“I love you,” he whispered. They were only words, but it was all the comfort he could offer in their given situation.
Onyx closed his eyes, his shoulders relaxed, and a contented sigh escaped his lips. “I love you, too.” His eyelids fluttered open, and he smiled. “You still need to feed.”
“If it will make you feel better. Though, I really don’t think it’s necessary. I just fed a few hours ago.”
“It couldn’t hurt,” Onyx countered. He glanced over his shoulder toward the east. “We need to hurry.”
The sky had lightened considerably since they’d arrived, and Echo could feel the tingle in his spine heralding the sun’s journey toward the horizon. “Ten minutes or so,” he mumbled. Gods, he was such a freak. He vaguely wondered if he could predict the weather as well. “I don’t need to feed, and none of you can afford to give me the blood.”
Onyx frowned at him. “It doesn’t make me feel weak or tired. I think one of us could spare a little.”
“No,” Echo said firmly. “I’m good.” He took Onyx’s hand and squeezed it. “Let’s go kick some vampire ass.”
His mate gave in, just as Echo knew he would, and they hurried over to join the others. “Why do you have blankets?”
Craze looked over his shoulder at Echo, then out toward the eastern sky. “Jinx and Syn are vampires, Echo, and the sun is almost up. I’d rather not bring my mates home as charcoal.”
Duh! Echo did smack himself in the forehead that time. Damn it, he needed to get his head on straight. “Right. Sorry.”
“How far from here?” Hex asked.
“About a half mile through those trees,” Craze answered, pointing toward the north. “It’s a large house, a lot like yours. I couldn’t get close enough to see inside, but all basements are underground.”
“Do you know if there’s an outside entrance?”
Craze shook his head and tucked the blankets under his arm. “Not a clue.”
“I really don’t want to go inside that house.” Hex began pacing, his fingers clenching and relaxing at his sides.
Echo stepped in front of the alpha to halt him. “I think it’s time for some go-go juice.”
It didn’t take long for Echo to go around the group, recycling and redoubling the demons’ powers. He reached Syx last, unsure what to do. Maybe he should give Syx some of the others’ powers?
Syx chuckled and kissed his forehead. “Don’t worry about me, sweetheart.”
Echo shrugged. Right. Like he wasn’t going to worry.
“Hey.” Syx slipped his fingers under Echo’s chin and tilted his head up. “Look at me.”
Echo did and yawned immediately. “I feel sleepy.”
Chapter Eight
“Why am I sleeping?” Echo glared at the goddess, Athena. “This is bullshit! Send me back!”
“I did not do this to you, young one.”
“Syx,” Echo snarled. He should have known. Just wait until he got his hands on the asshole! “You can still send me back. They need my help.”
“Yes, they do. More than they realize.”
“You can say that again,” Echo scoffed. “If I ask you some questions, are you going to be all mystical and vague?”
Athena arched an eyebrow at him and smirked. “It would depend on what questions you ask.”
Echo shrugged. As long as he had the goddess there, he might as well try and get some answers. “Why did I die?”
“To fulfill your purpose,” she responded immediately.
Yep, they were going to play solve-the-puzzle. “And what purpose would that be?”
“To win the war.”
Echo growled. Maybe if he changed the wording a bit, he’d get better results. “So, you knew I would die? Why did Ares kill me?”
“So that you would not fulfill your purpose.”
Echo had never wanted to throttle anyone more in his life. “Why doesn’t Ares just strike us all down and be done with it?”
“He cannot.” Athena actually laughed at this. “Father has bound his powers.”
“So, he’s not a god anymore?”
“Oh, he is still very much a god and will not be easily defeated. He may materialize wherever he chooses, or switch forms between man and wolf. No more.”
“That explains why he’s building an army and why he’d need to steal the money to fund it.” Echo tapped his chin as he thought it over. Things were finally starting to come together. He still felt like he was missing something, though. Something dangling just outside of his reach. “Why does he want to go to war in the first place?”
“To prove himself and regain Father’s favor.”
“I thought he hated Zeus and vice versa.”
“You should not put so much faith in human fairytales of the gods.”
“Fair enough.” Echo paced in the grass. “What part does Hades play in this war? We’ve all agreed that it doesn’t make sense that he would be the one to issue these challenges.”
Something flashed across Athena’s face too quickly for Echo to identify it. “You will have the answers you seek when the time is right.”
“What about their eyes? Why are my mates’ eyes changing color?”
“The eyes are the windows to the soul, and only love will set you free.”
“Did you really just quote clichés at me?”
Athena laughed, the same tinkling laugh she’d had when Echo knew her only as the Oracle. “It is time to wake up, my dear Echo. I do enjoy our visits, but your warriors need you. Remember,” she said as she began to fade away, “true evil lurks in the shadows, too afraid to face the light.” Then she was gone, and Echo was slammed back into his body.
With a quiet snarl, he flipped his eyelids open and bolted upright into a sitting position. Scanning his surroundings, he found Mac passed out on the ground beside him, but no one else in sight. Surely his men hadn’t just left them there, asleep and defenseless.
“Damn it,” a voice growled to his left, and Echo jerked around just in time to see two huge men step through the trees. He jumped to his feet, positioning himself between Mac and the newcomers, preparing to fight in their defense.
“I thought Syx said they’d sleep for a few hours?” the other guy asked.
“He did. This fucking blows.”
“Who are you?” Echo demanded.
“Echo, calm down,” the first guy said. “You don’t remember me from your party? I’m Jason.”
Flipping through his mental Rolodex, Echo tried to drudge up a memory of the man. “This is your mate, Oliver,” he answered slowly. “You’re from the coyote pack, right?”
Jason smiled and nodded. “We’re supposed to keep an eye on you two until your mates come back.”
“Well, I’m sorry, but I don’t intend to make your job easy.” Echo tilted his head to the side. “Is the rest of the pack here?”
“Just the sentinels,” Oliver answered. “We came to recover our alpha.”
“Well, I came to recover my friends and make sure that my men don’t end up dead.” Echo looked over his shoulder at Mac. “Keep him safe.” Before either man could argue with him, he turned and sprinted through the trees, using his newfound strength to push him faster than he’d ever run before.
They called after him, but no footsteps followed, so Echo slowed when he burst through the tree line. A large, two-story house sat in the middle of the clearing. Craze was right. It did look very similar to their home.
Keeping close to the trees, Echo crept around to the back of the house, searching for a way inside. He didn’t know how long he’d been asleep, but judging from the sun’s position in the sky, it had been at least half an hour. How far would his mates have made it in that time? Was it enough time for them to find the others and get out? If so, where were they?
He didn’t have to wait long for answers. He’d taken two steps away from the shadows when the double doors of the cellar burst open, banging loudly against the cement surrounding them. Gage had Sony thrown over
his shoulder when he appeared, and Echo breathed a sigh of relief. The werewolf sprinted toward him, Jet and Pax following closely behind, both carrying identical bundles in their arms.
Jason and Oliver raced into view just as Gage reached Echo. The werewolf only spared him a passing glance as he rushed past him to deposit Sony in Jason’s arms. “Keep him safe,” Gage ordered then turned back toward the house.
Echo shoved past the shifters and ran with Gage. “Where are my mates?”
“Fighting,” Gage bit out. “Go back, Echo.”
Echo didn’t waste his breath by arguing. He turned on a burst of speed, flying past the ex-guard and reaching the cellar entrance several steps ahead of him. He leapt down the stairs, taking them two at a time into the dimly lit cavern below.
The noise level was deafening. Snarls, growls, roars, and grunts rang out, bouncing off the concrete walls. The warriors were locked in battle with what looked to be at least thirty vampires. There was so much movement Echo couldn’t tell, and he didn’t bother wasting time to take an accurate head count.
He hurdled the bottom step just as a man came flying through the air at him. He side-stepped easily, watching in horror as the guy’s skin began to blacken and smolder before his eyes when he landed in the patch of sunlight shining through the open cellar doors. The vampire screamed, a bloodcurdling cry that left Echo feeling sick and cold down to his bones.
Pushing away his shock and revulsion, Echo ducked and dodged bodies, working his way to the center of the fight. There were coyotes here, but he couldn’t distinguish them from the vampires. Dropping quickly as a large man raced toward him, Echo swept his foot out, sending the guy to the floor where he rolled into the sunlight. The guy screamed just as his fallen comrade had and began to smoke and gurgle.
Well, that was one way to figure out who the bad guys were. Strong arms wrapped around his chest, hauling him off the floor, and Echo panicked for a just a second before Craze’s rumbling voice sounded in his ear. “I’m going to find the coven leader. We can’t let him live.”
“Go,” Echo yelled over the noise. “He’s too important. He won’t be here.”
“Watch your back, Echo.” Craze deposited him on his feet at the edge of the battle and ran toward the opposite side of the room, crumpling attackers to the floor as he went.
Crap! What the hell did he do now? Each one of his mates was locked in hand-to-hand combat with at least two vampires. They were so overwhelmed they couldn’t even use their powers.
Echo sensed more than saw someone approach him from behind and quickly dropped to the floor, pivoting on one foot as he swept the other out once more. The moment the guy landed on the floor, excruciating pain ripped through Echo’s back.
Sharp fangs pierced his skin, and the vampire didn’t just bite him, he chewed on his shoulder, trying his best to rip away the flesh. Echo screamed, struggling to get away, but every movement lodged the bloodsucker’s canines deeper into his flesh.
The warriors all jerked around as one, their eyes landing on Echo before ear-numbing roars ripped through the basement. In that brief moment of distraction, two vampires launched themselves onto Syx’s back, clawing, biting, and ripping at him until he staggered to the floor.
A fear like he’d never felt descended over Echo, and the war cries from his men increased in volume. Wind roared into the basement with enough force to knock several people off their feet. A dozen more were frozen in place, poised in the midst of their attack.
The pipes that ran the length of the ceiling in an intricate maze began to groan and clang until they split open and water poured into the room, swirling with the wind and beating against anyone that stood in the way.
Fireballs flew through the air, one after another, careening into anyone who remained motionless for too long. The demons didn’t seem to care if they attacked friend or foe. Their eyes held a crazed look, and they all began to shift.
The vampire on Echo’s back released him with a terrified shout, and Echo slumped to the floor, watching the blood pool on the concrete below him. He didn’t have time to just lie there, though. He needed to get to his men before the warriors ended up killing them all.
With a great deal of effort, he managed to push to his feet and stagger through the torrential storm Vapre and Eyce had created inside the cavernous basement. He’d made it only a few steps when the ground beneath him began to tremble and large cracks appeared in the floor.
Shit! Onyx was going to bring the entire house crumbling down on them.
Dropping his head and rounding his shoulders, Echo held his arm up to shield his face as he pushed forward through the wind and water. By the time he reached Syx, the entire room was creaking and shaking. The support beams groaned in protest, splintering as they began to buckle under the strain.
His mates had fully shifted by then, completely nude, their clothes shredded and whipping around in the storm. Hex tackled the nearest person he saw, taking him down easily and biting into his neck.
Echo had to find a way to stop this.
Falling to his knees beside Syx, Echo shook him roughly. “Syx!” he screamed over the roar of the wind. “Get up! Help me!”
The demon groaned, but he didn’t move. Echo tried several more times with no success before giving up and pushing to his feet again. Fine. He’d just have to do this the old-fashioned way.
Marching across the room, he felt like he was moving in slow motion as he pushed against the wind. Eventually, he reached Vapre and shouted his lover’s name. Vapre wasn’t listening, though. His arms were spread wide, his head tilted back on his shoulders, and his eyes closed.
“Sorry about this,” Echo mumbled under his breath. Then he doubled up his fist, cocked his elbow back, and drove his knuckles into Vapre’s jaw.
Vapre’s head snapped to the side then back just as quickly, a feral snarl falling from his lips. “Snap out of it!” Echo screamed. His lover took a menacing step toward him, but Echo stood his ground. “Goddamn it, Vapre, don’t make me hit you again. I love you.” He spun in a circle to encompass his men. “I love all of you, and I’m not going to let you kill us!”
No one paid any attention to him. Echo threw his arms wide as he bellowed in frustration. Bright, golden light erupted from his entire body, shooting out from his fingertips and bathing the dark room in its blinding glow.
It was over just as suddenly as it began, but when Echo looked back at his lovers, it was to find recognition in their eyes. They appeared a little confused and a whole lot afraid.
“Everyone out!” Hex ordered. “It’s coming down.”
Echo didn’t immediately understand what was coming down until he heard the loud crack as one of the support beams gave way. His eyes widened, his heart raced, and terror filled his heart. They wouldn’t make it out in time.
Hex snatched him up, so much larger in his demon form, and cradled Echo to his chest, charging through the room toward the stairs that would lead them outside. “Syx!” Echo yelled, practically climbing Hex’s shoulder to find the demon.
Eyce lifted Syx easily, slung him over his enormous shoulder, and hurried after Echo and Hex. Echo didn’t breathe a sigh of relief until they’d all made it safely out of the basement, though. He recognized several of the beaten and panting men surrounding them as members of the coyote pack, and he even saw Lorcan limping across the grass.
Echo rested his head on Hex’s shoulder, rubbing his cheek against him like a cat seeking affection. Everyone who mattered had made it out safely.
His eyes snapped open, and he jerked his head up to look into Hex’s eyes. “Craze! He’s still inside!”
“I’m right here, Echo.”
Craze appeared in front of them, covered in bruises, cuts, and a substantial amount of blood.
Echo swallowed hard. “Is that yours?”
Craze looked down at himself and shook his head. “No.”
“Did you find the leader?” Echo figured it was a stupid question considering the amou
nt of crimson covering the man, but he had to hear Craze say it.
Craze looked at him for a long time with hollow eyes that made Echo shiver. “My mates are free.”
Before Echo could form a response, the house groaned again and loud crashes could be heard from inside.
“Let’s go,” Hex called in guttural voice. No one questioned him, and though probably inappropriate, Echo’s chest swelled with pride that everyone had such respect for his mate.
“Are we safe now?” he asked quietly.
Hex held him tighter and nuzzled his cheek against the top of Echo’s head. “We’re safe for now, little one.”
Echo understood the words Hex hadn’t spoken. They had defeated one enemy, but many more would come.
Chapter Nine
“Did you see that?” Myst whispered to Hex as they sped back toward their house. The last thing they needed was to be caught in the vicinity when the vampires’ hideout came tumbling down upon itself. “Did you fucking see that?”
“Yes, now hush.” Hex took his eyes off the road for just a minute to glance toward the backseat where Echo slept in Eyce’s lap. “He saved our asses.”
“Well, try telling him that,” Syx mumbled from beside Eyce. “He feels guilty.”
“Why?” Myst spun around in his seat to look Syx in the eyes. His adrenaline was beginning to wane, and it left him feeling shaky. When was the last time any of them had allowed themselves to lose control like that? If Echo hadn’t been there, he could only imagine what might have happened.
“He’s thinking it’s his fault I got hurt.” Syx smoothed his palm over Echo’s leg. “I was losing that fight before Echo ever stepped foot inside the basement.”
“We all were,” Eyce agreed quietly. “I couldn’t fight them off fast enough. Every time I’d try to use my power, there’d be another flying at me, and I’d lose focus.”
Evans, Gabrielle - The Hunger [Fatefully Yours 7] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever ManLove) Page 7