Chapter Nine #2
“I was cautious, but I tested my abilities. My cage was locked. I tried to concentrate on it, seeing if I could break it open. My magic was shaky, and the most I could do was rattle it. It was taking all my concentration to hold the property sealed. Lace was depending on me, and I couldn't allow her to get hurt.” I exhale harshly. “The first time I saw what they did, I threw up. The desperation of the shifters when their cages opened was devastating. The hunters weren’t supposed to kill them. They carried tranq guns, and the sport was the victory of catching them.”
“They didn’t follow the rules,” he guesses.
“No. I saw a shifter being carried back to the clearing. They killed him. I thought Gill, the man in charge, would be angry. I should have known better. A man who ran an organization like that wouldn’t ever feel remorse.
They laughed. They laughed, and I knew I had to do something.
I asked him if I could message Lace. She would try to find me, and I told him he didn’t want the attention.
Warning her wasn’t an option; he would read the message.
I put it in a code we made up as children when we were in school.
I demanded that she not look for me, but be careful that someone was following her.
Stressing that she couldn’t fight, she had to stay safe, and that I would come back to her.
It was the best I could do.” I wrap my arm around his waist, anchoring myself to the now.
“I waited a few days, pretending I wasn’t a threat, and went along with what they wanted.
I had to watch several more Games, seeing the humiliation on their faces.
“No one talked to me, and I understand why. The Hunters relished their power over shifters who could have killed them instantly without the collars and cages. I would hear their laughter and the cries from the shifters. I would cry with them. They didn’t deserve any of it.
My date would watch me with glee. He wore a walkie-talkie on his belt, and as he walked by, I heard the others in the woods celebrating their win.
Many of the shifters were carried back to their cages, thrown inside, and barely able to recover.
Our kind has always had a distrustful relationship with vampires and shifters, yet I wouldn’t wish their treatment on anyone.
I knew they would never like witches again,” I whisper.
“If they knew you, they wouldn’t judge,” he says.
“Unfortunately, I’ve met several of the shifters affected by Gill.
Their hatred for me has barely cooled.” I shake my head, knowing I will share about them.
“The seventh day of living in a cage, there was a game scheduled for that night. I knew if I was going to do something, I had to do it before. After a Game, the shifters would have a harder time escaping. Gill watched me carefully, unsure if he should trust my compliance, so I had to time it right. I dropped my spell on the boundary and began to work on the locks. The first cage swung open, and I told him to run. I got the second and third open before an alarm sounded. The hunters burst out of the cabin. None of them had tried to touch me since the first day, and my leather jacket had protected me as they gripped my arm. When he carried me to the cage, I wasn’t aware, so my magic didn’t engage, and if it did, I don’t remember.
I don’t know if they were afraid, or since I was complying, they didn’t push it.
Several of them carried real guns around and pointed them at me if I left the cage.
They knew I would do anything to protect my sister, and they didn’t know I avoided touch until that day.
The hunters captured the first man, shocking him with his collar.
Gill hit me with the butt of his gun and dragged me from the cage by my hair.
He threw me to the ground in front of the writhing man.
When I fell forward, my hand connected, touching his arm.
I screamed. All of his pain and humiliation transferred to me. ”
“Jesus, Mara,” Rome rasps, tightening his arms.
“It wasn’t hard to connect everything, and I saw the calculation in their eyes.
I couldn’t hide anything while in his memories.
They realized another way to control me.
Gill threatened to force me to touch every shifter there if I tried something again.
Once my sight returned, he showed me a video of his man following Lace.
He said he would give me one more chance.
If I used any magic except what they wanted, he would kill her and torture me.
” I turn my head, pressing my forehead to his chest. “I had no choice,” I sob.
“I know, baby.” He rolls, cupping my face. “I wish I could take away your pain,” he says, gutted. “How did you get away?” I pull away and lie on my back.
“They brought a woman to a cage, which wasn’t unusual, but she was human.
The only humans were the hunters. Gill kidnapped her to get to his nephew.
She was his mate, but they hadn’t bonded.
She talked to me and asked me why I couldn’t help.
I didn’t give her many answers, and she turned away from me like the others.
It didn’t take long for her mates to come for her.
They brought many shifter friends. There is a vampire who discovered she had witch blood, and she helped them find the location.
I could feel her probing the area. Her power was very minimal, so I lowered my spell just enough for her to find the boundary.
” I remember the rush of relief. “They killed the hunters, and a dragon shifter cornered Gill. All of the shifters in the cages were released, and they attacked him together. The vampire guarded me from the anger of the shifters. She took me home and didn’t judge me like the others. I will always be grateful to her.”
“Is she still in your life?” He caresses my arm.
“She tries to be,” I sigh, turning my head. “I don’t want to upset her friends. It’s best if I stay away.”
“Is that what you want?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes.”
“She called me a few months ago and asked me to help them. I agreed out of guilt. I understand their pain, yet I won’t do it again.
Shifters can stay with their kind, and I’ll stay here.
They fear us, and will never fully get past the role I played in the Games.
” Building a relationship with those in the Games is not an option. “Do you have shifters in your life?”
“I have been in their presence over the years, but I don’t call any of them friends,” he says.
“They fear us; it’s safer to stay separate.”
“What about Gavin?”
“There is an element of respect with him. Lace accepts their presence because of her job.” Lace doesn’t have as many demons in her past that revolve around the shifter community.
“The vampire witch is different,” he states.
“I thought so,” I say softly.
“Is she like the others? Did she want to keep in contact when you went there to help?” he asks.
“She’s different from them,” I mumble, turning to stare at the ceiling. Rome pinches my chin, tilting my face toward him.
“If you want to be her friend, do it. I won’t allow anyone to treat you badly.
The Games were not your fault. You did what you could to protect Lace.
They have to get over it. You went through hell.
It may have been different than what they were forced to do, but it was traumatic for you.
The man in charge was at fault. The humans who paid for his service are the ones who should be ridiculed for their choices.
You put yourself and Lace at risk to help them by lowering the boundary.
What if they weren’t able to overtake the participants?
The shifters should appreciate your sacrifice,” he hisses, and the light flickers.
“I don’t like many vampires, but that doesn’t matter.
I would never stop you from talking to her if that is your choice. Do they come here often?”
“No. None of them has.” I shouldn’t enjoy his defense and concern. It’s been a long time since I’ve had someone on my side.
“Good. I would be tempted to use my power on them,” he grumbles, and the light blinks off.
“Rome,” I sigh, rolling to my side. “It’s not worth it. I can understand their emotions.”
“You are worth it,” he says softly, and my heart thuds. “It was a choice to protect your family. Who was the man? The one you dated? Is he dead?”
“Yes.” I stare into his swirling eyes. “They killed them all.”
“Shredding him with my spells would be satisfying,” he grits out.
“He’s in the past.” I cup his cheek, brushing my thumb over his scruff. “I haven’t talked about it with anyone.” I frown. “It helped. The pain and anger haunted my dreams for too long.”
“Lace doesn’t know?”
“She knows the basics. One of the shifters who lives there is still her friend. They talk often, but they don’t know we are sisters.
I don’t want them to judge her for what I did.
Lace tries to understand and agreed to keep it a secret.
” I wonder if she knows more than she has said and keeps them at a distance because of it.
“Lace is protective of you. She doesn’t want you upset,” he says, and I drop my hand.
“I should call her. She’s probably worried.” I don’t know where I left my phone. I turn to the bedside table, looking for it.
“She is,” he says, and I glance at him. “Archer isn’t letting her come in.”
“What?” I look toward the door.
“I spelled the room,” he says, and I lift a brow. “You didn’t notice. She’s pissed.”
“Rome.” I can’t help but laugh. “Archer is going to be on her shit list.” I roll off the bed.
“We needed to talk. I wanted to give you privacy to do it.” He follows me out of the bedroom door.
“That’s actually sweet,” I mumble. As soon as I leave the room, I hear Lace’s angry voice.
“I’ve never been called that,” he says dryly.
“First time for everything,” I say, shaking my head. Opening the side door, I jerk when Lace throws herself into my arms. Rome presses his hand on my back, lending me his magic.
“What happened to your face?” Rome asks Archer, and I look over Lace’s head. Archer’s eye is black and swollen.
“You think she’s quiet and sweet,” he grumbles, pointing at Lace. “She’s a hellcat when it comes to you. She punched me in the face when I wouldn’t let her come to you.” I gasp, hiding my laughter.
“Why didn’t you heal it?” Rome asks, twisting his lips.
“I wanted to have proof,” he says, lifting his hand. He holds his fingers over the black and closes his eyes. His spell floats in the air, and when he drops his hand, the bruise is almost gone.
“Archer can’t heal completely,” Rome explains, the question on the tip of my tongue. “As you know, healing is more complicated than other spells.”
“He deserved it,” Lace exclaims, tightening her arms. “Are you okay? I was terrified when they explained.”
“I’m fine. Rome gave me some space to tell him some hard things.” I know I’ll have to explain everything to her, but now is not the time. “A waitress's memories transferred to me, and we have to find the man who gave her nightmares.”
“He's bad,” Lace guesses, pulling back.
“Very. The worst,” I whisper.
“Oh, no,” she whispers back.
“What did he do?” Archer asks.
“Abused her in every way a man can.” He inhales sharply.
Men will never understand the ways women are in danger every day.
They don’t have to worry about walking to their car at night or looking over their shoulder every time they leave the house.
Going out in the world is scary. Sometimes, as Sofie learned, you can be in the same house as a predator, so you can’t escape.
“When should we do it?” Lace asks.
“Now,” I say briskly. “He’s been watching her. I don’t want something to happen if we delay.” I’ve lost track of time and realize it’s late. We can sleep later. Sofie needs to rest easy.
“Archer, will you move the coffee table?” Rome asks, grabbing my hand. Archer moves into the living room, and Rome pulls me into the kitchen. “I know it needs to be done, but are you sure you're ready?”
“I’m feeling good,” I reassure him, but doubts creep in. “I surprised myself last time. I’m hoping it goes smoothly. I won’t be able to sleep until we find him. As much as I would love to go to bed next to you, safe and warm, my thoughts would be plagued with the hell she has gone through.”
“Alright.” He kisses my forehead. “Let’s find the fucker.” He leads me to the front of the couch. Lace is sitting in the corner of it, her legs folded. She watches us with concern.
“Your power is getting stronger,” she says.
“Yes,” I agree.
“Along with Rome’s, your house may get destroyed,” she mumbles.
“We haven’t had time to learn how to control it,” Rome says. “In time, all the lights won’t burst.”
“I think it’s only going to get worse,” Archer says, leaning against the kitchen counter. “Once you bond, it may level out.” I sit on the floor and ignore the excitement his words cause. Bonding with Rome is becoming more appealing.
He didn’t look at me with disdain or judge my actions in the Games. He held me, comforted me, and agreed with what I had to do. He reacted in a way I had hoped for, and it assured me that he would stay by my side. There is much more we need to learn about our lives before we met, but we have time.
Why wouldn’t I want to complete the soul bond with him?