Dark Wolf Unbound (Heart of the Shifter #2) (10 page)

Again, he swallowed her gasp with his kiss, his fingers moving with skilled finesse, stirring up responses she hadn't thought she was capable of anymore. Her body was slick beneath his fingers, responding to him, but he didn't abate with his kisses, and his forearm pressed more tightly against her nipples.

Every part of her body was on fire, an inferno setting her body ablaze. It had been so long, so unbearably long since she'd been with a man, since she'd trusted one enough to allow him to be close to her. She barely knew Jace, but at the same time, she knew so much about him. She understood his intense loyalty, his unflagging moral code, and the guilt that weighed him down every step he took. She knew that somehow he was standing there, holding her, when his injuries should have dragged him down. He was the courage she sought in her own life, the loyalty she tried to have to those who mattered to her, the strength she needed so badly.

He deepened the kiss, turning it from passion into something deeper. Something more. A claiming. As he kissed her, his fingers slipped inside her, making her entire body clench with desire. He was merciless and unrelenting as he touched her, his kisses unending, his fingers moving with constant, delicate perfection. She shifted against him, her hips moving on their own. A small cry slipped from her lips, but he absorbed the sound with his kiss, moving his fingers across her most sensitive bud, harder and faster until—

The orgasm hit her with shocking force. Her body shook, and her legs almost gave out as it rocked through her, seizing her with ruthless, searing fire. Jace held her up, never breaking the kiss, as she twisted against him, fighting to stay upright, trying to find a way to somehow hold in the screams tearing at her throat. He pressed the heel of his hand to her folds, prolonging the climax, and somehow giving her the strength to hold it inside her when all she wanted to do was succumb.

It felt like forever until it finally eased, releasing her into his arms in an exhausted, depleted state. Abby rested her head against him, trying to catch her breath as Jace withdrew his hand from her pants, setting it back upon her stomach. Once again, he spread his fingers across her scars, as if he were trying to pour his own strength into her battered body.

She closed her eyes, heat filling her cheeks as she listened to the sound of wolves searching Kiernan's cabin. Had she really just done that? Let Jace give her an orgasm while standing on a dark stairway. On the other side of the door was a pack hunting them, and somewhere below them were a trio of shifters. It was so not her, but at the same time, there was something incredibly liberating about it.

She'd broken every sensible rule, and she'd allowed Jace to touch her in a way she hadn't let anyone in a long, long time. She'd trusted him enough to stop paying attention to the wolves, and to turn herself over to him completely. She'd trusted him enough to let him see what she was really like, to give him the chance to reject her...and he hadn't.

Jace pressed a kiss to the side of her neck again, eliciting a small smile from her. This moment was their secret, an intimacy in the silent darkness. Somehow, it felt less real in the dark, in the silence, without a word spoken. Maybe it should have felt more impersonal, but it had been the opposite. Intensely erotic, deeply powerful, a connection that hadn't needed sight or sound to ignite it.

She reached behind her and slid her hand through his silky soft hair. As she did, he turned his head into her arm and kissed the inside of her forearm, a tender, intimate kiss that made her heart turn over. Who kissed the inside of a woman's forearm? It was so personal, so intimate, so...tender.

"I think they're gone." Jace's whisper in her ear made her jump. Belatedly, she realized that the sounds from the cabin had ceased. "Let's head down."

A part of her wanted to refuse to move. She wanted to stay in the darkness with him, in a fantasy world where real life was replaced by intimacy and security, by a sense of connection that wasn't distorted by the wounds of the past, or the uncertainty of the future.

But when he took her hand to guide her down the steps, she didn't resist. As much as she wanted to hide, she couldn't. Real life actually existed, and Seth was out there somewhere, with less than forty hours left of his humanity, unless they found him first.

J
ace tightened
his fingers around Abby's hand as they reached the bottom of the stairs, drawing her slightly behind him. Drake had reassured him telepathically that they were safe, but he wasn't taking any chances.

He was well aware of the trust that Abby had offered him in the stairwell when she'd allowed him to touch her scars. His heart had ached for her fear, and it had taken all his self-control not to open the sliding door and tear out into the room after Lucius.

If he had, he would have exposed Abby to the vicious bastard who'd attacked her, and there was no fucking chance he was going to do that. So, he'd stayed still, focusing on Abby to distract himself from the fury raging through him that the bastard was roaming free.

He'd kissed Abby's neck to take away her fear, and to distract himself, but the minute he'd tasted her, every cell in his body had responded with need so intense that he'd almost lost control completely. He'd never craved a woman the way he wanted Abby. He wanted her, and his wolf burned for her.

When she'd come apart in his arms, all he'd wanted to do was sink himself inside her and claim her as his, to declare to the world that she was his to protect and cherish.

But he knew that was not a choice he could afford to make. He was still on the edge, a deadly weapon at the mercy of one song, a song she knew intimately. His body was a battlefield, barely able to stay vertical, and he was a murderer who'd stolen her own sister.

He had no business touching her the way he had, but that was too damn bad. She was the light to his darkness, somehow trusting him with her body despite all he was. She fucking
knew
what he'd done, and yet she'd still welcomed his touch, accepting intimacy he was pretty sure she'd hid from since the attack by Lucius.

He didn't know why she'd chosen him. He had no fucking idea why, and as much as he believed he should stay away from her, he couldn't, not as long as she was in danger and her nephew needed his help.

They reached the bottom of the stairs, and she opened the door. As she opened it, light filtered through the opening, blinding him momentarily.

"Kiernan!" Abby slipped past him, racing into the room. Jace propped himself against the door, using the wall to hold himself up as he watched Drake, the female shifter, and a man he didn't know cluster around the injured shifter, who was on a cot much like the one he'd been on upstairs.

Drake.
Jace wanted to stop Abby from getting close to the other males, but his body wouldn't respond. His good leg was shaking, and his injured one was useless.

Drake looked up, and immediately stepped in Abby's path, smoothly deflecting her as she reached for the unfamiliar male. "He's healing. Let him be."

Abby immediately stopped, her hand on Drake's arm. Jace fixated on her hand, his wolf suddenly tense as he watched the way her fingers wrapped around Drake.

Drake glanced sharply at Jace, and then his eyes widened. He carefully removed Abby's hand from his arm, and stepped back.
She's all yours, mate. Tell your wolf to stand down.

Jace swore. He was broadcasting? He should have better discipline than that. He dragged the door closed behind him as he quickly took in the situation. The room was simple and barren, but clean. Doors and a long hallway suggested that it was a sizeable space, extending deep underground.

He reached out with his senses, checking for other inhabitants, but he didn't find any.
We alone?
He knew Drake would have searched out the entire lair the moment he arrived.

Yep. We're good.
Drake was still standing between Abby and the others, but he was watching Jace.
You look like hell.

I'm better than the poor bastard Kiernan's working on.
But as he said it, Jace found himself sliding down the doorjamb to the floor. He sat hard, unable to contain his grunt of pain as he landed. Now that the adrenaline was fading, the pain was setting in, and it was coming hard.

He leaned his head back against the door and closed his eyes, trying to focus enough to reach inside him and assess his injuries. As a shifter, he had extensive healing capacities, but he hadn't had time to work on it. He trusted Drake implicitly, and if the other wolf said the place was safe, then it was. There were only two wolves he truly trusted, and Drake was one of them.

He checked his ankle first, grimly assessing the damage. It was as bad as he'd thought. The bones were completely shattered, pulverized into fragments and dust. Not healable.
Fuck.
The enormity of the situation settled on him like a crushing weight. How the hell could he keep Abby safe from Lucius on
one leg
?

He couldn't.

Swearing under his breath, he concentrated on his ankle, pouring healing energy into it, refusing to concede defeat. "Come on," he muttered.

A light hand touched his shoulder, making him start. He grabbed it even as he opened his eyes. Abby was crouched in front of him, her eyes dark with worry. "Jace. I want you to meet Kiernan."

Beside her was the unfamiliar shifter. He was early thirties, strapping and strong. A powerful wolf that exuded dominance. He was wearing jeans and a tattered tee shirt that didn't hide the unrivaled strength of his frame. He had one hand on Abby's shoulder, possessively marking her as his.

Jace sat up quickly, his wolf roaring in fury. "Don't touch her," he snarled.

Kiernan's eyes narrowed, and Abby's mouth dropped open in shock. Shit. What had he just done? He knew what he'd done. He'd claimed her. Marked her as his own in front of a competitor. He had no business doing that, but he couldn't make himself retract it. He just met Kiernan's gaze, letting the other shifter feel the full force of his power and his claim. For a moment, Kiernan didn't move, then Abby quickly moved to Jace's other side, away from Kiernan, breaking the tension. Kiernan, Jace noticed, didn't try to stop her.

Smart move.

Abby put her hand on Jace's shoulder, squeezing gently. "Kiernan," she said softly. "Jace needs help. His ankle and his arm."

Jace narrowed his eyes at the shifter, unwilling to submit to a wolf he didn't know. "Who are you?"

"I heal." The shifter gave no other answer, but Jace could feel a humming vibration in his ankle, as if he'd already started working on Jace's leg.

"I didn't give you permission," he snapped. He didn't like this at all. He was in this shifter's lair, injured, and the only one who could vouch for him was Abby, who hadn't even been sure he was trustworthy. For all he knew, Kiernan would pull out a recording of that song and—

Shit.

He'd be fucked. He was locked in a basement with a bunch of shifters that he could turn on in a split second. What if Lucius started blasting the song from upstairs? Would they hear it? How long would it take for Jace to attack them all?

I'm on it.
Drake's voice was hard and unyielding.

He locked gazes with Drake, who was standing just behind Kiernan, his hands relaxed by his side, the rest of his body primed and ready to step in.
I don't like this, Drake.

Drake nodded.
You need help, Jace. If he can help you, take it.
He met Jace's eyes, his expression too knowing about the extent of Jace's injuries.
If he pulls out the song, I'll kill him instantly. And you, if I have to.

He hated being so weak that he had to put himself in a vulnerable position. It went against every fiber of his body to endanger Abby and Drake because he needed help.

"Jace." Abby touched his shoulder, drawing his attention back to her. "Let him help you. He's gifted. He saved my life."

Jace turned his attention back to Kiernan. He studied the shifter, reaching out with his mind to try to pick up on his energy signature, but he got nothing. He couldn't even catch a scent from him. It was as if he was a mirage, not truly present. "I can't sense you."

"As it should be." Kiernan looked at him, resting one muscular forearm over his knee. "I can help you."

"Why would you?" Jace shot back.

"Because it is my calling." Kiernan's voice was calm and steady. "It is my gift and my curse. You found me, so it is my duty to help."

To his surprise, Jace felt the truth resonating in Kiernan's words. The shifter truly did believe it was his duty, and that was something Jace understood, being driven by his own duty to protect other shifters, to create a pack that would keep them safe. "I accept."

Kiernan nodded, and rose to his feet. Without another word, he walked across the room and disappeared through a door that Jace hadn't even noticed. "Chatty guy," Jace observed.

Abby stood up. "He's waiting for you. Come on."

"Back there?" Jace tried to stand, but it took both Abby and Drake's assistance to get him vertical. His body was shaking, and he could barely focus. He knew his body was going into shock, and that was not a good sign. He'd pushed hard after his injuries, yeah, but he'd done that many times in his life and he'd never hit a wall like this before.

He could barely support himself as they helped him to the other room, and the cot they set him on seemed to come up faster than he expected when he tried to sit down on it. Or maybe he'd gone down too fast. Either way, he knew he was in bad shape.

"Get him on his back." Kiernan's voice was distant, fading, and Jace frowned, trying to stay focused as several sets of hands moved him, rolling him over. Pain shot through him, and he sucked in his breath as his ankle hit the side of the cot.

"Why is he in such bad shape?" Drake asked, but Jace could barely focus on his words.

"There's silver in his blood stream," Kiernan said.

Silver? "How?" It was a tremendous effort to form the words.

"Point of entry was the ankle." Kiernan's hands closed around Jace's leg. A scream of agony tore from Jace's throat, and he fought to get his leg free, but he couldn't move.

He opened his eyes, and saw Drake leaning over him, holding him down. "Get the fuck off me."

Drake glanced at him. "Sorry, Jace. It has to be done."

Kiernan did something to his ankle again, and another scream tore from Jace's throat as the pain ricocheted through him.
Jesus.
He gritted his teeth, sweat streaming down his temples. He'd felt pain before, and he was an expert at managing it, but he'd never felt anything like this before.

"It's incredible he's still functioning." Kiernan sounded impressed, almost in awe. "He should have been dead hours ago. I've never seen anyone be able to compartmentalize silver before, and yet he did it, even with his body under such duress from his other injuries." More pain, and another scream.

Jace arched his back, unable to stop the scream as it tore through him. His mind was fragmenting, shattering into dozens of pieces. Memories flashed through his mind. The screams of the woman he'd killed. Melissa. Dying. Crying. The taste of her blood. His need to kill. The burning, insatiable need to kill—

"Jace." Gentle hands framed his face. "It's Abby. Focus on me."

Her voice was like an angel's whisper, easing the agony trying to consume him. He focused on her green eyes, letting himself be swept away by her voice. Her warmth seemed to wrap around him, a soothing, powerful shield that distanced Kiernan and Drake, leaving him with only Abby. He reached for her, and she took his hand, squeezing tightly.

Pain screamed through his body now, as if Kiernan had released the silver and it was burning him up from the inside out, his blood searing its way through his veins. It felt wrong what he was doing. It felt dangerous. It felt like death. He tried to get up, but Drake was still holding him down. "No," Jace gritted out. "It's wrong. Don't trust him. Stop him."

Drake and Abby looked at each other across Jace's body, and he saw their silent exchange. Then the searing pain slammed into his brain, and darkness descended.