Mafia Beasts: The Complete Series, page 25
“Truce?” Cade asked from where he lay.
I made an affirmative noise in the back of my throat.
“She’s not dead,” he said again. “Or if she is, she won’t be for long. That crazy bitch will bring her back because she’s your fated mate. The enchantress wants to see this play out to the end. Mark my words—sadistic fucks are like that. They like to see how things they set in motion play out.”
I’d had the same thought about the enchantress reanimating Emma as she’d done for me, though that didn’t guarantee my mate would return to us. We’d failed her tonight—again. All of it had been for nothing. We were no closer to finding her or bringing her home.
My inner wolf whined. I needed to feel her body against mine, to inhale her earthy floral scent, to have her safe. Otherwise, I was going to go crazy.
Just like the last time I had lost my fated mate.
No amount of sparring with Cade or direct commands from Zane would keep the beast at bay. If I didn’t get to Emma soon, I’d be lost. Lost to Penumbra, to the world, and, most of all, lost to myself.
9
EMMA
All I remembered was falling, falling, falling. Then my back hit something hard. My abruptly halted descent whooshed the air from my lungs and my broken ribs screamed in protest. Why all the pain? Why couldn’t I just die like I wanted?
Was I dead now?
My awareness expanded from that recent memory and into the present. A fresh wave of agony shot through my entire body. No, not dead.
I lay on my back, the surface under me unforgiving. Cracking one eyelid, then the other, I took in unfamiliar surroundings. The first piece I noticed was the wood beam ceiling. Next, the flicker of firelight, then the warmth, and a musty cabin smell.
This was not the cliff base. There were no deadly rocks, and the ocean sounds came from much further away. Also, I was dry. I never made it into the water. But… What had happened? My mind drew a blank.
With much effort, and several sharp inhales, I struggled up to a seated position. I was on the floor. The cabin was a single room with a table, two chairs, and one threadbare couch. A fire crackled in the hearth. Not a soul was in sight, nor did I sense a presence.
I was alone. Either that, or this was a well-played trick.
I gazed at the fire, noting the even, perfect flame that wasn’t consuming the wood at its base. Magic. A witch, or maybe a Fae, had started that fire.
In front of the hearth, a metallic gold reflection caught my eye. My breath caught; my heart pounded against my damaged torso. All I could do was stare at the gold-and-black necklace-sized box.
My stalker has been here.
Nervously glancing around, I scooted toward the fire and reached for the box. It was heavier than usual, perhaps containing more than the predictable scroll of paper. Gingerly, I lifted the lid. The note was rolled up, as usual, but when I plucked it up, it became obvious there was something inside.
I held it by the top and the paper practically unrolled itself. At the end, a wand dropped into my lap. I stared at it. It wasn’t my wand. Forrest had destroyed mine for his own amusement. Confused, I turned my attention to the stalker’s note.
Emma, I told you not to trust Orion. See what happened? Don’t let 5th Circle capture you again. As far as they know, you’re dead. Make the best of it. Disappear. You won’t get any answers by hanging around here, only more heartache. Leave the past behind you. Go!
I frowned, rereading the note. My stalker wanted me to vanish. Was he done stalking me?
The last part in the note stood out. If I stayed and continued searching for answers, I’d find more heartache. Which meant that there was more to discover, even though he was trying to warn me off—trying to get me to leave and not dig further into my past. Had I done other horrible deeds in addition to murdering my own father?
I read the note one last time, then tossed it into the fire. It sizzled and sparked, wilted and blackened, then it was gone.
Picking up the wand, I studied it more closely. The color was gorgeous, smooth bands of differing shades of green. Malachite. It was a powerful stone connected to the heart, often used for bringing change and aiding in uncovering traumas. Interesting choice. Malachite was also known for enhancing energy—both negative and positive, depending on the user’s focus. To some, that aspect made this stone a tricky one to use.
Had my stalker randomly chosen this wand for me, or was there a message in it too?
I flicked my wrist and the wand tip sparked. It worked, but I needed to conserve what little energy I had to teleport out of here. The question was where to go?
Along with that query, a bunch of other questions popped to mind. Had my stalker rescued me? All the signs pointed to yes, but that answer was puzzling. He knew I’d been taken by 5th Circle. He knew what Forrest had done to me, then he’d rescued me in the end.
He’d murdered my mother but insisted on playing guardian angel for me. Why?
I glanced around the cabin, feeling lost and confused. If what Orion, and my own memories, told me was true then I was a monster. An abomination. Why keep me alive? What the hell was I supposed to do with my life?
I thought finding and saving my brother was the answer. Definitely not. I had it in my head to find other hybrids, but… What if they were all monsters like me? What if 5th Circle was right, and we were all dangerous, vile creatures that needed to be put down?
What was I supposed to do now, given this second chance?
The crossroads seemed to span out for miles before me, in numerous directions.
I’d committed a horrible sin. I could never bring my dad back to life, but maybe I could seek redemption. Even knowing what I’d done, Mom had continued to love me, I’d always felt that. 5th Circle had taken her away. They’d stolen my loved ones and my chance at a normal life.
They’d taken away all the goodness that I thought I had in me, revealing the monster buried deep within. Or had they? How was I to know if what Orion had told me was true? Those memories could have been planted... Right? The only facts I’d come up with were I was a hybrid, my mother knew enough about it to hide me from the world, and that all coincided with my father’s death. Honestly, my innocence wasn’t looking so good.
Redemption. The word kept floating to the surface. I could atone for my sins. Somehow, I could make things right. But what would that look like?
Another word crashed into my mind. Revenge. Hybrid or not, murderer or not, 5th Circle had no right to destroy my family and friends. Who knew how many other innocent lives they’d taken out as collateral damage in their single-minded drive to destroy hybrids. It needed to stop. There had to be an alternative to dealing with supernaturals like me. I just couldn’t believe we were all evil, wicked beings.
Deep down, that idea of hybrids didn’t settle well. It didn’t ring true.
I wanted answers and I was going to get them. The need burned in my blood, taking hold in my heart. I needed the truth—at any cost.
As much as I wanted to venture out on my own, I wasn’t sure I’d survive. For a while, 5th Circle would think I was dead, but since I wasn’t willing to disappear, eventually they’d be after me again. I was so tired of running. Why couldn’t I be strong and face my enemies? Maybe I could, especially with the people I needed at my side.
Lucas had come for me. Zane had once offered me Penumbra Syndicate, but at the time I thought he was joking. What if he wasn’t? What if they could all be mine to wield as I wished and take down 5th Circle?
Forrest, especially, was a maniac. It was one thing to execute hybrids, it was another to torture and mutilate for fun. I cringed, remembering what my ruined back looked like now. The movement stretched my tight, slowly healing skin. Those scars I’d live with forever. No, 5th Circle was a disease. Once they were wiped from this earth, then I would decide what to do about myself and the other hybrids out there—if there were any.
The crossroads laid before me narrowed into one lane, one path ahead. I needed Penumbra Syndicate. I’d brought 5th Circle to their doorstep, shed blood in their house, and I would begin my atonement by making this right and not running away again. I owed them, though I wasn’t sure what owing them entailed.
I rolled the wand between my fingers. Its cool stone felt nice on my feverish skin. Bringing it to my forehead, I let the coolness spread and soothe away the blazing heat.
Lucas and Zane believed I could break their curse. Could I? Instead of avoiding the question, I decided to at least give it some thought. I did owe them that much. At least now I knew what was going on in that cursed mansion and my possible role there. I could give it a go. But this time, they wouldn’t own me. I’d be there of my own free will. That in itself made all the difference.
Of course, there was still Cade... I shook my head, pushing away the thought of him.
I needed to leave this temporary refuge and rejoin the world, though a part of me wanted to stay in this cabin forever, hiding out, soaking up the warmth of the fire on a chilly winter night. Eventually, dawn would come and with it all of my troubles.
Face them head on, Emma. You can do this.
I sent up a silent apology to my mysterious, contradictory stalker. I wasn’t going to disappear. No rolling over and playing dead for me. 5th Circle would pay. I’d make sure of it. Or die trying.
With one arm wrapped protectively over my broken ribs, I lifted the wand and closed my eyes. I took a shallow breath, agony radiating through my nerves, and visualized where I wanted to go. A snow-covered forest, the mansion looming over a rose garden that bloomed in winter. The vision firmly set in my mind; I pushed my magic forward with all the strength I had left in me.
The temperature plummeted and a gust of frigid wind licked at my sweat-dampened hair. I opened my eyes to find myself sitting on wet snow in the dark woods. My surroundings were eerily quiet, making me certain I was in the correct cursed forest. The wards would have prevented me from teleporting any closer to the mansion, but it should be only a short walk away.
I gained my feet and teetered before catching my balance. Within moments, my bare feet were already becoming numb. I placed one foot in front of the other, stumbling through the woods in what I hoped was the direction of the big house. If I got lost out here tonight, I would die. Of that, I was sure. I let go of the jumble of thoughts in my fevered brain and let my instincts guide me.
Even here, the moon, a night past full, hid behind a thick cloud cover. Or perhaps it wasn’t the moon, but the sun, because the grey seemed to be fading to a lighter shade. The trees appeared as darker shadows against the gloomy dawn, the snow reflecting what little light it was given. Soon, my feet lost all feeling.
I tripped on a hidden rock and landed hard on my knees. A cry escaped my raw throat. I coughed, bringing up blood. Wheezing, I climbed to my feet and stumbled forward again. I was determined to make it to that mansion if it was with my last breath.
Finally, the trees cleared, and I passed through the ward. It let me through its thick, clingy texture. On the other side, the air felt a touch warmer, and the rose garden came into clearer focus. A shrill alarm sounded within the mansion’s dark stone walls. Shouts erupted from inside.
I navigated through the garden, my gaze fixed on the front door. Each of the front steps seemed to take an eternity and too much effort to tackle. My vision blurred. I continued on trembling knees. Two more steps and I reached out to skim my fingertips over the wooden door. The smooth texture felt like home.
Victorious, I collapsed against the frame and slid to the ground. My cheek pressed against the exterior’s rough stone. I gave in and let my eyelids close. I was home.
Home.
The door creaked open, and light washed over my face, brightening the space behind my eyelids. Fabric rustled, followed by a couple of heavy footsteps.
“Emma? Fucking hell.”
I recognized that deep, raw voice. “Cade,” I said on an exhale, the word barely audible.
10
CADE
I stared down at the small, crumpled, and barefoot woman wearing a torn nightgown. She looked like a wraith; a ghost come back to haunt us. Only the slight rise and fall of her shoulders told me she was alive—until she said my name.
My name on Emma’s lips sent a shock of emotion through me—a mix of relief and disbelief, and something else. She’d been pushed out a window, a fall that would kill any supernatural without the ability of flight. I’d searched for her broken form on the jagged rocks below, scouring them to find her body, and coming up empty-handed.
In those minutes of searching, the reality of our situation sunk deep into my bones. Emma was gone. Without her we were doomed.
A few days ago, when she first left us, I thought I’d come to that same conclusion. I’d been wrong. The impact hadn’t settled over me until I flew through the night, knowing she was dead. Something about the finality of her demise, and our hope lost, had punched me in the gut. It twisted around my chest and wouldn’t let go.
I crouched beside the little witch, taking in her sunken cheeks, blue-tinged feet, and pale, glistening skin. I needed to get her inside. As gently as I could, I scooped her up. She hissed in pain, but her eyes remained shut. Her small hands reached out and clung to my shirt like I was her lifeline.
A torrent of emotions flooded my chest. Pain, exhaustion, hope, and a strange trickle of serenity crowded out every other sensation. They overshadowed my own feelings. I took it all in. Gazing at her slight, broken body in my arms made me wonder how I’d ever seen her as a threat. She was just… Emma.
Turning, I headed back inside to where several of the guards waited, and I said, “Shut off the alarm and reset the wards.”
I strode to the staircase, taking the steps two at a time up to the third floor. Under the brighter, indoor lights, Emma looked worse, much worse. I hurried along the corridor to her old room. I’d tend to her there. It was strange, I should have given her over to our healers and let them deal with her, but my legs had carried me to her room instead. She was my responsibility—and I wanted it.
I settled her on the bed and used my Fae magic to assess the damage, starting at her head. She had a fever, her body fighting off a yet unseen infection, cracked collarbone, broken ribs, internal bleeding, and feet in danger of frostbite. I mentally noted each major injury. She also suffered from starvation, dehydration, and a horrid number of bruises. All of which I could fix, though it was going to take time.
The door banged open, interrupting my assessment. With it came a roll of anxiety, then panic, and lastly anger.
“How long have you had her in here?” Lucas asked. “Why didn’t you tell me?” His anger dissipated as he focused his attention on Emma. She was conscious, barely, and hadn’t moved since I set her down.
Another raging force entered the room. In a blur, Zane was beside the bed. “She’s alive.”
I grunted and went back to work. The two of them hovered as I tried to concentrate. Zane stood like a statue, a sentinel across from me. Lucas wrung his hands, slid them through his hair, and kept shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
I sighed. “Be useful. She needs water. Food—something simple. And I need to fucking concentrate. She’s in bad shape.”
Lucas bolted from the room, on a mission. Zane followed, returning in a flash with a water glass, and pressed a sip to her dry, cracked lips. She managed to swallow it down, then coughed, bringing up blood.
That’s not good. “Give her a little more, but not all of it,” I said.
I scanned her body again, seeking out the infection. It was there, the energy of it murky and sharp, the sensation most acute at her torso. I tore the soiled nightgown from her body. Her ribs were covered with deep bruises, and the fever could be a result of that injury, but my magic told me to look deeper.
Lucas reappeared, carrying a tray of bread, cheese, and soup. He set it on the desk by the window. A growl sounded in this throat as he took in Emma’s nude form. The blacks, blues, and purples created a glaring contrast against her too-pale skin.
“Help me turn her over,” I said. Two other pairs of hands joined mine and together we gently rolled her. She whimpered.
Lucas was the first to gasp when her back came into view. Horror and shock emanated from Zane. A deep rage roiled in my gut—my own reaction. Flashes of old memories resurfaced. I shook them off.
5th Circle’s ouroboros encompassed V symbol had been carved into her skin. Carved. The fucker who’d done this hadn’t bothered to properly heal the wound. The red mark stood out, flaming and angry. Sections of it were a bright crimson that fanned out into the surrounding flesh and spread the skin-deep infection. Fuck.
I was the first to glance away. “Get the healer and Ash. I’ll need them both.” Her ribs, or her back, or the rest of her more minor injuries I could fix on my own, but this... this was a monumental task. Hours—at least, followed by a week or so of recovery.
Zane left in a flash. I started on her feet, the most recent damage. Lucas tore at his hair, his gaze never leaving Emma.
“That son of bitch did this to her,” he said. I assumed he meant Forrest. “I’m going to skin him alive. He’ll pay.”
“Calm the fuck down or get out.” My words hung heavy in the air until Lucas crouched at Emma’s side and took her hand. The raging within him continued, but at least he kept his mouth shut.
Zane arrived with Ash and the healer. A zing of possessiveness shot through me when Ash’s gaze landed on Emma’s naked form. He was assessing the damage, I knew that, but I couldn’t help the desire to cover her. To shield her from the two men in the room who had no claim on her at all. Similar feelings reached me from Zane and Lucas, but the three of us managed to not act on it.
Getting down to business, the three of us Fae went to work while Lucas and Zane hovered close by, refusing to leave the room. They took every opportunity to be close to Emma, holding a hand, or stroking her hair. The minutes dragged into hours; the day came and went, and little by little, we patched her back together. We exchanged only necessary words, choosing to conserve our energy for the healing process.
