Pete glanced at the sky. “What the hell is with this place and the damn storms?” Pete scratched his neck. Fear entered his eyes for the first time. “Where's my goddamned necklace?”
Pete dropped to his knees, searching the ground.
Kian spotted something shiny sticking out from under some leaves. He leapt for the object and clasped it in his palm. The second the metal touched him, he felt dark energy creep beneath his skin. “What do we have here?” Power pulsated from the necklace Kian held tight in his hand. This was no normal piece of jewelry.
“Give me my necklace.” Pete lurched forward.
Kian hit him with a hard uppercut. The unexpected strike knocked Pete back into a nearby tree. His skull slammed into the bark and his body slid down the trunk, hitting the ground with a thud.
Kian didn't waste any time. While his father's goon sat dazed, he sent Summer the image of the necklace through their link. He had no idea what he was doing or if she'd hear him, but he had to try. He needed to know what he held in his hand. Please, baby, hear me.
Kian, her voice drifted in his mind, along with her fear. Where are you? Are you okay?
I'm fine, baby. He sent her the image again. What is this thing? It's dark, evil.
He heard her gasp. Destroy it. Break the crystal eye in the center. It's what's blocking our powers, Kian.
He didn't hesitate. He grabbed a rock from the ground near his foot, dropped the necklace on a patch of hard dirt, and drove the stone into the center of the pendant.
The moment the eye shattered, whatever wall weakened his magic vanished. A powerful wave of energy rose within him. He called his gift, summoning the wind and rain, praying for once his power would cooperate.
In the distance, a chorus of wolves howled, drawing closer. Kian grinned. “You and my father have no idea who you're fucking with. You're not going to win. Not this time.” Kian lifted his hands and a bolt of lightning struck the tree closest to Pete.
Pete jumped back. Recognition lit his face. “You're a goddamned witch.” He pulled out a gun. His hand shaking as he pointed it at Kian.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“Like shit you don't. Yeah, I know all about you supernaturals.” He waived his gun. “My brother's one of the strongest witches out there. He gave me the amulet you smashed. He got all the power and I got shit. Instead, I'm fucking barren. No better than a damn human.”
“You and my father are going down, asshole.” Kian circled Pete.
“No, but what I'm going to do is put a bullet in your head, and then I'm going to find your hot piece of witch ass and blow a hole right between her eyes.”
Kian's gaze pinned Pete. “You're not going to touch her.”
Kian's body shook from the force of his magic rising up within him. He glanced at his hands raised to the sky to discover a blue aura surrounding his flesh. A wall of water fell, saturating the forest around them. He called for more rain, ordering nature to remove the threat his father's evil plan had created. The elements answered his call. Bolts shot from all directions across the clouds, igniting the dark gray sky. Wind whipped the downpour into violent swirls, forming tornados of water. The funnels rolled in different directions across the forest floor, carrying water to the pockets of flames surrounding them.
“Fuck you.” Pete aimed and fired. The bullet struck Kian's arm and punched through the other side of his biceps. Kian cried out.
Blood painted his arm in red. The wound burned like someone shoved a hot poker through flesh and muscle, but Kian didn't relent. He locked his elbows. His hands reached even higher toward the sky, and he continued to drench the forest with his power. He had to stop the flames from destroying everything. He had to put an end to this madness.
“Die, witch.” Pete fired again, but missed, hitting the tree beside Kian.
All of sudden, a large wolf burst through the thick bushes. Surprised, Pete screamed, took aim, and fired at the animal. The wolf yelped and fell to the forest floor, skidding into Pete and knocking him off his feet. Pete recovered and pointed the gun at where the wolf lay helpless and bleeding.
Kian roared, forcing a blast of power out through his arms toward the sky. Sheets of rain pounded into the ground where Pete struggled to stand. Thunder rolled in a deafening crash across the woodland. The tree above Pete swayed from the hurricane gusts of wind slamming into it. A thick limb snapped, spiraling toward Pete like a rocket. It hit him in the head with no mercy, crushing his skull beneath the impact. He hit the ground a lifeless lump.
The relentless shower smothered the flames, pulverizing them until nothing remained but smoke, ash, and the charred remains of a few acres of forest.
Kian fell to his knees at the wolf's side. Weak from blood loss and the tremendous amount of power he exerted, Kian fought to remain conscious.
“Tristan,” Kian whispered.
The wolf turned back into a man, but it wasn't Tristan who emerged, but Colin. Blood covered Colin's chest even with the rain drenching them. A pale tint painted his usual tan flesh.
“Jesus Christ, what the hell were you doing?”
“Saving your… worthless… ass, human.” Colin's eyes opened halfway as his lip lifted into a slight grin. “You're not… half bad… kid.” He coughed, spurting blood from his mouth.
Arms settled around him. “Kian,” whispered the sweetest voice he'd ever heard. He leaned back into her. “Oh my Goddess, Colin.” She scooted over. “Help me turn him over.” They turned the werewolf alpha flat on his back.
A half dozen shifters burst through the brush. Tristan shifted utilizing a force unlike anything Kian's ever saw.
“Dad,” he growled. Tristan's eyes flashed with an eerie red amber glow.
“He will live, Tristan. I’ll accept nothing less.” Summer laid her hands on the wound in the center Colin's chest. A gentle light lit her palms, growing brighter when it settled on his flesh.
Dash showed up next. Moments later, Winter came to an abrupt halt beside him. “What are you doing here? I told you to stay with the pack.” Fury swirled in her father's eyes.
Winter saw Colin and gasped. “Colin.” She found Tristan and lunged for him. Her father tried to stop her, but she broke out of his grip. Winter rushed to Tristan's side. She wrapped her arms around his bicep. “He'll be okay. Summer will save him.”
“I'm sorry. This is my fault.” Kian’s glare landed on Pete's body. “The piece of shit over there was one of my father's men.”
“What?” Tristan took a threatening step toward Kian.
“My father wants this land. He tried to get me to help him, but when I wouldn't, he found another way. I had no idea he'd take it this far.”
Tristan growled, flashing his fangs. “You son of a bitch. You brought this shit here.”
“Not me. My father.”
“Blood is as blood does.” Tristan stood inches from Kian now.
“Not in my case. I hate that asshole. I don't care what the hell you do to him.”
“Stop this now. I need to help him,” Summer demanded. “I can't when there's bickering all around me.”
Tristan tightened his fists. “Fine, but this isn't over.”
Chapter 26
Once Summer had Colin stabilized, she had his men move their alpha back home. Being among his pack would help in his recovery. Shifters needed the company of their kind. The energy of their connections would aid in his healing, his mate in particular. The touch of one's mate did miraculous things.
Summer hurried to the bathroom the moment Colin and his men left. She showered. The need to wash away the horrors of the day a compulsion she could no longer ignore.
She glanced at the blood and soot caking her hands. The hands she used to heal were soiled with the filth of a man's greed and evil. She scrubbed the washcloth over her flesh, relieved to watch the gunk rinse away and get sucked down the drain. If only all of life's messes cleaned up as easily.
Kian had deceived them all. She understood T
ristan's fury. He had led evil men into their midst. Even though he decided not to help his father with his plan, he knew the danger existed and failed to warn them.
Summer closed her eyes. Images of Kian running towards the flames and smoke made her tremble. Never had she known such fear. What if she had lost him?
He may have misled them at first, but in the end, he risked his life to save them. He did not cower when faced with danger. He raced straight at the threat like an avenging knight. He protected the forest and killed the man who set out to destroy them all with little regard for his own safety. He almost died. Shouldn't that be reason enough to forgive?
Kian had tried to contact her through their link, and she threw up a wall.
She hadn't been ready to talk to him, the betrayal too fresh and her emotions too raw, but now she needed to hear his voice, yearned for his reassuring arms to wrap around her. She needed to listen to his side of this twisted tale so they could move forward and passed the pain.
She finished in the bathroom and stepped out into the living room to find her mother, father, and sister sitting on the couch.
Her father stood. “He's outside. He wouldn't come in. He said it's not his place anymore to be welcome.” Her father offered her a faint smile. “He's a good male, Summer. He saved this forest. Our grove. He risked his life for us...for you.”
“But he knew his father—”
“He cannot be held responsible for another man's actions.” Dash sighed. “I believed him when he said he didn't know his father would take it so far. I sensed no deceit in his words.” He offered a comforting smile. “You're right. He's not the man he once was. He is one of us now. He's your mate. Go to him.”
“Thank you, Father.”
She kissed her father’s cheek before slipping out onto the porch. A hint of smoke hung in the air soiled with the stench of burnt wood. Weary, yet determined, she found Kian at the edge of the tree line. He spun and faced her. Their strong connection assured neither one of them would ever be able to sneak up on the other.
His shame hit her hard, followed by a powerful wave of guilt. Shirtless, he stood with his hands shoved in his pockets. Soot, dirt, and… oh Goddess, blood covered his entire arm, chest, and right shoulder. The realization made her stumble. Her mate was hurt and she hadn't known.
“Kian,” she cried. She rushed over to him. Unable to see past her concern, she pushed aside her anger and sense of treachery. Skidding to a stop, she scanned him for injuries. He winced as her hands probed the puckered, jagged hole in his arm with care. “Oh my Goddess, you were shot too. Why didn't you say anything, you foolish man?”
“I'll live. Colin needed you more.”
“Let me heal you.”
He tugged his arm from her grasp. She knew the action caused him great pain because she experienced the burning, sharp agony rocket through their link.
“No. You're exhausted from treating Colin.” He pointed a finger at her. “And don't lie to me. I sense how tired you are. I can’t believe you're still standing.”
“This is what I do. I'm a healer.” She attempted to touch him again.
“I said I'll live, woman. I won't have you overexerting yourself for my benefit.”
She didn't let his stubbornness deter her. She grabbed his hand. “And I said I am well enough to heal the wound. Now either you take a seat and allow me to do what I am trained to do, or I'll make you sit.”
He averted her unwavering gaze. He frowned, but she noticed a hint of a smile trying to lift his lips.
“Fine.” He lowered himself to the ground.
She went to work on his wound. Thank the Goddess the bullet exited and hadn't hit a major artery. Although not a lethal injury, the task of healing took a toll on whatever strength she had left. Dizziness overcame her and she fell forward.
“Dammit, Summer.” He caught her before she fell. Lying in his arms, her strength returned. He offered her his own without even knowing it. His gift made her smile.
She glanced up into his eyes. Concern and love reflected back at her.
“Why didn't you tell me about your father?” she asked.
He avoided her curious gaze. “I'm not lying, baby. I didn't know he would do anything as crazy as burning the woods down.” He sighed. “I should have told you, but I didn't want to lose you. I was a coward.”
She forced him to look at her. “You would never lose me, my love.”
“I never deserved you, Summer. I still don't.” He set her beside him. “Letting you go is the best thing I can do for you.” He rose and turned away from her.
She refused to let him take one more step. She leapt up, her energy renewed by the jolt of his words. “You are not walking away from me.” She forced him to face her. “I am your bonded mate.”
“My father doesn't give a shit. He will stop at nothing to get what he wants. I know that now. He wants this land, and he will use every dirty trick in the book to get it, including hurting you, me, your family, and anyone else who gets in his way. I have to stop him. I won't see you hurt. Not again.” He cupped her cheeks. “He's a dangerous man, Summer, far more dangerous than I anticipated. Before that son of a bitch Pete died, he said his brother was a witch, the same witch who gave him the necklace to block our powers. I don't know if my father knows about us or not, or what else he has up his sleeve.”
“No, Kian, we are the dangerous ones. The pack will want revenge, and they will have it. Believe me when I tell you your father will not go unpunished.”
“And neither will I. They will come for me.”
Kian was right. They would want some sort of appeasement. Even though Kian didn't light the woods or pull the trigger, in their eyes, he played a part with his deceit. “We will figure out a way to placate the pack. They will have their justice.” She brushed a light kiss to his lips. “I love you.”
He leaned his forehead to hers. “I love you too, Summer.”
“So you will stay?”
“I don't have a choice, do I?” He grinned. “Will my little witch let me go?”
She smiled back. “Never.”
***
Kian awoke alone in an unfamiliar room, surrounded by his woman's scent. The mattress barely fit his large frame and creaked as he shifted his weight. He glanced around at the small space and noticed another bed against the far wall. The two ponies Winter got from the kid's meals sat on the pillow. He rubbed his eyes. This must be the room Summer shared with her sister.
Once the fog of sleep lifted completely, he remembered how he ended up on this bed. When Dash heard of his gunshot wound, he demanded Kian stay to heal. He also insisted that Summer and Winter sleep in the room with their mother, while he took the couch. Too tired to argue, he let Dash lead him through the doorway of the bedroom. He had collapsed moments later.
A shouting match erupted outside his door. He sat up, shaking off the stiffness in his neck and shoulders. Shit, his body hurt. He wasn't sure how long he was out for, but it wasn't long enough. Exhaustion continued to plague him.
The commotion grew louder. When he heard Summer cry out, he threw back the covers, leapt from the bed, and rushed into the living room. He found Winter cowering on the sofa with her mother. Summer's father had one fist wrapped in some guy's shirt and the other pulled back, ready to pound the bastard's face. When Kian caught sight of Summer in the grips of some other man, he lost it.
“Get your fucking hands off my mate!” His voice rattled the walls.
Silence settled on the room as each person turned to him. The tall man who held Summer's wrists let go as if burned. Summer ran to Kian, launching herself into his arms. He savored her embrace.
“Kian, they came for the ceremony. They won't accept no for an answer.” Tears clung to her eyelashes as she stared at him.
“Shit, how long was I out?”
“Two days. You needed the rest, my love. You exhausted your powers the other day, and with your wound—”
“That's my promised mate you're mauli
ng, human.” The deep voice came from the other side of the room. Kian locked eyes with the witch.
“She may be your promised, but she is bound to me. She is my woman and I will not give her up without a fight. If you want her, you’d better be prepared to kill me, asshole, because the only way you're leaving here with her is over my bleeding corpse.” He flexed his power and smiled as Malcolm's eyes grew wide.
“A half-breed.”
“Damn right. I'm the half-breed ready to kick your ass if you touch her again.”
“We had a deal, Leery,” the older stranger standing in front of Dash said. “You offered her hand to my son. If you plan to break the contract of the promising, I will be forced to do as the terms state and take this land.”
“What?” Her mother gasped. “What did you do, Dash? Etan, you can't take our home. This has been in the Leery clan for generations. Please.”
“I'm sorry, Autumn.” The witch seemed regretful. “He agreed to those terms, bound them with magic. It cannot be severed. The contract clearly states Summer must merge the Campbell bloodline with your kin or you forfeit all rights—”
Kian growled. “She has merged with the Campbell bloodline. My mother's name was Lenora. Her maiden name was Campbell.”
Etan Campbell's jaw dropped. “Lenora?” he whispered. “You are her son?” His face took on an expression of desperation and hope. “Where is she? I must see her. Please, tell me,” he pleaded.
“She's gone. She died a few days ago.”
All life drained from Etan's gaze and his shoulders fell.
“She suffered from the affliction, Sir Campbell. I'm sorry.” Summer lowered her head.
“All these years without my sister's sweet smile. If I had known where she was I would have seen her, helped her during her illness.” He wiped a tear from his cheek. “I loved my sister. I was devastated when my parents banished her. Goddess, I have missed her every day since.” He stared at Kian. Etan tilted his head and offered a slight smile. “You look like her. You have her eyes.”
“Father, what of the contract?” Malcolm asked.
Passion of a Witch Page 21
