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The Keepers: Ethan
Rae Rivers
�Vampires and werewolves are so 2000. As in: over. Thanks to …Rae Rivers, we’re now totally hooked on witches.’ – No. 5 on Grazia SA’s �Ten Hot Things to Do List’"Going to Ameera to find Hazel. Stealing the spell … You think you can pull it off?" he asked.She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.Just as she thought he'd kiss her, he reached for her jacket and said, "Then let's go."A portal to another world has opened, unleashing dangerous creatures on earth. A dark witch is out for revenge. The stakes are high, a war inevitable.One person can stop the madness. Jenna. She’s a Keeper to a powerful hybrid witch but she harbours a secret and if Jenna steps through the portal – seduced by the whispers of her hidden past – she may never return.Fortunately, she has company… infamous Bennett brother and fiercely protective Keeper, Ethan. Their whip-cracking banter makes them perfect sparring partners in training, but how will they manage when their lives and everything they were born to defend are on the line?When the battle lines are drawn, will Jenna and Ethan stand side by side – as friends, protectors, lovers … or as traitors?
Praise for Rae Rivers (#u0f219859-6310-5080-aa1a-1cafcc099a83)
�Vampires and werewolves are so 2000. As in: over. Thanks to … Rae Rivers, we’re now totally hooked on witches’
No. 5 on Grazia South Africa’s �Ten Hot Things to Do List’
�The twists and turns, the action, the suspense! This book was amazing!!’
The Girl Bookaholic
�The Keepers: Archer is a fast paced and action packed story with a strong element of forbidden romance that kept me glued to my Kindle as I read!’
One More Page
�The story twists and weaves … I was spellbound’
Comet Babe’s Books
�Enticing, powerful and believable’
Avalon Reviews
�A mystical, magical tale filled with romance and action that is thoroughly addictive.’
BestChickLit.com
The Keepers: Ethan
Book 3 in The Keepers Trilogy
Rae Rivers
A division of HarperCollinsPublishers
www.harpercollins.co.uk (http://www.harpercollins.co.uk)
As always, to my incredible husband and children who are my biggest fans and most beautiful cheerleaders. I love you all so much.
Also, to my Dad who was always so proud and enthusiastic about my writing. Fly high and free. Love and miss you always.
HarperImpulse an imprint of
HarperCollinsPublishers
1 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9GF
www.harpercollins.co.uk (http://www.harpercollins.co.uk)
First published in Great Britain by HarperImpulse 2016
Copyright В© Rae Rivers 2016
Cover images В© Shutterstock.com (http://Shutterstock.com)
Cover layout design В© HarperCollinsPublishers 2016
Cover design by Alex Allden
Rae Rivers asserts the moral right to
be identified as the author of this work
A catalogue record for this book
is available from the British Library
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
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and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
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written permission of HarperCollins.
Ebook Edition В© April 2016 ISBN: 9780007536047
Version 2016-03-23
The Keepers Trilogy (#u0f219859-6310-5080-aa1a-1cafcc099a83)
The Keepers: Sienna (free prequel)
The Keepers: Archer
The Keepers: Declan
The Keepers: Ethan
Table of Contents
Praise for Rae Rivers (#uc7b1866d-ff05-5f58-ab58-6bf7048bb646)
Title Page (#ua063beec-1d0e-52b7-a894-f695a1d8d5b2)
Dedication (#u00649ab0-ddf5-5f8f-a043-7c44b26a2db8)
Copyright (#u197b7266-bc17-5501-969d-7f6cca13f02f)
The Keepers Trilogy (#ue9387fc2-2de1-5c17-8eb7-3073ab1fd575)
CHAPTER ONE (#u5165f295-2eaa-5fc9-9bb8-6349659e201c)
CHAPTER TWO (#u897c372a-015f-5067-ad50-67d048e74e82)
CHAPTER THREE (#ua035ac1c-cec5-57e5-b19f-a51295c0d224)
CHAPTER FOUR (#u1090d06b-0daf-54d3-b1f1-c6192f22e9fb)
CHAPTER FIVE (#u70a71333-729e-56a2-82e4-5a248c068792)
CHAPTER SIX (#u72658e64-3b5a-56e6-8bd1-cf5e55907b39)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#ubbc65a1a-8f1e-562f-9256-5c75a39575b1)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#u131c31c4-61bf-54f6-af31-3c1cee29839f)
CHAPTER NINE (#uef23c80f-be7d-589f-ab47-1159b32029a3)
CHAPTER TEN (#u64c17ebf-9619-5e37-ae62-760f8626c718)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#ud0f1fd98-a951-530b-aed9-9349eed7aeb0)
CHAPTER TWELVE (#ucaf9e684-6f9b-59e6-9120-6e98e75285ad)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#u256f53e8-9749-542c-93cd-c1abe8c2471b)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIXTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINETEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTY (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTY TWO (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTY THREE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTY SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTY NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FORTY (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FORTY ONE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FORTY TWO (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FORTY THREE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FORTY FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FORTY FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FORTY SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FORTY NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIFTY (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIFTY ONE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIFTY TWO (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIFTY THREE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIFTY SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIFTY NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
Acknowledgements (#litres_trial_promo)
Also by Rae Rivers (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Author (#litres_trial_promo)
About HarperImpulse (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#u0f219859-6310-5080-aa1a-1cafcc099a83)
THURSDAY AFTERNOON
BENNETT ESTATE, RAPID FALLS, CANADA
He felt her heartbeat beneath his fingers.
A slow, steady rhythm that quickened the moment he touched her. Tightening his grip on her hip, Ethan circled her, his senses tuned in to his surroundings – the crunch of forest debris beneath his boots, the trickle of water from the river behind him, her quiet breathing.
The setting sun had masked Jenna’s skin in a golden glow, the single braid of blond hair darker than usual. She stood poised with quiet confidence, her legs parted. She held the bow and arrow with practiced skill, the ease at which she handled the weapon never failing to impress him. Dressed in a tank top, army pants and boots, she looked prepared for combat.
He kept his gaze on the warrior woman, not surprised when her expression remained even, her back straight, as though the closeness between them had made no impact.
But her heartbeat gave her away.
“Ready?” he murmured, stifling a smirk.
“Of course.”
He tapped her elbow. “Straighten your arm.”
“You’re giving me archery tips?” Her brows raised, a mild grin playing on her lips. “Me?”
He nudged her arm for good measure and smiled. “If you need more time –”
“I’m ready, Ethan. Stop trying to distract me.”
He held out a hand toward the river, coloured with a touch of pink. “Don’t blink, it’ll be fast.”
“I’m faster.”
“Cocky, are we?”
“Confident.” On a gentle hiss of air, she drew back the arrow, ready for flight. “Stop stalling.”
Grinning, he mentally ditched the larger rock he’d had in mind and opted for a smaller one. Nothing like upping the challenge at the last minute.
He rotated his hand, the movement sparking a small whirlwind on the riverbed. A rush of energy swirled through him, bringing the familiar comfort he always felt when connecting to nature.
Air. His elemental power.
“On the count of three,” he murmured and began the countdown. In lightning speed, he directed the wind away from them. It hoisted the rock into the air with a force that launched it across the sky.
She released the arrow, followed by a triumphant cry when it connected with the target.
Smiling, she lowered the weapon and wiggled her butt and shoulders in a victory dance that extracted a laugh from him.
“You haven’t won yet, Pocahontas,” he reminded her.
Light blue eyes sparkled with mischief. Her bright smile emphasised high cheekbones and perfect teeth. She handed him an arrow. “Your turn. I showed you mine. Now you show me yours.”
He flashed his wildest grin. “That sounds kinky. Even for me.”
She laughed again. “In your dreams, stud muffin.”
“Stud muffin?” He shot her a look of disgust and snatched the bow from her, reaching for a confidence he didn’t quite feel. He wasn’t a bad aim when it came to archery, but Jenna’s talent for the sport outranked his.
“You remember what this final challenge means, right?” she called over her shoulder as she combed the riverbed for a rock.
“How could I forget?”
Their afternoon of combat practice in the forest surrounding their estate had once again turned into a contest. One he wasn’t guaranteed of winning. Not with her. Where she lacked his bulk, she made up for it with determination and skilled martial arts manoeuvres that frequently left him breathless. Lately, she’d been pushing harder, channelling her frustrations into their training sessions the same way he did.
She reached for a rock and straightened. “You miss this shot and you’ll be buying me beers on our next night out.”
“If I miss. Not gonna happen.”
“Right. Let’s get on with it then. I’m eager for the bragging rights that I was the woman to kick your ass.”
Yeah, he’d hate that.
Even if she was a Keeper, like him. A skilled warrior with heightened physical abilities who’d befriended his sister several years ago whilst training at the academy. They’d been inseparable until Jenna had been selected by The Circle, a group of ancestral witches who governed the rules of magic, to leave the academy and infiltrate their enemies, posing as one of them.
They’d assigned her to Kate Carrigan, a hybrid witch she’d protect above everything else.
Because that’s what Keepers did.
And protecting Kate meant rubbing shoulders with the very people wanting to harm her.
Bad ass.
Carrying four rocks, Jenna walked back to him and dropped them onto the ground at his feet. Her delicate brows lifted at his scrutiny. “You’re staring. It’s kinda creepy.”
“Just thinking how awesome you are.”
Although she’d meant for the punch to his arm to be playful, it still packed a powerful blow. “Flattery won’t score you a win. Time to settle this once and for all. Pay attention, stud muffin.”
“You really should stop calling me that.”
Her grin was all mischief. “No harm in trying to throw you off your game.”
“Scared you’ll lose?”
“No. Now stop stalling and man up.”
She reached for a rock on the ground, the movement shifting her t-shirt to expose smooth, tanned skin above her belt. The glimpse of ink surprised him.
A tattoo?
The urge to reach out, to explore, went ignored and he averted his gaze when she straightened. “How about we up the reward?” he asked.
“Feeling confident, are we?”
“Always. That make you nervous?”
“No.”
“Fine,” he said. “I’m upping the stakes. You win and I’ll not only be your personal beer slave, I’ll –”
“Do it shirtless too.”
He frowned.
“Come on,” she prompted with a laugh. “You’re that certain you’re going to lose?”
“Fine, it’s a deal. But if you’re choosing your prize, then I’m choosing mine.”
She laughed. “I think me running around shirtless would ruffle a few feathers.”
His included. And it wouldn’t be pleasant. The thought of her shirtless in public arrowed all kinds of objections through him.
“No,” he said firmly, refusing to dwell on why. “There’s something else I want.”
“Ooh, you sound serious.” She walked around him, straightening his arm that held the bow. “So what’s your prize?”
“You’ll tell me where you went last night.”
Her eyes widened. She met his gaze, a prickly silence overshadowing their previous playfulness. Her expression shifted from surprised to hesitant – both reactions he’d expected.
“You’ll be wasting your win on that answer, Ethan. It wasn’t important.”
“The fact that you snuck out at midnight without telling anyone tells me it was.”
“I needed air.” Frowning, she nudged the arrow at him. “Take the shot. It’ll be dark soon. You’re meeting your brothers at the restaurant in an hour and I’m on witch duty.”
“So you agree to the new terms of the challenge?”
“No.”
“Come on,” he mimicked. “You’re that certain you’re going to lose?”
“Fine. You’ll never win anyway and if you’re upping the game, I am too.”
He raised a brow.
“Don’t look so shocked. You’re the one who took us beyond the beers and shirtless fun.” She flashed him a smirk that softened the irritation in her eyes. “Next time you go on a business trip, I want to go with you.”
“You loathe boardrooms.”
“I do, but we both know your recent trip to New York had nothing to do with a meeting.”
Their gazes locked, the air sizzling with tension as she waited for him to contradict her. For a wild moment, he considered denying it.
“Searching for Hazel alone is dangerous and you know it.” Her expression tightened at the mention of the dark witch caster. Born to a lineage of witches who thrived on black magic, Hazel Brogan was a despised enemy and their greatest threat. After spending more than two years with her, Jenna had firsthand experience of everything the witch was capable of.
“Do my brothers know?” Hell, he’d never hear the end of it if his older brother discovered he’d been hunting their enemies. As it was, things were tense between them.
“You really think Archer would’ve kept silent if he knew?”
“I can’t sit around anymore waiting for our enemies to attack. And they will, Jenna. You of all people know that. Why wait? We find them, we end this.”
“We’re not murderers, Ethan.”
“You’re starting to sound like my brother. You really believe the best thing to do is to wait for them to strike?”
“No.”
“So why the lecture?”
“There’s a fine line between crazy and courageous.”
“Yeah, it’s called common sense. I’m not stupid. I’ve been careful.”
“Doesn’t make poking around a witch’s lair less dangerous. So we have a deal?”
“Provided you don’t tell my brothers.”
“I won’t.” She held up the rock. “Ready to miss your shot?”
Grateful for the diversion, he adjusted his grip on the bow and arrow in his hands. “Careful, Jenna. Over-confidence is a warrior’s downfall.”
Her grin derailed the moment of tension. Placing her hands on his hips, she twisted around him. “I’m all confidence and all warrior.”
He readied the weapon. “Never underestimate me when I want something.”
He became vaguely aware of her scent. Soft and fragrant, a subtle hint of pine cones. Counting back, she moved behind him, closer than required.
A ploy to distract him, no doubt.
But Ethan kept his focus, aligned his eyes with the arrow, and drew back his arm.
She leaned forward, her mouth against his ear, her hands on his hips. He zoned in, locking in his target, and slowly released the arrow.
“It’s you who shouldn’t underestimate me,” she whispered as her hand swept lower, her fingertips brushing his crotch.
He inhaled sharply at the unwelcome arousal and the arrow took off on a burst of air, missing its target completely.
Her soft laugh broke the silence.
He tossed the bow and caught her arm. “Using feminine charms to disarm me?”
“Not my fault you weren’t concentrating.”
“I was, until you put your hand on my gear.” And his body had acted wildly in response to her. Hot damn.
Her smile smacked of mischief. “I still won.”
“Foul play.”
She gasped when he tugged her closer. For a moment, they stared at each other in quiet amusement, their faces inches apart. When her heartbeat quickened, a testament that he wasn’t the only one affected by her little game, he couldn’t resist a grin.
“Take it like a man, Bennett.” Her husky voice stroked his arousal. “You lost.”
“I’m all man – which is exactly why you did that.”
“All’s fair …”
He moved swiftly, a speed he never tired of. Air escaped from her lungs in surprise as he backed her against a boulder. Securing her body with his, he reached for her hands, pinning them beside her.
“What are you doing?” Her breathing had turned choppy, her breasts rising and falling in tiny movements against his chest.
Damn sexy. Annoying.
“Is this fair enough?” he asked, his raspy voice surprising him. Hell, he was more aroused than he was letting on. His gaze fell to her mouth and for an insane moment, he wondered what she’d taste like.
A small smile curled her lips. “Easy, Casanova. There’s a big red line we’re stomping all over.”
“You’re the one who nudged the line first, Jenna.”
“We’ve been nudging it since the day we met.”
He blinked, surprised by her admission. Ah, so she’d felt it too.
He dipped his head, his mouth hovering against the corner of hers. He had the sudden urge to kiss her. To surprise her the way she’d done to him.
But held back, that big red line flickering like a runway.
They were Keepers, housemates, colleagues. Friends. A romantic fling didn’t fit into that combination. At all.
But still, he couldn’t resist teasing her.
He trailed a finger across her golden skin, pausing at the opening of her shirt that dipped between her breasts. “Next time, play fair and keep those curious hands off the merchandise.”
“Curious –? It was simply a distraction!”
He grinned wildly at her breathy protest and pressed his hips against hers, taking pleasure in the way her eyes widened when she felt his arousal. “Whatever you want to call it,” he whispered against her ear, “clearly, it worked.”
CHAPTER TWO (#u0f219859-6310-5080-aa1a-1cafcc099a83)
Heat flooded Jenna’s cheeks.
He towered over her, the intensity of him unsettling her. Dark hair, eyebrows, and long lashes. She lowered her gaze from his blue eyes, which smacked of mischief to his lips. A thin upper lip, indented with a perfect V in the middle, and a fuller bottom lip. Lips curled into a challenging grin.
Jenna shoved him away. He relented with a low chuckle and retrieved the bow off the ground.
She was blushing. Blushing! Not something she ever did, but her ploy to distract him had backfired in a way that had left her hot and bothered.
What the hell was she thinking?
Despite the attraction that always sizzled beneath their friendship, she’d so far managed to keep their relationship on a professional basis.
Until now.
“It’s late,” she said, her stomach twitching with butterflies – a rarity for her. “We should get back to Sienna and Kate.”
Two witches they were duty-bound to defend. Sienna Beckham, a potent elemental witch and Kate Carrigan, the hybrid witch with the strength of a Keeper and the ability to nullify magic – both fiercely hunted for their powers.
Two women Ethan’s older brothers adored.
“No rush. They’re with my brothers. Besides, I think you and Declan could use some time apart.”
She wrinkled her nose at the mention of his brother’s name. Declan, the fire warrior with the personality as explosive as his powers. “It’s that obvious?”
“I heard you arguing this morning.” He tapped his ear. “Super-hearing and all that.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Declan’s an ass on the best of days.” He placed a hand on her shoulder, turning her to face him. “He’s worried about Kate, Jen. It’s not personal. You protect the woman he loves.”
Worships. Adores.
According to Ethan, they’d never seen Declan so enamoured with another woman before. After almost losing Kate to their enemies recently, Declan had become impossible when it came to her safety.
A given considering their enemies still lurked. With the ability to negate magic and break spells, Kate could swing the eternal war of good versus evil in their enemies’ favour.
The fact that Kate had become part of Ethan’s family, a woman they’d all grown to love, was irrelevant to those bastards.
“He doesn’t trust me with her. Questions my every move.” She reached for the bow, knowing she was doing a lousy job at hiding her frustration. “I’m her Keeper. Declan knows what that means.”
“We all do.”
Of course. It was the foundation of her friendship with Ethan. He understood their world and what it took to protect their witches. Like her, he lived for being a Keeper, but knew it came with a mammoth responsibility and continuous worry that often shrouded everything else.
Jenna inhaled noisily and straightened, shelving the conversation. “Enough doom and gloom. I’ll handle Declan.”
His eyes followed her movements, studying her, like he always did. “Of course you can.”
She watched him walk away, his swagger different from the men she’d watched in New Orleans. He radiated confidence, but in a quiet way. The kind that made you underestimate him. He was an air warrior, connected to an element of nature that many people underrated.
But she’d seen him in action. With the ability to manipulate air, he was able to wield the wind and weather to his will. The man could whip up a storm that would put the New Orleans’ floods to shame.
Not that he would. But he could.
As for her stunt a moment ago … touching him had been inappropriate but it had snagged her a win – one she’d been desperate for. She couldn’t tell him where she’d been the night before. Or why.
Seeing him flustered – if only for a split second – had been a bonus.
There was a rustle of trees behind her. She turned around to see a single black crow squawk twice on a nearby branch before taking flight.
Ethan leapt across the river, landing with ease on the opposite side of the riverbank, the jump effortless and agile. He was tall and muscular without being bulky. His toned muscles bulged beneath the black t-shirt he wore. Whistling softly, he straightened and waded through bushes in search of the arrows they’d lost.
Realising she was gawking like an idiot, Jenna shook her head to get her brain moving again.
The sudden squawk of a second crow startled her. The bird circled above before nose-diving to the ground. It landed silently and tucked away its wings.
The setting sun had tinted the sky and mountains in pink, the river a glow of beauty. The town nestled amongst vineyards and greenery in the distance. A peaceful, close-knit town where everyone was up in everyone’s business and things like home-baked pie, honesty, and solid friendships still existed.
She hadn’t grown up in Rapid Falls like Ethan and his family. She’d met his sister, Sarah, at the academy and frequently travelled home with her during the holidays.
Two women from different backgrounds. Sarah had three older brothers and came from a prestigious family who owned a wine estate. They’d lost their parents in a fire when they were younger. Jenna had once had a family until the night their city had been raided, their homes attacked. Her parents had sent her away, urged her to seek shelter at the academy until they could come for her.
She was still waiting.
But through her darkest moments, she’d never given up hope that her parents were still alive. That they’d still come for her.
She’d never told anyone, not even Sarah. Her death had left a void inside Jenna that could never be filled. She’d never found friendship like that again – had never bothered searching for it.
Not that she’d met many friends in the last two years. Hazel and her people had used bullying and violence as a means of gaining – and maintaining – friendships. She’d soon mastered the art of feigning whatever was needed in order to stay under their radar.
A means of survival few people would understand.
Several excited squawks from the tree above brought her attention back to the present. Five more crows had arrived.
The arrival of a dozen more sent a ripple of unease down Jenna’s spine.
The sky in the distance had darkened, the pretty pink dissolved by a black cloud of doom that moved toward them at a rapid rate. It looked like a thunderstorm rolling in, destroying all traces of the beauty she’d previously admired.
“Ethan?” He’d seen it too and stood with his back to her, staring off into the distance. “Please tell me that storm’s yours?”
“It’s not. And I don’t think it’s a storm.”
The crows above her took flight, circling, their high-pitched shrieks soon joined by numerous others. Uneasy, she gaped at the blackness creeping in.
A plague of crows. Thousands and thousands of squawking birds, sucking everything joyful out of their surroundings.
Shit.
Wings flapping, nose-diving, shrieking with excitement, the birds engulfed them.
Jenna crouched low, swatting them away as they circled from all directions. Pecking, scratching, screeching. Her desperate attempts to swat them away were wasted on the sheer number of birds.
“ETHAN!”
He’d already jumped to her side of the river, waving his arms to fend off the invasive attack. “Jenna!”
She couldn’t see, couldn’t breathe, engulfed within the stench of wild madness. Her foot caught on a tree root and she cried out as she collided with the rocks. Pain arrowed through her, along with the vile taste of panic.
A hand closed over hers, a lifeline through the chaos.
“Jenna!” Ethan squeezed her hand. “Close your eyes!”
She felt the flutter of wind, gasping in relief when several crows relinquished their grip.
Ethan crawled closer. He covered her body with his, tucking her head against his chest. “Close your eyes. NOW!”
She did and pushed her face into his shirt.
Heat fired beneath her cheek as energy swirled through him, erupting in a vigorous whirlwind around them. The crows flapped furiously for control, squawking in protest.
Ethan held her, shielding her body with his.
The whirlwind turned into a small tornado, sweeping the birds across the river, gathering water and other forest debris.
Everything fell quiet.
Blissful stillness tinged with choppy breathing as they struggled to catch their breaths. In the distance, the tornado faded, the sky still marked with a few lurking crows lucky enough to have avoided the turmoil.
Blowing out air, she shifted her gaze to Ethan’s. He was scratched and bloodied. A quiet fury burned in his eyes.
He ran his fingers through her tangled hair. “Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine.” She leaned back on her knees and exhaled. “They came out of nowhere!”
“That was the biggest damn infestation of crows I’ve ever seen.”
She shook her head. “That wasn’t an infestation, Ethan. It was an attack.”
A heavy silence filling the space between them.
“It’s Hazel,” he said, the words coming out in a low growl. He leaned back on his haunches, a harsh frown narrowing his eyes, and met her gaze. “Dammit, she’s back, isn’t she?”
“She never left. She’s simply been quiet.”
Until now.
CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_14ff7252-9de9-5906-8a85-80e1ff223816)
THURSDAY EVENING
BENNETT ESTATE
A matter of time.
Jenna had known that. But the few months unmarred by Hazel’s darkness had been blissful, despite the constant anxiety that churned inside.
But it was over.
Ignoring the surge of panic at the thought, Jenna walked into the Bennett cellar, not bothering with the light, and retrieved another bottle of wine from the shelf.
The temperature was cool, maintained for optimal storage of wine. Dark shelves lined the walls, stacked with bottles of wine; some home-brewed using their own grapes, some from other wine estates. It smelt of grapes and cork, a delicious aroma that brought comfort.
The sound of her friends’ laughter drifted through from the living room, high-pitched and excited. A given, considering the amount of wine they’d consumed. She desperately needed another glass to ease the tension knocking at her insides. Ever since the incident with the crows earlier, a permanent sense of doom had hijacked her mood, her body wired with an adrenaline high she’d found impossible to shake.
She headed back to the doorway, gasping as a familiar tingle of pain spread across her hip.
Oh, no.
She fumbled for the light switch and lifted her t-shirt. Even though she knew what awaited her, her heart still plummeted at the fresh mark etched on her flesh.
Beside two others that had appeared a few days ago. Faint images, similar to a birthmark but darker. Like a tattoo. She’d always had a mark on her hip – the mark of her lineage, one she kept hidden from everyone. But lately, the damn thing kept sprouting. They held no meaning, but a few magical tattoos appearing on her body out of nowhere spelled trouble.
“Jenna, where’s the wine?” Sienna called from the living room, startling her.
She lowered her t-shirt, drew in a deep breath, and went into the kitchen. The house was mostly in darkness, dimly lit by a few lamps that offered warmth to the old house. It had been renovated over the years, carefully furnished with a style that smacked of wealth. Thanks to generations of family money and a thriving wine estate, the brothers lived a life of luxury Jenna had never known.
The opposite of the poverty she’d endured whilst growing up.
She hadn’t yet told them where she came from. Ameera. The secret realm that harboured supernatural beings, most of which had a hunger for violence and chaos. A place where danger lurked at every corner. A city of neglect and violence. Destruction and despair.
The brothers knew of Ameera’s existence, but for them their knowledge of it was derived from stories and folklore.
For Jenna, Ameera was home.
Or at least, it used to be. A long, long time ago.
Shaking her head to ward off the sadness that always came when she thought of her family, Jenna walked into the kitchen. The room still smelt of their dinner, a chicken dish Sienna had prepared to perfection.
Flames burning in the fireplace against the living room wall masked the spacious room in a flicker of orange. It was almost too warm for it as the harsh winter cold had finally relented, but needed for the black cauldron boiling steadily in the centre of the hearth.
Sienna and Kate sat on the floor in front of the pot, surrounded by cushions from the leather couches, empty wine glasses in hand. Bottles of herbs littered the coffee table, their ingredients for tonight’s potion.
With her long red hair, pale skin and green eyes, Sienna appeared gentle and feminine, but beneath her beauty was a power that could be lethal if not controlled. Where most elemental witches could channel one element of magic, Sienna could channel four. Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.
Next to her, Kate sat relaxed and happy despite the fact that, like Sienna, she was one of the most hunted witches on earth. Her long dark hair had been stuffed into a messy knot above her head; her bare feet revealing toes painted in bright blue nail polish.
This was the hybrid witch Jenna had sworn to defend. It was her calling, her destiny, something ingrained within her that couldn’t be explained. Only the Bennett brothers got it and for that their bond had been instant – despite the challenges she faced with Declan.
The two women broke out in a cheer when Jenna sauntered toward them, opening the wine.
“Have I ever told you how much I love living with wine farmers?” Sienna asked, her voice tinged with laughter as Jenna refilled her glass.
Kate grinned, holding up hers, and hiccupped. “Yip, it certainly has its advantages.”
“Farmers?” Jenna echoed, pleased her voice held no trace of her previous unease. She laughed and tipped the bottle in their direction. “Suddenly I’m having flashes of red-checked shirts and pitchforks. I think wine makers are the words best suited to your guys.”
Sienna laughed. “I can so not see Declan in a red-checked shirt waving a pitchfork.”
“Don’t forget the gum boots and tractor!” Kate added, erupting into a fit of giggles that gave way to another hiccup.
Jenna laughed at the image they’d created. The brothers owned the estate that supplied the grapes for their infamous Ice Wine, a delectable dessert wine their town was renowned for. But in truth, it was their estate manager, Tara, and loyal staff who ran the winery.
They were at the restaurant for the evening, a newly renovated project of Ethan’s that would be opening its doors the following day. The three women had opted for a girls’ night in. Needing to eat, they’d made dinner. Needing to forget they were facing an inevitable war, they’d brought out the wine. The rest had gone downhill from there.
But it’d been a fun night.
The lights flickered on a buzz of electricity as a loud hiccup escaped Kate. Eyes widening, she slammed her hand across her mouth.
Sienna discarded her glass and settled in front of the cauldron. Smiling, she raised a brow, her hand poised over the bubbling liquid. “Ready?”
“Are you sure about this, Sienna?” Jenna frowned as Sienna scooped the liquid into a bottle the size of Tinker Bell. “Tell me again why we’re doing this?”
“Because we’re teaching Kate how to make potions. Being a witch without potion knowledge is like a Keeper without speed. Not cool.”
Kate hiccupped. “And because it’ll cure my hiccups.”
Jenna couldn’t resist the grimace. “You seriously trust this stuff?”
“Drink up. It’s my grandmother’s recipe.” Sienna handed the potion to Kate, slapping away Jenna’s interfering hand. “Stop it, you’re going to spill!”
“If this harms one hair on Kate’s head, Declan –”
“I’m not afraid of Declan.” Sienna laughed, giving a dismissive wave of the hand. “He’s my Keeper. He’d never harm me.”
“Kate’s his woman.”
“Ooh, trump card. Clever.”
Another hiccup.
Jenna sent her a narrowed glance. “Didn’t you and Sarah once explode your grandmother’s kitchen or something?”
“A minor miscalculation.”
“Miscalculation? You blew up Rose’s kitchen! Give me that!” Jenna reached for the bottle, but Kate shifted out of her reach and tossed the liquid down her throat.
Jenna’s jaw dropped and they stared at each other in silence.
“You’re both looking at me as though I’m about to combust into a bearded lizard or something,” Kate whispered and then she laughed. A loud and hysterical laughter that escalated as though the potion had unleashed a giggling teenager.
Sienna grinned.
“They’re gone!” Kate said, sobering, and held out a hand for silence. No hiccups. Beaming, she gave Sienna a high five and they both burst out laughing.
They sounded so free, joyous: everything Jenna and the Bennett brothers fought so hard to preserve. It was contagious and by then, Jenna couldn’t hold back her smile.
CHAPTER FOUR (#ulink_ee683971-d25b-51a5-982a-c0337f74cb73)
Another sleepless night. Another nightmare.
Jenna sighed and opened the freezer, brightening when she saw the new tub of ice cream. Since Sienna had discovered Jenna’s weakness for mint ice cream she kept the freezer stocked with a steady supply.
Jenna grabbed a spoon, opened the tub, and hopped onto the counter. At the rate she was devouring her midnight stash, she was sure to gain a few extra pounds.
Hopefully, her morning training session with the guys would help to offset the damage.
She was on her fourth spoonful when she heard movement on the stairs. She tilted her head, spoon dangling above the ice cream, and waited, refusing to acknowledge the way her heartbeat had upped its rhythm.
Because it had nothing to do with the fact that those stairs led to Ethan’s room. Right?
He paused on the last step when he saw her. She hadn’t bothered with the lights, relying on the yellow glow from the patio light outside. Besides, she’d know her way around the kitchen blindfolded. Hell, she’d done this pyjama drill enough times.
His hair was ruffled, like he’d run his hands through it a dozen times. He wore a t-shirt that hugged the muscles in his chest and arms and cotton pants, the ones with a flimsy drawstring that hung low on the waist. Firm, athletic, tanned.
She swallowed, tasting mint.
He didn’t seem surprised to find her there but raised an eye at her midnight snack.
“Want some?” she asked, putting the spoon into her mouth.
A mild grin curled his lips and he crossed the room, stopping to grab a spoon out of the drawer. He scooted onto the counter beside her and reached for the ice cream. “Another dream?”
“Yeah. You?”
His brows creased but he didn’t ask her to elaborate. He probably knew she wouldn’t tell him anyway. He shook his head. “Work.”
“Figured so. Your hair’s a mess.”
“What’s my hair got to do with work?”
“You wear it neater than I do.” Grinning, she motioned to his hair with the spoon. “That spells all kinds of tossing and turning.”
His lips twitched in one of those half smiles she loved.
She refilled her spoon, trying to ignore the flutter inside triggered whenever she was alone with him – a sensation that had magnified since their tussle in the forest earlier. “You worried about the opening?”
“We’re as ready as can be,” he replied, in the quiet voice that always seemed to stir her senses. His frown grew deeper. “The town is still infested with crows. Nothing like what we experienced, but bad enough. They’re everywhere.”
“Shitty timing with the opening of the restaurant and the festival this weekend. The entire town will be there.”
And Hazel’s timing was no coincidence. Their enemies loved public events as it meant tons of witnesses, most of them unaware of the supernatural happenings right under their noses, so magic was on a tight rein.
Whilst Keepers and witches protected the secret of their magic, their enemies flaunted it in their determination to achieve their goals of power, exposure and control.
But Ethan couldn’t delay the opening of the restaurant any longer.
Jenna lowered her spoon and sighed. “There will be so many people there. The idea of taking Sienna and Kate out after what happened today –”
“We can’t keep them locked up.”
“It’s dangerous.”
“I know.”
Of course he did. He’d been protecting Sienna far longer than she’d been protecting Kate. But there was so much more at stake now.
She scrunched her nose. “As much as I love being a Keeper, it sometimes sucks big monkey balls, you know?”
His rumble of laughter reverberated across the room. “That about sums it up.” He laughed again and she smiled. Sobering, his gaze met hers. “We won’t let anything happen to them,” he said softly, his tone taking on a more serious edge. “To be honest, I wish Hazel would hurry the hell up and appear.”
His words didn’t surprise her. She knew how much he hated waiting for an attack. They all did, but for Ethan it was different. He’d grown tired of constantly being in defence mode, always primed in case their enemies showed up. Despite knowing that Archer would never agree to an attack, Ethan had tried everything to find Hazel. He’d grown impatient, frustrated, a side of him she hadn’t seen very often.
“A part of me is relieved she’s showing presence again,” Jenna said. “Her silence has been unnerving.”
“Damn right.”
The dark witch caster had been far too quiet ever since Jenna had rescued Kate from her in a New Orleans cemetery a few months ago. She’d almost lost Kate that night – an offering in one of Hazel’s sacrificial rituals. Hazel had intended using Kate’s blood to free her nephew, Mason Brogan, imprisoned and desiccating in an abandoned storage room on the Bennett estate. Once they’d harvested Kate’s blood, they would’ve killed her and scavenged her magic – a victory that would turn the war in Hazel’s favour.
But Jenna and Kate had escaped.
Ethan dumped his spoon into the tub, not surprising her. Talking about Hazel was always an appetite-killer. “Despite my search, my questions, no one will reveal where Hazel’s hiding. Even witches that side with us.”
“They’re afraid, Ethan. Hazel is all power and fear. Few people would dare cross her.”
“You did.”
“That’s different. I had Kate to protect.” She didn’t elaborate, didn’t have to. He’d put himself in danger countless times defending Sienna. Their witches, their lives, came first above all else. Even their own.
“Are you afraid?”
“When it comes to Hazel, it’d be stupid not to be. All the more reason you shouldn’t be gallivanting the streets looking for her.”
“Gallivanting is not quite the term I’d use.”
“It’s still reckless.”
“The waiting is killing me.”
“Your brothers find out you’ve been searching for her behind their backs, they’ll be furious.”
“They’ll get over it.”
“Not if you die.”
His expression hardened and he tossed his spoon into the sink, his blue eyes flashing with a sadness that needed no words. Sarah. Losing their sister had nearly destroyed them. “I’ve been discreet, Jenna.”
“Underestimating Hazel and her reach is foolish. I figured it out. It won’t be long before your brothers do too.”
“Stay out of it. I’ll tell them when the time’s right.”
Something about his expression told her it wouldn’t be any time soon.
“I won’t say anything.” She placed the tub on the counter, along with her spoon. “Provided you take me with you next time you go looking for them.”
His smirk triggered the dimple in his cheek. “You’re resorting to bribery?”
“I won today’s challenge, so you have no choice. Besides, it’ll be safer if there are two of us.”
“Safer? If anything, you coming with me makes you a liability. Anyone wanting to get into Hazel’s good books will rat you out in a heartbeat.”
His words stung, mostly because they held a truth to them that left Jenna with a permanent sense of dread in the pit of her stomach. For Hazel, no betrayal ever went unpunished. Jenna had witnessed that too many times. Freeing Kate and destroying the blood that would set Hazel’s nephew free had sealed Jenna’s fate. She knew there’d be consequences.
“Guess I’ll have to watch my back, then.” She gave him a small smile and hopped off the counter to rinse the spoons. They could’ve waited until morning, but she needed something to do.
She was grateful when he didn’t press, but a quick glance in his direction told her what she already knew. He had his quiet, thoughtful, smouldering gaze pinned on her. Almost as though he saw right through her.
Damn, she adored all three brothers, found them all attractive, but something about Ethan’s all-knowing, quiet stares seemed to touch her in places the other two brothers couldn’t.
He moved so quickly, a soft rush of air filling the silence, and when she turned around, he was there. A rock-solid wall of muscles and simmering heat. A sizzle of awareness raced down her spine, his closeness snatching her breath away.
“Don’t do that,” he murmured. When she tried to avert her gaze, his fingers tipped her chin upward. “Don’t pretend like it doesn’t matter.”
Her throat tightened, the reply trapped between the worry and emotion. Clearing her throat, she shrugged. “I did what I had to do, Ethan.”
“And you’re marked because of that.”
“I had to protect Kate.”
“Doesn’t make it an easy burden to carry.”
His features were illuminated in a soft shade of yellow from the light outside. His dark blue gaze held her captive. An all-knowing look that threatened her facade. Air evaded her, along with a reply, and she stepped back but flinched when her arm brushed her hip. Damn, her flesh still ached from the new mark.
“Rough day?” he asked, his tone softening with the familiar playfulness she loved. A small smile played on his lips. No doubt a ploy to return them to neutral territory.
She smiled, grateful for the reprieve. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
“It wasn’t all bad.”
Her stomach flipped at the reminder of their intimacy in the forest. Her cheeks heated and the image of a sorority girl with a crush came to mind. She bit back a groan. Could she be more pathetic?
“It’s late.” She cleaned up and wiped her hands on a cloth. “I should go to bed. I’ll need my beauty sleep for combat practice with you and your brothers in the morning.”
Their sunrise training sessions in the forest had become a daily ritual. It kept them in shape and improved their skills.
And helped to work off the ice cream.
“Jenna.” His fingers toyed with hers. “About what happened earlier at the river, with us … I’m sorry. I was out of line.”
“Me too.” Relieved to clear the air, she withdrew her hand, flicked his shirt, and smiled. “But I still won our bet, so that makes me your travel buddy. And you’re still buying me beers. Shirtless.”
“You won’t let that go, will you?”
“Not on your life.”
CHAPTER FIVE (#ulink_0c2abcac-ba67-5ce8-aedf-49e3a7770a41)
FRIDAY MORNING
BENNETT ESTATE
The tranquillity of the forest did little to ease Jenna’s worry. Her body tingled in anticipation, her senses primed as she made her way through the trees.
A thin fog blanketed the ground and the air felt crisp and cool. The sun would be up soon, along with the trio of Bennett brothers, ready for their daily training session.
She could hardly wait. Her entire body felt coiled, ready to unravel at any moment. A kick-ass fight was just the kind of outlet that would help.
Until then, Jenna would revel in the quiet, walking, searching. Like she’d done countless times when she’d thought no one else was watching.
But Ethan was onto her.
She clamped the worry that flared at that thought and shone her flashlight at the path ahead. It highlighted the remains of an old well, unused and dilapidated, but served as a beacon that would help her find the entrance to the underground storage rooms, where Hazel’s nephew was kept. Sienna and her grandmother had spelled Mason years ago, the night Sarah had died. A horrible fate for a horrible man but a fitting punishment for someone so evil.
Jenna wasn’t here for the warlock, but at some point Hazel would come for him. Not that she’d easily reach him as Sienna had sealed the tunnels with a spell, but still. Hazel was close. She could feel it and if that were true, they would’ve used their favourite mode of transport into Rapid Falls – a portal.
Portals were instant doorways to anywhere in the world. They allowed Hazel and her followers to move between cities with ease. Quick entrances, quick escapes. And a whole lot of damage caused in between.
That was the mild part.
The most dangerous portal was the one that led to Ameera. A door that remained firmly sealed because opening it meant anything could emerge and enter the mortal world. Their world. The portal was the only thing that separated the two realms.
Because of the risks involved, The Circle had bound the spell to open portals a long time ago, but it had been stolen by a dark witch caster, an evil lineage of witches with a love of black magic.
Hazel’s lineage.
Over time, on the rare occasions they’d opened the portal to Ameera, it had been brief and they’d ensured no one escaped.
But Jenna had.
The last time the portal had been opened had been the last night Jenna had seen her parents. The night her mother had sent her through the portal, along with a young orphaned witch her parents had taken under their wing, hurtling them into another world that was far prettier and more peaceful.
But just as frightening.
Jenna had been here ever since and after that night the door to Ameera had remained shut. Jenna had long since given up hope of ever returning until she’d been sent for Kate – and met Hazel. Even though she’d known the risks, she’d hoped that Hazel would attempt opening the portal to Ameera.
If only briefly, enough time for Jenna to return to find her parents.
Jenna’s chest tightened, like it always did when she thought of them. She hated the weight of despair that had reared its head. She’d mastered the art of keeping it all buried. But lately, memories of her parents had begun to consume her.
A rustle of leaves in the distance startled her. Turning off the flashlight, she quietly scanned the forest.
Her senses flickered and she held her breath, searching, listening. And then she heard it again. A shuffle of movement. Quiet breathing. A heartbeat.
She wasn’t alone.
She stepped behind a tree. A large shadow appeared in front of her, the movement so sudden and fast that leaves scattered. She dropped the flashlight and ducked. Moving with lightning speed, she lunged.
It was like slamming into a brick wall but he grunted and went down. Jenna scrambled on top of him, using her body weight to pin him down. She threw the first punch, but her fist connected with a palm.
“Dammit, Jen, what the hell was that for?” Ethan growled, his words stunning her into stillness.
Jenna gaped at him, her heart lurching with relief. She punched him on the shoulder, but it lacked the force the previous one had. “Why did you sneak up on me like that? I could’ve killed you!”
He snorted. “Like I’d ever let that happen.”
“What are you doing here?”
“What are you doing here?” He lifted his head, glanced at the door behind her. It was overgrown and bushy, but he’d know what was behind it.
Damn.
Her mind scrambled for a reply but none came. What the hell could she say anyway? If he ever discovered she’d been searching for a portal – preferably one to Ameera, of all places … yeah, he wouldn’t like that. At all.
Besides, she wasn’t ready to tell him she was the daughter of Keeper parents exiled to a prison world on another realm. Ha, she almost laughed at how absurd that sounded. Not the kind of thing one could easily divulge.
But still, she was busted and she needed an answer.
“You followed me!” she accused, hating the slight hitch to her tone. But dammit, he’d frightened her! Messed with her plans. And he was onto her. She wasn’t sure which of the three she loathed more.
“You wouldn’t tell me where you’ve been going at night.”
“Ethan!”
“Why are you here, Jenna?”
She sat back, not caring that her waist ground against his. She tilted her head and looked at the door, grasping for an explanation. Anything that would ease his suspicion. “I came to check on Mason.”
Silence.
His brows lifted. “Right. And?”
“I haven’t gone inside yet.” She swatted his chest. “You have no right to follow me, you ass!”
“I have every right. Especially when I think you’re bullshitting me.”
She climbed off him, hating how transparent she’d become with him. “I had a dream that made me want to check on Mason.”
It was the truth. Kind of.
“What about the other night?” He rose, watching her. “Also a dream?”
“It’s none of your business, Ethan.” She tried to push past him, but he caught her arm and drew her back to him. Her body collided with his, a barrier of broad shoulders and hard muscles.
“This is my witch, my home,” he murmured. “My business. And you shouldn’t be in the forest alone, Jenna. It’s too dangerous.”
The cry of frustration erupted before she could reel it in and she shoved him away. “Everything’s dangerous, Ethan. Everything! I’m so damn sick of it!”
She snapped her mouth shut, shocked at her outburst.
Silence stretched between them and when he stepped forward instinct had her taking a step back, but he kept coming until she was backed against a tree.
Awareness surged through her. The air caught in her lungs. She could feel him, smell him. His strength and masculine power immobilised her as he pressed forward, using his body to anchor hers.
She lifted her chin in quiet defiance, meeting his gaze, refusing to reveal how she felt. Cornered. Breathless. All too aware of the heat and man that had her pinned to a damn tree.
“We live in a permanent sense of fear, Jenna,” he said quietly, his words a rumble of sexiness that made her heart skip a beat. “I despise it as much as you do. But the only thing that keeps me from going mad is knowing I’m not alone.”
The dim light from the discarded flashlight highlighted his features in a shimmer of orange.
Something calm and enticing washed over her. Her ability to breathe had totally escaped her.
His fingers brushed away a lock of hair from her face, his touch gentle, despite the soft scrape of his calloused palm. “At some point you need to realise you’re not alone either, Jen. Knowing that makes all the crap more bearable.”
“Ethan –”
His eyes narrowed. “I get that you’re secretive about your past and your time with Hazel.” She looked away, but his fingers caught her chin, bringing her back to him. “That’s okay. But you’re not alone. As long as you know that.”
She couldn’t speak, the words trapped in her throat, emotion rolling through her in ways she usually avoided. All she could do was nod.
He stayed that way for a moment longer, simply looking at her, stroking her hair, his eyes flashing with something she couldn’t quite define.
With a small smile, he withdrew. “My brothers are near,” he said, his voice gruff. He cleared his throat and looked away, searching the forest. “Let’s check on Mason and get the hell out of here. I hate this place.”
CHAPTER SIX (#ulink_10cb9460-cd3c-5182-8614-d9169567daf2)
The sound of clashing sticks and steady breathing permeated the quiet morning air. The Bennett brothers’ daily training was in full swing. It was warm, the forest streaked with gentle rays of sunlight that filtered through the trees.
Ethan and Jenna circled each other, both using long sticks to either attack or defend in a whirl of swift, steady movements.
The dance was smooth, rapid, focused. Tainted with an underlying frustration that seemed to have upped a notch this morning. A result of circumstances or the fact that he’d followed her?
I came to check on Mason. Right.
He had no reason to doubt her, but instinct told him she hadn’t been entirely honest. There was more. To her excuse. To her. He knew that, but the woman kept a Great Wall of China between herself and everyone else and he wasn’t sure if he had the energy or the inclination to break through.
Because breaking through walls meant caring. And that stirred up heaps of crap he usually avoided.
She mirrored his movements perfectly, making it impossible for him to gain an inch of ground. She shielded his every blow, constantly engaging with an overbearing force that had him more on the defensive than offensive.
Adrenaline soared, their bodies sleeked in thin layers of sweat, and they fought on, breathless, determined, the practice session as thrilling as it was necessary.
Jenna used her stick to field his next hit, retaliating with one of her own. He moved, but not fast enough, the weapon connecting him on the shoulder with a powerful force, missing the side of his head by an inch.
“Whoa, Jenna!” He broke away, frowning at her as he rubbed his shoulder. “Rule of combat practice – attack the aggression, not the aggressor.”
“You should be defending your red zone, Ethan. You left yourself wide open.” She poked his chest with the stick.
His hand shot up, clutching her weapon. Grinning, he gave a hard tug, taking pleasure in the way she launched forward.
In a swift movement, he had her pinned beneath him, the stick at her throat.
He raised a brow. “Wide open?”
With a loud grunt, her knee jerked upward, dislodging his hold on her. She was on her feet in a flash, smiling. Panting, she backed off, lowering her weapon, but sprang into action the moment Ethan’s brother, Declan, pounced.
Stick raised, she swung around and ducked as Declan charged. He wielded his own stick, bulldozing full steam ahead with his surprise attack.
Their fight was swift, their bodies moving between the trees with breathless pace.
“Wow, Declan, frustrated much?” Jenna moved around him in a steady flow of fancy footwork, easily defending his blows with her own.
“Scared of some friendly banter, Blondie?”
She lowered her body, ducking his next attack, smiling with satisfaction when her stick connected with his legs. She pulled back, circling him, a mild grin breaking free. “Is that what this is? Friendly?”
“Of course.”
“Right.”
They stood staring at each other, breathlessly assessing the distance and range of the weapons between them.
Simultaneously, they charged.
Sticks clashed, louder and with added hostility as they performed a perfect mirroring drill, anticipating each other’s moves with ease.
Ethan glanced at Archer, watching the tussle quietly, arms folded across his chest. His oldest brother exerted a permanent control and calm that Declan lacked. They were so different in so many ways.
Declan lunged for Jenna, releasing a growl of frustration. Ethan frowned at the scent of aggression that lined their fight – a fight born out of need for building strength and endurance.
But this was different.
Archer’s expression tightened and the slight narrowing of his eyes hinted that he sensed it too.
Declan stepped back, twisted his stick, and charged. In a blur of speed, Jenna took a running leap. Anticipating her move, he joined her, sailing through the air with ease.
Their collision was loud, powerful, their sticks clattering on impact. They were still fighting as they fell, their landing less skilled. They parted, straightened their sticks, and stared at each other, frustration sizzling between them.
Jenna glared at him, her jaw clenched, her shoulders rising and falling in breathy gasps of air. With a soft curse, she lowered her weapon, shaking her head.
“Had enough?” Declan goaded as she turned around.
Ignoring him, she walked away, but drew to an abrupt stop as a single line of fire reared to life in front of her. She spun around to face Declan, her mouth opening in surprise.
Another line of fire roared to life in front of her, cutting her off. She slammed her stick on the ground. “Dammit, Declan! Cut that out!”
The line of fire chased around her, closing in. Realising she was about to be imprisoned, she bolted for the remaining gap between the blaze, cursing when Declan added more heat, more energy. The circle closed before she reached it, flames rearing up with a force that had her backing to the centre of the circle.
The sound of fire crackled around her, the flames almost at shoulder height.
“Something wrong?” Declan called out, his voice laced with mild amusement. “Come on, Blondie. Can’t fight your way out of this?”
“You’re being a dick, Declan.”
“We’re at war. You need to be prepared.”
“You’re questioning my combat skills?”
“It’s not your combat skills in question. Hell, even I’ll admit that your moves are impressive.”
Surprise etched her expression at the admission.
“But you refuse to use your elemental powers,” he added. “That makes you weak.”
Her nostrils flared and she tilted her chin upward. “Tossing around a few fireballs won’t necessarily win our war.”
Declan’s lips curled at the dig, but he let it slide. “Afraid of your powers, Jenna?”
“No.”
The flames flared higher. “So show me.”
“Screw you, Declan. I don’t have to prove anything to you.”
“I beg to differ. You protect the hybrid witch our enemies are after. They reach her and the balance of nature is screwed.”
“Yes, but the balance has nothing to do with this. With us.” She waved a finger between them. “I protect the woman you love, so for you it’s personal.”
“What are we? Fifteen?”
“I get that being an overprotective ass is your default setting, but Kate is my witch and I will die before letting anything happen to her, just as you would for Sienna.”
Declan scowled at her, the muscles on either side of his jaw twitching.
“You think I don’t know what I’m up against protecting Kate?” Jenna said, her tone clipped with irritation. “I live with a permanent sense of dread, knowing what’s at stake if I fail, and I don’t need you constantly pushing me, taunting me, and giving me crap every day trying to prove that I’m worthy. We’re supposed to be on the same team, dammit!”
“Because you’re all about teamwork, aren’t you, Blondie?”
“When it comes to protecting Kate and Sienna, I am.”
“I can’t be on team you until I can trust you can handle this.”
“Rather unfortunate considering Hazel’s showing presence again. And don’t for one moment think she won’t sniff out a divide between us.”
“As easily as she’ll sniff out a weakness.”
“I’m not weak!”
He raised a brow and pegged her with a challenging glare. The fire reared higher, the crackling muffling her soft curse.
“Declan,” Archer said, stepping forward. “That’s enough.”
“No.” Ethan took his arm. “Leave them.”
Archer frowned. “She’s right, Declan’s being an ass.”
“I think she’s had her fair share of dealing with asses. She can handle this one too.”
Archer paused and glanced at Jenna. A moment later, his pensive expression relaxed and he gave a single nod.
Silence engulfed them, the air sizzling with tension.
It was Declan who broke their standoff. Flames still burning, he swore loudly and shook his head. Turning around, he walked away.
A warlike cry shattered the silence as Jenna launched through the air, breaking through the blaze. She collided with Declan and exploded into a series of martial arts manoeuvres that triggered another fight.
This time, there was more rage, more determination, and they moved so swiftly that it was near impossible to follow them.
Declan fought back with a viciousness that matched hers, but something in his eyes gave him away.
She’d surprised him.
Ethan grinned.
In the end, Jenna creamed his brother in a swift pace that had them gaping at her. Declan was a skilled a fighter as any, but Jenna possessed a natural fighting skill that topped his. In battle mode, the woman was damn near faultless.
Ethan caught Archer’s gaze, not missing the flash of satisfaction in his brother’s narrowed one.
Delivering a final, vicious kick that connected with Declan’s nose, Jenna backed off. Declan cursed as blood splattered and he glowered at his opponent. They were both breathless, bloody, bruised. A fierce silence followed and Jenna circled the warrior, fists up, ready for his retaliation.
Which never came.
Instead, Declan lowered his fists and spat out blood. Breathing heavily, his gazed locked with Jenna’s. “It’s not quite the display of magic I’d hoped for, but …”
“You’d be a fool to underestimate me again, Declan.” A smirk softened her anger. “Kicking your butt just proved that.”
Declan swiped at his mouth with the back of his hand, his lips twitching.
Ethan’s grin widened. She’d impressed Declan and he wasn’t easily impressed – or surprised. In a matter of moments, she’d accomplished both.
Damn right.
Jenna lowered her stick. “You have a right to be worried, Declan. We’re all worried. But you’re forgetting one thing. You’ve met Hazel twice. Twice. I lived with her and her merry band of evil for two years. I know what we’re facing more than you will ever know, so choosing not to be on team me is … stupid.”
With a final glare, she turned around and left.
CHAPTER SEVEN (#ulink_cfa61455-d953-5fab-9325-1766f388bde4)
The opening of the restaurant coincided with the school’s annual parade, one of the town’s many traditions. Each summer, the high school seniors hosted the parade, an event that had grown so popular over the years that it attracted tourists from all over.
The main road hummed with activity, the restaurants crammed with visitors. The aroma of fried donuts filtered through the air, sweet and enticing. Children ran between the crowds of people that walked the streets, lined with vendors selling homemade crafts or fresh produce. Others lay sprawled on picnic blankets in the central garden. Their laughter and voices mingled with the music played by the band.
The celebrations for Ethan’s restaurant opening were in full swing. A joyous occasion that did little to shred Jenna’s uneasiness.
Darkness was near. She could feel it.
They all could, but in a world where their kind lived in secret and social obligations like restaurant openings and festivals couldn’t be avoided, events that surrounded them with friends determined to celebrate, they had no choice but to mask the worry and pretend that Rapid Falls was the perky, safe little town everyone thought it was.
What a load of crock.
Jenna scanned the street again before going into the restaurant. She slid into an empty seat at the end of the bar and eyed the bottles of alcohol against the wall, longing for the oblivion the clear liquid promised. But no. She hadn’t eaten much and needed a clear head.
They’d packed the restaurant to capacity, a steady flow of people coming and going. The aromas of garlic and herbs spiced the air, a contrast to the sweet scent on the street.
The restaurant had been refurbished with a contemporary feel, but the wooden floors, brick walls, and lighting gave it a warm edge.
Sarah’s.
An apt name for the restaurant and a brilliant way to honour an amazing woman.
A loud rumble of thunder reverberated above them, followed by Ethan’s laugh, which drifted across the room. Two women were draped around him at the far end of the bar. One distributed shots of Tequila.
Mr. Popular himself. Always the first of the brothers the women flocked to – even more so now that Archer and Declan were no longer single. Beneath his easy-going personality were layers of a mysterious, quiet confidence the women adored.
Jenna wondered how many of them actually made it back to his bed. She knew he avoided a relationship the same way he avoided asparagus. Didn’t like it, wouldn’t try it. His encounters were brief and fun.
Hell, the thought of Ethan doing a naked monkey dance with any of these women added a spark of annoyance straight to her gut.
And she refused to decode why. Nope.
He’d shaved, the subtle scent of his aftershave knocking at her senses every time he came close. He wore a white shirt and blue jeans, the sleeves rolled up to the elbows. Black leather bracelets covered each wrist, along with his Keeper ring on his finger. Despite everything, he looked relaxed. Happy.
She envied the way he was able to flip the switch that instantly turned off the worry in front of others. A perfect mask. If she hadn’t known better, known him …
Almost as though he sensed her quiet scrutiny, he turned, his gaze connecting with hers across the room.
Jenna’s stomach flipped in response and she began toying with the box of matches on the counter. It had the name Sarah’s scrawled on one side.
Ethan downed another shot, disentangled himself from the women – despite their protests – and joined her at the opposite end of the bar.
Pocketing the matches, she lifted a brow. “Needing a break from their flattery?”
“Trust me, flattery was too mild a word for what that was.” He slid into the vacant seat beside her, giving an exaggerated shudder that made her laugh.
“Too much for you to handle?”
“No. I can handle them. But I don’t want to. Besides, they’re both married.”
“They are?”
“I have no idea where their husbands are tonight, but I got a taste of what it feels like to be a burger and beer at a health clinic.”
She laughed and nodded in the direction of the kitchen. “How’s it going in there?”
“There were a few hiccups and I’m in need of a new pastry chef, but overall the opening’s been a hit.” He scanned the full restaurant. “Sarah would be proud.”
“We should drink to her.”
He leaned forward, a teasing grin easing his expression. “And I believe I owe you a beer.”
She smiled. “Shirtless?”
“I’ve never backed down from a bet,” he said, fiddling with the top button of his shirt.
Something niggled inside, a mild objection at the thought of his beautiful body on display to everyone here. “Really?”
“It’s my restaurant. My party.”
“And it’s my win, right?”
“Which is why I’m about to lose my shirt in a full restaurant.”
Niggle, niggle.
“No,” she said softly, covering his hand with hers, surprising herself.
Electric-blue eyes found hers. A small grin hitched the corner of his lips, triggering a familiar stirring in her belly. “You’re backing out?”
“It’s my win, so I say keep the shirt. The women here don’t need the distraction.”
Leaning closer, he brushed his lips against her ear. “They don’t or you don’t?” When she inhaled sharply and pushed him away, he chuckled and walked around the bar. “I still owe you that beer.”
“If I’m letting you off the hook, stud muffin, you owe me several.”
“You’re relinquishing your win?”
“Only the shirt. The rest of our deal still stands.” But something about his expression told her he already knew that.
He leaned forward, his elbows on the counter. “You insist that searching for Hazel alone is dangerous. How’s that different from your midnight cruises?”
“Because I wasn’t searching for Hazel.”
“So why the sneaking out at night?”
“Why are you keeping tabs on me?”
“Answer my question.”
Sighing, Jenna looked away. “I’ve been struggling to sleep.”
“Bad dreams?”
An understatement. Bad dreams had plagued her for years – fragments of the night she’d lost her family and the time she’d spent with Hazel. Lately, her dreams had escalated to horrific nightmares, so vivid and real that she dreaded going to sleep. Broken images of screaming women tied to each other, locked in a burning building as a group of people stood by and watched.
Jenna knew the nightmares were about the witch massacre that had occurred many years ago, when a group of witches had exposed their magic to a few ordinary folk in hope of living in harmony. The backlash had been tragic. Whilst their Keepers had stood by and watched, dozens of witches were rounded up and burned, proving how essential it was to keep the existence of their kind a secret.
Something they still fought for, everything their enemies despised. As for the Keepers who’d betrayed their witches …
“What are the dreams about?” he asked, the soft words spearing her thoughts.
She looked back at him, caught by the urge to tell him. She’d never shared them with anyone, never dared. Because admitting to the massacre nightmares would spark several unwanted questions, all of which led straight to her family.
He deserved to know the truth – and she’d tell him. Soon.
The thought made her heart skip a beat. Not surprising. The Bennett brothers lived and breathed to protect witches. She’d been born into a lineage of Keepers exiled to live in Ameera as punishment for harming them. It wasn’t a conversation she looked forward to.
Especially if it altered the way they saw her.
Shaking her head, she tucked her hair behind her ears, needing to give her hands something to do. “It’s not important.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Jenna.” Despite his even expression, his tone held a serious edge. “Considering what we’re facing, who we protect, everything that goes on in my home is important.”
“Your home, Ethan. Yours. Your brothers, your witch, your town. Arriving here hasn’t been a picnic for me. Sometimes I need air and you don’t get to monitor me, so back off. Please,” she added quickly, not sure why she’d felt the need to.
He studied her for a long while before nodding. “Fair enough. But next time you go for a midnight cruise on your own, you should let someone know.”
“Same goes for you and your business trips.”
The lights flickered several times, extracting a ripple of surprised murmurs across the room. The crack of thunder echoed in the distance and Ethan glanced outside, a deep frown hardening his expression. “The storm’s getting closer.”
“The crows, the storm … Hazel’s near and I hate that we can’t stop her.”
“We’d need to find her first.”
She caught the frustration in his tone. “Even if Archer agreed, it’s no use. You’ve been tracking her for weeks and still have no idea where –”
A trickle of awareness raced down her spine, and a moment later Archer slid into the seat beside her. He had the ability to manipulate water and was the quietest of the three brothers, always brooding. But now, his green eyes blazed with fury and a muscle worked in his jaw.
He shot Ethan a raised brow. “You went searching for Hazel?”
“Eavesdropping again, brother?”
“Your recent trip to New York. Is that what you were doing?” Archer’s tone held a dangerous edge, but failed to evoke a response from Ethan. Archer turned to Jenna. “Did you know?”
“Leave her out of it, Archer,” Ethan said quietly, his voice unwavering. “We agreed we’d try locating Hazel.”
“We agreed we’d put out feelers, ask around. Not go hunting for her.” He slapped Ethan’s shoulder with the back of his hand. “Alone, Ethan? What the hell were you thinking?”
“I’m sick of waiting for her to show.”
“She will, and when she does we’ll be ready for her.”
“But how many lives will be lost until she does?”
“Did you find her?”
“A few of her hideouts, a few followers.”
“But no Hazel?” When Ethan didn’t reply, Archer scowled. “Did they see you?”
“I’m frustrated, not stupid.”
Archer gave Ethan another smack on the shoulder. “Hunting down an evil witch caster alone is stupid.”
“It would’ve been nice to have company, brother, but you refuse –”
“We’re Keepers, Ethan. We vowed to protect, defend. We fight for peace. Going on a killing rampage is not what we vowed to do.”
“And sitting back letting innocent people die is?”
They glared at each other, tension simmering between them. Jenna caught a few curious glances sent their way and she quietly leaned forward, placing a hand on each of them.
“Guys, there are people watching,” Sienna muttered, coming up behind them. Her tone reminded Jenna of one a mother would use to reel in her squabbling children. “We can discuss this at home. Tonight’s supposed to be fun. For our friends, at least.”
Scowling, Ethan leaned forward, his face close to Archer’s. “Our duty is to our witches, to the people –” he nodded in the direction of the crowd behind him, “– and the balance. We’ll always honour that, but things have changed, brother. Our enemies are stronger, people are dying. The same rules don’t apply anymore.”
Archer’s eyes flared. “You think I don’t know that, brother? But if we start hunting our enemies, what separates us from them?”
Ethan didn’t reply. He stared back, his eyes a grey storm of emotion, the truth of Archer’s words striking a chord for them both. What Ethan was suggesting went against everything they believed in, everything they were. But sitting back and waiting for an attack seemed just as wrong.
The muscles in Ethan’s jaw slackened and he swallowed. Glaring at his brother, he turned around and headed for the door.
CHAPTER EIGHT (#ulink_530f7ac0-cce3-53a3-901e-e2f4eda224fa)
Anger churning in his gut, Ethan dodged a grey cat on the sidewalk and bolted up the steps to the roof. The brisk breeze that trailed behind him went ignored.
He went to the railing and drew in a few deep breaths.
The band had tempered their music, opting for more mellow songs to suit the mood. Dozens of fairy lights were cast across the street, creating a blanket of white below him. The air smelt of rain. At the end of the street, the senior kids were preparing for their march, a flurry of wild decor, extravagant floats, and costumes that ticked every colour of the rainbow. Visitors had cleared the street in anticipation, the sidewalks crawling with a stream of people.
Sienna and Kate had settled at a table in the park. Declan and Archer hovered nearby, their heads bowed together in a heated discussion.
Arguing about him, no doubt. He knew they’d be furious he’d gone to search for Hazel alone, but what was the alternative? To wait for another attack?
His chest tightened.
Being a Keeper was all he knew, a destiny he treasured, honoured, but sometimes, like now, he resented the hell out of it because of the stifling confines that came with it. Keepers were good, noble, respected – dedicated to protecting witches and the balance of nature. Protecting the innocent. That was the easy part, something he’d sworn to do, but over time, as their enemies had grown stronger and claimed more loved ones and innocent lives, something had altered inside him. A rebellion against everything he was.
Their war was a constant, monotonous battle, where they only attacked when absolutely necessary. Self defence.
They defended.
And it was bullshit.
Their enemies had killed his parents, Sienna’s parents, Rose, his sister, and many other innocent people. They’d attacked Sienna. Kate.
And yet, despite all that, their nobility and duty prevented any retaliation.
A rush of air swept across the floor, unsettling a pot plant at the top of the stairs. The railing groaned beneath his grip, caving from the pressure. He relaxed his hand, the motion triggering the flow of colour to his whitened knuckles. He frowned at the indentation he’d left in the metal.
Turning back to the street, he breathed in again, but it did nothing for his agitation, only calmed the breeze. The overturned plant he’d deal with later.
“Ethan?” Jenna murmured from the top of the stairs. She’d moved so quietly and he wondered how he’d missed her approach.
A few strands of blond hair had escaped the messy knot at the nape of her neck, softening her features. She wore a sleeveless black shirt tucked into jeans, the cut neat and simple. Not a frill or bow in sight.
She held up two beers, the sight of her easing his frustration. But instead of going to him, she held back and glanced at the steps. “I can leave if you’d prefer to be alone.”
The flash of uncertainty in her eyes surprised him. She was a powerful warrior. A kick-ass ninja. Always sure. Always certain. Seeing that flicker of doubt intrigued him. Why, he wasn’t sure. But it did. More than he’d care to admit.
He motioned her closer with a wave of the hand. “Plying me with alcohol?”
“Always good for easing tension.” She edged into the dim light, handing him a beer. Her lips were pressed in a thin line and for a moment he wasn’t sure if the worry was directed at the reality they faced … or him. She sipped her beer and scanned the street. “Wow. It’s beautiful from up here.”
“It’s one of my favourite places. It all seems so serene from up here, doesn’t it?”
“Which is why I come here.” He nodded at the crowd below. “It’s nice to see everyone so happy. It validates everything we do. They have no idea how fragile their serenity is.”
“If serenity even exists. We’ve had quiet times between trouble, but they’re more like beats, pauses, in a whirlwind of threats.”
He didn’t reply and sipped his beer, absorbing the truth of her words. Cynical but so true.
And it sucked.
She glanced at his brothers in the park below. “They look serious.”
“Archer’s the poster boy for serious.” His brother had a forehead permanently creased into a frown. So different to Declan, the wilder, more reckless brother, who operated without a filter.
“Ten bucks you’re in for a mammoth lecture when we get home.”
“Like I care.” Arguing with his brothers seldom bothered him. Tolerating them was easy. He’d had years of practice. He took what he needed, ignored the rest. Suited him fine.
The grey cat appeared on the top step, leapt onto the metal railing and walked toward them. Silent, casual, purring quietly. A burst of music filled the air, the sound echoing in the darkness that stretched beyond the town. Moments later, the steady rhythm of beating drums joined the melody, followed by an eruption of cheering. Startled, the cat meowed and sauntered off.
Ethan pointed at the parade in the distance. “Your timing is impeccable. This is the best spot to watch the parade and the fireworks.”
“Just as well I brought beer.”
“You’d make an awesome date.”
She snorted. “I haven’t had many of those.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“Being known as the orphan girl at school had little appeal to the guys.” She shrugged her shoulders. “And once I discovered my strength and abilities, I kept screwing up. Still do. No matter how hard I try to be more feminine, to hide my strength, it always emerges in some way. Besides, it’s not much fun walking on eggshells around a man �cause you’re terrified to hurt him.”
He smiled, all too familiar with that feeling. The strength they possessed was exhilarating, but in the company of ordinary humans, restraint was always a challenge.
She grinned. “Thank God for Kate. She keeps me busy, gives my life a purpose. Keeps me from knitting socks and making soup.”
He laughed, not quite able to see her as a knitting, soup-making type of woman. Far from it.
The parade began their march through the street, the band pounding away at their instruments. Floats of all different sizes and colours moved along the street, creative and cleverly designed. Colour and excitement lit the air as the fireworks erupted. They were perfectly timed to the music, extracting murmurs of awe throughout the street.
His brothers had taken up a spot on the table in the park, Kate and Sienna between their legs on the bench in front of them. The women were smiling up at the fireworks, chattering wildly. Despite how calm they appeared, Ethan knew they were all wary.
Two grey cats sat nearby, unperturbed when the sky suddenly erupted into red and white sparks. A mild grin curled Jenna’s lips and she sipped her beer. A gentle breeze toyed with the strands of hair framing her face and he had the urge to reach out and tuck them behind her ear.
His gaze shifted to her lips, full and soft and promising. Tempting. His abdomen tightened at the thought.
A steady pulse beat in her throat. Another round of fireworks lit up the sky, illuminating her face in a colourful glow. Beautiful.
He saw the moment it changed for her. The shatter of stillness.
Her expression tightened and she straightened, staring at the street below. “Ethan,” she said, grabbing his arm. “The cats!”
****
A hot spurt of alarm hit Jenna as she pointed to the cats below. One by one, they transformed effortlessly into humans. The shift was so subtle, so graceful and quick, that it went unnoticed.
“Oh no,” Jenna breathed, an icy sensation raking down her spine. “They’re shifters, Ethan!”
“What the hell?” he grumbled, reaching for his phone.
“Hazel must’ve opened the portal to Ameera.”
What that meant sparked a torrent of emotions that Jenna was quick to sidestep. She couldn’t think about that. Not now.
Ethan had Archer on speed dial, his barked orders swallowed by an explosion of fireworks that lit up the sky in a rainbow of colours. The fires in all the metal bins that lined the street flared brighter.
The bins exploded, in sync with the noise of the fireworks, white sparks flying everywhere. A few people noticed, moved out of the way, but the noise and sparks were so perfectly timed with the parade that it caused little alarm.
One by one, like a snake slithering toward its prey, the bins exploded, moving toward the parade.
Archer and Declan were already on their feet, Sienna and Kate sandwiched between them.
Smoke filtered from the sidewalks. It triggered a few surprised looks from the marching crowd, but they moved on, caught in the excitement of the night.
Energy, noise, and colour filled the street. Music played, people laughed, unperturbed by the explosions. It was all part of the show.
The smoke thickened. A few people coughed and backed away from the parade, arms flailing.
Fireworks exploded. Bins exploded. Perfect synchronisation. Light bulbs erupted. A tree caught alight.
By the time the cries of alarm added to the chaos, Jenna and Ethan were already running.
CHAPTER NINE (#ulink_30840110-cbe1-52be-847b-b6027fdf0b14)
They raced down the stairs and onto the street, merging with the crowd. Confusion had broken up the parade. The music stopped, the explosions continued. Everyone began running. Screaming.
Ethan bolted into the panicked crowd, dodging people and fire, his focus zeroed in on one woman across the road. Sienna.
Jenna felt it too. That burning need to protect her witch above everything else. Despite the anguish. Despite the screams. Their witches came first. Always. She raced through the crowd, searching for Kate through the thickening smoke. Kate!
Declan came up behind her, taking her arm. “You have to get Kate home!” he shouted, tugging her with him as he walked.
“Where is she?”
He turned into the alleyway beside the restaurant. A wave of unease crashed through her as her instincts lit up like a runway. In a brisk movement, she yanked her arm out of his grasp and spun around, delivering a powerful kick that sent him reeling against the wall.
She launched at him before he could recover, slid around him and grabbed his neck between her arms. A death grip that could snap his neck in a heartbeat.
“What the hell was that for?” He gripped her arms, trying to break free. “Kate’s in trouble, you crazy woman!”
“You think I’m stupid?” She tightened her grip, taking satisfaction from his grunt. “Declan would never, ever leave Kate alone during an attack, so next time you try your Mimic crap with me, try a better story.”
He grumbled something beneath his breath, his words barely audible, and grew still. Then he laughed. The image of Declan disappeared to reveal the man beneath the facade. She recognised his mop of black curls and his jagged teeth. One of Hazel’s sidekicks, although Jenna had hardly spoken to him in her time with them. A Mimic. Known for his ability to imitate others.
And now there were shifters too – able to shift into cats at will. Both dangerous and deceptive.
“There are innocent people here!” Jenna said. “Are you all insane?”
Safety aside, a magical display like this risked exposure and severe consequences.
“Mildly, but watching you and the Bennett brothers fight to keep our secret is so entertaining.”
Jenna didn’t respond, distracted by a movement in the distance. Two cats sauntered toward her, unperturbed by the chaos in the background. In a sleek, agile movement, they effortlessly shifted into their human form, two women Jenna had never seen before. They were small in build and had dark hair, porcelain skin and narrow, bright green eyes that smacked of malice.
Jenna heard the rush of air a moment before she felt the impact from above. A third cat collided with her, a light force that instantly grew stronger as it shifted. But Jenna was faster. She dropped the Mimic, simultaneously delivering a vicious elbow to her attacker’s face the moment she became human. The shifter crashed into a dustbin but was on her feet in an instant. She had a similar appearance to the other two, almost identical.
They circled Jenna, snarling softly, the sound emanating from the back of their throats. Three against one. And the damn Mimic. Just her luck. Jenna braced herself as they closed in.
“STOP!” A voice demanded from above. “Get away from her! Hazel was clear this one was hers.”
A young woman leapt from the roof and landed on the ground in front of them. She had short jet-black hair, eyes outlined in dark makeup. Small in build, but a fierce and powerful witch Jenna instantly recognised.
Megan. The young witch her parents had taken in. Despite their mercy, love, and guidance, she’d joined Hazel’s cause anyway. The last time Jenna had seen her had been the night they’d tried to sacrifice Kate.
Jenna’s hands closed into fists, her body flooded by conflicting emotions always sparked by an interaction with Megan. Good versus evil. Right versus wrong. Two women on opposite sides of the war. Bound by a twisted childhood friendship.
Their gazes locked, silent animosity bristling between them. A shared past, a secret they both fiercely protected.
“We were only having some fun,” the Mimic replied, watching Megan with wary eyes.
“Get out of here,” Megan ordered, turning to the shifters. “And tell your people to tone it the hell down. We’re here to deliver a message, not spark a damn war!”
They hurried away, leaving behind two estranged woman and a heavy silence.
Anger soared through Jenna as instincts demanded she avoid Megan. The witch who wouldn’t hesitate to harm them.
The witch who had just helped her.
An age-old voice reared to life within her, a whisper of a twisted loyalty Jenna had always felt but never understood. So compelling. So wrong. Manifested during the years her parents had fostered Megan. They’d both been seven years old when they’d met and had become firm friends. Sisters.
Enemies.
“It would’ve been nice to have a warning before you invaded our town,” Jenna said.
“I warn you and I’m dead, Jenna. Besides, why would I bother? You destroyed any ounce of relationship we had when you betrayed me in New Orleans.”
“You were about to kill my witch!”
“A witch we needed.”
It was an ancient war between them, an inner battle they both fought. In truth, their friendship had altered the night Jenna’s mother had sent them through the portal. They’d parted ways. Jenna had joined the academy and Megan had aligned herself with the very people Jenna’s parents had despised. In time, they’d grown to be enemies, allied in opposite armies.
But somewhere beneath all that was a slither of respect and loyalty neither of them could shed. A legacy of the parents who’d raised them in a glimpse of time when they’d mattered to each other.
And if their alliances ever found out, they’d both be shunned. Or dead.
“I told you never to set foot in Rapid Falls again,” Jenna hissed through gritted teeth, temper flaring.
Megan grinned. “But this is where all the good witches are.”
“If you harm my witch, no amount of –”
“I’m not here for that. Not today.” Megan’s expression grew serious, her brows creasing with worry. “Hazel’s opened the portal to Ameera, Jenna.” Hearing the name aloud sent an icy spurt of alarm through Jenna. Their gazes locked, the mention of their old home jarring the rivalry between them. “I have a message from her.”
“Forever her sidekick.”
Megan let the comment slide. “She’ll keep the portal open until Sienna hands over the Brogan Grimoire.”
Ah, the damn Brogan Grimoire. Sienna’s mother had once sealed the book with a powerful spell. According to her grandmother, a Beckham spell and four enchanted stones would unseal the book, but so far Sienna hadn’t been able to crack it.
Hazel was convinced the book contained the location of the witch massacre – a minefield of potent energy left behind by the slaughtered witches. If she ever found where that magic was buried, she’d have access to a power that went beyond anything they’d ever seen. She’d be unstoppable. So the book remained in hiding, safely tucked away at the Bennett Estate.
“Sienna will never relinquish the Grimoire,” Jenna said.
“You know what will happen if that portal stays open!”
“And you know what will happen if Hazel finds that magic!”
“Ameera is so much worse now –”
“You’ve been back?” Jenna cut in. When Megan looked away, her lips thinning into a grimace, Jenna gasped. “Hazel’s in Ameera, isn’t she?”
“Jenna –”
“Did you find my parents?” A surge of desperation had Jenna in front of Megan in a sudden movement. “Did you see them?”
Megan’s unfaltering gaze met hers and held, an ocean of memories bristling between them. “No.”
The ache in Jenna’s chest was almost unbearable. “Why’s Hazel in Ameera?”
The question served as a stark reminder of everything that stood between them and Megan jerked back, her expression hardening. “Like I’d tell you.”
A scream in the distance jarred Jenna into action. Anxious to find Kate and instinctively knowing that Megan wouldn’t offer any more information, she backed away, scowling at her. “Stay away from my witch, Megan.”
Turning around, she bolted for the street.
The fire had spread, claiming trees and plants along the way. The awning above a boutique window went up in flames.
A child stood in the centre of the chaos, clutching the arm of a teddy bear, crying hysterically. Jenna raced forward, scooped him up and pushed him into the arms of a young woman with saucer-wide eyes.
It began to rain. Soft droplets that soon grew heavy and persistent, dousing the flames. Archer?
A ripple of energy washed over Jenna, one she instantly recognised. Kate’s magic. Her body soared with relief when she spotted her witch beside Sienna in the distance, surrounded by the three brothers. They were all drenched from the rain. Kate wore a blank expression, almost oblivious to the chaos, but Jenna knew better. Her witch had gone into that quiet, private place that would stop the madness.
Jenna was beside her in a heartbeat.
Instantly, as though Kate had flicked a whip, everything began to settle. The explosions stopped, the panic lessened, and the shifters retreated. Clearly, they’d been warned that the hybrid Null was no match for them. More so now that Kate had been practicing with her grandmother every day for the last few months. Honing her powers, developing her skill. Lethal.
When Kate snapped out of her trance, blinking rapidly, Jenna reached for her arm, frowning at the slight tremble beneath her touch. “It’s okay, I’m here,” Jenna said. “Are you hurt?”
Kate shook her head but leaned in, holding Jenna’s arm.
“Where the hell have you been?” Declan snapped, scowling at Jenna.
“Bumping heads with your lookalike.”
“A Mimic?”
“Yeah, and he was much friendlier than the genuine version.” She pointed to the retreating shifters. No sign of Megan or the Mimic. “They’re leaving already.”
Cursing, Ethan spun around, but Archer was in front of him in the blink of an eye. A barricade of rigid resistance.
“Ethan!” Archer grabbed his shoulder, adding more resistance when Ethan ignored him. “Stop, dammit!”
“Let me go, brother.” Ethan kept moving forward, taking his brother with him. An inescapable force. “They attacked a town full of innocent people, Archer! This is bullshit and you know it!”
“You can’t go alone! We don’t know how many there are.” Archer’s shoulders heaved and his eyes flashed with something wild. He jabbed a finger at Declan. “Go with him. We’ll take care of Kate and Sienna. Go.”
Declan jerked forward, his protective instincts itching for a fight. But he hesitated, his gaze moving between Archer, Kate, and Sienna.
His brother. His woman. His witch.
Jenna stepped forward and touched his arm. “Go with Ethan, Declan. We’ll be fine. I promise.”
Declan’s frown deepened, words unnecessary. They both knew what was at stake. Exhaling harshly, he scanned the crowd. With a quick nod, he pulled out the keys to his Harley Davidson and tossed them to Jenna. “Stay in town. It’s safer. We’ll come back for you.”
As the two men took off, Jenna wondered if their witches were safe anywhere.
CHAPTER TEN (#ulink_93a62d96-e056-5c78-9e0d-6d8054b9278b)
Usually, Jenna loved the feel of a Harley between her legs. The freedom, the speed, the power. Pure bliss.
Not tonight.
If anything, she felt ill. Fear and worry had taken up residence within her, her mind reeling with all kinds of thoughts that only escalated the closer they got to home.
The portal to Ameera was open.
The shifters had already filtered through and it wouldn’t be long before other supernatural beings and creatures followed. Greed, destruction, and violence had depleted their resources ages ago, feeding a growing restlessness and hunger throughout the city. They knew there was another world outside their realm and had been searching for a way in for so long.
Something Hazel seemed quite happy to provide.
If the portal stayed open, it was only a matter of time before both worlds would be altered forever.
The thought frightened Jenna, but she couldn’t deny the nugget of truth gnawing at her. After so many years of searching for a way back to Ameera, she finally – finally – had a way in.
She could find her parents.
Jenna’s chest burned at the thought and she realised she’d stopped breathing. The pressure eased when she drew in a deep breath, but it did nothing to ease the ache in her heart. She released the throttle, slowing the bike, and turned toward the Bennett estate. Home.
It was late, dark, and so damn cold. The rain had stopped, but thunder and lightning still worked its fury across the sky.
Sienna and Archer trailed in his SUV behind, the glint of their headlights a small comfort in a lot of tension. They’d opted to drive separately. Easier to split up if needed.
The aftermath of the attack had been a crazy whirlwind of fire engines, police, and ambulances that had their local sheriff, Pam, in a frenzy. Debris and glass littered the blackened sidewalks. Injuries were minor, so the sheriff had sent people home.
Kate sat behind Jenna, arms around her waist. They huddled together on the bike, gliding along the mountain pass on the gentle hum of the Harley.
They arrived home without trouble and Jenna exhaled as the huge gate closed behind them. Soft lighting illuminated the driveway all the way to the house. A safety they longed for. Levi, their Golden Retriever, stood on the front steps, always eager to greet them.
Only this time, there was no wagging tail. Or friendly face. The dog stared into the darkness, growling. Jenna’s stomach lurched when she saw why. Two black shadows had emerged from the forest and were racing across the lawn on all-fours.
Hellhounds.
A force crashed into them from behind, the impact so powerful it threw Kate off the bike. Jenna skidded across the road, weighed down by the machine on top of her.
Jenna cried out as the gravel tore her flesh, but before the bike came to a stop, she was already scrambling beneath it, frantically searching for her witch.
Three enormous hounds surrounded Kate. They had large heads, pointed ears, and eyes that glowed like embers. They circled: dark bodies crouched in attack mode, growling through upturned lips and sharp canines.
She’d seen them before. Back home in Ameera, now here.
One of the hounds glared at Jenna. With a howl, it turned and sped across the lawn toward her. The other two hounds were quick to follow, abandoning Kate. They circled Jenna in perfect synchronisation. Saliva dripped from their mouths, their snarls as frightening as their sharp teeth. Large claws protruded from their paws as they moved.
Jenna reached for the bike as Levi tore across the lawn, barking viciously. “Levi, NO!”
But Levi charged the hound closest to her.
Jenna climbed onto the bike. It revved to life and she sped across the lawn, drawing to an abrupt stop – just long enough for Kate to jump on behind her. With another loud roar of the engine, Jenna took off on a burst of speed and aimed for the house.
Abandoning Levi, the hounds set chase, quick to reach them.
Plan B.
“Hold on tight!” Jenna shouted, turning toward the forest. A dodgy decision, but their options were limited. And dammit, where the hell was Archer?
“Trust me, I’m not going anywhere!” Kate tightened her grip. “They’re so fast! What the hell are they?”
The moment they reached the umbrella of leaves, blackness engulfed them. Jenna steered the bike between the trees, grateful for the single beam of light at the front. She zoned in on their surroundings, her Keeper instincts slipping to the forefront like she’d flipped an internal switch. Jenna gave into them, gliding through the forest as though she knew it by heart.
In a way, she did. She’d jogged these woods every day since her arrival in town.
The hounds made no sound, but she knew they were close. She could feel them. Smell them.
“Jenna!” Kate screamed when one came catapulting between two trees. Jenna changed direction and the hound soared above them, connecting with a tree, yelping on impact. The other two had raced ahead, readying themselves for the ambush.
A barricade of canine force.
Jenna looked around, mentally scrambling for other options. The volume of adrenaline pouring through her veins sharpened her senses, numbing the fear. It was exhilarating.
The sound of the river in the distance set a new plan into place. “Kate, hold on!” she called over her shoulder, slowing the bike so suddenly that they both slid forward. In a swift movement, she changed direction and accelerated. “Time to lose these beasts!”
Kate tightened her arms around Jenna. “If the beasts don’t kill us, your driving will!”
“My driving skills might be the only thing going for you right now. Show some respect.”
The sound of water gushing nearby gave her hope and she sped through the trees, searching for the bridge Ethan had shown her the previous day. An old wooden bridge at the foot of the mountain. It joined two valleys, each side consisting of high rocks covered in moss, trees and ferns. A waterfall ran down the rocks behind it, flowing into the river below.
At the time, she’d even stopped to admire the beauty. Now, it might be their lifeline.
Finding it was easier than she’d expected. She slowed the bike, cringing at the sound of the heavy breathing and snapped growls behind them. The bike rattled along the wooden slats, the wheels skidding in the sand as they came to an abrupt stop on the opposite side.
Jenna’s head reeled from her sudden movements. Insane. She scrambled off the bike, pulling Kate with her. “Where are they? Can you see them?”
“No, but I can hear them. They’re close,” Kate replied breathlessly, scanning the valley.
Jenna tilted the bike toward her and twisted open the fuel cap. She reached into her pocket for the matches she’d taken from the bar and shook the box at Kate.
Kate’s eyes widened. “What are you doing?”
“Serving hot dogs.”
“You’re cracking jokes? Now?”
“You’d rather I was quivering in fear?”
“Seriously, Jenna, no comedic timing at all.”
Even though it was dark, Jenna could hear the smile in her tone. Jenna grinned, tossed her the box, and aimed the bike toward the bridge. “On the count of three, you light the match and throw it into the fuel can. I’ll do the rest.”
“You’re going to blow up Declan’s bike?” Surprise laced Kate’s words but she didn’t argue and readied the match. “On the count of three –”
The rustle of trees signalled the hounds’ arrival. All three of them.
“Now!” Jenna snapped, scrapping the countdown.
Kate dropped the match as Jenna gave the bike a mammoth push, along with a spurt of the throttle before releasing it. The bike charged along the bridge and smashed into the railing. Metal scraped and glass shattered, followed by a burst of air as the fuel ignited. Flames engulfed the bike and a deafening explosion echoed through the darkness.
Whining, the hounds paced the edge of the rocks, eyeing the fire, their bodies illuminated in a yellow blaze.
A second explosion claimed the bridge, devouring it within seconds. Wood splintered, ropes snapped, and the flaming bike plummeted into the river below, taking the middle of the bridge with it.
The hounds howled. They eyed the waterfall, the flames, and their prey standing out of their reach. One mock-charged, causing Kate to reel back, but it backed off as it reached the edge of the rocks.
“It’s okay,” Jenna said breathlessly, eyeing their predators. “They’re terrified of fire.” She focused on steadying her breathing. Her body felt charged with fear and energy. The fear she despised. The energy she welcomed. The immediate threat had passed, but they had no idea what else awaited them in the forest.
“You’ve seen them before?” Kate asked. “What are they?”
“Hellhounds.”
“What on earth is that?”
“Not something you want to mess with.” As a child in Ameera, hellhounds had been the equivalent of the monsters under the bed that haunted children’s dreams. Although they usually kept to the outskirts of the city, Jenna had always been terrified of them. “They came through the portal.”
“How do we know there aren’t more on this side of the river?”
“We don’t, but now we know to look out for them.”
With a final howl, the hellhounds fled.
Kate blew out air, her gaze shifting to the remains of the bike below. “So, Miss 007. We’re stuck in the forest and you’ve destroyed our ride home. What now?”
“We’ll stay close to the river. There’s an old well further down. It’ll be tricky to find in the dark, but if we can access it we can access the tunnel that leads to the house.” An old underground tunnel the brothers had cleared in case they needed a quick escape. She pulled out her phone to call Ethan. “With luck, Sienna and her muscles can meet us along the way.”
“Sienna would’ve spelled the entrance shut.”
“You’re the witch who eats magic. Piece of cake.”
“Eats magic?” Kate laughed, but her voice sounded tense. “That description totally kills my image.”
“Who cares if it’ll open the tunnel?”
“Are you sure it’s safe?”
Jenna’s grin widened as she put her arm around Kate. “Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I should hope so. I’d hate to be hound food.”
“Declan would kill me.”
“Nice to know he motivates you.”
“Speaking of Declan …” Jenna grimaced at the bike. “I just blew up his bike.”
They both knew how much Declan loved his bike.
“Think he’ll be mad?” Jenna asked, even though she knew she’d just plummeted to the bottom of his Christmas list.
Her question went unanswered as they stared at the fading flames in silence.
And then Kate giggled.
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#ulink_610aa9ee-224f-583f-a2c8-ea0113e8e717)
The air in the tunnel was hot and musty. Dozens of cobwebs hung from the low ceiling, difficult to spot in the narrow flashlight of Jenna’s phone. It was a long, uncomfortable walk but the tunnel served its purpose.
Ethan and Declan were waiting for them, Sienna and Archer behind them. They all sported scratches and bruises, worried frowns and pissed-off expressions. But the tension in the air eased the moment they were reunited.
After exchanging relieved hugs and quick updates, Archer and Sienna led Kate out of the tunnel and into the basement. But Jenna didn’t follow. Instead, she turned to Declan, hovering beside her like a riled-up bear. She swiped at the moisture on her forehead and sighed. “You really want to do this now, Declan?”
“Damn right.” His words were quiet and fury clouded his expression. He pointed after Sienna and Kate. “Archer wrapped his car around a damn tree thanks to air bags exploding for no reason and Kate –”
“Is unhurt and home safely,” she interrupted, reaching for patience. “I said I’d take care of her and I did, Declan. That tunnel was torture and I’m not in the mood –”
“Were you hurt?” When her brows lifted, he moved around her. His hair was messier than usual, his shirt torn, a hint he’d had a struggle of his own. “Dammit, Jenna, were you hurt?”
“Like you care?”
“Kate cares so I care and if you’re watching over her, then I need to know you’re in top form.”
A small smile broke free. “Careful, or I might think you’re worried about me.”
“Keep dreaming, Blondie.” Frowning, he took her arm. “I told you to stay at the restaurant.”
“Things settled quickly after you left. It was safer to leave.” She yanked her arm free. “I brought her home, Declan. That was the best of a lot of crappy options.”
“What happened?” Ethan asked, dropping a hand on his brother’s shoulder, easing Declan away from her. His knuckles were red, swollen and scratched.
“We were ambushed in the driveway,” Jenna replied, her lowered tone losing the defensive edge, “by hellhounds.”
“Hellhounds?” Ethan gaped at her. “They’re legends. We’ve never –”
“They came through the open portal to Ameera,” Jenna interrupted. She explained what had happened and the more she spoke, the more their agitation grew. “We had no choice but to head for the forest.”
Ethan ran a hand across his face. “Shifters, hellhounds, what the hell’s next?”
“I saw Megan tonight. She had a message. Hazel wants to exchange closing the portal for her Grimoire.”
Declan snorted. “Right. Like we’d agree to that.”
“Of course not but …” Jenna inhaled quietly, her gaze moving between theirs. “If the portal stays open, what we saw tonight won’t scratch the surface of what’s to come.”
They nodded, a heavy silence wedging between them.
Ethan moved to the side of the tunnel and held out a hand, motioning her forward.
She glanced back at Declan. “Oh, and I should mention you’ll need a new bike.” Her heart thudded at the intensity of his glare. Slowly, silently, he raised a brow. “It was either saving Kate or your bike. I went with Kate.”
“That was the explosion we heard?” His nostrils flared. “How’s it possible that in one night, one fucking night, creatures from hell set fire to our town and targeted Kate?”
“Oh, and that’s the other thing,” Jenna said quietly. “I don’t think they were after Kate. They were after me.”
****
They were after me.
Jenna’s words echoed in Ethan’s mind as he climbed the stairs to his room.
Hot damn, but hearing her say that had given him a good dose of the shivers. She’d said it so casually, as though being marked by vicious wolves on a magical high was the most normal thing in the world.
But he saw right through her. Beneath the bad-ass front she maintained around his brothers existed layers of worry that seldom showed.
Everyone had gone to bed, even though the morning sunlight would soon filter through the windows. They’d kept most of the blinds shut to keep the rest of the world out for a few hours.
He revelled in the silence of his room. Quiet and in the furthest part of the mansion. His space. Designed as a spacious apartment attached to the house, complete with an open-plan living area, kitchenette, and bedroom. Decorated the way he liked it. Simple and sparse.
The exact opposite of his lifestyle.
He never brought women up here. Excluding Jenna, but that was different on so many levels. Other than Sienna, she had the only woman pass he’d ever issued.
He’d soon figured out she shared his need for space – time out from the touchy-feely shit and all-knowing looks happening downstairs. Their single status amongst a house full of lovebirds had bound their friendship immediately.
His dates used to be fun. But now, with all the crap he and his brothers faced on a daily basis? Not so much. Although great women, making smalltalk over dinner with them had grown increasingly harder, soon frustrating the hell out of him – to the point that he’d begun to swap nights out for nights in.
With Jenna.
And they weren’t even having sex.
He blinked.
Where the hell had that come from?
He tossed his jacket over the leather couch, ignoring the way his body had reacted to that thought.
Right. Water.
Clearing his throat again, he walked to the kitchen. It was small but stocked with the basics.
In the months following Sarah’s death, other than venturing out to work, he’d holed up here. The main house had been too empty, sad. His sister’s death had sent Sienna and Declan hightailing it out of Rapid Falls. He’d missed Sienna, worried about her, but Declan’s departure had been a blessing. Had he stayed, his brothers would’ve killed each other, the rift more than a simple spat.
Guilt. Anger. Resentment.
And a shitload of grief that paled everything else.
Managing the restaurant renovations and the winery had fallen on Ethan’s shoulders. He’d had no choice. With Archer’s focus on finding Sienna, and Declan drowning his sorrows in whiskey and women, someone had to man the hell up.
Declan and Sienna had finally returned two years later to fend off Mason Brogan’s younger brother, Warrick. They’d killed Warrick and ensured Mason remained entombed in an underground storage room on their estate. A victory, but one that had come with a price. They’d almost lost Sienna. Instead, they’d lost Rose, her grandmother.
Kate and Jenna’s arrival a while later had tallied their head count to six people living under one roof. Despite the size of their house, Ethan had soon felt crowded. After having only Archer as company for so long and with two budding relationships between his brothers and the women, the communal areas were quick to resemble an international airport on a romance high.
So Ethan often retreated upstairs.
Not that he minded. Kate, Sienna, and Jenna were welcome. They belonged here. But still.
He grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and headed to the bathroom, knowing the shower would do little to cleanse the frustration gnawing at his gut.
At least it would cleanse the grime of the night.
His mind reeled with everything that had happened. The crows, the shifters, the hellhounds.
Jenna.
The shower was brief and hot, the air permeated with soap and steam when he finished. He walked to the door, towel-drying his hair with a vigour that resembled his mood.
Jenna’s sudden appearance in the bedroom doorway drew him to an abrupt stop.
“Oh!” Her jaw fell and her hand came up to cover her eyes. Her cheeks coloured, not surprising considering he was as naked as the day he was born.
“Looking for something?” he drawled, lowering the towel just enough to cover his crotch. His ass was on its own.
She shuffled in the doorway. Hair in a ponytail, black robe and barefoot, no armour in sight. Vulnerable. Beautiful.
The hint of her feminine side always intrigued him. He’d connected to her as a Keeper, one to another. He’d fought beside her, witnessed her strength, but thanks to sheer willpower and many cold showers, he’d never dared to dwell on what he’d find if he delved further.
A whole lot of woman beneath the warrior.
Her fingers covering her eyes opened just an inch. “Ethan!” she cried, her voice laced with exasperation.
And Jenna never did exasperated. Ever.
He bit back a grin. “You should’ve knocked.”
“Your door was open.”
“I wasn’t expecting company.”
“Clearly.” She peeped through her fingers again. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“Tremendously.”
“Well then, in that case, let me join in too.” Surprising him, she lowered her hand and zeroed her gaze on him. Down there. Still blushing, but taking her fill.
This time, if he had the ability to blush easily, he would. Hot damn. Chuckling at her candour, he flashed a wide grin and slowly fastened the towel around his waist. “Happy?”
Her gaze did a lingering sweep across his body. “I’ve always wondered if your female fans were after your money or your body.”
“Now you know.”
“Definitely the money.”
He laughed and went to her, wondering why she was here, surprised at how much it pleased him – and how easily she made him forget everything else. It was always like that with her. “Attacking my manhood again? I thought you learnt your lesson in the forest.”
“I wasn’t attacking anything.”
“Yet we’re back to my manhood.”
“No we’re not.”
“I’d be more than happy to –”
“Not in your wildest dreams, stud muffin.”
“– make some coffee, if you’d like.”
A sheepish grin spread across her face. “That’s not what you were going to say!”
“You’ll never know, will you?” He took her wrist and drew her inside, frowning when she flinched. He froze. “You’re hurting.”
She didn’t reply. Didn’t deny it either.
A ripple of unease crashed his amusement and he quietly scanned her body for signs of injuries. She’d fobbed him off earlier in the tunnel when he’d asked if she’d been hurt. He’d suspected it then. He knew it now.
“What’s wrong? And tell me you’re fine and I’ll feed you to Declan,” he added.
She rolled her eyes. “Declan doesn’t scare me.”
“I know. That’s why you’re perfect for Kate. Now answer my question.”
Her shoulders fell and she blew out air. “I have some serious road rash on my back from the fall on the bike. Usually it would heal, but I caught a few shards of glass.” She held up a small first-aid box with her other hand. Damn, he hadn’t even seen the white box that always followed trouble. “I tried removing them but …”
With a single nod, Ethan put a hand on her waist, led her inside, and shut the door.
CHAPTER TWELVE (#ulink_6a432542-1fbe-56fd-bd73-354a53dbdea7)
Asking for help hurt almost as much as the pain.
Jenna swallowed the pills Ethan had given her, watching him as he rummaged through the first-aid box on the kitchen counter. A mild frown drew his brows together and a muscle worked in his jaw.
He was worried. About her.
His wet hair had been finger-raked into place. Glorious tanned flesh contrasted the white towel. He had broad shoulders and a smooth, muscular back. He wore the mark of a Keeper, a large pentagram tattoo, on his upper right arm. A perfect resemblance of their connection to earth, his connection to his siblings and their witch. Five elements of nature. Earth. Fire. Air. Water. And Sienna, the spirit, that connected them all.
He turned around, the front of him even more muscular than the back, ripples of abs that continued into the towel around his waist. A towel that covered a very smooth, naked waist she had no business ogling.
But darn, she couldn’t help it. Fully dressed, she found it hard to tear her eyes away from him. Seeing him half-naked? Impossible.
She averted her gaze, suddenly all too aware of how underdressed they were. Something stirred inside, a swirl of desire that mingled with the curiosity, and she couldn’t deny the trickle of satisfaction that followed. She’d been alone for so long, trapped with people she despised. Survival – for herself and Kate – had been first and foremost on her mind. Not sex. It had been years since she’d felt any attraction to a man.
Until Ethan.
Oblivious to her scrutiny, Ethan tossed the box onto the couch beside her and headed to the bathroom. He stopped in front of a wooden drawer against the wall to pull out some clothes.
The glimpse of scarred flesh beneath his left arm surprised her. It ran along the entire length of his side from his hip to shoulder. A scar?
An old one. One his magic had never healed.
He shut the drawer and disappeared into the bathroom.
Puzzled, she sipped her water and looked around the room. A king-size bed nestled between two large windows overlooking the vineyards. The blinds were closed, the room lit by a single lamp. The wall opposite the bed had been tiled in natural stone tiles, a fireplace in the centre. Immaculate – which didn’t surprise her. Everything about him was neat. His kitchen, the restaurant, the way he dressed, even his hair. He was an overworked, cranky housewife’s dream.
With a charming smile, heaps of mystery and a body that could easily change the cranky status quo in a flash.
The thought sparked a grin and she leaned into the couch, wincing at the sting of pain in her back. She adjusted her robe.
Fluffy and soft. A little comfort in a lot of pain.
Ethan returned to the couch, dressed in a white t-shirt and a pair of black draw-string cotton pants.
Darn. She’d liked him naked.
The smell of soap and man permeated the air and she released a dreamy sigh.
If he noticed, he didn’t say anything and sat beside her. He held up a shiny gadget he’d taken from the first-aid box, snapping the points together. “Ready?”
She groaned. “Why do I get the feeling this’ll be painful?”
“Once the glass is out, it should heal soon.”
Quicker than he’d expect. All Keepers had the ability to heal rapidly, but she was different. She healed instantly.
“It’s still gonna hurt like hell. Why weren’t Keepers blessed with a higher pain threshold?”
“Because we’re mortals. Not gods.”
“So why couldn’t we be mortals with higher thresholds?”
“Don’t be a sissy. Pain keeps us real.”
“I can think of other things that keep me real.”
He smiled. “The painkillers will help.”
“Maybe.” She waved a hand at his clothes. “But I preferred the towel. It made for a great distraction.”
A smile curled his lips and she stared at them, wondering what he’d taste like.
His grin widened at her scrutiny. “Clearly you’re in more pain than I thought.”
Not for long. Once he removed the glass, her magic would heal the flesh immediately – if she allowed it to. But he couldn’t know that. Not yet. Exposing her magic would expose her lineage – and she hadn’t had enough painkillers for that conversation.
He made a circular motion with his finger. “Turn around and lower your robe.”
“I hope you use better word choices for the women you bed.”
His smile was pure mischief. “Trust me, babe, when it comes to bedding a woman, I have a separate vocabulary.”
“That would explain your popularity.” She laughed and turned around, lowering the robe off one shoulder, just enough to reveal the wound whilst still keeping her tattoos hidden. Until she figured out what they meant, they were for her eyes only.
He didn’t answer and she glanced over her shoulder. A fierce frown had tightened his expression.
“Sexy, huh?” she said, opting for a cheerful tone. “A casualty of being caught between the road and the bike. Not my most graceful moment, but it all happened so damn fast.”
With a quiet grunt, he picked at the shards of glass embedded in her flesh. “You’re right. This will hurt.”
Like a bitch. “Nothing I can’t handle.” She bit her bottom lip to keep herself from wincing. “You should have stayed in the towel, though. Given me something to think about while you do that.”
“Something wrong with your imagination?”
“No need for my imagination. I’ve seen you naked.”
“You haven’t seen the best part.”
“Just as well. That might make things weird between us.”
He picked at the glass, dropping the splinters into the empty bowl beside him. “Weird can be fun.”
Amusement coloured his tone, words meant to tease, but stroked her imagination. “I haven’t had fun for a very long time.”
His hand stilled and he leaned forward, touching his lips to her ear. “Well, maybe you should do something about that.”
She stifled a shiver and elbowed him. “Stop messing with me.”
He laughed and touched her shoulder. “I’m distracting you. We’re done, they’re all out.”
“Already?” She’d expected worse.
“Nothing like a little friendly banter to dampen the pain.”
“Whiskey works just as well.”
“Maybe, but that was way more entertaining. It should heal soon.”
“I know.” She’d already felt the stir of energy, the magical touch that would wipe her slate clean. It was always exhilarating, but for now, she held back, reeling in the swirl of power. A pro at keeping her magic hidden. Adjusting the robe, she twisted to face him, relieved the pain had lessened. “Thank you for helping me.”
“Of course. You were hurting.” He discarded the bowl, wiped his hands on a towel, and leaned back against the couch. “We should get some sleep. We have a lot to discuss and my brothers won’t rest for long.”
For a while, they stayed silent, their mood shifting as reality crept in.
She tilted her head to look over her shoulder. His eyes were closed, his previous playfulness replaced by weariness. He’d lowered his guard, a warrior at rest. Beside her.
A beautiful man in the wake of a very ugly night.
“Will there ever be a time when we’re not fighting the world?” she asked softly.
“We’re not fighting the world, Jen. We’re protecting it.”
“Would be nice to have an off day now and then.” A small smile broke free and he tugged her closer. With a large sigh, she nestled into the cushions beside him. “How are we going to stop Hazel?”
“We found a way to stop her nephews. We’ll find a way to stop her too.”
Sighing softly, she relaxed against the couch, against him. It felt good to have him near. It eased the anxiety gnawing at her, if only for a moment, and when she tilted her head so that it rested on his shoulder, he didn’t pull away.
Instead, he rested his head against hers. The gesture triggered a small smile, giving her a case of the warm and fuzzies she’d seldom experienced.
They stayed like that for a long while, words unnecessary, revelling in the stillness they always found with each other.
She opened her eyes, fighting the fatigue. “I should go to bed.”
“Hm.” He sounded just as sleepy, but neither of them moved.
“Don’t mention this to Declan, okay?” she whispered, closing her eyes.
“Don’t worry about Declan. He’s the least of our problems.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#ulink_6366fe07-92ff-5a31-9388-2170162b7b82)
Jenna stirred two hours later, curled up on the couch, her head in Ethan’s lap.
In his lap.
Lovely.
Her cheeks flared with heat and she sat up, hoping like hell she hadn’t drooled on him. She wiped her mouth, relieved to find it dry.
He’d slept upright, his head resting against the back cushion. Sleep had eased his frown, masking the quiet thoughtfulness that often simmered in his eyes. He had tousled hair and a jaw covered in stubble. Rugged and asleep – a glimpse of him she’d never seen before.
Unable to tear her eyes away, she took her fill, fascinated by the vision of morning male beauty. Even in sleep, he looked powerful. Wide shoulders and a body of muscles that strained against his white t-shirt. He still wore his leather necklace, the pendant hidden beneath his t-shirt – one she recognised. His one hand rested on her waist, the other on his thigh. Beautiful hands. Working hands. His sleeve had crept up, revealing a glimpse of tattoo. She swallowed, caught by the urge to run her fingers across the ink. Or cuddle up to him again.
And she never cuddled. Ever. If anything, physical affection was something she usually avoided – a result of being raised for so many years in the mortal world without any. After leaving her parents in Ameera, she’d soon learnt that acts of kindness and attention usually came with a price.
But something about Ethan’s presence, the calm that radiated off him as he slept, drew her in.
“Stop staring at me,” he said quietly, eyes still closed, “it’s creeping me out.”
Despite the flush that crept into her cheeks, she smiled and hugged a cushion against her chest. Like that would conceal everything. “I’m looking at your pendant.”
Long, dark eyelashes lifted to reveal beautiful, sleepy blue eyes. “Liar.”
She tossed the cushion at him.
Ignoring it, he grinned and rolled his shoulders, breaking out into a yawn. “Are you okay?”
Besides the sudden rush of butterflies to her stomach? Yeah, great. “I’m fine.”
He glanced at his watch and groaned. “Damn, only two hours?”
“We’ve got by with less sleep.”
“I know but it still sucks. In my next life, I want to be an accountant. They get eight hours’ sleep a night, don’t they?”
“The honest ones maybe.”
“Cool, done deal then.”
She couldn’t quite picture him as a number-pusher. “But think of the adrenaline rushes you’ll miss. I don’t think accountants get to ward off an attack of crows, chase a bunch of shifters and flee from hellhounds.”
“Exactly.” He stood and headed for the bathroom. He returned a few minutes later and within moments, the aroma of fresh coffee filled the air, enticing and comforting, the machine quietly bubbling away as it brewed the liquid.
She ran her fingers through her hair and hoped there were no mascara remains beneath her eyes. She slipped into the bathroom to check anyway. Nope, all clean. But the bathroom smelt like him. His soap, his scent. An aroma that quickened her breath. Stifling an inward groan, she splashed her face and rinsed her mouth.
He was waiting for her at the couch, two mugs in his hand. He’d finger-smoothed his hair, his cheeks covered by a thin fuzz she found far too sexy. “No doubt, my brothers are downstairs in full planning mode. I find them more manageable with a dose of caffeine.”
She smiled and took the mug, the gesture as sweet as it was appreciated. She needed the caffeine kick after last night. The thought triggered a wave of dread as reality came crashing down on her.
“I almost lost my witch last night, Ethan.” The frightening reality they always feared and fought to prevent.
“Maybe, but you didn’t, Jen. You brought her home.”
“I was watching for everything but the hellhounds. By the time I saw them, it was too late. They moved so damn fast.”
“Hazel’s crazy and unpredictable. We do the best we can. Now that we know the portal’s open, we’ll be more careful.”
“And what happens when our best isn’t good enough?”
It was a fear they faced every day.
He sipped his coffee. He wore a ring on each hand, almost identical. The mark of a Keeper. Antique silver rings, each etched with a pentagram. A symbol of everything they were, everything they fought for.
Most Keepers only wore one. Ethan wore two – his own and the ring that had once belonged to his sister.
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
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