Trinity Bound

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  On the side wall, a large brick fireplace stood out, heating the room. Josh guessed that either Reed or Hannah had lit it for him, not wanting him to be cold. For some reason that warmed him from the inside out.

  Josh tried to swallow, but it caught on his tongue. It felt as though he’d eaten dried rags and then chased them down with cotton. He needed water or something to sooth his aching throat, but couldn’t call out for help or find the energy to get out of bed and get to Hannah and Reed. How was he supposed to leave the cabin and go for help if he couldn’t even get out of bed?

  He shook his head, trying to clear it of sleep as flashes of his dreams came back. Memories of demons with forked tongues, fire burning flesh, and screams made him want to shudder in fear. But he didn’t. He couldn’t be weak. Not when others needed him.

  But those weren’t the only dreams bugging his subconscious. No, they mingled with images of a gray-eyed beauty and her green-eyed companion. Reed and Hannah had loved and kissed and sexed him throughout his fantasy. Panting, moaning, and thrusting interplayed with chanting and proclamations of forever and love.

  Josh didn’t know which of the two dreams frightened him more. Painful death by fire and demons or the love of two supernaturals.

  Not to mention the fact he’d never known he was attracted to men. But, damn, Reed was sexy as hell. And by the gasps and heated looks on the other man’s face, Reed thought the same of Josh. What was he going to do with that?

  And hell, Reed and Hannah were mates. They might not have fully connected, or whatever the hell werewolves did in a mating, but they were for each other. Josh was the odd man out. Again.

  Some part of him, though, couldn’t forget the energy that shot through them when they all touched at the same time. There was a link there, better left ignored in his opinion. He’d wanted to make sure they were alive, not impede on their ogling love and some shit.

  Josh let out a sigh. Keep telling yourself that, man.

  Straining almost every muscle he had, Josh slid himself out of bed, his feet flinching at the feel of the cool wood beneath him. Sometime during his sleep, someone had taken off his shirt, boots, and socks.

  Josh felts his skin heat at the thought of Reed or Hannah—or both—touching his bare skin.

  Enough of that.

  He pulled himself to a standing position, releasing a groan.

  Dear God, every joint in his body hurt like that of an elderly man.

  Josh looked toward the end of the bed to find his shirt laid out. It was still dirty, with soil and bloodstains, but didn’t smell that bad, so he shrugged it on, exhaling an oath when he did. Yeah, this is going to be a long day.

  The cotton slipped over his arm, and he gasped out in pain.

  The demon bite.

  If only he could forget.

  Josh looked down at the offending wound. Though Hannah had helped it along some in the healing process, it was nowhere near where it needed to be. Red, angry lashes spread out from the bite like a sadistic web. He hated to think it, but it looked like an infection that was spreading. But he didn’t want to think about that. Apparently he didn’t want to think about a lot of things lately.

  He pulled his socks and boots on, grateful to whoever had put them near the fireplace. They were nice and toasty on his cold feet. Sucking in a deep breath and gathering his strength, he left the warmth of the bedroom and ventured out to the living room. The resulting image made him smile and his cock harden.

  Hannah sat before the fireplace, legs crossed in a position that promised more aerobic activities in his mind.

  Her corkscrew curls circled her face, making it look like she’d just rolled out of bed after a long night of passion. Damn, had she and Reed done anything when he’d been asleep? So not his business, but the image that ran across his mind made him want to groan with need.

  Hannah bit her lip in concentration, a delectable habit of hers, while chanting something he couldn’t quite make out. From the looks of it, she was meditating and doing a damn sexy job of it.

  The front door opened, letting in the chill from the outside. Josh immediately pivoted towards the intruder, blocking Hannah from their path. He cringed at the sharp pain digging into his side from his fast movement but ignored it.

  Reed stood in the doorway, red-cheeked and wide-eyed. He gave Josh a worried look then quickly covered it up with a smile.

  Damn that smile could stop a train in its tracks.

  Reed shut the door behind him, shook off the snow that had collected on his hair and shoulders, and came farther into the room.

  “Good to see you up, Josh.” Reed looked him over, his gaze leaving scorch marks as it passed.

  “Yes, Josh, how are you feeling?”

  Josh spun around to Hannah, who’d opened her eyes and smiled warmly at both of them.

  Reed and he both started toward her to help her to a standing position, but she waved them off, gracefully straightening her legs and stretching her back like a cat.

  Like a fucking sexy ballerina. Damn.

  Josh coughed to cover his staring. “I’m feeling a bit groggy and could use some water. But the sleep helped.”

  “Oh, I’ll go get you some.” Hannah stretched one last time and ran to get him a glass before Josh could even open his mouth to say he could do it.

  “Let her help you; you scared her. Me too.” Reed smiled again and led him to the couch where they both sat.

  Hannah hurried back in as they were getting comfortable.

  “Here you go; I hope this helps.” She smiled again and Josh almost fell in love right there.

  Not something he should be doing.

  Reed and Josh left enough space on the couch for her to sit in the middle. She snuggled up between them, reminding him of a very vivid dream with the three of them. Josh shifted a bit to relieve the pressure against his zipper.

  His thought from before repeated like a loop in his brain. Gonna be a long day.

  “We need to get out of here. I don’t feel comfortable staying in a cabin we don’t know, stealing from them, hiding from someone—or something—trying to kill us.” Josh was adamant on this. Fear crawled up his spine at the thought of what hunted them.

  “We know,” Reed said. “The snow’s getting pretty bad out there though. I don’t know if we can hoof our way out of here. Plus, we needed to make sure we were all ready for the journey.”

  Reed paused, and Josh felt his stomach fall. They’d waited because of him. He hated being the weak one—the human.

  “I can’t get a hold of the Pack at the moment,” Reed continued. “We’re essentially cut off, but at least we have each other.”

  Josh liked the sound of that.

  “Okay, I understand. What about our defenses?” Something he was good at.

  Hannah spoke up. “Well, between my wards and Reed’s senses, we should be able to get fair warning. It’s the best we can hope for the time being.”

  Josh was at a loss. Did they even need him? He didn’t know how he felt about that.

  “Josh, I need to know something.” Reed looked serious, almost as if he didn’t want to know the answer.

  “Okay.”

  “How did you find us? Why did you help us?”

  Josh looked at both of them sitting stock still on the couch, as if waiting for him to tell them he was in on the Central’s deal. He couldn’t blame them for their worry, but it still stung just a bit.

  “I’m a Finder.”

  Silence.

  Okay, apparently I need to explain exactly what that is.

  Josh rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly nervous about what they would think of him.

  Hannah’s soft voice urged him to continue. “What’s a Finder, Josh?”

  “I can Find anyone I’ve met before. Anywhere and anytime. I just need to see their face personally, and then I can concentrate on the memory and Find them.”

  “That’s remarkable,” Hannah whispered.

  “I agree, but you’ve never
met me. I’d remember.” Reed quirked a brow.

  Did they not believe him?

  “I know. I’ve never seen either of you before. But when some kids mentioned you, flashes of your lives and who you were came to me. I had to Find you.”

  Hannah brought her hand to her mouth, trembling. “Thank you.”

  Josh held her other hand. “You’re welcome. I don’t know why the two of you are so special, and why things worked the way they did. But I’m not unhappy about it. I’m glad I Found you.”

  Reed nodded and something flashed across his green eyes.

  Huh?

  Relief spread through him at their acceptances, but he didn’t know why he’d told them exactly. He’d never told another soul outside his family about his gift—if it could be called that. But it felt good—complete even—to do so with them.

  “I knew I smelled something different about you,” Reed murmured.

  “Are you saying I smell?” Josh fought the urge to sniff his dirty shirt and sat back slightly offended.

  “No, no.” Reed waved his hands. “I’m a wolf, remember? I have a better sense of smell, and while your scent was definitely human, it held a trace of something different. Now I know why.”

  “Oh.” Josh shrugged, feeling slightly better.

  “Were you always this way?” Hannah wondered aloud.

  Josh nodded. “I don’t remember not having this ability, so yes. And no, it wasn’t some military experiment or anything.”

  All three laughed, the tension of their conversation dissolving away.

  On an offhand thought, Josh closed his eyes and tried to Find Corbin, just to see if the bastard was close. But his vision grew hazy, almost at a disconnect.

  What the hell?

  He rubbed his temples as a headache set in.

  “What’s wrong, Josh?” Hannah asked.

  “I just tried to Find Corbin. But I think the wards or something is messing it up. Don’t worry; I’m sure it’s nothing.” The bite mark on his arm tingled, but Josh tried not to connect the two incidents. No, it was just the wards. It had to be. His Finding would come back, and everything would be normal. He’d go home. Alone.

  “You know, Josh, that’s a very useful talent,” Reed commented.

  Ice settled in Josh’s chest. “I won’t be used by anyone for anything.”

  Hurt crossed Reed’s face and Josh backed down. “That wasn’t what I meant. I’m sorry. I was just complimenting your gift. Not everyone can say they are useful in the world. I would never use you for myself or my Pack. And if they go against their nature and even think about using you, then they’d have to deal with me.” His eyes grew hard, threatening.

  “Me too,” Hannah added in, a fierce expression on her face.

  Warmth filled his chest at their promise of protection and acceptance. He’d never thought he’d ever tell anyone what he was, let alone feel as though they understood and wanted to know more. It was interesting to say the least.

  Josh let out a breath. “It’s okay. I’m sorry for overreacting. It’s just odd to have others know what I am, ya know?”

  Reed and Hannah looked at each other before smiling at him.

  Yeah, the wolf and the witch would know for sure.

  Hannah reached out and grabbed both of their hands, warmth infusing into his bones.

  He shouldn’t get used to this. He couldn’t get used to this.

  The windows rattled as the wind howled outside. Cold seeped underneath the panes and doorways, cooling the room considerably, despite the roaring fire. His arm rocked with pain, but he didn’t flinch because he didn’t want to worry the others.

  Reed went to the door, making sure it was secured. Hannah put another log on the fire, to keep the warmth from leeching to the outside. Josh looked through the windows to see the blizzard had come down on them. Fat snowflakes fell to the ground in a blur. The wind picked up, carrying snow-drifts and slamming them into the surrounding trees and walls of the cabin. The snow had already accumulated to what Josh estimated to be at least three feet—and counting.

  Shit, it looked as though they’d be stuck here for a lot longer than they wanted.

  Josh tried not to feel excited about sharing a small cabin with two people who drove up his sex drive faster than anything he’d ever felt, but he couldn’t do it.

  If he was going to be stuck with them indefinitely, he’d use it to his advantage. Even if it was going to kill him that much more to say goodbye when the time came.

  Hannah came up from behind him, putting her hand in his. “Thank you again, Josh.” He turned toward her. Tears filled her eyes, but they didn’t fall. “I don’t know what we would have done. The things they did to me were horrible. But I couldn’t watch them hurt Reed anymore.” A single tear fell, leaving a thin trail down her face.

  Josh wiped the tear from her cheek, hating to see her in pain. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that. But I’d Find you again if I had to.”

  Hannah looked down at the bite mark on his arm that throbbed with his heartbeat.

  “Yes, Hannah, I’d do everything again,” Josh stressed.

  “Thank you, Josh. For everything.” Reed came up behind Hannah holding her shoulder.

  Josh’s stomach grumbled, and he blushed. Well, that broke the moment.

  “Oh, you must be starving.” Hannah bit her lip. Damn she was cute, but why was she nervous? “Reed and I ate some canned green beans and carrots, but we aren’t really good cooks. There is a gas stove so we don’t have to worry about electricity. Oh, and plenty of frozen meat, starches, and canned goods. We just can’t put a meal together and not risk poisoning ourselves.”

  Reed shook his head, looking unrepentant. “What can I say? I’m good at bachelor food or going to one of my brothers’ houses. Plus my brother Jasper just mated Willow, who’s a baker. I’m in love with her cooking.” A light went on in his eyes, like he was remembering good food and fond memories.

  What would it be like to have a family that would feed you and give you such good memories? Josh just couldn’t comprehend that.

  “Well then, today’s your lucky day. I’m a pretty decent cook. I’m not gourmet or anything, but I’ll feed you.”

  Reed’s face brightened. “Thank God. I may be a wolf, but there is only so much meat I can eat without missing side dishes.”

  Hannah smiled then bit her lip. “I know. I’m not a wolf, so anything you can make would put me in your debt forever.”

  Josh liked the sound of that.

  “Oh,” Hannah continued. “if you ever need a potion or herb concoction, then I’m your girl.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” Josh said.

  “I can paint you a picture of our meal if you want, or something to add ambiance, but that’s about it,” Reed added in.

  Josh quirked a brow as he went to the pantry to find some potatoes. “You paint?” He went to the ice box and got lucky and found some frozen vegetables.

  Reed smiled. “I’m an artist.”

  “By that smile, I’d say you love it.” Hannah sat on the counter, watching Josh cut potatoes into cubes.

  Reed shrugged. “It’s my life. I’ve been doing it awhile; I love it.”

  Josh turned toward him while he browned some stew meat in a large skillet on the gas stove. “How long is awhile?”

  “About a century or so.”

  Hannah looked Reed up and down. “And you don’t look a day over ninety.”

  They broke out into laughter, not at all ill at ease with Reed’s age. What would it be like to be so long-lived?

  Josh shook his head to clear his thoughts. “So, Reed, tell me about your family. I heard you mention some of them, but I don’t remember them all.”

  “Oh, I have tons of family to go around.” Reed explained. “I have five brothers and one sister.”

  Hannah and Josh stood wide-eyed.

  “There are seven of you?” Josh asked.

  “Yep, my poor mother.”

  The
y chuckled at Reed’s answer.

  “Kade is the eldest,” Reed explained. “Then Jasper, Adam, me, the twins, Maddox and North, then our baby sister, Cailin.”

  “So many boys. How did your mom manage?” Hannah asked.

  “I don’t think the six of us were too bad. Cailin though is a trouble-maker. She’s just hitting her stride at twenty-three. I’m afraid to see what will happen when she gets older.”