The Soul's Mark: Broken by Ashley Stoyanoff Read Free Book Online Page B

use that infuriating charm on her, because imagining all the things
that Tristan could, and most likely would, do to Erin through the bond wasn’t
something she wanted to see.
    Amelia racked her brain trying to remember
what she had read about borrowed magic.  From what she could remember about it,
it was supposed to be painful.   A witch had to merge their own power with the
victim, and then drain off the needed energy until the spell they were trying
to lift was broken.  Depending on the complexity of the spell, it could feel
like you were dying while it was happening.  And Amelia didn’t remember any of
it.  Her eyes snapped open and landed on Josh.
    As if reading her mind, he whispered, “The
pain from your injuries masked the process.  And, well, you weren’t completely
lucid.”
    “I would love to know how you make these
men grovel like this.  Frankly, I don’t see anything that amazing,” Tristan
mumbled, eyeing Josh as if he was crazy.
    Amelia opened her mouth to spit out
something that she was sure she would regret, but she didn’t get the chance. 
Josh beat her to it.  “Shut up, Tristan,” he seethed through clenched teeth.
    Tristan raised a brow.  “Josh, I think it’s
time for you to take a break.  Cole has been itching to help with her.”
    Josh puffed out his chest, as if he was
trying to make himself look bigger, and he narrowed his eyes to a ferocious
glare.  “I’m not leaving her.”
    “I’m not asking,” Tristan said evenly.  He stood
up and started towards the door.  “Get out, Josh, and send Cole in.”
    Josh looked down at Amelia, and all the
fight in him vanished.  “Just try to do what he says,” he whispered, his voice
was thick with emotion.  “If you don’t fight him, he’ll be okay.”
    Amelia looked at Josh, and for a minute,
she almost wanted to comfort him and tell him that she’d be fine, but
thankfully, she bit her tongue on the words.  He’s the enemy, she
reminded herself again, and she forced herself to look away from his sad puppy-dog
eyes.
    Tristan chuckled.  “That’s something I’m
going to have to stick around for.  From what Erin has shown me, Amelia never
does what she’s told.”
    Josh bent down and kissed her cheek,
ignoring Tristan, and letting his lips linger far too long.  “Keep kissing me
and Mitchell will cut off those lips when he finds you,” Amelia said, but to
her dismay, the statement lacked conviction.
    “I’m sure he will,” Josh murmured against
her cheek, his sweet breath warming her a little.  “Be good.  Please.”
    Amelia watched Josh walk away, and she had
to fight the urge to beg him not to leave.  She wasn’t sure if it was his
charm, or the way Tristan was watching her as if she was seconds away from
being a meal, or the fact that Cole seriously creeped her out that caused her
heart to sink, but whatever it was, it was brutal.
    Logically, she knew they were screwing with
her.  She could feel the pulsing energy all around her.  They were altering her
perception.  Keeping her remotely calm and pulling the fight from her, but
without any way to fight against it, it was a damn hard thing to remember, and
Josh was looking better and better with every passing second.  She hated to
admit it, but there was something about him.  Something gentle hidden behind
the hard exterior he portrayed.  Suddenly, Amelia found herself wondering if
the gentle side was a figment of the magic or if it was real.
    She didn’t have time to toss the idea
around.  Tristan walked over to the television and adjusted the volume.  An
ear-piercing scream penetrated her head.  “There’s something I’d like you to
see,” he said with a throaty chuckle.
    Amelia couldn’t pull her eyes away from the
screen as Cole dragged Erin across the floor.  Erin’s screams were agonizing,
and there was a red glow surrounding her that resembled jumping flames.  Cole
unlocked the bird style cage that held Megan and threw Erin in.  He