Taming Amanda (Book 1) Jacob's Broken Mercenaries

Chapter 8

Austin

"Not now!"

Jacob puts his arm out, stopping me in my tracks.

"This isn't optional, Austin. I need your help. It's Rosa."

The dark fae? I pinch the bridge of my nose between my fingers, praying to the gods for patients and follow Jacob to the first floor where he's placed Rosa. She's sitting on the bed cross-legged with her palms and head tipped up to the ceiling. Dark threads of black inky mist stem from her fingers and eyes as her body seems to fade in and out. She's mumbling in the old language. Shit! This is not good!

"Can you shed any light on this situation?" jacob asks, My mouth forms in a grim line. I have a pretty good idea of what's happening, but the only way I could know for sure or even do anything about it would more than likely kill me.

"The dark fae are drawing her in. They sense her."

Jacob looks skeptical

"How sure are you?"

I shrug my shoulders and focus on Rosa

"About ninety-eight percent."

Jacob sighs, shaking his head next to me.

"She's been like this for hours I've tried to get her to stop every way I could think of, but nothing worked."

"Tul-back na nin Rosa!"

My skin prickles, I don't have to look down to know I'm full on shimmering, and my eyes are burning silver. I haven't used the old language in decades. It's taste on my tongue is bitter sweet. Rosa pulls from the connection, and her breath comes in shallow gasps.

"How did you do that?"

Jacobs perplexed expression stays firmly etched in his features.

"I told her to come back to me in the old language. You others call it Elvish. By using her name along with my native tongue, I've tied her to me."

And it's the stupidest move I've ever made

"So that's it? Problem solved?"

I shake my head with a sharp laugh,

"Not by a long shot, she's a dark fae, and I'm light. I just broke a very strict and ancient rule. She's not mine to link. They'll be angry, but if I didn't... she'd be lost in a cruel world completely alone. They'd destroy her. I have to go and she needs to come with me."

Jacob swallows, his expression is dire as he follows me to my room,

"Where are you going?"

I scoff, like he doesn't know

"I'm going to break another forbidden law, the oldest rule I know of... I'm going into dark fae territory."

I suit up with a few weapons, a fae dagger at my back is made with iron and centuries older than me, then a few ash wood stakes tucking them in my boot. I take the two duffles under my bed and make my way back to Rosa, tossing a bag on the floor. Rosa's skin returns to normal, her color coming back as the last of the black veins scatter. I look to Jacob,

"If I'm not back in a week... promise me you will keep Amanda safe at all costs."

Jacob grabs my shoulder, pinning me in place,

"What's that supposed to mean?"

I shrug him off, I'm angry. Not at him, but at the situation. It makes no difference. I need assurance.