Lunar Bound, page 15
part #4 of Sky Brooks World: Ethan Series
Breaking a blood ward like the one Josh had put over the retreat was no simple feat. It took a great deal of magic, more than Marcia could summon on her own.
As if reading my mind, Josh declared in a strained voice, “Samuel.”
Sky gripped the edge of her seat as I weaved through traffic. Only a few minutes later, I turned onto the winding road that led to the retreat, pushing the turns as hard as I dared. As the house came into view, we saw a pitched battle raging on the front lawn. Bodies and limbs littered the crimson field. Nearly three dozen of our pack were fighting hand to hand, claw to claw, with the entire Ares Pack.
I barely had time to wonder how Anderson could be so easily duped into fighting for the man who strived to strip us all of our animals, if not kill us outright.
At the edge of the battle, I veered toward a group of Ares trying to launch an attack around my pack’s flank. At the last second, I turned the wheel and pulled the emergency break. The Maserati slid sideways into the Ares. Two of them leapt away in time. The other three thudded against the fiberglass frame, were thrown somewhere into the melee.
I needed just a moment to take in the battle. Sebastian, in human form, was at the epicenter, directing our defense, while Winter shielded him with her katana, cutting Ares down with a dancer’s grace. Steven’s coyote bared his teeth over the disemboweled body of a lynx. Blood dripped from his muzzle as a leopard closed in. Three wolves followed, sensing a kill. Gavin’s panther and Dr. Baker’s tiger crashed into the wolves from behind, killing two, distracting the third. It wheeled on Gavin as he tore open one of the wolves’ throats. Its jaws snapped at Gavin’s back leg. Steven’s lunge knocked the wolf aside. His jaw clamped around the wolf’s throat, snapped its neck with a quick shake of his head.
The leopard fled with Dr. Baker racing after it.
Josh declared in an anxious voice, “He’s breaking the blood ward.”
I kicked open the door in time to knock back a charging lynx. Stunned, it barely rose to its feet before I gripped its head, twisted sharply. Its neck snapped. Its body went limp as I dropped it to the grass.
Across the field, an Ares emerged from the general melee leading a small pack of angry wolves—Nelson, the Ares third, or was before we’d killed their Beta. He and Sebastian strode toward each other. The wolves, hungry for blood, charged ahead. Winter scattered them with a quick series of blows, nearly decapitating one of the wolves. The rest scattered beneath her katana. Ignoring the fight around them, the pair continued toward each other. A few more steps, and they charged—Nelson roaring, Sebastian calm. Coming together, Nelson swung wildly. Sebastian evaded the blow with a graceful shift of weight, countered with a targeted jab into Nelson’s throat. A second blow followed, a flat palm driven up into his nose. The ensuing blood sprayed into his eyes, blinding him. He stumbled, clutching at his neck and gasping for breath. Sebastian threw Nelson to his belly. Standing over him, Sebastian wrapped massive hands around Nelson’s chin and crown. A single quick gesture snapped his neck. Nelson’s limp form collapsed into the bloody grass.
Sudden movement to my left caught my attention. Two hyenas charged. I knocked one aside while the other rounded the Maserati, targeting Sky. Before I could call out a warning, she pivoted and drove a boot into the hyena’s ribs. The hyena yelped in pain as it landed, stumbling. Before it fully regained its balance, it was on the counter attack. Sky met the hyena’s lunge with a spinning kick, shattering its jaw with her heel as she knocked the hyena to the ground.
Worry crept through my rage. I didn’t want to leave her side, and my brother was vulnerable. He could protect himself and Sky with a field, but the Ares in animal form were immune to his offensive magic. My wolf howled to be released, to wade into the battle where it was the thickest, around Sebastian. I belonged at the Alpha’s side. First, I had to make sure Sky was protected. As she crouched, prepared to meet the hyena’s next lunge, I turned to Josh. Before I could shout my instructions, the report of a single gunshot pierced the din of the melee.
My eyes widened at Josh, expecting to see blood. When I didn’t, I turned a panicked look to Sky. Untouched, she stared across the lawn, mouth agape.
I turned back to Sebastian as another shot rang out. A spray of blood burst from his chest. The force of the bullet knocked him back a step. He seemed to stare defiantly into the woods where the shot had been fired, then collapsed into a heap.
Winter’s eyes widened in horror. She tried to cut her way to him. The rest of the pack wheeled, abandoning their battles to converge on our Alpha. The Ares converged as well, the smell of victory and blood in their nostrils. I charged into the fray in a desperate bid, killing any Ares that strayed between me and Sebastian. So fixed on reaching him, I didn’t see the cougar charging until it crashed into my side. I fell, the cougar landing on top of me. Fighting from my back, I barely fought off its snapping jaws while the cougar’s claws raked at me.
After some work, I managed to force my arm into the cougar’s mouth. When it bit down, its teeth tore through my skin. The urge to cry out from the sudden pain was almost unbearable. I needed to focus, to take advantage of the few precious seconds sacrificing my arm bought me. Poorly trained were-animals had a tendency to put their faith in their teeth. Once they had you in their bite, they’d hold on until they bled the life out of their opponent. Either the cougar didn’t notice or didn’t care as I twisted my captive arm, forcing the cougar’s head to the side—enough to expose its temple. Its bite on my arm shifted, tearing before the cougar clamped down harder. This time I did cry out, right before I drove my free fist into the side of the cougar’s head. Stunned, its grip slackened but didn’t let go. I drove my fist into its skull twice more. The cougar’s grip slipped. Its tongue lolled. Mad with rage, I twisted its head until it snapped, then cast the cougar aside.
Rising to my feet, I heard another shot ring out.
No!
Winter screamed.
Three shots. Three hits. If he was still alive, he couldn’t take a fourth.
On my feet, I saw Sky sprinting into the woods after the sniper, a knife in her hand. She was alone, charging into the heart of the enemy. I couldn’t worry about her now. The entire Midwest Pack was fighting to form a shield around Sebastian.
Driving toward him, I fought my way through what seemed an endless press of Ares.
Another shot rang out, tearing an angry, desperate scream from my throat. A wolf lunged at me. I caught its jaws in my hands, snapped them apart. Casting the wolf aside, I found a coyote crossing my path, intent on Dr. Baker, who was nearby. I drove the heel of my boot into the wolf’s back, breaking its spine, then stepped over the dying were-animal. Close to Sebastian now, I found Winter positioned between his body and the sniper. Wielding her sword with a fury, she sliced and cut through a wave of attacking were-animals desperate to claim the Elite for their kill. Steven and Gavin were at Sebastian’s side, shielding him from teeth and claws.
My wolf was desperate for blood. It took every ounce of control to prevent the shift. I was the only one strong enough to carry Sebastian into the house. My animal would have to stay on its leash until our Alpha was safe inside.
Before I could reach him, Josh transported to Sebastian’s side. He immediately threw up a protective field around them both. Once done, he reached underneath Sebastian as if intending to carry him. A second later, the two of them transported away.
Seeing their target vanish, the Ares roared in anger. Rather than give up, they only pressed harder. For the Midwest Pack, seeing Sebastian safely removed from the battle gave them permission to unleash their rage.
Dr. Baker’s tiger immediately veered toward the house. Josh would already have Sebastian in the infirmary, waiting. Every second that delayed Dr. Baker from reaching our Alpha might be his last.
Dread threatened to engulf me as I realized, I might already be the pack’s Alpha. As long as there was a chance that Sebastian was still alive, my entire being was focused on protecting him. We needed to buy Dr. Baker time to do his work while we regrouped for a counterattack. My voice roared over the din. “Retreat!”
The word burned in my throat.
Some of the pack obeyed. Others were too lost in their lust for revenge. I had to grab Steven, throw him back toward the house. Gavin, Winter, and I fought off Ares while we collected our own, steering them back toward safety. As the Ares pressed harder, we became the rearguard, holding off the onslaught while our pack funneled through the front door of the house. Steven joined us, fighting at my side.
As we backed toward the porch, I risked a glance toward the woods for Sky. The shots had ceased, which meant she might have killed the sniper or at least chased them away. I could only hope she’d make it back to the house. As much as it sickened me not to rush to her, I was in charge of the pack—for the moment, at least. We were under siege and I couldn’t abandon them.
I cursed under my breath as we slowly backed toward the front door of the retreat. Every were-animal that escaped into the house meant one less animal to fend off the Ares. Pressure around us mounted as we struggled to protect the retreat. An Ares woman in human form, a fierce expression framed with wild, jet-black hair, charged me, an axe raised above her head. Blood dripped from the blade as she brought it down toward my skull. Stepping into her stride, I drove both fists into her chest, throwing her back. She disappeared into the Ares rabble that formed an ever-tightening noose. By the time we reached the porch, there were just a few of us still outside, fighting what seemed like an endless hoard of were-animals.
I shouted, “Hold the line!”
My muscles ached as I fought back against a flurry of blows coming from multiple directions. My blows were weakening, my movements less sharp. Adrenaline faded and exhaustion was settling into all of us. Winter’s katana no longer danced. She was reduced to primal, desperate swings. Gavin and Steven slowed as well. Their fur was soaked in blood.
Realization set in that we weren’t all going to make it inside the house.
Leaning toward Winter, I shouted, “Get inside!”
She was the next rank in line after me. I’d no intention of leaving anyone else to die on this porch so that I could survive. Save her first, then Steven. Gavin was ranked higher, but didn’t have the emotional ability to lead the pack. He was a loner, a fighter. While Steven weakened rapidly, Gavin still had some strength in him. It was a simple calculation—the best chance to save all of them was to hold him back until Winter and Steven were safe. When it was Gavin’s turn to retreat, he would be the last. I’d order the door closed. While they barred it from within, I’d be free to spill as much Ares blood as I could before I fell.
Winter stiffened at my order. A surge of energy filled her as she pretended to not hear.
I roared at her as I smashed a fist into a hyena’s snout, “Now!”
She risked a scowling glance at me, then turned and ran up the porch. Ares pressed into the space she vacated, putting me under even greater pressure.
“Steven!”
He started to draw back, then lunged at a cougar that tried to take his place. Sensing the danger, the cougar drew back and hissed as Steven’s coyote tore the cougar’s ear from its skull. Snarling, Steven flipped the bloody flap into the air.
Gavin used his panther’s body to brush Steven back. When he did, the Ares filled that void. Gavin and I could barely keep up with the snapping jaws. Claws raked my right arm. Something cut into my left thigh as I pushed back a pair of wolves in front of me. Gavin’s body pressed against me as we fought side by side, nearly surrounded. He’d no intention of retreating. Without each other, neither of us could survive the onslaught. It was now a contest between us to see who could hold up the longest.
Winter called out from behind us. “Get inside!”
Before I could order her to close the door, a whistle sounded from the Ares rear. Another whistle joined the first. The press eased as the Ares started to retreat. Whimpering with disappointment, the were-animals directly in front of us backed off. A lone coyote refused, lunging at me. At some point in any fight, exhaustion takes us all. Before I could react, Gavin leapt across my body, knocking the coyote aside. The animal struggled to rise, but Gavin didn’t have the strength to finish it. He panted, watching the were-animal flee.
My chest heaved as I sucked in desperate breaths, watching the Ares quickly evaporate into the woods. Dizzy from lack of oxygen, I teetered a moment before widening my stance. I glanced around, looking for Sky, but saw nothing. My mind refused to accept that she might be dead somewhere, or dying alone in the woods. Josh could’ve transported to her and brought her inside.
The house door opened. I waved Gavin inside.
The fight wasn’t over. They’d come for Sebastian. As far as they knew, he was alive somewhere inside the house. True or not, the Ares would come back for him soon, before we’d a chance to recover or gather reinforcements. Josh’s blood ward was down. The massive house was vulnerable. Inside was a weakened pack, already contemplating the loss of their Alpha. After peering into the woods one last time for a sign of Sky, I had no choice but to go inside and hope she survived. She was stubborn. If she were alive, she’d find her way back to the house.
As I backed inside, someone closed the door in front of me and placed an iron bar across it.
CHAPTER 8
The entryway was filled with exhausted were-animals propped against the walls, collapsed onto the floor. Most were wounded, many seriously. Those able to help moved among the injured, wrapping wounds with clean towels, torn clothing—anything they could find to stem the bleeding while their natural healing ability did its work. That Dr. Baker wasn’t among them meant Sebastian was still alive in the infirmary. Had Kelly remained, she would be among the wounded here, providing triage, administering first aid, spreading calm.
Fear choked the room like an invisible, smothering gas. The Midwest Pack wasn’t used to defeat. Long-believed rumors of Sebastian’s invincibility were shattered. Setting aside my need to check on Sebastian, I walked through the room, offering encouragement and consolation to the wounded. Gathering were-animals whose wounds were minor, I sent them to different sections of the house to guard windows and doors, anywhere the Ares could find or create an entrance. Distracted from their worry, they seemed glad for the direction.
A pack needed leadership, reassurance.
After a few minutes, fear settled into an anxious calm. I made my way to the infirmary. A crowd gathered outside the door, their nervous attention fixed on the urgent voices within.
Dr. Baker barked at someone inside, “Out of my way.”
Josh emerged from the crowd as I approached, his expression grim. His complexion a ghastly white.
I asked, “How is he?”
“It’s bad. I tried to help.” He shook his head. “We could really use Kelly right now. If I knew where she was, I could bring her.” He took my arm, pulled me aside. “They took down my blood wards like they were paper.”
“Samuel and Marcia together?”
“I thought so at first.” He licked his lips. “I don’t think either of them could’ve done it that fast. This was something else. Something…powerful. I don’t know what.”
“Let me know when you do.”
I started toward the infirmary, but Josh held his grip on my arm. “Dr. Baker is overwhelmed in there. He’ll call you when he needs you.”
Turning back to the infirmary, I heard Dr. Baker’s voice once more. “Stop hovering and let me do my job.”
Before I could make up my mind, a loud thump upstairs caught my attention. A series of thumps followed, the pounding of feet racing toward the front of the house. Gavin’s shout followed them. I ran to the front of the house. At one of the main windows, I snapped the curtains open just as I heard the sound of glass shattering above me. Outside, window shards collapsed onto the grass. A trio of Ares in human form followed, landing on their feet. One of them clutched three large, ancient-seeming books to his chest. In a moment, they disappeared into the woods.
Gavin dropped into the lawn, transforming into his panther before his paws touched ground. Before he could pursue the Ares, I got his attention by pounding on my window. In mid-stride, he stopped, turned.
I motioned for him to return to the house.
Behind me, Josh raced upstairs toward the library. Gavin hissed at me, but obeyed, skulking toward the front door. I yelled for someone to unlock it, then raced after Josh. Several of the bookshelves had been wiped clean, their contents dumped onto the floor. Josh sifted through the piles, his actions becoming increasingly anxious. After a moment, he threw a random book across the library in disgust.
“Josh,” I whispered. “What else did they take besides the Clostra?”
He snapped, “The finis book.”
The book that held the Gem of Levage.
Magic rushed into the room, gathering around him. Pacing in frustration, he waved an arm at a half-empty bookshelf, sending it flying ten feet across the room to slam into another shelf. The two shelves collapsed, spilling books.
Magic gathered around him again for a fresh tantrum. In two strides I was at his side, squeezing his arm hard enough to get his attention.
I growled, “Not now.”
He shrugged off my grip, giving me an extra magical shove in the process. I held his gaze for a long moment while he fumed. He took our defeat personally. The loss of the Clostra and the finis were salt in the wound. If Samuel were involved in the attack, the loss could very well mean the demise of all were-animals. Even if all three of the books were brought together, only Sky and her cousin, Senna, could read them—as far as we knew.
The East Coast Pack had the job of keeping an eye on Senna and her family. Reaching into my pocket for my phone, I stopped myself from calling Cole, the pack’s Alpha.
