Enticed (The Brazil Werewolf Series Book 3) (5 page)

Luc hugged his brother and then, turned to the man giving him a handshake and a grin. Luc glanced at me and then, the man. 

              “This is Garridan,” Luc said, releasing the man’s hand to wave toward him. 

              My eyes widened as I recognized his name and instantly, I relaxed, “You were the one chosen for Aurora by her father.” 

              The man nodded before wincing, “I hope she told you the rest of the story.”

              “She did,” I said, reassuring him as I smiled, “She was lucky that it was you.”

              His eyes darkened in sadness, “Yes, I suppose she was,” he said, shifting slightly before adding, “I’m sorry about your parents.”

              “Thank you,” I whispered, trying to push the sadness away.  Luc’s hand squeezed mine in reassurance. 

              Then, he shook the man’s hand again before pulling me along toward his parents.  Sophia seemed frantic as she glanced around obviously searching for us.  A smile spread across her face when she spotted us and pointed us out to Gavriel who was standing near her.

              “You’re running late,” Sophia said with a raised brow. 

              “I’m sorry, Mother,” he said and rolled his eyes, “I’m sure that everyone has waited patiently.  After all, this is a party in our honor.”

              Sophia narrowed her eyes dangerously but Gavriel stepped in, “Maybe we should announce the engagement,” he said, winking at me. 

              I smiled as I nodded glad to stop the arguement, “That’s a good idea.” 

              Luc leaned toward me, “You must really want to marry me,” he said, glancing toward his mother, “You just saved my life.”

              “I doubt she’d kill you over being late,” I said, rolling my eyes. 

              “Do not ever doubt my mother,” he said, laughing. I glanced toward Sophia and nodded because suddenly, she seemed more dangerous.  Luc laughed as he pulled me closer to him as we walked to the bonfire. 

              We stopped in front of the barrier which surrounded the pit and faced the crowd.  Gavriel’s voice boomed gaining everyone’s attention.  My hand tightened around Luc’s as everyone turned to us.   

              “This is a joyous occasion after a bit of darkness,” he said and then, glanced toward me and Luc, “We are about to welcome this beautiful girl, Mary Jane into our family in just a few days.  With Luc and Mary Jane’s marriage it will merge my family with the great family of my dearest friends.  We are so happy to have you here as we welcome our new daughter.”

              Luc gazed down at me and a smile had just begun to spread across his lips when I heard a sound like someone taking a quick breath.  Luc’s eyes widened in pain as he grasped his chest.  I frowned confused at the expression of pain on his face as he bent his head.  I followed the motion and blinked, horrified.  An arrow stuck out of his ribs, shivering with each beat of his heart.  I shook my head, trying to deny what I saw before me but I couldn’t as he stumbled forward.  A scream broke from between my lips as he fell in front of me. 

              I shook as I struggled to catch my breath as I stared down into Luc’s face.  My heart trembled as I sank beside him and grabbed his hand in mine, hoping that he would sense my presence amongst the chaos of people searching for help.   Tears fell from my unblinking eyes as I tried to find some way to save him.  Sophia’s cries reached me as I shook my head trying not to give into the panic. 

              “No,” I whispered as I trembled.  I tried to force my mind to do something but I still did not know what that was.  His hand tightened around mine and my heart clenched as every kindness he had ever committed for me came to mind.  Desperation took me as I begged him over and over again to stay with me.

“Please don’t die…Please,” I sobbed as my tears fell from my face onto him.

              Tamas knelt beside Luc as his eyes began to close.  I would have screamed if Tamas hadn’t spoken, giving me the hope I did not have moments before, “There’s a way,” He said with wide eyes.  I blinked as I pulled my gaze from Luc’s face to look at Tamas.  I swallowed hard.  His voice was hoarse as he continued, “It will save him but only you can do it.”

              Luc’s eyes had closed and his breathing had become labored.  The shivering arrow had nearly stopped.  In that moment, I didn’t care what it was.  I wanted to save him.

“Anything,” I said, raising my eyes to meet Tamas’.  My heart pounded in desperate need as I held my breath, waiting for him to tell me what I could do. 

              “The blood bond,” he said, shifting, slightly as he gazed down at his brother before returning his gaze to me.  His chin rose slightly, “It will save him.”

              I blinked rapidly as I realized the truth.  I inhaled sharply and touched my lips as my eyes widened.  I would have to choose between binding myself to Luc in a way that was stronger than death or let him die.  My lips trembled as I closed my eyes.  My parent’s faces floated in front of me and I realized that I couldn’t lose someone else even if I had only just met them.  In just a few short days, the Brazils had become my family and I needed every single one of them but I needed Luc the most. 

              Slowly, I opened my eyes with my decision made and nodded to Tamas, “How do I do it?” 

Tamas raised his chin as he reached into his pocket pulled a knife from its confines.  His gaze darkened as he the lines in his face tightened.  With a sharp flick of his wrist, he opened the blade, causing me to flinch.  His eyes met mine as he handed me the knife. 

              “Slice across the wrist,” Tamas said as I grasped the knife’s handle tightly in my hand.  I took a deep breath stealing myself for the pain and slid it across the tender skin.  Blood sprang from the wound in an instant. 

              “Now, let him drink from you,” he said, softly as everyone ran around us, trying to find help.  Neither Tamas nor I paid any attention to them as he continued to speak, “When he begins to heal, I’ll pull the arrow out.”

              My heart pounded as I nodded with wide eyes. I returned my gaze to Luc’s face.  Fear that he would be angry slammed through me but his possible anger was not enough to let him die.  I placed the gash to his lips and instantly, he began to drink.  I heard an intake of breath and I glanced up to see Sophia with her mouth opened in shock.  Indecision broke across her face and I knew she was struggling with the decision to stop me or save her son.  Either way, it was too late.  I sensed the bond strengthen and Tamas’ pull of the arrow.  A sharp intake of breath caused me to gaze back down into Luc’s face as he opened his eyes.  I pulled my wrist away as an expression of complete horror crossed his face. 

              “My God, Mary Jane,” he said in a voice mixed with anger and fear, “What did you do?”

              Tears sprang to my eyes, “What I needed to,” I said, brokenly as my heart clenched at the glare from his eyes.  He would hate me now.  I saw it.  Slowly, I buried my head in my hands unable to look at him anymore and sobbed. 

*********

              I kept my head down as we walked back to Lilly and Marco’s home afraid to even peek up at Luc.  I wish I was stronger but my body jerked with each breath and I shook uncontrollably.  It was worse when I realized that Luc stood a good distance from me.  There was no more holding hands or compliments on my beauty.  Instead, there was only a thick and angry silence.  On top of that, there were the feelings that I realized were his but I experienced them the same as if they were my own.  He was angry and that burrowed down deep in my bones. 

              We reached Lilly and Marco’s home and I waited in silence as they unlocked the door and entered.  I took a step to follow them desperate to be out of Luc’s presence but he grabbed my arm, stopping me from going any further.  There was no gentleness in his touch.  Instead, his fingers gripped me like a vise.  Fear slid down my spine.  Lilly glanced at me and then, Luc before nodding and following Marco inside and closing the door.

              “I need to talk to you,” Luc said, harshly and I swallowed still not facing him.  I took a deep ragged breath and pulled my arm from his grip as I fought the impulse to run. 

              “Look at me,” he said after a few moments of silence.  His voice wasn’t as harsh but still the promise of his anger was slamming through me and I knew that I couldn’t continue to stand there with my head down.

              I swallowed and slowly raised my head to face him but was unable to keep my gaze on my face.  Instead, I peered down at the ground as I crossed my arms and leaned against the side of the motor home.  I heard his sigh as he stepped in front of me causing the scent of his blood to float in the air.  He reached forward and lifted my head with the tips of his fingers beneath my chin.  My lips trembled as I raised my gaze past his blood soaked shirt and further up his face to his eyes. 

              He frowned as he studied me.  The anger was completely wiped from his face as he peered into mine, pained.  He raised his hand and I flinched before he moved it away. 

              “Do you think I’ll strike you?” He asked, blinking rapidly before shaking his head.  He swallowed hard as he studied me.

              I licked my lips, “You are angry with me,” I whispered as a tremble swept through me.

              The color drained from his face and his eyes widened, “I would never hit you,” he whispered, leaning his head back and then, sighed as he kept his eyes firmly on me, “No matter how angry I am…I would never do that.  Besides, I’m not angry at you.”

              I bit my bottom lip as I studied his face, “You aren’t?” I asked, tilting my head in confusion, “But I feel it.  You
are
angry.”

              “Yes,” he said and sighed before running his hand through his hair, “But not with you.”

              “I don’t understand,” I whispered but my shoulders had relaxed at his admission and a long sigh escaped my body.

              He pressed his lips together and then, groaned, “I’m angry at Tamas for telling you to save me,” he said and then shook his head, “I’m angry that it happened and I’m angry at Eli for forcing this decision on you but I’m not angry at you.  I would have done the same thing if it had been you who were dying.”

              “If that is true, why are you acting so…distant?” I whispered as my chin trembled. I leaned my head against the cool metal of the home as his eyes darkened.

              Luc shifted as he frowned, “Because I don’t want to deal with the effects of this bond and it’s making the anger worse because I didn’t get to choose,” he said as his face fell, “Andre got to choose.  Marco didn’t but they were falling in love when it happened.  I wanted for us to be able to take our time to get to know each other without the complications of the bond.”

              I narrowed my eyes, “Complications?” I asked, glancing at him before biting my lip, “What complications?”

              “No one told you?” He asked as his eyes widened.   

              I shook my head, “The only thing I know about the blood bond is that it’s so strong that death can’t break it,” I said, wringing my hands in front of me, “If you die, I will die or vice versa.”

              He shook his head, “That’s not the only complication,” he said through clenched teeth as he began pacing.  He ran his hands through his hair and cursed in frustration.

              “What else can there be?” I asked as my heart thumped against my chest. 

              He stopped and then, stepped in front of me.  He was so close that his breath fanned across my face.  My heart trembled at his closeness and my breath hitched in my throat.

“It will cause us to want to mate,” he said with wide eyes.  His eyes darkened as he gazed down into my face.  His voice became husky as he continued to speak causing my stomach to clench, “Every moment that passes will be harder and harder to resist.  We can’t be away from each other for too long.  It will cause us to go insane.  Eventually, we will give in.  We won’t be able to help it and it won’t matter whether we love each other or not.”

I stared up at him as my body began to tingle.  Even then, I wanted him to touch me and I had to fight the impulse to throw myself into his arms.  I closed my eyes, wondering at my feelings.  As I did, I remembered how bad the blood bond could be.

              “It would make me like Aurora’s mother?” I asked as my breath caught.  My lips trembled as I looked up at him. 

              He nodded sadly, “At least you know I’m not evil,” he said brokenly.  He reached up and caressed my face.  The moment he did, my heart sped up and I leaned into him.  I inhaled sharply as I leaned forward needing to be closer to him.  His hand froze on my face as he gazed into my eyes.   

              He shook his head and pulled away, walking a few steps from me.  A gnawing want slammed through me so forcefully that I nearly groaned with the force of it. 

              He turned toward me.  His eyes were wide and haunted, “Now, you understand,” He said as his gaze darkened. 

              I could only nod my head as we stood within the darkness trying to face the consequences of the blood bond.