In a Stranger's Eyes

by Evans, Gabrielle

Raith snorted and shook his head. “Nice try, babe. Now, take the dagger and let’s do this.”

  Torren and Lynk waited in small clearing, no bigger than October’s master bathroom. They’d already drawn a circle on the ground in what he assumed was salt. Just inside of the white lines were mirrors—two on the left, two on the right, and two at the top of the circle.

  “Two minutes,” Torren warned as he stepped forward and placed the leatherwrapped handle of a silver dagger into October’s hand. “Slice that across your palm and repeat after me.”

  With shaking hands, October drew the blade across his palm, hissing when it cut into his flesh. Once completed, he held up the bloody knife in a beam of moonlight and waited for Torren to speak.

  “With power spoken, the light is broken.”

  Octoberswallowed hard, looked into his lover’s eyes and repeated the words.

  “Spirit lingers not this night, but return come morning’s light.”

  October repeated the words, but a frown pulled at his lips. He might not know a lot about magic, but the words he echoed didn’t sound as though they were referring to the evil inside Raith. A little voice whispered inside his head that his stubborn fool of a mate had managed to hide something from him after all.

  “Sealed in blood and sacrificed, I take from you your former life.”

  “Do it,” Raith whispered. “I love you, October. I’ll come back to you.”

  With tears in his eyes and his heart breaking, October looped his fingers around the back of Raith’s neck, pulled him into a deep kiss, and plunged the dagger into the heart of the only person who had ever loved him.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Lynk, now!” Torren g rabbed one of the long mirrors that rested against a nearby tree while Lynk grabbed the other. “October, move him to the middle of the circle.”

  “Raith said not to enter the circle.” “Do it,” Torren snapped at him. “It’s not an issue until we close it.”

  Tears streamed down his cheeks and blurred his vision, but he lifted Raith into his arms as though he was the most precious thing in the world and placed him gently on the leaf-strewn ground in center of the circle. “I love you, draga.”

  Raith had promised to come back to him. He had to hold on to that. This was for the best. It was the only way his mate could live the life he wanted without being hindered by the malevolence that was slowly devouring him.

  It was hard to remember all the reasons he’d agreed to this when his hands were covered with his lover’s blood.

  “October, move.”

  With a final kiss to his mate’s unmoving lips, he rose to his feet and backed across the white line. He struggled to pull air into his lungs, fighting against the emotions that raged inside him, as he watched Torren and Lynk place the last two mirrors at Raith’s feet. This has to work.

  “How long before he wakes up?”

  Torren’s eyebrows drew together, and he looked at October as though maybe he wasn’t firing on all cylinders. “Sunrise.”

  “What?” He growled the question, barely recognizing it as his own voice.

  “There has to be enough time for the magic to detach itself,” Lynk explained while he moved closer to his brother’s side. “Didn’t Raith explain it?”

  It was still several hours until the sun rose in the east. While sitting and waiting for the magical moment would be difficult enough, October wouldn’t even be allowed to remain by Raith’s side during the process.

  Yes, they were bound, meaning as long as one lived, the other was allowed to cheat death. If they both died, it was curtains, and everything they’d been through would have been for nothing. Therefore, there was no way October could stay out in the open in vigilance over his mate.

  Rage, hurt, betrayal, heartbreak, fear, and a unnamable emotions roiled through him, boiling burning his gut. They’d known. All of them had known, and no one had told him. He’d already forgiven Raith for the misstep. The man would have known his reaction to the news, and in his mind, had been protecting him.

  The guy also happened to be his soul mate. The others didn’t have the same pass, though. They should have told him, prepared him for this outcome. To some, maybe it wasn’t a big deal. Everything would still play out the same. To October, it was like asking him to step away from his husband’s deathbed and simply have faith that everything would be okay.

  Everything he was feeling must have been clearly displayed on his face, because Torren pulled a capped syringe from his pocket and stepped toward him, obviously intending to dose him with the Inhibitor. He never made it close enough to inject him, though.

  Using his anger, as well as the power from the full moon, October focused all of his energy on his transformation. The transition came torrent of other his blood and swiftly, much faster than usual, with the sound of ripping clothes and growling snarls.

  With a loud roar, he charged forward, knocking Torren to the ground with his larger, more powerful body. The wolf in him scented the freshly spilled blood,recognized it as that of his mate’s, and another menacing growl rumbled through his chest.

  It wasn’t often that he let his werewolf free, and when he did, he usually felt guilty about it. This time, however, it was liberating. He felt completely justified—as well as highly pissed off. He was bigger, stronger, fiercer, and better able to protect what belonged to him.

  Right then, he was running on pure instinct, and that instinct was pulling him toward Raith, urging him to stand guard against any perceived threat.

  “October, no!” Lynk rushed forward, but stopped abruptly when October turned and snarled at him. “You can’t go in the circle.”

  He could go any damn place he pleased. Taking another step toward the circle and his mate, he paused and lifted his head to the sky, sniffing at something familiar in the air. He recognized the scent. Not only was it similar to his own, but he’d smelled it before, back near the windmills in Snake River the night they’d found Thane.

  “Ah, shit,” Torren grumbled when a massive, furry werewolf bulldozed through the trees, coming straight for October. “Kieran, stop!”

  It was too late, though. October’s wolf had already seen and processed the threat and decided that the beast was definitely unwelcome anywhere near Raith. They charged at each other with their upper lips pulled over their teeth. Loud, vicious growls cut through the night air, growing in volume when they collided.

  October tackled his adversary to the ground, rolling through the dirt and leaves as they swiped and snapped at each other with claws and teeth. Kieran didn’t really seem to be fighting back, though. He was blocking October’s blows, but each move he made in retaliation was geared more toward subduing him than harming him.

  “Immotus!” October went completely rigid, unable to even blink as he stared up at the sky from where he was curled into an awkward position on the ground. Torren rushed forward and fell to his knees, stabbing the needle into October’s hip and depressing the syringe.

  The effect was instantaneous. His muscles realigned, the fur vanished from his body, and his form shrank back to that of his usual appearance. Once the Inducer had worked its magic, Torren then stuck him with another needle, this one clearly containing the Inhibitor. Apparently, the witches had come prepared.

  When his second shift was complete, the spell was lifted, and October sprawled across the forest floor as he gasped for breath.

  Kieran shifted back to his human skin without the interference of drugs, and pushed up on all fours while he panted and coughed. “Fuck, you’re strong.”

  “What are you doing here?” Torren demanded.

  “Kaito’s gone.”

  “No.” October shook his head defiantly. “He’s just hiding or something. He can’t be gone. Where the hell would he even go?”

  “Papa, can I come with you and Daddy?” Kaito’s words spun through his head, and he closed his eyes on an agonized moan.

  “I’m sorry, man.” Kieran sat back on his heels and scrubbed hi
s face. “We’ve looked everywhere.”

  “Where’s Wren?” Torren asked, naturally concerned about his own son.

  “He’s fine. He’s with Aslan. Zasha and Thane are tearing the house apart looking for him. I checked around the outside, and when I couldn’t find him, I thought you should know.”

  “Did you hear that?” October sat up straighter and tilted his head to the side.

  “I heard it,” Kieran confirmed, jumping to his feet and peering into the trees. “It soundslike…”

  “Daddy?” his son’s small voice called from somewhere in the trees. “Papa?”

  “Get him,” October urged Lynk, pushing frantically at his chest. “He can’t see this.” There was no possible way for him to explain the scene around them to a four year old. Hell, he barely understood it himself. All Kaito would see was his daddy covered in blood. If that wouldn’t scar a child for life, October didn’t know what would.

  Lynk sprinted off in the direction of the house, zigzagging through the trees as he went in search of Kaito. “I need clothes.”

  “We brought extra, just in case,” Torren informed him as he pulled a pair of faded jeans out of a worn backpack. “Raith’s idea.”

  October didn’t give a damn whose idea it was, he was just grateful that someone had been smart enough to think ahead. “Thank you.” Tugging them on quickly, he looked back and forth between Raith and the direction in which he’d heard his child’s voice, torn between the two people that meant everything to him.

  “Go.” Torren gave him a little push between his shoulder blades. “There is nothing you can do here, and you need to be inside before the sun rises anyway. Go take care of your son. I promiseI won’t leave Raith’s side, and I’ll let you know the minute he wakes up.”

  It still wasn’t easy to walk away, but in the end, Kaito needed him more than Raith. Torren was right, and there was little October could do for his mate, other than stand watch and worry, and he could do one of those things from his room in the basement. “The minute he wakes up.”

  “I promise.”

  October winced at the burn in his throat as he swallowed, gave a last lingering look to his mate, and left to find his little vampire.

  * * * *

  “Where’s Daddy?” It was the fourth time Kaito had asked in twenty minutes. “Shouldn’t you be sleeping?” October changed the subject, just like he’d done the other three times the boy had asked. He didn’t want to lie to his son, but he couldn’t exactly tell him that his daddy was lying dead in the woods, either.

  “I’m not tired.”

  “You will be tomorrow if you don’t get some sleep.”

  “No, I won’t,” Kaito argued.

  “Kaito! Please, just go to bed.” October felt like the biggest

  asshole on the planet when the little vampire looked up at him with wide, shining eyes. “Oh, sweetheart, come here.” He knelt to one knee and held his arms open, relieved beyond belief when Kaito rushedinto them without hesitation. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

  He was going out of his mind worrying about Raith, but that was no excuse. It wasn’t Kaito’s fault, and October felt ashamed of himself for taking out his anxiety on an innocent child.

  “Why were you in the trees, Papa?”

  Time to change the subject again. “How about a bedtime story? Did you bring your favorite book with you?”

  “Can we read two?” Leaning back, Kaito tucked his hair behind

  his ear and gave October the sweetest, most heartbreaking look ever

  witnessed. “Please, Papa?”

  “Of course,” October relented. How could he ever say no to a face

  like that? “You get the books, and I’ll find your blanket with the stars

  on it.”

  “Papa?”

  “Yes, baby?”

  “Are you scared for Daddy? Is he lost? Is that why you were in

  the woods? Were you looking for him? I can help you. I’m good at

  finding stuffs.”

  October smiled for Kaito’s benefit, ruffled his hair, and kissed the

  top of his head. “Daddy will be home soon. Now, go find your books

  and let’s get cleaned up for bed.”

  “Okay,” Kaito finally relented, bouncing off to dig through his

  travel bag for his favorite books. “I’ll save one for Daddy, too. Is that

  okay?”

  “I think that’s a great idea.”

  You have two people waiting on you, Raith Braddock. Don’t let us

  down.If his dear mate didn’t come home at sunrise, October was

  going to kill him.

  * * * * The morning sunshine beamed down on him, warming his face and making it difficult to drag open his eyelids. His chest was still sore where he’d been daggered, but the wound was completely healed.

  After the quick assessment of his bodily injuries, the next thing Raith noticed was how much easier it was to breathe. His chest didn’t feel constricted as it usually did, and there was no icy vapor swirling through him. The anger that had constantly bubbled just below the surface for the past few weeks was absent as well, and Raith was so relieved that he forgot what was coming next.

  Dark, shapeless smoke curled and rolled all around him within the circle, spinning faster and faster as it searched for a way through the barrier. The mirrors were doing their job though, reflecting the darkness back at itself, and his brothers had bound the circle well.

  Unfortunately, that meant Raith was now the only living thing the magic could attach itself to, and he was about to be in for a world of hurt. As the cloud churned with more violence, moving closer and closer to him, closing him in on all sides, Raith took a deep breath and rose to his feet, prepared to fight for his freedom.

  He could see his brothers standing watch around him, and even Thane was there to support him in his battle. Raith was damn grateful, because he was going to need all the help he could get.

  The entity struck first, hammering against Raith with enough force to knock him to his knees. He could already feel the coldness seeping into his skin once more as the unclaimed magic searched for a home.

  Closing his eyes and bowing his head, he chanted out loud, repeating the unbinding spell over and over until his throat felt raw. All around him, he could hear his brother’s chanting as well, lending him their strength as the darkness continued its attack.

  His skin felt both frozen and scorched at the same time. He was finding it increasingly difficult to breathe, and his head pounded as though it would explode at any moment. The smoke passed through him several times, unable to latch on to him, but each time it happened, Raith felt like he was being stabbed all over again.

  The more painful the assault became, the louder he chanted until he was screaming the words. Each time he repelled the magic, it would retreat, only to be rebounded by the mirrors, forming a kind of compression that was slowly squeezing the life from it.

  “Keep going!” Torren shouted. “It’s working!” The wind picked up, whipping debris around so that twigs and pebbles pelted against his face, arms, and chest. The ground began to tremble beneath him, a hollow roar reverberated through the clearing, and the black smoke curled into a pulsing ball.

  Louder and faster, he and his brothers repeated the incantation, pushing with every ounce of energy they had. The cloud above him grew smaller and smaller, contracting and expanding like a beating heart while it gave off an eerie amber glow. Then all at once, it exploded outward with an enormous gust of wind that toppled everyone to the dirt.

  Raith crumpled to his side, sweaty, out of breath, and utterly exhausted. There was the biggest smile on his face, though, and he couldn’t have pried it off with a crowbar. “We did it.”

  “You did it,” Torren corrected as he slid an arm under Raith to help him to his feet. “How do you feel?”

  “Tired but good. It’s really gone.”

  “And you won’t be pulling any stunts lik
e that again, right?”

  Raith chuckled as he leaned on his brother for support. “Are you kidding? I’ve got too much to lose.”

  Lynk patted him on the shoulder and smiled. “Good.”

  “Just so you know,” Thane added, “you’re going to need to do a lot of ass kissing when you get home. Why the hell didn’t you tell October what was going to happen?”

  “He’d just worry, and there was nothing he could do about it.”

  “Yeah, you’re going to need to work on those communication skills.”

  “Tober has this need to control everything. If he can’t control it, if he can’t fix a problem, he becomes crippled by guilt.” Raith knew what Thane was trying to tell him, but he also knew his mate better than anyone. If he’d told October everything, the guy would have made himself sick with worry in the days leading up to the full moon.

  “Well, you should still be prepared for an ass chewing,” Torren warned.

  “Yeah, I know, and I’ll deal with it.” October wasn’t really the type to hold grudges, and Raith could usually persuade him out of a bad mood.“What about Mikko?”

  “He’s in bad shape,” Lynk answered sadly. “Even worse than Thane when we found him in that well. They had to take him straight toSnake River for medical treatment.”

  “He’s going to be okay, though?”

  “Yeah, but we’re going to have to get his physical body stronger before we can try to get his soul from Purgatory,” Thane explained. “Some fluids and nutrients, and he’ll be fine, though. We’re all planning to travel back to Snake River with you at nightfall to check on him and form a plan.”

  He was happy that they’d finally located Mikko and eager to see his brother for the first time in years, but there was little he could do until sunset. In the meantime, he had another important person in his life that he needed to make things right with.

  By the time they made it through the front door, Raith was already feeling stronger and walking on his own. He thanked his brothers again, accepted the congratulations from other members of the household, and excused himself to go find October.

  Jogging down the steps two at a time, he entered the basement and went directly to the temporary room they were sharing for the duration of their visit. He barely made it through the door before he was wrapped in a pair of strong arms that nearly crushed him to death.