Blood Twist (The Erris Coven Series) Read Online Free

For years, the elders tried to understand what happened, speculating different possibilities. But Braden knew and none of their notions were remotely close. His mouth set in a hard line; he hoped it would end with him.
    Rounding the patch of large cedars at the edge of the barn , Braden noticed Torin standing barefoot outside his carriage house door. His chestnut hair was slightly tussled and his b lack tee-shirt rumpled. Braden smiled. His once broody cousin was visibly relaxed. Lexie worked wonders on him.
    Torin smiled as he approached. “Why aren’t you next door?”
    Braden shrugged his shoulders. He needed time to talk to Torin alone without the others listening in. “Thought I would stop over and make sure someone was going to sit with Ruby.”
    “Yeah, my father just went in. Lexie’s changing now and then we’ll head over.” An amused expression flickered across his face. “Are you sure that’s why you’re hiding over here? Liz must be there by now. I’ve seen you watching her.”
    Braden stared at Torin, puzzled. “I haven’t been watching her.”
    “Yeah, right.”
    “Seriously,” he countered . “ She isn’t even my type.”
    Torin grinned incredulously. “Whatever you say.”
    Braden looked up at the house. Lexie’s mother was being kept as comfortable as possible on the second floor. “How’s Ruby today?”
    Torin’s expression grew serious. “Not well. The rash has spread and her skin is breaking down.”
    Braden swallowed. He couldn’t put off going any longer. “I wanted you to know t hat I’ ll be leaving soon . An old friend of my father’s has access to a n antidote for the virus. ” Although he hated lying to Torin of all people, he worked at keeping his tone as light hearted as possible.
    “Already?” Relief flooded across Torin’s dark features. “Are you heading to Eire?”
    Braden offered a slight nod . “First thing tomorrow.”
    Torin’s brows knitted, deciding what to do. “Lexie will want to stay here with Ruby and Ella. I’ll ask Teagan and Cian to take turns watching the place at night. I don’t know if Nicolai will come around, but I want my father to have backup just in case … .”
    “Actually, ” Brad e n interrupted, “ I think you need to stay. You’re the only one with experience fighting a werewolf and if Cian and Teagan were to go through the change while we were away, the elders would need one of us here.”
    Braden knew his explanation made sense, but there was more to it . He needed his cousin to take his place as protector of the coven, especially now that his closest friend had a fate-partner. But he also knew he couldn’t risk Torin trying to stop him .
    The left corner of Torin’s lip turned up, “Are you putting me second in command around here?”
    Braden tried not to smile. “Yeah, do you think you can handle it?”
    “I don’t know,” he grinned. “Your cockiness won’t be easy to duplicate.”
    “I somehow doubt that,” Braden countered, chuckling at his friend. “By the way, I wanted to apologize for the other night. I should have trusted you. I just didn’t want you to get hurt. I couldn’t stand losing you, too.”
    Torin cocked his head, “You don’t need to apologize. You’ve al ways had my back, ” he replied with understanding.
    Braden ran his hand through his spiky yellow hair as his stomach twisted with unease. Looking back up at Ruby’s window, he avoided his cousin’s gaze. “Yeah well, I know you would do the same for me.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    5
     
    L IZ
     
     
    Liz wasn’t sure how long she sat at the table with Teagan and Cian’s fathers when she spotted Torin help ing Lexie up the walkway.
    Seeing her best friend up and mobile was a far cry fr om the state she was in only days before. The power of her bond with Torin allowed her body to heal quick ly . Her crutches had been replaced with a walking cast and her contusions had the faded tinge of light butterscotch.
    If the NFL only knew