Cade wiped Eylsa’s hair back from her forehead. “What about the bonding draught?”
“Bottle it up and save it. Until we know more, we can’t risk it.” He kneeled beside Brendan. “Until they wake up, they’re on their own.”
Trey raked a hand back through his hair as he turned to survey the room. “At least we can move them to a room and a bed.”
“That’s a good idea. See if you can get Brendan into the first room there. Eylsa can go in the far one.”
Trey nodded as he jerked Brendan’s arm, dragging him up to his shoulder. Brendan’s eyes shot open as Eylsa’s fingers slipped from his grip. He shoved Trey in the chest, knocking him backward as he dropped to the floor. He scrambled back to the couch and entangled his fingers in Eylsa’s.
Trey jerked his clothes straight as he jumped back to his feet. “You know, pal, we are going to have some serious talks when you’re better.”
Cade laughed. “Looks like we’re going to have to put them together wherever we put them.”
“Is it really a good idea to put two people under the influence of a love draught in a room together?”
Darius considered them. “Brendan is brought around by Eylsa’s distress. As long as she is hurt, I don’t think it will make a difference.”
Cade clapped. “Okay! I’ll lift her while you lift him. Try not to get yourself flung across the room this time.”
Trey glared at him. “Funny.”
chapter 10
Brendan could feel his hands stroke the soft skin beneath his fingers. The feel of that flesh filled his mind as he clawed his way out of his stupor. Hair brushed against his face as his arms tightened around the form held in his protective embrace. Every nerve in his body was alive as they bombarded his mind with endless sensation.
His eyes opened and he focused on the figure sleeping on his shoulder. His breath caught as he brushed her hair back; his hand trailed along her long graceful neck. He buried his face there, tasting that tantalizing flesh as he rolled her onto her back. She sighed and the brush of her breath on his ear jerked him back.
Her eyes were open now, exquisite blue gems watching him, wanting him as much as he wanted her. He fell on her mouth, his hands tangled in the sheets beneath her. Her back arched up against him, a pained whimper strengthening the heat of her kiss. That whimper bothered him, why he wasn’t sure. Her hand slipped up to his neck and pulled him down to her and he followed eagerly. He lowered his full weight and her cry pulled her mouth from his before she moved her attention to his neck.
His head swam preoccupied with the tactile pleasure but something was nagging him. Brow wrinkled, he pressed his forehead to the bed. His hand rested some of his weight on her ribs. Her cry was sharp; this time she threw her head back and he jerked his hand away as some of the fog dissipated from his mind.
“Ellie.” He nestled his face against her shoulder and forced his thoughts to focus. They were no longer on the floor. There was a warm blanket over them and a window to the right. He sat up and felt the clothes between them now. His breath shook as he rolled onto his back and rubbed his temples.
He jumped as the door was kicked open to reveal a smiling man. “Good morning Brendan. Feeling better?”
Brendan watched him enter and eased closer to Eylsa’s side. “You…took us from Gregor. Why?”
The man sighed as he sat on the edge of the bed. “If you have to ask that then you are nowhere near better.” Brendan cringed away as the man touched his forehead. “Your fever is going down a bit.”
“What do you want with us?”
The man cradled his head in his hand. “Ah Brendan, I always knew you would go to pieces for a girl eventually, but I didn’t think it would be mentally.” A smile lit his face as he raised his head. “How do you feel? Are you hungry?”
Brendan watched him suspiciously as he stood and crossed the room. “Fine. I don’t need anything.” His traitorous stomach growled, giving voice to the lie.
The man’s smile wilted a bit. “Tell you what, I’ll bring up some sandwiches and if you want them they’ll be right here.”
The man pulled the door shut behind him and Brendan clawed his way toward the side of the bed. The room around him was sparsely furnished but comfortable with a few pictures of trees and rivers on the walls. The window looked out on a flowered field. He rubbed his forehead and tried to force his mind to work.
“Oh good, you’re still up.”
His heart leapt as he spun to face the man behind him, overbalanced himself, and dropped to the floor. The man rushed to his side and he flailed in an attempt to shuffle back against the wall. The man held his hands up. “Okay, I won’t touch you.” The man watched him for a moment, his face sad. “You still don’t remember us, do you?”
“I remember you—you took us from Gregor.”
The man gave a solemn nod. “We did.”
“Why?”
He stood. “Can you tell me your name?”
“Brendan.” His brow wrinkled.
The man pointed behind him at the rumpled sheets. “And the girl?”
Brendan glanced up at the bed coming to his feet as the man moved out of his sight. “Eylsa.”
“And my name?”
Brendan shook his head and laughed. “I don’t know your name.”
The man moved to Eylsa, who lay curled under the blankets. “Yes you do.”
Brendan could feel his anger rising. He was losing patience with this game. “I don’t know what you want, but I am not so easy to break pal.”
The man smiled. “I am quite aware of that.”
“Who are you people?”
He cocked his head. “Why don’t you tell me?”
Brendan threw up his arms. “I don’t know who you are, old man!”
The man’s lips curled into a smile. “We will try again after you’ve rested more.”
Brendan stiffened as the man stretched a hand toward Eylsa and brushed her hair aside.
“I won’t hurt her, Brendan.”
She stirred beneath his fingers and her eyes fluttered open.
“Good morning, Eylsa. Can you tell me how you are feeling?”
She blinked up at him as her mouth worked but produced no sound. The man shifted the blanket aside and probed along her ribs with his bony fingers. She cringed and Brendan rushed forward, shoving the man away from her.
“You keep your hands off her!”
He raised his hands in placation. “Easy Brendan, I was checking her ribs. They are broken.”
Brendan pulled the covers back up and took care as he sat on the edge of the bed, slipping his hand into hers. “I know. Gregor broke them, said she was too strong to succumb to the draught alone, needed the pain to distract her from fighting.”
“But her pain focused your mind.”
He nodded, his eyes never leaving her face.
“You were able to fight the effects of the love draught because of your concern for her. He wasn’t counting on that.”
Brendan’s eyes narrowed. “He said I stole her…” He slammed his palm to his forehead. “Why can’t I think?”
The man took a step toward him. “The amount and frequency of the dosing was meant to fracture your mind, leave nothing but the desire to satisfy the physical need.”
Brendan’s eyes were haunted as an unnameable fear crept up his spine. “He never got what he wanted, but I know something is broken.”
“Perhaps it is just bruised. You seem more coherent than when we first found you.” His voice was soft, compelling.
Brendan stared into his face. “Who are you?”
The man from before opened the door and carried in a tray piled high with sandwiches. His smile was warm but looked forced. “Should we try to get Eylsa to eat?”
The visitor stepped aside to let the other man enter. “I doubt she could handle anything solid, we will have to make her some broth.”
“Already started. How are things up here?”
“Hard to s
ay.” The older man lifted a sandwich and took a purposeful bite. “Brendan, can you tell me his name?” He pointed to the young man.
Brendan glanced at him. “Is he senile?” he asked him.
The younger man barked a laugh and wiped at his eyes. “No, no he’s not senile. You don’t remember me?”
Brendan leaned away from them. “You’re not going to hurt us, right?”
“It is the furthest thing from our minds.” The older man took another bite of his sandwich.
With a curt nod Brendan curled himself up beside Eylsa, his palm resting on her stomach. He heard the men behind him leave and he glanced over his shoulder at the sandwiches. His stomach growled. There was nothing he could do if they were going to kill him, so what harm could it do to eat? He snatched one from the plate and gulped it down. He scarfed down three more before he was satisfied and felt his full stomach pull him back to sleep.
* * *
Brendan jerked upright, eyes darting. The room around him was unfamiliar and felt strangely empty like it was staged, not a real home. He shook his head but the thick fog wouldn’t leave his mind. He dropped his feet down and cringed at the cold before he slid off the edge of the bed. His legs buckled, threatening to spill him to the floor and he snatched at the bedside table, flinging a tray of sandwiches over his shoulder. His head rang with the resounding clatter as he pulled himself back to his feet.
He could hear steps rushing toward him and he pulled a vicious strike into his palm. The door crashed open and he crumbled to the floor in relief. “Trey. I am so glad to see you. Where are we?”
Trey’s face brightened. “You remember me?”
Brendan’s eyes narrowed. “How could I forget your ugly mug?”
Trey helped him to a chair at the foot of the bed. “We were really starting to worry about you. Thought maybe Gregor had driven you batty.”
Brendan rubbed his temples. “Gregor? What, has he gotten weirder?”
Trey chewed his lip as he glanced at the bed behind him. “What do you remember?”
Brendan watched him. “I think it might be you who is batty.”
“Yes, well…” Trey clapped his hands. “How are you feeling?”
Brendan leaned back, propped his head on the chair. “Drained, like I could sleep for days and not wake up.”
Trey’s face was full of anxiety and concern. “But you don’t remember the past few days?”
Brendan waved him off. “Of course I remember the past few days! It’s hard to forget time spent alone with Eylsa and Gregor. Those two together are going to be enough to drive me batty.”
Trey watched him for a moment. “Why don’t you come to the living room? Darius and Cade will be glad to see you…well, they’ll just be glad to see you.”
Brendan’s smile was brilliant. “I will be glad to see them too. Anything for some normal company.”
Trey grabbed his arm, pulled him to his feet, and waited for him to steady. Brendan glanced around the room. “Where are we?”
“Another safe house. This one surrounded and protected with more enchantments than you could count.”
Brendan stumbled and fell hard against the wall outside the room’s door. Trey pulled him back up. “Why did we move?”
“Well, it’s complicated. Darius will explain, you just have to keep moving.”
Brendan wondered at the weakness of his body. “Where are Eylsa and Gregor? They are never big on letting me get much rest.”
“Eylsa’s resting; you can see her in a bit.”
Brendan could feel the evasion but was too disoriented to force the issue.
Cade jumped to his feet as they stumbled into the living room. Brendan chuckled as he dropped into an overstuffed chair. “I must be extra pretty today.”
Darius raised an eyebrow in question as Trey took up a position behind Brendan’s chair. “He remembers us at least.”
Brendan’s forehead wrinkled. “Why wouldn’t I remember you?” His smile faltered as his gaze swept the men around him. “What am I missing?”
Darius watched him, then sighed. “I would feel better if he remembered on his own. Would be better on his mind, I think. Perhaps if he were to see Eylsa it might help jog his memory.”
Brendan clapped. “Well, drag that crazy girl out here, I’m starting to get worried.”
Trey nodded back down the hall. “Come on.”
Brendan dragged himself to his feet. Cade laid a supporting hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry; you’re not alone.”
“What’s going on, Cade?”
Trey opened the door to the bedroom. “You got a little exuberant when we tried to separate you.”
Brendan’s brow furrowed as he saw the mess.
Cade laughed. “Yeah, you kind of threw Trey across the room.”
Brendan’s knees gave way, dropping him to the carpet. He had to have heard them wrong. “I threw him?”
“You shoved me. In fact, you have been quite difficult these past few days.”
He stared into the room. He could feel the worry niggling at his stomach as his eyes fell on the rumpled bed. He hadn’t noticed the form beneath the sheets before. “What’s wrong with her?”
Trey and Cade pulled him back to his feet and set him down on the edge of the bed. He couldn’t force the air into his lungs as his fingers stretched out and touched Eylsa’s pale shoulder. Her eyes didn’t even flutter as he lifted her chin. Trey brushed hair from her forehead as he kneeled beside her. “She’s been getting worse. We were hoping you would wake up before we were forced to try something on her.”
Brendan brushed her cheek, his eyes pressed shut. “She wouldn’t give in. Wouldn’t give in so he had to break her mind.” His fist knotted in his hair. “It’s like trying to see through gauze!”
Darius laid a hand on his shoulder. “You have to try, Brendan. What did he do to her?”
Brendan dragged her unconscious body into his arms. “It was important to her. She didn’t want to give in, but she was so weak, so far under the influence of the potions. So many draughts. Every touch was maddening, every sense aflame. Her screams. I couldn’t handle her screams!” He was shaking now, tears soaking his cheeks. “He put something on her skin—liquid—then he’d touch her forehead. It would take so long for her voice to give out. Protito. It means—”
“Fire. He turned the liquid to fire.”
His shoulders shook. “He added something to it. Said it would keep me from breaking up the furniture.”
“A love draught and a power draining draught, is that it?” Darius leaned toward him, eyes intent.
Brendan trailed his fingers along her cheek. “She’s so cold.”
“Her fever has dropped rapidly. Is that all?”
Brendan’s eyes moved to his. “All that he told me about. He could have lied.”
Cade ran from the room as Darius pulled Brendan back from Eylsa. “We have no choice. She’ll slip away if we wait any longer.”
Cade rushed back, vial in each hand. He set one on the bedside table. “Bonding first. She’ll need it.” He tilted her neck and poured the liquid past her lips. Her mouth moved as she swallowed. Her breathing deepened and Cade sighed. “That’s encouraging.”
He lifted the blankets aside, shifting her shirt, and watched as the bruises around her broken ribs paled. “What about the reversal?”
Brendan’s muscles tensed. “She had more than I did. At least one dose.”
“Just healing draughts; she’ll have to fight the other on her own. Trey, fetch some more broth.” Darius released Brendan’s arms and he rushed to Eylsa’s side, hands cupping her face. “I’d venture the love draught is worked through her pretty well anyway.”
“Will she be okay?” Brendan’s voice was weak, unsure he would be able to handle the answer.
Darius met Brendan’s pleading eyes. “I don’t know, son.”
Brendan dropped his gaze. “She begged for my life.”
Cade patted his arm. “We’ll do everything
we can.”
“It seems we have kicked open quite the den of snakes.” Darius lowered himself into a chair near the window.
“We’re going to need more than just the four of us to get out of this.”
Brendan shook himself from the slight stupor he had slipped into. “Gregor is not part of the Trinity.”
Darius nodded. “We know. Why don’t you get some more rest; we’ll fill you in later.”
Brendan nodded as he stared down at Eylsa’s pale, sleeping face. “You can stay in here if you like. Wouldn’t hurt to have someone close when she wakes up.”
He smiled in appreciation as he stretched out beside her. “Good. Hopefully she doesn’t have much energy to fight; I’m a bit tired.”
* * *
Trey smiled as he pulled the door shut between them. “Darius…”
“I think he’ll be okay. He seems coherent enough.”
Cade motioned them down the hall but kept his voice low. “We still need help. Gregor is not likely to sit around and wait for them to resurface.”
“Who can we even trust with this?” Trey was having trouble keeping his worry at bay.
“For now we’ll have to keep moving them.”
“After they are better.”
Darius stared down the hallway. “Yes, Cade, after they are better.”
* * *
Brendan sighed as the bright morning sun invaded his sleep. Surely it couldn’t be light out yet? With a testy grumble, he jerked the covers over his head and curled tight to the empty bed beside him. His hazy mind grew nervous as his hand stretched, searching the mattress in vain. He poked his head out and winced at the bright light. The blinding whiteness resolved into the sterile room with its boring pictures and drab curtains.
He flopped onto his back and rubbed his temples. “Should have left her drugged. Who knows where she’s gotten to now!”
He rolled to his feet and stumbled toward the door. The hallway outside was empty as well, the entire house silent. He turned toward the living room and saw Cade and Trey standing motionless with their backs toward him.
He rubbed his head. “You guys seen Eylsa? She slipped out on me.”
An Assassin's Redemption: A New Adult Urban Fantasy Romance Novel Page 21
