Tortured Embrace

by Julia Laque

  “Oh shit!” Ramo shouted.

  “She’s gonna jump,” a female voice said.

  “It’s too high. Look at her leg.”

  “Eva?”

  “Oh Jesus!”

  The terrified voices rang in her ears as she charged on, the jackals closing in on her. She felt their panting breaths at her back, but in her heart she knew they would make it.

  They had to make it.

  “Adam!” Serena shouted again, knowing her brother wouldn’t let her down. “Catch her!”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Jason raced out of the house, eager to find Serena. He felt the terror she was going through and wondered what the hell was going on. The instant he saw Cyrus and Victor back into the ballroom, fighting off a team of Nightwalkers his heart froze.

  The jackals continued to advance on them from every crevice of the house, and Adam motioned for the Fighters to fall out. Danny was still in there with Nick trying to get out while they held off the remaining Nightwalkers.

  He panned the front and found his pickup, a pale-faced Kevin standing next to the open driver’s side door. When Cyrus came charging out of the house, Jason called to him. “Where are they?”

  The king’s eyes never looked to him, an odd expression appearing on his face as though he’d been struck by some unseen force. Gazing absently at the ground, his hand went to his right arm, fear lacing through him. Cyrus’ head jerked up. “The roof,” he said.

  Stepping back to get a better look at the roof, he heard Serena’s wild cry pierce through him.

  “Adam!”

  Everyone stared, wild-eyed as two jackals raced toward Serena, who carried an unconscious Evangeline in her arms.

  Jesus Christ!

  The blood drained from his face, his heart pounding maddeningly. All around him he heard his pack members yell out.

  “Adam!” Serena shouted. Her entire leg was covered in blood as she ran toward the edge. “Catch her!”

  It was all too fast to have any conscious thought, yet the horrid display seemed to occur in slow motion. With shock rooting him to the spot, the blood left his face as Serena leapt off the edge, simultaneously flinging Evangeline’s limp body through the air toward her brother. Evangeline’s long limbs hung loose, her back arched as she flew past the trees.

  Adam raced on all fours toward her, then, pushing off the ground, soared twenty feet into the sky, catching his mate in his burly arms.

  Jason sprung into action. He ran headlong, not sure he’d make it in time to catch Serena who fell to the ground with increasing speed, her hair trailing over her head, fluttering in the wind. Sliding on his knees, he caught her just as she was about to hit.

  He held her tight as the Nightwalkers, who’d leapt after them, both contorted grotesquely in midflight when bullets from every able Fighter and vampire caught them in fifty different places. Jason skidded to a halt on the dirt ground a few feet away from Adam and Evangeline.

  Jason and Adam’s eyes met briefly, making sure the other had safely caught the two most important women in their lives. Relief filled him when he felt Serena’s warmth in his arms, her heart raced uncontrollably, but she was alive and with him.

  He stood up fast and looked to James, who held a detonator in his hands. “Blow the fucker!” Jason demanded and ran to his truck.

  “Aye, aye,” James responded, spinning to face the home.

  Danny shouted from the doorway, backing out with his gun still out, “Clear out!”

  Jason reached his truck and placed Serena in the back. “Get in, Kevin.”

  Kevin hesitated, staring at Serena. “Is she…is she…”

  “We need to move. Now.” Jason slammed the door behind him as Kevin slid into the driver’s seat.

  Adam leapt into the back bed of the pickup, his body morphing back into human with Evangeline in his arms. A naked Nick limped into the passenger seat, holding his side, his face tight, clearly in pain.

  Kevin asked, “Anyone else need…”

  Nick muttered through clenched teeth. “No. We’re good. Go!”

  The pickup revved loudly as they peeled away from the Sweetin home.

  Jason held Serena’s face in his hands for a moment before he went to work on her leg. Glancing out the back window, he saw the house disappear, covered by the concealment charm once again until a blast of red light broke its magic, the booming sound piercing the dead night.

  Serena jumped, her eyes wide. Sitting up, she looked in horror at the huge ball of flames erupting into the sky.

  “Please tell me everyone was out,” she said nervously, praying everyone had made it out of the Sweetin Home

  He held her chin and turned her to face him. “Yes, honey. Those were our explosives.” He laid her back against the door. “Lie still.”

  Cleaning her wound as best he could with a towel, he then slipped off his belt and tied a tourniquet around her thigh.

  Serena bit down hard, but his brave girl held it together. Their eyes met, and his heart tightened in his chest.

  As much as they wanted to comfort each other, they couldn’t ignore the anguished voice of their alpha outside in the pickup’s bed. Kevin, Nick, Serena, and Jason didn’t make a sound as they listened with heavy hearts as Adam willed his mate to come back to him.

  “Please baby, please. Wake up,” he pleaded desperately.

  When Jason had tended to Serena’s leg, they both chanced a look into the back. Adam held his mate in his lap, his red-rimmed eyes wildly gazing at Evangeline. He shook her gently. “Wake up, baby! Wake up!” With his wrist at her mouth, he tried to get her to feed, but she still didn’t move.

  They all jerked suddenly when a loud thump hit the back bed. Cyrus had teleported to his ward’s side. “Is she drinking?” he asked, his voice deadened. He knelt before them, his eyes unblinking on Evangeline.

  Adam shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  “Let me try. Please,” the king begged. Scouring his wrist with his fangs, Cyrus held it out. Adam hesitated briefly before removing his hand. His wrist was replaced by Cyrus’. No one made a sound as the king fed her, but Evangeline still didn’t move.

  Serena wept silently as she watched, guilt oozing out of her, blaming herself for Evangeline’s predicament. Jason wanted to soothe her, but couldn’t find the words.

  After a time, Cyrus removed his hand, running a shaky hand over his face. “Give her more of yours.” His jaw clenched. “Your blood gives her more nourishment than mine.”

  Adam did so, continuing to whisper in his mate’s ear.

  Jason brought Serena’s hand to his lips as they both stared out the back. They drove on in complete silence; the only sound was the roaring of the engine. They could barely breathe let alone talk as they waited for some miracle.

  Adam suddenly hitched in a breath. Squinting, Jason watched as the wound on Evangeline’s arm began to close slowly. She was healing herself. Even now, her skin started to glow slightly.

  As Evangeline was a healer, Jason wondered if her body would be strong enough to heal, to fight off the poison the Nightwalkers bite had induced.

  The glow in Evangeline’s skin faded, but the wound on her arm was now closed. Jason felt a sudden awareness from the two men outside. At the exact same time, their eyes met and in unison, they spoke, “She’s alive.”

  Serena let out a trembling breath, her hand covering her heart with tears in her eyes. Jason kissed her hand softly, relief washing over him.

  “Everything all right back there?” Kevin asked, his eyes flickering to the rearview mirror.

  Nick let out a sigh of relief and leaned his seat back a bit, closing his eyes. “Eva’s okay.”

  “How are you, son?” Kevin asked, glancing at Nick’s tattered form.

  Serena shifted, her eyes closing for a moment as pain shot through her. His chest tightened, wishing he could take the pain away from her. Hands trembling, he rubbed the side of her leg as he held her hand in his. Wishing he were a doctor, he felt
completely helpless. He couldn’t stand to see her in pain.

  “I’ll be all right,” Nick said in a strained voice.

  “Your side doesn’t look good,” Kevin was saying.

  Jason took his eyes off Serena to check on his pack member. There was a deep gash on Nick’s left side, just under his arm. “What happened?”

  Nick pinched his eyes, his face scrunching up in pain before he answered. “The witch who got mauled stuck me with a knife. He was the only one fighting with a weapon.” He angled his head to look at his leg. “Whatever the white light was, three of them got me good in the leg. The cuts are taking longer than usual to heal. Bet that’s why they chose the spell.”

  Jason looked down at his chest where he too had been hit a couple times. Funny, he hadn’t felt a thing till now. By this time, they should be healing, but it looked like the cuts the white light made were meant to pierce a supernatural and keep them from healing. He didn’t think it was life threatening, just really painful.

  Serena reached a hand to rub his chest where the strikes had sliced his shirt. “It’s fine,” he whispered.

  Nick turned his head to look at Serena. “You hangin’ in there?”

  Serena leaned her head to the side to smile weakly at him. “Yeah,” she said meekly.

  Nick’s hand reached back and caught hers, his brow furrowing as he got a better look at her face, which had begun to heal, but still looked bruised and swollen. “What you did was incredibly brave,” he said, squeezing her hand. “It’s good to have you back,” he finished, the side of his mouth curling in a meager smile.

  A sudden weight filled Jason’s chest, and it had nothing to do with the lacerations in his skin. He looked from Serena to Nick, her small hand in his, as awareness struck.

  Nick was perfect for her.

  His stomach lurching, he thought of a hundred reasons why Nicholas Manning would be the best mate for Serena. The man was the nicest guy any of them had ever met. He would never hurt her or raise a hand or voice to her. Nick wouldn’t accuse her of having a heat mate like he’d done. He’d keep her out of harm’s way and treat her like the goddess she was. He wouldn’t whisper obscenities in her ear in the bedroom, but would probably make gentle, slow love to her.

  He thought he was going to be sick in the back of his pickup as his stomach knotted. While she gazed warmly at his friend, he realized Serena was just in a measly t-shirt, her upper thighs exposed and she had a clear shot of Nick’s ginormous naked form sitting in the passenger seat. Without thinking, he pulled her shirt down as much as he could to cover up her legs.

  Nick seemed to notice Jason’s jealous nature and smirked a bit before letting go of Serena’s hand and facing forward again.

  Serena too sensed something, giving him a questioning look. He shook his head at her and carefully brought her onto his lap so she was more comfortable leaning her back on his arm rather than on the car door.

  Snuggling into him, Serena soon fell asleep, her soft breaths warming his chest. Jason stared out the window with his lips to her forehead, trying hard not to think, but he couldn’t help it. Was he right? Was Nick better for her? And if so, could he let her go? It was a wild notion, but he couldn’t help but wonder.

  As they’d stared tenderly at each other a few moments ago, Jason tried to feel their emotions toward one another, to see if it went beyond friendship. All he got from Serena was a profound kindness toward his friend.

  Nick had stared with deep admiration and a small amount of affection toward her, but how could he not after what they’d all just witnessed back at the house? They all knew Serena would have leapt off the roof had they been out there or not.

  The thought terrified him, knowing she wouldn’t have been able to handle the fall with her injured leg, especially while holding Evangeline at the same time. But she would have done it, would have risked her life trying to save her brother’s mate.

  Jason turned to look at the back of Nick’s head. He was a great Fighter, but he’d be an even better mate. If he could stomach letting Serena go, then Nick would have to resign as a Fighter. There was no way Jason would ever be able to look at the guy again.

  He’d buy them a house somewhere far off in the country where he knew Serena would be safe. Nick would make her happy and most importantly, keep her from danger, the danger that apparently seemed to hover over Jason like a goddamn curse.

  Shutting his eyes tight, he held Serena closer to him, not believing he was actually considering letting her go.

  Jerking awake in his arms, Serena raised her head, her wide eyes on his. Her expression pulled at his heart, as she’d felt what he was silently going through.

  No, she mouthed, her body tensing.

  Kissing her brow, he shook his head at her then nudged her temple softly with his nose, urging her to fall back asleep. Forcing himself to focus on the love he felt for her and not the choices he was making, he rocked her softly in his arms and prayed he was making the right decision.

  ****

  The next afternoon Serena awoke at home, the dull gray sky outside lighting her room in somber tones. Alone, she felt a hollow sense in her chest and wondered what she could be worrying about. It was over. Everyone had made it out safely. She was home again and the wretched Sweetin Home was now a pile of dust.

  Lifting the sheets she examined her leg, which had been bandaged. Dimly, she remembered waking up in the hospital as they’d stitched her leg last night and Jason’s whispered request to give her something to help her sleep. Glancing at the clock, she saw it was three in the afternoon. Other than feeling a bit groggy, she felt fine. As she could now see quite well, she expected her face had healed already.

  Rubbing at the odd sting in her chest, she was about to lurch out of bed in search of Jason when the bedroom door opened and he stepped in, a steaming mug in hand.

  Her body came alive at the sight of him, so magnificently beautiful as he took up the entire room. Barely smiling, he said, “I thought you might want this.” Holding the cup out to her, he sat beside her on the bed. “How are you feeling?” he asked quietly, a peculiar look in his eyes.

  Taking the cup, she held it in her hands, her gaze never leaving his. “I’m fine. Really.” She placed the cup on the nightstand and sat up. “What’s wrong?”

  He bent his head, curiously. It took all the control she had not to run her fingers through his soft hair. His firm lips were so close and yet she felt as though she wasn’t allowed to kiss him. Why was that?

  “You’re hiding something. Tell me.”

  Jason looked away, his cheekbones hardening somehow as he stared at the back wall. They sat silently for a long while and every passing second terrified her. What was he thinking? She’d felt him going through turmoil last night on the way to the hospital, and even as they sat now, she felt him slipping away. The pang in her chest increased.

  Too frightened of what was about to come out of his mouth she blurted, “How’s Eva? Have you talked to my brother? Is she going to be okay?” Her voice came out high-pitched and clipped.

  Nodding he said, “She’s still out, but Dr. Moros was there earlier and said she was getting stronger.” His wide shoulders heaved as he took a deep breath. “Without her healing capabilities, there was no way she would have survived the Nightwalkers bite.

  “Out of everyone there last night, she was the only one bitten by those jackals and the only one strong enough to withstand it.” He shook his head in bewilderment, then swallowed hard, the cords in his neck throbbing. “Every time I picture you guys on the roof, I…”

  “Don’t, Jason…” She raised a hand to comfort him, but he caught it and held it in his lap. Frowning, she stared at the sinister look in his eyes.

  “You shouldn’t have been there. Neither of you,” he said ominously.

  Wishing he didn’t harp on the fact Evangeline and Serena were the only ones seriously hurt last night, she asked, “How’s Nick? Did his side heal okay?”

  Pain shot through h
er, and she realized the fierce blast had come from Jason. She froze, her eyes narrowing to slits. “What’s going on? Is he okay?”

  “He’s fine, Serena.”

  “Then what’s wrong with you?” she demanded, her voice more forceful.

  Letting go of her hand, he crossed his arms in front of him, finally meeting her gaze. The look on his face terrified and irritated her. He stared as if she’d done something wrong. “I told you this wouldn’t work.”

  She felt as if he’d just slapped her. “What?”

  “Your brother was right. I’m all wrong for you and last night proved it.”

  Sitting up, she reached for him, but he stood up swiftly, backing away toward the door. Dread filled her insides as she stilled on the bed.

  Arms bulging, he gripped himself tighter to his chest. “I wanted to tell you first before I spoke to Adam. I know he’ll agree with me.” Jason’s voice didn’t sound like his. She felt as though someone else were speaking for him.

  “What the hell are you talking about?” she yelled as she got out of bed. Barely noticing she was in her own bedclothes, she stared daggers at the man she loved.

  Jason wore his all-too-familiar impassive expression. Lips curling as he spoke, he said, “Nick is going to resign as a Fighter. He’s going to be in charge of taking you far away from all this bullshit.” His eyes flashed yellow for an instant, the vein on his forehead pulsating. “He’s going to take you away from me.”

  “No,” she breathed. What the hell was wrong with him? How could he say these things to her?

  “In time you’ll forget about this infatuation you have for me. We haven’t officially mated as you are not carrying my child.” The indifference in his voice was like ice cutting down her spine. “You’ll mate with Nick, making it official so no other were can claim you.”

  She stared wide-eyed, the pain near to bursting within her. “Are you out of your mind?” She stalked him, but he backed away.

  “Don’t touch me,” he said coolly, arms unfolding, his hands balled into fists at his sides.