BloodSworn

by Stacey Brutger

  Merrick slammed one of his attackers to the ground hard enough for her to feel the impact through her legs. His shirt was in shreds, wounds littered his body, but he held his own. She didn’t know how he’d managed to hold them off for so long.

  She lifted her bloody hand then hesitated. The demand that she never cast had been beaten into her so many times that part of her rebelled at the coming pain.

  She berated herself for her selfishness. It didn’t matter if the vampires caught her if Merrick and she didn’t survive the attack. It wasn’t like the vampires didn’t know she was already in the city. Using the magic would only confirm it.

  They still had to find her.

  She’d just have to be more careful.

  With her fingers dripping blood, she pointed it toward the three attackers lunging for Merrick and waved her hand. A gust of wind picked them off their feet, throwing them twenty feet through the air. They crashed to the road, the pavement splintered on contact.

  A vise immediately wrapped around her like a boa constrictor as her binding kicked in with a vengeance. The action left her lightheaded. Her knees wobbled, and she locked her legs to prevent herself from dropping to her knees. Instead of staying down, the three lumbered to their feet like some zombies in a horror flick.

  They hesitated for a second then sprinted in the same direction as the woman. Dread tightened Trina’s gut when she turned to face the new arrivals. She had one, maybe two spells left in her before she crashed.

  She had to cast wisely if she wanted to save Merrick’s life.

  Chapter Six

  The first thing she noticed when she turned was everyone staring at her. No one fought. No one so much as twitched an eyelash. Biting her lips, her gaze swung unerringly toward Merrick. Part of her relaxed to see him still standing.

  Then she narrowed her eyes, noticing the formation of the men. It almost appeared like they had him surrounded.

  Protecting him.

  Something inside her trembled and gave a deep ‘Oh, shit’.

  She thought of bolting, leaving all her work behind, but Merrick’s expression said that if she so much as breathed wrong, the pack would be on her. She curled her fingers around the necklace, the chain gouging deeper into the nicks scattered over her hand.

  Not wanting to lose her only evidence, she shoved the whole lot into her pocket. Once the irritant was removed, thousands of needles prickled her skin as if someone had slammed their foot down on her hand and twisted their boot heel.

  Very slowly, she re-sheathed her blade and straightened as much as the wound in her side allowed. Despite her best efforts, she winced as the muscles protested. Showing weakness in front of any predator was never a good idea, especially the pack.

  Before she could suck in a breath, Merrick was before her. The next instant, he swung her up in his arms, surprisingly gentle, never once jarring her injuries.

  An embarrassing little squeak escaped her throat.

  “Put me down.” She hissed the words between her clenched teeth, but she might as well have saved her breath.

  “No.” The word was a rumbled growl that told her brain to either run or hide. She didn’t want to do it and tried to stop it, but her body automatically tensed at the sound. She would’ve sucked in a sharp breath, but the pain robbed her of everything as she battled to stay conscious.

  She couldn’t allow herself to be vulnerable, not if she wanted to have any footing with them. After a tense minute, she managed a tiny wheeze and glared at Merrick for his part in all of this.

  If not for him, she would’ve just vanished into the night.

  Now she was very much afraid she was well and truly trapped.

  With a nod of his head, the small army of men scattered. Half took off down the streets after their attackers. The remaining group surrounded her and Merrick in some Secret Service move, so all she saw was Merrick’ brooding face and a line of broad backs.

  “Victor, grab her bag.”

  The house loomed in the darkness like a giant maw waiting to swallow her. Before, it had appeared as an imposing fortress, protection against the outside world determined to hurt her. With the armed escort, it felt more like a prison.

  The windows were dark and miles off the ground.

  The doors were inches thick.

  There was no trees coverage near the building.

  The damned thing was a virtual fortress.

  At least Merrick didn’t look any happier about the arrangement.

  Small consolation.

  “These are your men.” It wasn’t a question, and he didn’t answer. Any thoughts of getting to know him better, or worst case scenario, leaving there undetected, just dwindled to the size of a pile of mosquito shit now that she was in the arms of their Leo.

  * * *

  Trina kept her mouth shut as everyone marched down a hallway so wide three men were able to walk side-by-side with room to spare. The pain slowly loosened its unrelenting grip enough for her to observe the inside of the den, but not enough for her to feel comfortable pressed so intimately against Merrick’s heat.

  Though she tried to memorize the route in case she needed to disappear quickly, the place was a tangled maze. She could only pick out snatches of their sumptuous surroundings. Heavy wood paneling, monstrous furniture, vaulted ceilings everywhere. Every wall revealed massive collections of ancient weapons, all on display and looked well worn.

  Maybe she should be glad to be carried. From what she saw, she’d be afraid to step on the marble floor for fear of leaving behind a speck of dirt.

  Feeling a lot claustrophobic, she wiggled in his arms. “This is ridiculous. Put me down.”

  Merrick didn’t bother to even spare her a glance as they traveled down a level. The pressure of the walls pushed in on her the farther they moved underground. Merrick’s gait grew heavier after the stairs, never speaking a word, so she wasn’t prepared when he bellowed.

  “Glenda!”

  Trina flinched at the volume, her ears ringing. One man quickly moved to an intercom on the wall and spoke rapidly. Two men thrust open a double door at the end of the hall, and Merrick entered without breaking stride.

  The two people inside froze at their entrance and gaped. Merrick ignored them, walked past and came to an abrupt stop at an exam table.

  Despite the pain from the rapid healing, Trina was bemused by his antics. She met Merrick’s gaze then gently placed her unbloodied hand on his chest.

  “Here will be fine.”

  His arms tightened a moment as if he was reluctant to relinquish his hold, then he very carefully deposited her on the table. She peeked over his shoulder then sighed. “A little privacy wouldn’t go amiss.”

  He gave a nod and everyone scattered except for the slim man leaning casually against the wall a few feet from the door. She had a feeling he stood there not only to check her out but take her down if she so much as looked cross-eyed at the Leo.

  Her bag lay at his feet. She wanted to rush over and snatch it up but was afraid to bring too much attention to it. All that remained of her belongings rested in that bag. All her research. She purposely turned away.

  It was only then she saw the extent of Merrick’s injuries. His shirt was shredded beyond repair. She reached out and untucked the material from his pants to get a better idea of what she had to deal with. “Get out of the shirt. I’ll see what we have for medical supplies.”

  When she would’ve jumped off the table, he clamped down on her hips. “Glenda!”

  Trina twitched, startled by the roar, and found her injured hand swallowed by his much larger mitt. Part of her wanted to retrieve her hand, but once the blood left her body, only she was able to use the power contained within. The magic died too fast. But the main reason was his touch disturbed her on a personal level.

  Blood flaked as he brushed his thumb across her palm, revealing a thin scar and a faint bruise. She shivered. Not from pain, though she wished it were so easy.

  She didn’t want
to react to him so viscerally.

  She couldn’t. Attachments would only lead to trouble.

  She tugged her hand away, not really anxious to have more of her secrets exposed or her physical reaction to him revealed for all to see, but his hold only tightened.

  “I’m here.” A petite woman rushed forward, her coat flapping as she tied back her hair. She looked exhausted, lines of sleep decorating the side of her face. What surprised her most was to see another human inside the Den.

  Glenda cast a practiced eye over Merrick, and Trina was surprised by the splash of jealousy that stung her.

  “Shirt off.”

  “Not me. Her.”

  Trina shook her head. “Four lateral cuts down the left ribcage measuring four to seven inches in length. He’s taken more damage.”

  Glenda paused, observing them both, then turned and snapped on some gloves, a slight tremble to her fingers. “Sorry, but he’s the boss. Shifters heal fast. If he’s not down or unconscious, you’re first.”

  She leaned over and pried up the edges of the shirt, dried blood having caked it to her skin. Material pulled at the wound. Trina didn’t realize she’d sucked in a breath until she heard a steady rumble coming from Merrick.

  The doctor froze then very slowly dropped the shirt and backed away, stark terror in her eyes before she could cover it. Trina got an up-close view of one pissed off lion. His hair stood up on end, his electric green eyes shaded to gold. Thick fangs pressed against his bottom lip as if ready to rend apart a tasty meal. His chest appeared massive, his fingers shaped into large claws.

  Trina blinked at the change, never having seen any shifter control the half change so quickly or so well. The scientist in her wanted to poke and prod at him while the sensible part of her said get under the table and hide. “Either sit down so she can look at your injuries or leave. I don’t need three people gawking at me.”

  The rumble stopped abruptly, and he cocked his head a little as he stared. Trina just crossed her arms. “I mean it. This isn’t a show. A smidge of privacy would be appreciated.”

  The big cat blinked.

  Trina shrugged, masking a wince, and scooted to the end of the table. She nodded to the man who stood alert at the back of the room, the one Merrick called Victor, guessing he wanted her gone as much as she didn’t want to be there. “Get me out of here.”

  Chapter Seven

  “Leo.”

  Merrick continued to pace the confines of the study, his back twitching in a torturous dance with every step. He still saw her blood on his hands. Those same hands now shook. His minor injuries were already mending, but she was human and fragile.

  She could’ve died with him standing right there.

  But she held her own. A strange sort of pride wrapped around him. That was if he could get over the urge to wring her neck for not running at the first sign of danger.

  But it was her reaction when she found out he was the Leo that was imprinted on his mind.

  Every emotion on her face had been wiped clean. It pissed him off and he couldn’t stand to see her hide from him. It was only when he picked her up that she reverted back to his witch, with all her prickly thorns.

  Merrick pulled up short when Victor stepped into his path. A growl rumbled up his throat, the lion beneath his skin flexed at the young pup’s daring, pulling the painful scars of his back tight. There might be only thirty years difference between them, but Merrick had fought and won the position of Leo long before that age.

  Victor immediately offered his neck, not moving, his eyes lowered. The meek gesture brought Merrick back with a nasty thump. He ran a distracted hand over his hair. “Where is she?”

  “She’s in good hands. Glenda is still checking on her injuries.” When Merrick stepped toward the door, Victor jumped in front of it. “You will only make Glenda more nervous than normal. In your state, she’s liable to do more harm than good, not to mention that your little witch might make a run for it.”

  Merrick’s gaze sharpened on Victor, not caring for his tone. “You’re right. She is my witch. And she just saved your Leo’s hide.”

  Victor shook his head in anger and exasperation. “What made you go out without a guard? You were recently shot. You’ve had a number of attempts on your life in the last year, not to mention you’re still not up to your normal strength. You even left without your cane.”

  Merrick picked up the damn cane and snapped it in half, tossing the ends across the room to clatter on the floor. He would not have Trina think of him as weak. And she must, otherwise she would’ve let him protect her when they were attacked. “Where the hell was the patrol?”

  “The house wasn’t breached. The three men doing the rounds on the west end were found unconscious. Drugged. They were sent to the infirmary. A tech is looking at them now. The new guy, Daniel, is still missing, his bunk cleared out. We think he was a plant.” The mutt was a stray they had allowed into the Den two months ago, starved and beaten within an inch of his life.

  “Any sign of the attackers?”

  Victor shook his head. “The intruders have vanished. We weren’t able to detect even a whiff of them in the yard.”

  Merrick growled and paced again, watching the clock tick down. She’d been gone for twenty minutes. Had she been hurt worse than he’d thought? What if she managed to find a way out? If anyone could, it would be her.

  “You better change your shirt.”

  The words caught him up short. A scowl tightened his face.

  “You wouldn’t want her to see you bloody and wounded would you?”

  Merrick curled his lips, a snarl working up his chest. He grabbed the cursed shirt Victor offered. He realized that he was being managed, but he didn’t care. The last thing he wanted was for Trina to investigate his injuries.

  At least not until they had a binding contract and she was under his protection. He both craved her touch and feared it too much to risk that she might vanish on him.

  Knotted muscles stretched as he tugged off his mangled shirt. The scars on his back pulled like the devil. Most of the recent wounds had already healed, though some of the bigger gashes still remained sensitive. He switched shirts quickly but not before he saw Victor’s concerned face.

  They both knew he wasn’t healing properly.

  “With your luck, she’ll turn out to be the one the vampires want.” Victor appeared unrepentant and crossed his arms. “She’s a complication we don’t need right now with the pack so unsettled.”

  Merrick didn’t say a word. What Victor said was all very true, but Merrick had given his life up for the pack. He’d be damned if he gave her up for them as well.

  They owed him that much.

  There was a light knock. With a shove that shot Victor out of the way, Merrick jerked the door open. Glenda’s smile wilted when she saw him, but his attention latched onto the woman behind her.

  Her pack dangled from her fingers, but the bulky clothing he associated with her was gone. All but that damned hat, as if she were still trying to hide from him. He itched to remove it, but forced himself to remain still and allowed his eyes to trail lower.

  The image of her had him nearly swallowing his tongue. No wonder she hid. She was exquisite, someone no one would forget once they saw her. Her eyes were so deep he fell a little into them, getting lost in the vibrant golden-brown color that hinted she was a little more than human.

  And he was right about her clothes. The snug white shirt revealed a body that made him want to take off his own to cover her.

  She wasn’t overly developed. Her breasts were more on the small side. It was the nip in her waist, the swell of her hip that accentuated her perfect figure, all sleek muscle and toned body. But just because the blood was gone didn’t mean she was healed.

  “Shouldn’t you be in bed?” Those words were a mistake. Images of her sprawled out, waiting for him in his bed invaded his mind. He couldn’t say he regretted asking the question, but she sensed his reaction and looked ready t
o flee.

  Then her chin came up and fire warmed her eyes. “I’m fine.”

  “Then why don’t we begin negotiations.” Merrick stepped back and smiled. “Alone.”

  “Negotiations?”

  “Alone?”

  Victor and Trina parroted in unison.

  Trina saw the extra-long canines in Merrick’s smile and gulped. Worse, she didn’t like the pitying look on the other man’s face as he walked toward the door. The last thing she needed was to be alone with a lion in his den.

  If she had any hope of gaining ground with him, she’d have to work fast. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out the amulet she’d stolen off the wolf. “Let’s start with why our attackers would wear a spelled amulet then attack a leader of their own clan.”

  Both men halted in their tracks. Any softness in them disappeared, and she heard Glenda’s steady footsteps squeak as she picked up speed in the hallway.

  Away from danger.

  If Trina had any sense, she would’ve followed.

  “Where did you get that?”

  Trina shook her head. “Negotiations. What will you give me for this information?”

  She half-expected him to reach over and rip the necklace from her grip. He didn’t. If possible, his expression darkened even more. The warrior had returned, his shirt stretching tight as his chest swelled.

  She noticed the previous cuts had melted into bruises, making her eager to explore the rest of him. The way shifters healed fascinated her. She’d bet that the curative was located in their blood, and she’d love to be able to get her hand on some and run a few tests while she was there. Would love to compare their blood to her own.

  There had to be a connection, something that she could use to repress her abilities and allow her to remain hidden long enough to rescue her sister.

  “What do you want?” Those massive arms of his crossed over his chest, and her eyes automatically swept over him with a delicious shiver of lust and danger.