Wolves' Bane (The Order of the Wolf, #3)(84)

Cal took another step closer, torn between protecting Rachel and helping Morgan. It would take him a few minutes to etch the symbol on the truck that would keep her safe. That would prevent her from being attacked, from being dragged out of the truck. But Cal couldn’t tear his eyes from Morgan.

Lazarus moved quickly, pulling Morgan up by the collar, ignoring her scream of pain as he hauled her toward him.

The next few moments played out so slowly that Cal thought he was dreaming. He watched with new horror as Morgan’s body, now pressed against Lazarus, seemed to relax. Her hands moved to lie across Lazarus’s chest, all traces of her pain gone as she slanted her mouth up toward his. He slipped his hands around her waist and his lips crushed down on hers. Cal felt all of the air leave his lungs, all of the life leave his body. Lazarus didn’t need a weapon to attack—all he had to do was touch his bride and she melted.

She was mesmerized.

Cal heard a click and turned his head to see Andrew leveling a revolver at Morgan’s back. Andrew’s eyes were filled with hatred, his gaze locked on Lazarus whose lips were still on Morgan’s. To Andrew, she was lost. But Cal didn’t see it that way.

Time sped up at that moment and Cal threw his sai. One aimed at Andrew, knocking the gun from his hand as it impaled his arm. Andrew’s mouth opened in a silent scream. He clutched his injured arm and fell to the ground, dropping his weapon in the process.

Then Cal spun and aimed the second one, released it with a quick flick of his wrist. Morgan screamed as it tore across her back, ripping the flesh before impaling itself in Lazarus’s shoulder.

Lazarus bellowed his rage and yanked it from his skin, sending a splatter of blood over Morgan as he crossed his arms around her, hauling her back, away from the Hunters. Away from Cal.

“Attack,” Lazarus growled, nodding his head as his eyes locked with Cal’s.

And out of the woods came dozens of wolves running toward them with fangs bared and murder in their eyes. Cal had underestimated Lazarus’s power. They were as good as dead. All of them.





Chapter Forty-One





Parted


My back throbbed and Lazarus continued to hold me against his body, trapped as the battle exploded behind me. My mind was reeling. What had just happened? Did Cal just try to kill me?

He took a few steps back, a macabre kind of dance, with me tight in his embrace. I knew Lazarus would want to get me into the forest, into his domain where he would make me his. I knew I couldn’t let him get me there. Couldn’t let him take me away from the Hunters.

“Morgan.” Cal’s voice bellowed from behind and I struggled to look, pushing against Lazarus’s chest as he cradled me closer to his body, his backward movement coming to a stop.

“She is mine, Hunter.” Lazarus’s voice rumbled in his chest, a booming thunderous roar that vibrated through me.

I craned my head to the side, catching a glimpse of Cal, his sword raised, his body posed for attack.

“She is mine,” Cal growled.

Lazarus laughed, another vibrating rumble in his chest. “Oh no, Hunter, not anymore.” He tightened his grip on me, twisting my body to the side while at the same time releasing my head from his chest.

I could see the scene clearly now. For every Hunter, there were three or four wolves. Blood and metal flew everywhere. Everyone seemed to be holding their own, all except Andrew, who lay on the ground, his arm bleeding, his weapon missing, and two massive wolves toying with him.

Andrew screamed as one of the wolves latched onto his leg, dragging him a few feet before letting him go again. I shifted my eyes to Cal. “Andrew,” I said, pleading with him to go. As much as I didn’t like the guy, no one deserved to be brutalized like that.

Cal turned his head, his attention snagged at the sight of Andrew being attacked. And then out of nowhere came a giant wolf, barreling into Cal’s body, and both went rolling across the ground.

“Do you want to watch the Hunter die, my pet?” Lazarus cooed in my ear as he ran his finger across my jaw.

I felt the revolting pull of desire as his finger traced along my collarbone. I could fight against it but knew it was pointless. Lazarus was in my head already. That kiss had been enough. I’d had a taste of him and I wanted more.

I shook my head. “No, I don’t want to see anyone die.”

Lazarus laughed as he spun me around, taking Cal, with fists flying, away from my view. The battle still raged behind me, but as Lazarus tilted my face up to stare into his eyes, the noise seemed to dim and fade.

He held my arms behind me, pulling at the wound on my back, reminding me of Cal’s betrayal, my ribs screaming as my body tried to knit the bones back together. Lazarus’s punishment. My wrists were clasped in one of his massive hands while the other tenderly stroked my cheek. His golden eyes pierced me with the intensity of his longing.

“You are the loveliest of all the brides who have come over the years. I feel very lucky to have found you.” He brushed his lips to mine again, this time lingering only for a moment before pulling away again to stare down at me. “So young. So vibrant. Your body is ready for my seed. You will grow my son in your belly, and you will be honored as my queen.”

I felt the pull toward him. I was shocked once again by the intensity. His words were like the sweetest music, telling me everything that I suddenly wanted to hear. I knew the touch of magic—it flooded through my veins thanks to Cal—so I knew that it was magic compelling me to love everything about him. His smell played over my tongue as I inhaled breath after breath of him, tantalizing and exotic. His face, his body, so hard, packed with muscle, his erection straining against his pants. But it was his eyes that held me rapt. I couldn’t tear mine away, not when he was staring at me with such want, such desire.