“This all happened after the failed transference and the council’s inability to find another solution to transfer the power.” Quinn spoke as he rubbed Kat’s arm. “Their only solution was to kill Katarina. As her guardians, we cannot allow that to happen.”
“I agree with you, which is why I’m here,” Emma said, meeting each of their gazes.
Quinn crossed his arms over his chest and glared at the young witch. “As much as I’d like to believe what you’re saying, I still have my doubts. I know you’ve been mentored by one of the council members, and that same council member is the one who voted to end Katarina’s life.”
“Are you referring to Melynn?” When Quinn nodded, Emma shook her head. “Melynn isn’t as evil as you think, but don’t worry about her. She doesn’t know I’m here, and she’s not the one you need to worry about harming your ward.”
“How do you know?” Roark’s gruff voice caused Emma to flinch.
She studied him for a moment, then glanced back at Quinn. “I’ve been investigating some things. Samara wasn’t the only one wondering what really happened to the other witches in our coven. I don’t have any proof yet, but as soon as I do, I will clue you in to what I’ve learned. For now, just know that Melynn and I are not the enemy.”
Both of my brothers looked at me. They were still uncertain on whether to trust Emma. I took the opportunity to ask the real question on everyone’s mind. “Why are you here?”
“I want to help, especially after what happened to Samara. I regret that my…” Emma’s voice cracked. She pivoted toward the back side of the barn, facing away from us. “My last conversation with Samara didn’t end well. I thought she was being selfish and putting the coven, as well as the other realms, at risk with her reckless behavior.”
“And what about now?” Kat finally spoke after listening to the rest of us talk about her like she wasn’t standing here.
Emma turned to face us once more. She wiped her eyes and released a shaky breath. “Like I said before, it’s why I’m here. After what happened to Samara, I realize changes need to be made.”
“What types of changes?” I asked the question before Quinn or Roark.
Kat glanced at me with a look of relief. I pressed my hand against the small of her back as a reminder that my brothers and I were here and we would help her find out who was trying to kill her.
Emma wrung her hands together as she stuttered for an answer. “I…I think it’s time for the council to be dissolved. They are stuck in their old beliefs and blinded to the changes that have happened in the human world. Samara knew this.”
“How do you know?”
“She mentioned it to me the last time we spoke. At that point, I didn’t take her seriously. I wish now that I had. Maybe she would still be alive.”
Listening to Emma talk about her last conversation with Samara had me thinking about my last conversation with her. Much like the young witch, I hadn’t taken to heart what my former ward had tried to tell me. All I cared about was her actions and how they reflected on my brothers and me. It was like the council expected us to keep Samara under control. But we were her guardians, not her wardens.
“You said Samara mentioned this to you during your last conversation?” I asked for confirmation.
Emma nodded again. “Yes, and there were rumors that she was going to dissolve the council because they had too much control. You know as well as I do that if this rumor made it to someone on the council or someone in support of the council, Samara would have some ready enemies.”
Roark folded his arms behind his back and circled around Emma. “So, this investigation you're doing…does anyone else know what you’re up to?”
“No. I want to get proof first. If I falsely accuse someone of murder, I will be punished, probably even exiled. I would definitely lose my spot on the Council of Peers.”
“How do we know this isn’t a set-up?” Roark continued. He nosed closer to Emma, doing his best to intimidate her in case she was lying.
“All I have is my word, which I’m giving to you.” She looked past him to Kat. “Miss West, the power Samara wielded is now inside you. That power means everything to my people. That’s why I believe you are what our coven needs.”
“Beg your pardon?” Kat shook her head then took turns looking at Roark, Quinn, and me. “Why would a witch coven need me? The power is what you really want.”
“You’re wrong,” Emma quipped. “My ancestors broke tradition by sending Samara to you, but they didn’t do so on a whim. There is something special about you, Katarina. Samara knew that as well as I do.”
“Impossible.” Kat lowered her gaze and kicked a rock. “Samara didn’t know me. She was dying when we met.”
“Precisely.” Emma stepped closer to her. “That’s why the ancestors made sure she reached you. They knew it was the right thing to do because no other witch would be brave enough to take up Samara’s fight, not even me.”
Kat touched her hand to her forehead and massaged her temples. “You don’t have proof of what you claim. I think Samara was so close to the end that she didn’t know what she was doing. Had Samara survived, she would have lived a full life and carried out whatever plan she had. Nothing would have changed. There’s nothing special about me.”
“That’s not true, Kat,” I protested. She peered at me as I took her face in my hands. “The power you hold would have killed most humans, yet you survived. You aren’t just special. You’re extraordinary.”
She touched my hand and smiled through her watery eyes. I wished I could show her how special she was. What she had done for me at the bar, when I was at one of the lowest moments in my life…no one had ever reached me on that level. She kept my darkness at bay.
I never wanted to lose her.
“I have an idea.” Quinn’s voice broke the trance we were in and drew our attention to him. “Emma is a powerful witch. I feel the magic inside her. Maybe it’s possible for her to help Katarina tap in to Samara’s powers.”
He waited for one of us to chime in, but neither Roark nor I said a word.
“She needs other ways to protect herself,” he continued. “We can’t be with her every second of the day, unless one of you plans to watch her while she showers.”
As tempting as the thought was, I understood what he meant. “You’re right. An added layer of protection won’t hurt. Besides, if she can gain control of the power, maybe she can use it to help us figure out who killed Samara.”
When Roark nodded, everyone looked at Emma. Would she be on board? We hadn’t asked her opinion.
“What do you think, Miss Pierce?” I asked out of courtesy.
“If it will help, I’m willing to try.”
Quinn leaned closer to Kat. “Are you okay with this?”
She bit her lip as if she were debating. After a few seconds of complete and utter silence, she let out a huff. “I have no problem trying, but I still think you’re all wrong. I received these powers by mistake.”
“That no longer matters,” Emma chided. “Your life is in danger. You’ll need every ounce of protection you can get. I will help if you allow me.”
“Fine.”
Emma reached for Kat’s hands. She cupped the backs and flipped them over until her palms faced up. Then Emma moved her hands over Kat’s until they hovered a few inches away.
“Close your eyes.” Emma waited until she complied before closing hers. “Focus on your breathing. Take five long inhales and exhales.”
Kat’s chest moved up and down as she did as she was instructed. A small V formed at her brow, but no emotion showed on her face. She stood there, silent and still, but willing to accept the help she was being offered.
“Now, focus on your surroundings. Listen to the noises. Feel the air around you. Search for the pulse in everything.”
After a few moments of silence, a sphere of tangible energy appeared between Emma and Kat’s palms. They glowed white and pulsed in a slow, repetitive rhythm. The long
er the women stood there, the brighter the light burned.
“Open yourself to the energy you feel, Katarina,” Emma whispered. “Allow it to flow over you.”
Kat did as Emma instructed. Her eyelids tightened and her brows pinched. The longer she stood there, concentrating on what Emma said, the more hope I had in this working. It would take some of the stress off my brothers and me.
No sooner than the thought entered my mind, I noticed Kat’s arms shake. The spheres of energy dimmed and filled with a darker shade, turning the white light gray. Her face grew pained as she began shaking her head.
“No, Katarina,” Emma ordered. “Focus. Don’t pull away.”
“I can’t do this.” Kat’s voice cracked and her hands began to tremble.
Thunder rumbled in the distance as the wind blew through the trees. Electricity flashed from the spheres, the color shifting to a midnight blue, then black.
The scent of smoke filtered through the air. Something loud popped. Then Emma and Kat flew backward.
“Katarina!” My brothers and I shouted her name in unison. Despite the fact I was closest to her before the explosion, Roark beat me to the spot on the ground where she lay. He had her in his arms by the time Quinn and I reached them.
“Are you all right?” he asked her.
She nodded as she rubbed her forehead. “My head is pounding, but I’m fine.”
Once Quinn knew she was okay, he went to check on Emma, who had sat up on her own. Her hair stuck out in different directions, and the expressionless face staring back at us revealed the confusion she felt. By the time Quinn got her back to her feet, she glanced at Kat.
“You were so close, but it’s like we hit a brick wall.”
“I’m sorry. This is my fault.” Kat pointed to herself and slumped her shoulders. “I got scared.”
“It’s more than fear.” Roark told Kat as she remained in his arms. “You’re resisting an important part of yourself.”
“What part?”
“Your psychic abilities.”
Kat shook her head and broke free of his embrace.
“I’m trying.” She stopped near the door and leaned her hand against the frame. “I know I told my uncle that I was ready to have my gift back, but it’s not something I can open myself up to overnight. My abilities bring back painful memories. It’s hard to let it go.”
Emma dusted off her cloak and approached her. “I have to get going, but I think we should try this again at a later time. It’s imperative that you make peace with whatever is holding you back.”
“Why?”
“You hold a great power within you. There are others who would kill to have it, or even destroy it. Samara was a powerful witch and someone took her life. You’re human. How do you think you will fare?”
I flinched at the insinuation Emma made. She didn’t know that Kat wasn’t some helpless human anymore. Still, being a reaper didn’t mean she couldn’t get hurt or killed. It was one of my many fears, and I knew my brothers were concerned for the same reasons.
Failing Samara had devastated us. Failing Kat…I wasn’t sure any of us could survive losing her.
Chapter 18
~Katarina~
I sank inside the cushion of the leather sofa in my guardians’ home near the coven. It was the last stop we had to make before we went to their realm and their home on the Stone Isles. What frightened me was the reason we were going.
We were here to find a way to save my life.
Even though Emma and my guardians swore this was fate, I had to question it. Why would some supernatural higher power choose me to hold this raw magic everyone held in such high esteem? At the time I’d received the power, I was human, someone forbidden to supernaturals, someone who shouldn’t have known of their existence, someone they could never love.
Yet here I sat.
I gazed around the room, taking in the expensive paintings and art. It was the same room I had woken in days ago, after Samara died. After waking in a strange house with no memory of what happened, and seeing a strange man sitting close to me, I had panicked.
Quinn’s gentle voice and compassionate eyes had made me feel safe. They still did, even now when I caught him watching over me from the balcony. He insisted Roark and Jax pack whatever they needed for their trip since they always took the longest. I thought maybe he’d volunteered to stay so we could talk, but he’d kept his distance since we entered the room.
Although he hadn’t been as bold as Roark and Jax about our connection, he didn’t feel any different from his brothers. He desired me, but he wouldn’t cross the boundary that separated what he wanted and what was required of him. They all took their oath seriously. Still, heat smoldered in his eyes every time they met mine. Even now, when he was pretending not to stare, I could feel it.
Damn, I was a mess. The sexual tension I shared with each of them left me questioning whether the power I held had somehow changed me. How could I equally want three different men?
How could I not? They were protective, full of honor, sexy as hell, and two of them were, without a doubt, damn good kissers. Part of me still held out hope of finding out if Quinn could seduce me with his lips too.
I shouldn’t. My last conversation with Roark had made it clear why they couldn’t fall in love with me. They had to be alert at all times. I’d never begged for anyone’s attention. Quite the opposite. If they wanted to resist the bond between us, what more could I do?
The stress of this whole situation weighed on me. My neck and shoulders were tense, causing a kink in my neck. I massaged it as best I could, alleviating enough of the pain to slow the throbbing in my temple. Then I stood and walked toward the window opposite the balcony.
I was a foot away when Quinn rushed around me and blocked my path. We collided a second later. My forehead bumped his chin, causing his teeth to clash.
“I’m so sorry,” I said.
“I’m fine.” Quinn rubbed his chin then lowered his hand to his side. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“To the window.”
“Why would you do that?”
I jerked my head back in confusion. “Uh, because I’m bored and I want to look outside.”
“I don’t sense boredom in you, Katarina. I sense restlessness. You can’t hang out in front of windows. Someone could be staking this house, waiting to see a glimpse of you. Magic can be used from a distance. Someone could hurt or kill you.”
“First off, I’m not a complete idiot when it comes to how magic works. Second, are you saying I have to be a prisoner now?”
“Of course not. When we go to the Stone Isles, you will be in the safest place possible.”
“Yeah, but when will that be? We still haven’t located Slade. I think we owe it to Samara to find him. You owe it to yourself.”
He led me back to the couch and sat with me. “We’re already searching for him. The council has some of their people on it, and we have some of ours. Your uncle is also sending out his shades to assist. We can also tap into other resources in our realm. Your safety is our top priority.”
“Yeah. My safety.” Every time I heard one of them say that word, it made my stomach twist. There was no way to express my gratitude for them keeping me safe, but being close to them grew more painful every day. It was like having an ache deep inside my body and nothing could relieve it.
I left the couch again, this time walking toward the fireplace. Surely this spot would be safe, unless he thought someone would come down the chimney. Abstract art pieces displayed above the mantel became my focal point as I did my best to clear my mind. I had tried to be positive since all of this came about, but my optimism was fading.
Why did I have these stupid powers? I couldn’t imagine living the rest of my life with these men constantly at my side—constantly craving something I couldn’t have. Maybe in time, I wouldn’t want them as much. It was all I could hope for at this point. If they didn’t find a way to transfer the power, and I truly was chose
n to take Samara’s place, I’d go insane if I had to keep up false pretenses.
Warm hands cupped my shoulders. I twitched at Quinn’s touch, causing him to remove them. “What’s troubling you, Katarina?”
“It’s nothing. I’m fine.”
He chuckled. “I sense otherwise.”
I spun to face him, frowning at him for mentioning the connection. “You guys are something else.”
“What did I do?”
“The mixed signals. One minute you guys act like I’m the most important person to you, then the next minute, you act like I’m carrying some type of deadly disease. If you can’t have feelings for me, why do you always check on my emotions?”
Quinn’s mouth lowered as he struggled to speak. He pressed them back together before releasing an exaggerated sigh. “It’s complicated. Our duty is to protect you—”
“Yeah, I know. Let me see if I have this right. You and your brothers have to keep a clear head so you can’t fall for me because I’d be a distraction. Blah blah blah. I already heard this speech from Roark.”
“You did?”
“Yes. Don’t act like you don’t know.” When he frowned at me, I scoffed. “Roark told me your duty to me is solely for protection, that you can’t risk loving me because it will affect your decisions. He explained how you all thought of Samara like a sister, and those feelings caused you to grow too lenient with her.”
Quinn’s puzzled expression perplexed me. I’d assumed Roark and his brothers had already had this conversation and that Roark was the one to deliver the news to me. Had I been wrong?
“Well?” I asked. “Don’t you have anything to say?”
“I’m shocked, I guess. I didn’t think Roark had it in him to resist you, especially after the kiss you two shared.”
It was my turn to be speechless. “When did he tell you we kissed?”
“The night someone pushed you over the balcony, right before we left.”
They must have discussed it while I’d been in the bathroom. “So you’re shocked Roark resisted me, but you’re not denying what he said?”
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