Page 31 of Help Wanted, Vampires Inquire Within
“What’s going on?” Mason asked, sounding worried. “Why do I feel like someone sank a hand into my chest?”
“We’re sharing souls,” Jack said, his voice full of wonder. “But I’m not the one doing it, she is.”
Skyler didn’t respond to them. Even if pressed, she probably couldn’t have talked. She wasn’t sure she could’ve stopped either. Thankfully, all she felt was a little fear from Mason, but also willingness. Jack was nothing but eagerness.
It hurt to pull chunks of her own soul out and press it into the men, but she ignored the pain. The pull was too great to stop.
“What is that?” Mason asked as their soul bond snapped into place.
“Her soul,” Jack said. “We’re soul bonded but not by me. I didn’t know nymphs could do this. I have a flock!”
“I have mates,” Mason whispered, his voice heavy and close to crying.
I have my land,Skyler thought.
Then everything went black.
Chapter 10
Jack
When Skyler passed out, Mason panicked.
“She’s dying!” he cried out, gathering her in his arms. He looked up at Jack with tears falling freely down his face. “I can’t lose her, Jack. I can’t!”
Jack knew it wasn’t nice to smile in the face of Mason’s fear, but he couldn’t help it. He was so damn happy he couldn’t contain it. He had a flock!
“She’s not dying,” he assured Mason.
“How can you tell?” Mason asked, obviously desperate to believe him.
Jack put one hand on Skyler and one on Mason. “Close your eyes, let me guide you.”
Mason obediently closed his eyes and Jack pressed on their soul bonds. “That’s me. Can you feel my happiness?”
“Yes, it’s beautiful.”
“Good, now feel for the soft humming,” Jack said. “It reminds me a little of insects flying around on a summer day.”
“Yes, I can feel it,” Mason said, his brows scrunched up in concentration.
“That’s Skyler,” Jack said. “She’s resting. I feel no pain, no fading of her life force. She’s asleep, that’s all.”
Mason opened his eyes and stared intently at Jack. “You’re sure?”
Jack gave Mason a reassuring smile and pushed love and joy through their soul bond. Mason sucked in a breath, his expression turning surprised.
“I felt that,” he murmured. “It’s almost too intense.”
“The best bonds are,” Jack assured him.
“Looks like you guys took care of everything,” Anatoly said. He stepped over to McConnell's dead body and shook his head. “We all warned you. It wasn’t because we worried about Skyler’s life, but yours. I guess you got the fate you deserved.”
Jack looked down at the vampire's body. Before Mason joined the fight, Jack was sure he was going to lose. Then Mason was free and fighting at his side. Everything fell into place, and they’d worked in perfect concert to kill the powerful vampire.
“What the hell killed this asshole?” Rissa said, nudging Sampson’s dead body with a toe. All the rats that had been eating him were gone. Probably scared off when Mason and Jack got close. Once Sampson had died, all the durmin were decimated, leaving piles of little bones everywhere. It was a strange sight!
Mason chuckled. “Rats.”
