Hunted

by Rebecca Zanetti

  Brenna bared her teeth, and a gray vein appeared along her smooth forehead. Her eyes were bloodshot. “I’m going to boil your heart to mush inside your body.”

  While Moira appreciated the sentiment, the fact her sister’s skin was becoming translucent from the collar clutched fear in her throat.

  Trevan squinted into the night and then straightened his shoulders. “Looks like it’s showtime.”

  Moira followed his gaze, her stomach clenching hard. A spotlight highlighted a large form at the bottom of the hill, his dark clothing a contrast to the white hammering hail. She sucked in air, using every ounce of her energy to throw thoughts into his mind. Stop, damn it.

  Why? Conn’s voice came through low and furious.

  She opened herself up wider. Pain slashed into her sides. His kidneys were not ready for battle. Sharpshooters and land mines. They’re too far down to be sensed.

  Stay tight, mate. I’ll set one off and discern the layout from that point.

  That’s stupid. She mentally raised her voice to a shriek. You’ll blow yourself up.

  Relax, woman. The dark form bunched and began climbing the hill in a zigzag pattern. How badly are you injured? Concern melded with pain in his voice.

  I’m not hurt. Just shackled to the wall and contained. So is Brenna. Boy, was she going to have to explain that one.

  Is Brenna injured?

  No. Bruised, pissed, and shackled.

  Why can’t you use magic to break the shackles? He grunted, pain exploding in his solar plexus. The figure came closer.

  I’ll explain later. Was that your lung? The man couldn’t run without a lung. His internal injuries were worse than even the doctor had realized.

  Think so. Need to concentrate now. See you in a minute.

  She opened her mouth to protest. Vampires could die by beheading, and vary rarely, from losing all their blood. That wouldn’t kill them instantly, but they’d go brain dead with no hope of recovery. How much blood had Conn already lost?

  An explosion rose above the storm. Fire billowed up from the ground followed by a sharp boom.

  Trevan jumped once, tightening his hand in a fist. “Finally. A damn mine.”

  Terror slammed Moira’s heart against her ribs. She peered out the window, forcing tears back. The hail had turned to snow, mingling with smoke from the explosion. Spotlights shifted to land on a figure lying prone. Conn.

  He rolled to the side and staggered to his feet. His head lifted. The silver of his eyes shone through the night, focusing on her.

  Moira struggled against the handcuffs, turning her wrists raw. Pain reached to her fingertips. “You’re a dead man, Trevan. Run now. But it won’t do you any good.”

  About halfway down the hill, Conn’s head swiveled one way and the other.

  Brenna gave a weak laugh. “He’s on to you, Trevan. He’ll decipher the configuration now.”

  Land mines, especially modified ones, needed to be buried in a pattern so they didn’t set each other off.

  Trevan nodded. “Yes.” He lifted the phone to his ear, pressing a button. Three breaths later, he said, “Shoot him.”

  “No!” Moira cried out, reaching for Conn in her head. Nothing but static filled her mind. Either her terror or his injuries were keeping them from communicating. Nausea gagged her. The numbness in her extremities had gotten worse. She eyed Brenna. “Are you going numb?” she mouthed.

  “Hours ago,” Brenna whispered.

  Moira bit her lip again to try and retain some clarity. The small pain didn’t help. What kind of damage might the collars do if left on too long? As far as she knew, once a witch was away from exposure, their powers returned. But most witches hadn’t spent time with the mineral touching their skin. “We’ll be all right.” Desperation had her yanking at the restraints, nearly pulling her shoulder out of joint. She needed to get free and help Conn.

  Shots rang out. He fell. More shots cascaded in quick succession. He struggled to his feet, staggering closer, and closer.

  “Fire!” Trevan yelled into the phone.

  A rapid volley of bullets fired through the air from high in the tree line. Conn’s body jerked with each one. Moira gasped at every impact, her body clenching. So much damage. He dropped to his knees. Pivoting, he turned and fired into the trees. A bellow echoed when someone crashed down.

  More flashes of fire lit the tops of the trees. There were too many shooters for Conn to get them all.

  “Stop them, Trevan. Please.” She wasn’t a woman who begged. But this time, she would.

  “Not a chance, Seventh.” Smug satisfaction coated Trevan’s smooth voice.

  Rage burned so fast through Moira her tears heated. “I don’t know when. I don’t know how. But someday, I’m going to rip your heart out of your body.” She said it as a threat, felt it as a vow.

  He turned slowly, his eyes darkening, his face paling. “Well then. Let’s hope the Kurjans arrive before I decide you’re an actual danger to me.”

  Oh, he understood the threat. “I’m the Seventh, Trevan. Don’t you ever forget it.” As if she could protect Conn with her eyesight alone, she searched for him through the falling snow. Spotlights lit the area, keeping him visible.

  He stumbled to his feet, leaving a river of red on the ground.

  God. He’d lost too much blood.

  Flashes of fire cascaded from the trees. More bullets impacted him. His body shuddered. Yet he stepped forward.

  So brave. Her mate. Love was too pale an idea to describe what flew through her. Power, destiny, fate commingled in an inferno that had her head snapping back. Gathering her strength, pretending she had more than she felt, she sent every ounce of her power careening through the air. Sent all the power of the Seventh, all the power of a mate, to help him. For one second, she believed she was stronger than phanakite. Stronger than her enemies. More powerful than death.

  Conn shot to his feet. His chest expanded. His shoulders snapped back, his head up, his chin down—ready to charge.

  A light pierced down from high above. A dark form swimming among the clouds. A helicopter.

  Oh God. Trevan’s backup.

  Trevan puffed out his chest. “Apparently our ride has arrived, ladies.” He pivoted to watch the scene outside where Conn had stopped to stare up at the circling beast. “Well, I guess we could wait for a couple moments as they blow your mate to miniature particles, Moira.” His exhale scattered fog across the window. “Even you won’t be able to reassemble him.”

  Pain and fear rippled through her so fast her knees buckled. She’d sent everything she had to Conn, and it wasn’t enough.

  The rapid smattering of gunfire filled the night, flashes of orange coming from the nearly silent helicopter. The spray careened into the tree line, igniting the tops of the fir trees into a billowing mass of fire. Into the tree line! A spotlight captured the beast, illuminating Jase as he leaned out, firing into the forest.

  Almost in slow motion, Moira turned her head toward the hill. Conn came running at them full bore, his chin down, his gaze on her.

  Trevan jumped back, yanking a gun from his waistband. He levered, aiming for her mate.

  With a flash of speed and the shattering of glass, Connlan Kayrs leaped through the window.

  Chapter 31

  Conn landed hard, glass shattering under his thick boots. Rage destroyed the strategic training he’d developed over centuries. Raw fury shoved temperance out of his heart. And fear, fear for the woman he loved, well now. That sent any humanity he may have owned straight to hell.

  His hand clenched around Trevan’s throat before the man could get off one more shot. A careless swipe of his arm had the witch’s gun skittering across the floor.

  Bleeding, nearly destroyed, working with half a demolished heart, Conn lifted his enemy with one hand, slamming the bastard down on the ground with all the force the universe contained.

  Demidov’s skull exploded like a melon.

  The animal Conn had become let loose w
ith a growl. He squeezed harder, ripping the head right off the already dead body. Then he flung it out the window.

  Rising, his fangs elongated, blood cascading down his cheeks, Conn searched for his mate. She leaned weakly against the wall, her hands shackled, her eyes huge pools of green in an entirely too pale face.

  His legs grew heavy as he stumbled toward her, the blood deserting his body, his veins going dry. The last thing in this world he’d do was free her. Enamel flew when he gritted his teeth and reached for the shackles.

  “Conn.” Her pretty eyes filled with tears. “Take off the collar. Please take off the collar.” Her voice came out breathy. Weak.

  He frowned, wrapping his hand around the small lock until it crumbled into pieces. His fingers shook as he undid the binding, sliding the black leather off her neck. Sparkles lined it. Quartz?

  She released more of a sigh than a breath. Her lashes fluttered while he unclasped the cuffs around her wrists. Two seconds later she reached for Brenna’s collar.

  Conn growled. He hadn’t seen Brenna. She’d been right there, and yet, he’d only seen Moira. His mate. He reached for Brenna’s restraints, releasing her wrists as Moira threw the collar across the room. Brenna sagged to a crouch, deep gasps of air coming from her, her hand trembling as she pushed back her hair.

  The room swayed. Or maybe that was him. A roaring filled his ears. Moira reached for him, her hands on his biceps.

  Wood dented when his knees hit the floor.

  The outside door splintered open, and he half turned to shield his mate.

  Jase jumped inside, already ripping his wrist open with sharp fangs. “Here.” He shoved the wound toward Conn’s mouth.

  The scent of blood filled Conn’s nostrils. Animalistic need filled his growl. He lunged for Jase’s arm, sinking his fangs deep. Drinking. Power shot into his mouth, into his veins. Straight to his heart, which most needed to heal. He released his hold, trying to force his canines out.

  Jase shoved his vein in harder. “Take more. I don’t need it.”

  Dage leaped through the door, his gaze taking in the entire scene. With two quick strides, he lifted Brenna off the floor, tearing the tape off her ankles. “Trevan’s reinforcements are coming. Get to the helicopter.”

  Moira staggered forward, grabbing one of Conn’s arms as Jase latched on to the other, hefting him up. Together, they assisted the half-conscious soldier outside. The helicopter’s blades threw snow and pinecones at them like small missiles. Pain smashed into her face, her heart beating too fast against her ribs.

  Even after drinking from Jase, Conn left a wide trail of blood through the snow. Yet he put each foot in front of the other, his head down, most of his weight leaning toward his brother.

  Where did he get such strength? As his mate, she could feel the pounding pain ripping like tendrils of death through his tissues, through his organs. And yet, he moved—with a pure force of will.

  “Not leaving you alone in this world,” he growled out, low and soft. Too soft.

  “I love you.” The words came from nowhere near her brain. Maybe not even her heart. From somewhere deeper. Not exactly the wine and roses moment.

  “I know. Get in the helicopter.” He released her to sag against Jase, waiting until she was safely inside before pulling his large body in next to her. Jase flanked him, facing outside, his gun aimed into the darkness.

  Dage placed Brenna in the copilot’s seat, jumped into his own, and snapped buttons on the ceiling to life. “Hold on, everybody. Jase, get ready.”

  The bird lifted in the air. Jase grabbed a grenade from his cargo pants, yanked the pin out with his teeth, and side armed the weapon through the mashed window into the hut. “Bye, Trevan.”

  The helicopter cleared the area just before a massive explosion blew the wooden sides of the cabin in all four directions. Fire rolled into the sky, followed by dark smoke.

  Heat sheeted across the windshield.

  Moira reached for Conn’s hand resting on his thigh. He flipped his palm around, tangling his fingers with hers. Holding on. “Are you all right, Dailtín?” he murmured.

  “Yes.” Hell no. Trevan had used a phanakite collar on her and Brenna. Weakness still threatened to steal her breath. She was discombobulated. Hopefully her mate wouldn’t catch on. She didn’t have time to go and rest in some hospital. “I need to get to Ireland, Connlan.” She stiffened, expecting a fight.

  “I know.” Conn opened his eyes. “What’s the plan, Dage?”

  Dage banked left, heading toward Trevan’s main house and descending. Fire lit the trees on every side. “Talen took Cara and the baby for medical help. Kane and Jase will stay here and go through the rest of Trevan’s holdings, make sure we didn’t miss anything or anybody.” The helicopter touched down with a slight bump, sending wafts of snow into the air. “I have a plane prepared for you to escort the members of the Nine as well as Moira and Brenna to Ireland. The Coven Nine is waiting.” Grim and angry, the king’s voice promised the meeting wouldn’t be pleasant.

  Jase jumped out, nodding at Kane near the other helicopter.

  Moira frowned. “You said members of the Coven Nine.”

  “Yes.” Dage tilted his head toward where Kane assisted two women from the back seat. “Simone and Grace.”

  Moira gasped. “Grace is alive?” Trevan had said Moira was the first survivor of his transporting kidnapping plan. Lying bastard.

  “Yes.” Dage pressed a couple buttons on the console. “We found her in a closet, wounded, with some weird collar around her neck.” His eyes met Moira’s in the mirror. “Looked like quartz, and I’m assuming an explanation will be forthcoming soon.”

  The king assumed wrong. Moira struggled to slide open her door. Conn tightened his hold. “Stay still, sweetheart.” While his head rested against the seat and his eyes remained closed, the command held bite. Her mate was regaining his strength. Well, that was probably good.

  She turned her focus through the open doorway on his other side, where Kane assisted Grace and Simone toward the craft. Grace’s pale face held a myriad of fresh purple bruises. Her long scarlet skirt brushed the dirty snow, turning the bottom into a sooty mess. A circular green tinge marred her neck.

  Moira grabbed her throat, scrubbing the skin.

  “You have a green mark,” Conn said, not moving.

  How long would the color last? Moira reached across Conn to help Simone into the helicopter. “Are you all right?”

  Simone nodded, quickly wincing. “Yes, just a small headache. Cara will be fine. Talen shoved his vampire vein into her mouth immediately.”

  Moira sighed. “I assume Talen is beyond grateful you tried to jump in front of her and take the bullet?” The realization hit that she didn’t know her cousin at all. Simone hadn’t given a second thought to forfeiting her life for Cara’s or the babe’s.

  “I wasn’t fast enough.” Simone sighed, resting back, her pose similar to Conn’s. “I want to go home.” She scooted in farther to allow room for Grace, whose hands were visibly trembling. Kane shut the door behind her, slapping the outside twice before jogging to safety.

  Dage pulled back on the throttle and they lifted into the air. Blinking lights from the controls flicked across his strong profile. Brenna snuggled down in the copilot’s seat. “Wake me when we arrive at the plane,” she whispered.

  Moira fought her own eyelids closing. The phanakite collar had truly drained her. But sleep seemed an unwise luxury. She needed to get her thoughts in order before meeting with the council. As Conn’s breathing evened out next to her, she glanced across the bench at Grace. “How did you survive the transporting?”

  The councilwoman waved bruised knuckles in the air. Apparently she’d fought back. “I’m not sure. I imagined a safety bubble around myself, and suddenly a light pierced the darkness.” She gingerly fingered her neck. “He gave me a collar.” Her deep blue eyes widened and she angled toward Moira. “Is Trevan really dead?”

  “Yes.” Moira ke
pt her face bland. The man may have been a councilmember, but she felt nothing at his death. He’d turned his back on all of them.

  Grace put a fist to her mouth. “Good.” Tears filled her eyes, and she turned away to the storm outside her window.

  Moira lacked the energy to comfort. Her eyelids closed and she snuggled closer to her mate. Maybe she’d relax her eyes for a moment. While her body went limp in exhaustion, her mind spun.

  She was missing something.

  Before she could figure out what it was, the helicopter touched down. The snow had given way to a light smattering of rain across the tarmac. The battle-weary group exited the vehicle almost in slow motion, staggering, limping, and stumbling into the jet already humming with power and ready to go.

  The main cabin held eight thick leather chairs facing a wide screen. Dage gently placed Brenna in one, sliding it open to form a bed and grabbing blankets from an overhead bin to tuck her in. Simone assisted Grace and then grabbed her own place. Moira leaned against the side, her mind spinning. Tired. So damn tired.

  Dage stalked back toward them. His fangs shot out, and he ripped into his wrist. The musky scent of blood filled the space.

  Conn opened his mouth to protest, and Dage pinned him to the wall with a forearm to the neck. The entire plane rocked with the force of their powerful bodies. His wrist smacked against Conn’s lips. “Take some blood or I’m going to kill you.”

  Moira backed out of the way.

  Conn’s eyes swirled silver, then narrowed. He bit down, amusement lighting his face at Dage’s harsh intake of breath. A healthy flush worked across his cheekbones. His nostrils flared when he finished drinking.

  Dage released him. “Moira. Do you need blood?”

  Moira started in surprise. She felt pretty woozy. Her throat ached like she had a horrible cold. But combining vampire blood with whatever reaction she’d had from the collar seemed risky. “No. But thanks.”

  “All right.” The king pivoted. “Conn, take your mate to the back bedroom. You both have twelve hours to rest. I expect your heart and at least one lung healed by the time you set down. I’ll secure headquarters and then call in during the meeting with the Nine. Good luck.” He slammed the door shut and jogged down the steps to the tarmac.