Captive Soul

by April Kelley

  "The day I stop that is the day I die."

  "As much as I don't like you talking about death, I have to agree with you."

  "At least we agree on something."

  Lucas and Bennett both chuckled.

  Hacen placed a kiss on Jules’ hair. Wisps of Jules' dark strands tickled around his lips.

  "I'm not apologizing." Jules just had to keep the argument going.

  Hacen would have responded, but Penny came out of the bathroom. Hacen thought for sure she'd engage the witch first, but she went right to the dragon shifter and turned around, running a hand down her braid. "Look." Penny beamed up at Hacen.

  Hacen winked.

  Bennett ran his hand down her hair. "Looks pretty."

  "I know, right." Penny turned, placing a hand on Bennett's large arm. "Will you talk to Gabe for me? He might listen to you."

  Bennett raised his dark eyebrows. "What am I talking to him about?"

  "Letting me go on a date."

  "With someone you might potentially hold hands with and kiss?"

  "Umm..." Penny acted like she had to think about her response and the silence reigned for several seconds. "If I say no will you help me?"

  "Depends on if that's the truth."

  Penny threw up her hands and stalked to the chair she had vacated minutes ago. "Fine. I'll just make Jules talk Tommy into it. Tommy's my guardian."

  Jules turned his head. Hacen had a view of his profile, and that was about it, but it was enough to know he didn't like what Penny said at all. "First of all, you're a Somerset, and you'll remember that, even when you don't like the rules. And secondly, you’re not playing Gabriel and Tommy against each other. That’s wrong to do."

  "Sorry.” Penny kept her eyes downcast.

  “It’s okay.” Jules smiled, letting her know he wasn’t truly angry. “I’ll talk to Gabriel if you invite the boy over to the house.”

  “Well, there’s one problem with bringing him home for a visit." Penny pointed to Bennett. "There's like five people who are as big as him. The boy I like will pee himself."

  "He's a clan member so he should be used to it." Jules held his ground.

  "Ugh, fine. I'll ask him over next week. You'll be there though, right?"

  Jules smiled. "If you'd like me to be."

  Penny met Hacen's gaze. "You'll do my hair? Please." She put her hands together as if she were begging.

  "If you come here."

  "No, you have to come to the house. My hair will get all nasty walking through the woods. It has to be perfect."

  Hacen scowled. "I'm not going into a den of shifters."

  Bennett growled low in his throat but stopped when Lucas elbowed him.

  "He'll go." Jules sounded so sure of it that it almost didn't leave room for argument. In the short time they'd been living together in the cabin, Hacen had learned to pick his battles with Jules carefully. He wouldn't be around a bunch of shifters, though. He'd remain unbending on that one thing.

  "No, I won't."

  "Yes. You. Will."

  "Jules."

  "Hacen." Jules turned around in Hacen's arm, meeting his gaze. Jules gave him a pointed look that usually worked on Hacen.

  "Knock it off, Jules."

  "You knock it off. I'm not fighting with you about this. You'll take me over there."

  "Tommy will take you."

  "You'll both take me, or I'll walk."

  "You're not walking. It's too far. Only the gods know what's out in the woods in a shifter town."

  Jules pulled back as if Hacen had slapped him. Hacen growled and stalked to the door, unable to see that look of disappointment.

  As he was closing the door, he heard Bennett say, "Man, I want to hate that guy."

  "But you don't." The door muffled Lucas' voice, but Hacen's vampire hearing was superior.

  "No. Because he loves you, Jules. That much is clear."

  "I don't know about love. I like the way he treats me. Tommy too. For the most part, anyway." He could practically see the pretty blush flushing up Jules' cheeks and the shrug he always gave when he turned all shy. In Hacen's opinion, the shyness was just a trick Jules pulled when he didn't want to talk about something that embarrassed him.

  "We came so I can fix your leg." The witch must be done talking about him, thank the gods. "You might want to lay down. It'll probably hurt a bit."

  Hacen stiffened but waited to see if Jules needed him.

  There was silence for several seconds, and Hacen thought Jules might be crossing to the bed. Then Jules let out a scream, the pain lacing through that sound so thoroughly it set Hacen off immediately.

  Hacen let his teeth drop down and knew his eyes glowed red even as he pulled open the door. By the time he made it inside Jules had already stopped screaming and lay on the bed with his back to the front door in a fetal position.

  The witch sat on the bed next to Jules rubbing his arm.

  Hacen pushed the dragon shifter out of his way and stalked to Jules. "Get away from him."

  Before the witch could follow his demand, Hacen was there, physically removing him from Jules.

  The witch cried out. Hacen wasn’t sure if it was pain or shock. Hacen didn't bother with him when he saw Jules close his eyes. He climbed over Jules, careful not to put his weight on him but protecting him from the others in the room at the same time.

  He saw the dragon shifter stalk closer to him and hissed in warning. The dragon shifter didn't shift anything but his eyes. He gave off a sense of danger that put Hacen on alert.

  His chest brushed against Jules' shoulder as he crouched down even more. "Leave."

  The next thing Hacen knew the dragon shifter physically lifted him. Hacen came back swinging, although he didn't connect until Bennett let him go and then his fist only connected with Bennett's stomach, brushing sideways, so the impact lessened.

  Hacen heard Jules moan and it renewed his focus.

  Bennett took a swing at him, but Hacen ducked out of the way, taking another shot at Bennett's stomach. His second punch landed with success, but so did Bennett's.

  "Shit. Get back, Penny." Hacen saw Lucas in his peripheral vision, but Penny remained behind him, out of sight.

  No sooner had Lucas spoke when Bennett came barreling at him, his shoulder connecting with Hacen's middle. The shifter lifted him off his feet and before Hacen knew what hit him, the breath was knocked out of him as Bennett slammed him on the table.

  The second he hit solid wood, Jules cried out.

  It renewed Hacen's energy, and he kicked out at Bennett, pushing him backward. He clenched his stomach muscles and arched his back right before getting the air underneath him. He jumped until he was on his feet, crouching on the table with his fists raised.

  By then Bennett had backed off, standing in front of Lucas as if protecting him and that was when it occurred to Hacen that was exactly what he was doing. Hacen had pushed Lucas and hurt him. Bennett reacted the same way he had toward Jules.

  Hacen jumped from the table, and Bennett took a step toward him, his body stiffening with his hands in front of him.

  Jules sat with his arms around his legs and tears in his eyes. He turned his head when Hacen caught him staring.

  Shit.

  He took the few steps to get to Jules, standing by the side of the bed, facing Bennett. "The witch hurt Jules. I won't apologize for protecting him."

  "The witch has a name." Lucas had his hands fisted on his hip, and he rolled his eyes.

  "I won't apologize for protecting what's mine either."

  "Fine." Hacen nodded toward the door. "Get out."

  "Fine." Bennett looked passed him to Jules. "You gonna be okay, brother?"

  Jules didn't say anything, but he must have nodded because Bennett grabbed Lucas' hand and pulled him to the door.

  Penny followed after them with her face all red and her head down. Hacen hoped he hadn't scared her too much. She was just a girl. She shouldn't have experienced that.

  Hacen wa
lked over to the door and watched Penny as she left. "Penny."

  Penny turned to look at him.

  "Sorry if I scared you."

  "Oh, you didn't. But I don't want to be around when you and Jules fight."

  "I'll do your hair when the boy comes over."

  Penny ran across the small clearing to hug Hacen. Hacen wrapped his arms around her.

  Bennett and Lucas stopped, waiting for her.

  Hacen patted her shoulder and pulled away. "Just call Tommy's phone if you need anything."

  "Yeah, okay. See ya later?"

  "Absolutely."

  Hacen’s gaze met Bennett’s. “Make sure she stays safe. The warlocks were shady.”

  Bennett nodded. “Will do. Mom has a spell on the yard still. We won’t let her leave it. Or let any warlocks in that aren’t Thomas.”

  “Thanks.”

  “That’s what family does.” The pointed look Bennett gave him was unmistakable.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Thomas sat in the backseat of Ekalis' car and looked out the window. For the past eight hours, he’d thought only of Hacen and Jules.

  Since the moment Thomas drove away from his old coven with Penny strapped into her car seat and all their shit stuffed into the trunk, he’d never thought he'd be back.

  He immediately regretted agreeing to come when they passed by the house where he spent his childhood. The vinyl siding had changed to a yellow color at some point in his absence, and children's toys changed from the faded plastic playhouse to dump trucks half stuck in the sand. A green plastic turtle trapped the sand, holding it in one spot. There was also a small plastic pool, turned up on its side and leaning against the house.

  Thomas' parents would have liked that the place had kids in it, even if those kids weren't Thomas and Penny.

  He remembered his father filling a plastic pool up just to the left of the flower bed. The hose had dangled from his hand, and he had shorts on without a shirt. His mother held Penny, crouching on the grass behind her. Penny had jumped up and down with a big grin on her face, jostling Mom around. Thomas had sat on the front steps sulking because he was grounded and couldn't leave the yard. After they had filled the pool, Mom let Penny go. Thomas remembered her splashing around and laughing. He hadn't been able to sulk when Penny's little giggle reached his ears.

  He had played with her in that pool for an hour. Their parents had watched and occasionally splashed along with them. They had eaten lunch out there and watched a movie that evening. The very next day his parents were gone, and before he knew it, he and Penny were alone.

  They had lived in a hotel room for six months after Ballard kicked him out. That hotel room certainly hadn't been their little yellow house with sunflower curtains in the kitchen and his family eating dinner at the table. He had rented a two-bedroom, rundown house after that. He could barely make the rent every month.

  Thomas felt their absence in every second of every day for so long it became a part of him like an extra appendage. Penny's child-like joy had disappeared after their death as well, and Thomas hadn't known what to do to get it back.

  It seemed to return with the Somersets, and Thomas couldn't be more grateful. When he got back home, he'd pressure Hacen to put his prejudice aside and do the right thing. He'd also beg Jules to stay with them. Maybe if he bought a house in town, closer to the Somersets, Jules would agree to move in with them permanently.

  Life was fragile. Thomas knew that better than anyone. He just needed the reminder.

  Thomas drew the burner phone out of his pocket and texted his mates. I love you guys.

  It didn't even take a full minute to get a response back. Omg, do you mean me too?

  Thomas smiled. Jules. He was so insecure in the relationship and Thomas couldn't blame him. The way they started things hadn’t been easy on any of them, least of all Jules.

  I mean you. I love you, Jules.

  I love you too. Are you okay?

  Just driving into the coven's territory.

  Oh. You didn't fight yet?

  No. I'll win, so don't worry.

  Don’t forget to put that protective spell on yourself.

  Thomas already had the spell in place, so sent a face emoji to Jules. The little yellow man had kissing lips and a heart next to them.

  The warlock sitting in the backseat with him pretended not to be interested in Thomas' texting conversation but failed miserably. Thomas angled the phone, so Jory wouldn't see the screen.

  Thomas gave the guy a disapproving look, and he averted his gaze.

  Satisfied, Thomas texted again.

  How are Hacen and Penny getting along?

  She left with Bennett and Lucas today, but he was great with her. He's her favorite braider now.

  Thomas scowled. Penny was supposed to stay at the cabin. Is she safe?

  Mama put the spell back up, and everyone knows not to let warlocks on the property. At least until you get back.

  A picture popped up on the screen after that message. Thomas melted into a puddle on the car floorboards when he saw Penny sitting in one of the kitchen chairs with Hacen behind her. His hands were in her long red strands and a concentrated wrinkle between his eyebrows. His scowl is different. LOL

  I know right. He fought with Bennett.

  Thomas sucked in a breath. What!

  Yeah, fists and everything.

  They aren't fighting still?

  No. Like I said, Bennett and Lucas left, took Penny with him.

  Did Lucas fix your leg?

  Yeah. I'm fine now, and I'm going back home, so can you call me there later?

  Shit. Sure, baby.

  Hacen's hovering so I'm gonna hand him the phone. A full minute went by in which time Thomas pictured Jules and Hacen arguing. Then Hacen texted. I love you very much. And don't worry, Jules isn't going anywhere. I'll fix it.

  With kissing? That seems to work.

  Ha. If he'll let me touch him. He's stubborn.

  Like you.

  Hacen sent him a winking emoji.

  Before Thomas could respond, the car stopped, and the engine shut off. Thomas looked around and noticed Ekalis parking in front of his house. I'll call you tonight.

  Just come home right after the challenge. And be careful. Don't trust those fuckers.

  His door opened, and Ekalis stood there.

  Every good warlock had a protective spell in their home, and Ekalis wasn’t an exception. Thomas felt the power of the spell when he came to a particular spot in the yard. The spell felt like electricity sizzling around him as he moved through it.

  Thomas took a deep breath in and released it. He cast a spell that would search for other curses on the property and didn't find anything.

  "I promise you. My motives are genuine, Thomas." Ekalis almost looked hurt as he held the front door open. When Thomas entered the house, it seemed almost exactly as it did when he had last been there. Ekalis had lived with his father, who had been a coven elder, and he hadn't been more than seventeen years old.

  The front door opened directly into the living room. Ekalis had updated the furniture but everything was in the same spot as it had been. The lack of change seemed odd, given the fact that Thomas immediately felt the lack of Ekalis' father and suspected that meant the warlock had passed to the Otherworld. "Your father's gone."

  "Yes. He defended Penny's right to be in the coven and lost his life in the challenge against Ballard."

  Thomas hadn’t known that. “I’m sorry.”

  Ekalis nodded. "He always liked your family. And you."

  Thomas remembered Ekalis' father as a kind man with a gentleness that had put Thomas at ease. "I was very fond of him as well."

  Ekalis gesture to the couch, offering Thomas a seat. "We should talk strategy."

  "Agreed." Thomas sat and waited. He was ready to get the challenge done and go home. He still saw the need for communication, though. All four of them should be on the same page if they wanted to succeed.

  Eka
lis sat in the plush chair opposite him. The two other warlocks in the room stood off to the side, Patrick typing on his phone as if the conversation didn't pertain to him at all.

  Jory shuffled from foot to foot, giving off nervous energy that actually put Thomas at ease. He was the only one who did actually. They all had a right to be scared. After all, if Thomas lost, the three of them would most likely be imprisoned for treason. Given the fact that Ballard was an asshole, he'd probably have them killed.

  Patrick stuffed the phone back into his pocket and regarded the room with a bored expression on his face.

  Thomas' stomach churned with dread. Ekalis spoke but Thomas' ears filled with his own heartbeat. He took a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself.

  Ekalis' brow drew together, and he stood. He didn't even take a full step before he crumbled to the ground in a heap.

  How did he miss the curse?

  Thomas pulled out his phone and pressed the button. The screen swam in his vision, elongating and distorting. The screen lit-up and despite having blurred vision, he managed to text Hacen and Jules one single word. Help.

  He tried to put the phone back in his pocket, but by then he couldn't feel his fingers. He pressed the button that would shut the phone off, not wanting anyone to get to his mates through the device. The phone required a code to get into it, and he was the only one who knew it. Someone took it from his hand. The curse was designed to make him lose consciousness, but he never did thanks to Jules’ warning.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Jules and Hacen were in the eye of the storm. Again. They were in that place where Jules refused to talk to him, and Hacen was alright with that because it meant they weren't bickering but in a stalemate of silence.

  Silence was golden.

  Jules sat in the center of the bed, pretending not to watch Hacen move around the kitchen. He played a game on the phone Tommy gave him. Ironically enough, the game's name was Warlock Solitaire. He didn't know what made the game warlock-ish, but it shut him up for a few minutes.

  Halle-fucking-luyah.

  If they talked, Jules would win the argument

  Just once Hacen would like a turn at winning. Just one fucking time.

  He had an idea on how to get Jules to stay quiet for longer. With his plan firmly in place, Hacen put the dishrag on the counter and stalked across the room.