The Kyriakis Curse (26 page)

“She’s an adult. You can’t hold her against her will. She wanted to go. I was doing her a favor. How was I to know there would be men waiting for her?”

“Perhaps because you set it up? Cut the crap, Eleni. You told Sarah about Gage’s attack.

I never mentioned it to you. Explain your way out of that one.”

Her green eyes widened. “B-but you must have told me. How else could I possibly

know?”

Paris lifted one dark brow and in that voice of dead calm that didn’t bode well for his temper, he asked, “How else, indeed?”

Eleni must have recognized that tone, too, because the façade of astonishment began to crack. “Why do you even care? She’s just a goddamn half-breed!”

Constantine strained against his cousin’s grip; he wanted to take Eleni by the throat and tear her apart.

Paris’s eyes narrowed. “That half-breed was under my protection, and you were aware

of it. Who has her?” He walked to her with steady strides.

Eleni lifted her chin defiantly. “You’ll never catch up to them. They’re long gone.”

“So it’s true. You have been scheming with Gage, would give a defenseless cub over to the Hunters despite knowing what they’re capable of. I thought I knew you, but obviously not if you could do something like this.”

“I did it for us! For the good of the pack! She would have brought trouble on all our heads. You should be thanking me,” Eleni spat out.

Paris shook his head in apparent disbelief, equal shades of anger and sadness in his eyes.

Constantine’s rage could no longer be contained. Propelling himself free of Aries’s

hold, he managed to grab his aunt by the shoulders and throw her to the dock. Baring his fangs, he went for her throat, but she was ready for him. Swiping him across the face with her razor sharp nails, she managed to gouge his cheek, but the pain didn’t register.

Two sets of hands pulled him away from the clawing fem. He struggled against Dante

and Aries’s grips.

“She is your aunt, Constantine. Don’t do it.” Dante tried to calm him down, but his

words only increased Constantine’s wrath.

“Damn right! Family is supposed to look out for one another; instead, she’s put my

mate in danger. I will kill her.”

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Paris shook is head. “There’s no point. It’s already too late for her. Step away from her.

Now.” He pointed to Eleni, who was slowly rising to her feet. Her eyes had gone from green to a bright orange ringed with black.

“What?” Eleni demanded. “Why are you all staring at me like that?”

“You reap what you sow, Eleni. Your usefulness to Gage is probably at an end.”

“What are you talking about? I-- oh!” She doubled over and fell to her knees.

“She’s going feral,” Aries whispered in amazement. “The Hunters must have infected

her somehow.”

“No!” Eleni screamed, but her body was already morphing. “No! No! No! I did it all for us, Paris! I should have been your mate; it should have been me! Everything I’ve done, getting rid of your precious Zahara and my insipid sister, my mate -- it was all for you!

Ahhrroooo!” she howled as her face elongated, hair popping out of every visible pore.

“You did it all for nothing. I would never have chosen you for my mate. I made the

mistake of joining with your sister when I didn’t love her, but I won’t err like that again. You and I could have been friends; now there is nothing.”

Constantine knew that Eleni didn’t register his father’s last words. She was forever tied to her wolf form now, her human mind gone. Shaking herself out of the tatters of her clothes, she looked as if she were about to spring. His father, however, moved swiftly, taking her head in his hands and twisting it until there was a loud crack. Then he ripped her skull from her sagging body as her blood sprayed around him. He straightened and released the remains as Constantine stared, mouth agape. Despite Eleni’s treachery, his father had killed her in the most humane way possible: quickly and without much pain.

“It had to be done. Once she went feral, she was already dead inside.” Paris sighed.

“Even so, before she was completely subsumed, I was able to gauge her thoughts and saw the direction a large black sedan took Sarah and where they’re headed. If we speed, we can probably gain on them, but we have to go now.”

They raced to the car and took off. Constantine’s heart had never pounded so hard.

They had to make it to Sarah in time. They just had to!

* * * * *

the sedan between her two attackers. Her muscles remained weak from trying to keep herself alive in the water, and her lungs still burned. She was exhausted, yet she couldn’t give up. There had to be a way out of this mess. Why had she listened to Eleni? That terrible laugh still rang in her ears.

“Stop struggling, half-breed, or you’ll get more of what you got at the marina,” the blond hissed at her. He was the one called Jackal. The other was Dorn, a tall, nearly emaciated-looking man with eyes as black as his long, stringy hair.

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She glared at them in turn. “Two against one? That hardly seems fair, don’t you think?”

There was no way she’d be able to overpower these men, so she’d have to use her brain.

Jackal glared at her. “You’ve been very elusive until now. We’re not leaving anything to chance.”

“Fine, but can’t you let me move at least? I can’t very well go anywhere in a speeding vehicle.”

“Do you think us so foolish?” Dorn asked. “It would best if you kept your mouth shut --

or we can shut it for you.”

She rolled her eyes heavenward and spoke in a mock scold. “Two men picking on one

helpless woman. How... pathetic.”

“Shut up, half breed, before you feel the flat of my hand across your face.”

Sarah closed her eyes, not wanting to give into despair. She’d hoped she could anger them enough that they couldn’t concentrate on keeping her restrained. Constantine, please help me.

Sarah, where are you?

She frowned. How was it possible he was speaking to her telepathically when he wasn’t near? Constantine?

I’m here, Sarah. Can you tell me where you are?

I don’t know. I’m in a car, and everything is so dark outside. I can’t see anything except that we’re on a narrow winding road.

Hold on, mana mou, I can feel us getting closer to you.

I didn’t realize you could communicate with me from afar.

I heard you call my name. I told you, we’re connected, Sarah... you are my bond mate.

If this doesn’t prove we’re meant to be together, I don’t know what will.

I know we are. I’m sorry for leaving you; I shouldn’t have done it.

She felt Constantine release a mental sigh. No, you shouldn’t have, but we’ll discuss it when you’re back in my

s

arm again. In th

t

e mean ime, do you t i

h nk it s

’ possible you can slow

them down -- maybe get the car to stop somehow?

I’m not sure if I can. I’m being held by some intangible force. But I’ll try.

How many are there?

Three. Two in the backseat with me, and one driving. I think the driver is of little consequence, though.

What kind of car is it?

Black Mercedes sedan. I’m not really sure what the model is, but I made out the hood ornament when they put me in here.

Aries is driving like the devil. We’re getting near. Hold on for me, mana mou. I love you. I--

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Crack!

Sarah heard the sound of the hand smacking her before she felt the actual sting on her cheek. Her eyes popped open in surprise. She hadn’t even known she’d shut them.

Jackal hovered over her, a snarl on his face. “Who were you communicating with half-

breed?”

“No one.”

Smack!

Her head banged against the seat from the force of the blow.

“Don’t lie, you stupid cunt.”

Anger took over, burning in her gut. She glared at him. “Go ahead and hit me again,

you coward. Is this the only way you can best me? Holding me down with your magic?

Aren’t you supposed to be a powerful Hunter? What a loser. I may be a half-breed shifter, but you’re only half a man. You’re low. Lower than low.” Sarah lobbed some spit at him.

She braced herself for the blow he sent her way, but it didn’t connect.

Dorn was holding Jackal’s fist. “No. Gage doesn’t want any marks on her.”

“We’re wizards; we can heal her before we get there. This little bitch is responsible for our fallen comrades. She needs to pay!”

Dorn snorted. “No. Leave her be. Gage will be able to tell. I, for one, don’t want to feel his wrath when he examines her.”

“Who’s in charge here?” Jackal demanded.

In the midst of the two wizards arguing, Sarah realized neither one of them was

concentrating on her. She found she could move; she had to seize her chance before they realized it, too. Taking a deep breath, Sarah sprang forward, flying toward the driver. She reached the wheel and gave it a powerful wrench to one side.

Her action sent the car careening off the narrow road. The driver shoved her hands

away while Jackal and Dorn yanked her back. It was too late, however. The driver had already lost control of the car. Dorn’s hands shot out, somehow halting the car’s headlong movement, and Jackal wrapped his fingers around her throat.

“You stupid bitch! You shouldn’t have done that.” He ignored Dorn’s repeated warning about Gage.

Sarah wouldn’t give up; she had mobility and help was on the way. She clawed at the

wizard’s face, then tried to gouge his eyes out, but he turned his head away just in time.

However, his grip tightened around her, cutting off her air supply. This was far worse than being dunked under water. Bright spots danced in front her.

Constantine’s voice reverberated in her mind. Hold on, Sarah. We’re almost there.

She tried to whisper his name, but the words were stuck in her bruised throat. Sarah continued to kick, hit, and scratch, refusing to give up.

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Just as consciousness was slipping away, something rammed the car from behind,

jerking them all forward. “What the--?” Jackal’s grip loosened enough for her to send a fist into his stomach in one last burst of strength.

“Shit, we’ve been followed!” Dorn stated the obvious just as the car was pushed further off the road, sending it nearly off the hill.

Sarah lunged for the car door and wiggled the handle, but Jackal grabbed her hair. He let her have another blow to the head, making her mind reel. She would have passed out if sheer will hadn’t kept her lucid.

“Start the fucking car,” Jackal yelled.

“I’m trying to, but something must be wrong with it! I think the undercarriage must

have hit something,” the driver whined.

“You fool! Use your powers to get this car moving again,” Dorn shouted in vain.

The back passenger door was ripped off the hinges. Sarah reached for the extended

hand, instinctively knowing who it belonged to. Constantine pulled her out of the car and quickly set her aside.

A big bolt of electrifying power shot at him, catapulting him away from the car. Jackal jumped out and looked ready to deliver another round when a large gray wolf jumped at him, going for his neck.

Another wolf sprang at Dorn, but it was knocked back by a swinging fist. The vampire, Dante, went after the driver, who obviously wasn’t as strong a wizard as his companions.

Sarah watched in shocked horror as the vampire ripped the young wizard’s arm out of

its socket and hit the screaming man. Blood spurted everywhere; there was so much of it that Sarah felt bile rise within her throat. She knew Dante could have easily killed the wizard, but he didn’t.

She turned away from the gruesome scene to make sure Constantine was okay, but

when she rushed to his side, he pushed her away. “Get back, Sarah. I won’t have you hurt again.” Before she could protest, Constantine flew at Jackal, who managed to swat the large wolf he’d been tangling with -- just barely. She figured the animal attacking Jackal must be Paris and the other wolf was Aries.

A punishing blow from Constantine sent Jackal falling backward and gave Paris a

chance to engage again. Large teeth sank into the shrieking wizard’s neck.

Sarah looked away, covering her eyes, but she couldn’t block out the sounds of the

man’s dying struggles. Her resolve not to watch didn’t last long; she peeped through her fingers in time to see Constantine and Paris rip Jackal to shreds, until there was nothing left but torn body parts and blood. Her stomach lurched at the sight of Paris eating the dead wizard’s entrails. She shuddered. There was still a lot in the shifter culture she’d have to adjust to, but she didn’t know if she’d ever get used to that.

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To his misfortune, Dorn suffered the same fate as his companion. Both strong wizards were dead, but the driver was alive, lying on the ground with his dismembered arm. He clutched his bloody stump, which sported a tourniquet consisting of part of his shirt.

Instinctively, she knew Dante had kept him alive for one reason -- to send a message to Gage.

Pack Kyriakis and its allies were definitely a force to be reckoned with.

Despite being covered in blood and gore, Constantine rushed to her side and tugged

Sarah into his arms.

“Is it over?” she whispered.

“For now.” He kissed the top of her head reassuringly.

She knew there was still Gage to deal with, but the relief of the moment was so

overwhelming, she fainted.

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“Dante, I can’t thank you enough for your help.” Paris was glad to be back on Circe, knowing Sarah and his son were safe for the moment. “Those wizards were stronger than I thought they’d be. It annoys me to no end that there are more of those bastards out there, and that they want Sarah. But for what purpose? I’m still trying to figure that one out. I should have killed that little twerp, but no matter how hard I beat him, he still wouldn’t reveal what he knew.”