Blood Moon Magic

by Isobelle Carmichael

  His idea of protection is vastly different from my own. When I protect people, I don’t let them get the shit beat out of them.

  “I will do what I can to help you, but if you are caught, I make no promises. I won’t sacrifice myself to save you.” I wrench back in shock, cracking my head against the wall.

  Ouch, that hurt.

  He kisses me, and it feels so wrong. My wolf recoils, snarling.

  He is not ours; he should not touch us!

  My wolf rises, and my vision switches to her own. I squeeze my eyes shut. I don’t want him to see that she’s no longer leashed.

  Laughing, he stands and starts talking in his normal voice again, “I told you I’d slap you, but if you’re gonna do my work for me, that’s okay, too.”

  “My dad is pissed that I hide the key to your cell when I’m done with you, but I just refuse to let him take what’s mine.” He leans down to try to kiss me again, and I bite him. He backhands me, and sparks fly from the impact. He stands up and punches me hard across my face again and then kicks me hard in my stomach.

  “You are a disgusting little tramp. You should be honored that I have chosen you. Bite me again, and I will slit your friend’s throat.” The guards watching us start laughing, but the look on his face tells me this is all for their benefit, and I am so confused.

  Who’s the real Kevin? The one promising my freedom, or the one who just assaulted me? I can’t decide. Kevin is an asshole, isn’t he? A rapist and a woman beater, and all the other things Death Claws are known for being. Right?

  He leers at Chey, “What’s wrong with that bitch? Why’s she sitting there like a damn zombie?”

  Oh, fuck it. Whatever. I’ll play along.

  “Like you don’t fucking know? You and your henchmen and their sick, twisted games.” I spit the words out, the hatred so hard you could chew it.

  “It broke her, just like that asshole you call a father intended.” Suddenly a hand flies through the air, and he smacks me so hard blood flies from my mouth. “You will respect your future alpha, bitch.” Sneering, he looks down at me, and I can’t meet his eyes for fear that I will lose it and kill him. “Do you understand me?” He smacks me again across the face, and I take a calming breath as the pain shoots through me.

  “Yes, Sir.” The words are forced out with my eyes downturned as my cheek throbs.

  I will get out of here, and then I’ll burn this pack to the ground.

  Caution, Abby. Think past your anger. Not everyone in this pack deserves to die.

  I want to argue with her, but as usual, she’s right.

  Fuck. Okay, not all of them, but I will still kill Nathaniel.

  We will bathe in his blood.

  It’s so good to have you back.

  “Don’t worry, little she-wolf. Once you learn your place, things will be so much more pleasant for you.” He strokes my cheek and something cold and hard drops down the front of my shirt. Flinching, I yank my face away from him but say nothing. He is committed to the part he’s playing. My aching jaw is proof of that, so I’ll keep my mouth shut for once.

  We suddenly hear a commotion upstairs, and everyone instinctively looks up towards the stairs. Kevin has a surprised look on his face. “Go check that out now, Aidan,” he yells to the guard, and then he gives me an urgent look.

  So I guess this is my moment. Right. And I’m supposed to just trust this guy to not try to slit my throat as soon I make it upstairs.

  There’s another thunderous noise above us, and everyone else in the room goes running upstairs. Kevin gives a nod to the men next to him and then heads upstairs. I don’t know what to expect, but instead of closing in to beat me again, they all exit the room as well.

  As soon as the basement is empty, I use my magic to escape the manacles binding me. Reaching down my shirt, I find the object dropped and clasp a hand around the key to our cage. Once I’m free, I release Chey from her bonds and run to the bars. I awkwardly attempt to maneuver the key into the lock while trying to avoid touching the silver cage bars, but I realize that they do not burn my skin when touched. With the door unlocked, I focus on Chey.

  “Chey, let’s go, girl.” My attention is turned towards the basement door, but when I don’t hear any movement, I glance behind me. “Chey, come on!” She continues to stare off into the void, and I don’t understand her hesitation. I run back and grab her, pulling her up and out the cell door.

  I need to find Ronnie. I can’t leave her here.

  How am I gonna do this? I look around frantically, trying to locate where Ronnie might be when I spot a hallway of doors.

  Fuck me sideways. How am I supposed to get one catatonic and one unconscious packmate out of here by myself?

  There is a sound of utter chaos upstairs, and I tentatively reach out now that I’m no longer bound by magical cuffs. I find five wide-open connections. Love, comfort, and worry rush through and my heart skips a beat. My men are upstairs, and they’re here for me.

  I hear Shaun’s voice cut through the chatter.

  Abby, we’re sending Kaleb down to help. I think Chey’s mates are on the way down too. Also, Justin found Nathaniel, and he may or may not have started kicking his ass.

  Well, make him stop! I want to finish him!

  “Never fear princess, your rescue party has arrived.” Kaleb grins, waltzing into the basement as if he’s not in enemy territory.

  “For the record,” I retort, joy and relief entering my system like a hit of narcotics, “I don’t need a rescue party, but I do need a couple of you to help me with the heavy lifting.”

  I am overjoyed to see him, and I run into his arms before he can make his way across the room. That dimple winking in his cheek and his sparkling light grey eyes bring me instant calm.

  “Happy to help.” His smile fades off his face as he takes in our state, and I cringe under his inspection. He studies my bruised face, torn clothing, and dirty hair. The combination of vomit, unwashed skin, and the copper tang of blood must be offensive to his dragon’s sense of smell because he wrinkles his nose. His eyes slide from me to Chey as he reaches to pull her from my arms.

  “What’s wrong with her?”

  “Not now. I can’t talk about it right now. We need to get out of here, but first I have to find Ronnie.”

  Taking measured steps, he tries rousing Chey, but she’s still not responding.

  Pierce runs into the room looking disheveled and rushes to his mate, scooping her into his arms.

  “Ronnie is here too?” Kaleb asks, looking mildly relieved that he didn’t have to carry Chey after all.

  So, they don’t know about her betrayal yet? That’s good. It will work in my favor. I will deal with her on my own because there are only three of us who understand what the fuck just happened here.

  “Yes, we have to find her. And Kaleb, prepare yourself because when we do, it’s going to be dreadful.”

  The sounds of a stampede alert me to the rest of the cavalry coming down the stairs, but I can’t be distracted. I need to get into the room where they’ve been holding her and extract her out of this hellhole.

  Please, Goddess. Mighty Elders. Please let her be alive.

  I beg to the powers above for the life of my packmate as I slam door after door in the long basement hallway. My desperation to find her is growing more frantic with each empty room I open.

  What the fuck? How big is this basement, and where the fuck is she?

  I’m screaming out her name, and I don’t even know if she’s conscious. Finally, I burst into a room and see her in a heap on the floor. I stop at the threshold, clinging to it as my eyes rove over her bloody and broken body. Tears spring unbidden to my eyes, and I don’t even try to hold them back. I don’t care what she’s done; she didn’t deserve this. Even if I hadn’t cleansed her soul before, she still wouldn’t deserve this.

  “Hey, baby girl,” I call out gently. I try to make my voice sound soothing, but it comes out strained. I wipe the scalding tears that flow d
own my face with the back of my hands, then clear my throat and call to her again.

  Oh, please goddess let her be breathing; let her be alive.

  She doesn’t respond. Instead, Ronnie just remains curled into the fetal position and not moving. My mind clears, and I sense the rest of my mates have come into the room. I turn my tear-filled eyes to Marcus and nod. He’s the strongest of us, but Justin steps forward.

  “Let me, please. I can sense her pain.” His Adam’s apple bobs with a hard swallow, “I can help ease her pain and keep it maintained if she wakes up. Please let me comfort her.”

  “Thank you so much, Justin,” I say before running out of the room. Now that I know Ronnie is being taken care of, I can fulfill my next mission. I bound up the stairs two at a time looking for Nathaniel’s lair. I can’t wait to see him and send him a message in blood and bruises. I hear the guys shouting after me, but I don’t care. I will not be stopped; I will have this appetizer of justice before I can feast!

  Wood shrieks and splinters as I break down the door I assume to be his. It’s ostentatious as fuck and literally gilded in gold. I burst into the room completely expecting a house of horrors, but it’s surprisingly and almost upsettingly normal.

  He sits, bound by magic to his office chair, the magical rope shimmering against his struggling frame. His face is cut and swollen from someone’s fist, but I don’t care. He’s not bleeding nearly enough for my liking, and he’s still breathing.

  What a pity.

  “Release him,” I command. The guys comply, letting him go from the magical restraints. Fueled by rage, I lift my hands and blast him with my power. I haven’t learned how to properly use my power in this way, but clearly, my instincts have taken over.

  “You fucking asshole! You’re a disgrace.” I blast him again, stunning him, and before he can recover I pounce, slamming my fist into his face. I remember every cry he and his men wrenched from Ronnie, myself, and Chey. I continue to smash my fist into him, not caring that he’s no longer fighting back or that his teeth have cut my knuckles. Blood is in my face, and it doesn’t even phase me. I want him to die right now! The only thing that stops me from beating him to death are the hands that pull me off of his body.

  “Get off of me! He deserves to die. Let me kill him!” I roar.

  “I think he’s dead already, Abigail; you need to stop!”

  “He had no mercy for Ronnie, or Chey, or me. Why do I have to take the high road?” I rage, straining against their hands as I fight to get back to the bloody body lying prone on the floor. A small ragged breath escapes his chest.

  “Well, shit! He’s still alive!” Kaleb remarks.

  “We can’t let you back over there. He’s down. It’s not honorable,” Shaun growls, “and believe me, I wish we didn’t have to be honorable.”

  “Fuck honor. Why do I have to have any honor? He didn’t have any!”

  “Abigail, you know the rules. If you kill him and it’s not in self-defense, your life is forfeit.”

  “He hurt me!”

  “It doesn’t matter. You can only kill another at the time of an attack, not afterward in retaliation. You drew blood, but that’s where it has to end.”

  His words are sobering, and I look at Nathaniel’s chest to be sure that he is indeed breathing, albeit shallowly.

  “I know the rules are fucked up. Otherwise, I would have joined in.”

  Shaun is right. I would be killed if I continue, but I fucking hate these rules.

  “Fine,” I say and shrug their arms off me. “I won’t kill him. This is bullshit, though; I should be allowed to have his life.”

  “You can have it, but you can’t kill him, and you know it. You spilled his blood, let that be enough for now,” Kaden says.

  Marcus clears his throat and adds, “You don’t have to worry. We know he kidnapped you, and we will find a way to avenge that within our laws.”

  He is going to die, my wolf assures me, and I find comfort in her words far more than I would in anyone else’s at this moment.

  They watch me cautiously as I approach his body, but I can hear their sighs of relief as I step over him and instead head over to his desk. In one quick motion, I swipe my hand across the extravagant piece of oak furniture, smiling as everything comes crashing to the ground. Turning around, I start pulling down books from the shelves, tossing them around and shredding the ones that look valuable. Each thud is satisfying in a petty way, but right now, I’m a petty bitch. I take note of any that look useful and toss them to Marcus, then turn my focus back to his desk. I wrench his file cabinets open, breaking them apart with the force he used on us. I begin shredding every file they contain. I only stop when my eye catches a name I’m quite familiar with—Seamus Lancaster.

  Why the fuck is there a file for Shaun’s father in Nathaniel’s office?

  I grab the files and fold them before shoving them in my pants pocket. My office destruction is cut short when I’m grabbed and pulled from the room by Kaden and Kaleb.

  “Look, I know you wanna break things, but we gotta go, right now! We can’t take on an entire pack, and Ronnie needs a doctor,” Kaden says, and it’s the perfect thing to bring me back down.

  Ronnie, Chey, and duty.

  I put my rage aside for now and nod slowly before finally allowing the guys to lead me out of his office. I admire my new decorating job with Nathaniel on the floor broken and bloody. His blood is the perfect accent to the hardwood floors.

  When we enter the living room, littered with unconscious bodies, I spot my attackers, and my small smile grows to a bloodthirsty grin. While I would have preferred to be the one who caused the carnage, I appreciate that they’re down and hurting. I see Kevin struggling against his own magical bonds.

  “Release him, and let him go,” I order.

  “Abby, what are you talking about?”

  “Just do it. We’ll discuss it later.”

  I walk over to him and punch him so hard I hear his jaw crack. He spits a glob of blood on the ground, and his bloody smile makes me want to do it again.

  “I deserve that and so much more.”

  “You do, but I’ll spare your life because you spared mine. But that’s all.”

  We stare at one another, and my wolf rages, but oddly enough, not at him. We both know that despite what happened in that dungeon, he stopped those fuckers from violating Chey and I further. I won’t thank him, but I will be grateful.

  I turn and walk away without a backward glance, and my men follow behind slowly. I can hear how much they want to kill everyone, but we can’t—damn shifter laws.

  “Abigail.”

  I turn and see Deon coming up the steps with jars and poultices in his hands, and I raise an eyebrow in a silent question.

  “Please, let me come with you and let me take care of Ronnie.”

  “Deon, why the fuck would you think she would want you around?”

  He stares at me head on, and I’m impressed by his strength, “I know you think I’m just a Death Claw fuck up, and I definitely am. In fact, she may never forgive me. Honestly, I don’t deserve forgiveness. But, I’m a healer, and she’s going to need one dedicated to her, let me do that for her, please?”

  “Deon, this doesn’t make any sense. Why Ronnie? What about Kevin? What about your pack?”

  Tears spring into his eyes, though he holds them back, “I knew your men were coming. The wolves from our bar called ahead, but I was the one to get the call. I didn’t raise the alarm, Abby. I told Kevin they were coming, and I was able to get my sister away from Nathaniel during the commotion when our perimeter was breached. She’s outside hiding and waiting for my signal. We can’t stay here because I won’t put her in danger any longer. If you won’t take me, at least take her. Please, Abby. She’s twelve. Nothing was keeping me here except fealty to Kevin, but he released me so that I can help my ...”

  He stops and takes a deep breath.

  “So I can help my mate.”

  I try to hide my
shock, but I’m not sure I succeed. I recover as quickly as I can and consider the best way to proceed.

  “You will be magically bound. We will blindfolded you on the way to the den. You will also swear the words binding you to our pack for the time you are there.”

  I continue to list off a litany of rules, but he simply nods and agrees to each one.

  “Lastly, you will not do anything to Ronnie besides tend to her wounds, and if she rejects you, that’s it, you leave. Do you agree?”

  “I do.”

  Magic swirls around the two of us, sealing his words into an unbreakable vow. I am beyond the point of exhaustion, so I just make my way out the doors smirking at the carnage our mates have made. Dragons are pretty badass.

  My wolf growls at my praise.

  No, not like wolves girl, but they are pretty fantastic.

  She snorts.

  They’re pretty flying lizards. I much prefer them in their human forms.

  I snort, I do too, girl.

  I gingerly make my way to the vehicle waiting for us and let the weight of my injuries and crushing sense of failure sweep over me as I relax into the seat. Ronnie is curled in Justin’s lap, but I don’t feel any jealousy as I watch him cradle her. Instead, I’m flooded with gratitude. His gray shirt is already stained with blood, as well as his jeans. He strokes her hair and murmurs reassuring words to her.

  My heart hurts as I watch Justin cuddle Ronnie in his lap, leeching pain away from her body with his magic. I can see her color coming back, and her face relaxing as his own tightens from the strain. I want to tell him to stop, but it would be an exercise in futility. I have no idea what we’re going to do with Deon, but I can’t imagine Ronnie will be too accepting of him. The fucker knew, so he has a lot of groveling to do. His face is hard as he watches Justin hold her, his eyes full of want and pain. Well, good. The fucker deserves to suffer a little .... okay, a lot.

  I hear a piercing whistle, and a small pup comes flying out of the trees running straight for her brother. She’s clearly terrified because she doesn’t shift back to her human form. I don’t have the heart to use my alpha power to force her so we can blindfold her too. One of the twins roughly pulls a sack over Deon’s head and tosses him into the back of our SUV. He then gently picks up the pup to pull her into the car with us.