The Soul's Mark: CHANGED by Ashley Stoyanoff Read Free Book Online

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    “Amelia,” Mitchell said, and tugged on her hand a little.  She let him pull her onto his lap, and didn’t fight when his arm snaked around her waist, pulling her against his clammy, hot chest.
    Fire raced across her skin in a delirious rush of sparks as his fingertips ran along her neck and down her arms, in a soothing , slow trail.  Even without the bond, he could still make her body hum and burn.  Her magic sputtered away, dissolving into the air, and she sucked in a long, deep breath.
    Eric cleared his throat, drawing her attention.  “The vamps aren’t used to them fighting back,” he said, ruining the perfect moment.  “I’m guessing he didn’t expect her to actually do it.”
    “They think Mitch has turned his back on them,” Megan added.  “We’ve told them all that you guys went on vacation and that you needed a break after the hunters, but I don’t think they believe you’re coming back.”
    Amelia sighed, and wiggled around on Mitchell’s lap, getting comfortable.  Of course , they wouldn’t believe it.  It hadn’t even been a full two months since they had returned from their last vacation and after the mess the hunters left behind, anyone who knew Mitchell would know that he wouldn’t just up and leave on a little getaway.
    “How long has this been going on?” Mitchell asked.  His voice was tight, and he held onto Amelia a little tighter, as his body stiffened and his muscles coiled beneath her.
    “Since the bonds were fixed,” Eric said.  He squeezed his eyes shut for a second and Megan placed a hand on his shoulder.  He sighed and whispered, “Mitch, I killed one of the vamps, too.  Jeff.  This morning.”
    “You did what?” Amelia asked, certain that she hadn’t heard him right , because she seriously couldn’t believe that Eric would kill one of their own.
    Eric scrubbed at his face roughly, before fixing his hard glare back on Amelia.  “Meg and I have been using magic to deal with them.  They’re all using the bond and Jeff was … he was going to drain her.  I couldn’t pull him off.  They’re all older than I am.  All stronger than I am.  I just …” He shook his head, as if he was trying to banish the memory from his mind, and Megan sat beside him, rubbing his back in slow circles.  After a moment, he glanced back up at Amelia, and she had to fight the urge to gasp at the torment she saw in his eyes.  He cleared his throat and said, “It was an accident.  I didn’t mean to kill Jeff.  I was just trying to scare him.  But it’s as if the vamps just don’t care anymore.  They’re looking at their soulmates like a piece of meat, and that’s it.  Even Kyra and Jake were going at it today.  Jake didn’t care that he was killing her.  If we hadn’t shown up, I’m sure one of them would be dead now.  And the humans in town, they’re pushing back, too.  Without Ty, they’re not donating.”
    “Well , get Tyler on it then,” Mitchell snapped.  “Where the hell is he?”  His body temperature spiked.  Amelia felt the burning flush of rage radiating onto her back, and he started to cough again—just a little.  She tried to get up, but he tightened his hold and said, “Stay put,” firmly in her ear.
    Amelia stopped moving instantly, not because he could actually hold her there, but because touching him, being close to him, made everything a bit easier to handle.  The soothing contact of their skin kept her emotions in check and her magic at bay, and she was certain that if she actually moved with the turmoil that was brewing in her belly, she’d fry them all.  She could feel it smoldering and almost see the bright embers of her magic crackling and sparking, just waiting to ignite.
    “He’s leaving, Mitch,” Eric said helplessly and scrubbed at his face.  “He’s packing up his apartment and he’s going.”
    “We need to know how you deal with this crap,” Megan growled, as she got up and made her way down the