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concentrating intently on the battle commencing inside Echo s head.
 You know I speak the truth. This is too hard. You ll never learn
it. Maybe it would be better to give up than look like a fool in front of
your lovers. They can barely tolerate you as it is.
 Shut up! Echo screeched inside his head so loudly that Syx
flinched.
 They will leave you, the voice continued.  They will grow tired
of watching you fumble your way through life.
 They love me, Echo said mentally. The conviction in his voice
went a long way in soothing Syx s fears. Still, this was Bad with a
capital B. Whoever, or whatever, was playing inside Echo s head was
digging right in, preparing a nice place to set up residency.
 Have they told you? Syx says they were better off without you.
Eyce and Fiero love each other. What do they need with you? You
will do nothing but get them killed.
 Stop the car! Syx shouted.
Echo obeyed, jumping in his seat and slamming his foot down on
the brake, throwing Syx forward so that his face bounced off the back
of the seat in front of him.  What? What did I do? Echo asked
anxiously.
 Put it in park and turn off the engine, Syx replied a tad softer.
Echo did as he asked, then shifted so he could look around the
headrest.  What s going on, Syx? Did I do something wrong? I
thought I was finally getting it.
 You were doing fine, Echo, but we need to go home. Let Eyce
drive. Everyone stared at him as though he d grown horns and a tail.
 I ll explain when we get there. Syx only wanted to say this once, so
he d wait until they d all assembled.  Just hurry.
 What happened? Eyce threw the car door open and hurried
around the front of the SUV. Echo unbuckled his belt and slid over to
the passenger seat.  Tell me, Eyce growled as he slid behind the
wheel, jammed it into reverse, and sped backward toward the house.
Hell s Tempest 81
 You re starting to scare me. Echo turned in his seat, sitting
sideways as he tried to look at all three of them at once. His face look
pale, his eyes wide, and his lower lip trembled.
Syx met his lover s eyes steadily, though his heart galloped
against his ribs.  You re starting to scare me, too.
* * * *
 That was quick.
Syx gave a quick shake of his head, and Vapre understood that
whatever the reason, it wasn t a good one.  Get everyone, and I mean
everyone.
Vapre hesitated for only a heartbeat. The quicker he rounded up
the residents of the house, the faster he d find out what the hell was
going on. Syx seemed pretty determined to keep a tight lip until he
had everyone gathered, and there d be no point in arguing the issue.
 Hex, Myst, and Fiero are in the kitchen, he said over his
shoulder as he darted up the staircase and hurried down the hall,
beating his fist against doors as he went.  Everyone up and
downstairs. Move your asses!
The door to Gage s room swung open, and the big werewolf
looked mighty pissed off.  Mac still isn t ready to talk to anyone. At
least he made an attempt to be civil, though he hadn t fully succeeded.
Vapre shook his head.  I m sorry about that, but he s going to
have to put his big girl panties on and deal with it. No one s asking
him to talk, just listen. Syx said everyone needs to meet in the living
room, and he looked almost sick when he said it.
 What happened? Ah, now he d gotten the man s attention.
 I don t know, and Syx won t say until everyone is downstairs. I
don t want to hurt you, Gage, but I m thinking it has to do with Echo,
so I want to know what the fuck is going on, and I want to know five
minutes ago. Vapre could still picture the look on Syx s face when
he d walked through that door. He didn t know what could have
82 Gabrielle Evans
happened in the half hour they were gone. They d barely even left the
damn driveway!
 Something happened to Echo? Mac appeared at Gage s side
looking pale and thin. His voice sound raspy and unused, his dark hair
stood on ends, and his eyes appeared a bit glazed.  Let me get
dressed, and we ll be right down.
 Mac, Gage said tenderly.  Baby, are you sure?
A fierce determination crossed Mac s face, and Vapre suddenly
felt a great fondness for the guy.  My friend is in trouble. I m going
to help. Then he spun on his heels and disappeared back into the
room.
Gage sighed but dipped his head.  We ll be right down.
Vapre didn t waste time with further conversation. As he trotted
back down the hall, the shifters filed out of the room they were
sharing, jumping when they saw Vapre running at them.  What s
going on? Pax asked once he d recovered.
 Downstairs, Vapre growled. He gave Sage the once-over, still
trying to decide if he could trust the man or not. Their conversation of
the night before hadn t exactly endeared him to the man. If he was the
source of their newfound problems, Vapre would crush his larynx
without blinking an eye. No one fucked with his mate.
Pushing past the trio, he took the stairs two at a time, barreling
into the living room to find the rest of the house gathered there, sans
the vampires. Not a lot they could do about that considering it was
only nine o clock in the morning. The sun spilled through the
windows, bright and lethal to those of Syn and Jinx s particular
persuasion.
 Talk, Hex said, pointing a finger in Syx s face.
Instead of replying, Syx turned to Echo, placed his hands on their
mate s shoulders, and stared right into his sapphire blue eyes.  Who s
in there with you?
Hell s Tempest 83
Echo s eyes widened almost comically, and he began whipping
his head from side to side.  I don t know what you re talking about.
Syx, you re acting fucking creepy.
 Baby, I heard him. Who s inside your head?
Echo froze, his entire body going rigid. He looked like a gentle
breeze would plow him right over.
It scared the shit out of Vapre.
Stepping forward cautiously, he paused and jerked his head up
when he heard their guests enter the room. All six of them gathered
near the foot of the stairs, looking confused and worried. All except
Mac. The little man hurried forward, pushing Syx out of the way and
cupping Echo s face in his hands.  Look at me, he demanded.
Echo blinked several times before his eyes finally focused on
Mac. Vapre swiveled his head, looking around the room at his lovers.
None of them seemed to have an idea what was going on either. The
fact did little to calm his anxiety.
 That s right, Mac said calmly.  Right here, keep looking at me.
Echo nodded, but it seemed more of an automatic response than a
purposeful motion, and he just kept doing it. The longer his head
bobbed on his shoulders, the more Vapre felt his gut tighten and his
stomach churn.  What s wrong with him? he whispered.
 I can t tell.
Everyone swung around to face Syx.  What the hell do you mean
you can t tell? Fiero exploded, causing everyone in the room to
jump.  You heard something. Well, hear it again, goddamn it!
 I can t. Syx s eyebrows drew together, his brow wrinkling, and [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]