by Mia Bishop
“If I make her stay, then I am no better than my father. I will be robbing her of the life she had.”
“Who’s to say her old life is the one she wants?” Colin shrugged. “Your time is running out. It’s make it or break it time, Luc.”
Those simple words were the last thing he had heard and from there he’d acted on instinct, stopping her from crossing the Arch, kissing her and asking her to stay. Her response was immediate, which only made him more certain he’d done the right thing. With her lips still pressed against his, he spun her around and savored the feel of her in his arms, something he hadn’t thought he’d enjoy again when they’d left the cabin this morning.
He knew his pack mates had left. They would give their alpha his privacy with his mate and in the stillness of forest, all he could hear was the beating of her heart. Its rhythm matched his own. They were one and his wolf was content.
He was still exploring her warm, wet mouth, his tongue dancing with hers when lightning lit up the sky followed by a crack of thunder that shook the ground. Rowan’s eyes widened. “What was that?”
Luc had already set her to her feet and placed her behind him as he crouched, ready for an attack. “Someone is here.”
The voice that came from the tree line sent a shiver down Luc’s back. “We aren’t finished yet. I will not let you ruin my plans.” The woodsman stepped out to confirm it was their betrayer.
Rowan gasped. “Theron?”
Luc growled. “Lose the disguise, Piper. My father already filled us in on who you really are.”
Piper lifted his flute to his lips and played the notes to change him back to his natural appearance. His long blond hair cascaded over his firm, lean shoulders. The steely look that his blue eyes held wished death on both of them. He didn’t have to say the words. He was there to end them. Luc pushed Rowan back. “Run, I’ll finish him.”
“I won’t leave you. We are in this together.”
He whipped his head around. “I can’t lose you. You saved me, let me save you. Now go.”
She took off toward the Arch as Luc turned around to face Piper. The wicked man grinned. “Sending her away won’t save her. I’m going to gut you and then I will go after her. You will not ruin my plans. You will never know happiness.”
Luc pulled out a long knife from his belt and twirled it. “Then stop talking and let’s play.” Piper raised his flute to his lips. Luc’s eyes narrowed. “Oh no you don’t.” He threw the knife. End over end, it cut through the air and sank into the back of Piper’s hand. The man let out a howl of pain and dropped the flute. Luc’s nostrils flared. “This time, no tricks.”
Piper pulled the knife from his hand and lunged at Luc. A flash of silver told Luc that Piper still might have a trick or two up his sleeve. He dodged the sharp piece of steel and gripped Piper’s wrist and forearm. From the corner of his eye, Luc saw the flare of light that indicated someone had passed through the Arch. His only hope was that it had been Rowan. Piper struggled in his grasp. Luc was sure he had the upper hand until he heard a faint click and something sharp bit into his leg. It met the resistance of bone but the pain was enough to cause him to stumble back and release Piper. “Dirty tricks, Piper. Only rogues use blade boots, I guess I shouldn’t expect anything better from you.”
“You’re right. You shouldn’t expect better. I don’t play fair.” The trickster snatched up his flute. Luc couldn’t let him use his wicked magic. He had to kill him before he could play a note. Luc’s body shuddered, a ripple coursed down his spine and in a flash of brilliant white light he transformed into his wolf and attacked.
The sound of snarls and barks filled the air around them, his elongated canines clamped down on Piper’s hand, wrenching the flute from him as he plowed into Piper. The power of the hit caused Piper to fall back. The only thing he could do was bring his arms up to shield his neck and face from the barrage of teeth snapping at him. Chunks of flesh and blood filled Luc’s mouth as he tore into his enemy. Every cry for mercy was met with a satisfying growl.
Piper dropped his guard in what looked like an attempt to make the pain stop. Luc took the advantage and went for his throat. His teeth were just inches from his target when out of nowhere a bolt of energy hit him square in the side. He yelped and flew back. He tried to get to his feet but his legs refused to obey his command. Blood trickled from his injured side. Looking up, he came eye to eye with a woman standing over him.
She whipped her fiery red hair over her shoulder and glared down at Luc. “You will not kill him.” She hit him with another blast of energy and he howled in pain. He watched as she motioned for help from the tree line. Young men and women dressed for battle skulked toward her. “Gather him, he needs to heal. Take him back to camp.”
One of the men stepped forward. He was tall and lithe and had the striking features and pointed ears of the Fae. “What about the wolf?”
“He is of no concern of yours, Aengus.” She motioned for the others to take Piper away and turned to Aengus. “I’ll finish him. Apparently your master underestimated the power of this mutt.”
“As you wish.” He nodded and headed off with the rest of the soldiers, carrying away their injured leader.
Josephine glared at Luc. He’d shifted back to his human form during her exchange with the Fae. His hand was pressed against the wound on his side. Luc met her angry gaze and laughed. “So you are a witch and you’re helping him?” He coughed. “Why?”
“I owe no one in this realm any explanation.”
She drew her wand and started to mutter her spell. The wind whipped around the forest, all chatter of woodland creatures stopped and dark clouds drew in shielding the sun. A spark rose from the tip of her wand. Luc refused to close his eyes. He would meet his death head-on and looking it right in the eyes. As Josephine started to draw back, a rustle broke out from behind him and all he saw was a flash of red.
Rowan jumped over him and crouched protectively in front of his injured body. Josephine’s chanting stuttered for a brief second, long enough for Rowan to attack. Her hand flicked and two daggers ripped through the air. One hit the witch in her shoulder, causing her to drop her wand. The other was on target to sink into her chest but instead the witch went crashing to the ground.
Luc blinked watching the young Fae male knock the witch down. He glanced at them, giving them a cruel smile and snatched up the witch in his arms. Luc could have sworn he heard the young man whisper, “My master will not allow you to die like this.” Josephine grabbed hold of the man and muttered an incantation. They vanished from sight within the span of a heartbeat.
Rowan spun around after the pair vanished and gasped. “How bad are you hurt? Please don’t die, I just found you. I can’t lose you.”
Luc was already pulling himself up. “You won’t lose me and I’m not dying any time soon.”
She pulled at his shirt and winced at seeing the bloody wound but to her surprise it was already healing. “What the hell?”
“We heal fast.” He shrugged his shoulder. “I told you I wasn’t dying any time soon. Although if you hadn’t shown up, I’m pretty sure that witch would have finished the job.” A sudden frown crossed his face. “I thought I told you to run.”
She leaned down and kissed him hard. He was already drawing her into his lap. She whispered against his lips, “I could never leave you now that I know you want me forever. I would happily face death to stay at your side.”
She could feel him smiling as he seized her by her hair and captured her mouth with his again. “Happily ever after? Is that what we are?”
Her head nodded, his warm mouth moved down her neck, coaxing a soft moan from her. She tangled her hands in his hair as her body melted against him. “Yes… Ever after.”
A chorus of howls broke out all around them and Rowan knew this was where she was meant to be. In the arms of her wolf forever.
The End
About Mia Bishop
Living in the middle of nowhere with her husb
and, two sons, two dogs and a salamander, Mia Bishop had no choice but to write or she'd die of boredom. She enjoys writing and reading paranormal stories that are full of violence, sex and complicated relationships. Taking inspiration from old myths and legends her world is as real as yours.
A geek at heart, she indulges in all matters of nerd cultures. When not writing, she can be found with her nose in a book, creating beautiful pieces of chain mail and wire jewelry, or finding new and creative (albeit legal) ways to stalk her fangirl obsessions. The key to Mia's heart (or ways to coax her into letting you sneak a peek at her latest works) can be won with anything Whovian related, tickets to ComicCon, or a '67 black Chevy Impala.
The author welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Twisted Revenge
ISBN 9781419990380
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Twisted Revenge Copyright © 2014 Mia Bishop
Edited by Victoria Reese
Cover design by Erin Dameron Hill
Cover photography by periodimages.com, nizhava1956/fotolia.com
Electronic book publication February 2014
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