by India Kells
Gently, Sera pushed herself away from him and lifted her head as if wanting to look into his eyes. Her pale blue irises looked frosted and his heart squeezed at the idea that she couldn’t admire the world around her anymore. Her strength and how she dealt with her handicap astonished him. She was one courageous woman.
“I have no intention of lying to you, Ian. But my friendship is all I can offer. I appreciate you wanting to protect me, but I don’t want you or anyone else getting hurt on my behalf. Am I going to shield you from possible harm? Hell yes. I won’t be able to help myself. And it may very well be a lie. Between you being pissed at me and alive, or dead, I would choose your anger in a heartbeat.”
His fingers itched to replace a stray hair behind her ear. “You care for me.”
“I do. As a friend. It’s a take it or leave it deal, wolf.”
Ian looked at the hand she extended in his direction and took it in his. The connection was still there, sizzling on his skin. And she felt it too, the hitch of her breath confirmed it.
“I accept your deal, witch.”
He may not lie to her, but he would make damn sure she was safe from now on. And if he had to use a few tricks of his own, he would.
Chapter Seven
It was like being in the dark with no available light or not knowing where the walls were. How to find the door? It was exactly how she felt. No direction, no path, no clear information that could guide her in any way.
Frustrated, Sera closed the grimoire with a snap that sounded like gunfire.
“I suppose you haven’t found what you were searching for in this one either.”
She clenched her teeth at Ian’s voice from the opposite corner of Layla’s library. The werewolf had been her shadow since they left her apartment after lunch. He had changed into his wolf form to accompany her through the streets, advising her to keep a hand on his head as he was supposed to be her guide dog after all. Secretly, even after everything she had told him earlier, Sera was glad the werewolf had been stubborn enough to stay. The simple contact of her hand against his soft fur put her at ease, reassuring her somehow. And arousing her. An undesired side effect that she would have to live with one way or another.
“What made you think I haven’t found anything?”
She heard shuffling. “Well, I would say the violence with which you closed your beloved book... or, if I doubted it before, the growl you emitted. Very wolf like, if I do say so myself.”
Half a laugh escaped her unwillingly. “I don’t know what I thought coming here. I’ve explored and read those books most of my life and found very little. It’s not as if some new information would have miraculously popped up since the last time.”
“Or maybe magically?”
“Have you turned comedian while I wasn’t looking?”
Ian chuckled, and she realized it wasn’t a sound she had heard before.
“I’m not telling. So, you’ve been at it for the last five hours with me carting books around...”
“I haven’t asked you to help.”
“If I hadn’t helped you, you would have died in a dusty book avalanche!”
Sera rolled her eyes. “Maybe if one of those books had knocked me on the head, I would have had an epiphany!”
“Well, I can sling one of those mean-looking ones at you if you like.”
“You will do no such thing, werewolf!”
Sera puffed out a sigh as she heard the pitty-pat of the witch-cat.
“He didn’t mean it, Layla.”
“I sure hope so... whoa! Naked man! Damn it, wolf! Couldn’t you put any clothes on this morning? We’re in the middle of bloody winter in Maine!”
Sera turned and almost smacked herself on the head with her thoughtlessness. He had come all the way here in wolf form. “Ian, you should have told me! I could have summoned clothes for you.”
“You don’t see, and I’m rarely cold. I thought it would be better to keep your energy on your search.”
Layla huffed. “Well, I’m not blind, so summon him clothes, Sera, or I will.”
Sera didn’t think and summoned the last clothes she had seen him in. A pair of black jeans and dark blue Henley.
Magic swirled from her hands and it took only a second for Ian to be fully dressed. Layla’s sigh of relief was the indication that her magic was as efficient as ever.
“Now that the wolf is in sheep’s clothing, why in hell are you still in here? The store is closed you know? Poor Abrams even waited an extra hour to lock the door.”
“I was busy, Layla.”
“Normally I would kick you out like I’ve done every night since you came to live and work here...”
Sera let her fingers trail along the table until she reached the bench and plopped her butt on it.
“I’m stuck, Layla. I’ve rechecked all the books and parchments and still nothing conclusive about seers or mysterious priestesses.”
Layla jumped on the table and Ian came to sit on the bench beside her. He didn’t touch her, but his heat seeped through her skin. Ignoring her prickling skin, Sera got back to the task at hand.
“I need another source of information. I need to dig deeper into that subject.”
Her mind was reeling. She knew that Layla had an amazingly extensive library full of unique and very specialized books, and there weren’t many places that could boast such a collection this side of the Atlantic.
Layla, and another organization.
“I need access to the High Council library.”
Her statement was received by astonished silence, so much she thought they had left her alone. Only the golden aura of Ian and the pulsing light of Layla confirmed their presence.
“Guys?”
Ian coughed. “Sera, nobody even knows where the High Council is. They move all the time, and usually, hearings are done where the conflict arises.”
That was common knowledge, but Sera knew that there was always a way.
“Layla?”
“I know what you’re going to ask me, honey, and you realize that me just breathing is a miracle. I doubt I can intervene without risking turning into a roasted kitten.”
Sera knew that something happened between Layla and the High Council. Something bad enough, they turned her into a cat for the rest of her life. She never talked about it, and Sera knew it was a very painful subject.
“I understand, Layla. I wouldn’t put you in more trouble than you’re already in.”
“You aren’t trouble. What I fear is not what can happen to me, but rather my presence preventing you from achieving anything.”
“I’ll call Valeria later. Her biological father is a member of the High Council. They are still quite estranged, but maybe she can convince him somehow.”
Layla snorted rather inelegantly. “Soren Racovan? Good luck with him. You would have a better chance with Catalia Ragrado.”
At her reference to the mighty witch sitting at the High Council, Sera’s hackles went up. From a very early age, she had dealings with the woman, and none of them turned out well for her. She’d rather take her chances with the weredragon instead. Or find another solution altogether.
“I’ll think about it, Layla.”
Without another word, she got to her feet, going for her coat. Ian was faster and gentlemanly helped her out.
Layla leaped down, and Sera could feel her close to her left leg. “Go eat and sleep on it. I’ll think about it, maybe make a few phone calls. Somebody will help us out.”
“Don’t get into trouble, Layla. We’ll find a way.”
“And stick with that werewolf of yours. The more time passes, the more likely those priestesses and guardians could come knocking at your door.”
As if she could get rid of Ian. Or wanted to.
When she reached for the door, Sera heard rustling and the crackling sound of Ian changing into his wolf form.
Layla preceded them. “I’ll lock up behind you. Be safe. I’ll call you tomorrow morning.”
&
nbsp; Wishing her good night, Ian and she stepped out into the cold. Naturally, her hand went to Ian who pushed his head under her palm. From the noises around them, the lower volume of vehicles and how the sound reverberated on the buildings, it was way after sundown. Probably closer to 9 p.m. She almost asked Ian but realized that he couldn’t have been able to answer her, being in his animal form.
As they walked, the deafening sound of a siren blared behind them. An emergency vehicle. Firefighter trucks. Three passed beside them. Slowly, the acrid scent of smoke filled her nostrils. It was probably coming from around the corner. Ian whined, and she realized that it was coming from somewhere close to her home. Without noticing it at first, she accelerated, as did Ian, keeping up with her. The wolf steered and pushed her a couple of times as she probably forgot about the usual obstacles on her route.
As she rounded the corner, the energy coming from the site almost made her lose her balance. So many people, heat, smoke.
“Please tell me it’s not my little house.”
Ian whimpered, and she suspected it was in assent.
At that instant, something shattered in her. Her home was burning. Not that she had anything there worth her tears. It was rather the symbol of it. Of her struggles, of her independence that was going up in smoke. There, on the sidewalk, she was only a blind woman. Vulnerable. Lost.
Chapter Eight
The fire was blazing and the firefighters on site, mostly volunteers, would have an awful time making sure it wouldn’t spread to neighboring buildings.
Pain radiated from Sera, her hand still on Ian’s head, mechanically stroking his fur. After this inferno, there wouldn’t be anything left of her home. Ian wished he could take her in his arms, and tell her that he would help, that they would find a solution, but he couldn’t. Instead, he stayed by her side, but he was all ears, eyes and nose on all that was going on around them.
He heard someone on the sideline, a neighbor on the other side of the street, remarking that the fire seemed to have taken so suddenly, he didn’t realize it was raging until the fire trucks were arriving.
Another, a firefighter, was working on the truck and told his captain that he suspected foul play as there was no way the building could have been engulfed so rapidly without some kind of fuel.
The more he listened, the more Ian believed that someone was behind it all.
“Sera!”
Both of them turned and he saw that human cop running in their direction. Even though there wasn’t anything he could pinpoint in his account, Ian didn’t trust the man. Something was slightly off, and he would need to keep an eye on him, as Sera seemed to trust him.
Snow started falling again, and wind picked up.
“Sera! Are you alright?”
Her voice was calm, steady, but what he could feel from her body indicated that she was still quite shaken.
“I am, Hunter. I wasn’t at my home. I just returned from work when I...”
Her voice cracked slightly. The human called Hunter came closer and touched Sera’s shoulder. Anger brimmed to the surface and Ian couldn’t help but emit a low growl at his action. Reason tried to appease his wolf, but it was to no avail.
The sound could have been disguised by the wind, but Sera must have heard it as she put her hand back on his head once more. That simple contact appeased the beast but didn’t tame the jealousy boiling in his veins. While he may have repeated to himself that she couldn’t possibly be his mate, and that Sera wasn’t his, every cell of his body screamed the opposite.
“I didn’t know you were still on duty, have you decided to work around the clock?”
Hunter grinned and shook his head. “No. But I heard the call about the fire.” He seemed genuinely embarrassed when he continued. “I knew you lived in this neighborhood. I looked you up and found your address. I didn’t mean to be a stalker, Sera. I was just worried. That’s all.”
Sera smiled and put her hand where he touched her shoulder. “Thank you for your concern. I appreciate it.”
The weather worsened as they observed the firefighters doing their best against the devouring beast. At some point, the snow became so dense, it blurred Ian’s vision of the scene. Slightly, the wolf pushed his body against Sera’s leg, a silent plea for her to move, take cover from the cold and the snow. He wanted to call his Alpha and tell him all about it and force Sera to go to Sanctuary. He knew she would be safe for the time being, even though she was reluctant to let go of her independence.
Sera started stroking his head again and blinked several times, as if realizing where she was before nodding.
“Yeah, I guess I need to make a few calls. Find a place to stay.”
Hunter nodded. “You are welcome to stay at my place if you like, you and Fluffy. It’s not much because I haven’t had the chance to unpack yet, but I have clean sheets on my bed. I mean, you take my bed and I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
Was he for real? Ian wanted to snap the man’s head off! He met the woman this very morning and he was offering her lodging? Either he was one of the stalkers following Sera, a complete and naive idiot or the nicest human to ever walk the face of the earth. Ian wasn’t even considering the last option.
As they were talking, the storm began to worry him. Not only was the snow falling in a thick veil, but the wind seemed to almost push against his body. And as a werewolf, it required a great deal of strength to make him fall. How weird as it didn’t smell like snow this morning. How come he didn’t see it coming?
The thought made him frown, and, as he was about to push Sera again, wind swirled, and Ian clearly felt a hand grabbing him at the scruff and sending him airborne. The power that propelled him on the other side of the street was such, the building’s brick wall partly shattered against his body and fell over him as he landed on the pavement. Ian pushed himself up and shook his throbbing head. The snow was so thick, it was impossible to see who could have attacked him. He couldn’t even see Sera!
Still getting his bearings, it was Sera’s muffled scream and gunshots that spurred him into action. Crossing the wall of swirling snow, he was running blind. And that human wasn’t there either. Ian promised himself that if this bastard cop was responsible for any of this, he would gladly chew his head from his shoulders. Crossing the streets was a battle against the elements. With the fire nearby and flashing lights of the fire engines, the swirls of white snow glowed red. Disoriented, Ian couldn’t rely on his nose either to find Sera. Everything in him tensed as he heard more gunshots. At least, now he had a sense of direction.
Pinpointing the sound, he sprinted in-between houses, until the snow was less dense and almost plowed into the human cop in his hurry. His weapon was drawn, and his focus fixed toward Sera. Ian wasn’t quite sure what he was seeing. It was as if the storm had materialized two icy arms that were trapping the witch, preventing her from moving, even blocking her mouth. The thing seemed to have taken a wrong turn and was now fighting against a sturdy wooden fence as if to break through.
Without thinking, Ian attacked, but all he bit was ice. He used his strength against the giant icicles, but it was so thick, he could only scratch it. He turned to see the human cop, still clearly apprehensive of what he saw before them. He holstered his gun and instead found a piece of pipe in a nearby trash can and started hammering at the ice monster.
The fence emitted an agonizing creak, and Ian’s heart stuttered. If that thing escaped with Sera, there would be no possibility to stop it.
Ian looked at the human and found no other choice. He needed his voice, so he shifted back.
The human cop yelled in surprise and jumped at least six feet away, but Ian didn’t care. Naked in a snow storm, Ian ignored him and turned to Sera. She couldn’t speak, and her eyes were wide with terror. He only could hope that she would hear him.
“Sera! This ice thing, you have to find a way to break it, or thaw it. I cannot help you, the ice is too thick. I know you’re brilliant, find a spell, any spell to break its hold on
you. Do you hear me? Act now or he will disappear. Please, Sera!”
He continued using all his strength to try to break the ice shackles, but in human form, his strength wasn’t the same. Wondering if he should shift back into a wolf, Ian noticed a light. It was coming from Sera. It was as if her chest was on fire, her heart glowing.
Through the snow and cold, Ian detected heat. Waves and waves of increasing heat.
“What the hell is happening?” Hunter stood beside him, but Ian didn’t have the answer. He knew next to nothing about witches, but what Sera was attempting was working.
Heat expanded like sun rays, and both men had to take several steps back, blinded. The ice monster whined, and Ian could see several cracks snaking over its surface, looking as if it was sweating.
As Ian was about to return to her, damn the burns, the heat and light pulsated, sending a blast of energy that sent both he and Hunter flying several feet away in the snow.
Ian blinked, seeing spots of lights. Getting to his feet, with Hunter groaning beside him, he ran toward Sera. She was laying motionless surrounded by horrendous blocks of ice all around her. Panic almost set in, until he found a pulse and gathered her safely in his arms.
Chapter Nine
It was the radiating heat that Sera first noticed when she emerged from slumber. It was so intense, making her sweaty. And the sensation forced her mind to retrace her last memory of the night.
She remembered the fire at her building, and the snow storm. Ian being wrenched from her hand and his howl in the distance. The ice taking her in an unbreakable embrace. Unable to see, unable to move, unable to scream, it was her worst nightmare. Gunshots still resonated in her ears, as did the cry of Ian when he reappeared nearby and tried to free her. It was his voice she could hear, imploring her to find a way out, to use her strength and knowledge.
