their deepest, darkest fears. Without the boost of Joseph’s powers, he could not control them, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have skills of his own. Clay’s love and trust strengthened him. For once, he would not cower and hide. He would fight back.
The ferals took a few steps back as Ross’s power swirled around them. Ross took hold of Clay’s hand, hoping he could pull his mate away. Alas, Joseph cut off their escape, not physically, but through his mind.
52
Scarlet Hyacinth
In spite of the mate bond with Clay, Joseph still held a strong grip over Ross. His spirit invaded Ross’s mind, and while it didn’t possess Ross like it had before, it still broke his focus and made his limbs weak and heavy.
Clay took him in his arms in an attempt to carry him, but it turned out to be useless. With Ross’s power no longer containing them, the ferals surrounded them again.
“What are you waiting for?” Joseph growled at his men. “Take them down.”
Chaos burst all around them. Ross was distantly aware of Joseph keeping the humans at bay with his spiritual abilities. As it would seem, even the leader of the ferals knew how to be discreet on occasion.
At any rate, it didn’t take long for the group to subdue Clay and Ross. Clay tried to protect them, but he was one man standing against many, and even if he fought bravely, he could not hold them back forever.
Ross tried to break free of his mental apathy and help his mate, but he didn’t manage to do so in time. A large feral grabbed him away from Clay, distracting Ross’s mate in the process. Several more ferals jumped on Clay, holding him down when the spirit wolf struggled wildly, reaching out to Ross.
Ross’s vision blurred, and he realized in dismay he was crying.
He’d always done his best not to cry in front of Joseph, knowing his pain just brought the damn monster satisfaction.
Joseph grinned at him. “Isn’t that sweet? The star-crossed lovers.
Or should I say mates?” He shook his head, tsking. “If only I’d known you were in love, I’d have… Oh, wait. I’d have done exactly the same thing.”
“You fucking bastard,” Ross snarled. “Just let us go. You can’t win. There are people looking for us.”
Impossibly, Joseph’s smirk turned even more wicked. “I’m counting on that, Ross.” He stepped into Ross’s personal space, taking Star-Crossed Mates
53
advantage of Ross’s inability to move away. He gripped Ross’s chin and brought their faces a breath apart. “And when are you ever going to learn, my pet? I always win, and this time, it won’t be any different.”
Ross didn’t offer a reply, but Joseph didn’t seem to expect one.
“Bring them,” the feral ordered his men.
Clay howled, making Joseph grimace. “And do silence the pup.
This racket will just attract the humans.”
The ferals silently obeyed, and with a few well-placed punches, shut Clay up. Ross winced as his mate’s physical pain echoed through him, but it was nothing compared to his emotional one. He knew Clay was alive, but how long would he stay that way while in Joseph’s clutches?
Ross allowed the ferals to drag him off with no struggle. At this point, he could only hope a miracle happened, and the spirit wolves somehow found them, although he thought that might not be a good thing. Klaus might get hurt if he became involved in this battle.
The thought made him realize he could not give up the fight, not just yet. Sooner or later, Joseph’s attention would stray, and then Ross would be ready.
* * * *
A flight from London to Paris didn’t take long, and yet, halfway there, Klaus knew they were too late. He sensed the exact moment when Ross and Clay fell into Joseph’s hands. He couldn’t pinpoint one single feeling that made him realize it. It was rather a whole amalgam of them, a burst of power, terror, determination, and anger.
“Klaus, are you all right?” Wolfram asked him.
Klaus shook his head. “Joseph has them. I
The ferals took a few steps back as Ross’s power swirled around them. Ross took hold of Clay’s hand, hoping he could pull his mate away. Alas, Joseph cut off their escape, not physically, but through his mind.
52
Scarlet Hyacinth
In spite of the mate bond with Clay, Joseph still held a strong grip over Ross. His spirit invaded Ross’s mind, and while it didn’t possess Ross like it had before, it still broke his focus and made his limbs weak and heavy.
Clay took him in his arms in an attempt to carry him, but it turned out to be useless. With Ross’s power no longer containing them, the ferals surrounded them again.
“What are you waiting for?” Joseph growled at his men. “Take them down.”
Chaos burst all around them. Ross was distantly aware of Joseph keeping the humans at bay with his spiritual abilities. As it would seem, even the leader of the ferals knew how to be discreet on occasion.
At any rate, it didn’t take long for the group to subdue Clay and Ross. Clay tried to protect them, but he was one man standing against many, and even if he fought bravely, he could not hold them back forever.
Ross tried to break free of his mental apathy and help his mate, but he didn’t manage to do so in time. A large feral grabbed him away from Clay, distracting Ross’s mate in the process. Several more ferals jumped on Clay, holding him down when the spirit wolf struggled wildly, reaching out to Ross.
Ross’s vision blurred, and he realized in dismay he was crying.
He’d always done his best not to cry in front of Joseph, knowing his pain just brought the damn monster satisfaction.
Joseph grinned at him. “Isn’t that sweet? The star-crossed lovers.
Or should I say mates?” He shook his head, tsking. “If only I’d known you were in love, I’d have… Oh, wait. I’d have done exactly the same thing.”
“You fucking bastard,” Ross snarled. “Just let us go. You can’t win. There are people looking for us.”
Impossibly, Joseph’s smirk turned even more wicked. “I’m counting on that, Ross.” He stepped into Ross’s personal space, taking Star-Crossed Mates
53
advantage of Ross’s inability to move away. He gripped Ross’s chin and brought their faces a breath apart. “And when are you ever going to learn, my pet? I always win, and this time, it won’t be any different.”
Ross didn’t offer a reply, but Joseph didn’t seem to expect one.
“Bring them,” the feral ordered his men.
Clay howled, making Joseph grimace. “And do silence the pup.
This racket will just attract the humans.”
The ferals silently obeyed, and with a few well-placed punches, shut Clay up. Ross winced as his mate’s physical pain echoed through him, but it was nothing compared to his emotional one. He knew Clay was alive, but how long would he stay that way while in Joseph’s clutches?
Ross allowed the ferals to drag him off with no struggle. At this point, he could only hope a miracle happened, and the spirit wolves somehow found them, although he thought that might not be a good thing. Klaus might get hurt if he became involved in this battle.
The thought made him realize he could not give up the fight, not just yet. Sooner or later, Joseph’s attention would stray, and then Ross would be ready.
* * * *
A flight from London to Paris didn’t take long, and yet, halfway there, Klaus knew they were too late. He sensed the exact moment when Ross and Clay fell into Joseph’s hands. He couldn’t pinpoint one single feeling that made him realize it. It was rather a whole amalgam of them, a burst of power, terror, determination, and anger.
“Klaus, are you all right?” Wolfram asked him.
Klaus shook his head. “Joseph has them. I
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