Unbound

by Erica Stevens

  That made no sense. Why would Max be relieved? She’d put them all at risk by following them here. Timber gave the girl a scathing look when he walked over to join them. Max had told them her name, but Daniel couldn’t recall it right now. He was too pissed off, an emotion he was nowhere near as familiar with as Max, yet Max was starting to look… amused?

  He contemplated smacking both of them with Timber’s staff.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Daniel demanded.

  The girl didn’t look the least bit intimidated by the fact she was surrounded by three men all easily twice her size. Instead, her chin tilted higher up.

  She and Aria would get along wonderfully, Daniel thought bitterly.

  “It’s a free forest,” the girl replied, and Daniel resisted the impulse to shake her.

  “Not for you, not anymore,” Daniel replied. “Max told you not to follow us, told you if you came with us you wouldn’t be able to leave. I don’t know what made you think this was acceptable, but you’ll be staying with us.”

  “What are you going to do, imprison me?” she retorted.

  “Yes. Timber, carry her.”

  Max moved between her and Timber. “I’ll do it,” he said.

  Timber stared at him for a minute before bowing his head and stepping back.

  “Wait!” the girl—Maeve, Daniel finally recalled—sputtered. “You can’t do this.”

  “I’m sorry, but we must,” Max said, and he actually sounded regretful.

  Despite wanting to hit them both, Daniel found himself intrigued by Max’s reaction to the girl. Max hadn’t been remorseful or sympathetic to anyone outside of their close circle since he’d been freed from captivity. Bending down, Max wrapped his arms around her waist as she spun to flee. With one swift motion, he tossed her over his shoulder.

  “You can’t do this!” she cried and beat at his back.

  “Be quiet before you get us all killed,” Timber grated at her and smacked his staff against his palm.

  Maeve settled down, but Daniel believed it was due more to Timber’s words than his implied threat. “Are you alone?” Daniel demanded of her.

  Her mouth clamped shut, her lips becoming a thin line. It was obvious she had no intention of answering him.

  “Stay here,” he said to the others before walking away to search the woods.

  Daniel worked through the area, making sure no one else hid nearby. The storm had covered Maeve following them; it could easily have covered someone else within the woods. He searched carefully, but detected no sign of anyone else as he made his way back to the others.

  “She’s alone,” he said to them. “We have to go.”

  She scowled at Daniel over Max’s shoulder as they closed the distance to the entrance of the cave. Daniel stepped into the shadows of the cave and hurried forward until he could find a torch and matches.

  He lit the torch before turning back to Max. “We should probably tie her up.”

  Max paled as Maeve cried, “No!” The fear in her voice was the first she’d shown of the emotion.

  “Not unless it becomes necessary,” Max replied. “And then I’ll do it.”

  Daniel heaved a sigh before walking around to look at Maeve lying against Max’s back. She lifted her head to gaze at him. “You have no idea what you’ve stepped into, but I assure you, if you say one word about this to anyone, I won’t be the only one looking to kill you,” Daniel said to her.

  Her eyes narrowed minutely, but she wisely chose not to speak as Daniel walked away from her. “Let’s go,” he said and led the way into the caves, praying with every step he took that they weren’t already too late.

  ***

  Jack

  Jack’s fingers tore at the hand squeezing into his neck. His feet kicked against the wall and the imposing figure before him as he sought to dislodge the grip tearing into his skin any way he could. The hand only squeezed to the point where blood trickled from his wounds and he was certain his windpipe was about to be crushed. Red eyes blazed at him, but those impossibly glowing ruby eyes were all he could make out of his enemy.

  Hannah!

  Fresh strength surged through him; he smashed his fist down on the arm before him, earning him a low growl of warning, but no other reaction to the blow. He’d hit the vampire hard enough that he should have fractured a bone, but the hold on him didn’t ease.

  Son of a bitch!

  Something clattered. Was it another vampire creeping up on him, coming for him? Were some of Sabine’s guards nearly as old as she was? It was the only explanation for the strength of the vampire holding him and the power making his skin feel as if electricity danced over it. The sharp scent of ozone filled the air as the power amped up another level. If it weren’t for the bristly hairs on the arm holding him, he would believe it was Sabine holding him, but maybe it was her follower, Goran.

  A second of satisfaction filled him when his foot connected with a shin. His legs flopped in the air as he was dragged away from the wall before being bashed back into it. More blood spilled from the shredded skin of his throat. Another low growl sounded before he was thrust into the wall once more. His skull cracked off stone and pain burst through his head. Pulled away from the wall again, those reddened eyes filled his blurry vision as his nose nearly touched against the nose of the vamp holding him.

  “Where. Is. She?” the words were bit out at him in a raspy voice.

  Jack froze, his hands clamped around the one clutching his throat. Confusion swam through his rattled brain as he tried to understand the question and place the voice. The sound of stone clattering against stone pierced the darkness.

  Was that a footstep? A creak followed. The faintest hint of light pierced the tunnel leading in. The tunnel Jack had been using the most.

  Before he could process what was going on, he was jerked away from the wall and spun around. His feet dangled over the ground as he was carried relentlessly toward the tunnel. The faintest beat of hearts thudded in his ears as whoever had entered the cave steadily approached. It had to be friends, most likely Daniel returning to report what was going on. Jack opened his mouth to call out a warning, but he couldn’t get any sound out through his constricted throat.

  CHAPTER 30

  Daniel

  Daniel hesitated a few feet away from the main cavern and placed his torch against the wall. The flames danced over the walls and lit the first few feet of the cavern within. Why is it dark in there?

  He exchanged a glance with Max and Timber. Max lowered Maeve from his shoulder. The gate was closed. She may know where the other key was to escape, but they would be able to catch her again if it became necessary. Right now, Max needed his hands free in case something came at them.

  Daniel and Max pulled their bows forward again and each drew an arrow. Timber stepped behind Maeve and nudged her forward as they cautiously approached the cavern. No noise came from within. Jack had to know they were coming by now; he would give them some indication it was safe to proceed. All Daniel heard was silence.

  Too late. We’re too late. What do I tell Aria?

  He swallowed at the prospect of having to deliver another devastating blow to his sister, but it may be inevitable. Stopping at the edge of the cavern, he nodded to Max and they both slipped out at the same time. Daniel didn’t have a chance to look around before the bow was wrenched from his hands and a solid blow to his chest knocked him off his feet.

  The arrow that had fallen from his hand when he’d been hit spun across the ground, causing Max to swing in his direction and fire his arrow. A savage snarl came from someone or something. The arrow was snatched out of the air and a body was heaved at Max. Darting to the side, Max wasn’t fast enough to avoid Jack being thrown against him.

  They both tumbled into the wall, falling over top of one another. Jack scrambled to get back to his feet, but tripped and fell when Max’s legs got caught up in his. Timber stumbled back when his staff was torn away from him and heaved across the room. Hanna
h scrambled down the last few feet of rocks and snatched the staff from the floor to hold it before her.

  A small clicking noise drew Daniel’s attention to the wolf pacing back and forth across from him. Its hackles were raised and its head hung low as it watched them all with a look that said it was waiting for one of them to make a move. He blinked when recognition of the wolf descended over him, but though he’d once known the wolf, he had no doubt Keegan would tear his throat out if he deemed him a threat.

  “Where is she?” Bellowed so loudly, the words vibrated the entire cavern.

  Daniel turned to scramble away when someone stalked toward him from the shadows, but a hand seized his ankle and dragged him back. His fingernails scraped against the rocks, trying to find purchase on them, but all he left were white gouges on their surface.

  He barely had time to process being lifted before he hung upside down. Blood rushed into his head, and his rain-soaked shirt fell about his face. With one swift motion, he was spun right side up and shoved into a wall. Ruby eyes filled his hazy vision.

  “Where. Is. She?”

  The lethal quiet of the words spoken to him were more frightening than when they’d been bellowed at him. Daniel blinked as he tried to bring his captor into focus. The second his eyes cleared, he wished they hadn’t. He gulped as he found himself face to face with the most vicious, infuriated vampire he’d ever seen before.

  In that instant, he knew two things. One, his brother-in-law had risen from the dead. Two, Braith was going to kill him.

  ***

  Max

  Max shoved Jack off him and scrambled for his bow again. His hand had almost closed around it when Jack seized hold of his wrist and jerked it back. “What are you doing?” Max hissed.

  Jack didn’t reply as he remained kneeling on the cave floor, his mouth ajar. Max followed his gaze to where Daniel was pinned against the wall, his hands encircling the wrist of the man holding him. Max took in the back of the vampire holding Daniel. It had to be a vampire with the flash of those red eyes he’d seen before Jack’s body had hit his.

  Gradually, Max’s mind picked out the details of the vamp as the dim torchlight within the cave flickered over the cavern. The shadows seemed to cling to the vamp’s bare, broad back and the black hair curling against his nape. Thick muscles bulged in the vamp’s biceps and forearms as Daniel’s feet kicked against the rocks.

  “Easy, Braith,” Jack coaxed.

  Max’s jaw dropped. He was sure his stunned expression mirrored Jack’s as realization hit him between the eyes. They’d hoped Braith would rise, they’d been counting on it, but a part of him had been too afraid to believe he would miraculously return from the dead. Yet, there he was, standing before them and looking as if he had every intention of killing Daniel, of killing every one of them.

  Max’s gaze went to Maeve, standing beside Timber in the mouth of the cave. She gawked at the spectacle, but showed no sign of running away from what was unfolding before her.

  “Where. Is. She?” Braith demanded again, and Daniel’s feet kicked more firmly against the wall as his face turned red.

  “She’s safe!” Max blurted. “If you mean Aria, she’s safe!”

  For all he knew, Braith meant someone else entirely, or he meant a freaking horse or something. Atticus had been completely demented when he’d risen from the dead. Maybe they all came back broken and twisted, maybe that’s why Sabine was the way she was now. Had they protected Braith and sheltered him only to have him rise from the dead as a monster they would end up having to destroy anyway?

  If so, Max didn’t think they had much of a shot at taking Braith down considering he’d just tossed them all around like rag dolls. Max’s breath caught, and he resisted creeping backward when Braith’s head turned toward him. He’d never seen eyes so red before. The savage expression on Braith’s face made his bladder clench as those eyes bore into his.

  Had Braith gotten bigger?

  He’d always been massive, always been powerful, but now he seemed more so. Had dying not only twisted him in some way, but also strengthened him? They were so screwed if he decided to squash them, and he could. With a simple swing of his hand, he could knock Daniel’s head from his body.

  “Where is she?” Braith demanded.

  “You can track her, Braith,” Jack said, looking to soothe him, but though Max never would have believed it possible, Braith’s eyes became a more vivid red. “Through your blood in her, you can track her.”

  Max’s fingers twitched toward his bow again as Daniel choked and clawed at Braith’s hand when it compressed around his neck.

  “There’s nothing there.” Braith’s lips skimmed back to reveal his fangs. The light of the torch glistened off the lethal points. “I feel no connection to her.”

  Oh, shit. Max didn’t dare make another move toward his bow. He’d be headless if he did.

  “We’ll take you to her. Right now, we’ll leave here and take you to her!” he blurted. “But first you have to let go of Daniel. I won’t take you to her if you hurt him.”

  Jack gave him a look that said he clearly believed Max had lost his mind to give such an ultimatum. Max held his breath as he waited to see what Braith would do, and if he’d live to see the next minute. Finally, Braith set Daniel on his feet. He didn’t release his throat, but his grip eased on him.

  “Why can’t I feel her?” Braith demanded, and his fingers minutely tightened on Daniel’s throat again, causing him to choke and his eyes to bug out. “Why is there no connection between us?”

  Max could feel Jack’s searching gaze on him as he tried to come up with an answer for that.

  “I don’t know,” Max finally admitted. “When you died, Aria felt the severing of your bond.” William had told them she’d tried to tear her heart from her chest, that she’d known the instant Braith ceased living. “It will probably remain severed until the two of you can renew it.”

  Braith stared at him as if he were the bird the cat was about to swat out of the air. Max gulped, and his eyes fell to his bow once more, but he’d never get to it in time to stop Braith from attacking him.

  “When I died?” Braith asked, and beside him, Jack went still as stone.

  “Braith, you’ve been dead for nearly two weeks,” Jack said.

  ***

  Jack

  His brother continued to stare at Jack as if Braith didn’t know who he was. Jack saw Max’s fingers twitch out of the corner of his eye, but he knew Max wasn’t dumb enough to try to go for the bow. He would never make it in time. Daniel had gone completely limp in Braith’s grip, his eyes riveted to him while he made as little movement as possible.

  Atticus had been weakened and rotten when he’d returned from the dead. Braith was stronger, and Jack thought it was more than the blood of the animals he’d supplied fueling his brother now. No, more power radiated from him than ever had before, and Jack realized this was what had caused the waves of power emanating from Sabine; it had been more than her age strengthening her, but also her death.

  If Atticus hadn’t returned a half-rotten corpse and out of his mind, what would he have become after feeding well again? It had taken both him and Braith to kill Atticus in the end. He didn’t know what could possibly take down Braith if he lost complete control now.

  Braith couldn’t feel the connection to Aria, which was making him unstable. Not to mention the rising from the dead thing. That had to be confusing as hell, and apparently Braith didn’t remember the fight or dying. Max had said Aria felt the severing of their bond when Braith had died. It was possible the link wouldn’t be there until they were reconnected. It was also possible she’d died since Max had last seen her.

  Jack shuddered at the idea, his gaze moving to Hannah standing near the bottom of the cavern. She was paler than normal, but she held the staff against her chest and eyed Braith as if she couldn’t decide if she wanted to beat him with it or not. Never had Jack considered his brother would harm her, but Braith wasn’t in con
trol of himself right now.

  He understood the rage and anguish his disconnection from Aria would cause, but that didn’t matter, not if Braith went after Hannah. Jack would still try to take him down, if he could, which he was pretty sure he couldn’t. He went to move closer to Hannah, to put himself in between her and Braith, but Braith spoke before he could edge toward her.

  “Dead,” Braith muttered.

  “Yes,” Jack said.

  “How?”

  “Arrow through the back,” Jack replied and took a couple of steps toward Hannah. Braith closed his eyes as his head fell into his hand and he briefly rubbed at his forehead. Confusion and distress radiated from him. Jack had to help ease some of that confusion, somehow. “Braith—”

  When Braith lifted his head, his face was composed into a mask of stone as he focused on Max, but a muscle near the corner of his eye twitched. Jack froze when he realized the scars that had been etched around Braith’s eyes were gone. Not only had he come back stronger, but he’d come back healed, completely.

  “You can see,” Jack whispered. In the beginning of their relationship, Braith had needed to be near Aria in order to see, but as he’d grown stronger and the bond between them had deepened, he’d been able to be further and further away from her. Now Braith didn’t feel their link, yet he could still see. Jack had no idea what to make of this development, but he knew his brother had risen from the dead something more.

  What that something more was though, he didn’t know. Would Braith be twisted like Atticus and Sabine now, or would he calm when he understood better what had happened and he was reunited with Aria?

  Jack’s fingers twitched on the rock at the possibility his brother would never be the man he had been. That he may be as much of a threat to them as Sabine. The idea of killing his brother had never cross his mind, until now.