Paranormal After Dark

by Rebecca Hamilton

  * * *

  THE SOUNDS AND smells of morning at CircleEarth awoke him. He was on his side, Ever tucked against his chest. They’d slept wrapped around each other all night long. He always slept better sharing a bed with Ever, and he didn’t think it had anything to do with sex. He was sure it was their Link: the way they depended on one another now.

  He heard laughter in the distance, and the Celtic band playing “Whiskey in the Jar.” A rumble of thunder filled the sky. Cade shivered as the power of the coming storm danced across his skin.

  Ever shifted onto her back with a yawn, her beautiful eyes opening. She caught him leering at her naked torso and laughed. “Good morning.”

  Cade sat up on his elbows to kiss her. “Good morning.”

  “What time is it?”

  Cade dug in his knapsack until he found his pocket watch. “Just after nine.”

  Ever squealed. “I’m going to miss the corn dolly workshop!”

  Cade sat back and laughed. She rummaged around the tent, coming up with every item of clothing but her underwear, cursing under her breath.

  “I didn’t realize you even knew such naughty words,” Cade joked, his hands tucked behind his head as he watched her, amused.

  Ever glared at him. “You’re going to be the death of me.”

  Cade sat up, crawling to her, well aware they were both still naked. He snaked an arm around her perfect waist and yanked her against his body. “I would rather die a thousand deaths than not have you for the rest of my life.”

  He kissed her, which led to other things a lot more fun than festival workshops. And she was definitely late to the corn dolly party.

  Chapter 37

  EVER

  “WHERE HAVE YOU been?” Meagan hissed as Ever folded onto the ground beside her.

  The workshop coordinator was droning on about the benefits of raffia versus wheat as Ever tugged her hair into a ponytail. “Where do you think?”

  Ollie leaned across Ever to stage whisper, “She’s wearing the same clothes she had on last night. Is there a walk of shame at CircleEarth?”

  Ever made a show of huffing and rolling her eyes. But in truth, she wasn’t ashamed for her friends to know she’d spent the night with Cade. She hadn’t told them — and wouldn’t tell them — that Cade was literally her soul mate and last night was one of many for the rest of their lives. But she knew it, and that was all that really mattered.

  Not for the first time, Ever found the thought exhilarated her just as much as it scared the hell out of her.

  Ever passed the morning making a corn dolly, and then taking a hiking workshop that covered edible plants. She ate lunch with her coven at their campsite, and afterwards, dove into more workshops.

  Throughout the day, the thunder drew closer, and the sky began to darken ominously. By four o’clock, the outdoor harvest ritual scheduled for that evening had been canceled. The staff was scurrying about, urging everyone to take shelter until the storm passed, and directing groups towards the handful of cabins that surrounded the main lodge.

  As she was walking with Ollie and Meagan, trying to beat the intermittent drops falling from the sky, Ever felt a tug in her solar plexus. It was a weird sensation: as if the rope that connected her to Cade was a real thing, and someone had yanked on the other end.

  “I’m going to run to the tent real fast,” Ever said, halting on the path.

  Meagan and Ollie exchanged amused glances.

  “Are you sure you’re not running to Cade’s tent ‘real fast’?” Ollie quipped.

  Ever bit back a grin. She couldn’t keep anything from those two.

  “I’ll catch up in a little while,” she promised, then turned and ran.

  She didn’t have to go far. Cade was just ahead of her on the path to the campsites, his gaze on her as she ran to him. She leapt into his arms, giggling as he swung her around and then placed her back on her feet.

  He kissed her soundly. “How did the corn dollies treat you?”

  “Not as well as you,” Ever joked, playing with his hair. “What did you do all day?”

  Cade glanced at the sky. “I’d love to tell you about my day, but we should get somewhere out of the rain first.”

  “It’s barely sprinkling,” Ever said, amused.

  Cade took her hand. “Trust me. I know storms. This one’s about to break.”

  Ever took his hand. “My tent is closer.”

  And he was right. The rain began to pour before they made it to Ever’s tent, so that when they fell inside laughing, they were both soaked to the bone.

  “That power is incredible,” Cade said, turning his face to the roof of the tent. “Can you feel it?”

  Ever nodded. “Some power is entirely too destructive.”

  “There’s always balance,” Cade said softly. “Power can both create and destroy. It’s all about how you use it.”

  Ever stared at him, mesmerized by the sight of him soaked by rainwater. His hair had curled, and he’d tucked the wet locks behind his ears. His long-sleeved shirt hugged his chest and arms, highlighting his muscles. For a brief moment, he didn’t look like Cade; he looked like a god, rugged and masculine. She wanted to bow down and worship him.

  Ever felt a rush of desire, and she saw when it registered on his face.

  They said nothing else for a time, lost in the sensation of wet skin on skin.

  “Even before we spoke for the first time, I always felt you were mine,” Cade murmured.

  They lay face to face, their hands linked between them. They’d already dressed, ready to leave when the rain stopped so they could join their friends. The storm raged outside the tent, but inside, all was peaceful and calm. Ever took comfort in the steady brush of his thumbs over her hands.

  “We didn’t know each other at all,” Ever said.

  “No but I felt like we did. Didn’t you?”

  Ever flushed. “I thought we were connected. I knew when you were close.”

  Cade grinned. “So it wasn’t just me?”

  She shook her head. “No. But there always seemed to be so much between us to keep us apart.”

  “In our own heads, maybe.” He leaned forward to kiss her. “Proof positive we’re meant to be together,” he murmured against her lips as their magickal centers flared.

  Ever extracted a hand from his and put her fingers at the source of his magick. Red tendrils wrapped around her hand and arm as if claiming her.

  Suddenly, a brilliant orange glow flared outside, and a second later, the wall of the tent caught fire.

  Ever couldn’t move as she stared at the flames licking down the side of the tent. Cade had no such problem; he grabbed her hand and jerked her away, into the storm.

  The rain didn’t dampen the blaze. On the contrary, the flames seemed to lick even higher, enveloping the space they’d just vacated.

  “Do not run from me, Ever!” The voice boomed through the evening, louder than the rain, like a secondary rumble of thunder above them.

  Horrified, Ever looked at Cade and saw he recognized the voice, too.

  Gilles.

  “Run,” Cade said urgently, and shoved her towards the forest.

  Chapter 38

  CADE

  THE SPELL DIDN’T work, Cade thought, his breath cutting sharply through the air as he raced behind Ever. Why didn’t the spell work?

  He could barely see through the pouring rain. Flashes of orange chased them, splintering trees with abandon and showering them in bark. Behind them, Gilles pursued, his cackling laughter closer with every step they took.

  Ever stumbled twice, and Cade caught her, propelling her towards the lodge. All he could think of was putting walls and a door between them and Gilles.

  Why can he see her? Cade wondered as wooden buildings came into view. A spark of Gilles’ magick skimmed his cheek, and Cade hissed, slapping a palm to the source of the pain.

  Ever threw open the front door of the nearest cabin and raced inside, Cade on her heels. He slamme
d the door and flipped the deadbolt, thanking all the gods in the heavens that there was one.

  Ever panted, resting her head against the wall. “The spell didn’t work.”

  Cade shook his head, feeling like he’d failed her. “No. It didn’t. I’m so sorry, Ever. I don’t know — ”

  She put her fingers to his lips, then followed them with a kiss. “Shh. Not your fault.”

  A loud boom from outside shook the lodge. It definitely wasn’t thunder.

  Shrieks issued from the next room. Whoever else was in the cabin had heard the odd explosion too.

  That whoever else turned out to be their own covens. Their intuition had led them straight to their friends.

  “We’re going to have some explaining to do,” Ever murmured.

  Cade touched her face. “We’re going to have some planning to do to keep you safe.”

  “I’m not worried about me,” she said miserably. “We just brought him to our friends.”

  Cade felt a pang of regret and shrugged it off. “We’re safer in a cabin than a tent.”

  Ever put a hand on his shoulder. “Lend me your power.”

  Cade did so without a second thought, pushing his magick into Ever. She closed her eyes, her blue magick flashing through the hallway. A moment later, a swirling mixture of their powers protected the front door.

  They hurried down the hall and into the great room, where Ever’s coven was gathered around the fire.

  “What the hell was that?” Nate asked, standing as Ever and Cade walked into the room.

  Cade had only a moment to recognize that his coven — what was left of it — was sharing the room with Ever’s. He felt a rush of pride, and then Ever spoke.

  “I don’t have a lot of time to explain,” she said, cringing at yet another blast from outside. “I need you to trust me. There’s a man outside who claims to be my father, and he wants to kidnap me. Magick is real, and his is more powerful than anything I’ve ever seen.”

  A crowd of bewildered faces gaped at them. Emily, Greg, and Mitch were less confused and more concerned — they already knew about Cade’s magickal powers. Mitch jumped to his feet. He knew what had happened the night Gilles had come after Ever, so he grasped the true danger of what Ever was saying.

  Meagan stood. “Ev, what are you talking about?”

  Cade didn’t think twice. He saw the hesitation on Ever’s face, and knew how fervently she believed in the rule To be silent. He held a palm towards the merrily crackling fireplace and conjured the element with a single thought. Flames leapt from his fingertips and joined the fire, rushing up the flue with intense heat and light.

  The room fell silent; Cade heard every drop of rain on the roof. Thunder boomed, followed immediately by the sound of banging on the door as Gilles tried to break through.

  “We have to protect this cabin,” Ever said, turning to Cade. “He’ll burn it to the ground like he did my tent.”

  Cade thought fast. “Everybody circle up.”

  Emily, Greg, and Mitch stared at Cade and then at Ever’s coven, who looked just as weirded out by the idea of circling together.

  “Throw your differences aside and come together like fucking human beings!” Cade barked. “We are all in danger, and together, we are stronger.”

  The group jumped into action, locking hands in a circle around Cade and Ever. Cade grasped her hands and brought them to his lips. “Let’s ward all the entries and place a boundary around the cabin. Are you ready?”

  Her eyes were wide and fearful, but she nodded. Cade wanted to kiss her, to hold her and wipe the terror off her face. He never knew such a small creature could be so strong.

  Cade closed his eyes as the circle began to chant.

  It could have been that the two covens had finally come together, light and dark mixing. Mitch stood between Ollie and Meagan, while Emily and Greg were hand in hand with Nate and Claudia. Cade felt raw power coming from the group, and it began to feed him and Ever.

  As usual, he could barely control his energy with Ever so close. Their magicks grew until they formed a bi-colored sphere around them, encasing the rest of the circle in their protection.

  To their credit, the covens kept it together. Ava and Roxy cringed away from the sphere, and Tomas’ and Tia’s mouths were wide open. But then the coven, a full thirteen at last, began to dance, their gazes falling on Cade and Ever. Mitch began to chant.

  “Cade. Ever. Cade. Ever.”

  Then everyone joined in, their voices melodic, filling the room as the magick grew. Ever squeezed Cade’s hands, throwing her head back. He did the same, pushing outwards, their magicks widening until the shimmering walls of the sphere slid through the physical walls of the cabin.

  Cade could see the circle glowing outside the rain-drenched window. “It worked.”

  The chant fell away, and the covens dropped their hands.

  “Ollie, bless the doors and windows,” Ever said. “Take Tia and Meagan with you. Keep out anything with intent to harm.”

  Ollie nodded and ran towards the front door, the other two girls on her heels.

  Cade pointed to his best friend. “Take the guys and physically barricade the doors. I don’t care what you use to do it. Make it happen.”

  Mitch gave him a thumbs up, and motioned for Greg, Tomas, and Nate to follow him.

  Ava touched Ever’s arm. “What can we do?”

  Ava, Roxy, and Emily waited for orders. Cade was impressed by Emily’s sudden willingness to look to Ever.

  Progress, he thought.

  “Circle in the middle of the room and imagine the lodge is safe. Visualize,” Ever said urgently. “Be aware of your intent.”

  As the three of them moved off, Ever turned to Cade with troubled eyes. “We can’t stay barricaded in here forever.”

  Cade shook his head and sighed. “I know.”

  “What are we going to do?” Ever’s lower lip trembled. “Cade, I thought we were unstoppable together. Our magick is worthless against him. He can still see me.”

  Cade grasped her shoulders, massaging gently. He touched his forehead to hers, desperately trying to come up with a plan. Outside, the stormy night flared orange, and Cade jumped as Gilles’ magick burst against their sphere.

  Ever shook herself. “I felt that.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Cade, I can’t stay here.” Ever’s voice dropped until only he could hear her. Ollie’s strong, sure voice chanted from the foyer, and heavy thuds from the back of the cabin indicated the guys had found furniture to barricade the doors. “I’m putting not only my coven in danger, but yours as well. It’s not fair. I have to protect them. I have to protect you.”

  “It’s not your job to protect me, babe.” Cade traced his thumbs over her jawbones. “And I know you want to protect your coven, but does it not occur to you that they feel the same way about you?”

  Another explosion rocked the foundations of the cabin. Ever stumbled as Gilles’ power chopped into their boundary. Cade felt the blow in his gut and doubled over, gasping. When he stood back up, Ever cried out.

  “Your nose is bleeding.” She ripped off her sweatshirt and put it to his nose, her eyes spilling over. “We can’t hold this up. He’s too powerful. He’s going to destroy our circle, and then he’ll come after the people I love. Including you.”

  Cade let her dab at his nose. Her sweatshirt held that smell that was uniquely Ever, and he knew she needed to feel in control of something.

  When she opened her mouth to speak, he innately knew he wasn’t going to like what she said.

  “I’m going to sneak out the window,” she said softly. “I’m going to run and hope the forest can hide me.”

  “He will find you, Ever. You can’t do that.”

  She shrugged, pulling the sweatshirt away from Cade’s face. “I don’t have any other choice. Maybe the barricade can distract him long enough to give me a head start.”

  “You’re not going alone.” Cade touched his nose to find t
he bleeding had stopped. The world outside the cabin grew eerily quiet of anything but the storm. “I’m going with you.”

  While the covens were occupied, Ever and Cade snuck to the kitchen, hand in hand. The door had been barricaded already, and the guys had moved off towards the front of the house. The room was dark and quiet.

  Ever lifted a window. A blast of rain-soaked air brushed across Cade’s face. Ever shivered at the wet cold, but hiked a leg over the windowsill without a second thought. Cade fought the urge to grab her and pull her back inside where it was warm and they were safe.

  “Ever!”

  Ever paused, glancing at Cade before she looked to the figure in the doorway. Ollie stared at them, her feet shoulder-width apart and her blue eyes full of fear. She looked beautiful and powerful in her emerald, bell-sleeved dress.

  Cade could feel the raw energy rolling off of her.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, a note of panic creeping into her voice.

  Ever swallowed visibly. “Taking the danger away from you.”

  Cade gripped the window frame as another sharp blast rocketed through the night. But it came from the front of the cabin, which meant they hadn’t been seen yet.

  They had a chance.

  “Ollie, can you do something for me?” Ever asked.

  Ollie nodded. “Anything.”

  “When we break through the circle, it’s going to fall. Can you gather everyone and cast a circle large enough to protect you guys in case Gilles breaks through the barricades?”

  Ollie gasped, taking a couple steps back. Cade barely knew the girl, but he knew a look of surprise when he saw it.

  “Gilles?” she whispered.

  Ever nodded. “Do you know him?”

  Ollie looked like a fish gasping for air, unable to speak. She nodded, brushing her hair from her eyes. “I’ll protect the covens.”

  “I know you can,” Ever said with a sad smile. “When this is over, you and me need to have a long chat about what we’ve been keeping from each other.”