Scarred by Amber Lynn Natusch Read Free Book Online

understanding the fatal consequences of failure. That understanding weighed on her heavily. I felt her fear as she disappeared from sight.
    I prayed she would be able to do it―to save Cooper. I couldn't bear the thought of losing him any more than she could. Her calling was proving to be a burden of sorts with a heavy toll to pay. Though my concern in that moment was all for Cooper, I couldn't help but feel an unnerving sensation from Peyta. A dark and ominous energy warned of a loss of control―an instability. It made me wonder if Sophie herself hadn't started off as a bright-eyed and happy girl, who slowly had that light drained from her with every pair of dying eyes she looked into. I shuddered at the thought.
    While Peyta was hopefully working her magic downstairs, Sean dragged Scarlet into a bedroom and slammed the door before releasing her. They eyed each other carefully from opposite sides of the room―Sean's release was more of a throw to put distance between them. He then grabbed a pair of oversized sweatpants and matching sweatshirt off of the floor and chucked them at her.
    “Move,” he barked, pointing out the door while keeping a keen eye on her. “You need to clean up.”
    “I'm fine,” she snapped at him, unmoving.
    “You're fine when I say you are,” he replied, staring her down. “Now move. ”
    “Did you catch him?” she asked, begrudgingly making her way to the door. She growled at the mere thought of the Rev. He was going to pay dearly.
    “No,” Sean said, flexing his hands. “I heard the howling...” He punched the wall next to him and dust flew through the air. When he removed his fist, the hole exposed the wall stud he'd just obliterated in his efforts. “I thought...maybe it was...”
    “You thought it was me ,” she finished for him.
    “Yes.”
    “He can't hurt me,” she informed him as she made her way to the bathroom, naked as a jaybird.
    “He's dangerous,” Sean warned, snatching her arm just as she entered the tiny space. “Don't ever forget that. There's a reason he's still alive after all these years.”
    “Yes,” she said bitterly, reaching in to turn on the shower. “Because you can't seem to focus long enough to catch him. Stop worrying about Ruby. I'll keep her safe.”
    He said nothing in response, only watched as she lithely climbed into the shower. The water sprayed wildly off her body, but she left the curtain open, making a show of herself. Sean's eyes bled to black. I had no idea if that meant he wanted to jump her or kill her―it was a 50/50 at best.
    A knock on the door startled them both. Sean threw Scarlet a towel before opening the door just wide enough for Jay to pop his head in and say that Cooper was alive—in rough shape—but alive. It was going to take him a while to fully heal that night, but he would make it. I immediately pushed at Scarlet until she begrudgingly relented. I needed to see Cooper with my own eyes.
Tossing on the borrowed clothes in record time, I moved quickly past Sean and toward the door, but he caught my arm. He wasn't finished yet.
    “Ruby―” he started, lightening his grip when he realized I was wincing under his grasp.
    “Not now,” I whispered, looking at the door. “Please, Sean...I need to see him.”
    He said nothing when he released me―he didn't have to. The emotional siege was intense but brief before he threw up a wall, blocking me off from the pain he felt. I couldn't bring myself to look back and see the lack of emotion on his face.
    The boys had already brought him upstairs and placed him in the spare room that Jay had been using, leaving him to rest comfortably, sprawled out across the bed. without asking permission, I crawled into bed with him, wrapping myself around him tightly while trying my best to avoid the red-hot marking across his stomach.
    “Maybe we'll have matching scars after this,” I whispered to him, squeezing him lightly. I knew he was in his healing coma-like thing that all