The Keepers

by Rae Rivers

  “We’ve been nudging it since the day we met.”

  He blinked, surprised by her admission. Ah, so she’d felt it too.

  He dipped his head, his mouth hovering against the corner of hers. He had the sudden urge to kiss her. To surprise her the way she’d done to him.

  But held back, that big red line flickering like a runway.

  They were Keepers, housemates, colleagues. Friends. A romantic fling didn’t fit into that combination. At all.

  But still, he couldn’t resist teasing her.

  He trailed a finger across her golden skin, pausing at the opening of her shirt that dipped between her breasts. “Next time, play fair and keep those curious hands off the merchandise.”

  “Curious –? It was simply a distraction!”

  He grinned wildly at her breathy protest and pressed his hips against hers, taking pleasure in the way her eyes widened when she felt his arousal. “Whatever you want to call it,” he whispered against her ear, “clearly, it worked.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Heat flooded Jenna’s cheeks.

  He towered over her, the intensity of him unsettling her. Dark hair, eyebrows, and long lashes. She lowered her gaze from his blue eyes, which smacked of mischief to his lips. A thin upper lip, indented with a perfect V in the middle, and a fuller bottom lip. Lips curled into a challenging grin.

  Jenna shoved him away. He relented with a low chuckle and retrieved the bow off the ground.

  She was blushing. Blushing! Not something she ever did, but her ploy to distract him had backfired in a way that had left her hot and bothered.

  What the hell was she thinking?

  Despite the attraction that always sizzled beneath their friendship, she’d so far managed to keep their relationship on a professional basis.

  Until now.

  “It’s late,” she said, her stomach twitching with butterflies – a rarity for her. “We should get back to Sienna and Kate.”

  Two witches they were duty-bound to defend. Sienna Beckham, a potent elemental witch and Kate Carrigan, the hybrid witch with the strength of a Keeper and the ability to nullify magic – both fiercely hunted for their powers.

  Two women Ethan’s older brothers adored.

  “No rush. They’re with my brothers. Besides, I think you and Declan could use some time apart.”

  She wrinkled her nose at the mention of his brother’s name. Declan, the fire warrior with the personality as explosive as his powers. “It’s that obvious?”

  “I heard you arguing this morning.” He tapped his ear. “Super-hearing and all that.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. Declan’s an ass on the best of days.” He placed a hand on her shoulder, turning her to face him. “He’s worried about Kate, Jen. It’s not personal. You protect the woman he loves.”

  Worships. Adores.

  According to Ethan, they’d never seen Declan so enamoured with another woman before. After almost losing Kate to their enemies recently, Declan had become impossible when it came to her safety.

  A given considering their enemies still lurked. With the ability to negate magic and break spells, Kate could swing the eternal war of good versus evil in their enemies’ favour.

  The fact that Kate had become part of Ethan’s family, a woman they’d all grown to love, was irrelevant to those bastards.

  “He doesn’t trust me with her. Questions my every move.” She reached for the bow, knowing she was doing a lousy job at hiding her frustration. “I’m her Keeper. Declan knows what that means.”

  “We all do.”

  Of course. It was the foundation of her friendship with Ethan. He understood their world and what it took to protect their witches. Like her, he lived for being a Keeper, but knew it came with a mammoth responsibility and continuous worry that often shrouded everything else.

  Jenna inhaled noisily and straightened, shelving the conversation. “Enough doom and gloom. I’ll handle Declan.”

  His eyes followed her movements, studying her, like he always did. “Of course you can.”

  She watched him walk away, his swagger different from the men she’d watched in New Orleans. He radiated confidence, but in a quiet way. The kind that made you underestimate him. He was an air warrior, connected to an element of nature that many people underrated.

  But she’d seen him in action. With the ability to manipulate air, he was able to wield the wind and weather to his will. The man could whip up a storm that would put the New Orleans’ floods to shame.

  Not that he would. But he could.

  As for her stunt a moment ago … touching him had been inappropriate but it had snagged her a win – one she’d been desperate for. She couldn’t tell him where she’d been the night before. Or why.

  Seeing him flustered – if only for a split second – had been a bonus.

  There was a rustle of trees behind her. She turned around to see a single black crow squawk twice on a nearby branch before taking flight.

  Ethan leapt across the river, landing with ease on the opposite side of the riverbank, the jump effortless and agile. He was tall and muscular without being bulky. His toned muscles bulged beneath the black t-shirt he wore. Whistling softly, he straightened and waded through bushes in search of the arrows they’d lost.

  Realising she was gawking like an idiot, Jenna shook her head to get her brain moving again.

  The sudden squawk of a second crow startled her. The bird circled above before nose-diving to the ground. It landed silently and tucked away its wings.

  The setting sun had tinted the sky and mountains in pink, the river a glow of beauty. The town nestled amongst vineyards and greenery in the distance. A peaceful, close-knit town where everyone was up in everyone’s business and things like home-baked pie, honesty, and solid friendships still existed.

  She hadn’t grown up in Rapid Falls like Ethan and his family. She’d met his sister, Sarah, at the academy and frequently travelled home with her during the holidays.

  Two women from different backgrounds. Sarah had three older brothers and came from a prestigious family who owned a wine estate. They’d lost their parents in a fire when they were younger. Jenna had once had a family until the night their city had been raided, their homes attacked. Her parents had sent her away, urged her to seek shelter at the academy until they could come for her.

  She was still waiting.

  But through her darkest moments, she’d never given up hope that her parents were still alive. That they’d still come for her.

  She’d never told anyone, not even Sarah. Her death had left a void inside Jenna that could never be filled. She’d never found friendship like that again – had never bothered searching for it.

  Not that she’d met many friends in the last two years. Hazel and her people had used bullying and violence as a means of gaining – and maintaining – friendships. She’d soon mastered the art of feigning whatever was needed in order to stay under their radar.

  A means of survival few people would understand.

  Several excited squawks from the tree above brought her attention back to the present. Five more crows had arrived.

  The arrival of a dozen more sent a ripple of unease down Jenna’s spine.

  The sky in the distance had darkened, the pretty pink dissolved by a black cloud of doom that moved toward them at a rapid rate. It looked like a thunderstorm rolling in, destroying all traces of the beauty she’d previously admired.

  “Ethan?” He’d seen it too and stood with his back to her, staring off into the distance. “Please tell me that storm’s yours?”

  “It’s not. And I don’t think it’s a storm.”

  The crows above her took flight, circling, their high-pitched shrieks soon joined by numerous others. Uneasy, she gaped at the blackness creeping in.

  A plague of crows. Thousands and thousands of squawking birds, sucking everything joyful out of their surroundings.

  Shit.

  Wings flapping,
nose-diving, shrieking with excitement, the birds engulfed them.

  Jenna crouched low, swatting them away as they circled from all directions. Pecking, scratching, screeching. Her desperate attempts to swat them away were wasted on the sheer number of birds.

  “ETHAN!”

  He’d already jumped to her side of the river, waving his arms to fend off the invasive attack. “Jenna!”

  She couldn’t see, couldn’t breathe, engulfed within the stench of wild madness. Her foot caught on a tree root and she cried out as she collided with the rocks. Pain arrowed through her, along with the vile taste of panic.

  A hand closed over hers, a lifeline through the chaos.

  “Jenna!” Ethan squeezed her hand. “Close your eyes!”

  She felt the flutter of wind, gasping in relief when several crows relinquished their grip.

  Ethan crawled closer. He covered her body with his, tucking her head against his chest. “Close your eyes. NOW!”

  She did and pushed her face into his shirt.

  Heat fired beneath her cheek as energy swirled through him, erupting in a vigorous whirlwind around them. The crows flapped furiously for control, squawking in protest.

  Ethan held her, shielding her body with his.

  The whirlwind turned into a small tornado, sweeping the birds across the river, gathering water and other forest debris.

  Everything fell quiet.

  Blissful stillness tinged with choppy breathing as they struggled to catch their breaths. In the distance, the tornado faded, the sky still marked with a few lurking crows lucky enough to have avoided the turmoil.

  Blowing out air, she shifted her gaze to Ethan’s. He was scratched and bloodied. A quiet fury burned in his eyes.

  He ran his fingers through her tangled hair. “Are you hurt?”

  “I’m fine.” She leaned back on her knees and exhaled. “They came out of nowhere!”

  “That was the biggest damn infestation of crows I’ve ever seen.”

  She shook her head. “That wasn’t an infestation, Ethan. It was an attack.”

  A heavy silence filling the space between them.

  “It’s Hazel,” he said, the words coming out in a low growl. He leaned back on his haunches, a harsh frown narrowing his eyes, and met her gaze. “Dammit, she’s back, isn’t she?”

  “She never left. She’s simply been quiet.”

  Until now.

  CHAPTER THREE

  THURSDAY EVENING

  BENNETT ESTATE

  A matter of time.

  Jenna had known that. But the few months unmarred by Hazel’s darkness had been blissful, despite the constant anxiety that churned inside.

  But it was over.

  Ignoring the surge of panic at the thought, Jenna walked into the Bennett cellar, not bothering with the light, and retrieved another bottle of wine from the shelf.

  The temperature was cool, maintained for optimal storage of wine. Dark shelves lined the walls, stacked with bottles of wine; some home-brewed using their own grapes, some from other wine estates. It smelt of grapes and cork, a delicious aroma that brought comfort.

  The sound of her friends’ laughter drifted through from the living room, high-pitched and excited. A given, considering the amount of wine they’d consumed. She desperately needed another glass to ease the tension knocking at her insides. Ever since the incident with the crows earlier, a permanent sense of doom had hijacked her mood, her body wired with an adrenaline high she’d found impossible to shake.

  She headed back to the doorway, gasping as a familiar tingle of pain spread across her hip.

  Oh, no.

  She fumbled for the light switch and lifted her t-shirt. Even though she knew what awaited her, her heart still plummeted at the fresh mark etched on her flesh.

  Beside two others that had appeared a few days ago. Faint images, similar to a birthmark but darker. Like a tattoo. She’d always had a mark on her hip – the mark of her lineage, one she kept hidden from everyone. But lately, the damn thing kept sprouting. They held no meaning, but a few magical tattoos appearing on her body out of nowhere spelled trouble.

  “Jenna, where’s the wine?” Sienna called from the living room, startling her.

  She lowered her t-shirt, drew in a deep breath, and went into the kitchen. The house was mostly in darkness, dimly lit by a few lamps that offered warmth to the old house. It had been renovated over the years, carefully furnished with a style that smacked of wealth. Thanks to generations of family money and a thriving wine estate, the brothers lived a life of luxury Jenna had never known.

  The opposite of the poverty she’d endured whilst growing up.

  She hadn’t yet told them where she came from. Ameera. The secret realm that harboured supernatural beings, most of which had a hunger for violence and chaos. A place where danger lurked at every corner. A city of neglect and violence. Destruction and despair.

  The brothers knew of Ameera’s existence, but for them their knowledge of it was derived from stories and folklore.

  For Jenna, Ameera was home.

  Or at least, it used to be. A long, long time ago.

  Shaking her head to ward off the sadness that always came when she thought of her family, Jenna walked into the kitchen. The room still smelt of their dinner, a chicken dish Sienna had prepared to perfection.

  Flames burning in the fireplace against the living room wall masked the spacious room in a flicker of orange. It was almost too warm for it as the harsh winter cold had finally relented, but needed for the black cauldron boiling steadily in the centre of the hearth.

  Sienna and Kate sat on the floor in front of the pot, surrounded by cushions from the leather couches, empty wine glasses in hand. Bottles of herbs littered the coffee table, their ingredients for tonight’s potion.

  With her long red hair, pale skin and green eyes, Sienna appeared gentle and feminine, but beneath her beauty was a power that could be lethal if not controlled. Where most elemental witches could channel one element of magic, Sienna could channel four. Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.

  Next to her, Kate sat relaxed and happy despite the fact that, like Sienna, she was one of the most hunted witches on earth. Her long dark hair had been stuffed into a messy knot above her head; her bare feet revealing toes painted in bright blue nail polish.

  This was the hybrid witch Jenna had sworn to defend. It was her calling, her destiny, something ingrained within her that couldn’t be explained. Only the Bennett brothers got it and for that their bond had been instant – despite the challenges she faced with Declan.

  The two women broke out in a cheer when Jenna sauntered toward them, opening the wine.

  “Have I ever told you how much I love living with wine farmers?” Sienna asked, her voice tinged with laughter as Jenna refilled her glass.

  Kate grinned, holding up hers, and hiccupped. “Yip, it certainly has its advantages.”

  “Farmers?” Jenna echoed, pleased her voice held no trace of her previous unease. She laughed and tipped the bottle in their direction. “Suddenly I’m having flashes of red-checked shirts and pitchforks. I think wine makers are the words best suited to your guys.”

  Sienna laughed. “I can so not see Declan in a red-checked shirt waving a pitchfork.”

  “Don’t forget the gum boots and tractor!” Kate added, erupting into a fit of giggles that gave way to another hiccup.

  Jenna laughed at the image they’d created. The brothers owned the estate that supplied the grapes for their infamous Ice Wine, a delectable dessert wine their town was renowned for. But in truth, it was their estate manager, Tara, and loyal staff who ran the winery.

  They were at the restaurant for the evening, a newly renovated project of Ethan’s that would be opening its doors the following day. The three women had opted for a girls’ night in. Needing to eat, they’d made dinner. Needing to forget they were facing an inevitable war, they’d brought out the wine. The rest had gone downhill from there.

  But it’d
been a fun night.

  The lights flickered on a buzz of electricity as a loud hiccup escaped Kate. Eyes widening, she slammed her hand across her mouth.

  Sienna discarded her glass and settled in front of the cauldron. Smiling, she raised a brow, her hand poised over the bubbling liquid. “Ready?”

  “Are you sure about this, Sienna?” Jenna frowned as Sienna scooped the liquid into a bottle the size of Tinker Bell. “Tell me again why we’re doing this?”

  “Because we’re teaching Kate how to make potions. Being a witch without potion knowledge is like a Keeper without speed. Not cool.”

  Kate hiccupped. “And because it’ll cure my hiccups.”

  Jenna couldn’t resist the grimace. “You seriously trust this stuff?”

  “Drink up. It’s my grandmother’s recipe.” Sienna handed the potion to Kate, slapping away Jenna’s interfering hand. “Stop it, you’re going to spill!”

  “If this harms one hair on Kate’s head, Declan –”

  “I’m not afraid of Declan.” Sienna laughed, giving a dismissive wave of the hand. “He’s my Keeper. He’d never harm me.”

  “Kate’s his woman.”

  “Ooh, trump card. Clever.”

  Another hiccup.

  Jenna sent her a narrowed glance. “Didn’t you and Sarah once explode your grandmother’s kitchen or something?”

  “A minor miscalculation.”

  “Miscalculation? You blew up Rose’s kitchen! Give me that!” Jenna reached for the bottle, but Kate shifted out of her reach and tossed the liquid down her throat.

  Jenna’s jaw dropped and they stared at each other in silence.

  “You’re both looking at me as though I’m about to combust into a bearded lizard or something,” Kate whispered and then she laughed. A loud and hysterical laughter that escalated as though the potion had unleashed a giggling teenager.

  Sienna grinned.

  “They’re gone!” Kate said, sobering, and held out a hand for silence. No hiccups. Beaming, she gave Sienna a high five and they both burst out laughing.

  They sounded so free, joyous: everything Jenna and the Bennett brothers fought so hard to preserve. It was contagious and by then, Jenna couldn’t hold back her smile.