Read Online Hels's Gauntlet [Forbidden Legacy 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Heather Long - Free Book Online

attention back to the Wizard. “Or childish. Whatever you were feeling , I think she was, too.”
    The particular emphasis on Cassandra extinguished the forest fire of fury consuming the threads of his control. He sat still while Jacob poked over the wounds on his arm and unbelted the jerkin to help him peel off the leather so the Wizard could inspect the rest of his injuries.
    “I will be fine, Jacob.” He measured the words carefully. He tested the connection rooted deep in his soul that extended back to Cassandra, the thickness of the ties, the rich gold enveloping the green showed twines of silver tying the two together.
    The silver was the third in their triad, and it bound the ties they held to each other. Though he and Jacob were anchored by Cassandra, the growing silver suggested that ties binding them together stretched between them, via the bridge of their mate.
    “You know, if you two lovebirds want to be alone, I can take care of the prisoner.” Vanagan’s cool observation lacked the heat of an insult.
    Jacob ignored the jibe. “Go get some water and iodine. Both are in the kitchen. Help me patch him up, and then we’ll deal with the freak in black.” He backed up a step and swiped the blood off his hands, uncaring that he wiped it on his jeans and T-shirt.
    “He’ll heal.”
    “I’ll heal.”
    Vanagan’s statement tripped over Helcyon’s, but Jacob stared at the black–and-white-haired Wizard until the man rolled his eyes and stalked off toward the kitchen in a swirl of black leather and resentment.
    “You trust him?” Helcyon pitched his voice low and gave Jacob a hard look.
    “No. But I trust that our lady inspires a wild amount of loyalty, and, for whatever reason, he’s as snared as the others. She wants you back. He’s not going to risk her rancor by doing anything stupid, no matter what your brother did.”
    Jacob folded his arms and studied their prisoner. The creature hadn’t stirred since being secured to the chair. Head down, shoulders sagging, it was entirely possible he, she, or it was unconscious. But the hood made it hard to tell.
    “We have problems, Jacob.” Helcyon left the subject of Vanagan alone for now. His brother’s betrayal provided enough sting. He liked the idea that his nephew wasn’t involved.
    “And this is different from every other day how?”
    Helcyon couldn’t argue with the sentiment, but further response was interrupted by a cell phone. Jacob pulled the phone out and flipped it open.
    “He’s fine,” he said into the phone instead of hello. “I promise. He’s fine. Pissy and pig-headed, but fine. I’ll bring him home soon.” He went silent, listening, and Helcyon could just make out Cassandra’s worried tone. “Oh, for the love of God, just go take a walk, a bath, go back to sleep. I swear I will bring him there and you can give him all the hell you want.”
    A smile tugged at the corners of Helcyon’s mouth. His woman did not like to be placated or pushed off. He held out his hand when Jacob rolled his eyes, but he knew deferring to Helcyon gave the illusion that the prisoner needed to worry about him and not the Wizards. The humor acted like a balm on his bruised soul.
    Jacob tossed him the phone, and he lifted it to his undamaged ear. “He was in so much pain, Jacob. You need to bring him home right now or—”
    “Stop,” he murmured into the quiet tirade. Her voice added to the magic treating his aching wounds. “I’m fine. Are you all right?”
    “Hels.” The catch in her voice smashed into the violent rage brewing in his belly. The rage kindled by the Danae’s threats and fanned to flames by Kyrian’s betrayal. His name, filled to the brim with unspoken affection, love, lust, and need.
    He wanted to go to her, right now.
    “I’m fine. I promise you. Rest.” Like Jacob, he avoided using her name. Closing his eyes, he found the tie that connected him to her, deep inside, and sent a wordless pulse of love racing along it. Her