The Witch, The Wolf and The Vampire Series Boxed Set

by A. K. Michaels

  “My men and I will be close by, too, don’t worry on that score, Peri. We won’t let anything happen to you,” Donovan said in a strong voice.

  She smiled at the Vampire, she had always felt the power and strength in him and knew he would do what he could to help her. However, it was magic they were dealing with, not just brute strength or numbers. She wasn’t even sure he could help in that department.

  She felt a hand on one of hers and looked down. Gabe’s hand was doing that rubbing thing with his thumb. She drew comfort from that, as she saw a cheeky grin on his face.

  “I’ll be there, too, I’ll be Wolf, we’ve discussed things and there’s a tentative plan in place. Obviously these things can deviate, but I’ll be around, Peri. Don’t worry, my mate, we’ll all be there to help.” Gabe leaned over and placed a little kiss on the tip of her nose, a gentle kiss, and he then moved quickly and placed one on her lips before sitting back into his chair.

  “Okay, so what is this plan?” she asked, looking at Josef, as she was pretty sure it was his plan.

  Josef smiled. “Liam placed a slight spell about a week or so ago, hiding any Vampires from prying eyes, anyone looking will see only humans on the ranch, so that will give us an edge. The humans that Finbar uses have all been sent away – paid holiday – so they are happy, and it keeps them away from harm. The only one left is Margaret. We tried to make her go, but she refused, stubborn old woman that she is ...”

  Peri interrupted, “Margaret? She shouldn’t be here, Josef! She could get hurt!”

  “I know that, that was why we tried to get her to leave. However, she refuses. What am I to do, Peri? Physically remove her from her home, her mate?” Josef sighed, knowing that Margaret shouldn’t be here, but the woman was stubborn and Finbar’s own words had fallen on deaf ears. The woman was not for leaving, not at all.

  “Oh, Josef, what if she gets hurt? I would never forgive myself,” she said in reply, her heartbeat picking up at the thought of the friendly woman getting caught up in her battle.

  “There is a root cellar here, if and when trouble arrives, she has been instructed to go there, and stay there until Finbar comes to get her. She has agreed to do that, so she should be well out of the firing line.”

  “Okay, well that’s something I suppose,” she said to that piece of information.

  “Right, back to the discussion. Liam has had some information leaked, about a week ago, saying that you are here and helping out on the ranch. Donovan has more of his men dotted around, six in total. There is Liam, who will place some wards around that should lessen the power of any Witch entering the area, apart from you and he, of course. Then there is Gabe and myself. When we get word that they are coming, Gabe will go Wolf, coming in from their rear. Donovan, or one of his men, will be keeping watch on them and will let us know when they are on the move here. I, of course, will be by your side. I know you want to take care of this yourself, for Daiki, however, if at any point I feel that you are in danger, I will take over. That point is not something that is up for discussion. Understood?”

  Josef finished and raised one eyebrow while staring into her eyes. This was not something he wanted her to be involved in, especially if she was carrying Gabe’s child. But he knew she needed to do it, so he would stay close, watch over her, and take charge, if he thought she was in any danger, whatsoever.

  “Uhm, yeah, I suppose,” she said, a host of different feelings running through her system. She dearly wanted to take out her father on her own, but she knew he was very powerful. At times she still doubted her own abilities, even if Liam kept telling her how strong she was.

  Her childhood fears ran rampant through her, the terror she had lived her entire life, every single day, not something she could so easily forget. The detached look on her father’s face, as he abused her mercilessly throughout her entire life with him. The look in his light brown eyes, as he tied her down and cut her back. The sounds he made as he lapped up her blood, straight from the open wound he had just made.

  A shiver ran through her as something profound hit her. The sounds. The ones he made while cutting her back and lapping up her blood, Christ, they were similar to the sounds her men made while they made love to her! Fucking hell, her father had been aroused while he did those things to her.

  Tears came unbidden to her eyes, as she desperately tried to get those memories to leave her head. She didn’t want them inside her and fought to remove them. She hadn’t even realized her Vampire had moved until she felt his arms around her shoulders and pulling her up from her chair.

  “It’s okay, my little Witch, don’t give him that power over you, don’t let him invade your thoughts.” Josef held her close to him, and it was as if she drew some of his strength from his very soul. She also realised that he was upset, it was the only time his speech wasn't exact and proper, coming to this realisation as she got to know him better. He was truly rattled if he used shortcuts while speaking.

  Her arms wrapped around his waist, and she leaned into him, taking his strength and slowly she felt a little better. Her thoughts cleared, as she remembered Daiki lying bloodied and broken on the floor. Anger started low in her belly and soon she felt it taking hold, making her stand straighter, giving her a strength she hadn’t known she had. One that she would use against the sick fuck.

  Gabe had risen and was at her back, one of his strong hands slowly rubbing her in small circles. “You’ll be fine, Peri, come on, babe, you can seriously kick some butt now!” Her Wolf chuckled, and it broke the tension that had invaded the room.

  Laughing, she turned to him and rose on her tiptoes to pull his head down, placing a kiss on his lips before pushing him away. “Sit down Wolf, or I’ll kick your butt,” she joked.

  Josef took his own seat, as she did hers. “Donovan, have your men seen anything today?” Her Vampire asked the silent bodyguard.

  “Yes, there is a small car about a mile from the turning on the main road, there are two males inside, they arrived last night. They came onto your land on foot, made it all the way to about half a mile past the corrals and stayed there for about three hours before going back to their vehicle. They made two calls on a mobile phone, one lasting one minute and thirty seconds and one which lasted less than ten seconds. They have stayed inside the vehicle since then, only coming out once each to relieve themselves at the rear of the vehicle. No further calls in or out, and they are still there as we speak.” Donovan finished, and Josef nodded his head.

  Peri’s eyes were wide, as she stared at the huge Vampire, jeez that was a lot of detail. He gave her a small smile, and she almost laughed at the cheeky look in his eyes.

  “Excellent as always, Donovan. I think we can safely assume we are going to have visitors, soon...”

  She interrupted Josef, “Soon? How do you know it will be soon?”

  “As they have been there all this time in this warm weather, if they weren’t expecting anyone else they would have left, or at least gone for some kind of refreshments. My men advise that they have been sharing one small bottle of water. They did not come prepared for a long wait in a vehicle.” Donovan answered her query, and she again saw that cheekiness in his eyes.

  She thought Josef saw it, too, as he frowned down the table towards the Vampire. “Exactly, so we need to stay ready. I would assume they will come under cover of darkness, so Donovan and all his men will be out tonight, and I will stay awake. I know this is going to be difficult, Peri, but you need to rest. We will have plenty of warning of anyone arriving, so you don’t need to worry. As soon as we know anything, I will wake you and Gabe.”

  Sleep? He wanted her to sleep? Was he insane? He must be, if he thought she could even lie down, far less sleep!

  “You have to rest, you need to be alert and focused for what is to come. Do not think on it just now, we have got a nice meal prepared for you three and then we can relax, Donovan will keep his men on the alert, so there’s no
need to worry just yet.”

  Josef spoke in a voice that had her looking into his face for signs of upset or worry, because his tone didn’t relay any of that.

  He sounded relaxed and in control, as always. His face didn’t look as if he was in the least worried and that had her relaxing, slightly. If her Vampire wasn’t worried, then she should at least try to relax a little.

  She gave a smile and a nod of her head and at that moment Margaret appeared, arms laden with plates of food. As the smell of the food hit her senses, she realized she was ravenous, and wondered how she could even think of eating at a time like this, especially after vomiting earlier.

  She didn’t think on that for long. As the food was placed in front of her, she shook her head and started to eat. Josef only half-filled up her wine glass and she took a drink, savoring the taste of the expensive rosé, but wondering why he hadn’t filled her glass. A couple of glasses of wine would go a long way to helping her relax. She drank another few sips before she returned to her food, savoring that just about as much as the wine. Margaret was a great cook, and she hadn’t had one meal that she wasn’t impressed with.

  *****

  Josef watched as his little mate started to eat. He hadn’t wanted to pour that wine. If she was indeed pregnant, then she shouldn’t be drinking alcohol. However, if he said she couldn’t have any at all, he would have to voice his thoughts and that was not a good idea at this moment. If he told her he thought she was carrying a child, she could become upset, worried, freaked out...a host of different things, and he wasn’t taking the chance. It could cause her to falter in the fight that was coming. That couldn’t happen, as it could be the reason for her getting hurt or injured.

  So, he poured the wine, his mind going in a thousand different directions. He only half-filled the glass, though, if she queried it, he would tell her it wasn’t a good idea to be inebriated going into a battle.

  Again, the fact that Peri was going to put herself in danger hit him hard. He fervently hoped that she would change her mind over these last few weeks, he wanted to do this for her. Take out her father and whatever other stupid people he brought with him.

  However, as she got stronger, both in body and magic, her resolve only hardened, and he knew she would never let him do this. She wanted...no...needed to do this and he understood, he just didn’t like it. No, he didn’t like it one bit.

  He looked to Donovan and a silent message seemed to pass between the two powerful Vampires. Donovan inclined his head, and Josef knew that he would never be far from his mate. Donovan would also have her back in the fight that was to come.

  Josef only hoped that Donovan wasn’t needed, because if he was, then that meant the fight was most definitely NOT going in the way he hoped.

  He sat and watched the others at the table, Gabe being his usual charming self, as if he hadn’t a care in the world. Josef knew better, though, feeling the Wolf’s worry for their mate, but he hid it well, very well. Nobody would think for a moment that the Wolf was worried or upset.

  Peri was laughing at one of his corny jokes and Gabe took the opportunity to glance at him. Their look spoke volumes...they would both fight to the death to protect their little Witch.

  He nodded slightly and Gabe gave him a small smile, the Wolf knowing just how powerful he was, knowing that he wouldn’t let anybody or anything on this earth harm their mate.

  When he looked to Liam, he saw that he was showing a little worry and picked at his food. Until they had found Peri, the Witch had been one of the most powerful, and now Liam knew that she far surpassed that power. Josef thought it both worried and scared the man slightly, and he was sure he saw a very tiny spark of jealousy, also.

  That was to be expected, he thought, but he would keep an eye on that. Jealousy was a powerful emotion and could lead people to do things that they would not normally do. Liam had better be careful, because if Josef caught even an inkling that the jealousy was taking root, he would get rid of Liam, permanently.

  “Can I have some more wine?” she asked. The small amount that was poured earlier had gone far too quickly.

  “Not a good idea, when you may be in a life or death situation soon, Peri. Alcohol dulls the senses and you need yours on high alert.” Josef had a full block on his mind, so that she would not guess at his real reason for refusing her more wine.

  “Oh, yeah, guess you’re right, sorry, I’m not used to preparing to fight anyone, far less Dave.” Peri was looking down onto her almost empty plate, as she spoke and as the name left her lips, she felt fear lap at her insides.

  “Dave?” Gabe asked, although he could guess who he was, Peri had never spoken his name until now.

  “Yeah, can you believe it? Dave sounds so ordinary, doesn’t it? Doesn’t sound like the name of a monster, even if he is one.” She took a deep breath to calm her nerves, knowing that he would soon be here, in front of her. She wasn’t entirely sure what emotion would win – fear or anger – when she first saw him, after so many years.

  “Monsters come in all shapes and sizes, different guises. Some of the most prolific serial killers in the human world have ordinary names and looked more like the boy next door than a murderous psychopath. A name means nothing, unless it is ‘my mate’.”

  Josef’s words hit home in her head, in her heart, and she smiled up at his face, as he stared at her intently. “Yes,” was all she managed in reply.

  He was right, those were the only two words that were important right now, and she would cling to that thought, as she stood in front of Dave.

  Chapter 19

  Dave looked out the side window and let his mind wander freely. He smiled, a crooked smile, not a friendly one at all, it was one of relief with a good mix of hate. A weird combination for a smile, but that was what it was. He had her.

  After more than six years, they now knew where she was, and that she was living in that location. Not like the hundreds of times, when one of his men got to somewhere, only to find her packed up and gone. No, this time she was living and working on a ranch.

  A ranch? Christ, he couldn’t picture her on a ranch in the middle of nowhere, but that’s where she was, so that’s where he was going.

  He was in the back of the SUV, two of his closest men up front, following the other vehicle, which had four of his men inside. With the other two already on-site that made nine in total, but he wouldn’t need them. He brought them along to show off his own power, a power that far surpassed any of theirs. One that kept them all in line, doing exactly what he wanted...or else.

  Over the last twenty-five years, he had used that power to punish any that stood up to him, any that thought of leaving, any that had tried to leave. He took great pleasure in doling out that punishment, and his smile widened slightly, as he thought on those times. Times that had his blood pumping through his system and that gave him an almost sexual release.

  His wife was long gone, after all, it was her that had let this little bitch escape. So he did what he had to, he punished her in the same manner as anyone else that let him down. Now he partook of any of the females in their little ‘family’, whomever and whenever he liked. Those were the rules, his rules, and his rules were all that mattered.

  Nobody dared to stand up to him, or else.

  He found himself getting aroused, just thinking about the night before, when he had received the call that their information had been correct. They had found Persephone.

  He had celebrated by taking one of the younger females, a daughter to one of the men that had been with them for many years. A sweet little thing, only twenty years of age, one that he had used for the last few years, along with others.

  He knew she didn’t like him. In fact, she hated him, but she hid it well, knowing the consequences if she didn’t. Last night had been a mammoth session with her, his arousal raised so high at the thought of finally destroying his daughter. He had used the girl over and over, every way
his warped mind could come up with.

  He was well aware that his mind was warped. He didn’t give a fuck! He had enjoyed every last second with the young girl. Enjoyed her tears, her cries for him to stop, Christ, had she not learned that only spurred him on? Stupid female. The more she cried, the more he continued. God, he had had a great night. Stopping only when she finally passed out, at which time he had thrown her into the corner of his room, climbed into bed, and slept like a baby.

  She was gone, when he awoke, and he was glad. He didn’t need to be seeing her bruised and bloody body first thing in the morning.

  His bed covers had been covered in her bodily fluids, blood, tears, saliva, and that special one from below, mixed with his own seed. He had reveled in the scents as he fell asleep, knowing that his room would be nice and clean on his return, or else.

  That girl’s father was in the car up front, knowing that another show of his power would stop any silly protests at what he did to his daughter. He had plans for the younger sister, so this little jaunt and display of his vast magical power would stop the objection he anticipated would accompany his selection of her on his return.

  The girl was gorgeous, long blonde hair, bright blue eyes, innocence shining in those eyes. An innocence he was planning on taking, as soon as they got back. Only sixteen, young, ripe, just waiting on him to show her what would be expected of her in the next few years. He found his cock hard in his trousers, just thinking about it.

  He couldn’t wait to get this over and done with, finally, and get back and take her to his bed.

  “I still think you should let me come with you.” The voice of the passenger broke his thoughts of the girl, and he frowned at the face that was now looking at him.

  “I said no. Do not argue with me. You and Jeff will stay with the vehicles on the main road. Your job is to ensure nobody else arrives or comes to help. Just in case. I don’t expect anything like that to happen, but you never know. I do not want to repeat myself on this matter again – understood!” He let his tone show in his anger at having his orders questioned.