Defying the North Wind by Anna Hackett

Author:Anna Hackett
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

***

Rayne watched Luca prowl, stopping every now and then to kick the bars.

“I should have sensed the trap.” He cursed. “I know how cunning Caecius can be. I possess all my ancestors’s memories, I’ve seen every horror Caecius and his brethren have inflicted.” Luca gave the bars another swift kick. “I should have seen this!”

“Settle down, Luca. We’ll work out a way to escape.”

“It’ll be too late.” He spun, his hands on his hips. She saw the icy blue forming in his eyes. “Caecius is out there, turning Venice into a bloodbath. People will turn on friends, kill loved ones.”

She moved now and placed a hand on his arm. “We’ll stop him.”

“It’s my fault.” Luca gripped her arm and tugged her closer. He touched a finger to the small wound on her arm. “I hurt you. I almost killed you.”

“Luca—”

“I’m no better than your stepfather. A monster filled with anger.”

“You’re nothing like my stepfather. Nothing like him.” She stepped into the circle of Luca’s arms, her hand sliding up his strong bicep. “And I’m here to make sure you don’t become a monster.”

He shrugged her off and stalked away. “I shouldn’t need help.”

“Why? Because you’re a WindKeeper? Because you’re the oldest brother?”

He shot her a hot look.

“Everyone needs help sometimes. Being strong is knowing when to ask for it.” She held out her hand, her palm lit by a lonely shaft of sunlight that managed to find its way down into the tower. “Accepting help doesn’t make you weak. My mother refused to ask for help. Refused to believe that she needed it.”

Luca closed his eyes. His face was partly hidden in shadow.

“Let me help you.” Rayne heard the raw emotion in her voice. “Because I’m not going to stand by and do nothing.”

His eyes opened. They were the rich cobalt blue she was starting to adore. He stared at her for so long, she was afraid to take a breath. Then his hand closed around hers.

“Honorable and brave.” He reeled her in until their chests bumped.

She smiled. “Don’t forget strong and smart. She winked at him. “And sexy.”

His lips quirked. “We need to get out of here.”

She studied the bars. “Ideas?”

“I think you’re right. I think it’s time I asked for help.” He looked upward. “My brother, Soren is close, in Como. He’s been searching for his Vento Tempesta, Apeliotus.” Luca fell silent for a moment. “Soren is suffering. Greed is dragging him under.”

“And he’s the youngest. You’ve always protected him.”

Luca shot her a look. “How did you know?”

She smile was a little sad. “Because I have a younger sister. I’ve always tried to shield her from everything, but I failed. Sometimes we have to trust them to stand on their own, and to help us in return.”

Luca nodded and lifted his hand. The North Wind streamed into the bell tower, it’s icy touch stirring their hair, ruffling their clothes. Then he thrust his arm upward.

The wind burst away and was gone.

“It might take him a few hours to get here.

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