Lured (The Brazil Werewolf Series Book 4) (3 page)

                Aurora, Lilly and Mary Jane left soon after our conversation.  The motor home sat positioned in the slot where it would remain for the rest of my parent’s stay in the Brazil’s motor home park.  Tamas breathed a sigh of relief as we stepped inside followed by Mirella.  Even though she was still a virtual stranger, I found myself thankful for her presence.  Tamas was also there but his joking nature from before had vanished and had been replaced with a dark seriousness that caused me to fidget and I realized it was because he couldn’t get the thought of Eli’s attempt to kidnap me to flee his mind.  His werewolf was taking advantage and was rippling just beneath the surface itching to be set free. 

              My mother and father didn’t return for a while and I was left to talk to Mirella.  When they arrived, the man who had been directing them while they parked was with them but there was also a woman who resembled an older version of Mirella with the same wild black hair and caramel colored eyes with striations of sea green. 

              Tamas gazed at them with obvious affection, “Nadia, these are my parents, Gavriel and Sophia Brazil.”

              I nodded toward them with a polite incline of my head, “It’s nice to meet you,” I said, in a tremulous voice. 

              Sophia smiled and shook her head, “You don’t need to lie,” she said and patted my cheek, “I understand that my daughter-in-laws told you why you’ve become an obsession for Eli.  I’m sure that because of that it is less than pleasant to meet us.”

              She possessed a rich and seductive voice that caused me to lean closer to her, “No.  You and your family are wonderful,” I said, smiling, “But you are right, I could have done without meeting Eli.”

              Gavriel laughed with a hearty roar and I sensed Tamas relax, “We all wanted to go without that,” Gavriel said as he stepped forward and smiled widely, “I know it must not feel like it but welcome to our family.”

              I took a deep breath and smiled but this time it was genuine, “Thank you,” I said and he patted my shoulder before turning to my parents and throwing open his arms as if he were about to hug them.

              “Lila and Sidney, you have had an eventful night back, to say the least,” Gavriel said, stepping forward and clapping my father on the shoulder, “We are so happy that you and your family are here.  For now, you should rest.  We have even more eventful days that will follow.  The bonfire will be the night after tomorrow.”

              “Bonfire?” I asked frowning as my gaze shifted from my father to Gavriel. 

              Tamas turned to me, capturing my attention, “We always celebrate engagements with a bonfire,” he said, giving me a lopsided grin, “They announce our engagement there.  So after the bonfire, you will be officially engaged to me.”

              “Everything happens fast with our family because it’s needed,” Sophia said and then smiled at my expression of fear, “But tonight you should rest and not dwell on anything unpleasant.”

              I nodded even though I knew that I wouldn’t sleep.  Too much had happened.  Instead, my mind would linger on Eli and his reasons for wanting to kidnap me and on my upcoming marriage.  My thoughts would flow to my sister and how I wouldn’t be able to get revenge for her because Emilian had died.  Then, they would linger on Tamas and stay there.  The man was still a mystery and though I had just met him, I realized I was beginning to experience a draw to him.  I pushed the thought away with a shake of my head.  Everything was happening too fast.  It was making me dizzy.

              Sophia and Gavriel bid my parents farewell but Tamas lingered.  He sighed as he turned to me and for a moment, it seemed as if he didn’t want to leave.

              “I don’t want you to worry,” he said, staring into my eyes, “I swear to you that you and your family will be protected.  Eli won’t come near you. I promise”

              I should have doubted him but the determination in his voice wouldn’t allow me to.  Instead, I believed every word as he turned and left the motor home with me wondering why I trusted him so much when I had met him only a couple of hours before.

**********

              As I suspected, sleep wouldn’t come no matter how much I tried.  Instead of tossing and turning, I sat on the couch and stared out of the window into the darkness.  I hadn’t noticed the motor home park as we drove through it but now I could tell that it was larger than I assumed.  The forest and the mountains sat beyond it and there was a field with a large pit in the middle illuminated by the lights situated around the field.  Charred pieces of wood decorated the middle of the pit and I realized the field was where the bonfire would take place.  I studied it further to find that there were picnic tables surrounding the pit and I realized they must use the field often.  I smiled to myself.  The prospect of being in a family that celebrated often warmed me even more to the marriage.

              Movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention.  I inhaled with a sharp intake of breath and swung my head toward it.  I sighed in relief when I found Tamas standing with his back to me, gazing out into the field as if searching for something.  I threw the blankets from me and stood, wondering why he was there.  I walked to the door and opened it stepping out into the unfamiliar chill in the air of Colorado and shivered.  I moved toward the place where I saw him but he was no longer there.  I frowned as I wondered if I had imagined it but I shook my head knowing I hadn’t. 

“What are you doing out here?” Tamas asked behind me and I turned experiencing an odd relief to be in his presence again.

              His face was dark in worry as he glanced around searching again for any sign of danger.  I crossed my arms over my chest, “I thought I saw something,” I whispered.

              “Which is why you should stay inside,” he scolded, stepping closer as he peered down into my face.

              I glanced around as I took a shaky breath, trying to fight the warmth that spread through me at his nearness, “Why are you out here?” I asked as I met his eyes once more.   

              He pressed his lips together before sighing as if frustrated, “I promised that you and your family would be protected,” he said as his face darkened and he poked his chin out, “I’m keeping that promise.”

              I blinked in surprise as I studied his face.  Why would he do that?  I shook my head, “So, you’re going to stay out here?” I asked, pursing my lips in disapproval, “What if you are attacked?” 

              He moved closer and I swallowed as his eyes moved over my face, studying me with an intensity that caused my stomach to clench, “Don’t worry,” he said as his lips twitched, “My brothers are out here too.  None of them will let me get hurt though I am sure I can take care of myself.”

              “Where are they?” I asked, glancing around trying to find any trace of them but finding none.  I raised a brow not believing him. 

              He grinned as he moved to stand next to me.  His warmth enveloped me as he spoke, “You won’t find them,” he said, glancing toward the forest beyond the field where the bonfire pit sat, “They know how to hide.”

              “How long are you going to stay out here?” I asked as I turned back to him.

              “I’ll see you in the morning,” he said with raised brows giving me the answer I didn’t want to hear.

              My mouth popped open in shock, “You can’t stay up all night,” I said horrified that he would do just that.

              “Why not?” He asked, raising his brows, “My brothers did for the women who they were betrothed to.  I’m capable of the same for you.”

              I opened my mouth to protest but he reached forward and pushed a strand of my auburn hair behind my ear.  My breath stuttered to a stop as I met his eyes forgetting any valid argument I had planned to voice. 

              “Go inside,” he whispered as he moved his hand away, “You and your family are safe.” 

              I nodded and turned moving with reluctant steps back to the door of the motor home.  I glanced back but when I did he had vanished into the night.  Still, I could sense him watching me.  I turned and went inside.  I made my way back to bed where I dreamed about emerald green eyes with white interwoven within the irises.

              As promised, I saw Tamas the next morning, though it was just a glimpse.  I assumed he rested as the women of the Brazil family came to visit throughout the day.  I enjoyed their company.  I found Sophia wonderful and protective and though I was beginning to have a bond with her, the bond with my future sister-in-laws was almost immediate.  They had been through the betrothal and the danger.  They understood what I was going through.  I wasn’t sure that Sophia did.  Her one focus seemed to be the wedding and nothing else. 

              The bond I forged with Aurora was the one which surprised me the most.  Since Jaelle’s death, I found I secretly hated her and her mother.  They had been who my father and mother helped which put us in danger.  I had put some of the blame of her death on them but that was before I understood what had happened.  They had been victims of Emilian just like Jaelle and I found that I was happy to forget the hatred and embrace her as a sister. 

              I found Lilly easy to talk to.  She had a worldly knowledge that was refreshing but also painful because I understood that the only way she had gained it was because of the abuse from her mother.  She understood pain and disappointment in a way I would never understand.  It would have been made worse if no one had loved her.  I would forever be thankful for Ion, her step-father for his sacrifice and love for Lilly.  He not only become a father figure to Lilly but to Aurora too. 

              The bond I forged with Mary Jane was different and perhaps stronger than the bond with Aurora and Lilly.  I realized that she became Eli’s target and somehow escaped it.  I looked up to her and I hoped that her experience with Eli could save me.  She possessed more strength than anyone I knew in the past or the present even though I realized she didn’t view herself that way.  She still believed herself to be weak.

              Then, there was Mirella.  She had spoken the truth when she’d met me.  She became my favorite.  She made me forget that I was in danger with her constant chatter and laughter free of any worry.  She made me laugh with her and have fun.  She soothed me in a way the others didn’t.  However, beneath all of that, I understood that she often felt left out.  She didn’t think she belonged.  Mirella reveled in the attention I gave her and I saw something like hope in her eyes.

              She stayed with me past the time that the others left and only when she went home, did I experience the worry creeping back into my soul.  I put Pesha to bed and my parents soon followed.  I glanced outside and saw Tamas standing beneath a tree and sighed in relief.  I found my protector guarding me once again.  The thought both comforted and worried me as I laid down on the couch to sleep.  Perhaps because of his presence, I fell into a deep slumber with ease. 

              Only the too close hoot of an owl caused me to open my eyes.  Trees swaying above me caused my heart to jump with erratic beats inside my chest and I sat up suddenly.  I found myself in the middle of the forest and I glanced around terrified. 

              “Tamas,” I whispered but instead of his comforting voice, I heard the growl of an animal both wild and feral.  Its breath came out in hungered gasps as if it were inhaling my scent and imagining what my blood would taste like.

              I tensed and forced my body to turn finding a snow white wolf staring with hungry intensity into my eyes.  Its mouth was pulled back in a snarl flashing sharp white teeth at me as I imagined them sinking into my neck as the wolf sucked down my blood while tearing through the skin, muscle and sinew.  I trembled as it stepped toward me and I took a tentative step back, hoping that he wouldn’t attack.   I inhaled as it bent down and lunged.  My name spoken in a whisper pulled me away from the dream just as the wolf’s teeth grazed my skin. 

**********

I awoke with my name still echoing in my ears.  I frowned as I sat up on the couch and glanced around expecting to find my parents or Tamas but no one was near.  No one stood in the room with me.  My heart thudded as I cocked my head to the side.  The silence that followed frightened me.  Someone had been with me.  I wasn’t going crazy.  Someone watched me sleep. 

              “Nadia,” the voice echoed around me again but this time it showed weakness as if the person who spoke was hurt.  I swallowed as I tensed trying to figure out what to do.  It was obvious no one was with me but I still heard them.  Werewolves had the ability to speak to someone with their minds.  So, I was sure that whoever it was had to be a werewolf.

              I glanced toward the window wondering if the voice came from Tamas. Was he in trouble?  Did he get hurt?  The idea proved enough to make me throw the blankets back from my body and stand. 

              I stared at the door, realizing that I shouldn’t go outside of it.  I should go get my parents and have one of them search.  If Eli proved to be the one calling for me, they could transition.  I hadn’t been through the transition yet.  I turned toward my parent’s room but my name reached me again more urgent than before. I turned and moved toward the door leading outside forgetting all reason.  Regardless of the danger, I worried that Tamas lay hurt somewhere and called for me.  I had to find him. 

              I hesitated at the door but my name echoed around me again weaker than before. I opened it and stepped outside.  I turned looking for Tamas but did not find him.  I stepped forward and peered into the darkness, squinting my eyes at the forest as I tried to find him within it. 

              “Tamas,” I called in a shaky voice but it did not bring him to me.  My name echoed around me once again.  I stepped in the direction of it but someone grabbed my arm and pulled me back.  I turned ready to scream but found Tamas staring down at me with his face reddened in anger.

              “What are you doing out here?” He asked, narrowing his eyes as he peered down into my face, “I told you to stay inside at night.  Eli will come for you.  It’s too dangerous out here right now.”

              I swallowed hard as my stomach twisted.  I hated that he was angry at me, “Someone said my name,” I said in a trembling voice, “I-I thought you were hurt.  I-I thought you called me.”

              He pulled me to him as all the anger faded from his face to be replaced by fear and gazed around us with narrowed eyes.  His stare lingered at the entrance to the forest and I turned to find Eli standing just far enough away that Tamas would be too frightened to leave me.

              “See how easy it was,” he called out with a chuckle, “I almost took her and I will soon.  You won’t be able to stop me.”

              Tamas’ grip tightened on my arm as Eli disappeared into the forest.  A tremble shook through me as Tamas pulled me even closer.  Still, it did not take away the fact that the man responsible for the deaths of Mary Jane’s parents had called for me and I had walked toward him.  A tremble shook through me as I became sure he would take me and there was nothing anyone could do about it.