Tessa looked around at everyone learning what Jax was already teaching. Pam and Nicole were working together, with Damon and even Duncan helping them. Steve glanced at Jared, who was stone-faced, then looked at Tessa who looked crushed. She twisted her head toward Jared, but when he refused to look her way, Steve watched her spirit sink, and that was saying a lot. Tessa was the most spirited woman he knew, and to see Jared act like this toward her because she wanted to learn to help, sent a rage through him.
“You win,” she whispered to Jared as she turned, walked off the training mats and out the door, not even bothering to take anything with her.
“Dick!” Steve hissed, his anger getting the better of him.
“What did you just say?” Jared growled, his eyes shifting to Steve and narrowing dangerously.
“Dick, but what I really meant to say was, you’re a dick.” Steve went to walk away but was pushed from behind so hard he sprawled on the floor. Picking himself up, he spun toward Jared who looked ready to explode. “Go ahead, hit me, asshole. But what you just did was a dick move, and you know it. You just crushed her. You say you love her, well I say you don’t because no one would treat someone they love as you just treated her. So go ahead and hit me. I’d rather you take out your shitty attitude with me than on her, so do it!”
Jared looked at him for a long moment, his face emotionless until he looked up toward where Tessa had left. “You’re lucky I like you.” Jared glared back at him as he shoulder checked Steve on the way out to follow Tessa.
Steve almost went to his knees with relief, then took a tentative glance to make sure Jared hadn’t changed his mind and was coming back to kill him. Nope, he was gone. Thank God. He caught Adam’s eye, who gave him a “you are one lucky fucker” look.
“Nice little speech you just lived through with Jared.” Sid smacked him on the back. “Congratulations. He deserved it. He is being a dick about this shit.”
With one last holy shit and hallelujah moment, he turned to work the floor with anyone who needed help. His eyes caught Lana talking to Mira in a one-on-one conversation, with Caroline standing close looking a little nervous and Angelina holding Drew. Everything looked okay, but his instincts warned him that things may not be, and he always listened to his instincts. They had kept his dumbass alive for a long time. As he took a step that way, he watched in horror as Lana raised her arms, wrapping her hands around Mira’s neck.
Chapter 26
Mira wasn’t sure she heard right. “Who?”
Pulling her to the side, Lana frowned. “Drew’s father.”
“Cameron?” Mira shook her head, then whispered, “He’s here?”
Lana touched her chest and began massaging it. Her face turned pale. “Yes.” Her voice sounded funny, and then she fell to her knees, taking Mira down with her.
“Lana!” Caroline frowned, helping her sister back up. “Are you okay?”
With a quickness that surprised both Mira and Caroline, with one push Lana sent Caroline across the room and then turned to Mira, the smile on her face pure evil. “I am now.”
Lana’s hands shot out, wrapping around Mira’s neck. Stumbling back, Mira tried to pry her hands off, but Lana’s grip was too tight. As her sight began to fade from the lack of air, she saw her sister jump on Lana’s back, trying to pull her off, but nothing was working. With one last attempt to free herself, she shot her hand up, hitting Lana in the face with the heel of her palm, yet still the grip remained. Lana was not only choking her, but she was also thrashing her around like a ragdoll, and she wasn’t a big woman.
Finally, the hands on her throat were released as Warriors pried them apart. Mira found herself on her back gasping for air, with Steve in her face. She rolled over struggling to breathe but trying to crawl to where Drew last was. She had to get to her baby. She had to get to Drew.
“Fuck!” Steve’s voice came to her as he tried to get her to stop, but she continued until she reached Angelina, who was no longer where she’d left her.
“Drew!” Mira attempted to cry out, but didn’t know if anyone understood her.
“She’s there, Mira.” Steve finally got her on her feet, but she took two steps and almost fell again. Her breathing wasn’t normal; it was as if the hands still remained.
She stumbled to where Angelina stood, with Adam guarding her. Taking Drew in her arms, Mira held her tightly, her eyes shooting up to Steve who looked ready to kill someone and then to Lana, who was thrashing under Sid’s body. Her eyes traveled to where Ronan was trying to keep Kira from going after Lana.
Lana finally stopped fighting, her breathing harsh and moving her body in gasping heaves. Her head snapped up, her eyes zeroed in on Mira as she began to laugh with hysteria. “I almost got you, Mira Grail!” The voice was that of a man. Her head swiveled awkwardly to stare at Kira. “Don’t worry, Kira, I will get you too.”
Hysterical laughter filled the warehouse until Lana’s body went limp. Sid picked her up and laid her flat, whispering words to her. Slowly Mira looked to Kira, who was focusing to the right of her. She saw her mouth open, her eyes widening in fear. Caroline was staring at Drew, her arms slowly rising as if ready to reach out. That’s when Caroline’s eyes shot to hers, and Mira knew that this was not over.
“Steve!” Mira screamed, just as Caroline made her move, but stopped at Mira’s scream.
“Mira. Mira. Mira.” The same voice was now coming from Caroline. “Why can’t you just make this easier on everyone and take yourself out?”
“Fuck you!” Steve growled, putting Drew and Mira behind him. “You need to—”
“Ah, shut up you. You’re dead anyway, and not because you’re a vampire.” Caroline chuckled. “The curse, ya know. Did she tell you about that? Poor Cameron. So, as I said Mira, just go ahead and leave this world. Just think how many people you’d be saving. Here, I’ll even give you an out.”
Mira watched in horror—along with everyone else—as Caroline punched the glass window, pulling out a sliver of glass. “Here.” She held it out to Mira. “Your out!”
Jax rushed toward Caroline but stopped as soon as Caroline’s hand went up to hold the sharp glass wedge at the side of her neck. “Don’t come one step closer or this will go straight through her neck, Warrior.”
“Fight, Caroline.” Lana’s voice was weak and shaky as she urged her sister to fight whatever held her.
Kira caught her attention, and she knew exactly what needed to be done. They could stop this because this wasn’t the dead talking, this was witchcraft. “Hold Drew,” she whispered to Steve from behind his back.
Steve only shook his head, his body ready.
The door opened, causing everyone but Jax to look that way. Sloan and Wyrick walked in and stopped immediately.
“Well, well, Wyrick, fancy seeing you here,” Caroline said, continuing to hold the wedge of pointed glass to her neck. She tilted her head and the tip went into her skin. A small trickle of blood beaded, then a thin line formed, sliding slowly down her neck.
Jax growled, causing Caroline to look at him. “Oh, did I cut her?” The voice laughed, then tsked. “Guess you can see I’m not lying. I will cut her without thought.”
“Who are you?” Wyrick had walked further into the room but stopped to the left of Jax.
“You know who I am.” Caroline frowned, her body jerking slightly.
“That’s right, Caroline,” Lana said. “Fight.”
“Shut up!” Caroline hissed, then wobbled. The glass went in a little deeper. She turned to look at Mira. “You can stop all of this, Mira Grail. You and your sister. Just come closer and take this glass. If you do that, I will leave everyone in this room alone.”
Mira looked around at everyone staring at her and her sister. She held Drew closer. “Steve, you have to take Drew.”
“No.” Steve’s voice was deep with rage.
“But I can stop this,” Mira whispered, peeking out from behind him to see Caroline looking straight at her.
; “That’s right, Mira. You can definitely stop this.” Caroline pulled the glass out of her neck and held it toward Mira. “Do it or she dies.”
When Mira didn’t move, Caroline made an inhuman roar as she started to bring the glass back to her neck.
“No!” Mira tried to get past Steve as she screamed a chant at the same time her sister did, but it was too late.
******
Steve grabbed Mira to keep her from rushing Caroline. He turned her into his body just as the crack of a whip filled the room. It wrapped around Caroline’s wrist, pulling the glass away from her neck. Jax reacted almost immediately, taking the glass and subduing a fighting Caroline.
“Caroline!” Jax bellowed, but Caroline fought, trying to get to Mira and Drew. “Dammit, someone help her.”
Jax finally got her on the ground, careful not to hurt her, and held her. The whole time Caroline thrashed against his hold, screaming insults and banging her head against the floor.
“I swear I will find out who you are and you will pay,” Jax promised, his eyes black as night. “Leave her alone!”
Lana had moved away from Sid and ran to her sister’s side. Caroline grabbed Lana’s arm and then went limp. Immediately, Lana ran toward Mira, a roar of rage coming from her mouth. Steve was ready and caught her, taking an elbow to the side of the head. Sid was there, grabbing her.
“They can’t protect you,” Lana sneered, then laughed. “A room full of Warriors and still I can get to you. Never forget that, Mira.”
Wyrick walked over, his face hard as stone. He put his hand on Lana’s forehead and began to chant.
“Get off her.” Sid went to punch, but Sloan stopped him.
Mira ran toward them and put her hand on Lana as did Kira and they all chanted in low tones together. “I’m stronger than you,” Lana screamed as she fought, until finally she went limp in Sid’s arms.
“The hell you are,” Kira said, backing away, then took Drew from Mira. “Are you okay?”
Mira nodded, tears welling as she looked at Lana and then Caroline. Steve wrapped his arm around her, holding her close. “They’ll be fine,” Steve told her, but in truth, he was afraid because Caroline didn’t look well.
“Her wrist is broken,” Slade said as he gently put it back on the floor. “The cut isn’t too deep and won’t need stitches.”
“I’ve got something that—”
Jax turned in a flash to stand before Kira. “I don’t want you near my mate!”
Steve watched as Ronan pulled Kira behind him. “She is not at fault.” Ronan kept his voice calm. Steve was impressed. “I’m sorry, but I didn’t know how else to get the glass out of her hand. If anyone is to blame, it’s me. Don’t blame her.”
Without a word, Jax looked away from Ronan and returned to Caroline’s side. Steve watched as Kira turned and left the warehouse. He nodded at Ronan indicating she had left. Ronan walked out after her.
“I’m so sorry,” Mira whispered, watching Lana come to, but Caroline was still out. “This is my fault. I shouldn’t have come here.”
She tried to pull away from him, but Steve wouldn’t let her. “You are exactly where you need to be. This isn’t your fault.”
He held her close, Drew between them as he held her head against his chest. But the looks he was getting from Jax and Sid, he knew they were definitely blaming her, and that was bullshit. Lana looked at her sister then started crying. Her eyes then met his before closing slowly. Jesus, what the fuck had they gotten themselves into?
Chapter 27
Ronan walked out, his eyes searching for Kira. Seeing her heading toward the road, he took off and caught up to her quickly. “Hey.” He stopped her, but she refused to face him.
“Leave me alone.” Kira tried to jerk away, but he held fast. “Ronan, please.”
“You leaving alone isn’t the smartest idea.” Ronan glanced around, looking for any sign of trouble.
“Coming here wasn’t either, but here we are.” Her voice cracked. “No matter where we go, it doesn’t matter. He finds us. It’s tempting just to give in. I’m so tired of running.”
Ronan used brute force to turn her to face him, and the tears on her cheeks were his undoing. She was trying so hard not to cry that she started to hyperventilate. “Breathe.” He kept his tone low and calm.
Kira shook her head, her long hair shielding her face as she stared at the ground. “Just let me go.” Her words came out in gasps. Ronan pulled her to him and held her tight.
“No.” He held her but kept his eyes on their surroundings. What happened inside the warehouse shook him up a little, and that said a lot. But maybe he had underestimated what they were up against, which didn’t sit well with him.
“What in the fuck was that?” Sloan’s voice had Kira pulling away from Ronan and wiping her eyes.
“Sloan,” Ronan warned him with a shake of his head.
Wyrick was behind Sloan, watching Kira closely. “That was magic in the highest degree.” A worried frown slashed across his mouth.
Lana walked out with Sid, looking better than she had a few minutes ago. She headed straight up to Kira. “I’m sorry.” Lana’s voice was hoarse. “I don’t know what happened. I really thought who came through was Drew’s father. Obviously it wasn’t.”
“No, it wasn’t, and don’t apologize to me.” Kira shook her head. “This never would have happened to you or your sister if it wasn’t for us. Is Caroline going to be okay?”
“She’s finally coming out of it.” Sid glanced at Ronan. “And don’t you feel bad. Jax is just freaked out. I don’t blame him for that, but I would have done the same thing you did. You saved her life. None of us could have gotten close.”
Ronan knew he was right, but he still felt bad. He’d broken her wrist with his whip, but he couldn’t have watched her stab that glass into her neck. No way in hell, especially since he was the only one who could stop it.
“Was that Orjyll prick the one responsible?” Sid growled, his eyes still black with anger. Him not calling the warlock by the nickname they had given him indicated just how pissed Sid really was.
“No,” Wyrick said, and Ronan noticed he and Kira looked away from each other quickly, a little too quickly. “But it’s someone who is working with him, and they are very powerful. Orjyll wants us to think it’s him, but it’s not. It can’t be.”
“You are absolutely sure that this bastard can’t already have his powers back and is just out for revenge?” Sloan frowned and glanced from Kira to Wyrick.
“Nothing is absolute with magic, but I can’t see how that can be. In order for him to receive his full powers, no Grail woman can walk this earth.” Wyrick’s tone wasn’t as confident as before. “But I will reach out to some people to see what I can discover.”
“I will also, but Mira and I are leaving with Drew,” Kira replied without looking at anyone. “We won’t put anyone else in danger.”
“You aren’t going anywhere,” Sloan replied, glancing up at the warehouse as Jax carried Caroline out. Steve and Mira followed. “We’re fighting this together and are going to need your help.”
“But—” Kira started to say, but stopped when she spotted Jax and Caroline.
Ronan hoped Jax wasn’t heading their way to say something to Kira because he wasn’t about to let anyone say anything to her. Yeah, it was that way.
Caroline was holding her arm to her chest. Her eyes were clear, but her skin was pale. Jax stopped with her in his arms. She first looked at Ronan. “Thank you so much.” She gave him a shaky smile. “I was fighting so hard, but whatever that was… well, I couldn’t fight it. It was too strong, and it certainly wasn’t a dead person. That’s never happened to us before.”
“No, it hasn’t.” Lana shook her head.
“Put me down,” Caroline ordered Jax, but when he didn’t, she looked up at him. “Please.”
Ronan watched as Jax gave her a frown, but placed her feet on the ground. She smiled up at him, then took a step as if test
ing her legs out. After a second, she walked straight up to Ronan and hugged him with her good arm. “Thank you.” She then patted his cheek. “But I’m sending you the doctor’s bill.”
Ronan actually laughed. “I’m sorry, Caroline. Jax.” He glanced at the puncture wound in her neck. “But I couldn’t watch that happen when there was a chance I could stop it. It happened so fast I couldn’t fully control the whip.”
“I’d rather have a broken wrist than be dead, so please don’t apologize.” Caroline shivered, her teeth actually chattering. It was apparent to everyone she was in a lot of pain. She turned to Kira. “Don’t blame yourself for this. My sister and I are always open because of our gifts. We’re easy targets, always have been. I had a feeling that something was off when Lana told me about Mira’s ex coming through. She seemed confused and off with the situation, and Lana is usually dead on.”
Lana turned toward Mira, who stood quietly listening. “And I’m also sorry. I had no control once it took control of me. I tried so hard to fight it.”
Mira shifted uncomfortably, to the point Steve took Drew from her. “We’ve been dealing with this for a long time. I just feel terrible to have brought this to your door.”
“If you only knew the shit that has come to our door,” Sid replied, his arm wrapped tightly around Lana. “Come, let’s get you back.”
Slade walked out, heading toward Jax. “They’re expecting us at the hospital. I’ve got an orthopedic doctor on his way.”
Jax nodded as he picked up Caroline. “We’ll meet you there.”
Mira cleared her throat. “Would you be open for a—”
“No!” Both Jax and Sid growled the word at the same time.
“Damn, man. Let her finish.” Steve gave her a squeeze.
“If it has to do with magic, I think we’ve had enough of that shit.” Sid shook his head as he started to lead Lana away. “Thanks, but no thanks.”
“I think it’s a good idea.” Wyrick stared at Mira for a second, then nodded. “Actually, it’s something we probably should have done from the start. Any humans connected to you could be protected.”
Invisible Warrior (The Protectors Series) Book #11 Page 17
