Red Moon Rising(65)
She kissed him. Her lips were cold, and he could taste fear on her mouth. She stepped back quickly and started towards Draken’s pack. James called her name, and she looked over her shoulder at him as he stared helplessly at her.
“I love you James.”
“I love you too, little one.” He replied hoarsely.
She smiled, blinking back her tears, and walked towards Draken and the others without looking back.
She stopped a few feet in front of Draken. “Let her go.”
Draken grinned. “Take my hand, and I’ll let the little half-breed go.”
He reached out, and without hesitating Bree closed the distance between them and took his hand. Draken let go of Leta, and the little girl whined softly and stopped beside Bree.
“Go Leta.” Bree stroked her hair without looking at her, and then gently pushed her towards her family.
As Leta ran to Tristan, Draken looked Bree up and down. “You look different.” He touched the handle of the sword that was belted around her waist and then pulled it free, staring at the sharp blade with amusement.
“What have your new friends been teaching you?” He laughed. “Silly me, I imagine you would like to say hello to your brother, would you not?”
He dragged her to where Kaden was standing silently. “I always admired your bond you know. I thought only Lycans were capable of feeling such love for their pack, but you two humans certainly put us to shame. Your brother would die for you if he had to.”
Draken put his arm around Bree, dimly she could hear James growling, and pulled her close. “I brought him with us in case you needed some convincing to come back. Now that I have you, I don’t believe we need him anymore. Do you?”
“Draken don’t – “ Bree started as he stepped away from her.
She screamed in horror when Draken abruptly thrust her sword into Kaden’s stomach. Just as quickly, he yanked the sword out. He smiled with delight at the blood streaking across it, before licking the flat of the blade with his tongue.
“Delicious!” He grinned at Bree and she threw herself at him, shrieking and screaming Kaden’s name as her brother sunk to his knees. Blood was pouring out of his stomach and darkening the ground around him, and his tanned skin was rapidly paling.
One of Bree’s flailing fists caught Draken on the jaw, and he snarled at her before waving one of the other Lycans over.
“Take her!”
The Lycan picked her up and heaved her over his shoulder. Draken turned to the Lycans standing in stunned silence in their front yard.
“Do not follow us. We’ll smell you coming, and I’ll rip the girl apart before you even get close.” He snapped at them.
“Let’s go.” He growled to his pack, and they turned and strode deep into the forest.
“SAVE HIM JAMES! SAVE HIM!” Bree screamed as Draken’s pack disappeared into the trees.
* * *
James roared with rage, and Nicky threw his arms around his rapidly swelling body.
“James!” Sophia was kneeling next to Kaden. “James! Get over here now!”
“Keep it together.” Nicky hissed at him as James bucked and twisted against him. “Help her brother, and then we’ll save her.”
“He’s dying James!” Sophia shouted.
Tristan was suddenly standing in front of him and he took James by the shoulders, his large hands digging into his flesh. He spoke quietly, but his voice broke through James’ haze of panic. “Look at me James. Go and save her brother.”
James stared at his father and then nodded briefly. He followed Tristan and Nicky towards Bree’s brother. The panic was building inside of him, threatening to take him over, and his father must have sensed it because he squeezed his arm.
“We’ll find her and bring her back son. I promise you.” His father’s calm manner soothed him, and he watched as Tristan, Nicky, and Sophia heaved Kaden to his feet. The man had passed out, and quickly James stepped behind him and wrapped his arms around Kaden’s upper body. He held him tightly as Sophia pulled her jacket off and pressed it against the wound on Kaden’s stomach.
After only a few minutes, she peeled it back cautiously. “I think it’s healing.” She said with relief. “The blood is starting to clot.”
“Tristan?” Avery had approached with Leta in her arms, and she kissed the girl’s smooth cheek before handing her to Tristan. She placed her hands on Kaden’s bare chest.
“Bring him into the house James. I’ll lie with him until he’s fully healed.”
“Where is Marshall?” Tristan asked. “I need to speak with him.”
“He’s still in the house with Maya and the others.” Avery still touching Kaden’s chest, reached out with one shaking hand and stroked James’ face. “We’ll get her back my sweet James. Bring her brother into the house.”