Blood Challenge by Eileen Wilks Read Free Book Online Page B

been born Etorri, but had been kicked out of his clan years ago because he was also a sorcerer, which went against the way things were supposed to work. Lupi didn’t work magic. They were magic. They for damn sure weren’t sorcerers, able to see magic.
    Cullen Seabourne was and did. He broke rules. That had been survival for him during his years as a lone wolf. If he’d accepted the usual way of things, he’d have killed himself—either in a straight-up suicide or by losing control in some devastating way that led to him being put down.
    Lupi weren’t meant to live clanless.
    Benedict respected the man, even liked him. But he didn’t want to see Seabourne now. He was too raw. One smart-ass remark and Benedict might go for his throat. “I will,” he said, rising. “But later. If I’m not going to go to my cabin, I need a workout.”
    “I’m feeling some sympathy for Pete,” Isen said dryly as he stood. “Don’t bleed him too much.”
    “I won’t damage my second.”
    “I know that. You’re in control when you fight. That’s one reason you need to spar now—to reclaim control.”
    Of course his father understood that. “I’ll bring Tommy in, too, I think. Or Sean. Sean’s coming along.” Two opponents of their skill would push him. He needed to be pushed, forced to shut off all this damn thinking.
    “Ben.” Isen came to him and hugged him hard, then stepped back, still gripping Benedict’s arms. “You’re not coming unwound. I don’t know if you see that, but I do. You’re scared, you’re pissed, you’re shook up. For a bit you weren’t thinking straight. But you aren’t coming apart.”
    Yet. Benedict swallowed the word, holding tight to the rope his father tossed him. Isen didn’t always speak the truth, but on this he would. And he knew what Benedict looked like when he came unwound.
    “I won’t pretend I understand what you’re feeling. I don’t think anyone can who hasn’t been given what you were, or suffered the loss of that gift. But there’s one who might understand, and I have to tell him anyway. You might talk to your brother.”
    Rule was Lu Nuncio to the clan, and so had to be informed. As intimate and personal as this felt, it was also a clan matter. “To Rule.”
    Isen nodded.
    “No.” His response was immediate and visceral. He took a moment to examine that response and found a solid wall of aversion … and behind that wall, feeling. A bloody tsunami of it. That tsunami would hit if he looked behind the wall.
    Eventually, he would have to. He wasn’t ready. Would it be better or worse if, when the time came—when it could no longer be avoided—he talked to his brother? Benedict shook his head. “Not now. Maybe not at all, but I’ll consider it when I’m steadier.”
    “Good enough. I won’t speak to Lily about this, and I’ll ask Rule not to, if that’s your wish. I don’t know if he’ll agree, but I’ll ask it on your behalf. You can’t keep this private for long.”
    “No.” But he could claw free a day or two. A day or two when he didn’t have to deal with everyone bloody reacting to the news.
    “Might be a good idea if Lily knew. She could probably find her for you.”
    “I don’t want her found.” Benedict pulled away.
    “Ben, you have to. You can’t leave her to—”
    “No.” That had been his father talking, not his Rho, so he headed for the door. He didn’t slow down or look back, and he did not give a damn if that was unreasonable. His Rho told him to stay close instead of retreating to his cabin, so he would. His father wanted him to believe he’d be okay. He’d try.
    But damned if he’d be reasonable .
    Last night, for the second time in his life, he’d felt a mate bond snap into place. The Lady had chosen for him. Again.
    As far as he was concerned, the Lady could damned well deliver her precious Chosen to him, if she was so bent on giving him one. If the only thing in his control was whether or not he hunted her down, he