“Shit,” Bonnie mumbled, her hopes of Raven forgetting dashed. “I’m not messing with Bishop. It’s for his own good. I’m no good. He needs someone like that woman, Savannah, or whatever her name is.”
Raven pulled to the side of the road and stopped, then glared over at Bonnie. “Bullshit.”
“No, actually it’s not bullshit.” Bonnie glared back. “I have a bounty on my head, Raven. A lunatic father who will stop at nothing to see me dead. He will go after anyone and everyone associated with me. As a matter of fact, I should have left a long time ago, but I’ve stuck around trying to help Kira get ready. This is not anyone’s fight but mine. If feelings develop between me and Bishop, his life won’t be worth anything.”
“You love him.” Raven’s glare softened.
Bonnie opened her mouth, but no words came out. She cleared her voice and looked away. “Love has nothing to do with anything. Just trust me. It’s best this way.”
“Oh, I trust you with my life,” Raven said, her tone stating clearly she meant it. “But I don’t trust you to make the right decision on this. What you are doing is wrong, Bonnie. You cannot play with people like this and expect everything to be okay. Let Bishop make his own decisions. He is a Warrior. A man who, by the way, is going to be all kinds of pissed off when he finds out, and he will find out either by you or me.”
“Please don’t, Raven,” Bonnie begged, her eyes round with fear.
“If he asks me, I’m not lying. It’s against everything I believe,” Raven stated firmly. “But….”
“But?” Bonnie asked hopefully.
“I will not seek him out to tell him.” Raven sighed, then frowned at her. “But think about what I’ve said. The way you are going about this is going to lead to heartbreak, and I’m afraid that heartbreak is going to be yours.”
“You can’t break something that’s already broken, Raven.” Bonnie glanced away to stare at the snow hitting the windshield. “And you speak to me about Bishop. What about you and Charger?”
“Oh, you are so wrong about that. Believe me when I tell you a heart can break a hundred times in a hundred different ways,” Raven replied, then turned the lights on the car back on. “And me and Charger are different. He knows exactly how I feel, and I know exactly how he feels. Nothing similar at all with our situations. Give Bishop the same benefit. He’s a good man and deserves that much.”
“But I’m trying to save him.” Bonnie tried to justify her actions.
“No, you’re controlling him,” Raven shot back. “There is no justification in that, Bonnie. And save him from who? Your father? He’s been against worse in his lifetime, I’m sure.”
“From me,” Bonnie whispered, then shook her head and looked toward Raven. “From me,” she repeated louder.
“What if he doesn’t choose to be saved from you?” Raven asked, her head tilted as if trying to understand. “Oh, that’s right. You’ve taken his choice away.”
“Why does this matter so much to you?” Bonnie sighed, not understanding why Raven just wouldn’t let it go. Let her do what she needed to do, what she felt was best.
Raven was silent for a long minute, just staring out the windshield. “I’ve had few friends in my life. I consider you one of those few.”
“But you barely know me,” Bonnie said, confused, never having had a friend. A true friend. It was foreign to her.
Raven smiled as she finally looked her way. “Pretty cool, huh.”
Bonnie laughed, then nodded. “Yeah, it is.” She had actually felt that connection with Raven too. “Never really had a friend before, so I’m sure I’ll fuck up a lot.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll beat you back into shape.” Raven grinned as she pulled back onto the road.
“Ah, is that what friends do?” Bonnie gave her a sideways look.
“It’s what I do,” Raven said, then laughed at Bonnie’s frown. “Don’t worry, I won’t head-butt you.”
“Can you show me that move?” Bonnie asked with a grin. “I sure could use that knowledge.”
“I’ll show you anything you want to know.” Raven pulled into the compound. “You’ll be one badass witch. Now, go get some rest, and I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Thanks,” Bonnie said, opening the door, but stopped. “And, Raven, I’ve never had love in my life. I don’t even know what love is. Bishop deserves much more than I could ever give him.”
She got out quickly, then slammed the door before she could hear anything else from Raven. Her mind was already on overload, and she didn’t know what to do with all the emotions rambling around in her head and heart.
Bonnie was ready for a shower and bed. This day had sucked, and tomorrow looked like it was going to suck even more. She made it to the door, hit the code, and as the door opened, she turned to look at Raven. With a wave, she ducked inside, hurried to her small room Sloan had given her, and closed herself in. The tears fell, hard and fast. Shit was getting too real for her. Maybe it was time she pulled a Bonnie and disappeared. It was her definite go-to when things got hard. The security she felt at disappearing wasn’t there this time. No, her heart hurt, and that’s when she knew she had overstayed her welcome. Bonnie Grail didn’t deserve peace, not yet. Not until her mother rested in peace and her father was dead by her hand.
Chapter 7
Bishop slammed his way into the warehouse seeing that training was over. He looked around for Raven but didn’t see her anywhere.
“Bike’s out there,” Steve said, walking up to him. “Not a scratch.”
“Good thing.” Bishop frowned, not in the mood to talk to anyone other than Raven. “Where’s Raven?”
“She took Bonnie back to the compound. She should be back here any minute,” Viktor said, then frowned. “Why, what’s up?”
Bishop shook his head. Viktor was the last person he wanted to talk to about this shit. “How’d she do tonight?”
Viktor smiled. “She kicked everyone’s ass. It was pretty fucking amazing.”
“Damn! Was hoping to see that.” Bishop felt his mood lighten slightly. Even though she called him a fucking idiot, he still wanted to see what she was capable of. “Charger show up?”
“Long enough to see how she did,” Viktor replied, then glanced toward the door. “Then he left without a word to anyone.”
Bishop nodded, then angled to see Raven walk in with Jared, Duncan, and Sloan. He headed toward her. “Need to talk to you.”
“Where’s Damon and Sid? Ronan is on rounds, so he won’t be here.” Sloan glanced around as he asked Bishop before he could take Raven outside.
“No clue. Just got here myself.” Bishop took Raven’s arm and headed outside.
“What?” Raven said, her tone of voice calmer than it was earlier when she was calling him an idiot and a pig. Yeah, he’d forgotten about that until now.
“Why don’t you tell me what the fuck happened back at that house?” Bishop crossed his arms and watched her closely.
Raven shrugged. “A bunch of occult shit was found. Trying to figure it out.” Raven glanced away from him. “You know, you were there.”
His mood took a turn for the worse. “You are seriously going to act like you didn’t call me a fucking idiot or a pig?”
“Oh, that,” Raven said, finally looking at him. “Yeah, sorry. Just had a moment. Girl time.”
“You’re a fucking vampire.” Bishop sneered. “You don’t have girl time. Cut the shit, Raven. What in the hell is going on?”
“Are you going to help Bonnie heal, because if not, I’m going tonight to make her take my blood, or find someone to give her blood. I could probably call one of the Guardians—” Bonnie eyed him closely.
“The fuck you will,” Bishop roared, then frowned, confused.
“Shit.” Raven shuffled from foot to foot, looking nervous. “I can’t do this. It’s not fair.”
“What’s not fair?” Bishop questioned, not liking being in the dark.
“You’ve been confused ab
out your feelings for Bonnie.” It wasn’t a question Raven was asking; it was a statement. “You kissed her, felt nothing, yet lately, the thought of another vampire giving her his blood is driving you into a rage. Why do you think that is?”
“The fuck if I know,” Bishop said, not really comfortable talking about this with Raven, but fuck, he didn’t feel like he had a choice.
“Think about it, Bishop,” Raven urged him, looking conflicted. “I really don’t want to be the one to tell you this, but I don’t think Bonnie will. She will probably take off before she would do it, and if she leaves, she’s as good as dead.”
The thought of something happening to Bonnie made his head spin, making any other thoughts impossible. He just stared at Raven.
“She’s a witch.” Raven’s eyes opened as if trying to force the answer into is head.
“I know that,” he replied with agitation. “Tell me something I don’t know. I’m getting damn tired of this guessing game.”
Raven remained quiet as she stared at him, looking as if she was going to call him a fucking idiot again. She’s a witch. He knew that, dammit. He frowned with a curse.
“She can’t use magic on me,” he said, his eyes narrowing.
“But she can on herself,” Raven added, then clamped her mouth shut. When Bishop remained silent, she sighed. “Come on, man. For a witch hunter, you sure as hell don’t know much about witches. She put a spell on herself.”
Bishop was trying to get his head around everything he’d heard when Jared came outside.
“Is there a problem out here?” Jared asked, walking next to Raven.
“No,” Raven replied. “No problem. Just going over a few things.”
Bishop didn’t say anything, his mind still trying to put shit together. Why in the hell would Bonnie put a spell on herself? And what did that have to do with him?
“Good,” Jared said, then clapped Bishop on the shoulder. “Come on, Sloan’s ready to get the show on the road. Damon and Sid are pulling in now.”
“We’re coming,” Raven said, then waited until Jared returned inside before turning back to Bishop. “I’ve said all I’m going to say. I’ve actually said too much. You need to figure this out before it’s too late, Bishop. Her life depends on it.”
Raven walked away, but Bishop stopped her. “She put an aversion spell on herself?”
Looking over her shoulder, she nodded.
“But why?” Bishop frowned, feeling more confused than he had before, but his mixed-up feelings were starting to make sense.
“That’s not my story to tell,” Raven said, her voice low with a tinge of sadness. “But I will tell you this. You break her heart, I will break you.”
Bishop watched as Raven disappeared inside. Anger mixed with disbelief hit him hard. None of this made any sense to him. Damon and Sid walked up.
“Meeting over?” Damon asked, glancing toward the warehouse.
“What?” Bishop shook his head, trying to focus. “Ah, no. Hasn’t started.”
“Shit, hoping we’d at least be late,” Sid said as he passed. “Need to see my mate. She’s probably left me by now.”
“You good, man?” Damon asked, watching Bishop closely.
Bishop looked at him blankly for a minute. “No, I’m not.” Bishop headed toward his bike. “Tell Sloan I’ll get filled in later. I have to go. Something’s come up.”
“You need help?” Damon called out.
“No.” Bishop hopped on his bike, started it, and took off. It was time to get answers, and the person who had the answers wasn’t there. So he would go to her. He really tried his best to keep his anger at bay until he heard her out, but it was hard. Why in the hell would she do something like that? He felt played and it pissed him off. Magic wasn’t something he took lightly, especially when it was used against him, and he had a bad feeling that’s exactly what was going on.
Pulling into the compound, he parked then jogged to the door. Keying in the code, he burst through the door, slamming it behind him. Taking the steps two at a time, he headed toward her room. Once there, he knocked on the door, but she didn’t answer. Tuning in, he listened closely and could hear a heartbeat and knew she was inside. He knocked again. Still nothing.
He tried the knob and the door opened. He looked inside and saw her curled up on her bed under the covers. Bishop closed the door behind him. Walking to the end of the bed, he stood there watching her sleep. A sudden strong urge to protect her overwhelmed him. She looked so small and defenseless lying there. This small woman had lived a life of pure hell with no end in sight.
His gaze left her to look around the sparse room. There wasn’t much in the space other than her clothes she had worn earlier folded neatly on the only chair in the room. Walking backward, he moved the clothes and sat down, leaning his head against the wall, his eyes staying on her. He would wait, not having the heart to wake her yet.
Yeah, he would wait, at least for a little while. Crossing his arms, he continued his vigil. Some would call what he was doing creepy, but suddenly it didn’t feel that way to him. This felt right, like he belonged here… with her. Feelings he thought he had for her when he first met her came rushing back to him in waves.
With a curse, things started to become clear to him. She was hurt, which weakened her magic. And now she was sleeping, weakening it more. For a fact, he knew Bonnie had put an aversion spell on herself. Bishop wouldn’t leave until he knew why.
She stirred, her legs moving in jerky movements. A small whimper filled the room before she quieted. He sat up, ready to go to her if needed, but she seemed to calm. He relaxed, but only for a minute. She again started to struggle, this time in earnest. He stood and went to the bed, afraid she was going to hurt herself.
Leaning over, he cringed at the fear on her sleeping face. “Bonnie,” he whispered, putting his hand gently on her shoulder. “Wake up.”
Once his hand made contact with her, all hell broke loose. She began to fight demons he couldn’t see. It broke him to see her fear while still asleep caught in a nightmare he wasn’t in to protect her.
“Bonnie!” he said louder, this time with more force. “Wake up.”
“No, please,” she whimpered, her arms fighting to get out from under the covers. “Take me, not him. Me! Bishop! No! Please!”
Bishop whipped the covers off her and picked her up, holding her tightly to him. “Bonnie! Stop! Wake up!”
She smacked at him, and he knew she was fighting something, trying to come out of her nightmare. He kept calling her name until finally, her eyes popped open, wide in fright, but then relief flashed across their beautiful green color.
“Bishop?” she whispered as big wet tears slipped from her eyes. “You’re okay?”
“Yes, of course I am.” He wiped a tear away from her cheek with his thumb. “And so are you. You’re safe. I’ve got you. It was just a nightmare.”
She slowly shook her head, staring up at him. “What are you doing here?”
“To heal you,” he replied after a moment of silence. “And to find out why you’ve put an aversion spell on yourself. It’s time for truths, Bonnie, and I’m not leaving until I have it. All of it.”
“She shouldn’t have told you.” Bonnie’s head dropped, but he lifted it so she could see his face.
“Raven didn’t tell me,” Bishop said, then frowned. “I guessed. You’re damn lucky I’m an understanding man. At least for the moment.”
Bishop looked down at her body. She only wore a tank top that barely covered her. His cock stirred, and he sighed in relief. His dick wasn’t broken. At least with her it wasn’t. He had a feeling for any other woman it was.
“Time to come clean, witch.” Bishop’s eyes rose to meet hers. “And it better be good. I don’t take magic being used against me lightly.”
“I did it for you, not against you,” Bonnie whispered, then bit her lip.
“That’s a very fine line, Bonnie.” Bishop stared at her lips, then bent his head. Their
lips met, and within a second, he knew for a fact what he’d felt under the mistletoe had not been real. This right here was as real as it came, and deep down, it scared the fuck out of him.
Chapter 8
Her nightmares were real. They came every single time she closed her eyes, making her hate sleep, but unfortunately, her body needed it. Bonnie had gone days without closing her eyes, but the toll was always a high price for her. It made her magic unpredictable and right now, that was dangerous.
Hearing her name repeated over and over again had Bonnie fighting from the darkness. She hated the darkness and never slept without a light of some sort. In her nightmare, she reached for Bishop, but he was being pulled away from her. Nothing worked. Not her magic, nothing. He was mouthing something to her, but she couldn’t make out what he was trying to say. The blackness was swallowing him, and she begged whatever it was to take her, not him. And then she heard her name, felt herself being pulled away.
The voice became harsher, but still felt safe. Opening her eyes against the heavy force was no easy feat, but she did it. Bishop’s image focused at her wide-eyed gaze. She was sure he’d said something to her and she’d responded, but her brain was still in the nightmare so she had no clue what was exchanged.
“That’s a very fine line, Bonnie.” Bishop’s voice was low and held a hint of anger.
“Huh?” She frowned, wishing her mind would clear.
His eyes narrowed. “Why did you use an aversion spell?”
Even though she felt safe in his arms, she needed to move away from him. It was too easy to give in, and the kiss they just shared proved her magic was weak. She gasped in pain when she tried to push away from him.
“Dammit.” Bishop held her still. “Be careful.”
She watched as he put his wrist to his mouth, his fangs gleaming. “Stop.” She grabbed his arm before his fangs could make contact with his skin. “I’m fine.”
Bishop Page 5
