Wolf Spell 1 (36 page)

“Then you can’t get all upset about it. Only a mated couple can hear each other’s wolves.”

“But she could hear Maztic before this, and she can hear Dregan,” I declared.

“Maybe Esmerelda placed a shield over both herself and Luna. In times of stress or emergencies, a witch can do that to keep from being located. Hela is the first and the alpha of all guardian wolves so the shield can’t keep him out. We can ask him to check on Luna and make sure everything is okay.”

Hearing that made me feel a little better. I know Es has been through a lot lately, and she probably unknowingly placed a guard up. “Okay.”

It seemed as if hours passed before he spoke again.

“He said Luna and Esmerelda are both fine. It was just as I said. Esmerelda placed a shield over them. He said Luna is upset right now because she can’t talk to Maztic, but she can somehow talk to Dregan.”

I twisted in my seat to see him better. “What does that mean?”

“I think the spirits have lifted the guard over them so Ian could find her. Nothing more than that.”

I relaxed a little and stared out the windshield.
Es, please drop your guard. I need to feel that you’re okay.
My heart pleaded with her, hoping she would hear it.

We drove for about an hour before stopping for more gas. Torres pumped the gas while I sat inside the car. My cell lit up and vibrated in the middle console. I picked it up and saw it was a text. Sliding the lock on the screen, it read:
meet us in Chattanooga
.

Great. Now we needed to go even farther. Torres got back in the car. I waited until he started the engine. “Change in plans. I got a text from Ailaina saying to meet them in Chattanooga.”

Torres furrowed his eyebrows. “That’s more south than east. Are you sure?”

I waved my phone a little before slamming it down against my leg. “Yeah, that’s what it said.”

Torres placed the car into drive. “Alright, well we better get going.”

A Promise to Help

– Esmerelda –

November 19, 2012

“Ugh, how much longer?” I leaned my head against the passenger window. I hadn’t been around Jarak since yesterday, and I questioned everything I felt the longer I was around Ian. I needed to get some distance between us. Fast.

“We should hit Memphis in about an hour.” Ian looked so laid back. He rested a hand on his thigh with his tight jeans, and his legs spread apart to make me wonder…
Oh my gosh! What am I thinking?
I squeezed my eyes shut and turned my head so I couldn’t look anymore.

I opened my eyes one at a time until I stared out the windshield. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see him grin at me. It was devilish and made him look mysterious yet extremely sexy. It caused tingles to shoot through my veins. I held in the urge to smile back at him.

“Are you sure Jarak’s okay with us staying in Memphis? I don’t have my cell so I can’t text him. It feels weird not talking to him.” I wonder what Jarak honestly thought of me staying in a hotel room with his brother. It would’ve been easy to magic my phone, but some small part of me wanted to keep it just Ian and myself, with no distractions.

“Yeah, he said to do whatever you needed. I think he just wants to make sure you’re okay and rested.”

“Okay.” I closed my eyes again. The glare from the oncoming headlights blinded me. I could feel the lull of the car putting me to sleep. I tried to stay awake, but I could tell I already lost the battle. Ian was wide-awake, and I trusted him, so I let myself drift off.

– Jarak –

“What is going on?” I slammed the car door shut and covered my eyes from the glare of the early sun. Where was she?

Adonia’s SUV pulled into the parking lot behind us, and both her and Ailaina walked around the front of the car, “I’m sure we just beat them here.” Her face seemed pinched as she talked, giving away her insecurity about the situations too.

I shook my head. “No. Do you feel her? Cause I sure don’t, and I’m starting to get mad. Maztic can no longer hear her, and that worries me too. How can we make sure that she’s okay? I thought that stupid spell of yours was supposed to keep us attached to her.” I threw my hands in the air and then ran them through my hair. I wanted to yell, as loud as I could, but I kept my cool.

“Ian must be the one who is connected to her at the moment. I told you that it might only be one person at a time, and it will be whoever the spirit chooses.” Adonia’s small frame looked weak as she folded her arms over her chest, but I knew better. Inside that small, petite body was a fierce and well trained witch.

I didn’t mean to yell at her. I just didn’t know what to think with Es and Ian together. If he has so much as laid one finger on her… I couldn’t fathom the thought of him being close to her. I’d seen the way he’d been looking at her lately, and my stomach churned with the thought of his lips on hers. An involuntary shiver coursed through me. If that happens, I will kill him. Brother or no, Es is mine.

I spun around. The parking lot was empty. An overwhelming feeling that something wasn't right swarmed my entire body. I kicked the tire.
Where were they?
This got us nowhere closer to Es. I thought they said they would meet us here.

Adonia and Torres walked toward the abandoned building. Thick green branches covered it almost entirely. Most of the windows had already been broken out. Red, blue and green spray-paint covered the side of the brick where I assumed a group of local kids had been bored.

I spotted Adonia and Ailaina ducking under the branches and slipping into the structure. Torres must've gone in first because I couldn’t see him. I slumped against the side of the car, letting it support me as I zipped my coat up to keep the winter chill away.

“I honestly didn't expect to see you again, not that I didn't notice the way you looked at her in Spain. I should've guessed you'd be with her. Where is she?”

I knew that voice. I scanned the parking lot and twisted to look behind me. He stood among the edges of the trees just off the pavement.

“Victor.” I whispered it under my breath, but I knew he’d heard it. What did he want?

He stepped closer. “Where’s Esmerelda?”

I shook my head, wasn't that the question of the day. “I don't know. What do you want with her anyway?”

“I need her to finish,” he stopped mere inches away from me. I could see the muscles in his neck tighten and his jaw clench as he stood there. “I went to Idaho, but she wasn't there. You told me that she would be there, and yet here I am tracking you in the south.”

“Things changed.” It was weird seeing him after Spain. “Nicholas lured Es here. We stayed with her to keep her safe.”

“And yet you don't know where she is. That's not keeping her safe. She’d probably have had a better time if she'd stayed with me. And I trusted you to keep her safe.”

“That's not fair! I have kept her safe. I have fought beside her and killed for her. You weren't here. Where were you when Nicholas sent his vampire cross-breeds after her?” I could feel the rage inside of me grow. How dare he say I haven't kept Es safe. I clenched and unclenched my fists, trying to keep my anger in. “What do you really want with her?”

“I told you, she has things I need her to finish.”

“Yeah okay, but what exactly are you doing here, in this town?”

He raised a corner of his mouth. “I texted you. Although, I did think you'd be bringing her with you.”

 “So, this is a set up. It’s because of you that we’re here and she's not. You have no idea what you've done by doing this. Nicholas is out there and he's going to kill her, she needs our help, and you just led us away from her.” I clenched my jaw and ground my teeth together.

“You were supposed to have her. I paid you to guard her, not lose her.”

The sound of glass breaking caused me to turn around. Torres led Adonia out of the building, Ailaina following them close behind. He picked up his pace when he spotted Victor, the women keeping up with him. “What is going on?” I could see his body tense and tighten as he came closer.

“It's his fault that we’re here. This was a trap for Es.” I threw my arms in the air. I wanted to deck Victor in the face. Why didn't he just call me? Running my hands through my hair, I took in a deep breath and looked up at him. “Why?’

A deep rumble came from beside me, glancing down Maztic was there. This couldn't be good. I hadn't seen him since he searched for Es, and coming back without her must mean either one of two things: he couldn't find her or he knew I needed help.

“Did you find her?”
I asked him in my mind.

“I did. She's with Ian driving out of Memphis. They stayed there last night, and it looks as if they are headed east.”

My mind screamed in frustration. If she gets hurt because I'm not with her, I will behead Victor myself for leading us away.

Glancing over, I could see Hela next to Torres. His fur rose on his neck, and he snarled.

“What’s going on?”
I asked Maztic as I scanned the empty lot one more time, half-expecting to see a crowd of vampires.

“Victor is not here to help. He wants Esmerelda just as much as Nicholas, but we are unsure of what his true intentions with her are.”

I nodded. Torres also looked around. Hela must have told him, putting him on high alert too. No one but Victor was around, but I couldn’t trust that right now. Meadow might be close.

“Where is she? Don’t play with me Jarak, I know you know.” Victor came even closer, standing on the other side of the car from me.

“You are not in a position to make threats Victor. Do you forget who I am?” Adonia spoke, and I could feel the electricity in the air as she stepped up behind me.

Victor hesitated. “No, I do not forget. I need your daughter and will fight to have her if necessary.”

Maztic’s hackles rose up, and my insides churned. “I will fight you then because you cannot have her.”

He clicked his tongue with the side of his cheek. “That’s not really fair. You have a dog and no powers. Unless she gave you one?”

I didn’t speak, but I could feel heat rising inside of me and Maztic trying to hold back from ripping out his throat.
Dog?
He seriously didn’t just say that.