped he wouldn’t.

“Go,” Tucker said as soon as they were all in. He ignored the seatbelt laws, pulling on his clothes with shaking hands, his fingertips blue with the cold. They weren’t on the road yet, anyway, because Phell’s house was set back from the road, backing into a wooded area past the shrubs, like most alpha’s property, if they didn’t live in the city. Seeking comfort, Tucker pulled out Stelian’s bag and grabbed a sweatshirt he’d worn the day before.

Tucker huddled inside the thick, soft fabric, breathing deep as he gradually warmed up. Stelian’s scent helped calm him. He was ancient and very strong. Faith was important—and if nothing else, Tucker would fake it until they made it. And they would. There was no way in hell he was going to let anyone hurt his mate, even if it meant taking out the last chance Tucker would have to learn about his family.

Because if one hair on Stelian’s hair was out of place when Tucker got there, he would bring down the sky.

Calos turned around. “The guards didn’t find anyone in the house, Tucker.” He held the phone to his ear.

“They’re invisible! I told you that before.”

He stared at me. “Then how
exactly
are they supposed to find them?”

“Super lupe senses? That guy reeks, remember? If nothing else, they can arm the alarm and stand in every damn exit a human might fit. Call in all the male lupes in the haitas if you have to!”

“Got it.” Calos hung up the phone. “Grecia heard you. She’s coordinating from central.”

“What is central?”

“Central security. It’s a room in the house. Only Stelian’s inner circle has access.”

Tucker leaned forward, his seat belt pulling tight. “Did you ever think that my brother took Stelian to gain access to areas of the house he wouldn’t be able to get into otherwise? Like this central?”

Marevin shook his head. “Stelian doesn’t have access. It’s password protected each day by the head of security. Grecia, and only Grecia, knows the password.”

“Oh.”

“Grecia will call us back. Two of the guards are going to shift and walk through the house again. She has guards on all the doors, but she’ll start two more rotating through the ground floors until more men show up.”

Phell’s territory hadn’t been that far from Stelian’s. Driving straight through, ignoring the possibility of spies watching them, it was a five hour journey. The lupes at the house couldn’t detect Tucker’s brother or Stelian by scent. Tucker wasn’t sure if the magic that let them be invisible also hid scent and sound, but since he’d made it past the guards on the gate, that could be possible. Or they might not have gone into the house at all.

Stelian’s property was massive, extending with wilder country past the manicured gardens. It was too much to check it all, but they were starting to circle the house, running an ever-widening perimeter search.

Through it all, Tucker stewed in the backseat. He was angry, sad, and scared. He vacillated between the different emotions as different scenarios flashed through his mind. Marevin insisted on stopping to get some food on the way, making sure they all had a chance to fuel up. Tucker ate, though his stomach churned. He would need all the energy he could get.

By the time they pulled off the main road and into the driveway he was buzzing with the need get out of the car and find Stelian. He’d tried astral projecting to see if he could locate them again, but without a power boost, he was too exhausted. They’d stopped once so he could try gathering energy, but Tucker just couldn’t pull enough power to project again.

It was like Stelian’s territory gave Tucker a connection to the living energy of the Earth he didn’t have anywhere else. Not wanting to stop an hour away, they pushed on to the house, with Tucker’s tension growing with every mile. Tucker had poured over the book Stelian gave him, searching for information on the powers his brother had, and anything he could try to help find them.