Page 102 of Primal Bonds

He waited, hand out, until she forced herself to step forward again. He swung her into his arms. This close, he was unnaturally cold, and he had the sickly-sweet scent of death. She held herself stiff, her entire being revolting at his touch.

Tyrus rubbed his cheek against hers. “You’re strong. I like that. Strong women are so much more fun.”

Her fingers curled into claws, but she thought of Kyler and remained quiet. She could endure this if it saved him.

Tyrus followed the large man into the hall. The first thing Evie saw was Jace sprawled unmoving on the floor, a huge wolf the color of midnight standing over him. She made a small, dismayed sound, and the wolf’s shaggy head swung toward her. Sharp canines glinted in the dim light.

A fae light wafted over Jace and her breath hitched. What she’d thought were shadows on his face and neck was blood. He was covered in it. She twisted in Tyrus’s arms, forgetting everything but the need to save him from the wolf.

The fae’s grip tightened. “Remember your promise,” he said in silky tones.

She stilled, but narrowed her eyes at the wolf. “Get the fuck away from him,” she said, low and mean.

The shifter’s burning gold gaze swung to her.

There was a movement behind them, and she glanced over Tyrus’s shoulder to see Kyler in the bedroom doorway, hands braced against the frame to hold himself up.

Horror swamped her. She was afraid to speak, but silently begged him with her eyes to stay hidden. When she turned back, the big black wolf had a paw on Jace’s chest.

Fury engulfed her. “Damn you!” she spat at Tyrus. “Call the wolf off him. He’s hurt—he can’t defend himself.”

“Quiet.” His dark eyes flickered red again.

Evie froze except for the fine-grained trembling of her body. This was how a cornered rabbit must feel. Afraid and hopeless and seething with hatred.

Tyrus jerked his head at Jace. “Bring him,” he told the wolf.

The shifter’s lip peeled back to reveal sharp white teeth, but Tyrus stared him down. “Bring him. You work for me, remember? And get rid of the boy.”

“No!” Evie burst out. “You promised. You said you wouldn’t hurt him—that was the deal.”

“Actually, I didn’t. All I promised was that I wouldn’t take him—just you.”

Her mouth dropped open. “You…bastard.” She punched him in the throat without thinking of the consequences, and he staggered back and loosened his grip enough that she dropped to the floor. In an instant, she was back on her feet and flying at him, fingers curved into talons.

She was past caring about herself. She just wanted to hurt him.

Her nails slashed a bloody trail down his cheeks, but he was quick as a rattlesnake. The next thing she knew, her back slammed into the wall, his hands pinning her wrists next to her head. But she was beyond reasoning. She twisted in his grip and aimed a knee at his balls which he barely evaded.

“Fuck,” Tyrus said, the earthy curse sounding odd in his cultured voice. He grabbed her chin and snapped, “Stop it right now,” and tried to do that mind-control thing on her again, but this time it didn’t work, maybe because she was so pissed off she was operating on instinct, not on a conscious level.

“Not until you promise,” she snarled back.

“Fine.” He jerked his head at the fada. “Don’t touch the boy.”

The wolf growled, and Tyrus added, “Let me rephrase that. Touch him, and you’re dead. Is that clear?”

The wolf curled its lip, but the big man said, “We understand.”

Evie halted, chest heaving. “Get inside the bedroom,” she told Kyler.

“No.” Her brother stared at her, white-faced. “I won’t let him take you.”

She met his eyes. “Please, Kyler. There’s no sense us both going.” She mouthed, “Tell Adric.”

His throat worked, and then he nodded and obeyed. She saw the bedroom door shut behind him as Tyrus swept her back into his arms, and then the next second, they were in Jace’s shed.

Her jaw slackened. How had Tyrus made it up to the surface so quickly?

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