Pillar of Light (The Lost Princess Book 1)

by A. Mashburn

  “Goddess, you are so fucking beautiful,” he said as he pulled her down and kissed her feverishly. They were both panting, tongues tangled as the door swung open and Mo walked into the room.

  “Oh, come on,” Mo yelled, throwing her hands up in the air.

  The twosome smiled at each other and then to their companion. “Mind giving us a minute, Mo?” Nicoli pleaded.

  She raised her eyebrow at him, “That’s all it’s going to take you, big boy?”

  “Mo,” Gretchen said exasperatedly.

  Mo stomped out of the room, snorting, “Just hurry up you two, we’ve got to go and you know it.”

  Nicoli looked at his female, “You’re trouble, you know that?”

  “Yup,” she said in a low husky voice as she kissed him again.

  He moaned as she gyrated her hips against him. “Gretchen, baby really—we—”

  She leaned forward and nipped where his mating mark would be. He flipped her over in one swift movement onto her back; her eyes went wide with shock at the sudden change in position. “You bite me there again and I won’t be able to contain myself, Gretchen.” She didn’t know what that spot meant to a wolf.

  “Genesis said you’d like it—”

  “Did she now?” He smiled and leaned in to tug on her bottom lip with his teeth. “She’s not wrong. But she’s going to get you into something you’re not ready for. I can’t take you that way until you get your memories back, Gretchen. No matter how much our wolves want us to. Hell, no matter how much I want to.” He placed his forehead against hers in an attempt to slow his racing heart. It was torture being around her, having his hands on her without being able to be with her in the most intimate of ways.

  He opened his eyes and saw her grinning wickedly at him as she reached between him and grasped at his length between his legs. He hissed as his hips bucked against her hand.

  “I think there’s something I could do to help you out with your little problem here.”

  “Little? You wound me female.” He feigned horror and she giggled. “Now you dare to laugh at me? I think someone needs a lesson in bedroom etiquette.” He tickled her sides and she let out a loud shriek as a fit of laughter consumed her.

  “Okay, okay, I give,” she laughed, “uncle, damn it, uncle!”

  He stopped tickling her and gave her time to gather herself as he began to kiss down her jaw to her neck. “I won’t take you here, Gretchen. But trust me, Love, when you know who you are and if at that time you decide you still want me, I will spend hours making you scream my name.” He bit the spot where her mating mark would be hard enough to make her whimper in pleasure and jumped off her as his cellphone rang. He picked it up and sauntered out of the room.

  “Asshole.”

  “I heard that,” he said as he poked his head back in the room. He pointed to his ear, “Wolf hearing, remember?”

  She rolled her eyes and slumped back into bed, griping about being frustrated while Nicoli answered the phone, smirking. “What’s up?”

  “Hey, man,” Boomer’s voice sounded on the other end.

  “Holy shit, Boomer. Hey, how is everything?”

  Hearing Boomer’s name sprung Gretchen into action. She jumped out of bed and ran to where she heard Nicoli’s voice. “Speaker,” she demanded in a hushed tone.

  “One sec, Boomer, Gretchen wants me to put you on speaker.”

  Once she saw that the phone was on speaker, she squealed, “Boomer, it’s so good to hear your voice. I was so worried; are you okay?”

  “Yeah, Red, I’m alright,” he sounded exhausted. “I wanted to make sure you were safe. When I couldn’t get you on your phone, I figured I’d give this asshole a ring.”

  “Why is everyone calling me an asshole this morning?” Nicoli grumbled.

  “I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m calling you an asshole because you could have warned me both your brothers were going to be there,” frustration dripped from Boomer’s words.

  “Fuck man, I was so focused on getting Gretchen out of there, I didn’t think of that. How many casualties?”

  Boomer scoffed, “Seriously? None—not on our side anyway. Some are pretty beat up, but they’ll all live. Can’t say the same for your brother’s ragtag group of misfits and rogues, though.”

  Nicoli rubbed his eyes with his forefinger and thumb and ran a hand through his hair. “I really can’t thank you enough, Boomer, really.”

  “Yeah, I know. It’s worth it; she’s safe.”

  “Well, you know she’s standing right here.” Gretchen crossed her arms. “And you sound like shit; are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I’ll live, Red. Have you seen me?” Boomer reassured her, “I’m not your average everyday bear-shifter. It would take a lot more than that to take me down. I’m just exhausted. We fought all night; even after you left, they just kept coming. Almost like they wanted to try to teach us a lesson for getting in the way. But, as their numbers dwindled and ours stayed the same, Jayce howled a retreat. But dude, Nic, I don’t have good news for you.”

  Nicoli stiffened, “What do you mean?”

  “Jayce, he’s changed, man.”

  “Again, what the hell do you mean?”

  “He’s a fucking hybrid.”

  Silence, Gretchen looked between the phone and Nicoli. “Are you sure?” Nicoli asked as his eyes turned the deep forest green of his wolf.

  “It’s kind of hard not to notice a hybrid, man. He can merge the two sides during his shift, a wolf on two fucking legs—mix of vampire and wolf. Yeah, I’m sure. Is Mo around? I need to talk to her, too.”

  “Fuck, alright, one sec. Mo,” Nicoli called. When there was no answer, Nicoli yelled again, “Mo, Boomer’s on the phone, he needs to talk to you.”

  Mo came around the corner filing her nails. “What’s poppin’ Boomer?”

  “What happens when a hybrid bites another shifter?” he asked.

  The color drained from Mo’s face and she snatched the phone from Nicoli’s hand. “What happened?”

  “Jayce, he fucking bit me.”

  “Jayce is a hybrid?”

  “Why else would I be asking this? Come on, catch up,” Boomer retorted.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Just tired, a little more than usual—but it was a hell of a fight, Mo. I’ve got guys burning bodies as we speak and that’s been happening for hours now.”

  “Where did he bite you? Main artery?”

  “He aimed for the neck, hit my shoulder instead, so he hit muscle.”

  Mo thought for a moment, “Is Genevieve around?”

  “She will be, one sec—Yo, Gene,” he yelled and after a few moments confirmed, “Alright, she’s here.”

  Mo took a deep breath, “Hey Sweets, it’s Mo.”

  “What the fuck do you want, Mo?” Genevieve snapped.

  “Ahhh listen, we don’t have time for that right now—I’m sorry, though.”

  Genevieve scoffed on the other end, “Right, anyway, what do you want?”

  “Does Boomer know what you are?”

  “Yeah,” she answered cautiously, “why?”

  “Boomer got bitten by a hybrid.”

  “What the fuck Boomer?” Genevieve screeched and they heard the sound of skin connecting with skin.

  “Ouch, damn it female, stop it,” he roared.

  “You stupid—stubborn—” she trailed off on a tangent in another language only Mo seemed to understand because she was grinning ear to ear.

  “Gene, Gene,” Mo cackled, “stop abusing the man, suck the venom out and cry on his shoulder,” she said pointedly.

  “No fucking shit, Mo. If he weren’t such a stubborn fucktard, I would have been able to help him already. Stupid, stubborn, strong-willed, blockheaded, dumbass bear—turn the fuck around.”

  They heard the shuffling of clothes and a loud roar sounded through the receiver. “Well, that sounds pleasant,” Gretchen said tentatively.

  “Oh, it’s painful as hell
, but it’s the only way to make sure the poison doesn’t get into his bloodstream,” Mo answered. “Genevieve is a particularly powerful Phoenix shifter. Her tears can bring someone back from the brink of death, but she’s got to get all the venom out first.”

  After a few more moments of growls, a loud, relieved huff met their ears from the other end. “Thanks, Gene,” Boomer said as they heard the loud smack of skin to skin and another round of what one could only assume was profanity in Gene’s language. Then softly, they heard her say, “Dumbass bear,” and the sound of feet stomping away.

  “How ya’ feeling, Fuzzy?” Mo asked Boomer.

  “Better actually, I don’t know why I didn’t think to go to Gene first. Oh yeah, because she’s fucking abusive,” he said loud enough for the Phoenix to hear.

  “I heard that asshole,” they heard Genevieve’s voice in the background yell.

  “Fucking Phoenix shifters,” Boomer groaned, but there was a hint of affection in his tone. “You know she’s never going to let me live this down,” he grumbled with a touch of amusement in his voice. “By the way, thanks Mo.”

  “No problem.”

  “Nicoli, you guys heading out today?” Boomer asked as he changed the subject.

  “Yeah, about to grab some grub and hit the trails,” Nicoli responded.

  “Call me if you need me, seriously. If I have to come to Romania to save your ass, I’ll do it.”

  Nicoli grinned, “Yeah, man, I know. You’re a good friend.”

  Boomer chortled, “I hear you; I hear you. Let me know when you guys get there.”

  “Bye, Boomer,” Gretchen squealed, “make sure you get some rest.”

  “Later, Little Red.” The line disconnected as Alice was setting the table and the sun was beginning to come up over the mountain.

  Alice gestured to the chairs, “Eat up you three. I packed bags of food and herbs for you as well.”

  Gretchen walked around the table and engulfed Alice in a hug. Alice was stunned for a moment before wrapping her arms around the girl. “What’s that for?”

  “I’m sorry for wanting to rip your throat out when I first saw you.”

  Alice pulled back and laughed gleefully, cupping Gretchen’s face in her hands. “Oh dear, I didn’t even think of how that would have made Genesis feel. You have nothing to be sorry about. That’s a natural reaction for a wolf when another woman touches—”

  “Okay, let’s eat,” Nicoli interrupted. Alice looked at him questioningly and he shook his head, telling her all she needed to know.

  Alice closed her eyes in frustration and pinched the bridge of her nose, “Foolish men.”

  Gretchen looked between the two of them, not for the first time, realizing that she was picking up on something she should know but didn't. “Again, I’m going to tell you, Nicoli. You suck at the undercover thing—just tell me you’ll explain it to me when I get my memories back and I won’t ask what that was all about.”

  Alice grinned and Nicoli looked at Gretchen sheepishly, “Aingeal, when you get your memories back, I won’t have to tell you a thing; you’ll know.”

  Gretchen looked to Alice and she nodded vigorously to let her know that what he said was true.

  Begrudgingly, she nodded her head in understanding. “Fine; let’s eat. By the way, Alice, in your story last night, you said you were bitten.”

  “Aye, I did, and I was. Why?”

  “Are you a shifter like me?”

  “Oh, no dear, not like you. I am a werewolf, but I was bitten, not born. However, my family comes from powerful magic, so I maintain my magical abilities, which makes my wolf a bit, well, different than others.”

  “She has a pretty freaking awesome wolf,” Mo said admiringly.

  Alice smiled secretively, “Aye, she’s pretty amazing. I will walk with you in wolf form up the mountain. If you get tired, I will carry you.”

  Gretchen squealed with joy at the thought, and everyone smiled at her amazement.

  Chapter Ten

  “How the fuck did he know to prepare?” Jayce screamed as he slashed into his brother’s back. Jade gritted his teeth and not a sound left his mouth no matter how hard or how many times he was whipped.

  “Traitor,” Jayce roared as the cat of nine tails tore through Jade’s flesh time and time again.

  A small feminine voice floated over the air to Jade’s ears, “Sire, you will kill him.”

  No, Jade thought, Scarlett no. Why the hell is she here?

  Jayce turned on her and had her pinned to the wall squeezing her throat until her eyes bulged, “You dare to interrupt his punishment? Perhaps you would like to take his place?”

  “No Sire, I merely wish to help you to understand before this goes too far. I see the bloodlust in your eyes—he is your kin, Sire. He believes her to be his second chance mate,” she croaked out. “Why would he tip Nicoli off and risk losing her again? The logic is irrefutable, Sire.” She cast her eyes towards the floor in a show of respect.

  The logic is irrefutable, Jayce thought to himself. The logic is irrefutable.

  After a long moment, the red began to fade from Jayce’s eyes. “You aren’t wrong, Scar. Your loyalties and your bravery know no bounds. Even after years of training, you sometimes surprise me.” He released his grip on her neck and she fell to her knees as she gasped greedily for air.

  “Take him to the infirmary and assist in his healing. I’m afraid I lost my temper and my senses this eve. It will take some days for him to heal as the whip was coated with wolfsbane. You will be with him during this time and ensure that he heals as quickly as possible.”

  She nodded her head in acceptance and unbound Jade. His weight shifted to her shoulders and he groaned as he straightened, refusing to lean on her for more than a moment to right himself. As they trekked to the infirmary away from Jayce’s ears, Jade growled, “What the fuck is wrong with you? Do you have any idea what he could have done to you?”

  She rolled her eyes and pulled out a syringe filled with a yellow liquid, “Nothing I would not have allowed.”

  His eyes widened at the sight. “If you are—”

  She glared at him. “I won’t be.”

  That syringe would not be spoken of again as she put it back into her satchel. Jade didn’t know where she got it, but it was the only thing that could stop his brother in his tracks.

  “Don’t ask,” she stated plainly.

  “Okay, I won’t—but it was still a risky move, Scar.”

  They reached the infirmary door and she shooed away the Omegas inside. “I will not let Jayce kill you. Not then, not ever; understood?” He stared at her wide-eyed and slack-jawed, but with the jut of her chin and the straightness of her spine he knew he would not win this, so he nodded his head in understanding.

  “Good, now shut up and get in bed while I prepare some herbs.”

  She helped him onto his stomach and cut off the remainder of his shirt. She didn’t gasp or flinch at what she saw. Instead, her eyes hardened, and he saw the rage that bubbled just beneath the surface. He watched her as she gathered herbs, the way her dark ponytail swayed grazing the top of her ass. She moved methodically, knowing where everything was. Every step she took was taken with confidence and purpose as she studied each component intently to make sure she had everything she needed the first time.

  His eyes traveled up her body to her face and stopped at her neck when he saw the purple prints his brother had left behind. When he saw Jayce with his hands around her throat, Jade saw red; for the first time in his life, he contemplated killing his brother. Luckily, he released her and she calmed him, so murder was not in the cards today.

  She is a hell of a female, he absentmindedly thought to himself, she will make some male happy one day. He grimaced at the thought of her being with someone. He felt that familiar pang of jealousy he felt every time he reminded himself that she would find her mate one day. He knew he would lose her, and it would be a painful loss, maybe even more so than the day he lost Gret
chen. As he lay there immobile, watching her like this, he knew that when she found her mate, to him, it would be like losing an essential appendage.

  Fuck, mate, Asher grumbled in his mind.

  Yep, that about covers it, Jade thought.

  We love her, they said in unison.

  Yeah, fuck pretty much covers it.

  His heart began to race as he attempted to push himself up from the bed. “If you don’t lay your stubborn ass down, I will throttle you,” she growled at him. The low, fierce timbre of that growl let him know it wasn’t an empty threat. She would actually assault him, and didn’t that just get all the blood flowing from his back to an appendage that apparently gave zero fucks about the condition the rest of his body was in.

  “You would hurt an injured man? I’m disappointed in you.” He gave her a lopsided smile.

  “You’re not charming.” She glared at him. “And yes, if it means you won’t hurt yourself more, I will. Now stay down; I’m almost finished soaking the bandages.”

  He did as he was told, and she brought over a basin filled with bandages. “We’re going to clean it first and it’s going to hurt a bit. But, as the wounds are so fresh, your adrenaline is still going to be up high, so maybe you’ll luck out and still be a little numb naturally.”

  “I’ll be okay; you won’t hurt me.”

  “Don’t be foolish—this will hurt. But I’m using a concoction of cranberries to assist with fighting infections. It’s also a natural anti-inflammatory, so it will ease the swelling a bit, too. The yucca root will assist with healing and reduce the scarring. I’ve added yarrow to help stop the bleeding, as well.”

  “Scar, stop, I get it; I trust you. Just do what needs to be done. I will be okay.” He gritted his teeth as she tentatively cleaned the strips of skin on his back. He turned his head to the side to look up at her. The mixture of tears and rage that shone in her eyes hurt worse than the strips of raw, bleeding flesh on his back.

  Yep, we love her, Archer said in their shared mind. Jade reached out and placed his large hand on her thigh and she looked into his eyes.