Moon Tortured (Sky Brooks Series Book 1) (24 page)

The darkness was lifted, and I was able to see my surroundings, but the binding still held like a cocoon, restricting all movements.

Ethan, Winter and Dakota were coming back to the standing position after being floored by the power that overtook the room. Josh stood and walked toward the vampire. Two fingers pointed toward Caleb as he used magic to hold him against the wall. The vampire struggled in vain to break free but remained immobile.

I was suffocating. I Struggled to catch my breath and shake myself free of the binding. My pain-filled shrieks filled the room, making it shake uncontrollably, throwing everyone to the ground once again. Caleb was freed from his position. The only person who remained standing was Josh. He rushed over to me and touched my shoulder as he began chanting. The binding released, breathing became easier and the burning and tingling subsided. I collapsed, nauseous and aching from head to toe.

Ethan knelt in front of me, pushing sweat-drenched hair from my face. “Are you okay?” he asked. Well, there wasn’t anything broken and I was alive; but I was far from okay. I nodded slowly, trying to stabilize my ragged breathing enough to speak.

“You cannot leave without rendering payment,” the vampire yelled.

Josh turned and the rage that radiated from him made me queasy. Ethan’s attention was pulled to Josh as though he felt it to. I just wanted him to stop as it trampled over me, crushing me to the ground. Ethan lifted me, cradling me close into him. Another roaring storm from Josh’s anger hit and I felt like something reached inside and twisted the fascia in my muscles. I cringed, digging my nails into Ethan, pulling into him.

“Josh,” he called in a low controlled voice, trying to get his incensed brother’s attention. He had to call him several times before he responded. His fury eventually diminished into a tolerable wave. Instead of feeling as if I were being ground into pieces, there were just sharp pricks against my skin. It was tolerable.

“Payment forfeited. You went after her. Count yourself fortunate that you are left with the sorry existence you call a life. You won’t be so lucky in the future.” The words spewed out his mouth like venom.

Caleb stalked toward us, his fangs exposed as he lost himself to his emotions. The were-bear growled and for a brief moment, the house seemed to rock in unison with the sound. The vampire stopped in his tracks just before Dakota grabbed him and threw him back into the concrete wall.

We left the house, leaving Dakota behind.

Minutes later he returned, his eyes no longer exhibiting anything remotely human. The hinges of the door screamed as he opened it forcibly. “As you wished, his life has been spared, though barely,” he informed Josh.

Skylar,
said Josh’s voice in my head as I rested it back against the seat on the ride home. I tried to shake off the dull aches that rolled over me.

I didn’t answer him.
Skylar
, he called again a little louder.

I groaned. His voice pulsed into my head and made it ache more.
Are you alright
?

No,
I responded silently, too weak to let words form on my lips.

What’s wrong?

I’ve gone mad, and now I’m hearing voices
.

He chuckled, the loudness of it made me cringe.
It’s just me. You haven’t gone mad. Besides hearing my voice in your head, are you okay
? he asked softly.

That damn vampire bit me. I am really getting tired of vampires snacking on me. Other than that, I’m okay, I think.
I shifted to find a position that was a little less painful.
Josh, what was that
?

That was magic, very powerful magic that got a little out of control; and for that, I apologize.
His voice was strained and remorseful.

Did you get what you needed?

Yes.

Then you have nothing to apologize for.
Things got a little more intense than anticipated
.

That wasn’t like Fantasia at all. I was really looking forward to seeing a light show, shooting stars and possibly a dancing broom,
I admitted languidly.

He laughed.

What did you find out?

Let’s discuss it later. I need to do further research to confirm the information. I trust Caleb within limits.

Is it bad?

Yes.

Is it impeding-death—bad; or is it serious-injury—bad?

He didn’t answer.

Josh.

Both.

My body didn’t bother to respond to the new information by showing fear. It had been in that state for so long, it had developed a tolerance to it.

Do the vampires want me dead?

Skylar, let me further research the situation. I don’t want to alarm you unnecessarily
. His voice was strained; he was hiding a hell of a lot.

Too late. I am already alarmed. Just give it to me straight.

I am not intentionally keeping you in the dark. It is important that I have all necessary information, not just for your sake but for that of the pack as well.

There was a long silence between us.

Will we be able to talk like this from now on?

No. It’s a blood-bond connection I established with you in order to use you as a conduit. It’s residual magic from earlier. I am about to release you from it now.

Why? I like it.

It’s too draining on me to block you from all the thoughts and information in my head. When we are connected like this, I can read your thoughts, and if I am not careful, you can read mine.

Are the thoughts in your head so disturbing that they need to be hidden?

Nah, just magic and pack stuff. Just a lot of boring things that need to be censored.

I scoffed to myself. They wanted it censored—not needed.

I am sure the ability to communicate like this has benefits that surpass anything you’ll want to censor,
I challenged.

Yeah, but keep in mind I can read your thoughts as well. You, my dear, for such a pretty, mild-mannered woman, have an utterly filthy mouth when you’re angry and scared. You have quite an elaborate command of curse words. I forgive you for the dreadful names you called me. I agree, Caleb is unnecessarily melodramatic and far too pretty for a man. I am sure being wrapped in my brother’s arms felt wonderful, but I doubt you could stay like that forever. Yes, he does have the tendency to make the ladies’ hearts go pitter-patter and feel impossibly safe when they are around him. And you are right; it is quite unfortunate that he is a “raging jackass.”

I had no idea how to respond to that.

Do you still like communicating like this?
he asked humorously.
I find it quite entertaining myself, however I am sure you will become annoyed at some point.

I am not enjoying it so much now,
I admitted. He laughed.

Go to sleep,
he suggested when my head hit against his shoulder as I dozed off for a few seconds.
Sweet dreams, dream girl. A-na rische. Unbind.

Josh, are you still there.
I waited a few minutes. Guess not. I repeated the words that he had spoken quietly.

“The bond was broken. You don’t have the ability to reestablish it,” he whispered in my ear.

I tried to rest on the drive home, listening to the soothing sounds of wind bristling through the window in an attempt to ignore the unspoken rage that was screaming, howling and rapping through the quiet. Ethan was angry, shooting tension-filled glares in his brother’s direction. Josh glanced up at the sharp lines along his brother’s frowning face, and sighed as he relaxed back next to me. I didn’t know whether his unease was from the aftermath of dealing with Caleb or the potential wrath he was going to have to deal with from an angered brother.

I had finally gotten to sleep after spending some time with Dr. Baker, a result of Ethan’s overreaction to Caleb’s bite. My pride was wounded more so than the throbbing puncture marks that he had given me. I should have punched him, kicked him in the groin or even bit him back. It was easily treated with antibiotic and a bandage, but they both seemed concerned that a vampire drew blood, quite a bit. I wasn’t your typical were-animal; I had a terait. For anyone else, it was a simple bite and a blood draw—nothing. In my case, it could possibly be something. But after careful observation, Dr. Baker’s concerns were eased.

A quarter after midnight, I was jarred out of my sleep by the blaring sound of Ethan’s angry voice. I rolled over and covered my head with a pillow, trying to drown out the sounds. But his incensed rants only got louder, ripping through the silence of the room. Finally, after several attempts to ignore the sounds, I got up and followed them down the stairs, across the great room to the small room just behind the library where I first met Josh.

Ethan was standing nose-to-nose with Josh, yelling at him at the top of his lungs. “What the hell was that?” Ethan asked furiously. “You didn’t have control of the situation. You told me you knew how to do conduits, and obviously, you didn’t know what the hell you were doing! We could have been hurt tonight, and you could have been killed.”

“Well, by theory I did know how to do it. It’s not like I ever had the opportunity to practice,” His tone was far too relaxed for someone who had an angry wolf screaming at him.

“You were reckless and put us all in danger. You asked me to trust you and let you do your job. Well I did, and you screwed up! I should have been informed of all possible outcomes and potential risks.”

The look on Josh’s face changed as the sparks of his anger ignited. A similar form of anger emerged, matching his brother’s. “Why did I have to tell you anything? You couldn’t have done a damn thing about it! You are just upset because my magic is one of the few things in this house that you can’t control. That is the only reason you have your panties in a bunch and that is just too goddam bad. Go cry about it to someone who gives a crap,” he retorted angrily. “I did my fucking job! Are you doing yours? I wasn’t aware that being a ranting ass was part of the Beta duties; but if it is, you are doing a hell of a job! We have information that we didn’t have and otherwise would not have gotten., information that will help us. And if I weren’t down here playing around with you, I could be doing my research and finishing my job.”

Ethan’s face tightened, his fist clenched into a ball as his nostrils flared. He grabbed Josh by the collar. “Don’t push me, Josh; you won’t like it when I push back,” he snarled.

“Go ahead and push. I’ve just been itching to show you what’ll happen when you do.”

When Ethan didn’t release him, Josh’s eyes flashed. Using magic, he pushed Ethan away from him.

“I did what was necessary and got the job done. You think you could have gotten the same results storming into Caleb’s home ranting, threatening and beating him up? Sorry, but that tactic doesn’t always work. Accept the fact that I achieved something you couldn’t have. If your pride is a little battered, then that’s your problem,” he shouted.