Something in the Shadows

by Elle Beaumont

  “You won’t have time to leave the coven,” Grandma Kentwood spat as she neared the doorway and Cass stepped further into the room to give the women space to leave. “Once we tell the leaders what you’ve done, they’ll banish you. We’ll be back for Izzy.”

  “No, you won’t,” Cass growled, voice a deep, threatening rumble. Sparks erupted around his hands, and I felt a tug on my magic. Did he even realize what he was doing?

  My grandmas noticed, and both scurried from the room. It was one thing to face down a demon. It was another to face that same demon who had access to magic. I’d need to talk to Cass about this, but now wasn’t the time.

  “Go back out,” I urged. “I’ll only be a second. Don’t leave Izzy alone.” I didn’t dare speak Lars’s name.

  Cass nodded and fled the hotel, the truck door closing seconds later. With only me in the room, I spoke a spell that would neutralize any spells that my grandmas would’ve placed in the room. Or, I hoped it would. I wouldn’t have put it past either woman to spell something of mine or hide something they spelled to do harm or listen in on me.

  For security purposes, I performed the spell two more times. Three was a lucky number, right? It had to be now.

  Grabbing everything I could find, I shoved them into the nearest bags and suitcases. In the end, everything fit nicely inside and I left the room. Cass met me just outside and grabbed the bags, eyeing a car further down the line.

  “Is this it?”

  “I have to go check out,” I stated, handing off the bags. “Otherwise I’ll keep having to pay for the room.”

  “Go quick. They’re still here.”

  My nerves were almost shot when I reached the hotel lobby at the end of the row of doors. I wasn’t too far away from the truck, but I was far enough that I worried what one of my grandparents would do if I was out of sight for too long. I didn’t worry for Izzy, or for Cass, but if they didn’t know about Lars, I wanted to keep it that way.

  The checkout process seemed to take forever, even when the desk clerk noticed my anxiety-induced bouncing. I swore he took longer just for that. In hindsight I should’ve brought Cass with me to hurry this man up. Then again, he might’ve wet himself in the process of helping me if Cass were here.

  Receipt in hand, I jogged back to the truck and climbed inside, the keys still in the ignition from when I’d left minutes before. Cass kept his gaze on the cars in the parking lot while I backed out and burned rubber leaving the parking lot. Not that there was any traffic on the road, but I wanted to get away from there as fast as the truck could take us.

  I’d expected my nerves to settle the further we drove from town, but they didn’t. Every few minutes I checked the rearview mirror, expecting to see someone tailing us, but there was no one. It didn’t help that Cass was tense and silent at my side, until he finally spoke up.

  “Do you know how to ward?” Cass asked, jaw clenched and his teeth grinding together.

  “Yes, that’s the one spell I excel at.” I grinned, still tense but needing an outlet for it. “Let’s just say I was an extremely private teenager.”

  “Good, because I don’t think they’re just going to leave us alone now.”

  “They will once they come against my wards, and with you here, they won't dare come alone.”

  “There were men in the car with the women.”

  “Even with my grandpas, they won’t dare come against us.” Or so I hoped and told myself.

  “Good. Let’s hurry then.”

  I glared out the windshield, keeping my eyes on the road and the rising sun. “I’m already speeding. I don’t dare go any faster.”

  By the time we reached the house, my new home, I was trembling. That had been the worst twenty minutes of my life. I wasn’t sure what I expected my grandparents to do, which was part of the problem.

  “Take the kids inside and downstairs,” I ordered Cass as I backed the truck up the driveway. “I’ll ward the property and then we can unload everything.”

  Cass did as I ordered while I went in search of salt in the second pantry, which I hadn’t investigated yet, in the kitchen. It held plenty, as though Aunt Cecilia warded the house herself quite often.

  Racing back outside, I started pouring the salt over the ground and murmuring the chanting spell that would set up the ward. I strode around the entirety of the treeless property, snakes and all, continuing the spell. For good measure, I rounded the property twice.

  “It’s done,” I announced to Cass, who stood beside the truck watching me work. “All they’ll find is a vacant lot and they won’t be able to step foot inside because of the horde of snakes that they’ll find in the grasses.”

  Cass eyeballed the grass beside the house with a smirk. “That’s not a far fetched idea.”

  “Exactly why I chose it.”

  My grin faded a second later as a familiar car rounded the corner, coming into view. I snatched up Cass’s hand and squeezed it tight, my heart constricting in much the same way. We were about to find out if my ward making skills were any good after all.

  “It’s all right,” Cass murmured into my ear as the car slowed to a stop and a man stepped out.

  Grandpa Phillips was a tall, lean man, the nicest of the four of my grandparents, but not by much. While they all liked one another, they hadn’t been happy with my parent’s union, thinking that they could’ve done better marrying stronger magic holders.

  I held my breath as he stepped toward the lot. However, when his eyes widened and he hustled back to the car, I breathed a sigh of relief.

  “How long will it take them to realize that’s only a ward?” Cass asked, concern in his voice as the car sped further down the road.

  “I don’t know. My wards are pretty convincing.” I winked at Cass, muscles easing for the first time in hours. “I fooled my parents quite a bit, and they knew me well. Those four will probably think they took a wrong turn somewhere. I think for now, we’re safe.”

  Cass’s grin grew wider as he turned his attention from me to the house. “Welcome home, Destiny.”

  “Welcome home, Cass. What do you say about just leaving the truck bed loaded for now and finding a bed to crash on for a few hours?”

  His eyebrows rose. “Bed? As in singular?”

  I shrugged. “If you keep your hands to yourself, you’re welcome to join me. It’s that or the couch. Take your pick.”

  He chuckled. “You go lay down. I need far less sleep, so I’ll unload the truck bed, and then I’ll join you.”

  While a bit of guilt twisted my insides, Cass was adamant that he wanted to do this and that I needed sleep. We were both right; I did. Already I was dizzy and ready to fall over. I hadn’t pulled an all-nighter in quite some time.

  The kids were downstairs at the table coloring when I emerged from the stairway. They smiled and waved, both wide awake after a night’s sleep in the car. After making them promise to be good, I found the basement master bedroom and flopped on the bed. I didn’t even care if the bedding was clean or not. It was soft, and it was comfortable.

  Twenty minutes later, the bed dipped behind me and a masculine sigh filled the room. I reached behind me, grabbed Cass’s arm and draped it over my side. He splayed his hand over my shirt across my stomach, much like he had yesterday morning when we’d woken.

  “You’re supposed to be asleep,” he mumbled, then yawned, burying his face in my long strands of hair. “Go to sleep.”

  “I was trying, but my brain won’t turn off. It’s like I’m too tired to sleep.”

  “There’s no such thing. Sleep.”

  We were silent for a few minutes and I couldn’t keep my words in any longer. “Cass?”

  He grunted in reply.

  “What happens to demons when their mate dies?”

  He groaned and held me tighter. “They have the option to choose between staying with their love’s soul after death or returning to the demon dimension. Most go with their love. Few return.”

  “Do they r
egret that choice?”

  “Some do. However, if they return, they can be summoned again as a mate for a witch.”

  I bit my lip, afraid to ask but needing to know. “If I died right now-?”

  “I’d go with you,” Cass interrupted. “I will never leave you alone. I promise.”

  My heart tightened. “We need to find a witch or warlock we trust, one with a Matrada demon.”

  “Why?”

  “So if we die, the kids have someone to take care of them.”

  Cass flinched behind me and pulled me against his chest. “We will. Now sleep. Neither one of us are dying in the next few hours. You need your energy to clean upstairs. It’s still a mess.”

  It was my turn to groan. “You know what?”

  “What?” he chuckled, the deep sound curling my toes.

  “I’m glad that I whispered that spell. I’m glad that I have you.”

  “As am I, Destiny. As am I. Now sleep.”

  “Are all demons this bossy?” My question was punctuated by a deep yawn.

  “Yes, especially a Matrada demon with an obstinate mate.”

  “Good night, mate.”

  “Good night, my Destiny.”

  Heather is a lover of all books YA Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy, but it wasn’t until she was in college that she realized this. It’s likely why the book she wrote in 8th grade was rewritten several times and then set aside to sit on her bookshelf to never see the light of day. Once Heather found the genre that she enjoyed above all others, she dove back into reading, and with it, writing. That’s why even her Christmas books are filled with dragons and shifters.

  Connect with Heather

  www.heatherkarn.com/

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  facebook.com/heatherkarnauthor

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  twitter.com/HeatherKAuthor

  More From Heather Karn

  Phoenix Awakened

  Mate: Level 8

  * * *

  The Weregal Chronicles

  Perfect Scents

  Whitewash

  Black Out

  Redemption

  Freedom

  Unity

  * * *

  Gargoyle Collection

  Gargoyle’s Kiss

  Gargoyle’s Pixie

  Gargoyle’s Christmas

  * * *

  Christmas Collection

  First Christmas

  Cookie Christmas

  Evergreen Christmas

  Snowbound Christmas

  * * *

  First Blood Series

  First Blood

  Second Lineage

  Third House

  Zero Tolerance

  Fourth Bunker

  Negative Energy (Coming September, 12 2020)

  The alarm on Seth's phone plays a tinkling song, the same annoying jingle he refused to change. It was the only sound that cut through his deep sleep. Usually, I can ignore it since it isn't my alarm, but today I'm up long before it goes off. I already made coffee for Seth, because today he's on his way to South Carolina with his film crew.

  About six months ago, he landed a filming deal for his job as a Ghostbuster—or, as normal people call it, Supernatural Investigator. Seth travels around a lot due to the filming locations, and I remain at home, mostly. Sometimes I go with him. I have fun watching him in his element, but lately, things are strained. He's distant, barely talks, and I'm scared this is the end for us.

  I should stay in Churchville, Virginia, but I won't. Instead of letting him make the trip to Russell, South Carolina by himself, I figured I'd enjoy the road getaway with him, and hopefully close whatever distance grew between us. He has interminable days filming, and I work at an animal hospital as a receptionist. Days off together—let alone an entire week—are scarce for us, but that's why I'm going with him.

  Once Seth is out of bed, I hear him rummaging around in the kitchen.

  "I didn't set the coffee," Seth murmurs.

  "I did." I stride into the kitchen and wrap my arms around his waist. "So you could make a travel mug to go, if you wanted."

  Seth shrugs out of my arms and looks down at me. "You don't have to do this."

  "But I want to. Seth, whatever is going on between us, I want to work this out with you—with us."

  Seth nods and combs his fingers through his shaggy blond hair. His blue eyes, which usually hold laughter, are dark with a sadness I wish I understood. If he'd talk to me, we could sort this out, but a twist in my gut warns me what is about to come.

  "All right, all right. Time to move."

  Seth grabs a travel mug, filling it with coffee, and heads toward the living room where all the bags are. In a moment, the front door softly closes.

  A soft trilling meow snags my attention. Snuffy, our orange tiger cat, winds around my legs. I crouch down and rub his head, then under his chin. Apparently, it isn't enough. Snuffy stands on his hind legs to whuffle my face, then scrapes his cheek against mine.

  "I'll miss you, too." I give him a peck on the head and turn around. "Hey babe, I'll be right out there. I'm just leaving a note for Stacey for when she comes to take care of Snuffy." Finishing, I give Snuffy one more kiss before walking out of the house.

  Seth is busy loading the trunk. As he hurls his bags into the car, the same sinking feeling in my gut tells me things won't fix themselves. If only I knew what I did or where we went wrong.

  I met Seth shortly after graduating from college, and I started working at the animal hospital. His blue eyes were full of tears as he approached the receptionist's desk; he held a cat carrier, and an old feline yowled inside. The cat's appointment wasn't a checkup, but euthanasia. I offered him comfort. And after that, the rest, as they say, is history.

  Stop thinking like that, Abs. You'll just get yourself in a tizzy.

  Before we leave for South Carolina, Seth goes through his typical checklist, and I stand there wishing he glances my way with his crooked smile—or anything to give me hope we'll be back to normal soon.

  He doesn't. He unzips his camera bag, muttering, then tosses it in the back seat. Another mumble, then Seth throws the last bag into the trunk of his Corolla and shuts it.

  "I haven't been on a hunt with you in a while," I say, stepping around the car to the passenger side.

  When I joined him in the past, I rarely went to the location. I was a tourist in whatever area we landed in. I'd explore the town or city, find the best restaurants, and enjoy my time. On the rare occasion I went to the site, I stayed out of the way until they finished filming.

  Seth says nothing, but glances in my direction and nods his head before climbing in the driver's seat. He dials in the address and peers over at me again. "It'll take six hours to get there."

  "I guess it's a good thing I didn't sleep well last night."

  I didn't sleep at all, actually. Most of the night had been spent curled up on the couch watching TV. I Love Lucy reruns kept me company last night until the wee hours of the morning. Surprisingly, I wasn’t tired, but I knew I could sleep in the car, anyway.

  Seth whips his phone out, hooks it up to the USB cord and sets it in the stand. His hand hovers over the device, eyes glued to the screen as he goes over his road trip playlist.

  Playfully, I swat him out of the way to pull up some tunes. He glances in my direction, surprise flickering in his gaze. I put one of my favorite songs on and settle in for the next six hours.

  "What was that?" he asks.

  "A love tap." I grin and close my eyes, leaning against the car window. Now we're ready for the road trip.

  Hours pass by, as do the miles. At one point, I think I fell asleep. I'm not sure, because I don't recall my eyes ever closing. The scenery differs from the highway by the time I wake up, which means we're passing through a small town, or we're at our destination.

  Finally, Seth pulls into a gas station. I stare at the GPS, which says we're in Russell, South Carolina, and we're only a few minutes out from Green
Meadow Inn.

  When I stir, Seth glances my way, his gaze lingering for a moment. Whatever tension I thought we'd leave behind in Virginia is still here. The uneasiness between us is nearly tangible, almost as heavy as the humid air rushing into the car as he exits. I sigh, sitting there, listening to the twang of country music blaring from the radio above the pump.

  "Do you think we can talk about what's going on? Whatever this is?"

  Seth slides into the driver's seat and we're off again. The sun was out in Virginia, but as the miles pass, and the day drags on, mugginess meets us. At least the thick blanket of clouds wards off the sun... I don't think I could bear the humidity and the heat at once.

  He stares ahead, only taking his eyes off the road to glance at the GPS. "Not now, please. Not now."

  My heart plunges to my stomach. All I want is for things to return to normal. Seth has always been fairly interesting. He has a darker sense of humor, a quick wit, and he’s always the first to drag me into a fresh adventure. That's how I fell in love with him. But lately he's withdrawn, closed off, his humor gone. I realize it's only a matter of time before we sit down and hash things out, and that a breakup is around the corner. As much as it'll burn, anything is better than the unspoken tension between us now.

  Siri demands we take a right on Willow Drive. Out of the few streets we've passed in Russell, this is likely the most picturesque town I've ever seen—like something out of a Nicholas Sparks movie. Gorgeous old houses with white picket fences line the streets, and massive old oak and maple trees tower over the sidewalks.

  "Ready or not," Seth murmurs, surprising me.

  "Why wouldn't I be?" I press, glancing at him from my periphery.

  He shrugs and squeezes the steering wheel, laughing softly. "I don't know why I'm nervous, but I am."