Page 66 of Total Eclipse of the Moon
Evie met her gaze in the mirror. "I believe you will. When you die, if you die, if he can’t accept your death he’ll give in to that evil in his head and force his brothers to truly end him. I can’t begin to tell you how much that will mess all of us up."
Chapter Nineteen
Shane droppedhis head and clasped his hands in front of him under the dining room table. He hadn’t moved since Madeline and his mom left. Air barely passed through his lungs. Each breath cramped his chest tighter and made his heart work harder. In all the time he’d been searching for a way out of the curse, he’d never considered the price that would need to be paid to end it. Stupid of him to forget such a basic principle of magic. Simple spells like Madeline pulled over the past two days might sap her energy for a while. Larger ones might demand…
Death.
"You're right. Fuck the curse reversal. We can't let her die,"said Baku in his head."Because she's the dragon healer. I don't want to screw her like you do. Seriously, would you quit thinking about it? It's nauseating."
"Be quiet. This is my crisis."
The burn of all three of his brothers' stares singed. None of them had moved either. Nova and Vivi had left to change for dinner, vacating the table as if knowing whatever came next was between the four of them. From the corner of his eyes, he watched that annoying grin spread over Antonio’s face. Make that five of them in the room.
Who knew why the vampire grinned. He could be thinking how great he had looked in the swimsuit. Or maybe the vampire knew Shane liked Madeline beyond the irritating desire spell, which likely hadn’t ever been a spell at all. The question was what could Shane do to save her? Could he offer up his life in exchange?
"Shane, this is going to happen. We’re so close that I can taste freedom," Ky said. "You hear me, Shane?"
He didn’t look up.
Ky said, "You’re freaking out over there. Once someone gets on your team, you’d go through hell and high water to save the person. I don’t know what she did to you, but don’t forget she’s a witch. She’s the one who bound us all to this curse in the first place. Did you consider she might’ve cast some sort of love spell or persuasion spell on you to bend you to her will?"
"There’s no spell." He held up the talismans around his neck that repelled spells. "Never take them off."Except once. Won’t make that mistake again."If she was selfish, she wouldn’t be here. She would’ve disappeared and we’d still be out there chasing her down. She’s here to end it."
Roman lurched in his chair and removed a buzzing phone from his jacket. He examined its message and smashed his lips together into a white slash. "New guy’s demanding an online face chat. Right now." His gaze flicked heavenward before he said to Shane, "Stay out of sight."
"You want me here or elsewhere?" Antonio asked. "Point me toward a closet with a decent selection of clothes and I’ll gladly change. That is, unless…" He dropped the bathrobe, stood, and turned to show off his toucan-covered ass. "This is preferable." He recovered the robe from the floor. "Too sexy for you guys to handle?"
"Far too sexy," Roman deadpanned. "Stay quiet and off screen. I’m sure whatever Shane finds out you’ll know soon enough." He pointed a finger between Shane and Antonio. "I still don’t get the two of you working together."
"We’re friends." Shane’s gaze slipped to Antonio. "Of sorts."
Antonio folded his arms across his chest. "Of sorts? How many times have I rescued you? Don’t forget how I found you."
"That’s between you and me."
"How’d you find him?" Roman’s eyebrows rose.
"Don’t answer that." Shane crossed his arms.
"He’s totally answering that now," Roman said.
Antonio grinned. "Naked in bespelled handcuffs that locked him to a bed. You know who left him that way?"
Shane covered his face.
"Who?" Roman asked.
"Her." Antonio pointed to where Madeline had left with Evie.
"Not complicated inthatway, huh?" Humor crinkled Roman’s eyes. "Naked and handcuffed? Sounds like a good story."
"Don’t make me lose control. I’m warning you," Shane said. "If I lose it, you’ll be seeing the toucan butt jiggling again."
Roman chuckled. "About that. Dancing? What exactly does it—"
"Quiet." Ky arranged his laptop. "Going live in three, two, one…"
Shane moved around the table to see the screen but remain out of camera range. The image of their handler showed his scruffy beard still hadn’t been shaved or trimmed. Shane scratched at his own stubble, wondering if the two days of growth looked as scraggly.
