Abducted by Magic

by Kelli McCracken

  Damn, this was hard to process.

  Maybe I should go back inside, take a seat in the oversized chair in the corner of Samara’s room, and take a nap. It could be hours before Roark or Quinn returned. Still, I had this urge inside me to figure out who was lurking in the shadows. Hopefully, whoever killed Samara wasn’t here.

  Pushing up on my tiptoes, I leaned farther over the rail, doing my best to see anyone below me. Nothing came into view, but I heard whining that reminded me of my neighbor’s dog. She always sat near the front door and whined until someone let her in. If what I saw was an animal, it explained why it moved so fast.

  I laughed to myself. My imagination had gotten the better of me for a moment. I thought Samara’s killer was here searching for me. Nope…well, that wasn’t exactly true. The person could be here, but why in the world would they—

  Everything around me shifted. Something slammed into my back, knocking the air from my lungs. Yet somehow, I managed to scream. I flipped over the railing, falling head-first toward the ground.

  Dear god. I’d never survive this.

  Chapter 10

  ~Roark~

  I stood on the peak of the roof, staring into the night at the energy field around the coven and the forest sheltering it. Short of a few animals, nothing was moving about. I couldn’t count the times I’d stood in this same location, witnessing Samara sneak out of her room just a floor below my perching spot. It’s how I knew to come here after I left her room and the conversation with Katarina.

  As much as I hated to leave her alone in a strange place, I knew she would be safe. The door to the balcony remained opened, so I could hear if anyone entered the room. If something frightened her, I’d sense it through our connection… Yeah. The connection. It’s why I stood on the roof, scouring the grounds, listening to the crickets and the toads.

  I wished I had softened my words when I left Katarina. I let my frustration get the best of me. Telling her not to leave the room or she ran the risk of harm was a little over the top. But how else could I keep her from following me?

  A noise below drew my attention to the balcony, again. Katarina walked outside, hugging her body. She leaned against the rail overlooking the garden. The way the moonlight hit her hair, it looked like she had silver strands blended with the raven ones.

  All I could do was stare at her, fighting back the same urge to grab her in my arms and kiss every delicate inch of her body. But I couldn’t. She was forbidden to me, and soon, she would forget I existed.

  Pushing the thoughts out of my mind, I noticed a streak of energy zip around the corner of the dorm. The blue hue pulsed as it hovered just out of sight. A second later, it darted across the edge of the garden, below the balcony. Katarina noticed it too. If I hadn’t sensed her curiosity, the way she leaned over the rail would have been enough of a clue.

  The longer I observed her, the more concerned I became. I didn’t like the way she stood on her tiptoes to get a better view. I bit my tongue so I wouldn’t shout her name. If I scared her, she could easily lose her balance.

  Movement drew my attention to the opposite corner of the building. Whatever was out there was clinging to the shadows.

  Katarina’s fear tore through me just as she screamed. A cloaked figure pushed her, flipping her from the edge of the balcony before running back inside. There was no time to see who it was.

  The fear of what would happen to her if she hit the ground sent me into a frenzy. Growls left my throat as my wings fully extended and the monster inside me emerged. I dove from the roof, barreling toward Katarina. By the time I swooped under her, she landed in my arms twenty feet from the ground.

  Her screams went silent when she realized she was safe, but the instant her eyes met mine, I saw them enlarge. I swore she would scream again when she parted her lips, but she pressed them back together.

  “Roark?”

  There was uncertainty in her voice, but her eyes told a different story. It was like her soul looked into mine. The bond we shared connected us on many levels. It was the only explanation because when I shifted into my gargoyle form, I didn’t look the same.

  Once I nodded, she shook her head. She was in shock. Between the fall and seeing the real me, her mind was unable to process what happened.

  As I cradled her in my arms, close to my chest, I pushed off the grass and flew us back toward Samara’s room. Katarina glanced toward the ground and clung to me tighter. She didn’t let go, even after I carried her back inside.

  Double-checking every corner, I wasn’t surprised to find the room empty. Whoever had pushed her was long gone. Did they stay to make sure they succeeded with their mission, and had they seen me swoop in to save their target?

  Once I was sure she was safe, I eased Katarina down until she stood. Now that she was out of danger, I waited to see if she would get as far away from me as she could. She didn’t so much as flinch. Her eyes scanned my face and body. Part of her wasn’t sure what to think, and that part of her was under the illusion that all of this was a dream.

  Her focus shifted to my wings. Though they were no longer at their full span, they weren’t invisible, either. The harder she stared at them, the more uncomfortable I became.

  “I told you I’m a monster.”

  The bridge of her nose wrinkled as she scrunched her face. “No, you’re not. You just saved my life. I don’t see anything wicked when I look at you.” She touched my cheek with her fingertips. “I see a hero.”

  “How did you know it was me? Was it the bond?”

  She lowered her gaze to the floor. “That was part of it.”

  “And the other part?”

  When she glanced up, she touched my face again. “It was your eyes, the color, the compassion, the concern. It was all there just like it is every time I look at you.”

  It was my turn to be shocked. I hadn’t expected that answer. It pleased me, and at the same time, it scared the hell out of me. If she could sense things about me just by looking in my eyes, it meant she saw the real me.

  Forcing myself to think of something else, I looked her over, checking to see if she had any injuries. As far as I could tell, there were none. It brought me a smidgen of relief.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked.

  “Can’t you sense it in our bond?”

  She brought up the one thing I didn’t want to discuss, just like I knew she would. No way was I getting pulled back into that conversation. Instead of answering her, I advanced toward the door.

  “Are you leaving again?”

  The sadness in Katarina’s voice gutted me. I didn’t make it to the door, but I kept my back to her, avoiding her as best as I could. “No, I’m just double-checking to see if I locked the door. I thought I did before I left earlier, but obviously, I didn’t. Someone pushed you over the rail.”

  “How do you know? Furthermore, how did you get to me so fast?”

  I didn’t want to give up my secret spot on the roof. Yet I didn’t want to use the bond as an excuse. Then we’d be back to the conversation I wanted to avoid.

  “You were somewhere close.” Katarina peered into my soul when I met her eyes. “How else would you know someone pushed me over the rail? Where were you, Roark?”

  “Close enough.”

  I moved toward Samara’s closet to make sure no one lurked inside. It relieved me to find nothing but her clothes and shoes. A quick peek inside her bathroom didn’t turn up anything unusual.

  I’d run out of things to distract me. Katarina knew it too. She advanced on me, backing me into the corner between the closet and the bathroom. I made the mistake of looking at her when she wouldn’t move.

  “Why are you avoiding me?”

  “I’m not. Someone just tried to kill you. I’m making sure this room is secure.”

  “You don’t think I want to know who did this? Trust me, I do. The thing is, this never would have happened had you not walked out on me earlier. You owe me answers.”

  Damn
it. I could not do this with her. The pull I felt, especially with how distressed she was, grew impossible to ignore. If I wasn’t careful, I’d have her back in my arms. My lips would seek hers, her neck, and every inch of her body I could devour.

  “Roark, please.”

  The way her voice shook tore me apart. I didn’t want her to be in pain. It was my instinct to keep her safe, but I wanted to make her happy too. In all the centuries I’d lived, I’d never cared enough for a woman to want to make her smile…or shout my name as I pleasured her. Katarina was different. I was growing obsessed with her.

  “Do you want to know the real reason I’m avoiding you?” When she nodded, I cleared my throat of the emotions choking me. “Samara was like a sister to me, and I failed at protecting her. I cared a great deal for her, but you… If I fail you, it will crush me. I don’t see you as a sister. When I look at you, I see a beautiful woman, one I desire, one who woke my stone heart.”

  When she reached for me, I backed away, only to meet the corner again. There was no escaping her. I clenched my hands and fought against my urges. As soon as I saw the disappointment in her eyes, I grew conflicted. She had no idea how much I wanted her to touch me or the way resisting her made my insides twist like a hurricane.

  “If you desire me, why do you keep resisting me?”

  “Because I have to, Katarina. It’s not by choice.”

  She crossed her arms and shook her head. “Whatever.”

  My teeth ground together as we stared at each other. Defiance burned in her eyes. Sweat beaded over my body. Going against every instinct inside me didn’t come without a price. My power over water had a way of keeping me calm in a stressful situation, but with her, I was drowning in thoughts and feelings I couldn’t control.

  “I know you’re fighting this, Roark, just like I am, but we have different reasons. You’re my reason. I’m fighting against this because I know you’re an honorable guy.”

  “My thoughts aren’t.”

  I cursed underneath my breath for my slip. Katarina’s lips tugged to one side as she chuckled. She eased back enough to look in my eyes. “I’ve never been this forward with a guy. This bond we share, it’s making me lose all inhibitions. Why?”

  “That is something Quinn and I need to figure out. I just fear that by the time we do, it won’t matter.” I caressed her face. “Once you leave here, you won’t remember us.”

  “Is that the real reason why you’re resisting me?”

  As much as I wanted to deny it, I couldn’t. She was right. I didn’t want to break rules, even though I could easily do it for her, but what would I have left?

  The door flew open, causing her to jump. She dove into my arms a second later. I spun her around so that I would be in front of her. It was that precise moment I found Quinn gripping the handle, staring at us.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing.” I knew the look in his eyes. He knew my willpower was weak. The way I had my arms wrapped around Katarina made it look like we were in the middle of a make-out session. He would shit a brick if he’d walked in during our kiss earlier.

  I moved away from Katarina and approached my brother. “There was an incident while you were with the council.”

  Quinn’s brows lowered. “What kind of incident?”

  Katarina glanced at me, her face full of concern. “I was out on the balcony a few minutes ago. I saw something move in the garden and then it whined. When I looked over the rail to see what it was, someone pushed me.”

  “Pushed you?” Quinn wasted no time walking to us. He stood in front of Katarina, clasping her hands. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” She smiled at him and squeezed his hands. “Roark saved me. He caught me before I hit the ground, then he flew me back to the room.”

  “Oh really?” The slow, tedious twist of Quinn’s neck was enough of a clue that he was pissed. So was the way he narrowed his eyes on me. “So she knows?

  “That you’re gargoyles?”

  “Well, that answers my question.” Quinn shook his head and then rubbed his face. “Guess it’s a good thing we’re leaving for a while.”

  “What?” I asked the question just as Katarina did the same. We glanced at each other, then turned back to Quinn.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “Why are we leaving?” I added.

  Quinn waved his arms in front of him. “One question at a time, please,” he grumbled.

  Both Katarina and I stepped back to give him space.

  After he mumbled something under his breath, he sighed. “The council and I searched for any information we could find about what happened, why Katarina has Samara’s powers, and how we could fix this. The only option they found was to kill her.”

  Katarina covered her mouth and gasped. “Oh my god.”

  “It’s okay, Katarina. I convinced them that this wasn’t an option and told them to contact the other covens to check all their books and records. In the meantime, we’re going to do the same, just at our home.”

  I jerked my head back. “We’re going home?”

  “Yes.” Quinn nodded.

  Many months had passed since we last went to our native home of the Stone Isles. I loved being there. It’s where we grew up before we were chosen as guardians. I always looked forward to returning.

  “How long are we staying?”

  Quinn pushed his glasses up his nose then massaged his neck. “Until we can guarantee we can transfer the power without hurting Katarina.”

  None of us knew how long that could take. I wasn’t complaining in the least, but Katarina had a life in the human realm, one she needed to return to soon. As much as I wanted to keep her here, I couldn’t be selfish about this.

  “We have to find Jax and tell him what’s happening. When are we leaving?”

  “I’ve made no definite plans yet. We need to discuss our timeline. As far as Jax, yes, we’ll track him down and apprise him of everything. I’m sure he’s still drowning his sorrows.” Quinn regarded me and then Katarina. “Afterward, I think it would be best if we took you home to gather some of your personal items. Since we don’t know how long we’ll be gone, you should take care of anything else that needs tending.”

  “I can’t just take off for an unspecified amount of time.” Her eyes grew bewildered. “I have a life. A job. Responsibilities.”

  “Would dying be easier?” The gruff sound of my voice caused her to shudder. “This isn’t an option. If you want to live, we have to do this.”

  “Great. There goes my promotion.” She stomped away from us and stood in front of Samara’s desk.

  Neither Quinn nor I approached her. She needed a moment to process everything we’d just told her.

  When I glanced at my brother, he was scanning the room, frowning. The second he realized I was staring at him, he met my gaze. Still, he didn’t speak.

  “What’s wrong, Quinn?”

  “Do you think whoever came here and pushed Katarina was looking for Samara’s Book of Shadows?”

  I hadn’t considered it before he asked, but it made sense. A Book of Shadows was personal to each and every witch. It was like a journal for them to express thoughts and feelings, and also a place to record personal spells, family spells passed on from each generation, rituals, incantations, and every form of magic they could conjure. The more powerful the witch, the stronger her spells and abilities were.

  “Earlier, I was standing in the same place Katarina is now. I didn’t see the book there.”

  We took turns checking different spots in the room we knew Samara liked to hide things. After several minutes of searching, we hadn’t found anything. I hoped the person that tried to hurt Katarina hadn’t found her book first.

  “What are you guys doing?”

  “We’re searching for one of Samara’s books. It was important to her and contains information that can’t land in the wrong hands.”

  “Is it this?” She held up a small, book bound
in leather.

  I recognized it right away. It was a good find, just not the right one.

  “That’s Samara’s journal,” I said, “but it’s not what we’re looking for. Have you seen a book similar to that one, only three times thicker?”

  “No. This is the only personal book I found. Everything else is textbooks and folders.”

  “Damn.” Quinn grumbled. “We need to find it, but we can’t search anymore. The sooner we get you away from here, the safer you’ll be.”

  “Let me use the restroom and then I’ll be ready to go.”

  “Fine, but hurry.” Quinn didn’t attempt to hide his unease. Once she disappeared behind Samara’s bathroom door, he observed me. “How did you not notice someone enter this room earlier? Do you realize what would happen to us if Katarina died on our watch?”

  “Yes, I do. It wouldn’t have happened had I been here.” I gritted my teeth, regretting my choice of words. Great. I’d opened my big mouth once again.

  “What do you mean had you been here?”

  I heard him growl as he waited for my reply. Fuck. I’d messed up. Not only had I slipped and revealed I wasn’t with Katarina when she was attacked, but now I’d also have to reveal why.

  “I was on the roof, blowing off some steam. As soon as I saw her start to fall, I shifted and flew down to save her.”

  Quinn smacked his palm against his forehead and slid it down slowly. Another growl rumbled in his chest. “Let me guess. You couldn’t keep yourself in check, could you?”

  “You know as well as I do how hard it is to resist her. Don’t pretend like this isn’t affecting you the same way. You’re just …”

  “Stronger minded?” he taunted.

  “Hey.” I enunciated the word and pointed to myself. “I’m strong minded.”

  “No, you’re stubborn. It’s not the same thing.” He shook his head when I flipped him off. “So what the hell did you do?”

  When I heard the bathroom door jiggle, relief filled me. Quinn couldn’t have asked the question at a better time. I knew he wouldn’t discuss this in front of Katarina. So, I used it to my advantage. “Katarina and I kissed.”