by T. M. Cromer
She couldn’t contain her smile. “I’m fortunate in the Goddess’s choice.”
The wolf loped to where she knelt then rubbed his large jaw along hers.
“What is he doing?” Keaton asked. Worry made his tone sharper than necessary.
“He’s marking me. We’re bonding.”
“I didn’t know wolves lived in this area, and certainly not ones that large. Chloe, I think you need to make sure you aren’t wandering these woods alone from here on out.”
His nervous energy affected the other animals in the circle. The hawk took flight, and the otter tried to burrow deeper in his lap, although Autumn had her doubts about whether the thing was actually hiding or not.
Her new familiar growled low in its throat.
“Easy, Red. Keaton’s no threat to you, just as you’re no threat to him. We are all a pack,” Autumn soothed with a meaningful glance in Keaton’s direction. “The magical community has nothing to fear from nature’s creatures. We co-exist in all things.”
“But—”
She cut off Keaton’s objections. “You would know that if you were raised properly,” she said sharply. “Don’t let your fear and ignorance get in the way. Chloe needs to approach learning with an open mind.”
* * *
Keaton didn’t care for Autumn’s tone, but he understood the warning behind her words. His built-in beliefs could alter how Chloe perceived things. Still, a wolf! And a fucking massive beast at that! He’d be lying if he said the predator didn’t make him nervous as hell.
“Pet him. Show him we are a pack,” Autumn encouraged him and Chloe.
Chloe surged forward, eager in her excitement.
It took every ounce of willpower not to jerk her into the safety of his arms.
“He’s soft and warm,” Chloe laughed. “I love him.”
The wolf sat on his haunches and allowed Chloe to hug his neck. With his tongue lolled out the side of his mouth, the canine resembled nothing more than an oversized dog.
Keaton centered himself and dispelled his concerns before he shifted forward to run a hand down the length of Red’s back. “He’s beautiful,” he breathed in awe.
Red rewarded him with a swipe of his tongue along Keaton’s cheek. The gesture cemented their tentative friendship.
“Okay. Now it’s time for us to close the circle and return home. Keaton, would you like to do the honors?”
He performed the closing as he’d been taught weeks before. A sense of peace came with the knowledge that he was becoming more comfortable in his new life. His only remaining issue was Lin—and the ever-present knowledge the bastard would strike again. Between now and that time, Keaton would prepare. He would learn all he could and find a way to neutralize the threat to Autumn, Chloe, and the rest of their extended family. Perhaps Alastair and Preston had some ideas toward that end goal.
As Keaton and Autumn walked hand-in-hand behind his skipping, chattering daughter, the realization came to him that, in this moment, he had all he’d ever wanted. He jerked to a stop and swung Autumn around to face him.
“Marry me.”
“Pardon?”
“Marry me,” he said again. “Let’s be a family. You, me, Chloe.”
When she stared at him without responding, trepidation snuck in. What did she see when she looked at him now? Could she ever see beyond the mistakes he’d made in the past? Inasmuch as she’d said she’d put his transgression behind her, had she really?
“I need time, Keaton.”
Her words sounded like a death knell for their relationship.
“That’s a no,” he stated heavily.
“No, it’s not a no. It’s an ‘I need time’,” she replied with a squeeze of his hand. “The last time we talked marriage was nearly ten years ago. It didn’t end well. At that point, we’d been dating for ten months.” She dropped his hand and began pacing. “How can I explain this in a way that makes you see this isn’t a rejection?” She paused and faced him. “You’ve only been back in my life less than a month. You’re acting like we can pick up where we left off. As if we haven’t changed or grown into different people.”
“We love each other, Autumn. That’s never going to change regardless of the passing of time,” he argued. “Isn’t that the point?”
“No. Two people can love one another and still not be right for each other.”
“Wow! What was all of this? Your attempt at revenge?” He ran shaking hands through his hair. “Draw me back in and then crush my heart?”
Her sad, dark eyes tore at his insides. Only twenty minutes earlier they’d been a light amber, exuding happiness. “Your accusation proves you don’t know me. That you’ve never known me,” she told him softly.
“Christ, babe. I’m sorry. I’m being an ass because I’m hurt,” he said gruffly. “I don’t believe you slept with me for revenge. Not when I was the one pushing for a relationship.” He stared off into the distance and registered the darkening sky. The coming storm matched his mood. Her hand on his arm startled him.
“I don’t want to fight. I only wanted more time for us to get to know each other again.”
“I know.” He studied the fine features of her face, taking in the thinness from the few days she’d been in stasis. “When you were lost to me these last few days, I nearly went out of my mind. It killed me that the last words I said to you were in anger.” Keaton tucked a lock of her wild hair behind the delicate shell of her ear. Loathe to stop touching her, he traced the length of her jaw and rubbed a thumb softly along her full, lower lip. “I don’t want to ever feel that way again. When you walk away this time, know that I love you. I will always love you. And no matter when, or if, you ever decide to return to me, I’ll be waiting.”
Tears pooled in her eyes, and he felt the matching sting in his own.
“I do love you, Keaton.”
Without a word he opened his arms to her, and she walked into his embrace. Keaton rested his forehead against hers. “When I hold you like this, I have hope. It makes me never want to let you go.”
Autumn drew back and met his gaze purposefully. “Let’s make a pact,” she suggested. “In four months’ time, if we are both of the same mind, we’ll readdress your proposal.”
He frowned. “Both of the same mind? My mind is set and will never change.”
She smiled. “Four months.”
“Four months,” he agreed with a gentle kiss.
Chapter 25
“Pow wow at Thorne Manor in ten.”
Keaton glanced up from the Carlyle family grimoire he’d been studying. “This about Alastair’s next scavenger hunt item, C.C.?”
“Something like that. I think there might be talk of Lin’s location.”
“He’s been found?” Keaton asked sharply. He prayed it was true. He had a score to settle.
“Knox has information on someone fitting Lin’s description.”
“I’ll be right there.”
“Mom’s agreed to keep an eye on Chloe,” Coop informed him.
“Perfect. Thanks.”
Five minutes later, Keaton teleported to Autumn’s home in Maine.
He’d caught her wrapped in a towel and grinned his delight. “Nice!”
“Perfect timing.” She laughed and eased back the sides of the towel to give him a glimpse of the goods. “I was feeling a bit lonely.”
“Ah, babe. As much as I want to jump all over that, Summer’s called a family meeting.”
Autumn pouted, dropped her towel, and cupped her breasts. “I guess I’ll have to take matters into my own hands.”
“Fuck the family meeting,” he rasped as he dove for her.
Her happy laughter echoed through the hall as she ran for the bedroom. He beat her there by ten seconds.
“You’re getting good at teleporting,” she stated proudly.
He lifted her into his arms, laid her softly on the bed, and followed her down. “I had a great teacher.”
“Mmhmm. You’re just flatte
ring me because you want to get laid.”
“Is it working?”
“Absolutely!”
“Score!”
“You do realize if we do this, we are going to be seriously late?” she warned. The twinkle in her eye told him, she knew very well he didn’t care about showing up a few minutes late to the meeting.
“I don’t know about you, but I can get off in under three minutes. Especially, with you steering this boat.”
“I need a little more handling.”
“I’ve got you covered,” he murmured against her lips as he cupped her gorgeous, full D’s.
“You certainly do.” Autumn guided his head to her erect nipple.
Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at Thorne Manor, out of breath and flushed. There could be no doubt in anyone’s mind what had delayed them. Yet, Keaton didn’t care if the whole world knew. The love he felt for his woman couldn’t be contained.
He settled into an armchair and drew her down onto his lap. When Autumn wiggled her bottom, he gave a low warning growl for her ears alone. The little troublemaker did it on purpose.
“If you two are ready to actually join us, can we discuss the issue at hand?” Alastair’s tone suggested he wasn’t truly asking.
“C.C. told me Knox might have a location for Lin,” Keaton said.
Autumn’s head twisted to stare at him in surprise. “Why didn’t you lead with that when you showed up at my house?”
A lifted brow and a smirk was all he offered by way of an answer.
“Point taken.”
It was all he could do not to snort. A small part of him would always be twelve when it came to innuendoes and Autumn.
Coop, on the other hand, showed no such restraint and laughed. It earned him an elbow in the ribs from his girlfriend. Although, in truth, Summer looked as amused as Coop.
“Lin isn’t the issue,” Alastair said. “He’ll get his in due course. However, the Uterine amulet is more important and next on the list to be recovered.”
Autumn shifted forward. “Do we have an idea what we are looking for, and where?”
“The particular amulet we’re seeking was carved from Jasper. Nearly black in color.” Alastair passed around sketches of the object. “As to the where, the starting point is Egypt.” He handed out a word document. “All that is known is in those three paragraphs. I’m counting on the ten of you to figure this out.”
“Ten?” Winnie asked, glancing around at their group. “Uncle, there are only nine of us.”
Alastair’s smile struck Keaton as odd. It was as if Winnie had stepped into a verbal trap.
“There will be ten as soon as you bring Zane Carlyle into the fold,” Alastair stated.
Winnie’s adverse reaction made Keaton wonder if it was Alastair’s attitude or the thought of Zane joining their group that had her up in arms.
“I don’t believe Zane has anything to contribute.” Winnie lifted her chin haughtily.
A study of the room’s occupants showed them all to be as surprised as Keaton. Interesting. Apparently, Winnie and Zane had history no one knew anything about.
“And yet he does,” Alastair countered smoothly. “He has a vast knowledge of all things Egyptian. He minored in archaeology.”
“Don’t tell me, the amulet needs to be excavated, and only Zane has the skills?” Winnie grimaced when Alastair’s smile widened. “Fine. We’ll invite Zane into our ever-expanding group.”
“I don’t need to warn you to keep this among yourselves, do I?” he asked with an arrogant lift to his dark-blond brow. “If the Witches’ Council gets wind of this, they’ll send Nash or Preston after the amulet. We need it to revive Aurora.”
“We know how to utilize stealth and cunning when needed,” Summer assured him.
“Good. On that note, I will leave you all to plan your next adventure.” He focused on Winnie. “Might I suggest you be the one to retrieve it?”
“Why me?” she demanded.
“Your ability to manipulate air will come in handy.”
Without another word or an explanation as to why Winnie’s element would come into play, Alastair disappeared with a simple snap of his fingers.
“Does anyone else have the feeling our Uncle Alastair just set me up?” Winnie asked sourly.
“No doubt about it,” Summer laughed. “He totally did. The question is why?”
“If it’s a problem, Winnie, I can go in your place,” Autumn offered.
“No. You’ve been through enough and need to continue helping Keaton and Coop master their magic.” Winnie crinkled her nose. “I can deal. But does anyone know when Zane plans to return?”
“He’s actually in the process of moving his practice to Leiper’s Fork,” Knox informed them. “He bought out Peterson’s firm in town.”
“Other than to consult on Alastair’s amulet, what can he truly do?” Keaton asked. “When Mom and Dad unbound our powers, he didn’t regain his.”
Winnie’s head whipped in his direction so fast, Keaton suspected she suffered whiplash. “He is supposed to have abilities too?” Her voice rose high enough to shatter glass.
“That’s what Dad said,” he confirmed.
“I have to go.” Her chalky expression prefaced her disappearing act.
“I wonder what that was all about?” he asked aloud.
“Anyone else get the feeling Winnie and Zane had a run in at some point?” Autumn asked on a laugh.
Summer nodded and rose from her position next to Coop. “Absolutely. That dirty holdout! I intend to get to the bottom of this one.”
“Let her be, Nosy Nellie.” Coop stood and wrapped his arms around her. “You and I have other important things to do.”
The wicked grin on his brother’s face told Keaton exactly what those “important things” were. Spring must’ve understood the significance too because she screwed up her face and muttered “Eww” under her breath.
“That’s my cue to leave,” Spring added. “I have a date I need to prepare for.”
“A date?”
All heads turned in Knox’s direction when he snapped the question—all but Spring’s. She continued to ignore Knox’s existence as she had the entire meeting.
In an aside to Autumn, Keaton murmured, “Do you get the feeling this is like a bizarre play unfolding?”
“All we need is popcorn to enjoy the show,” she returned as quietly.
Spring strutted from the room with Knox storming behind like an over-protective guardian.
“I really wish they’d had it out here. I wanted to find out what that was all about,” Holly complained. “I miss everything.”
“Why worry about their lover’s spat when you and I can while away the hours in more pleasant pursuits, my little prickly pear?” Quentin attempted to bury his face in Holly’s neck and was met with a palm to his face.
“Get a life, loser,” she snapped before teleporting away.
Quentin sighed heavily, and for once, Keaton sympathized with the man. He still didn’t like the guy, but at least he could understand the frustration of chasing a female who pretended to hate you.
Their eyes connected across the distance of the living room, and Quentin shot him a self-deprecating half smile. Five seconds later, he followed Holly’s lead and disappeared.
“I almost feel bad for him,” Keaton said.
“I know what you mean. She’s pretty harsh when it comes to Quentin.”
“And yet she allows him to follow her around. What’s up with that?”
“I believe it’s because he was hired by Alastair to protect her,” Autumn said with a shrug. “It doesn’t matter. They’ll either work out their differences, or they won’t.”
“Like us?” he asked softly.
“I think we got lucky,” she returned with a kiss to his lips.
“I know I did,” he replied softly. “I love you, Autumn Thorne.”
“I love you, Keaton Carlyle.”
* * *
Autumn to
uched her nose to Keaton’s in a light Eskimo kiss. “Let’s leave Summer and Coop alone and go find Chloe. I think it’s time for a picnic in the clearing.”
“I’d think you’d want to avoid that place.” Keaton helped her to her feet and stood beside her.
“I learned a new appreciation for it on the other side.” At Keaton’s frown, she explained, “There is old magic based there. Our minutes of hurt are nothing in the timeline of its history.”
“I know what you mean. It was always one of my favorite places to be prior to our breakup. Even afterward, I found myself wandering there to reflect on life now and again.”
“I didn’t know that.”
Pink dusted his cheekbones. “It made me feel closer to you somehow.”
“I thought you hated me.”
“Never. Even when I was furious with you, babe, I never hated you. You were my reason for breathing.”
“Oh, Keaton.”
“Shhh, let’s not go there again. We have our whole lives to look forward to.”
He was right—Autumn knew that—yet, some days the past snuck up and tried to grab her in its stranglehold. On those days, she had to work to remember she now held the upper hand. She had Isis in her corner and, hopefully, no more misunderstandings on the horizon.
“I don’t need four months,” she blurted.
“What?”
“I don’t need four months. If you’ll still have me, I’ll marry you.”
Shocked, Keaton didn’t respond.
She smiled into the face of his disbelief.
“You mean it?” he croaked.
“With all my heart.”
With a happy cry, he wrapped her in his warm embrace. “How soon?”
“I don’t need anything elaborate. A quick ceremony in the clearing works for me.” She laughed between the kisses he rained on her. “But I have one condition.”
He drew back a little warily. “What’s that?”
“Chloe has to agree this is what she wants for us as a family.”
“I don’t think that is going to be a problem. She’s nagged me from day one, telling me she wants you for her mom.”
