“So, little brother, I see you’re still enjoying the perks of your job.” Eli and I froze. Through the dark shadows I could barely distinguish the silhouette of Lorcan.
Gasping, Eli pulled away from me, tearing a hole through the connection we had created, leaving me limp and drained.
“You were always big on the benefits.”
Eli pulled me to my feet and stepped in front of me. “Lorcan, what are you doing here?”
“Wow, brother, I can feel the love all the way from here. Missed me, didn’t you?”
“Why are you here?”
“We a tad cranky? Sorry, I must have interrupted a little too soon. She not able to get you off? Don’t worry. I’ve heard that happens to some guys.”
“Make your point now,” Eli responded in warning.
“Whoa.” Lorcan raised his arms in surrender. “I didn’t come to fight with you or hurt lil’ Emmy here. I just want to talk.” His cool smile made me reach out and grip Eli’s arm.
“Then talk.”
“Manners, little bro.” He shook his head. “I came here to let Ember know she has a choice, other than being stuck with your limp dick. She can come with me and save her human father’s life.”
“What?” I exclaimed. My legs still wobbly, I held onto Eli’s arm firmly.
Em, he’s trying to provoke you. Eli turned around warning me.
“I'm letting you know you can do the right thing here. Don’t you want to save your father? Or do you want to let him be tortured and killed because you’re too weak to take his place?”
As I started to rush forward, Eli’s arm whipped across my chest, halting me.
“Look at you. All fluffed up,” Lorcan jeered, crossing his arms over his chest.
“What do you really want here, Lorcan? You think you can walk away with Ember to leave on the Queen’s doorstep like a trained monkey.” Eli stopped and a crazed laugh sputtered out of his mouth. “I should have known.” He motioned at the shot-up house behind us. “You were behind this. How else would they have known where to find us?”
“Too obvious?” Lorcan sneered. “I needed a distraction. You were supposed to go off with Cole; I didn’t figure on you staying here and getting shot. Slight oversight of mine.”
“Y-You son of—” I pitched forward again, but Eli continued to block me.
“Need help mastering your striapach?”
This time Eli charged. Barely grabbing his arm in time, I yanked him back. “Eli, don’t. You're right, that’s what he wants. He's already tried to get rid of you today so he could snatch me without a fight. But, it didn’t happen so don’t let him now.”
Eli stopped, gripping my hand and stepping back.
Lorcan broke into a thunderous laugh. “Are you kidding me? My brother is seriously whipped and on a piece of Dae ass. How ironically pathetic is that? And well, frankly, kind of disgusting. What would our parents have thought about this?”
Eli looked away from me and dropped my hand. It stung, but I was grateful he had listened to me and hadn’t tried to go over and pummel Lorcan, no matter how much he was asking for it.
“Eli?” Cooper’s voice hollered from around the house. “Where in the hell are you, man? You will never believe whose scent we picked up!” He came running around the corner, stopping short as he spotted Lorcan. Gabby and Jared practically slammed into the back of him as they came hurrying up behind. “Speak of the devil.”
“What are you doing here, Lorcan?” Gabby moved around Cooper and sauntered over, coming up beside Eli. The rest of them followed suit. None seemed scared of Lorcan, plainly curious and maybe a little leery.
“You’ve missed me too, Gabb. Come on, you know you have.”
She crossed her arms in response, glaring at him. “Where are the others?” Gabby nodded toward the woods “Hiding behind a tree?”
“They are here . . . well, all except West.”
“Where’s West?” Gabby asked.
“West has been detained.”
The knot in my chest tightened. The way he said it turned my stomach. If they had killed or even harmed him . . . My skin became clammy as a hot flash crept over my body.
“What does that mean?” Gabby demanded.
“All I’ve ever tried to do is help my family, but they keep making the wrong decisions, which only hurt us.” Lorcan directed his response at Eli.
Eli crossed his arms, keeping his voice level. “So, this is what you want—a feud between us? How is that helping the family?”
“It’s not what I want, but I will fight you if I have to. I seem to be the only one who hasn’t forgotten what this girl means to us.” Lorcan looked steadily back at Eli. “I am not the reason we are here—that everything was taken from us. You are. But yet they chose you to be leader?”
The accusation snapped my head over to Eli. He was the reason they were exiled? How? Why?
“What do mean?” Jared’s voice broke the tension-filled silence.
Without moving his gaze off Eli, Lorcan addressed Jared. “J, why don’t you go back to the house? Let us handle this.”
Jared’s chest puffed up. “No. I’m staying here. I’m a part of this group, too. How could you do this to us, Lorcan? I thought we were family.”
“Things have changed, kid,” Lorcan responded. “Your leader here has chosen a Dae over his family.
“Jared, go back to the house,” Eli instructed.
“No. I’m not leaving. I’m not a kid. I’m a part of this clan as much as anyone.”
“Jared. Now.” Eli ordered. Jared's Alpha had spoken. He swore, kicking at the dirt, but turned around and walked towards the house.
“Lorcan, don’t be a fool. Don’t do this.” Cooper stepped closer to Eli.
“Do what? I did this for you guys. I’m the only one who is a true leader here. I sacrificed for you, and this is the thanks I get?”
“Sacrificed?” Eli blurted out. “You have a warped version of what a true sacrifice is, which is why you would never be a good leader.”
A deep growl vibrated out of Lorcan’s chest. “You are the one with his priorities screwed up.” He took a few steps forward. This was going to turn into a fight.
I stepped in between them. “If I go with you, will you let my father go?”
“It doesn’t quite work like that. Daddy dearest is the best way to keep you cooperative.”
“She’s not going with you, Lorcan.” Eli grabbed my arm and pulled me back.
“I think it should really be Ember’s choice,” Lorcan said, turning to me. “And, I wouldn’t be too hasty in saying no. It is more than your father’s freedom on the line now.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You should know me by now, my pet. I always come with assurances.”
The sound of people walking over foliage brought our attention over Lorcan’s shoulder. My eyes had grown used to the darkness, but it took me a moment to identify who moved in behind him. My stomach sank. Samantha, Dax, and another guy I didn’t know, stepped out from behind the trees, each accompanied by another body. Dax held two.
“Look who I found earlier today posting missing persons fliers of you around town?” Lorcan nodded toward the four hostages. The world slid out from under my feet.
Oh God, no.
FOURTEEN
Standing there, bound and gagged, were Kennedy, Ian, Ryan, and Josh. My brain could not comprehend the scene in front of me. And why was Josh among them? He was a friend from Silverwood and didn’t even know the other three. My nightmare had come to life. My friends were being used against me.
Through their gags I could hear their shocked, muffled exclamations at seeing me. They were looking at me with the same confused, scared look Mark had shown a few weeks earlier. Their minds were unable to contemplate what was going on or what I had to do with it. The last time they saw me was over a month ago at a party, where I disappeared, never to be seen or heard from again. Now here I stood with someone they thought was in so
me dangerous motorcycle gang. For all they knew they had become leverage in a drug or weapon deal. In a way, that was the truth. They just didn’t know the weapon was me.
“Nooooo,” I cried out as my brain began to grasp the scene unfolding before me. Kennedy automatically took a step toward me, but Dax kept a firm hand around her throat. Her body went rigid as he squeezed her delicate neck tighter. Ian was tied to Kennedy so neither could get away from Dax. A gorgeous, Brazilian-looking man kept a knife tight against Ryan’s side, threatening to plunge it deep at any second. By process of elimination, I knew it was the man they called Dominic. Samantha restrained Josh, a giddy happiness on her face as she watched the scene around her.
“Please Lorcan, let them go. They have nothing to do with this!”
“They have everything to do with it. They have to do with you.” Lorcan rubbed his hands together. “I told you. I am a man who likes to get what he wants. No matter the costs.”
Eli’s body stiffened next to me. “Lorcan, you don’t know what you are dealing with here.”
“You’re the one who doesn’t know what he’s dealing with. You never have.”
“No, Lorcan. You don’t understand.” Eli’s attention was directed towards Kennedy. His fear only upping mine. I feared for all my friends, but Kennedy was on a whole other plane. If Lorcan learned what she was, it would be “game over.”
“You are not getting in my way, Eli, even if I have to kill you.”
The scene was quickly spiraling out of control, and I was the only one who could stop it. I couldn’t let my friends be taken like Mark had. Fear flourished in my stomach like a weed, twisting and curling around my internal organs. Kennedy. If he figured out she was a Druid, would he tell the Queen? I couldn't let Aneira find out. Ever. “I’ll go. Please don’t hurt them.” I stepped forward and repeated the sentiment. “I’ll go with you, Lorcan.”
“No.” Eli grabbed for my wrist.
We don’t have a choice, Eli. My gaze shot to him.
You are NOT going with him. Don’t be stupid.
“Why? Would it be any different if I stayed here with you?” I voiced, turning my anger on him. “This is all happening because of me.” I waved my hand at my friends then to the bullet-riddled house. “I can’t sit back and let him take people I love. They are my family. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for them.” And what about Kennedy? Are you willing to let the Queen find out what she is? My stare demanded. The tension of our unspoken words grew.
Eli looked deeply into my eyes, his grip tightening around my wrist. No, but giving yourself up won’t help either. This won’t benefit Mark or your friends. The moment she has you, she will torture or kill them. It will only bring them more pain if you go.
My gut knew he was right, but my heart felt wrong letting any of this happen and for not already going after Mark. How could I let him or my friends be locked up in some dungeon in the Otherworld being tortured as I continue to sit here?
I couldn’t.
“You can’t go,” Eli whispered, his hand moving to the side of my face.
“I’m sorry. I have to.” I pulled away but my eyes pleaded with him. Rescue Kennedy and the rest of them and keep them safe for me.
He gave a slight nod. Grabbing my arm again, he whispered something strange into my ear. The word twisted and curled around my lobe. As his lips finished speaking there was a prickling over my skin and the iron cuff, which had been wrapped around my wrist, silently dropped into the long grass. I looked up at him surprised. I knew what he was doing—what he was giving me back. My dormant forces uncoiled themselves, coming back to life. I felt whole again.
We’ll be right behind you and will come around and strike from the front. I will not let him hurt you. Eli’s eyes communicated to mine. I touched his face softly before turning to face Lorcan again. This time it was Sam who moved forward, her eyes blazing with hatred. The loathing she felt for me was written all over her features.
Taking an unwavering step, I nodded toward my friends. “You have me now, so please let them go.”
“Oh pet, I’m not stupid.” A smile slithered over Lorcan’s features. “They are my insurance you will do what I want. They are coming with us.” Lorcan reacted to movement behind me. “Don’t think about it, Eli. I will gut her friends right here. You may not care, but you know Ember does.”
“But you have me now. You don’t need them.” My gaze flittered over my friends' terrified faces as they looked between me and Lorcan. Blood froze in my veins upon seeing how scared and confused they were. The fact I now had my full powers back, even though they weren’t always consistent, should have all these people huddling in fear of me. I was consumed with rage. But I couldn’t do anything until I knew my friends were safe. The inconsistency of my powers might actually hurt or kill them. I couldn’t take the chance.
I gulped and looked back at Eli; his face was like stone. My attention filtered over Cooper and Gabby. They all stood there with the same hard, blank look that gave me no comfort, no solace.
“Let’s go, my pet,” Lorcan whispered into my ear, causing a cold tremor to run through my body. He grabbed my arm and tugged me toward him as he pulled something from his pocket. Immediately, raw iron encircled my wrists. My knees buckled and Lorcan grabbed my arm pulling me back up, pinning me to his side. “Never underestimate me. I am not a fool like my brother. I will always be several steps ahead of you.”
“It was great doing business with you,” Lorcan retorted, looking directly at Eli. He started to move, but stopped and turned back. “Oh, and don’t worry brother, I will take good care of Ember. She will get the same service from me as she did from you . . .”
Panic surged through every fiber of my being at the implications of his words. Eli surged forward, but Cooper quickly blocked him. Lorcan laughed with delight, happy to provoke his brother. Was he simply needling Eli or would he actually follow through and physically assault me knowing it would be the ultimate disrespect and revenge?
Lorcan moved us through the brush, deeper into the dark forest. The other Dark Dwellers disappeared from sight. With every step, my limited energy inched back through my muscles. We were only a few minutes into our walk when someone moved in front of me, blocking my path. Looking up I saw Samantha’s fierce glare boring into me.
“So, we get to take home the repulsive, little whore.” Sam looked at me with disgust. “I’m so looking forward to the day you are torn into little bits.”
Fury almost knocked me over. “Oh darn, and here I thought we would be having a girl’s slumber party tonight: pillow fights, doing each other’s nails, and talking about how Eli would rather touch an abomination than ever touch you.” Low and spiteful? Definitely. And it felt good, but I was unprepared for her rage. Her fist slammed into my face knocking me hard to the ground. With my hands bound, I could do very little against her strikes. I swung my arms up, the metal clipping her chin.
“You fucking bitch,” she screamed at me.
Dax yanked Samantha back, pulling her off me. Lorcan roughly grabbed me, dragging me to my feet. The moment his hand clutched my back, a searing, white-hot pain raced up the lines of my tattoo—an excruciating pain. I gasped, falling back to the ground.
Lorcan screamed next to me, dropping to his knees. It was clear my tattoo had triggered a similar pain in him. Everyone stood around us, in stunned silence, not sure what had taken place or what to do. Lorcan bent over on all fours and spat, before sitting back on his heels. “What the hell?” His voice was raspy, as he stared at me with an expression of bewilderment and fury.
Eli’s touch had never caused me pain, only an intense warming sensation and that feeling was lessening over time. Cooper and West had touched me, but it had been barely a buzz. Lorcan’s touch was like tiny knives being driven into my flesh. Why did I feel Lorcan’s touch so violently and not the others? And why was Eli’s touch fading? Less than twenty minutes ago his hands were up my shirt touching my tattoo, but I couldn’t even rec
all if it had warmed or not. He didn’t jerk back or act like it had hurt him. But, to be honest, lightning could have struck us and we probably wouldn’t have noticed.
Lorcan stood, grabbing the neck of my shirt. “What the hell was that?”
“I-I don’t know.”
His eyes narrowed in on mine. “You’re lying.” Snatching the back of my top he pulled it up, exposing my tattoo. I struggled against him, but Dominic grabbed my arms, holding me in place. Lorcan reached out, grazing the lines of my tattoo. Simultaneously, a cry broke out from our lips. Pain filled my eyes.
“Fuck.” He yanked his hand away. “Touch her tattoo,” he commanded, motioning to Dominic who still gripped my arms. Dominic’s face stayed stoic, but I could see the hesitation in his movement. His fingers slowly reached out over my shoulder. As he made contact with my skin, a small warmness shot up my tattoo. It was so minimal compared to Lorcan’s, I almost missed it.
“Hmmm . . . interesting.” That's all Lorcan said, as he dropped my shirt back in place.
“What is it, Lorc?” Samantha asked.
“Nothing you need to concern yourself with,” he brushed her off. “Ember, you are becoming more and more fascinating to me by the moment.”
“Too bad I can’t say the same about you,” I snapped. My gaze once again moved to the frightened expressions of my friends. “Please, Lorcan, let them go.
He shook his head.
“Promise me you will not hurt them,” I implored. Even though I knew his promises were empty, I was desperate for any hope they’d be alright.
“As long as you do what I say, I will not harm your little buddies.” He looked over his shoulder at them. “But, there does seem to be too many of them. We don’t need all of them for you to cooperate.”
A small relief filled me if even one of them got away and was safe.
“So which one do you pick, Emmy? Which one means the least to you?”
Relief evaporated. “What do you mean?”
“Which one do you choose to kill?”
“W-W-What? You promised me you wouldn’t hurt them,” I exclaimed.
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