Eternal Bond : (The Cursed Series, Book 3)

by Kara Leigh Miller

  “And he just agreed to help you out of the goodness of his heart?” I snapped, sudden anger hot and thick in my veins. “In case you forgot, he kidnapped me once, too. Fed me to Hannah. He was going to kill me, Trent.”

  I whipped the blankets off and stood, noticing for the first time that I was wearing one of Trent’s T-shirts. Thankfully, it hung to my knees.

  “No, of course not.” Trent frowned. “I had to tell him the truth.”

  My jaw dropped. “Are you serious?” I shrieked. “He knows I can break the curse?”

  “Yes.” Trent hung his head. “I’m sorry.” He rounded the foot of the bed and placed his hands on my shoulders. “For the time being, Isach and I wanted the same thing—to save you so you wouldn’t change and break the curse.”

  I glared at him through tear-filled eyes. My bottom lip trembled with anger, and the tips of my ears burned. How could he tell Isach Zoya of all people? Didn’t he realize how bad that was?

  “He agreed to help me find you in exchange for you agreeing not to break the curse. I assured him you didn’t want to.” His voice dipped with sadness as he said those last few words, and I was flooded with all the memories of how much I’d hurt him with my choices.

  “He put a cloaking spell on you, too, so Ivy and her coven won’t be able to find you again,” he said as if that would somehow make all of this better.

  I laughed bitterly. “They know where I live, Trent. If they want to find me, they will.”

  I twisted out of his hold and wandered to the window. Endless trees stretched out before me, unencumbered by spells or locks.

  “What happens if I change my mind?” I asked, my voice devoid of emotion.

  “Have you?” Trent was right behind me, his breath warm on my neck as he spoke. He snaked his arms around my stomach and rested his chin on my shoulder.

  “No.” My voice was firmer than I expected.

  I was more certain than ever that I wanted to spend an eternity with him, but I couldn’t shake Jax’s warning that the guilt I carried would only intensify should I change. Was I strong enough to handle that?

  “But if I do, if I break the curse, what will stop Isach from killing me then? Or putting another curse on your family?” I asked.

  “I don’t know.” He sighed and gently spun me to face him.

  “So, what happens now? We just go back to normal, pretend none of this ever happened?” I wasn’t sure I could do that.

  Too much had happened, and I had too many lies to juggle, too many people who were going to want explanations. What would I tell Aunt Beth and Uncle Dean? Should I call my father, too? Did he even care?

  “Isach is sticking around,” Trent said.

  “What?” Clearly, I had misheard him. “What do you mean he’s sticking around?”

  “He wants to make sure I don’t go back on my word.”

  “Right, because he has room to talk.” I rolled my eyes. “So, he’s gonna go back to high school? Follow me around like some creep?” Crossing my arms, I stared at Trent.

  I was extremely grateful he’d rescued me, but I was not happy he’d made an alliance with Isach to do it. At least with Ivy, I knew she wouldn’t kill me, not outright. But I couldn’t say the same for Isach.

  “I don’t know.” Trent sighed again.

  It was then I realized just how exhausted he looked. His face was pale, his eyes sunken and dark… he looked exactly like Jax had when the witches starved him.

  “When was the last time you fed?” I asked.

  “A few days ago, I think.” He shrugged. “I’ve been a little preoccupied.”

  “You need to feed. Tonight. Now.” I glanced at the door, then back at him.

  “You’re insane if you think I’m leaving you right now.” He reached for my hand, lacing our fingers. “I’m fine.”

  I wasn’t sure I believed him, but I wasn’t about to argue with him, either. And, selfishly, I really didn’t want him to go.

  “Let me worry about Isach, okay?” He peered into my eyes, his gaze pleading. “Right now, he’s the only thing keeping you human and away from the Rose Coven.”

  Fresh anger bubbled up at the knowledge that my life was in Isach’s hands. What terrible twist of fate was that? “You realize I no longer have a choice now, right?” I bit out.

  Trent tilted his head.

  “You made a deal with Isach that I wouldn’t break the curse, so even if I wanted to change my mind, I can’t.” I poked him in the chest. “You took that choice away from me.”

  “I thought that’s what you wanted,” he snapped, then shook his head. “I asked you to change for me, Chloe, to spend an eternity with me, and you said no. I thought I was helping by ensuring you’d remain human.”

  “I never told you no,” I said. “I wasn’t ready right then to give you an answer, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t still considering it.”

  His face fell, and he rubbed the back of his neck. Thick silence descended, and I stood there, arms crossed, in front of the man I loved with everything I had in me, wondering if I should hug him or hit him.

  He’d always said this was my choice, and now I had no choice. Granted, I was still very much leaning toward staying human, but now that I knew mortality was my fate, the weight of it crushed me. I was going to get old and die. Trent wouldn’t.

  My breath hitched, and I blinked back tears. Someday, death would separate us, and that was like a knife to my heart.

  “I’m sorry.” He gently pulled me toward him. “All I cared about was getting you back.” He smoothed my hair from my face, his hands lingering on my cheeks. “I missed you so much, Chloe, and yeah, I know I messed up getting Isach involved, but you’re here now, and that’s all that matters.”

  Closing my eyes, I rested my forehead to his chest and wrapped my arms around his waist. He was warm and solid, and his presence calmed me in a way I hadn’t felt since I’d been taken.

  “We’ll figure everything else out. Promise,” he said softly.

  I nodded. “I’m sorry I took off that night.”

  “Yeah, don’t do that again, okay?”

  Laughing, I glanced up at him. “Don’t worry, I won’t.”

  He swept his hands along either side of my neck and brought his mouth to mine. His tongue flickered across my bottom lip, and I granted him access, pouring every emotion I possessed into that single kiss.

  Unfortunately, he did the same, and I was bombarded with all his thoughts and memories and emotions…

  Waking up to find my side of the bed empty. Walking through the cabin looking for me. Each step ratcheting his fear. Finding my note. Rage so intense it physically hurt. Destroying the cabin. Screaming. An ache in his chest that wouldn’t go away. Determination to find me. Returning to the cabin to find the witches had taken Jax, too. More rage, hotter and thicker than before. Worry and jealousy and fear…. Utter desperation as the days went on and he couldn’t find me. Despair. Terror. Guilt. Grief. Anger. Loss.

  I pulled away with a gasp. “Trent,” I whimpered, staring up at him through my tears.

  He’d been frantic and in so much pain, all because I’d been stupid and impulsive. If I hadn’t left that night…

  “Sorry.” He gave an apologetic smile. “Let’s try that again.”

  He slanted his lips over mine, his kiss much softer and devoid of the overwhelming emotions. My eyes fluttered closed, and I leaned into him, savoring the feel of his body pressed to mine, of his soft lips and familiar taste.

  Groaning, Trent coursed his hands down my back and then grabbed the back of my thighs, lifting me off my feet. I let out a yelp of surprise, wrapped my legs around his waist, and continued to kiss him. He carried me to the bed—slowly, like a normal human would—and laid me down, bringing his body over mine.

  “I missed you so much,” I whispered in between greedy kisses.

  He made a snarling growl sound that was incredibly sexy, and I arched into him, needing a lot more than he was currently giving me. He was t
aking his time, his lips languid against mine, and it was killing me.

  I ran my fingers through his hair, earning me another throaty growl of pleasure.

  “I love you,” he whispered and then moved his lips across my jaw, down my neck.

  I tilted my head, craving the friction of his mouth on my neck, teasing and nibbling. His lips grazed where Jax had bitten me, and I erupted in a full body shiver.

  “Chloe?” Trent pushed himself up, his weight suspended in his arms, and he glared down at me, his eyes pitch black. “What is that on your neck?”

  CHAPTER TEN:

  Bitten

  I GINGERLY TOUCHED MY NECK, MY fingers caressing the bite mark, and I bit my bottom lip to stop from making any sort of noise. Wiggling out from beneath Trent, I pressed my back against the headboard.

  “Chloe?” His voice teetered between disbelief and anger.

  “It’s a bite mark,” I said, reluctantly meeting his gaze.

  I hadn’t had it when I was taken, and there was only one person who could have done it. And that knowledge passed silently between us.

  “He bit you?” Trent shouted. And then he was off the bed and out of the room before I could blink. “Jax! Get out here.”

  My heart was in my throat. I scrambled out of bed, my legs getting tangled in the blankets. I fought to free myself and then ran into the living room—just in time to see Trent storm into the kitchen. I hurried to follow.

  “You bit Chloe.” Each word was ground out through gritted teeth as Trent stalked toward Jax, murder in his eyes.

  “Trent, stop,” I said, my voice shaky.

  Jax moved around the kitchen island, putting it between him and Trent. Then Jax glanced at me. “You just had to tell him, didn’t you?”

  My jaw dropped. Was he seriously mad at me right now? “He saw the mark, genius,” I said.

  “So, it’s true. You bit her?” Trent clutched the edge of the counter so tightly his knuckles turned white.

  Jax put his palms flat on the counter, leaned closer to Trent, and grinned that arrogant smirk he used when he was about to say something he shouldn’t. My stomach sank.

  “She practically begged me to do it,” Jax said, his tone cool. Smug.

  “Jax!” I snapped, eyes wide.

  What on earth was he doing? He knew Trent was already furious, so why was Jax provoking him? Then it hit me. Jax wanted to push Trent, to get under his skin, make him angry. It was Jax’s way of “getting even” with Trent for having the one thing Jax wanted: Me.

  “What?” Jax asked calmly. “He might as well know the truth, right?” He straightened and crossed his arms. “The whole truth.”

  I narrowed my eyes and scowled at him. He’d promised he wouldn’t tell Trent anything that had happened between us, and now he was going to spill everything.

  “What’s he talking about, Chloe? Why did he bite you?” Trent still had a death grip on the counter, the muscles and veins in his arms bulging from the force of his hold.

  “It’s nothing,” I began, stepping farther into the kitchen. “The witches were starving him. Ivy thought if she didn’t give him any blood, he’d snap and finally change me. But he didn’t.” I glanced at Jax, hoping he could see the gratitude in my gaze. “He was dying, so…” I took a deep breath. “I forced him to feed on me.”

  Trent’s eyes narrowed to black slits, and the vein in his temple throbbed. “You forced him to feed on you?”

  “Yes.” I swallowed hard. “He didn’t want to. At first. But then I threatened to slit my wrists if he didn’t.”

  “You what?” Trent’s voice was much too level, like the calm before a major storm, and that terrified me.

  I could handle this if he was yelling and fighting with Jax. But this… this was horrifying. “I threatened—” I began.

  “I heard what you said.” He pushed away from the counter and flexed his fingers. “But what I don’t understand is…” He took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose as if trying to calm himself. “You were willing to kill yourself so Jax would drink from you, but you won’t change for me?” Trent pinned me with an accusatory stare.

  I wanted to shrink into the floor and disappear. “He was dying, Trent. What was I supposed to do?” I threw my hands up in the air. “I would have done the same thing for you.”

  “Then do it! Change!” he hollered, slapping his hand against the counter.

  I flinched, but before I could fully react, Jax was in front of me, blocking Trent from getting any closer. Jax acted like he was afraid Trent would do something to hurt me, but that thought had never once crossed my mind. Trent was upset—rightly so—but he wouldn’t harm me.

  “Calm down,” Jax said.

  “Get away from her,” Trent snarled.

  “Both of you need to knock it off.” I stepped out from behind Jax and stood next to Trent.

  But I was too cowardly to meet Jax’s gaze. I knew I’d see nothing but hurt, and I couldn’t stomach that. Not right now. I hesitantly put my hand on Trent’s arm, but he didn’t relax. I squeezed his bicep, urging him to look at me. He finally did, and I wished he hadn’t. There was nothing but betrayal and fury in his eyes.

  I licked my lips nervously, praying I could make him understand. “It didn’t mean anything, Trent. I swear.”

  “Yeah, Trent, it didn’t mean anything,” Jax said, his tone icy.

  He sliced a look in my direction, his gaze full of a wicked evilness I’d only ever seen one time before—when he’d admitted to bringing my father to Keene Valley.

  “I was hungry, and she was just a warm body.” His eyes narrowed accusingly, and I returned the dirty look. “A beautiful, willing, warm body that I held close as I bit into her neck and drank from her. You should have felt just how warm she was when I kissed her afterward.”

  All the color drained from my face, and my body shook with rage. How dare he!

  Trent’s head snapped toward Jax, a menacing growl erupting from his chest a second before he lunged over the counter, grabbed Jax by the throat, and slammed him against the wall. The entire house shook. Glasses that had been stacked in the sink shattered.

  “Trent!” I screeched, terror momentarily freezing me in place.

  Jax laughed. I was convinced that boy had a death wish.

  Snapping out of it, I rushed around the counter and tugged at Trent’s arm, trying to get him to release Jax, but it was useless. Trent didn’t budge. I wiggled my way between them and faced Trent, exactly like I had when he’d pinned Isach against a locker.

  “Trent,” I said as calmly as possible. “Stop. Please. He needed to feed, or he was going to die. That’s the only reason I let him bite me. I swear.” Tears pooled in my eyes.

  Slowly, Trent’s gaze slid to me, but his expression was stone cold. “Did you kiss him?”

  My heart stopped, then shattered into a tiny million pieces, the serrated edges cutting me from the inside out. “Yes,” I whispered, ashamed.

  Trent released his hold on Jax, who landed on the floor with a thump, and then Trent was gone. Just like that, he vanished. Eyes wide, I glanced frantically around the kitchen, but there was no sign of him.

  I tore out of the kitchen and into the living room, desperation propelling me. “Trent?”

  The front door was wide open, and I rushed outside, my legs trembling as I raced down the front steps, but there was no sign of him. Not that I really expected to find him—he’d been long gone before I ever made it out of the kitchen.

  Pain tore through me, and I fell to my knees. Where did he go? Was he going to come back? Would he ever forgive me?

  From the moment I’d kissed Jax, I knew I had to tell Trent the truth. I wanted to tell him the truth, but not tonight. And not like this. I clutched my hands to my chest and rocked forward, tears blazing a hot path down my face.

  “Chloe.” Jax knelt beside me, hand on my back.

  “Don’t touch me.” I jerked away from him and stood. “How could you do that?”

/>   “I thought you wanted him to know the truth.” He shoved his hands into his pockets.

  “Not like that,” I shouted, my voice as wild as my heart. “God, what is wrong with you? Why do you always have to antagonize him?” I marched up to him and got in his face. “And why are you always such a jerk to me when other people are around? You weren’t like that when we were locked up. You were actually nice.”

  Jax scowled. “I do it for you, Chloe.”

  “Me?” I laughed bitterly and pointed at my chest. “Well, stop doing me favors. It never works out for me.”

  “If I didn’t act this way, everyone would know how I truly felt about you. Is that what you want?” He took a step closer. “Do you want Trent and my father and Whitney and Wyatt to know I’m in love with you? Because trust me, that would be a lot worse for you than my bad attitude.”

  I stared him down, refusing to let him break me, even though the emotion in his gaze and the turmoil playing out across his features nearly destroyed me.

  “I’m sorry,” he said after a moment. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have told Trent like that.”

  Nodding, I hugged myself and focused my gaze down at my toes, shifting from one foot to the other. “He left,” I whispered, my bottom lip trembling.

  Trent had left me here. With Jax. Fresh tears streaked over my cheeks.

  “He’s angry. He just needs time to calm down.”

  I nodded again, though I wasn’t so sure. I’d never seen Trent so mad before, and even when he was, he’d never just left me like this. I buried my face in my hands and sobbed.

  Jax pulled me toward him so my forehead was resting on his chest, but I didn’t hug him, no matter how strong the urge was.

  “I should go home,” I choked out between shoulder-shaking sobs.

  At least I was back in Keene Valley, minutes from Aunt Beth and Uncle Dean’s. I had a home I could go to. That offered quite a bit of comfort. Still, the thought of leaving here when I had no idea where Trent was, if he was okay, if he would ever forgive me…

  “You want to leave?” Jax asked.

  I straightened. “Why not? Isn’t that what you’re planning to do?” I wiped at my tears and finally looked at him.