Page 14 of Eclipsed Heart

Dina and the others are almost here. I linked with Lucas while you were talking to Stevie, and they were nearing the neighborhood.

As if he’d summoned them, I heard two vehicles pulling into our driveway.

I shot to my feet and hurried to open the door for the new arrivals. Lucas and Jack were in front, with Stella and Miles in the center. Michael, Janet, and Dina brought up the rear.

“Whoa!” Jack’s mouth dropped open as he pushed his wavy blond hair out of his face. His cobalt eyes locked on my tattoo. “That’s freakingbadass.”

Lucas’s dark-brown eyes stared at the same spot. The corners of his eyes crinkled as he rubbed his faint, dark goatee. His skin looked a touch paler than its normal tan. “And it moves.”

“What?” Stella pushed between the two guys. She was the complete opposite of me in every way, with long, wavy, dark-brown hair and violet eyes that reminded me of a flower. Her bronze complexion seemed to glow in the twilight. “I didn’t realize it would move.”

“I don’t think that’s normal.” Miles’s brow furrowed, emphasizing his dark complexion. He ran a hand through his short ebony hair, and his dark-green eyes filled with confusion.

“Maybe I’m not supposed to be queen?” I moved out of the doorway, letting them in, and headed back to Bodey. I needed Dina to use her healing magic on my mate. “Where’s Zeke?” I was surprised he wasn’t here.

“He and Theo raced back to their pack home,” Michael answered. “Apparently, there was an attack there while they were gone.”

I froze and spun around. “What do you mean an attack?” My mind flashed to my parents, and I sorted through the pack links, trying to determine which of them were connections to Mom, Dad, and Theo. I still didn’t know how this all had happened. “Is anyone hurt?”

“From what he said, only his mate was attacked. The queen had someone in place to rescue the scout he had in his basement.” Lucas shrugged. “That was it. No one else was hurt, but they wanted to get back and check on everything. Besides, Theo got injured in the attack in Hells Canyon.”

Theo.

“Is he okay?” Then I flinched and glanced at Dina. “And the witches? How are they?” The witches were just as much part of our pack as the wolves.

Dina removed the tie from her hair, and the auburn strands spilled across her shoulders. Her dress had bloodstains all over it. Her charcoal eyes narrowed, and goose bumps spread across her pale skin. “He was fine, just a tad dramatic.” She rolled her eyes then sobered. “One of our witches lost her life today—the one who set the perimeter. They killed her to take it down.”

I rubbed my chest, trying to ease the pain. “How many did we lose?”

“That’s what’s odd.” Miles bit his bottom lip and he strolled past me, heading into the den. “The witch died, Theo was injured, and Bodey would’ve died, too, if we hadn’t gotten him out of there.”

That had my blood running cold. “He and Samuel were their targets even after I got this.” I gestured to my neck and chest. The entire tattoo was visible because Bodey’s shirt was too big on me. “You’d think that I’d be the target, so why wasn’t I?” I hurried into the den too, needing to be close to Bodey. Things didn’t seem quite as dire when I was near him.

I took my spot next to him. He lifted his head but didn’t move beyond that.

“Maybe they thought your tattoo was an illusion from a spell.” Dina tilted her head as she examined it.

I hated the way everyone was looking at me…atit. I wanted to hide my neck and chest, but that would be futile.

I swallowed. “Dina, I hate to ask, but is there any way you can help him?” I gestured at my mate. I wasn’t above begging.

Dina walked around the couch, her face stern. “I can help a little, but not all the way. Between the magic we used at Hells Canyon and losing a member of our coven, my magic is tired and grieving. But I can ease most of the pain.”

“Whatever you can do would be appreciated.” I didn’t want to pressure her, but I would really like to sleep with my mate in human form tonight.

She nodded, taking a spot on the other side of Bodey. Michael, Janet, and Stella sat on the couch and the three advisors moved behind them. Miles placed his hands on his mate’s shoulders as he watched Dina work.

“It’ll take a minute.” Dina moved slowly, the corners of her mouth tipped downward. I didn’t have to pack link with her to know the grief she was carrying. She kneeled beside my mate, placing her hands on the area with the deepest gashes.

Pain shot through Bodey’s and my connection, and he whimpered.

“In a second, you’ll begin feeling better,” she murmured.

I could feel her magic through our bond. The comforting, warm feeling was an echo of what I’d felt the day she’d used her magic on me.

The front door opened, and Samuel’s musky scent wafted into the den as the door shut behind him.

As soon as he entered the room, Samuel sighed. “She’s in the basement for now.”

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