Dirt Road Redemption (Dirt Road Series Book 2)

by Chelsea Handcock

  Atticus told her how he would love to share some of those places and things with her. How he wanted to see her eyes sparkle as she looked upon the northern lights for the first time. The shocked expression on her beautiful face as they watched the fireworks going off in Sydney, Australia on New Year’s Eve. Or the sensual promise as she bared herself to him under the crystal-clear waterfalls in Hawaii. He talked of a future of them together even he was starting to believe possible.

  He spoke of love and commitment, family, friends, and the future—all the things he had once believed in and knew she needed to hear. Getting out of the shower once again, Atticus wiped the condensation off the mirror with his hand and looked at himself. Contrary to folk legends, Vampire could see their reflection just as clearly as any human. Atticus wasn’t particularly thrilled with what he saw looking back at him this time though, not that he had ever really “looked” at himself all that closely. His handsomeness or what people perceived as attractiveness had been the root of most of his problems. It was what had attracted his Master and got him kicked out of his own pack at the age of fourteen.

  Turning away, not wanting to see himself any longer, Atticus grabbed a towel, wrapping it around his hips, firmly tucking in the edge.

  He shouldn’t have been surprised to find Kaylee once again in his room, but he was annoyed.

  “Kaylee, I thought we said everything that needs to be declared the other night,” Atticus stated, placing his hands on his hips.

  The apparition Kaylee just sat on his bed, looking at her fingernails, and let out a sigh, “Yes, well, about that. I just have one more thing to tell you.”

  Atticus waited, but Kaylee didn’t continue. “Well? What is this one thing?”

  “I thought you were redeemable so I have been doing you a favor. I’ve since changed my mind. You are blocking me from contacting Dani, but I can feel her distress. That doesn’t make me happy.”

  “Dani is fine, we are getting to know each other just as any mates would. You and that pack of yours need to give us time, just as any newly mated couple needs. As for your happiness or lack thereof, that’s Lucas’s problem, not mine.”

  “See, that’s where you’re wrong. Making me happy benefits both of us. And we both know for a fact you and Dani are not mated yet. I think you might be waiting for the waning moon, am I right?”

  Shit, Atticus thought but tried to keep his expression blank. How in the bloody hell had Kaylee even come across that information? She was a new witch, still learning her powers. Her grandmother might have some knowledge, but the ritual he had planned, coinciding with the waning moon and Dani’s heat, shouldn’t be one of those things.

  “I don’t like the game you’re playing with my friend, Atticus,” Kaylee asserted. “And since you are so unwilling to accept my generosity, I think you should spend the day listening to your Master. He is quite unhappy with you at the moment,” Kaylee deadpanned.

  Her words quickly got all of Atticus’ attention. What the hell did she mean? He was confused about what she had said, but he didn't get the chance to question her. Kaylee smiled, waved goodbye, and vanished. Not a moment later, Bane’s voice was heavy in his mind, screaming at him to return. Atticus stumbled to the closet, tearing the clothes off the hangers, reaching for the hidden compartment. Gripping the second vial, this one dark green and murky, Atticus prayed it worked as well as the witch promised. Downing the contents, he waited. Bane’s demands pounded through him, compelling him to come.

  The call was so strong, stronger even than he had felt in his youth which was saying something. Atticus fought with everything he had. After a few minutes, the call started to lessen, the potion taking effect, giving Atticus some relief. Shit, going forward he would have to watch himself. Now, he needed to contact Micah again. He had only purchased three vials, and two were already gone. Atticus staggered out of the closet, bracing himself on any piece of furniture he could touch to get his bearing back. Then he heard a small whimper of pain, followed by the thump of someone falling to the ground. Running for the door, he pounded down the stairs, going straight to Sage’s room.

  He found her passed out, just beyond the door. Going to her, he fell to his knees, taking her head into his hands, cradling it on his lap. What had he done! Atticus had the strength to fight Bane, at least he had thought he did, but Kaylee was the one who had been lessening the call, not him in the least, and if it was that bad for him, it would have been excruciating for Sage. She didn’t have the elixir or the dark magic in her body. She couldn’t fight the same ways he had.

  Brushing away the hair that had fallen over her face, Atticus noticed a thin sliver of blood dripping from her nose, matching the twin lines leaving her eyes, landing on her cheeks. Damn it, this wasn’t right. Sage shouldn’t be made to suffer for his wants. Extending his teeth, he ripped open his wrist and forced Sage’s mouth open, making her take his blood. It took several moments of coaxing before she started to take stronger pulls. He let her feed for as long as possible before lifting his arm away, sealing the wound with his own tongue, cradling her on his lap like a child.

  “Sage, honey, are you okay?” When she finally roused enough to notice him, she started to cry.

  “Atti, this isn’t going to work, he’s too strong. It felt like he was tearing apart my brain. We need to stop this, go back, figure out another way. Please,” Sage begged.

  “Why didn’t you tell me it has been this bad for you, Sage,” Atticus chastised.

  “You would have sent me away, I need to protect you.”

  “Damn right, I would have sent you away, Sage,” Atticus growled.

  “I… Atti, I couldn’t resist, I wouldn’t have left, I couldn’t stop myself.”

  Atticus noticed something moving out of the corner of his eye and turned his head that way. Kaylee was once again standing there.

  “You didn’t tell me there was more than one of you, I won’t let her pay for your sins. She has my protection from your master until I deem her unworthy of the gift.”

  “If I had known, I wouldn’t have…” Atticus murmured.

  “Don’t finish that lie, Atticus, you would have just found another way, we both know it. The woman you’re holding gives me hope you’re at least capable of loving something other than yourself. I’ll hold him off as long as I can, but I can’t block him from both of you, so it’s your choice, Atticus. Either you allow more phone calls between the pack and Dani or I stop helping your friend. Do you understand?” Kaylee stated.

  Atticus understood and nodded. He knew, without a doubt, he would do anything for Sage so letting Danica make another call—if he could actually get her out of that bed and somewhat coherent—was a small price to pay. He considered getting the elixir for Sage but quickly dismissed that idea. She was full Vampire, it could hurt her, and he wouldn’t allow that. Atticus foolishly thought he had more time or that Bane would leave Sage alone—apparently, he had been wrong.

  Bane was evil, and Atticus knew evil well—it lived inside him every fucking day. Bane knew his weakness for Sage and was playing on it, forcing his hand. But the bastard didn’t know everything. Bane had only guessed at the power Kaylee held and wanted it for himself. If he knew the true extent, he would go after her with the full force of his coven. The Valentin Pack wouldn’t stand a chance. For now, he would keep that information to himself. It benefited him and Sage to have Kaylee’s help. After the mating, that would change. For now, Atticus would do as Kaylee asked, allow Dani contact with her pack. Once the coupling was complete, he would bargain with Kaylee’s life for Sage’s freedom.

  Picking her up, he placed Sage on her bed, covering her with a soft throw blanket. She had passed out again. His blood would revive her, heal her, but it would not save her. It would take much more than that, and Atticus was willing to pay the price. Even if it meant tainting his soul once again, he would do that for Sage.

  Dreams of faraway places and beautiful things evaporated from his mind. His mission was set, h
is plans in place. Only one little wolf stood in his way, and she didn’t stand a chance. A part of him wished it could be different, but Kaylee’s little experiment had backfired. It only brought back the reality of his life in full technicolor view. He wasn’t meant for those things—dreams were frivolous, love and commitment dangerous. Family and caring made you vulnerable, and he was never going to be susceptible to Bane again.

  Chapter 6

  Danica woke up abruptly. Something was wrong, she could feel it so strongly, her heart skipped a beat. Sitting up, she tried to figure out what it was, but her mind was still fogged with depression and sleep. She rubbed her eyes with her knuckles and shook her head to get the murkiness to dissipate. It wasn’t working, nothing had in the last couple of days. It was almost like a veil had fallen over her.

  This wasn’t right, Dani thought, still rubbing her tired eyes and face. She wasn’t this person. She had been depressed before—no one could live to the age of twenty-five without having a few times in their life they felt overwhelmed or overwrought—but this wasn’t one of those times. Dani reached for the glass of water on the nightstand, taking a long drink. Even the cold liquid running down her throat made her want to cry. It should have been refreshing, regenerating… it didn’t make any fucking sense.

  It had been days since she had shifted, could that be the problem? Dani reached for her wolf but found her cowering in the back recesses of her mind. She couldn’t even coax a snarl from the beast. What the hell? This had never happened before. She had gone longer without shifting, only needed to do it once a month to maintain her sanity. It had only been a week at best, and the beast never once cowered, she was submissive to the core but not fearful.

  Closing her eyes, she tried to figure out what had changed, recounting the events she remembered. Sage came in with food, they talked, well basically, nicely argued. Sage hadn’t touched her or even come very close. The food and drink had tasted as expected, there was no bitterness or sourness as if it had been drugged. Dani didn’t remember feeling anything but jealousy when meeting and speaking with Sage. The emotion wasn’t exactly normal for her, but she could still justify it.

  Then Atticus came into the room, acting oddly and kissed her. Was that it? No, she had felt fine after that, a little pissed and confused but fine. Racking her brain, she continued to replay the events of the last day she remembered clearly. Sage left, leaving her threat behind—again, she had been okay with that, expected it even. Then there was the phone call with Flynn, she had been a little hopeful when she managed to tell him about the blood bond with Lucas. What the fuck was it, what changed?

  She remembered a heavy weight landing on her shoulders when the call had been completed. Then she asked Atticus to leave because she was tired, but she shouldn’t have been all that tired, all she had done was sit around all day. Stress could be a factor, but she had lived for years in a stressful situation, so she doubted it. Was it just being away from her pack for the first time in her life? All these questions but no fucking answers.

  Dani didn’t like her circumstances at the moment, but she still had faith she could find a way out of it. Atticus hadn’t hurt her, he was kind of an ass, but he had a softer side too. The things he told her while lying in that bed made her wish she had met him before Bane had gotten ahold of him, changed him. If she had, Dani might not be fighting this mating as hard.

  If circumstances were different, something between them might be able to grow, not that she was willing to let that happen exactly, but he was her mate. Fate and destiny had to have gotten at least something right, there had to be a part of him and her that was compatible, or the bond wouldn’t have started to form. That was the other thing. Dani had been so determined to find a way out. She even gave Flynn that clue.

  Dani closed her eyes, taking several deep breaths, centering herself like she did while using her gift to heal someone. It was a form of meditation she had taught herself to help concentrate. Dani reached for the energy that normally surrounded her and found only a sliver. She pushed at that energy, but it was like a piece of thick, heavy glass was in front of it. It was there, still a part of her, but Dani couldn’t tap into it. Looking closer, she noticed a faded edge to the boundary. It was grey almost black fuzzy looking. It reminded her of something.

  Her eyes shot open—she knew! But before she could even say a word or take a breath, she was startled and cringed back. Atticus was standing next to the bed, so close to her, all she had to do was lift her hand, and they would be touching. She hadn’t sensed him come in or heard anything, he was just there. His face completely blank, no emotion, nothing. Dani hadn’t met this side of Atticus before and knew she didn’t like it. This was the dark part, the side she had sensed but had not yet witnessed.

  Going for a little levity, she gasped a short chuckle, placing her hand on her chest

  “What the hell Atticus, you scared the shit out of me! Why are you just standing there staring at me like a crazed ass man?”

  Nothing changed, he didn’t respond at all. Dani wanted to reach out to him, bring back a little of the man she was just starting to get to know, but she was scared, petrified. Her heart began to race, and her breath came out in pants. This was not a man she wanted to be around.

  “Atticus?” Dani whimpered his name, hoping it would register where her previous words had not.

  “You will contact your pack today,” he stated robotically. “You will tell all of them you are being well cared for, and you wish to have the time to explore this mating. I will allow daily phone calls between you and them until the mating is complete.”

  Dani was confused, there was no cajoling, demanding or any emotion at all in his voice or demeanor. He was just stating a fact while looking right through her. She couldn’t help it, scared or not she needed to know.

  “What’s going on Atticus? What changed? Why are you acting this way?”

  “Nothing is going on, Danica, and nothing has changed. Be ready for your phone call. I will have food brought up to you shortly.” Atticus turned to leave.

  Dani stumbled out of bed, tripping to get to him before he left the room. Her fingers grazed over his back, and she pulled back immediately.

  “Jesus, Atticus, what have you done!” Dani demanded.

  The dark was so thick in him, the man she had felt before was nowhere to be found.

  Atticus whirled on her so quickly, she lost her balance and started to fall. When he put his hands out to help her, she pushed herself back further, allowing the momentum of her body to keep his touch away. Dropping to her ass, she crab walked back, scurrying toward… hell, she didn’t even know where. When her back hit the wall, it was both a relief and a disappointment. She had nowhere else to go, but her back was covered, and no one or anything could catch her by surprise.

  Dani had been around dark magic before, Marcus her old Alpha had it in his veins for as long as Dani could remember but only a small amount. Emily’s had developed while taking Dragons Blood, a potion for Others that acted like a street drug, but with much higher ramifications. An Other couldn’t overdose or die from drinking it, but they could and would become beholden to its maker. If that maker was skilled, he or she could sell that Others’ soul, so to speak, to the highest bidder. It was a form of enslavement, much like a blood bond created.

  Dani wanted to curl up in a ball when Atticus crouched before her. Closing her eyes, she reached for the bond, her power and her beast trying to find anything that would help, but she found nothing, so she begged, tears streaking down her cheeks, “Please don’t hurt me!”

  Atticus cocked his head to the side. “You fear me now, little wolf, after all this time? I have done nothing to harm you, have I?”

  Dani whimpered again. “You’re not the same, you’ve done something. Something bad, horrible. There is so much dark inside you now, I can’t even see the light. What have you done? Why did you do it? Just tell me!” Dani demanded.

  “Little wolf,” Atticus said while shakin
g his head. “You ask what I have done as if you care? You have hardly spoken to me since the day I let you make that first call. Told me over and over again, before that, how you would refuse to be my mate. Now, you cringe from me and want to know what I have done! I tell you what I have done, I have protected myself and my family. The same thing that I ALWAYS Have Done!” Atticus got up and started pacing.

  At least now, there was some emotion within him. It might be anger, but that was something, right?

  “Atticus, no! You’re wrong, what you have done goes beyond helping you or your family. You have let the dark consume you. If you don’t stop, there will be nothing of you left, do you get that?” Dani said a little more forcefully, hoping to continue to break through to him.

  “You know nothing of me, Danica Valentin, except what I have told you or led you to believe. This is the person I am, the person I choose to be! You know nothing of the life I have led or the horrors I have seen and had to protect myself against. Your judgment just shows how naïve and sheltered you are,” Atticus snarled in her direction.

  “Then tell me, tell me why you choose this over anything good. Why you would allow another person to contaminate your very soul, own you. I might not know you well, and I might be, as you said, naïve and sheltered, but I’m not weak. Only the weak seek out answers in dark magic. I’ve seen you Atticus, seen inside of you. You’re not a weak man, you are strong, arrogant, and dominant. None of that fits with what you are allowing now,” Dani stated, feeling bolder now the fear was slowly leaving her body.