Page 29 of Evil Hearts

Chapter Five

W e ride in silence, his shadows holding me upright. The growl of his motorcycle drowns out the screams as we continue through the smoke-filled forest. Eventually we pass through a village of ramshackle shacks. Short, red-skinned demons, much like the ones in the meeting room, watch us roar past.

When we come to a fork in the road, I twist my head around to read a traffic sign that says: City of Bones 500 miles.

“Do you need to stretch your legs?” My captor or savior, I’m not sure which defines him, questions.

“Please.”

He doesn’t say anything else but pulls us off to the shoulder of the road once turning left.

We park and the shadows extending around me lift me as though I’m weightless and place me upright on the side of the road.

I shudder at the sight of giant green ogres wielding spiked clubs, striking a rocky hillside.

“They won’t hurt you.”

I force my eyes to look away from what I realize are faces petrified in the rocky terrain and to the striking whiskey-colored eyes of the man I’m apparently soul bonded to. He stands next to his motorcycle, hands in pockets. Cool. Calm. Collected.

“And you?”

A hint of a smile crosses his features. “Never.”

“But you negotiated with me for my soul?”

“Yes.”

“I wasn’t ready.”

“No one ever is.”

“What now? Do I even get to say goodbye to my family?”

“No.”

“Do they know?”

“That you’re dead?”

I nod.

“May I?” he removes his hands from his pockets, taking a step toward me. I don’t flinch or back away as he cradles my face between his palms. His touch isn’t what I expect. It’s gentle and warm. He tilts his head downward, pressing his forehead to mine. Electricity crackles between us and he allows me to see through his own eyes.

Jacalyn is hugging the twins as Cam speaks outside of the house with a police officer. I can’t hear what’s being spoken between them, but the anguish my brother wears on his face paints a vivid image. He drops to his knees as though his legs were kicked out beneath him.

He releases me as unshed tears form.

“This is real. I’m really dead.”

“Yes.”

“And I’m just here now. Forever?”

“You belong to me now, little wolf.”

“Why?”

“Because we made a deal.”

“Why me?”

“Because you’re mine.”

“That makes zero sense.” This is all freaking me out. I glance around, wondering what would happen if I made a run for it. Where would I go? There has to be a way back. A way to undo the contract.

There’s not . His voice cuts through my thoughts.

Did you just speak to me through my mind?

Yes.

How?

We’re soul bonded.

Get out of my head.

“We need to go,” he speaks aloud.

“Where?”

“Home.”

“Where is home?”

“The City of Bones.”

“The sign said that’s five hundred miles.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll take a portal.”

“A portal?” I nearly stomp my foot like the twins do when throwing a tantrum. “You do realize I’m not like you. I don’t understand any of this.”

“You will be once I claim you fully. The contract was only part of the deal.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m guessing you didn’t read the fine print.”

“I think you’re insane, or maybe I am.” Any minute now, I’m going to wake up from whatever this is.

Babe.

I told you to get out of my head and I’m not your babe. I don’t even know your name.

“Look, you’ve got no reason to trust me, but you were going to end up here one day. It’s better this way than the alternative.” He nods toward the ogres and their clubs.

“Point taken.”

“My name is Ruthless, by the way.”

“What kind of name is that?”

“Mine.” He rewards me with his charismatic smile that anywhere else would make my heart skip a beat. Does my heart even beat?

Answering my unspoken question, he places his palm over my left breast near the center of my chest. “It beats. You’re as alive here as you were in your world. If not more.”

“And your heart?” Does he even have one?

The corners of his mouth twitch as he takes my hand and holds it to his chest.

I’m never going to get used to you listening to my thoughts.

I’ve been doing it for years.

My pulse races as he holds my gaze.

I should fear him, but when he looks at me with those familiar eyes, I can’t.

“The first time you go through this portal, it’s going to make you sick.”

“How sick?”

“Maybe it’s better if I just…” he pulls me flush to his body with his shadow magic and I gasp at how easily he overpowers me.

“You haunted my dreams.”

“Yes.” His gaze zeros in on my mouth like he’s thinking about kissing me. “I’ve been waiting for you. I traveled through the fires of Hell for you when I heard your cries.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I really don’t want to explain this here.”

“Well, I have all the time in the world.” I fold my arms across my chest.

“An eternity.” He sounds flirty, but there’s no humor or light in his expression. “My father loves to play games. To pit my brothers and myself in competition against each other.”

“Why?”

“Entertainment for him and our mothers.”

“Mothers?” I raise a brow.

“Yes. My father has three wives.”

“And you?”

“To be determined.”

I don’t share . The thought crosses my mind.

His nostrils flare.

That makes two of us.

Stop doing that.

Why?

It’s intrusive as fuck.

Get used to it.

“What do you mean to be determined? Do you have a wife or wives already?”

“Only you.”

“Whoa. Pump those brakes and let’s back up a second here. I’m not your wife.”

“In the eyes of Hell, you are. Well, you will be once I properly mark and claim you.”

“We’re not doing any of that. Whatever that entails.”

He grins like this is all funny to him.

“Come on. There’s a full moon tonight and you don’t want to be out here alone.”

“Why?”

“You’ll see, little wolf.”

“Why do you keep calling me that?”

“Because your name translates to little wolf. It’s why I chose it. Why I chose you.”

“You chose my name?” This is crazy.

“No crazier than anything else that’s happened to you.”

He’s got me there.