Chapter 10 Chapter 10
Eirian
It wasn’t even that much of a surprise to see my brother barrelling towards me, naked and bristling with rage. But then wasn’t that always the way with him these days.
He was getting worse.
The curse making it harder and harder for him to control himself and more importantly the beast inside.
Tugging on my shirt , I turned to him just as he barrelled into me. The force of his attack sent us both skidding across the rug.
His right hook hit me in the jaw which cracked but I didn’t let him hit me a second time. Blocking his fist I growled at him.
“Control yourself Ty.” I gritted out.
“Control myself?” He growled right back. “How can you bring her here and expect me to do that? How?”
His voice was rising. Anger and panic.
I knew my brother. He was part of me. So I knew him just as well as I knew myself and I knew when he was struggling.
And boy was he struggling now. It was written on every line of his face.
“Because you would never hurt her.” I said calmly and taking him by the shoulders. “She’s the one brother. All the signs are there. It has to be her.”
For a second his shoulders slumped. “What if you are wrong Eirian? What if I hurt her more than any of the others.”
“You won’t.” I said again but I couldn’t help it. I frowned. What did he mean ,hurt her again?
“You don't know that. I’m not in control anymore. The rages-“ he shook his head. “The first time I saw her I knew she was mine. Her scent, the smile she does when she’s alone and thinking about something that makes her happy.”
For a second there was a far away look in his eyes. There and gone in second.
He stepped away from me in a growl. “You should have left her where she was. She could have been happy in her village. She could have had a normal human life. A husband and babies. I could have -“
I snapped at him. “She would never have been happy and neither would you. She’s ours brother. I smell it on her just like you do. She’s fed us and loved us in her own secret way. Her place is here with us. And anyway-“ I turned away angrily. “When that man followed her-“
Grabbing me by the shoulder he span me around. “What man?” Again his voice had turned dangerously low.
“Some village elders son followed her to the bathroom. I smelt her fear and well-“ I gave him a shrug. “There was no way I was leaving her there with him.”
My brothers chest rumbled with growls. Loud and threatening. “Are you sure she didn’t want to be in there with him? Maybe he is her intended?”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh he wanted her. I have no doubt about that but only I told him she was mine, ours,” I amended quickly.
His eyes widened. “You told them?”
I nodded. “And they banished her. Sloane has no where else to go now. If she returns they will kill her.”
“She will probably die here as well.” Ty rumbled.
Sighing, I nodded. “I know it’s dangerous here for her but if one of us is with her at all time then the females of the pack won’t be able to get to her and when we have marked her-“
“I wasn’t talking about the others. I am talking about me, Eirian.” He stabbed himself in the chest with his finger. “She’s mine and I would do anything to protect her but I can’t protect her from the beast that I am. Every minute she is here she is in danger.”
“You won’t hurt her Ty, she is our mate. She is the one to break the curse and make us whole again. She has to be.”
Before I could stop myself I glanced out the window. The sun was high and warm and bouncing light off the snow topped mountains.
It was daylight now, but soon the sun would set and the moon would rise.
We only had a few days to the next full moon and then after that our time would be even more limited.
How many full moons had it been? How many more were left. Sighing I met my brother's eyes.
I saw the darkness in them, the madness he was battling to keep at bay and I knew we didn’t have much time left.
“You feel it too?”
I nodded silently. “I’ve always felt it, brother. Sloane is the one. All the dates line up, and I’ve never been drawn to. A female like I am with her.” I admitted. “She is the one to break our curse. I am sure of it.” Cracking a smile I slapped him on the arm. “Just don’t kill her ok?”
He chuckled for three whole seconds before a piercing scream filled the air.
Stiffening, I glanced at my brother and both of us realised our mistake at the same time.
We had been so caught up in talking about how to keep Sloane safe from us that we had left her undefended against all the others in this castle that wanted to kill her.