Pack bound, p.20
Pack Bound, page 20
‘You were strong in other ways, my love.’
Morrigan looked up, a tear sliding down her cheek. ‘But it wasn’t enough.’ She took a deep breath, her green eyes endless pools of sadness, piercing Skye with her plea. A plea for understanding; a plea to forgive her for what she’d done. She held her hands in front of her, like a penitent at the altar.
Skye couldn’t move. She was numb—her whole body; her mind. She clutched at her stomach and asked the only question she could. ‘And River? Is he in danger from them?’
‘Only through you. They realised he had no magic when they tried to kidnap you. They were going to kill him, but your grandpa saved him. He was damaged, though. You were young so you probably don’t fully remember how he was. He is so much better since we got him on the right medication. The rages—they were so frightening. He tore apart rooms, hurt himself … and others.’
‘I remember.’ How could you forget the person you loved more than anything else in your life wrapping his hands around your neck and trying to choke the breath out of you? She closed her eyes against that memory. River wasn’t that person—at least, he mostly wasn’t that person—and she didn’t want to remember him as such. ‘Is that because he can’t change into a wolf? If he’s not affected by the Curse, then why can’t he change? I know you don’t like the Were. Did you do something to him to stop him from changing?’
Morrigan’s lip wobbled, but she shook her head. ‘I don’t hate the Were. I ran away from them and my family because I felt useless and trapped. But River is precious to me. He has taken the place of my son in my heart. And it’s the greatest sadness to me that we didn’t stop the coven before they caused the injury to the part of his brain that enables the change. It was my dream that you would be able to fix the damage with your magic, but your power was too dangerous, too unstable, and always seemed to make him worse when you used it around him.’
For a long moment, Skye was speechless. ‘Why can’t I remember any of this?’
‘You were so traumatised by what happened that you lost your memory of your life before, including your training. It put us all in such danger. You know what you did to River.’
An image of River—long gangly legs and dark auburn hair hanging in his face, a “Happy tenth birthday, Skye and River” sign hanging in the background behind him—sprang into her mind. But rather than bringing a smile to her face as it did when she remembered his whole, handsome, unscarred face, she gasped, stuffing her fist into her mouth to stop a scream. That was the day he’d choked her—his temper lashing out because she’d accidently broken a new toy. It was also the day she’d fought back, flames lashing out, hitting him, catching his shirt alight and turning his auburn hair into a true fiery blaze as he stumbled away from her.
Skye bit her knuckle as she struggled away from the horror of that memory. The sharp pain helped. Sucking in a deep breath, she dropped her hand and asked, ‘Why did you keep me with you if I’m such a danger to him? I know you care for him as you never cared for me. Why didn’t you send me away?’
Morrigan’s eyes widened. ‘I don’t love him more. It’s just, despite his problems, he’s far easier for me to deal with than you.’
‘What do you mean? I don’t remember being particularly difficult.’ In fact, she’d been the model granddaughter for most of her youth, trying hard to receive any praise from her grandmother and always falling short.
‘You weren’t difficult. The difficulty was in me. Looking at you, being around you, knowing that because of me, you were living a life more repressed than the one I’d tried to escape. If I was harsh with you, it was simply because I was torn apart by my guilt.’ She looked up, wringing her hands. ‘Your grandpa was always so much better at loving guilt free than I.’
Alfrere leaned over and took Morrigan’s hands in his to still their wringing. ‘You did the best you could.’ He stared at Skye. ‘You should be grateful.’
Morrigan’s guilt and pain were so clear, so real, they reverberated in her chest. ‘I’m sorry. It’s just … so much to take in.’
Morrigan held Skye’s gaze. ‘This is the worst way for you to find out and I know it’s hard to take in, but I need you to understand the danger.’ Her lips trembled as she took a deep breath, her expression making fear skitter up and down Skye’s spine. ‘I need you to allow Alfrere to tighten Harrison’s spell. And then I need you to run.’
‘What? I’m not going to run.’
‘You have to, Skye. There’s no other choice. The rogue coven are too powerful. I have no magic and can’t fight them. Alfrere can only do so much.’ She squeezed his hand.
‘But I can’t. What about River? If my powers could help him—’
‘It’s too late for that. Besides, they’re not interested in him without you. I will make certain he stays safe. I promise.’
Skye looked wildly around the room. ‘You may not have magic, but you know about it. Can’t you teach me how to use my powers so I know how to control them? I’m not a child anymore. If I know how to use them, then surely that means no one else can use me?’
‘That would take years of study and we simply don’t have the luxury of time. The rogue coven has found you. I have no idea why they haven’t made a move already—maybe they’re trying to figure out what we did to your powers—but we’ve got to be thankful they’re being circumspect and take the opportunity to bind your magics tightly again before you disappear.’
‘But … but … my friends. My business …’ She knew she’d told Jason that she’d run, but she hadn’t been truly serious. ‘I can’t just up and leave.’
‘I can give you time,’ Alfrere said. ‘A few days at most. You can wrap things up, say goodbye.’
‘If you can do that, why can’t you do it for longer? Why do I have to run?’
‘Because I am simply not strong enough to be able to keep a shield up for more than a few days. Not over you. Your magics are too … unique and intense. It would be impossible to hide them for long in this way.’
‘Can’t Jason and his pack protect me if I give them the power they need? Jason inferred it was his job to keep me and River safe.’
‘They couldn’t stop the rogue coven from killing your parents and trying to kidnap you when they had the full power of your father behind them. What makes you think they can protect you now—with an untried Alpha to guide them and a witch who was never trained and whose powers have always been uncertain and unstable?’
‘But won’t Jason’s pack be in danger if I block off my magics entirely and run? The curse he spoke of—’
‘Are they more important to you than your twin? Think, Skye. If you are alive, the Curse can’t fully unfold. But if the rogue coven finds River, they won’t stop at using him to draw you to them. Alfrere and I can protect him, but not if you are here too, giving us away.’
‘Who do you want to save?’ Alfrere asked. ‘River—or some pack that wants to enslave you?’
Skye’s lips trembled as tears fell down her face to plop in her lap. ‘But why me? Why do they want me?’
‘Because you are a twin and your twin holds no magic.’ Alfrere pointed at her. ‘Inside you lies the power of two people. That’s why they want you.’
Skye’s mind spun. The power of two people? She had River’s share as well? ‘Is that dangerous?’
‘Very. It shouldn’t be possible. You are unnatural—’
‘Alfrere!’ Morrigan snapped.
‘She needs to know the truth.’ He turned to watch her. ‘You could be the most powerful witch ever known. More powerful than Bridgette Colliere herself. And if those powers aren’t kept in check, if they are allowed to fall into the wrong hands …’ He shook his head. ‘Then you could become a tool more dangerous to humankind than any we have ever known.’
Skye sucked in a breath as if she’d been punched.
‘There’s no need to be cruel, Alfrere. Skye is not to blame for her powers. She needs our help.’
Morrigan was suddenly before her, holding her hands. ‘I’m sorry Alfrere told you that, Skye. It wasn’t fair.’
‘But it was true. Wasn’t it?’
‘Yes. It’s true.’ Morrigan’s eyes filled with sorrow. ‘But Harrison is right. You are not to blame. And we will help you. If you let us.’
Skye shook her head, wiping her hand across her face, trying to get rid of the tears that wouldn’t stop falling, wishing she had a tissue because snot ran from her nose.
Alfrere appeared at her side, handing her a tissue. ‘What I said was cruel. Please forgive me.’
Skye could only nod as she took the tissue. She couldn’t seem to find the words. There were none.
Morrigan touched Skye on the shoulder. ‘Are you okay?’
Skye wanted to lie down on the floor, curl up in a ball, shut her eyes, plug her ears and never move again. Instead, she gritted her teeth and forced herself to face the woman who had made her life hell for reasons of protection, and the man who would make it worse for the same reasons.
She folded her shaking hands over her equally shaking legs. ‘Just tell me what I have to do.’
Alfrere nodded. ‘Unless we take immediate precautions, members of our old coven will find a time to catch you alone, bind you to them by trapping the magic you’re dripping like a leaky tap, and take you back with them. If they were to capture one of the Were too, they could use his presence to influence the drip of magic and break the spell binding your magic.’
Morrigan pursed her lips. ‘Alfrere can put a shield around you to hide you from those with evil intent. But that will only last for a few days. Once that time has passed, you will have to come back to us and he will properly bind your magic by feeding it into a shield that will make you invisible to any but humans without a skerrick of magical talent. It will also make you invisible to the Were and your Wiccan friends. To all intents and purposes, you will disappear. Then you will have to make a new life for yourself somewhere far from here.’
‘Alfrere’s binding will be painful, love, but necessary. I think it’s the only way to keep you safe.’
‘So, shall we begin?’ Alfrere asked.
‘Trust them, love.’
Skye clenched her hands in her lap. Even though she wasn’t on the run yet, she felt more alone than ever before. But there was only one answer she could give, even though it would kill a part of her soul to agree to their plan.
Nodding, she looked Alfrere in the eye. ‘Okay.’
20
Skye screamed.
Her grandpa had said it would be painful, but she hadn’t imagined this. When Alfrere had begun the binding spell a few minutes before, her skin had tingled with a thousand painful prickles. But quickly, too quickly, the prickles turned into claws.
‘Don’t struggle, Skye,’ Morrigan said. ‘It’s just the old spell fighting the presence of the new one. If you resist, it will make it worse and it won’t work.’
Her grandmother’s words wavered around like mist in a fog.
Another scream tore from her throat. The pain was so great she thought she was being flayed. She struggled, her limbs twitching, spasms wracking her body. ‘Stop. Please stop.’
‘He can’t stop.’ Her grandpa’s voice was a soothing whisper in her ear that parted the fog of pain in her brain. ‘It must be done. For your protection. For River’s protection.’
She stopped struggling as hard. ‘River,’ she breathed. ‘River.’ She gritted her teeth and bore the pain, for him.
It went on, interminably, despite Morrigan’s constant assurances that it would be over soon. Alfrere muttered words, his hands moving, weaving his spell around her. The fetters of it were hot brands clamping around her mind, making her cry out despite her efforts not to fight. Black nothing began to descend.
‘Will it be enough?’
‘She’s so strong. I can only make it hold for a little while.’
‘Do your best, Alfrere.’
Pain lashed into her. Black nothing carried her away.
‘Skye? Skye? Can you hear me?’
Skye heard Morrigan’s voice as if she was under water. She struggled up, out of the black, past the fog. Had she passed out? Her body was still wracked with pain, a terrible headache crushing her skull. ‘Skye. It’s over.’
Thank God. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked up to see Morrigan and Alfrere hovering over her. She was lying on the floor. She must have fallen off the couch. She couldn’t remember.
She rose unsteadily to her feet, her stomach trembling with nausea.
‘Skye, you should sit.’
‘No,’ she mumbled. ‘Visit River now.’
They didn’t try to stop her as she stumbled out of the room. She was relieved. She had to get away from them. They might have done what was necessary, and she might have let them, but right now she just needed some space. And she needed to see River.
‘Miss Skye. I thought you might need something sugary.’
Skye spun around just as she reached the stairs to see Ferris holding out a glass of Coke on a tray. Sighing in relief, she backtracked towards him and, with a smile, grabbed the glass, downing it in one go. ‘Thanks, Ferris. I needed that.’
He didn’t even blink. ‘I can see that, miss. Shall I get you something to eat?’
The Coke had helped the nausea, but she didn’t think she could face food. ‘No. Thanks.’ She shuddered, her nerves still twitching. ‘I just want to see River and then I want to go home and go to bed.’
‘Very wise, miss.’
She became aware of a dog howling outside. ‘What’s that, Ferris?’
‘One of the neighbours’ dogs, I suspect, miss. Or it could be a stray wandering somewhere nearby. It started howling about ten minutes ago. Is it bothering you?’
‘It sounds like it’s in pain.’
‘I’ll call the council. They’ll have words to the owner or pick it up if it’s a stray.’
He turned, but she stopped him, hand on his arm. ‘Don’t, Ferris. I don’t want the dog catcher to get it if it’s a stray.’ For some reason, that didn’t seem right.
‘I thought you didn’t like dogs, miss.’
An image flashed in her mind of her rolling on the ground with a large wolfish-looking dog, pulling its ears, ruffling its rust-coloured fur, laughing as its bushy tail tickled her bare leg. She smiled at the image that seemed so familiar it was almost a memory. But she had never played with a dog like that.
Or perhaps she had. Could that have been River in his wolf form? How could she have gone from playing with a wolf to being so frightened of dogs—and by association, wolves—that just thinking of them made her heart race? Had the dog that attacked her been one of the Were or a normal dog?
‘Miss? Are you okay?’
Skye blinked at Ferris. He held her arm, as if holding her up. The howling outside intensified. It pulled at her, making her want to go outside and find that dog and hold it to her breast, petting it until the agony that made it sound like it was dying faded away.
But that was insane.
‘I’m fine, Ferris.’ She pulled out of his grip and stepped back. ‘You’re right. I don’t like dogs. But I can’t stand to hear something in pain either.’
‘Neither can I, miss.’ He reached out and touched her hand, squeezing her fingers for a brief second before letting go.
Tears pricked her eyes and she turned away, unwilling to lose control again. She’d already cried far more today than she had in years. She didn’t want to cry again.
‘Why don’t you head up and visit Master River, miss? I’ll send up some sandwiches just in case you get hungry. Master River might be well enough to want to eat now, too.’
Giving in to impulse, she kissed his soft, wrinkled cheek, and then scurried up the stairs as fast as her still aching limbs would carry her, to her brother and the only sanctuary she’d ever found in this house—River’s rooms.
Careful not to make too much noise—he was always so sensitive to sound, especially after one of his episodes—she unlocked the door then opened it, grateful that the hinges didn’t creak like they sometimes did. Slipping into the room, she closed the door behind her with barely a snick of sound.
Even so, River groaned.
He lay on his bed, arms and legs strapped down by thick, strong straps of leather attached to the steel frame of the bed.
It always reminded her of a scene in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. She hated it, but knew the necessity, now more than ever. Her lip curled as she looked at him. If she could go out and find that rogue coven, she’d kill every single last member for causing the accident that made her brother like this. But now wasn’t the time for such hatred. River needed her to be calm.
As she moved closer, he whipped his head to the side, the tendons and veins standing out like fine lines of bruises on his pale skin as he struggled against the straps. He snarled, his mouth and features contorted into something that was more animal than human, and opened his red-rimmed eyes, the left one pulled down at the corner by the burn scars that twisted across the left side of his face and into his hairline like obscene tentacles. There was a fine sheen of sweat on his forehead and his light blue T-shirt was plastered to his chest.
His nostrils flared as he breathed in deeply then all the tension released from his body and he flopped back against his damp sheets. In a voice hoarse with screaming, he whispered, ‘Skye.’
‘River.’ Her voice caught on the lump in her throat. She raced forward, fighting with trembling hands to undo the straps holding him to the bed. The scent of sweat and blood tangled in the air, making nausea rise inside her again, but she bit down on it, concentrating on keeping her hands steady as she released him. She undid the strap on one arm and was leaning to do the other when his free hand caught hers.
