Claimed: Gem Creek Bears, Book Three

by Snyder, Jennifer

  “Oh my God,” Chase grumbled from the porch. I knew it was in response to how Marshall was treating me—with decency.

  “How are your wrists?” Marshall asked, ignoring Chase. He gave me another sip of water and then twisted the cap back on the bottle before pulling at the ropes used to secure my wrists to the metal frame. “Too tight? You’ve got some bruising and your skin looks raw.”

  “Of course it’s raw,” Jessica snapped. “She’s too smart for loose ropes.”

  I wanted to smirk in triumph, but instead, I kept my expression neutral.

  Marshall glared at Jessica, frowning, before shifting his attention back to me. “If they’re too tight, let me know and I’ll loosen them,” he whispered.

  “Yeah, I don’t think so,” Jessica insisted. She still stood at the opposite end of the cabin next to Ezra, holding the bag of my blood up so it trickled into him. “That’s not happening.”

  Marshall kept his eyes on me and mouthed, yes, I will. I realized then that he might be the key to my escape. While I hated to take advantage of someone’s kindness, I’d be a fool not to in this situation.

  I nodded to let him know I understood, but didn’t speak. My throat was sore. Also, not talking probably made me seem weaker and more scared, which might make Marshall want to help me more.

  “Do you want another sip of water before I put it back in the cooler?” Marshall asked.

  I nodded.

  Marshall opened the bottle again and hovered it near my lips. I took another sip and flashed him a tiny smile. It was a thankful smile. At least that was what I was going for.

  “This isn’t working,” Ezra croaked out before he broke into a coughing fit. It was a productive cough this time. While I wasn’t sure what came up, I knew it wouldn’t be anything pretty. “Shouldn’t I feel better by now?”

  Marshall’s eyes narrowed. I could see the gears spinning behind his eyes.

  Oh, crap. Here we go.

  Chapter Three

  Marshall stared at me, the area between his brows wrinkling. He knew that I knew something, but I kept silent and forced my face into a neutral expression, even when I glanced at Jessica, watching as she checked the tubing and bag of blood for defects.

  “Maybe it takes time,” Demi suggested from where she stood beside Jessica. “He’s been sick for a while. It might take time for the magic in her blood to clear it from his system.”

  It was a good theory. However, she was wrong.

  “No. It’s supposed to be instantaneous,” Jessica snapped. Her attention shifted to me. “Right?” Anger twisted her features, and her coyote flickered to the surface, making her eyes shine silver.

  I pressed my lips together, refusing to speak.

  Jessica shoved the bag of my blood into Demi’s hands and then stormed across the cabin to where I lay strapped to the ratty twin bed in the corner. “Answer me,” she demanded.

  I shifted my gaze elsewhere. When it landed on Ezra, I tried not to smirk. His face was pale. His skin clammy. The area beneath his eyes seemed hollower.

  “Tell me why your blood isn’t healing him,” Jessica growled in a tone that was more animal than human. My smugness vanished at the reminder I was dealing with shifters rattled my nerves. Adrenaline spiked through my body. Pissing her off probably wasn’t the best idea. She was unhinged. Still, I refused to help Ezra. I would until my last breath. “Now!” Jessica shouted, her voice echoing off the walls of the cabin. I flinched. She noticed and flashed me a vicious smirk.

  She knew she’d startled me, and she enjoyed it.

  “Are there magic words you’re supposed to say? Did we wait too long to give your blood to him? Is he supposed to drink it like a vampire?” Jessica’s questions came at me in rapid fire, her face inches from mine. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll answer me.”

  Her threat didn’t scare me as much as it probably should. I blinked, but still refused to speak. Anger flared through her eyes. When her hand whipped out to slap me, I tensed seconds before the blow. Stars danced before my eyes and pain shot through the side of my face at the force she’d packed behind the hit.

  “Why is your blood not healing my brother?” she demanded. Spit flew from her clenched teeth, splattering against my face.

  I opened my mouth, flexing my jaw, and ignored her. My mind was set—there was no way I’d help Ezra. Jessica’s hand drew back again, and I readied myself for another slap to the face. It never came though. Marshall had grabbed her wrist.

  “Don’t,” he seethed. “She’s the Mystic, which makes her the only one who can save Ezra—the only one who can save any of us—from the sickness.”

  Jessica jerked her wrist free from his grasp and rounded on him. “Do you think I don’t know that?” She was inches from his face. “My brother is over there dying. I know she’s the only one who can save him, same as I know she’s not going to unless I make her.” Her attention drifted back to me. “She knows how to heal him. She just needs some persuasion.”

  “Beating her up isn’t going to get you answers. It won’t get you anywhere,” Marshall insisted. His jaw tensed as his eyes narrowed on her. “We all know you’re a loose cannon, Jessica. You’re vicious and unpredictable. You let your anger get the best of you, and I can’t have you getting so angry at Tris that you do something stupid. Something that would jeopardize all of us. If you want to save Ezra, I suggest you rein in your anger because harming her is only harming him.”

  Jessica blinked. Her hands balled into fists at her sides as she exhaled a slow breath. “Fine.” She stepped to the side, granting Marshall access to me. “If you think anger and violence won’t work, why don’t you go ahead and give your methods a try? Let’s see how far they get you.”

  Marshall’s gaze dipped to me. Concern softened his features. “Are you okay?” he asked as he stepped closer. He extended his hand and smoothed away a few strands of hair that had slid into my eyes when Jessica slapped me. Then, he angled my face so he could see my cheek. I knew there had to be a red welt in the shape of Jessica’s hand there. It’s still stung, and when I opened my mouth, my jaw popped. “She got you good. Let me get you some ice.”

  Jessica made a scoffing noise, and I fought hard not to grin at her.

  “Here.” Marshall stepped to the side of the bed with a paper towel wrapped around some ice cubes. He pressed it to my cheek. “I know saving Ezra is probably the last thing you want to do, but please consider it.”

  Chase entered the cabin from the porch and moved to stand by Marshall. Anger sharpened his features, making him look almost demonic. “We’re not saying please and thank you to this bitch. I’m with Jessica. I say we beat the crap out of her until she does what she’s supposed to as the Mystic.” His eyes were on me, waiting for a reaction.

  A shiver slipped up my spine as I stared into his eyes. He reminded me too much of Corbin. It was frightening.

  “It won’t do us any good. She’s defiant. Strong. I can sense it about her,” Marshall insisted while holding the ice against my cheek. My skin was already numb, but I didn’t say so.

  “So we break her. We do what it takes to make sure she does what she’s supposed to.” Chase stabbed a finger in my direction. “She’s the reason Corbin is dead—the reason I had to bury him—she doesn’t deserve to be treated with kindness.”

  I flinched at his words, at his anger, even though I’d expected that was how he felt about me. Corbin had deserved what happened to him, same as Ezra deserved what was happening to him now.

  “Chase is right,” Jessica insisted. “She’s the reason one of our own is dead. She’s also the reason my brother is still sitting there withering in agony as the sickness eats away at him.”

  “I see what you guys are saying, but I have to side with Marshall on this,” Demi chimed in. She’d been silent for so long I’d forgotten she was here. “I don’t think you’re going to break her by beating her. I think that would only make her want to refuse to help even more.”

&nb
sp; “Motivation,” Ezra muttered from the other side of the cabin. He broke into a coughing fit after the word flew from his mouth. Everyone shifted to stare at him, waiting for him to continue his train of thought. Goose bumps prickled across my skin while I waited too, knowing whatever he said next wouldn’t be good. “She needs motivation. Tying her up, beating her, none of that will work. She’s fueled by the motivation to help others. Those she cares for especially. The guilt she feels for causing others pain is what really gets her, though.”

  My stomach somersaulted. That was why I’d gone after Penny and the others. I didn’t like people’s lives being at stake because of me.

  Somehow, Ezra had learned this about me.

  “What sort of motivation are you thinking?” Jessica asked with too much excitement festering in her tone.

  Ezra burst into another fit of uncontrollable coughing when he tried to reply. Jessica grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler and took it to him. She twisted the cap off, and I watched him as he sipped, my heart hammering.

  Ezra’s eyes locked with mine as he wiped droplets of water from his chin. “How would you like it if we brought Mommy Dearest here to play?”

  It took everything I had to keep my expression neutral, but somehow I managed. When Ezra didn’t get the reaction out of me he was after, he cocked his head to the side and smiled.

  “I take it you’re okay with us bringing her here, then.” His gaze drifted to Jessica. “Her mom will be motivation enough for her to heal me. We’ll torture her in front of Tris until she caves.”

  “That’s some damn good motivation,” Chase said. “I’ll go get her, and be back in no time.”

  “Take Demi with you,” Ezra insisted.

  Chase bristled. “I can handle her on my own. She’s human and we all know she’s not much of a fighter. If I have to use force with her, she’s used to it.” Chase flashed me a shit-eating grin. I wanted to deck him.

  “I’m coming,” Demi insisted. “This cabin is making me feel claustrophobic.”

  Chase exhaled a puff of air. “Fine, but I’m driving.”

  “I’m good with that,” Demi said as the two of them exited the cabin.

  “They’re going after your mother,” Jessica insisted. She stepped closer and leaned in, leaving her face inches from mine again. “This is your last chance. Heal Ezra or I’ll be taking my frustration with you out on your mom.”

  “Ezra doesn’t deserve to be healed.” It would have been smarter to stick with my mute routine, but the words shot from my mouth like daggers. When Jessica’s eyes widened, satisfaction snaked its way through me. “He deserves every ounce of suffering he’s going through and then some for the things he’s done.”

  Jessica’s hand jerked back and then snapped forward, connecting with my cheek again. So much power was placed behind the blow that stars dance across my vision and blood pooled in my mouth. My eyes rolled into the back of my head, and I struggled to remain awake.

  Damn, I’d forgotten how strong she really was.

  “Enough,” Marshall said. I glanced up to see him standing between her and me. My ears rang as I lifted my head, trying to pay attention to what was happening. “I told you not to hurt her again. She’s too important.”

  “She deserves that for what she said. Her mouth earned her that blow,” Jessica seethed as she glared at me from around Marshall. My eyes fluttered shut. She’d hit me way harder this time than before. The ringing in my ears still hadn’t stopped. I tried to keep my eyes open, but it was difficult. “You’re lucky that’s all you got.”

  The words jarred me. Someone had said them to me once before.

  Jessica walked away. The sound of her heels clicking against the wood floor of the cabin echoed through my head. Marshall said something, but his words were distorted. I couldn’t make them out. The edges of my vision grew dark, my eyelids heavy, and then I blacked out.

  Chapter Four

  The sun had set hours ago, but I was still up. The trailer smelled like popcorn with lots of butter and salt. Mom sat tucked into the side of her new boyfriend, Alan. The three of us sat in the living room, watching a movie. I sipped my soda and stared at the TV from where I sat on the floor. The carpet felt itchy against my legs, but the AC was on full blast for the first time in days, and I refused to sit anywhere else besides directly in front of it.

  Alan had fixed it for us earlier in the day, and I was positive he was a genius. He’d fixed a lot around the trailer in the last three weeks, including Mama’s heart. She smiled more when he was around and laughed. Real laughs, not the kind she did when she was nervous or afraid.

  I liked Alan. He said all the right things to make Mama smile. He didn’t drink too much. He’d bought Mama flowers more than any of the other guy she’d dated. Tonight he’d gotten her sunflowers, which were her favorite. He’d also gotten a small bar of chocolate for me. When the first movie we’d rented ended, Alan followed Mama into the kitchen to help refill my soda and our popcorn before we watched the second movie. Alan poured himself another glass of a dark liquid and slapped Mama on the butt. She giggled, and I looked away, knowing they were about to kiss. When they came back to the living room, we put in the next movie. It was even funnier than I thought it would be. Halfway through, we were all laughing. I thought we were all laughing at the movie, but then I heard Mama’s nervous laugh slip free.

  Alan was getting handsy. She giggled and told him no, that he could wait until I was in bed, but he didn’t listen. He kept right on trying to shove his hand up her shirt. I tried to ignore them, but it was hard. Mama’s nervous giggles were distracting. The sound made me tense.

  Still, I kept my attention on the TV.

  “Always about the kid,” Alan shouted. His voice boomed through the trailer, making me jump. My eyes snapped to him. His face was red with anger. “I ask you to stay the night at my place and you tell me you can’t because of the kid. I ask you out to dinner and you tell me you can’t unless we bring the kid. It’s always about that damn kid.” He nodded his head in my direction.

  My stomach somersaulted at the disgusted look in his eyes.

  Alan stood, wobbling on his drunken legs, and started to the kitchen with his empty glass in hand. He tripped over my shoes and stumbled forward. I clamped my hands over my mouth, trying to stop the smile forming. It didn’t work. The smile still formed, and a giggle bubbled free.

  Alan’s gaze landed on me. His eyes flared with anger, and all the air left my lungs. In an instant, he was in front of me, his face inches from mine.

  “You think it’s funny I tripped and almost broke my neck because of your fuckin’ shoes?” His breath was hot and bitter in my face. The stench of alcohol burned my eyes. “Wipe that smirk off your face.”

  Mama said something, but I couldn’t hear her over the thumping of my heart. My hands fell to my lap, and I pressed my lips together so hard it hurt, the smile completely gone.

  It didn’t matter that my smile was gone though, because Alan’s hand whipped out and smacked me across the face. My head flung back as stars danced across my vision. I gasped as a stinging burn broke out across my cheek. Tears pricked my eyes.

  Mama rushed to get between the two of us. She pushed me behind her. I held my cheek, hoping the pressure of my fingers would ease the pain away. It didn’t.

  “She’s fine,” Alan insisted. “I barely touched her. She’s bein’ a damn baby.”

  Tears fell from my eyes while Mama and Alan argued. I hated myself for crying, but I couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

  “Get out,” Mama said through gritted teeth. “Right now.”

  “Oh, come on. You can’t be serious. She had it comin’. She laughed at me.”

  “I am deadly serious. Get out,” Mama said. There was a catch in her voice though, one I easily picked up on. She didn’t want him to leave.

  “Fine. I’ll go, but I’m tellin’ you right now that I ain’t comin’ back.” Alan peeked around her to look at me, his blue eyes st
ill blazed with the anger he felt toward me. “You’re lucky that’s all you got,” he spat.

  “If you don’t leave, I’m calling the cops,” Mama insisted. Alan held his hands up in surrender and took a step back. A wide smirk twisted across his face as a chuckle rumbled from somewhere deep inside his chest. “I’m better off without you. You’re nothin’ but a damn tease, anyway.”

  With that, he walked out of our lives for good, and every hope I had that he might make us a real family burned to ashes. I made a promise to myself on the living room floor that day—that I would never think it was okay for anyone to hit me. I would always strive to be this version of Mama, the one with a stiff back and a strong exterior. The one who meant business.

  As the door slammed shut behind Alan, Mama exhaled a slow breath and ran her fingers through her hair. She stepped to the door and turned the deadbolt and then headed to the kitchen. “Get up on the couch.” I did as she said. She gathered some ice from the freezer and wrapped it in paper towels. “Hold this to your cheek,” she insisted when she came to sit beside me. “Are you okay?”

  I nodded as I pressed the ice to my cheek. I wasn’t okay, but she didn’t need to know that. She was frayed at the edges, just waiting to unravel.

  She picked up the remote and rewound the movie through the parts we’d missed. She pressed play and our eyes remained glued to the TV. My tears dried. My cheek went numb from the ice. And we never talked about Alan, or the fact that he’d hit me again.

  * * *

  When I came to, Marshall was drawing my blood with a syringe. The sharp sting of the needle piercing my skin was what woke me. I jolted awake.