Free Banded Brothers 03 - To Enchant An Eagle by Amber Kell Page A

keep mother in line. I’m never allowed to talk to her alone, so I don’t know how she feels about everything. Besides, where would I go? No one wants to harbor a sorcerer. Not only will the others hunt me down, but Father would take great joy in making an example of me.” The fear in Gallen’s eyes went bone deep.
After meeting his father, Eaton wished he could say the terror was exaggerated, but he worried it wasn’t. “We’ll think of something.”
Eaton kicked off his new shoes and curled up on the bed. Gallen pushed his shoes off, too. When he caught Eaton’s expression, he gave a wry smile. “I just want to cuddle, besides it will make them less suspicious.”
“True.” Eaton scooted over. He still wanted to kick Gallen’s ass, but he better understood the man now.
“Try to get some rest. We’ll figure out what to do tomorrow.”
He doubted he’d be able to sleep, but apparently fighting magic drained a person. In no time, darkness claimed him.

Chapter Seven
M
    arty lay there for a moment. He could feel the spell breaking down, chipping away beneath the onslaught of his will. His hawk half still slumbered, but maybe he could at least get his human part moving.
    “What the hell happened?” Carey walked into the room with Broden quickly following.
Opening his mouth, Marty still couldn’t speak. His one scream had apparently taken all his sound ability for the moment.
“I don’t think he can talk, love,” Broden said. The cat shifter examined Marty with an unnerving stare. For a moment, he had a flash of insight of a bird’s emotions when spotting a cat stalking it as prey.
“That sorcerer friend of Eaton’s was going to stop by here,” Carey said.
“Well, he did some sort of spell, that’s for sure. This place reeks of magic,” Broden wrinkled his nose at the scent.
“Hmm, I’m going to call Denton and Harris. I need to rally the troops. Eaton wouldn’t abandon Marty like this. Something happened.”
“I’ll call my cats in also. If Eaton has been taken, we have the best trackers.”
“We can look from the sky.”
To Marty’s surprise, Tim, one of his hawk shifters, entered the room with a couple other hawks on his heels.
“You want to help?” Carey’s surprised tone reflected Marty’s viewpoint.
Tim folded his arms and looked directly at Marty. “We didn’t get upset because you wanted to stay in one place, Marty. We were upset because you didn’t ask us to stay with you. We will follow you anywhere, but you just gave up on us. We’ll help get your mate back even if he doesn’t like us, but we’d like to have a group meeting afterward.”
“I’m sure he’d be happy to talk to you,” Carey spoke for him. “Let’s hope the spell wears off soon.”
Broden sniffed. “It’s already fading.”
“Good.”
“Tim, you go gather the hawks. Broden, get your cats together and I’ll call my friends.”
“Don’t forget your father,” Broden said. The big cat shifter winced after he said those words.
Carey laughed, but shook his head. “We might have to do this without Dad. He left town.”
“Damn, the one time I was hoping to see Aden,” Broden muttered.
“I’ll text him what’s going on and get his advice,” Carey said. “He can help us remotely if necessary.”
Everyone scattered. Marty had to admire the quick thinking Carey used in marshaling his resources. No wonder Eaton spoke so highly of a mere human.
Marty had to agree with Broden though. This was one time he would’ve been happy to see the slightly psychotic father figure.
A cramp went up his spine. “Crap,” he muttered.
Excitement rushed through him. Marty tried to sit up. He laughed when his muscles obeyed and he gained full mobility. The aches and pains from his broken bones had all disappeared. If Gallen weren’t such a backstabbing mate stealer, he’d kiss the man right then.
Wiggling his fingers and toes, he sucked in his breath. Pins and needles stabbed him as his circulation returned.
“Oh