Bound (Keeper of the Flame Book 2)

by Lila Kane

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Bound

  Keeper of the Flame Book 2

  by

  LILA KANE

  BOUND

  Copyright © 2018 Lila Kane

  Previously published as Kenna Avery Wood

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  Table of Contents

  ________________________

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Mailing List

  Summary

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Excerpt of Book Three: Betrayed

  About the Author

  There are exciting times ahead with my books. Look for a lot of new releases and updates of old books. All romance, all the time. If you’re interested in receiving periodic emails about my novels, sign up for my newsletter with the icon below.

  Summary

  Willow thought trapping vampire Logan would solve her problems, but she’s still no closer to figuring out the curse which keeps paranormals powerless in the small town of Shadow Hill. When Logan offers her a deal to help put the spell back in place if she helps his sick sister, Willow agrees—in spite of Ryan’s reluctance. When evil from beyond the grave interferes with her plans, Willow’s not sure whether to trust Logan or stay as far away from him as possible. But one thing she knows for sure, she can’t fight the attraction she feels—and it could result in someone’s death.

  Chapter 1

  I fold my arms and linger in the sunshine on the back deck of the house Ryan let me rent.

  There’s a low thrum of energy pulsing through me. Maybe a product of all the power I used today seeking Selena, my dead witch ancestor, or trapping Logan, my vampire stalker, in a cave.

  I can still feel him, too. After being trapped in his house more than once and doing a spell against him, we’re linked somehow. Right now, I can feel his pain. It feels a lot like the magical fire that rushes through my veins when I use magic.

  Except painful.

  His voice reaches me deep within. Willow…He’s calling to me. Like he knows I can hear him.

  But then, we’re all linked‒descendants of the original four paranormal families in Shadow Hill. Witch, vampire, werewolf, and shapeshifter.

  “Are you plotting an escape?”

  I turn to find Cheyenne just outside the sliding door. She’s wearing her hot librarian glasses and offering me a small smile.

  “Mine or someone else’s?” I ask.

  Her smile broadens but there’s an edge to it.

  “You know, Ryan’s right. We need to think about this. Weigh our options and all that.”

  I sigh. “I know you’re worried. I am, too. But this isn’t as black and white as it was before.”

  Logan is trapped in a cave full of amethyst. I’ve created a spell to keep him in there, but it’s not like he can escape very easily anyway. The amethyst hurts him‒renders him almost useless. At least, it does with that amount of it.

  But, Logan’s sister is sick. Terminally ill as far as I know.

  It’s hard for me, in good conscience, to be the kind of person who tortures someone else and leaves his sister for death when there might be something I can do.

  “He’ll survive being in that cave a while,” Cheyenne says, keeping her gaze steady on mine.

  “He’s in pain.”

  She looks away this time. “I know.”

  But he’ll heal, is what she’s not adding. And it’s true. But not once in the time I’d spent with him did he hurt me. Now I’m letting him get tortured.

  “Your mom really wants to talk to you,” Cheyenne says.

  I cross my arms tighter. I really don’t want to talk to her. I want to blame her. She could have told me all about my powers and the spell‒everything‒a long time ago. But she didn’t. If she had, this situation might have been prevented.

  Ryan opens the back door and joins us, mouth set in a serious line. He’s angry with me still, I can tell. He’s spent a lot of time trying to stop the reversal of the curse. In one week, I managed to completely ruin all that work. Not only that, I want to let Logan out.

  I see Ryan swallow before he speaks. “Faye wants to go home. She says she has books there that might help.”

  “That might help what?”

  “Figure out how to end the spell‒or put it back into place.”

  I frown but don’t say anything. That’s what we were trying to do in the beginning. But now…will fixing the spell take away Myra’s chances at healing?

  Ryan opens his mouth to say something to me, but seems to change his mind. He shakes his head and tries again. “Okay, I know this whole situation is screwed up.” He scoops a hand through his hair and stares out into the yard.

  Cheyenne goes for the door. “I’ll wait inside.”

  He nods at her, and once she’s gone, he turns to me. “What can I say that will make you see my side of this?”

  “I do see your side.” He’s bound by history and tradition to help the witches. To protect them. Not only that, we have something here‒something more than a friendship. I’ve no doubt this is hard for him.

  He steps closer, dipping his chin so he can look into my eyes. His hands run down my arms and stop at my wrists. “Then please, just wait until your mom can see what’s at her house. Maybe there’ll be a solution to this whole problem and no one has to get hurt in the meantime.”

  Logan is getting hurt in the meantime. My eyes narrow at Ryan and he sighs.

  “Yeah, okay, I know. But what’s worse? Him staying in there a few hours‒or a few days, even‒or him getting out and hurting someone?”

  “A few days are a long time when you’re hurting,” I whisper.

  He pulls me close, running his hand down my hair. “But if it saves someone else from getting hurt, especially you, don’t you think that’s worth it? If Logan gets out, he might come for you again. Or your mom. And then who knows what he’ll do.”

  There’s truth to that. He’s going to be angry. And he’s going to take it out on us.

  I nod, even though I wish there was some other way to handle this. “Fine. I’ll wait until Faye sees what she can find.”

  Ryan winces when I say her name instead of “Mom” but
he only nods. “I’m assuming you don’t want to come with us.”

  I smile at him. “You assume correctly.”

  “Willow…”

  “Willow, what?”

  He shakes his head. “Nothing. We can talk about it later.”

  “Sure,” I say. “Later.”

  Though if it has anything to do with reconciling with my mom, I don’t want to hear it. Not now. Maybe not ever.

  He goes inside and I take a breath. I promised I’d wait, but I’m not sure about leaving Logan there by himself. He needs food and water at the very least. And his sister…she probably wants answers.

  A dog barks somewhere near the front of the house. Not even a minute later, Cheyenne bursts through the back door. “Ryan saw the dog. He’s shifting again.”

  “Shit.”

  I follow her through the back door and to the front of the house. Ryan’s inside crouched on the ground.

  “We had to come in,” Faye says. “We can’t let anyone see him change.”

  Ryan grits his teeth and looks at me. “I can’t stop it.”

  I reach out to him, but he jumps up and darts past me, heading down the hallway. A moment later, we hear a door slam shut.

  None of us says anything for a long moment. Finally, Cheyenne turns to my mom and says, “I can take you to your house.”

  She nods, gaze skimming past mine before she leaves through the front door. I study her from behind, noting that she’s petite like me. The same wavy brown hair that looks like it has red highlights in it when it’s in the sunlight. How can we look so much alike when we have nothing at all in common?

  “It was quick last time,” I tell Cheyenne. “The shift. Hopefully Ryan will be back to normal by the time you guys are done.”

  “Of course.” She touches my arm. “Back to normal soon. We’ll hurry.”

  Once she leaves, I slide a hand through my hair and close my eyes. Willow…

  First, I was hearing Selena’s voice wherever I went, now Logan’s voice won’t leave me alone. He knows I’m the only one who can get him out of there. Maybe…maybe I should check on him. See how he is, at least. It’s not like he can hurt me from inside the cave.

  I bite my lip and peer down the hall. I don’t hear anything.

  Walking slowly, I pass the bathroom and reach the bedroom, where Ryan has shut himself in. I listen at the door but still hear nothing.

  I ease the door open, my heart racing. I blow out a breath, trying to calm down. It’s not like he’s going to attack me or something.

  Inside the room, everything looks the same. The bed with the covers crumpled where Ryan and I lay earlier. My sweater tossed on the top of the dresser and my boots dropped haphazardly at the foot of the bed.

  It’s all the same.

  Except for the dog in the corner. My eyes lock with his.

  “Ryan,” I whisper.

  The dog doesn’t move. He stays in the corner, sitting on his haunches. Wary.

  He’s a large golden dog, a retriever, with kind eyes. They look like Ryan’s. I step closer, but he backs away. The last time this had happened, he’d turned into a fox. And he hadn’t wanted me to see him then either.

  “You know, you saw me when I was vulnerable, too,” I tell him. “With the fire. I understand this isn’t something you can control. It’s okay.”

  He still doesn’t move.

  I scowl at him. “Fine. I’m just trying to help,” I mumble.

  I bend down and grab my shoes, bringing them to the other room and plopping on the couch to shove them on my feet. Before I stand, I see the dog at the corner of the hallway.

  “I’ll be back soon,” I tell him, figuring he’ll hide in the house until he’s able to shift back to his human form.

  Before I can stand, he pads over and sniffs my shoes. I reach a hand to touch him again, but he backs away.

  Burying my frustration, I grab my purse and head for the door. Ryan bolts in front of me and blocks my way.

  “What are you doing?” I ask.

  He angles his head as if to say, What do you think I’m doing?

  I don’t want to tell him I’m going to check on Logan, but I’m pretty sure that’s what he suspects.

  “I’m not going to let him out,” I say. “Just make sure…everything looks okay.”

  He doesn’t move. Yeah, I’m probably not the most trustworthy person as far as Logan’s concerned. I haven’t exactly played it safe in the past.

  “I promise.” I nod my head toward the door. “Now, move unless you’re coming with me.”

  Ryan stays put so long I think he might actually want to come. But then he walks away from the door and disappears into the hallway again.

  “Should I stop for some dog food?” I call out behind him.

  He barks back a response as I slam out the front door, irritated. It’s not like I can’t handle his shifting. I opened up to him about the fire and not being able to control it. I know it’s not the same thing but still, he should be able to trust me. We’re on the same side.

  I roll down the windows and let the wind blow my hair as I drive. It doesn’t take me long to reach the hotel, the imposing structure through a maze of trees not too far from Logan’s house. I have mixed feelings about this place. Selena must have lived here at some point, and I feel drawn to it. But I’ve also been stuck behind the walls on the lower level of the hotel. I’ve also been chased through the hedge maze in the back by Logan when he was angry.

  Not good memories.

  I was pretty sure Shadow Hill was going to be a mellow and boring place when I arrived last week. So far, it’s proven otherwise.

  I take the opposite way around the hotel, walking through the leaves, my boots crunching on loose sticks. The closer I get to the cave, the more I can feel Logan. I bet he can feel me, too.

  When I arrive at the mouth, the large rock Ryan used to cover the hole is still there. Last time I had to use my power to get it to move. I’m afraid of what will happen if I try it again, so I try to use my human strength instead.

  I brace my back against the rock and push with my legs, feeling triumphant when it budges. It rolls a few more feet and I keep pushing until it’s far enough I can peer into the opening.

  My heart thumps out an uneven rhythm. It’s quiet all around me except for a bird chirping somewhere in the distance. I brush aside a dangling vine.

  “Logan?” My voice comes out as a whisper. I clear my throat and try again. “Logan?”

  When he doesn’t respond, I stick my head in farther, trying to see him. What if he’s hurt? I can feel him inside the cave, but I can’t tell if he’s even conscious anymore.

  “Logan?” I call again.

  He still doesn’t respond. Biting my lip, I almost turn around. I almost leave. I shouldn’t be here‒especially not by myself.

  I sigh. “Shit.”

  I can’t just walk away either. Bracing my feet against the ground again, I push the rock with my back, nudging it even farther.

  The opening is wide enough for me to step inside now. I wish I would have brought my flashlight so I can see where I’m going.

  “Logan?” I hiss, leaning into the hole.

  I hear nothing at first, then something grabs my shirt and hauls me into the darkness.

  Chapter 2

  I spin around, ready to defend myself. But Logan is bent over with his hands on his knees, breaths measured. Definitely not a threat.

  “You…trapped me in here,” he says, voice low and rough.

  “I had to.”

  He doesn’t argue. Either because it’s too painful or because he knows it’s true.

  There’s not much light entering the cave, but it’s enough for me to see the amethysts lining the wall and sprouting up from the floor. There are dozens scattered about, and really no place Logan can stand where he’s not within a few feet of one.

  It’s only been four hours since I trapped him in here, but it looks like it’s already taking its toll.

&n
bsp; “Logan,” I whisper.

  His head is still hanging. After a moment, he lowers himself to the ground close to one of the walls. He leans against it and drapes one arm across his drawn-up knees. “If you’re here to rub it in, you might as well go.”

  “No.” I sit where I am, in the middle of the cave where a patch of light is shining in from the opening. “I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

  He starts laughing and it turns into a cough. “You wanted to make sure I’m okay. Do I look okay?”

  I reach into my satchel and pull out a bottle of water. I roll it in his direction and he stops it with his hand. “I stabbed you with a letter opener and you were fine. So, I’m thinking even though it’s painful to be in here now, you’ll be fine once you get out.”

  He gulps down half the bottle of water and recaps it. “You’re planning on letting me out?”

  I twist my hands in my lap. “You were planning on letting me go, weren’t you? After I did the spell?”

  His face is serious when he nods. I believe him. I did even when I was locked in his house.

  “Myra doesn’t know where I am,” Logan says.

  There’s less pain in his voice now, but more sadness.

  “Why didn’t you tell me about her?” I ask. “Why didn’t you tell me she’s the reason you wanted me to do the spell?”

  His lips curve into a humorless smile. “I tried, Willow. At first, I didn’t want to say too much because I didn’t know if it would work. But then I got to know you some. I believed you could really pull this off. Don’t you remember me coming to you outside the library?”

  I scowl. “That was after you’d already kidnapped me and held me hostage. Why the hell would I believe you had some legitimate reason for wanting me to do the spell? And why the hell would I risk coming to your house again?”

  He rubs a hand over his face. “Doesn’t matter now, does it?”

  I fiddle with my necklace as guilt creeps over me. But it’s not all my fault. Logan should have been honest up front. Then again, how do you tell someone you just met that you’re a vampire and you need them to reverse an age-old spell in order to save your sick sister?