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still nearly three weeks ago. Where have you been since then?
Jinx shuddered violently and pressed closer to Craze. There are
still vampires from the coven out there. They ve named a new leader
and are recruiting again. Four of them jumped me about halfway
here.
How did you escape? Echo spoke quietly, but his voice still
held a deep despair that tugged at Onyx s heart. He gathered his mate
into his arms and rocked him from side to side while they waited for
Jinx to find the words to continue.
They drained me and dumped me in the woods to die near dawn.
That was two days ago.
The room went unnaturally quiet, and it seemed no one was
breathing. Craze s arms tightened around his lover, and his eyes
looked shiny in the overhead light. The unshed tears didn t make the
man weak, though Onyx knew Craze would view it differently. The
man had almost lost his mate. Onyx would probably have been a
blubbering mess if it had been Echo.
Syx cleared his throat a few times before addressing Syn. You
had a dream?
124 Gabrielle Evans
Syn startled a bit but nodded slowly. It was just that Oracle lady
telling me that everyone here was in danger. I didn t know Jinx would
be here until we arrived. I mean, I thought Jinx was with us. His slim
shoulders began to shake, and he swallowed several times. I kissed
him, he whispered.
Did you& did& Jinx trailed off, pain blatant in his features as
he waited for the answer.
Syn shook his head. I tried, he said dejectedly. He wouldn t
touch me, though.
Onyx sighed and hugged Echo closer. The beginning of the triad s
mating should have been amazing and wonderful, filled with getting
to know one another in between bouts of hot, kinky sex. And newly
mated or not, no one should ever have to endure the things Jinx had.
Onyx hurt for all three, but his heart shattered for Jinx.
And you? Jinx whispered to Craze.
Craze closed his eyes and looked as though he d fall apart into a
million pieces. I wanted to, and tried several times. That s enough to
count.
How could you not know it wasn t me?
He s had your blood, Syn tried to explain. He smelled like
you.
I m sorry, Craze whispered. I don t know how to make this
right. I ll do anything. Just tell me what to do.
Jinx was quiet for a long time before he finally sighed. I m
starving. You can start by feeding me.
Anything. What do you want? I ll go kill a deer and roast it over
a pit for you, if that s what you want.
Jinx laughed quietly before becoming serious. No, love. They
drained me, and it was over a week before that since I d taken any
blood from you. It hurts, he whimpered.
Can we talk more later? Craze asked of Hex, his eyes boring
into Jinx s.
Get out of here and take care of your mates.
The Hunger 125
Craze nodded, snatched Jinx up, grabbed Syn s wrist, and
practically sprinted from the kitchen. I m glad they re going to be
okay. Echo pressed closer to Onyx. That was really sad at first.
It s late, Hex announced. The new moon is tomorrow night.
Everyone get some rest, and I ll call Lorcan to fill him in on what s
happening.
Echo s hand slid into Onyx s and pulled to get him moving. Then
he took Hex s hand and tugged on him as well. Send him a text. You
can talk tomorrow.
Unsurprisingly, Hex didn t argue.
126 Gabrielle Evans
Chapter Fourteen
What are the chances that we actually guessed right this time?
Onyx kissed the top of Echo s head and shrugged. Whether we
did or not, we ll face what comes.
You sound very calm.
Failure is not an option, that s all. I know I ll win, because there
is no other choice. Onyx stared out over the horizon, watching as the
sun slowly sank and then disappeared.
The other warriors gathered around them, along with Gage and
Craze. The last two men had forbidden their mates from leaving the
house, and with good reason. If Onyx thought he could get away with
it, he would have Echo locked away as well. Not only would it be one
hell of a fight to keep Echo inside, but Onyx knew he needed the
man s help.
It s time, Hex said tightly. You ready, man?
As ready as I ll ever be.
He d no more than spoken the words when the night erupted into
total bedlam. Clucks, squawks, and fierce screeches rent through the
air, echoing around them on the warm night breeze. Onyx spun in a
circle in the field behind their house, looking in every direction, even
searching the sky, but he found nothing.
The calls of the birds seemed to surround them, coming from
everywhere at once. How many were there anyway? His heart kicked
hard against his ribs, his stomach turned, and his sweat slicked his
palms. Could he do this?
The Hunger 127
Just when he d began to work himself into a good panic attack,
the air began to whistle around them, and something shot past Onyx s
head, barely missing him. Everyone down!
Feathers shot toward them at alarming speeds, flying from the tree
line like arrows. There were so many! Then Onyx heard the most
horrible, gut-wrenching sound on earth.
Echo screamed.
He screamed as though he d been ripped apart and boiled in acid.
The scream went on forever, then tapered off into a gurgle just before
Onyx heard a loud thump to his left. Whipping around, he found his
mate slumped on his side, rivers of blood pouring from his body and
at least a dozen of the feather-like arrows piercing his skin.
He started to crawl toward Echo, the blood draining from his face,
and his chest constricting with fear and agony. Echo. Echo, open
your eyes, baby.
Hex got to Echo first, turning him slowly to his back. Go, he
said to Onyx. I ll take care of him. You have to stop this. That s
when Onyx looked around the clearing and realized Echo wasn t the
only one shot.
Myst sprawled on his back with an arrow protruding from his
chest. Syx groaned a few feet away, clutching at his shoulder.
I don t know what to do, Onyx admitted. He needed Echo s
help. He couldn t do this alone. I can t even see them, Hex. In the
legends of Hercules, the goddess Athena appeared to the hero and
granted him castanets to scare the birds into flight. Onyx didn t have
anything like that, and he seriously doubted Athena was going to
show up and help him out.
Use your head, Hex snapped. Part the goddamn trees.
Hex, I can t part all of these trees! Those fuckers are
everywhere.
Then be prepared to die.
With a frustrated growl, Onyx crawled away from his lovers and
pushed to his feet. He pulled on all the strength he had, remembered
128 Gabrielle Evans
everything Echo had taught him, and threw his arms wide. The trees
in front of him whipped and thrashed violently, but only those.
It was a start, though. More loud cries rippled through the air, and
a dozen crane-like birds took flight, scattering once they were
airborne. Now what? He could see them, but he still didn t know how
to defeat them.
Three of the birds broke away from the flock, swinging in a wide,
graceful arc, then diving straight toward Echo and Hex, their metal
beaks snapping menacingly. Fear and rage warred inside Onyx, and
with no other thought but keeping his men safe, he dove in front of
them, lifting his arms and pulling a protective barrier around them.
Dirt rose up from the ground like a great tidal wave, wrapping
over the top of them and concealing them inside its earthy domed
cocoon.
Impressive, Vapre breathed.
Maybe, but Onyx wasn t going to be able to win this battle alone.
Already, he felt exhausted, and they d barely even started. I need
you to hurl some arrows.
A wicked grin spread across Vapre s face, and he nodded quickly.
I can do that.
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