Aries

by Kim Faulks

  But I couldn't… I was riveted by this mortal amongst a sea of wolves.

  Who was she? How did they take her?

  Most of all…where were they taking her?

  "They'll be here soon." I flinched at the male voice. The dark blur moved behind the trees. "They see her like that and they'll skin us alive."

  "Then you fucking deal with her." The spineless bastard snapped, and then turned away. "I'm sick of the bitch."

  They left her there. Soft sobs ebbed and faded on the wind. I licked my lips and scanned the trail. Maybe I could drag her free right from under their noses. The dust settled in my lungs with the sudden breath…it was worth a try.

  I moved forward, sidling up to the thick pine. The bark scraped the tender point on my shoulder. Would the Wretched come this time…and give me more than one damn wing?

  I sent out a flare against the darkened corners of my mind. A cavern waited, cold, empty…that's right you coward, fucking run.

  "I don't need you anyway," I finished and edged around the trunk.

  There were more than I realized. Three, four darkened blurs moved ahead. I leaned back, moving to the other side. The woman was still on the ground, only instead of clutching her knees she cradled her stomach.

  Her pulse was heavy and thick. She smelled like wolf. I raised my head and inhaled hard. The Wretched shifted under my skin, restless, nervous. I inhaled again and felt that kick of power, rippling out to my thoughts. Smelled like them, yes, but not one of them.

  If she wasn't wolf, then what the Hell was she?

  The Wretched snarled and whimpered. My pulse picked up pace. I was drawn to her hand against her belly…something lingered…beating faster, faster… The Wretched mewled in response. He knew…he sensed.

  Tell me.

  Her hand on her stomach. The faint throb of life. The Wretched knew… A baby? An immortal baby? My mouth turned arid. She couldn't be…but if she was, no wonder they wanted her alive.

  The fetid stench of something evil cut through the air. I'd sensed it before, faint, foul—brooding like a bloating body. But this time it was stronger, dragging images into my mind…black cloak, a hooded menace…demon.

  I flinched at the thought. Demons and wolves. No wonder the Echo pack was strong. And they were here. On my mountain. In my territory. Coming for my family.

  No, they were coming for her.

  My pulse raced, filling my head with the thunderous roar. Flames licked deep, sending heat to my face. A bead of sweat trailed along my bare scalp. I followed the tickle like the touch of a finger and tried to think.

  Getting her away from the wolves was one thing. But escaping demons was another. I skirted the trunk, scanning the others…timing…it was all about the timing.

  The repugnant scent grew stronger. The trail of sweat detoured over my brow as I jerked my gaze left and right. Easy…easy. I picked a point. The low-lying brush sat just underneath her. It was thick enough for cover, and wide enough for me to hide.

  Three long strides and she was mine. Three strides…if only it were that easy.

  My thighs tensed, back strained, muscles trembled with energy. I scanned the trail one last time, and then lunged.

  My heart slammed against my ribs, keeping time with each jarring stride, until I skidded to a stop behind the thicket. Through the dried wisps and wicked thorns, I watched her. She was close. So close I could see the darkened blotches on her jacket and smell the faint scent of fresh blood.

  She shoved the ground with one hand and clutched her belly with the other. She inched her foot closer and flattened her sole against the ground.

  Still she couldn't stand. She crouched like a wounded animal, unable to bear her own weight. Her hood fell forward covering her face, still I caught the trickle of crimson from the corner of her mouth.

  So fragile. So young and fragile. The rush of air dragged me from her as the Wretched neared. Now you come to me? Do you finally see, Dragon? Do you finally see why you're needed?

  His crimson eyes illuminated the shadows.

  Help me you weak bastard…help me save her.

  The ram stepped closer, head lowered, drawing my gaze to his massive spiral horns. Red burned against the black, carving a river of lava along the ridges and flutes all the way around the curve to the tip. Scars marred the brutal surface. We'd fought many battles, but the war between us had won…until now.

  I'll do it on my own if I have to, my warning hit home. His flattened nostrils flared with the sudden exhale. I waited for the hard-nosed bastard to make up his mind. Each heartbeat lasted forever, until I turned.

  My Dragon was stubborn—a pain in my ass, opinionated, selfish, and a moody sonofabitch…but one thing he'd never been was weak and cruel—until now.

  You won't help me? There are demons out there and you won't help me save her?

  Scattered thoughts raced. I gathered what I could and found only one conclusion.

  You hate me that much?

  The answer burned in his eyes.

  I wrenched myself away and focused on the woman, and for a second I missed the strength of my kin. I should've run to them, should've fought a little harder…and then maybe…

  "Take a good look you fucking coward," she snarled and dragged her hand into the air. One hard swipe of her mouth wiped away the blood. "You will never lay a hand on me again."

  The wolf turned to face her. His fist clenched in response. "Yeah, who's gonna stop me? You?"

  Her hand trembled, shuddering and jumping against her leg, still she straightened her spine. She was tough…for a mortal. The coward took a step, still she never moved.

  "Nick, over here."

  I sought out his companion as the putrid stench grew stronger.

  The coward took a step, leaving the young woman's side. Every snap of a twig sent my pulse soaring, the coward took another step…and then another. It was now or never.

  My thighs trembled as I rose. I ran a clammy palm along my thigh and edged around the shrub. Her face was hidden by the wide hood, still I never stopped staring, waiting for the second she'd turn.

  Her shoulders sagged. She clenched her fist, stilling the tremble and then turned her head. Our gazes connected. Her eyes widened. I was stilled by the crimson mark on her cheek.

  One shake of my head stilled her. I edged closer, climbing the steep embankment one slow step at a time. She jerked her gaze straight ahead, and then turned to me. I pressed a finger to my lips and then held out my hand.

  Voices up ahead dragged my focus from her. I wanted to turn my head. I needed to see what was coming for me, but I couldn't tear myself away.

  She shrank inside her parka. Wide eyes filled with terror stood out stark from her pale skin. They were cold, flat dark eyes…the kind that could look right through you. I shook my head…she needn't be scared…not of me. My boots bit into the dirt, the shifting forest floor slipped, scattering rocks behind me. One more step and I'd be in view. One more step and there was no going back.

  I motioned her forward, hurry. She whipped her gaze to the others and took one slow step. Frantic wings beat inside my chest. My tendons pulled taut, muscles tightened. The air in my lungs felt like lead. I couldn't breathe, couldn't move. I was stuck too far out in the open.

  "They're coming. Can you smell them?" The shifter's strained voice was laced with fear. "They say demons live on terror. They say their world is nothing but night. Did you know that?"

  There was a mumble, some biting response. The young woman took one more step, hovering on the edge of the trail. Sweat ran into my eyes as I nodded. Just one more step and we were gone. Just one more…

  She jerked her gaze toward them and lifted her boot. I could almost feel her in my arms, almost feel the rasp of my fingers against her parka. In my head, we were gone, barreling down the mountain to the safety of my family.

  "What do we have here?"

  I stiffened at the woman's voice behind me. There was no mistaking her power. Energy stung like nettles.
The pain burned around my innards and rippled out to the edges, leaving me to shudder in its wake.

  "Very brave, Dragon…very brave indeed."

  My hand hovered in the air, inches away from the young woman. She stepped away, and the sight was a horse kick to my chest. I shook my head, my fingers trembled. I curled the tips, beckoning her forward. We could still run…we could still survive.

  A hand closed around my arm and the vicious tilt of amusement closed in. "Oh, so that's it. You thought you could save her. You thought you could take what's mine?"

  I caught the mortal woman flinch. Her head bounced as she shook. "I'm not…I'm not yours."

  "Yes you are, darling." Silence fell around me, until the cold, emotionless whisper filled my ears. "You want her so badly, Dragon? Then, go ahead. She's yours."

  "Zadoc!"

  Xael's faint cry tore through the trees. I stiffened at the sound, and turned my head. Green eyes met mine…familiar eyes. The Alpha, Abrial, but there was more…the Seer skirted the edges of thought. Blonde hair, same frame…a knowing lurked at the edges of my thought, still too far away for me to understand.

  My captor's lips curled into a smile. "That's it, Dragon. Piece it all together."

  "Zadoc! Zadoc, can you hear me!"

  My sister's shrill screams savaged my chest. She was out there, tearing through the trees, searching for me. I turned back to the young woman. Gray licked the life from her skin. Dark haunted eyes pleaded. The corner of her full lips had started to swell. In a day, she'd be bruised.

  A day…would she see a day on her own? I turned my head to stare at the coward. His top lip curled, the tips of his canines peeked from underneath.

  That cruel sense of knowing breathed life into these old bones.

  I took a step.

  Save yourself, sister.

  2

  Joslyn

  Dragon…that's what she called him.

  I held his stare. Dragon, wolf…demon. What did it matter? They were all the same.

  He was hard edges and sunken skin. Honey-brown eyes settled on me, and that was where they stayed.

  My fingers trembled as I pressed them to my cheek. The outline of Nick's palm burned and the corner of my mouth stung. I pressed my tongue into the split and winced.

  Never again. I'd never let him hurt me again.

  Who the hell was I kidding? He could do anything he wanted.

  If four days locked up in a stable hadn't proved that by now, then I didn't know what would.

  I peeked through the gaps of my fingers, finding the heat of the stranger’s gaze. He looked like the kind of man who'd rip the world apart with his bare hands.

  For some strange reason that thought didn't terrify me—not like it should.

  Maybe I was shell-shocked, strung out, numb to these animals and their cruel ways. Maybe I was losing part of myself, becoming one of them. My cheek flared as I turned my head and sniffed. Their thick stench clung to my clothes and invaded my hair. God knows I smelled like them, thought like them, and even started to act like them.

  The splattering of freckles across his nose softened the hardness. But it was all there, from the way he moved to the way he stood. He was a mountain rippling with the kind hunger that stole your thoughts and replaced them with fear.

  Dragon…

  I stared at the spray of blood on his T-shirt. Darkened blotches stuck the fabric against his skin. His hands…they were clean, perfect nails, not a trace of crimson.

  Maybe it's his blood? Could've healed by now. How fast did Dragons recover? Minutes…seconds?

  The cold hard truth set in. One day it would come to one simple choice—me…or them.

  I stared at the trees. If he was here to save me, shouldn't his backup be here by now? My mind raced with the thought. So he came alone. Alone and hurt. The image of his beckoning fingers flared in my mind. Still he tried to save me.

  Don't know that, and sure as hell can't think like that. He could've taken me to anyone…I sought out Nick. Maybe someone worse than him.

  That's what they do, don't they? Trade a life for a life…I'd seen enough through the cracks of the barn door. I'd heard those women's screams, torturous, piercing sounds, filled with pain and torment.

  I'd listened with hands over my ears while I cowered amongst the piss-stained hay. Until yesterday when the deafening silence came.

  I cried for them, and for me. I cried until I felt cold and hollow. Still that emptiness remained.

  So, this was it? Would they kill me here, or take me someplace else? Maybe someplace worse?

  I wasn't wolf. I wasn't a man. I couldn't fight—my cheek throbbed—not like them.

  The big guy's eyes glistened like liquid amber. I steeled my spine.

  They'd never see me cry. That was the one thing I could control.

  A low growl slipped into the air, raising the hairs on my arms. Nick shifted from one foot to another, his focus on the moving mountain of a man. The stranger took a step and the growl turned deeper. Nick didn't like him…didn't like him at all.

  The split on my lip stung with a smirk. How'd you like that…bitch?

  Maybe the Dragon wasn't so bad after all. The enemy of my enemy and all that shit.

  The glint of amusement died as an ache spread across my abdomen. My boots scuffed the dirt as I stepped backwards.

  Pain flared, like the point of a pencil, stabbing, twisting, scrawling messages along the insides of me. I winced, tried to breathe. Acid rose in the back of my throat. I was going to be sick… Jesus, I was going…

  I closed my eyes and sucked in the air. The fist in my belly strangled something vital, and then somehow eased. The low tearing pain was going on four days now, each time I wanted to vomit—each time I wanted to die.

  Just a stomach bug.

  I wasn't stupid. I was pregnant.

  The pain crawled deeper and the doubt followed. I couldn't be…this—I dragged my hand to my belly—this doesn't happen. Even the doctor told me—this can't happen. It's just not biologically possible.

  "Well, well, well. Don't you two make a cute couple?"

  I dragged my gaze to the hag. Her blue eyes sparkled with cruelty. Goddamn bitch. She played me once…parading herself with her faint murmurings of concern. She'd been mothering even.

  What a fucking joke. If she wanted to mirror my own mother, she had a helluva set of shoes to fill. Maybe if the lying skank slurred her words and stumbled a little she might've had a goddamn chance.

  Think. Just think. I turned my gaze to Nick. One time I thought he'd save me—the bitter metallic tang of blood bloomed in my mouth—but not anymore.

  His dark eyes cast daggers at the stranger, and then he turned to me. Disgust shone through, so thick I could barely breathe.

  It's you and me against the world, baby, his pathetic words haunted me. I was stupid, so fucking stupid…all for a guy who told me he cared. All for a damn lie.

  "So. You think you can come and take what's mine?"

  I flinched at the word. I'm not yours. Those words burned in my craw. My middle finger itched to join the conversation.

  Shadows moved behind her, slipping out from between the trees, stilling my words. Everything left me. My knees trembled as the thing came closer—still I couldn't look away.

  Its hooded cloak never touched the ground. There were no snaps of twigs, no rustle of leaves, even the rocks stayed frozen in place.

  It'd come for me. Come to take me to that place it took all the other women.

  I wanted to hide my face in the dirt. I wanted to cry for a mother I never had. I wanted someone to protect me…Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name….

  An unseen knife pressed to my ribs. Fear was the point, slicing me down the middle, exposing the deepest parts of me.

  Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven…

  I knew this terror. I'd heard the wolves whisper outside the stables. I knew its name…Demon.

  Something bru
shed my arm. I flinched and jerked my head upwards. The mountain sidled next to me, his focus on the black beast at her back.

  "Well, Dragon?" The bitch snarled and took one more step to stop in front of us. "Do you have anything to say?"

  "Let the human go."

  I sucked in a breath at his words.

  The bitch speared long fingers through her hair. There was a twitch of displeasure at the corner of those piercing green eyes. "What did you say?"

  In this light, the strands of her hair were almost gray, and I realized she was old. Older than anything I'd ever seen—old and sadistic. She had a coldness about her, a viciousness that ran deeper than the predatory minds of these wolves. A shudder raced through me.

  The Dragon glanced my way, and for a second I saw something other than the honey blaze. I saw…something else. No, I saw someone else. Red sparks lit up in his eyes. They reminded me of blood red explosions on the Fourth of July, and for a second I was transfixed.

  And then he blinked, and the spell was broken. "I said let her go. You don't need her anymore." He turned those eyes on the bitch. "You have me instead."

  Her crooked grin was more of a snarl. She took a step closer and craned her head to hold his gaze. One more step and they'd be nose to nose. "And what makes you think I want to trade?"

  Husky words filled my ears. "You know what I am. My safety, for hers."

  He never looked at me again. It was as though I didn't exist, and yet I had to ask myself, why the hell did he care?

  It's Finn. Finn sent him. My pulse picked up speed. Hope flared brighter than any fireworks, tearing through my chest like a fireball. He'd been sent by my brother to take me home.

  I licked my lips, too scared to even turn my head.

  God…home. My hands shook, sweat ran down my palms. I'll never do anything like this again. I promise. So help me God, I promise. I'll be good. I'll even be good to Mom, and pray. I'll go to church. I'll be a damn Christian. Anything. Please, God, anything. Just let me go home…let me go home.

  "I know what you are, Dragon," she spat and turned those sadistic blue eyes to me. "But I think I'll keep the human."