Lunaria (A Soulmark Series Finale), page 24
"No."
I grant Adrian my most beseeching look. He frowns down at me. He is bloodied, but the scratches on his cheeks are already mending from his supernatural healing. "Where's Jax?"
Adrian pulls me to my feet. Yet, as gentle as he is, I still clench my teeth against the pain of the movement. A whine escapes my throat.
"He's already in the truck bed. We have to go. This is it, Luna."
"No, wait. Help him," I beg, digging my feet into the ground as Adrian guides me forward. "You can help him, please!"
"He's not going to make it. There's no point, Luna." Adrian grimaces at my frantic plea.
I choke back a sob. "You said you'd help everyone!"
"You didn't say anything about him. He's one of them, Luna. He's a Wselfwulf."
"He's not. He's different, I swear. He saved us. We can't just leave him to die." My sob breaks free, wet and noisy as I tug uselessly against Adrian's strength. "Please," I beg with renewed tears. "He saved me, Adrian. He saved me from a wolf."
Adrian hesitates. His face torn in conflict.
"We need to leave!" The woman shouts from the truck cab. Adrian lets loose a snarl and moves past me.
"Get in the car. Now," he orders, not bothering to look back at me to see if I follow his instruction. Adrian squats down to pick Deval up and my relief almost swallows me alive. I tremble all the way to the truck though I know not whether it to be it from the pain across my back, the shock of the evening, or my relief.
"Hurry, Luna," Celosia says as she lends a hand to me. I climb into the small cab, which already hosts Celosia, Alekos, and two other women. I squeeze in next to my friends, watching anxiously as Adrian carries Deval to the truck bed.
A soft caw grabs my attention as I close my door. A blackbird perches on the side mirror, its head cocked as it peers inside the cab. It pecks at the window and releases another cry.
"We get it! We're going, we're going," the driver gripes. "Scout up ahead. If there's any danger, report back and show us the way to take."
The bird nods its head as if it understands, and the car jerks forward with a rumble while the bird flies off. Heart racing, I turn to examine the truck bed. My body sags when I spy both Adrian and Deval there, along with Jax. and Keenan Tarps cover the majority of their bodies for meager protection against the cold.
"Seat belts on, please," the driver chirps, swinging a quick smile in my direction and showing off her fangs. "There aren't many, so share as best you can."
"Who are you?" Alekos asks as the woman next to him drags a seat belt across their bodies and buckles them in.
Her skin is a shade lighter than Callie's—a soft taupe—and her full lips look as if they've never smiled before. She scowls when I continue to stare, and it knocks me from my idleness. I fumble for the seat belt to my right and secure it over Celosia and myself. My friend stares at the device in astonishment.
"Friends of Jax," the driver answers once the click of my belt sounds. "I'm Ruby, and this is my 'not-girlfriend,' Nova."
This time Ruby, the teeny woman with the short haircut, is on the receiving end of Nova's glare.
"And you are here to... take us home?"
"That's right," she chirps, unfettered by the fire's raging around us as she navigates the car to a lonesome road. "Now, why don't you get some rest. You all look like you need it."
"But what if—"
She clicks her tongue. "No 'buts' or 'what ifs,' please. My friends and I are quite capable of pulling off an epic rescue. An epic anything really."
The cab quiets, and Alekos wastes no time in sinking back. His trepidation keeps his wary eyes open for several minutes before they weigh farther and farther down. Exhaustion drags a heavy sigh from his lips before his head slumps forward and he slips into unconsciousness. Celosia rests her head on my shoulder, a shiver traipsing across her body and transferring to mine. Nova presses a button on the truck's dashboard, and warm air pushes out of the vents. Celosia releases a grateful note from her throat and twists to a more comfortable position to lean against Alekos.
I watch with tired eyes, wired from my adrenaline, and simultaneously drained. Ducking out from the strap of the seat belt, I lean against the door and window to relieve the pressure on my back. I cannot seem to close my eyes as they stare into the dark forest.
"Sleep," Ruby gently commands after some time. "We'll make sure you get home safe."
Home. A flutter of happiness ushers away the lingering tension in my body. Before my eyes fall closed, I spy a bright flare of orange and yellow flames in the side view mirror that take Trammel House to the ground. I go to sleep with a smile.
Chapter 13
As if sensing the nearness of home, my eyes begin to flutter open as we turn onto a familiar street. It takes a moment or two for the houses to register, but when they do, my heart picks up its pace. I sit up with a hiss, my back stricken with pain that I must bite my teeth against. Yet the pain I’ve endured cannot pull me from the joy encasing me. Green house, blue house, blue house, beige... my fingers graze the window as they come to a stop in front of a two-story house, painted a creamy white. Several figures wait in the driveway, all rush to meet us as we stop.
Celosia and Alekos wake in the commotion of the seat belts being undone. Their panic spikes at first glance but settles as they turn curious faces my way.
"Where are we?" Celosia questions breathlessly. I smile, unable to contain my excitement and happiness.
“Home,” I say. “Not ours, but… we’re safe, Celosia.” My voice cracks as I grasp onto her hand, tears blurring my vision. Celosia smiles back at me, and Alekos lets out a sigh of relief.
“Thank the Gods,” Celosia says, wiping my cheeks as happy tears track down them.
I sniffle once, a small laugh getting caught in the back of my throat as I try to compose myself.
“Stay here, I’m going to go outside to greet my friends.” Celosia nods, and relaxes back, taking hold of Alekos’s hands in lieu of mine.
I exit the truck in slow stages to lessen the stinging pain across my back. Warm hands settle on my hips to guide me the last bit to the ground. When I close the door and turn, Atticus is there.
"It's so good to see you, Luna," he rumbles, the corners of his eyes creasing as he takes in my form. In the next instant, his coat is off and over my shoulders. I watch his Adam's apple bob while his hands fumble to zip it. "Luna, I'm so—"
I lift my violet eyes to his shining blue ones. Atticus blinks back his tears, mouth opening and closing without a single word making it out. But they need not be said. Stepping forward, I curl my arms around his waist and rest my head against his chest. Atticus responds in kind but is heedless to the force he applies when wrapping me up in a hug.
I whimper and squeeze my eyes shut tight, but my momentary suffering is overshadowed by a sharp growl. Atticus releases me and blocks me from Adrian's bristling approach. The beta answers with a growl in kind that resonates in the night air.
"Move." Adrian's voice vows devastation.
"What the hell is he doing here?" Atticus retorts just as harshly.
"Please, Atticus." I attempt to step out from behind his shadow, but only manage to capture his side-eye. "It's okay. He's one of us."
"One of us?" Winter's voice pipes up out of sight. "He's the one who took you in the first place, Luna!"
Her disbelief and outrage mingle into a pitch that makes me wince. Nevertheless, I manage to make it past Atticus's barred arm and hasten to Adrian's side. I stop before my heart's content, and he casts aside his glower to cup my face. His dark eyes search for any signs of new damage.
"I'm okay," I reassure him and step closer. "Are you?"
My lungs constrict as I raise my hand to his abused cheek. Four long lines pucker the side of his face from Carrie’s assault, not fully healed but well on their way. They make his already fearsome features more intimidating. Adrian dips his head to brush his lips on the crown of my head as an answer. My heart flutters in response.
"Do not worry about me," he says, leaning back to run troubled eyes back over me. “You’re back, Luna—”
“It will be fine,” I rush to assure him and spot a welcome sight. Gran and the aunts are hustling to the truck bed.
“Go,” he says, catching my gaze. “I will watch over your friends.” I press my lips to his in a chaste kiss, barely catching his dazed expression before I dart around him to my guardians. Aunt Lydia is the first to greet me, her hand presses against my cheek with tender love gleaming in her eyes.
"My brave, brilliant girl. You can’t imagine how good it is to see you. You did good, Luna," she says. "We're all so very proud of you. Without your trail of flowers, we’d never have found you."
“My flowers?”
Aunt Lydia smiles kindly. “Yes, dear. Your flowers. They held your unique trace of magic and trailed all through the forest up to our backyard. It led us straight back to the Wselfwulfs location. I don’t know how you did it, but it worked. That’s how we knew where to find you.”
A lump gets stuck in my throat as I toss my arms around her neck and hold her to me. “I’m so happy to be back,” I say, unable to muster more. She chuckles softly as her arms wind around my hips. Our sweet moment is broken only by Gran’s call for aid.
"Xander, we need your muscle. You too, Atticus."
The lycans move swiftly, jumping into the truck bed and retrieving Keenan's wane figure. I watch them support him, my heart wrenching as fat teardrops roll down Keenan's face. The alpha and beta keep stony-faced as they help Keenan out of the truck bed. Aunt Mo is nearby to drape a quilt over his shivering body.
"Keenan!"
The battered lycan's head jerks up at the sound of Callie's voice, and time suspends as their reunion plays out. Our group watches in silence as Keenan uses what strength is left in his body to shrug off Xander and Atticus's support. He shuffles awkwardly forward on the snow to his soulmark, breath blooming in front of his face as he pants.
Callie sprints across the yard in boots and a coat too big for her. She stumbles several times, her arms pinwheeling at her sides as she regains her balance and barrels over the lawn. The yellow glow of the streetlights highlight the glistening trail of tears over her cheeks.
Keenan collapses to the ground with a keening noise, arms outstretched to her. Callie cries out as well, and with a desperate burst of speed, she slides across the frosty landscape to catch him.
They embrace on their knees, sobbing.
My eyes sting at the rawness of it all. Xander and Atticus hover nearby, ready to help when they finish.
"Lunaria... my dear girl, let me take a good look at you." Gran steps into my view, her brows crimped together. She looks as if to take my face in her hands but thinks better of it. "What did they do to you?"
I muster a weak smile. My heart surges with happiness at the sight of Gran, but I hold myself back from wrapping her up in a hug as my vision flits to the truck bed where Jax and Deval go unaided. Instead, I twist my fingers around Atticus's coat.
"I'm okay now, Gran, but my friends, they need help too. Xander and Atticus—" Gran's face draws back as if slapped, and I note Aunt Lydia furtively mirrors her reaction. I stop in confusion, unable to process their reaction when we should all be rejoicing and healing. I look at my friends then back to them. "Please."
Not waiting for permission, I climb into the back with the men. Jax cracks his eye open but otherwise remains curled in on himself beneath a blue tarp with a shiver. Deval is...
He's...
My mouth dries. "We need to help him. He hasn't much time!" My stomach lurches when no one makes a move to help me.
"The pack will see to the others," Aunt Mo announces. Her long white hair is a halo around her scarred and pale face. "But you can stay with us, just come out of the truck, dear. We'll get you right inside and comfortable in no time at all."
Her mollifying tone hits me like a ton of bricks. I rock back on my heels and gawk at the witches. "But they need help now." Nothing. I swallow, body aching and quivering. "What of my other friends?" I point to the cab as my anger swings forward. "Will you deny them too?"
Gran appears both pained and frustrated. "We cannot take more than Keenan, child," she says. “We’ve already taken in members of the coven to help them heal, and housing that monster,”—Gran glares at Adrian—“who so recklessly hurt Winter and played a part in Zoelle’s plight, is not welcome in my home. As for the sorcerer, you know our stance on the Stormrow Clan, Luna.”
“But—”
“As for them,” Gran talks over me, casting her eyes to the two women who rescued us and the ravens that perch beside them on the top of the truck. “They already have rooms at the Adolphus Manor. Your friends will no doubt find beds there too.”
I hold up both hands, wordlessly begging her to stop. Gran does, her eyes hardening in defense. I take a long moment to respond. It is far too difficult to process her harsh views.
"How can you be so heartless?" I ask.
Gran owns the good grace to look ashamed, as do the aunts, but they make no move to recant Gran's statement. My face flushes with frustration and outrage and doubles as I straighten and slip in the pool of blood left by Deval. The lycan groans as the trunk bed shakes under the force of my fall.
Deval's eyes crack open and land on me. His earthy green eyes are dull and unfocused, but there is some spark of recognition within them.
"Lu-na?" I scramble to his side, one hand coming to rest on his shoulder and the other over his pale, pale hand, now a grayish-brown over its usual warm bronze.
"We're safe now," I coo. "You're safe now, and we're going to help you."
He whimpers and shuts his eyes, his ashen face losing even more color. I strip off Atticus's coat and place it under his head to act as a pillow.
"We're going to help you," I whisper again, smoothing back his tangled hair from his face. I resist the urge to shiver as my bloodied hands soil the one comfort I can afford him.
I lift my head and glare at the three women who sheltered and protected me this past year. "We need magic to save him."
The three remain silent, but not Xander. Bless him.
"Zoelle will help," he says. "Get to the house quickly”
"Xander—"
"No, Diana," Xander rebukes instantly, cutting off the older woman. "She'll be furious if she finds out we didn't utilize her." Xander finds my eyes as he helps to heft Keenan back up with Atticus. "Wake her when you get back to our house. She'll help as best she can."
The three witches drop their eyes as my glare intensifies. "You should be ashamed of yourselves," I speak hotly.
“If anyone should be ashamed, it’s that beast you brought back with you. After everything he’s done… he’ll only cause trouble, Luna. We’re just trying to protect you,” Gran argues back just as heatedly.
"We need to go," Ruby pipes up, effectively stopping my rebuttal. She leans against the truck, and peers pointedly back and forth between the two injured men. Her face tinges with worry as she lingers over Jax. "They need help, and we're not going to get it here."
Without a word, Adrian gets back into the truck bed with me. Ruby and Nova return to the cab, the door slamming decisively shut after them. Adrian extends a hand to me and guides me to sit between his legs. With his arms securely around me, he thumps the metal floor, and the truck rumbles to life.
Guilt corrodes our connection, and I cannot help but wonder why. I sink back into Adrian's body, curling my knees to my chest. The wounds on my back sear with pain, but it is an afterthought in comparison to Adrian's emotions.
I replay Gran's words in my head. "If anyone should be ashamed, it’s that beast you brought back with you. After everything he’s done…" Something in my gut tells me there is more to her words, and it doesn’t take long for me to jump to the worst conclusion.
"Adrian, what did you do the other night? The night you came back covered in blood?" My teeth chatter as I speak, making my question almost inaudible.
He does not respond immediately.
"Noah set a trap for their Eldritch witches. He said they were too cocky and fearless, and sent a group of us to rectify the situation." The body behind me goes rigid, inch by inch. His response to the events draws my spine straight as well. "I didn't kill the witches," he tells me, voice shaking. “They got away with their injured.”
"I don’t understand. If the witches got away, then why was there so much blood Adrian?"
His anxiety and guilt spike to unprecedented amounts through our bond. My chest tightens in anticipation.
"What did you do?" I ask again.
“The man who led our group ordered me to kill the others of our party for their failure. He said they were too cowardly and weak to do the job properly.” The arms around my torso constrict. “He said if I followed his command without question, he would remove my subjugation collar. So I did… but they were boys. Boys trying to act like men. I killed them as swiftly as possible, but my violence was spotted by a witch who hadn’t gotten away.” Adrian rests his head against the crook of my neck and inhales deeply, steadying himself and his chaotic emotions. “She saw what I did. I assume it was she who told the old witch of my heartless act.”
My eyes shut. “Oh, Adrian.”
"I wasn't given a choice," he rushes to explain. "Either I cooperated and be rewarded or resist and be forced to comply with consequences I wasn't willing to pay."
I twist to look at him, my back pinching in pain. "What do you mean?" I ask, though I am afraid of his answer.
"You."
Sadness washes over me. Those boys paid the price for my life and our freedom. Tears roll down my face, swept away by the racing wind. I settle back into Adrian’s hold, with no words left to say. The sleeping town flies by as we approach the pack's neighborhood.
Ruby lays on the horn as she pulls into the Adolphus driveway.
The gesture is unnecessary. The porch lights are already on and standing in the doorway is Ryatt. He jogs over.
