Lycan Contempt, S. Yule [important books to read txt] 📗

had no other choice, and I certainly don’t want any harm to come to your sister, neither wil I be a wiling lamb to slaughter.”

“Fine. I’l carry you then.”

“Damn it, Brady. Take me to the shelter and wait for Kish to return. He wil help you get your sister back and then you can both be safe.”

“They have an ambush set for him. They know he’s coming after them. He isn’t going to return.”

Fear ripped through her and she stood. She turned and started running in the direction from where they’d come, back to Kish. She had to warn him. But before she’d made it any distance at al, she was tackled gently from behind and tumbled to the ground.

“What the hel are you doing? Are you crazy?”

“Me? Crazy?” She panted. “I have to warn Kish. I love him. I can’t let him get hurt . . . or worse.” Tears slid down her cheeks.

“You are blind, Georgia. You can’t run off in the woods. You’l get lost and die.”

She snorted. “Why do you care?”

He groaned.

“Brady, if you have any decency in you at al, you wil not let them kil him. Please. I’m begging you. If you save him, if you stop them from hurting him, I swear to you, I wil go with you. I wil wilingly let you trade me for your sister.”

“Just like that?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I love him. Much like you love your sister. My life is worth giving up if I can save him. If one of us absolutely has to die, I’d rather it be me.”

Brady roled beside her in the snow and let out a long, exasperated breath. “Damn it! Why did you have to be such an incredibly selfless, giving woman?

Why couldn’t you have been a completely shalow bitch?”

“Sorry.”

He laughed. “You’re sorry? How in the hel did I let myself agree to something like this?”

“You love your sister. You were out of your mind with worry. You made a bad decision in a stressful situation. It happens.”

“Stop being so understanding. I’m a complete asshole.”

“Yeah, but I think you might be able to redeem yourself. If you want, that is.”

She heard him get to his feet then he tugged her up by the hand. “Let’s get you to the shelter so I can help Kish. And pray to whatever god you believe in that he wil be able to help me save my sister.

Because if he can’t . . .”

“He’l be able to.”

“Kish better realize exactly how special of a woman he has in you because I swear if he ever hurts you, I’l kick his ass.”

She laughed. He puled her slightly back west, and the running began again.

Chapter Fifteen

Did the little fuckers think that he was born yesterday? It was completely obvious that they’d set up an ambush for him, and the smartest and quickest way to end this charade was to walk right into it. Kish smiled. Wouldn’t they be surprised when they realized he was an ancient and that they were about to get their asses handed to them on plates?

If they thought they’d waltz in on his land and threaten his female, they were about to get a dose of reality. He watched the young rogue lying by the tree.

Every once in a while he’d give off a yelp of pain.

Fake pain. Hel, the blood they’d used for the fake injury wasn’t even lycan. It was rabbit blood. He wondered if the second rogue, the one hiding, no doubt waiting for Kish to take the bait, honestly thought Kish wouldn’t scent his closeness.

They’d done some half-assed attempts at concealing the scent of the second rogue, but Kish wondered how any of these rogues survived if they thought these poorly executed, il though out ambushes worked. A split second before he revealed himself, another scent hit him.

Brady.

Anger engulfed him. Why hadn’t he stayed with Georgia? Had something happened to her? The fear slid over the anger at the thought of her being hurt. He backed away with the silent ease of an ancient predator. The young rogues never knew he was close or that he’d just retreated.

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

“It’s a trap.”

“No fucking shit. You think I’m an idiot?”

“There’s more. I was in on it.”

The claws grew even longer from his fingertips and curled against his palms, and his fangs ached to pierce Brady’s throat. Instead, he punched him in the nose hard enough to enjoy the satisfying crunch of cartilage.

“What the fuck are you talking about? And you better explain quick before I kil you.” Kish clenched and unclenched his fists, aching to take another shot at Brady.

He couldn’t deny that the determined and quiet way Brady had taken the punch that had been hard enough to knock him back a couple of steps had effectively conveyed Brady’s sincerity in making amends.

“Those bastards took my sister. They told me they’d trade her for Georgia.” Brady raised his hands and stepped back when Kish came toward him. “I won’t lie. I was going to folow through with it until only a while ago.”

“And why should I believe you? If you fucking hurt her—”

“I didn’t. She’s safe in the shelter. She’s the one that made me change my mind. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t let her get hurt. She told me if I saved you, she’d wilingly give her life to save my sister. No matter how bad I want to save my sister, I can’t let Georgia die because of me. She has a lot of faith in you. She swears up and down that you can help me save my sister without trading her.”

Georgia had faith in him? Now that was a new one for him. No woman had had faith in him before, and it felt damn good. This was the first time in his life he felt like puffing out his chest with pride. His woman had faith in him. Was it possible that Georgia realy could love him for him? Was it