Green shadow, p.34
Green Shadow, page 34
“He’s had a long time to mess with my mind. I’m not sure I can….” I lost my words as Ben sent another blast of verbal diarrhea into my brain.
Why should I trust the dragon? He abandoned me once, and he will do it again. He’s a threat.
Stumbling, I moaned and sank to my knees.
Lucan caught me. Cupping my face, he brushed his lips against my forehead. “I’ve got this.” Then, releasing me, he stood and stalked toward the mind mage. My knees shook as I fought to stay down. Ben’s influence over my mind urged me to stop Lucan at any cost.
All of us were close enough I heard every word they exchanged.
“Time to end this,” Lucan said, and Ben laughed.
“You wouldn’t want her if you knew everything. You wouldn’t touch her.”
His mental assaults changed. He couldn’t get me to protect him, so instead, he was drowning me in self-doubt. You don’t deserve Lucan. You’re a murderer, and he will never love you. Besides, you were unfaithful. You kissed another man and let the third use you to try and create a child—you’re tainted.
The mental taunts continued, and the world around me lost focus. I was drowning mentally. The negative thoughts stuck on a loop that sucked me deeper and deeper. I struggled to swim against the current. I was fighting to get my head above water. But I couldn’t. It was too overwhelming. And I sank deeper into the darkness of my mind.
Then, a speck of light pierced the inky black. It was followed by a wave of love so intense that it pushed the negative thoughts back enough for me to break free. My awareness of the outside world returned just in time to hear Lucan say:
“I know far more than you think, and I still choose her every time.”
His compassion and understanding traveled down our connection. I hung my head, unable to look at him. Lucan knows. I didn’t know how. But Lucan knew at least some of the horrors I’d faced. He knew, and he still chose me.
Another chunk of darkness fell away, unable to cling to that section of my mind.
Ben’s smile dimmed. “Fine. Have my sloppy seconds. She’s a boring lay anyway.”
Disgust quickly overshadowed Lucan’s surprise. Not at me, no. The bond allowed me to separate intent far easier than before. Instead, his ire was all aimed at Ben.
Out of patience, Lucan went on the offensive.
Chapter 42
Lucan
The maggot before me didn’t realize he was dead. He had tortured and abused my mate for months, and now, he disparaged her. Whatever she had done to survive, she shouldn’t feel like it was something to be ashamed of.
But she did. I could feel it coming through the bond. She hated that she hadn’t fought and gave the perception of giving in. But she had protected her mind and her heart, and they were far more precious than her body.
My dragon went icily calm when the worm called her sloppy seconds as if she wasn’t a person but some item to be passed around. Coldness seeped through me. It dampened the rage and brought clarity to my mind, all without extinguishing the fire that burned within, the one that gave me strength.
I charged. This mage would learn the consequences of messing with a dragon’s mate.
A tickle itched at the walls erected by the shield charm I wore against Jasper’s influence. I growled. My eyes burned as the world became tinged in blue. Ben was trying to enter my mind and influence my thoughts. Not today.
Panic settled over the mage’s face as he realized my mind wasn’t open to him. I grinned a feral smile as he took a step back. It wasn’t enough. Crossing the distance that separated us, I lashed out with my fists.
He lunged out of the way, crying out as my knuckles struck hard enough to part skin. My dragon roared, glad we’d blooded our prey.
Ben’s eyes widened. He was a bully who couldn’t intimidate me, and I’d hurt him. That brought his true self to the surface, and it was of a boy consumed by fear. Because, like most bullies, he was also a coward.
Ben backed away, and I let him, taking my time to stalk him at a sedate pace. I could taste his fear mixed with rage. It wasn’t my usual tactic. I was usually too empathetic, but this worm had earned whatever my dragon had in store.
“Come now, we can be reasonable?” he stammered his hands in front of him—palms towards me in a placating gesture. “I can be useful to you. I have information.”
I didn’t care what he had. I could get it another way. “You have nothing I want. You should have made better life choices, worm.” My voice was low and gravelly as the dragon spoke through me.
“You don’t know what it’s like in that hellhole.” He tried to appeal, his hand’s fisting and his eyes filling with tears.
“You had the same chances as others, and you took the easy path.” I let my power out, and it flowed from me in waves. “I can taste your emotions, feel their intent. You aren’t sorry for what you’ve done. You revel in the pain you’ve caused.”
The mage clenched his teeth together. Then, as if a switch flipped in his head, he smiled. It was a cruel tilt of his lips. This man was a psychopath who enjoyed hurting others, enjoyed causing pain.
“She didn’t scream for months, you know. I kept having to do more and more, even to make her cringe. But in the end, she broke. She cried and begged. It was the most exquisite rapture.” A gleam of ecstasy dried his fake tears. His tone was also odd, a note of anticipation coming through. I tensed, not knowing what to expect.
Glancing around, my stomach dropped in horror. I’d been so focused on my prey; I’d stopped paying attention to my surroundings.
Ben took off sideways in a sprint, coming up behind Mackenzie. She was still on her knees, her face contorted as she fought the insidious whispers. So, intent on fighting her mental battle, she didn’t notice when Ben came up behind her, the dagger clutched in his hand resting on her collarbone.
Freezing, I lifted a hand towards the other half of my soul.
“That’s right. Stay where you are. This bitch and I are leaving. If you try to stop me, I will end her.” He ran the tip of the dagger along her skin. “Makes no difference to me. They offered a bounty on her, dead or alive.”
Frantically my mind scrambled for a solution—a way to end this. I looked over Ben’s shoulders at the others. We were winning, but everyone was engaged in battle, and no one was spare to help us. I was on my own.
I looked at Mackenzie and met her gaze with mine. Her eyes pulsed with power, and a tinge of purple streaked through the green. Don’t worry. A distinctly male voice echoed in my head. He’s in our trap now.
Saber’s mind voice came through strong, and Mackenzie’s lips twitched. Searching down the bond, I felt another presence, another connection. My dragon grumbled at the thought of sharing her, but I didn’t care. If Saber could protect her mind, I was more than happy to foster their connection.
Not that I would ever tell the fleabag.
“Get up.” The mage poked my mate, and she stumbled to her feet. She swayed, and amusement leaked down our bond. She was faking it.
Clutching her head, she moaned. Saber snickered in my mind, and I had to fight not to let his amusement spill into me.
Ben poked her again. This time with the knife. “Move.” She stumbled toward the arena wall. I glanced up where a lip separated the seating from the pit floor. A shadow moved, and two glowing purple eyes stared back at me.
My dragon snorted and grumbled. The cat was going to steal our prey. But his protests were halfhearted at best. We both knew Saber needed this. He needed to do something to prove he wasn’t a coward and that he would protect his friends and family, even when it was hard.
Ben kept his focus on me, but he’d missed my glance and stayed oblivious to the danger above. Saber crouched, his two tails flicking slightly. When the mage finally got in range, he descended with devastating force.
They’d timed it to near perfection. When Saber went airborne, Mackenzie dropped and rolled out of the way. Ben slashed out, nicking her with his knife before being crushed by two-hundred and fifty pounds of pissed-off cat.
Screams erupted from the trapped man as Saber placed a giant paw on his chest and shifted his massive weight. Bones cracked as the cat shattered his ribs.
The screams died, becoming a gurgling labored wheeze. Ben was a goner. The only variable was how long Saber would let him suffer.
Turns out, not long.
Staring him right in the eye, Saber opened his maw and crushed Ben’s skull. Then, stepping off the dead mage, the feline leaned down and brushed his face in the sand, dislodging the gore.
The cat and I reached Mackenzie simultaneously, and the feline wasted no time rubbing against her, purring loud enough to bring down the stadium. She patted his head and gently stroked his ears in silent communication.
I watched her comfort the beast with kind affection. Then, unable to help myself, I brushed a strand of hair pulled loose from her braid behind her ear.
She smiled at me. It didn’t quite reach her eyes, but that was okay. Together we would work on mending the fractures in her psyche.
I will let the others know the battle is won and it is safe for the cubs to come out. Saber took a running leap, landed back in the stands, and melted into the shadow as he went.
“He has telepathy. He could tell Curtis from here,” I shook my head with a smile.
Mackenzie’s answering grin was more genuine. But there was a sadness in her tone when she spoke. “It was his first kill. The predator in him wasn’t bothered by it. But the sentient being, the one who’s molding himself off the people around him, worries we will think less of him for his actions.”
I snorted. “If Saber hadn’t, I would have.”
She nodded. “That’s what I said. I told Saber that some deaths are justified. There is greater evil in allowing them to live.” She tried to stand and made it to her feet. “He’ll come to terms with it in time.” Her legs shook, and I placed an arm around her waist.
“We will make sure he knows that he is family, no matter what,” I said as we slowly made our way over to the crowd.
Leaning against me, her joy at my words permeated my soul. It was so infectious. I gave into the need that had built from the moment our bond snapped into place. Slowly tilting my face towards her, I gave her a chance to retreat. She didn’t. Instead, she surged forward and took my lips with hers, and we forgot the rest of the world for a moment.
Chapter 43
Mackenzie
Lucan’s arms felt nice around my waist. The way his lips moved over mine caused heat to pool in my core. For once, all my worries disappeared, and I was wholly in the moment.
That lasted until the catcalls made it through.
“Woo, hoo… you go, girl.” Crystal yelled from the middle of the sandy pit. Bodies lay around her in a testament to the Stone shifter’s strength.
Rushing over, she pulled me into a bruising hug. A blush burned my cheeks as she carried me to the group. I lowered my eyes, trying desperately to get my coloring under control.
Crystal set me down, and I searched for Alec. He was walking between the injured mercenaries, both allies and enemies alike. Stopping to lay a hand on someone, he made sure they were stable, then moved on. Quinn followed him, a silent, menacing shadow.
Fondness wafted through the bond, and when I looked, Lucan was watching my brother as well. I missed a lot.
A pang of sadness gripped my heart.
Lucan wandered over and took one of my hands, giving it a gentle squeeze.
Smiling at him, I turned back to the group. Sam broke off from the crowd. A long cut ran down the side of his face. Alec must have tended him first because the wound looked days old.
“Sam,” I said when he got close. My hands wrung, betraying my nervousness.
“Kenzie,” his eyes softened, and the corners of his mouth slanted up in the barest of curves.
“I’m so sorry, Sam,” I started, but he waved a hand.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. I, we, are all glad you’re okay. We missed you.” Reaching forward, he pulled me into a brief hug. My wrist twisted at an odd angle because Lucan refused to let go of my hand. Sam released me and took a step back. With a nod to Lucan, he went back to the celebrating crowd.
Crystal was now with her mate, Holden. She noticed me looking and waved but continued her conversation with Chris and Karlos. Kevin stood tall next to Cam. His hair was shorter, and though he still mainly wore black, there was a maturity to his face that had been missing. He spoke with Liz, and the usual sneer and haughty air were gone. I pointed it out to Lucan.
He chuckled. “Kevin has grown a lot. Cam is a harsh taskmistress.” His thumb rubbed circles across my knuckles. “He’s changed for the better.” A sly look crinkled the corner of his eyes. “You’ll see for yourself.” A playful air wrapped around Lucan. A lightness that had always been missing when I’d met him before.
I hit him in the chest with an open palm. “I’m glad he’s finding his place.”
Shadow detached himself from the group, a bewildered expression on his face. My guildmates clapped him on the back as he passed, accepting the assassin as an extension of me. Not used to the camaraderie, the man was well off his stride. He stopped next to us.
“This is what they took you from?” His tone was low, covering only the distance between him and me.
I nodded. “Yeah. My guildmates,” a wave of fondness covered the sadness I’d felt earlier, “Can be a bit much at times, but I wouldn’t trade them for anything.”
I shifted from foot to foot nervously. With the three of us alone, my mind returned to the kiss in the field. What will Lucan do when he finds out? I couldn’t help tensing at the thought of hurting him with my actions.
Lucan sent soothing calm through the bond. He was content to wait for me to share, and whatever I had to tell him, it wouldn’t change anything. I sighed.
“I can see why you rebelled. I would have fought harder if I’d known this before being taken.” I only caught the wistfulness he leaked because I was looking.
“What will you do now?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I have been a captive since I was six. I’m not sure I know how to live in the outside world.” The living shadows swirled with his agitation.
A yowl echoed from the stands, diverting our attention. A child’s shriek, one of pure glee, accompanied the cat’s cry.
We looked up into the seating area. Saber loped along the ledge, surefooted. On his back rode Evie. Clutching Saber with her knees, she held her familiar in front of her. The smaller feline looked suitably unimpressed. Evie’s face, however, was alight with joy.
Saber saw us and angled his head toward the girl. She leaned down across his back, and her knees clutched him even tighter. Then, bunching his legs, he leaped, soaring through the air, and landing on the fine sand with innate grace, the passengers on his back barely moving.
Evie squealed in delight, then looked at us, her eyes shining. Joy filled me. She deserved this freedom even more than I did.
Evie’s eyes widened, and her lips parted in an O shape. She jumped off Saber’s back, leaving her familiar behind, and raced across the ground.
Shadow’s eyes pooled with tears. He knelt to meet the speeding child, arms wide open. When she was a few feet from him, she pushed off the ground. A cry escaped her. “Daddy!”
Shadow swept her into his embrace and squeezed her tight to his chest. “Evelyn, baby. It’s okay. Daddy has you.” He whispered the words between kissing her hair and brushing away her tears.
I stood stunned. Never in a million years did I see this coming. But as I looked closer, the connection became more evident. Evie had her father’s nose and his dimples. Only now apparent because, for the first time since I’d met the man, a wide genuine smile graced Shadow’s face.
Father and daughter turned to me. Both incandescent with their joy. “I think proper introductions are in order,” Shadow said.
“We knew each other once,” Shadow started, “before being taken. We lived at the same orphanage.”
Memories started to assault me. A boy and girl walked out of the crowd, taking my hand and making me a part of their little crew.
“They took Miyu and me in the same batch as you. The three of us refused to be separated.” He patted his daughter’s hair as she snuggled into him.
I’d forgotten that, forgotten him.
“Miyu developed powers first. They took her away and told us she’d died. I didn’t find out for years that she’d survived.” Pain etched his features at the memory.
I strained, trying to remember her. But other than fragments, I’d lost the memories of the time before I went cold.
“I came into power next.” He looked away, his eyes focusing on something the rest of us couldn’t see.
I shook my head, cutting him off. “No, I did. I hid it. Afraid Dr. Smith would separate us.” That startled him. “When they took you and told me you were dead, I lost it and couldn’t control my magic.” Shadow shook his head but accepted my account.
“The earthquake?” He cocked an eyebrow.
I crossed my arms. “Fuck you. I was grieving.”
Shadow placed his hands on either side of Evie’s head.
“Little ears!” He chastised.
Evie giggled, and I couldn’t help smiling. Lucan went stiff beside me. I searched out our bond to see what he was feeling. He was barely controlling his dragon and the beast’s rage. Patting his arm, I murmured, ‘It’s in the past.’
Shadow’s face became serious again. “They started the breeding program just before you escaped the first time. Miyu and I were reunited and paired.” He drifted off, his eyes going soft with affection. They fell in love.
“She was like Evelyn. The elemental of spirit magic. She didn’t survive the birth.”
Evie’s face crumpled. Lucan let go of me and knelt.
“It’s not your fault,” he stated, his blue eyes boring into hers. Evie looked away, not accepting his comment.
