Marked for Them

by Lia Davis

  Zane could use my hedge witch powers to animate Wade.

  Suddenly, Zane pulled the ghost into a tight hug. The mating bond became flooded with emotions. It’d been too long since the guys were able to connect with Wade. Through me, they could.

  I touched Zane on the arm, and he glanced at me. His eyes shone with unshed tears. Frowning, I silently asked why it had taken so long for him to accept that Wade was here.

  Zane turned to me and pulled me to him. When he buried his nose against my neck, he whispered, “I didn’t want to believe it was him.”

  I sagged into him, hugging him tighter. My wolf had closed off his emotions for so long that he didn’t want to feel. I wanted to ask him about his childhood, his parents, and what had happened after the demon marked him. But not today. Zane would tell me when he was ready.

  “Wade is here to stay.” I kissed Zane on the lips.

  He gave a short nod when I pulled back. “I’ll add him to the schedule.”

  “It’s complete?” I tried to hide my amusement about the whole idea.

  “The guys and I worked out an arrangement so you would get equal time with each of us.”

  I hid the smile that wanted to spread across my face. Equal time made sense and also warmed my heart. Excitement fluttered through me at getting to know each of them on a personal level. “Thank you.”

  A wide smile brightened Zane’s face. “Tonight is Wyatt’s and Trevor’s night.”

  Both of them? I was about to ask why when Zane added, “For now, it’s the pair of them. Trevor doesn’t sleep well. You’ll have to ask him why. It’s not my story to tell.”

  Then he turned me and pushed me toward the door with a pat on my ass. I smiled as I left the kitchen.

  The Alpha has spoken.

  I giggled at my thought and then went to search for Wyatt and Trevor.

  Chapter 15

  Wyatt and Trevor were in the living room, sitting side by side on the sofa. The journal was open between them. As if sensing me entering the room, they lifted their heads to stare at me.

  I offered a warm smile. “I was told that I’m hanging out with you two tonight.”

  Their smiles widened, but at the same time, they had a hint of wickedness about them. I got the feeling that they had plans for me. I tried to send them a raised brow look but failed as a yawn took over.

  “Come here,” Wyatt said, holding out his hand.

  Trevor scooted over so there was a space between them. I sat, unsure what else to do. With Zane and Dimitri, I knew where I stood. They wanted me here. Wyatt and Trevor were here because of my father. We were all hiding out, waiting. I wasn’t even sure they liked me. Sure, Wyatt had kissed me. But why?

  I glanced down at the journal in Wyatt’s lap. My life was laid out in there. Well, most of it, at least through my mom’s eyes.

  Trevor leaned into me. His lips brushed my cheek as he spoke. “Stop thinking so much. Relax.”

  “This whole thing is much more complicated than we thought.” Wyatt took my hand, linking our fingers together. “We believed that the demon was random. A thing we’d conjured during a drunken night of playing with a Ouija board. I want to be relieved that it’s not our fault, but I still feel that it is.”

  I sighed and laid my head on his shoulder. “It wasn’t your fault. Salrus would have found another way to this realm.” I had told them that before. I still believed my words. Then another thought entered my mind. “We thought the Council used the small gateway you opened to summon the demon. However, we now know that the Council was creating hybrids. Salrus could have been on this side all along.”

  “When we started messing around with the game, he came to us.” Trevor stiffened at his own words beside me. “But why us?”

  I took his hand in my free one and squeezed gently. “I don’t know. It’s unclear if the Council gave the order to mark you guys or if it was Salrus’s decision. Or, maybe the Universe has its way of righting things. Through us.”

  Wyatt bobbed his head beside me. “Like the five of us, guys who already had a bond, were meant to take a stand in the war.”

  “Or stop one from happening,” I whispered, knowing they heard me.

  Another yawn shook me, but I didn’t want to go to bed. I wanted to know more about Wyatt and Trevor. “What were the five of you like before my father screwed up your lives?”

  Trevor laughed. “We were the couple most talked about.”

  I frowned, wondering what kind of nasty things they faced daily. “How did you deal with the negativity?”

  Wyatt shrugged. “We really didn’t care what anyone said or thought. It wasn’t that bad. We were in with the popular crowd because we came from families with money and were best friends with Zane and Dimitri. We kind of ruled the school.”

  I’d seen the inside of schools but had never attended one, but I’d watched several young adult TV shows and read enough books about teens in school to understand what the guys were telling me. “I was homeschooled my whole life. Now, I know Mom did it to keep others from finding me.”

  “She protected you the best she could.” Trevor brought my hand to his lips. A warm, electrifying pulse shot through me. I half expected Zane to rush into the room, but he was the one who’d told me to spend more time with the others.

  I fell silent for a moment, trying to find the right words to ask my next question. “Are you two on board with the sharing thing?”

  Wyatt answered without hesitation, in the exact way I’d expected him to. Honestly. “At first, I thought they were crazy. Now, I can’t see it any other way.”

  “But it’s only been a few days.”

  He turned his body to face me and lifted my chin so our gazes locked. “I’ve known from the moment I saw you in my office. I’ve never felt anything for anyone except Trev. Not like that. I tried to push it away, instantly feeling like an ass for having feelings for someone else. After all, Trev and I are in a committed relationship. What does that say about me?”

  Trevor wrapped his arms around my waist, drawing me into him. “Then I confessed the same to him. With the demon mark, we can’t hide anything from each other. When Zane and Dimitri told us how they felt…well, we knew we’d have to make a pact of some kind. We promised that we’d make it work. Somehow.”

  My insides warmed, but the fear was still there. “What if it’s the mark making us all feel this way?”

  Wyatt dipped his head until his lips hovered over mine. My heart thumped wildly, and desire swirled within. He smiled as if knowing how much he affected me. “The demon may use the mark to try and control us, but it doesn’t have power over our free will.”

  He was right. No amount of magic controlled free will. Not a spell. Not a mark. Not even the Sleeping Stone. A weak mind would find it hard to resist, but those with a stronger mind would continue to fight to stay awake.

  “Do you know why he marked us?” Wyatt spoke in a low tone.

  I snuggled into him and sighed. “I guessed it was to track me down and kill me.”

  His muscles loosened under me as if the tension left him. He nodded. “I never tracked you down because I didn’t want anything to do with you or the demon. My brother was gone. My friends had all lost something, too. So Trevor and I focused on ourselves, vowing to never speak of the demon aloud.”

  Something brushed against my awareness, drawing my attention to Trevor. He’d been so quiet next to me. I thought he was just letting Wyatt explain things. Studying him now, I noticed how tense he was. He fidgeted with the outer seam of his pants.

  I glanced at Wyatt and silently asked for help. He smiled and then kissed me on the cheek before standing. “I have to talk to Zane.”

  He left us alone. My chest tightened, and I began to fidget. What should I say? Zane had mentioned that Trevor had nightmares, yet I didn’t feel comfortable asking him about it. I wasn’t sure he’d talk about them. And intuition told me that the nightmares had something to do with my father.

  I sagged. �
�How do you feel about all of this? The six of us?”

  Trevor shrugged. “Not sure. I’ve never been with anyone but Wyatt.”

  The latter was said in a whisper, but I heard it loud and clear. I twisted on the sofa, tucking one leg under me as I faced him. “No one?”

  He shrugged again. When he glanced at me, he didn’t meet my eyes. Did he not want to go into this relationship? Was he doing it because of the others? Did he feel obligated to since we were bound by the demon mark?

  My heart beat rapidly in my chest, so hard I felt the pulse in my head. I realized I was afraid of letting any of them go. And it had nothing to do with my father’s mark.

  “I’d understand if you and Wyatt walked away.” The words were said as I tried to fend off tears and swallow the lump in my throat.

  Trevor snapped his gaze to mine. His blue eyes were a storm of emotions. Then he framed my face with his hands. Sadness so deep it hurt my heart reached out to me. He shook his head and said, “I’m broken. I don’t deserve you, or Wyatt, or any of them.”

  He was so wrong. “You deserve to be happy.” I covered his hands with mine and leaned in until our faces were inches apart. “I’m broken, too. And crazy. I spent the last two years in a nut house.”

  He cracked a smile. I couldn’t resist. I closed the small gap and pressed my lips to his. He jerked back, his eyes going round. Dread slammed into me. Did I read him wrong? He was here, and he’d said he would share Wyatt, but wasn’t he interested in me?

  “I’m sorry.” I started to pull away, but he grabbed my wrist, tugged me forward, and then wrapped his arms around my waist.

  He held me tightly and nuzzled my neck. “Don’t be. Don’t feel bad. You surprised me, that’s all. I wasn’t prepared for how it felt.”

  I relaxed and hugged him while shifting so I was half in his lap. “I’m still sorry.”

  “No, you’re not.”

  The small smile I could hear in his tone washed away my fear. I yawned again and felt my eyes drift closed. A moment later, Trevor lifted me in his arms and carried me to my room.

  When he tucked me under the sheet and blanket, he turned to leave. “Don’t leave.”

  He studied me from over his shoulder by the door, his hand on the knob. After a few long moments, he dropped his shoulders. “I don’t sleep well. I’ll keep you up all night.”

  “Why don’t you sleep?”

  Averting his gaze, he shook his head and then fell silent. I thought he was going to leave. After what seemed like forever, he answered. “Salrus haunts my dreams. When he isn’t tormenting me, I have nightmares.”

  My father had a talent for pissing me off without being around. I let out a low growl that Zane would be proud of. “The sperm donor isn’t the only one with talents. I’m sick of him. Has he visited you since being in this house?”

  Trevor stared at me wide-eyed. I knew what he saw. My skin took on a purple hue when I was angry or pulling demonic energy. It was something Mom had taught me. She said it was important to learn both sides of my power and to blend them when needed. I hated dark magic, but I didn’t fear it. I knew the importance of learning that side of myself because it would ultimately help me be free of my father.

  I released a sigh and calmed myself. Holding out a hand to him, I spoke softly. “Trevor, please?”

  “He does that. Salrus’s skin does the same thing.”

  I dropped my hand in my lap and stared at it. I hadn’t wanted any of them to see me like that. Yet, I knew they would one day. The day I killed my father. “It’s the dark magic and the fact that I’m half demon. I’m also a hedge witch.”

  “And your mom gave you her power, as well before she died.”

  I nodded, knowing he’d read it in her journal. Plus, it was something very powerful witches did before crossing over into the afterlife—transferring their power to their eldest child. “Mom was a hedge witch and a dreamwalker.”

  “You could help me?” There was hope in his voice. I lifted my gaze to his and nodded.

  “I could help you shield against the demon.” Relief flooded me when Trevor advanced toward me. I scooted over to give him room to lie beside me.

  When he did, I stretched out, careful not to touch him. After his reaction to my kiss and the look on his face when he’d seen me go demon, I wasn’t sure he would welcome my touch. The thought hurt my chest, but I’d deal with it until I gained his trust.

  He rolled to face me, which put us inches from each other. “I’m sorry for my reaction. I know you’re his daughter.”

  I pressed a finger to his lips. “I understand. I’ve hidden my power for so long. I hate the demon. I hate that side of me. Salrus knows it, too, and will force me to use the dark side of myself.”

  One of my greatest fears was submitting to my demon half, being lost to it. Wanting something else to think about, I asked, “What are your nightmares like?”

  He traced a finger up and down my arm. “There is a lot of death. Innocent people dying. I used to think they were a product of my mind dealing with watching the demon kill Wade in front me and then destroying the coven.”

  “Used to? What changed?”

  “When I saw you in the office. I’d live that moment in my dreams, only in the nightmare version, it was you who destroyed everything.” He cupped my cheek. “Over the past few days, I’ve learned a lot about the visions, dreams, whatever. After being marked, Wyatt and I developed some psychic gifts. I have some form of telepathy. Wyatt is telekinetic and can move things with his mind.”

  Guilt flashed over Trevor’s features, making me frown. But not because I was mad at him. “You looked into my mind.”

  He nodded. “I didn’t know what to believe.”

  “It’s okay. There was no reason for you to trust me. Salrus had been feeding you visions of a twisted future for years. A future he was plotting, that he wants.” I lifted my hand and placed my fingers on his forehead. I didn’t need touch to use my power, but I needed the contact. “Do you trust me to block my father from your mind?”

  As the words left my mouth, I had another idea. Trevor raised a brow as if sensing my change in direction. “What?”

  “I…um…I could mark you, claim you as mine to protect.”

  Trevor rolled to his back and stared at the ceiling. I wanted to cry. To tell him he didn’t have to. But his words sent a zap of glee through me. “Okay.”

  “Okay?”

  He turned his head and smiled. “Yes. I’d rather be claimed by you than mind-fucked by your father.”

  “Ew. That wasn’t a pleasant image.”

  He chuckled and rolled to me, pushing me onto my back as he hovered over me. “How does it work?”

  I opened my mouth and then shut it. When I’d marked Zane, we were making love, and it had just happened. “I’m not real sure. Where is your demon mark?”

  Frowning, Trevor pulled his T-shirt over his head. On his right pec was a mark, slightly darker than his sun-kissed skin. To me, it rippled with dark magic. I hated seeing it on him, so I covered it with my hand and pushed my own mix of white and black power into it. “You are mine to protect and care for. I release you from all influences of my father.”

  Trevor sucked in a breath and gripped my arm. Tingles of electrified power nipped at me right before the power I’d pushed into him rebounded back into me. I jerked my hand away and gasped.

  “What the hell?” I shook my hands because they felt like they were going numb.

  Trevor laughed. “That was…crazy.”

  “Yeah. That didn’t happen with Zane.”

  “Maybe because he is so intense and Alpha.” Trevor pulled me to him, hugging me close. “My mind is quiet.”

  I snuggled into him, inhaling his sandalwood scent. “I could sleep for days.”

  He kissed my forehead. “Me, too.”

  Nodding, I closed my eyes and drifted off.

  Chapter 16

  I woke sandwiched between two hard bodies. Trevor faced me, hugging me
to his chest. Wyatt spooned me from behind with one leg tangled with mine. A smile lifted my lips.

  I didn’t know when Wyatt had come in, but I was happy he had.

  My gaze fell on my mark on Trevor’s chest. A sense of pride filled me. I reached out and traced the edges of the deformed circle-like shape. The center appeared almost like a paw print. It reminded me of Zane. The Alpha of our small group.

  “Hmm,” Trevor muttered before grabbing my hand. “Morning.”

  “Morning.”

  He hugged me tighter and kissed the top of my head. “Thank you. I’ve never slept so soundly before.”

  My heart swelled. I slid my hand up his chest to cup the back of his head, then waited. Uncertainty clouded my mind. As if sensing my hesitation, Trevor dipped his head and pressed his lips to mine. A groan rumbled from me, and I fisted his hair in my hand.

  His tongue brushed against my lips, and I opened for him. Pinpricks of desire rushed over my skin and through my blood.

  Behind me, Wyatt stirred, wrapping an arm around my waist and rocking his hips into me. His hard length pressed into my lower back, fueling the rush of passion in my veins. Wyatt kissed my cheek and said, “You starting without me?”

  I broke the kiss, panting at the sensation of being between them—and the anticipation of what was to come.

  “You know you’re the first woman Trevor has had.” Wyatt growl-whispered the words in my ear, sending a hot shiver over me. “I think it’d be hot to watch the two of you.”

  “Yes.” It was all I could manage to say. My gaze was fixed on Trevor, who was removing his boxer briefs. Hard, lean muscles covered his body.

  I ached everywhere, needing to feel his touch. When he returned to the bed and nudged my legs apart, hot, liquid desire burned my insides. I willed my nightgown and panties off with my magic. Funny how the more comfortable I got with the guys, the freer I felt when using my power.