United (Book Three of the Silver Wood Coven Series): A Witch and Warlock Romance Novel

by Hunter, Hazel

  “I’ll keep you company,” he said, trying to sound casual, and then had to skid to a stop when Wilson turned on him. “What? I don’t have anything better to do anyway. I don’t want to watch them at it anymore.”

  “You need to give it up, Lach,” Wilson said, and put a hand on his shoulder. “Aileen is my wife, and we’re having a baby, and that’s all I want. I know you’ve had a thing for me for years, but it has to stop. You need to find someone of your own who can make you happy.”

  “You mean I need to find another gay boy,” Lachlan muttered sullenly. “What if I don’t want to? What if I’m willing to wait?”

  Now pity filled the other man’s dark eyes. “It’s never going to happen, man.”

  “You don’t know.” Desperate now, Lachlan stepped closer. “You’ve never tried it. You could, with me. You don’t have to do anything.” He reached down and cupped Wilson’s crotch. “Just once, let me do it to you. Just so you know for sure.”

  “That’s just it.” Wilson gently removed his hand. “I do know for sure. I love Aileen. She’s my whole life, and there will never be anyone else for me. If you can’t accept that, then you need to leave the coven. I’m sorry.”

  Lachlan’s eyes burned as he watched the only man he would ever love turn his back on him and walk away. His hand shook as he pulled his mobile from his pocket, and blindly thumbed it until the speed dial screen came up. Once he hit the number he lifted the phone to his ear, and blinked back the hot tears threatening to fall.

  “Yeah, it’s me again,” he said as he checked his watch. “We need to talk.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  ON THE WAY back to the house Troy spotted Wilson’s pick-up truck sitting beside his Jeep, and eyed Michael.

  “My brother’s here.”

  “Yes, and I can tell how delighted you are.” Michael wrapped his hand around Summer’s. “Should we make ourselves scarce while you talk with him?”

  “No,” Summer said before Troy could reply. “We’re together now, and they’re going to have to accept it. Besides, he’s the one intruding on us, and I don’t trust him.”

  Troy produced a humorless smile. “My brother is a jerk, but he’s not a traitor. He’d never endanger Aileen or the baby.” He gave Summer a direct look. “Whatever he says or does, do not go green-eyed lady on him.”

  “All right, but if he punches you in the face again, I’m going to let Michael deal with him.” She patted the Templar’s chest. “Right, big guy?”

  “I will crush him like a bug,” he assured her gravely before he winked at Troy.

  Wilson didn’t wait for them to come into the house, but stepped outside and folded his arms as they walked up to the front porch.

  “A little cold to go swimming, don’t you think?”

  “I’m a water elemental,” Troy reminded him. “Which is the same as having a heated swimming pool wherever we go. What do you want, Wilson?”

  “Father sent me to bring you back to the pavilion. Something’s come up with the gathering.” He nodded at Summer. “He also wants to speak with her.” His eyes shifted to Michael. “You’re not welcome.”

  “Neither are you, but here you are,” Troy said. “Go back and tell Abel we’ll be there tonight, after dinner.”

  “He wants you now––no, you know what? Fine. I’ll tell him.”

  Wilson stalked off to his truck and drove off.

  Troy watched him go. “Trouble.”

  “Don’t you have phones?” Michael asked.

  “The Coven Master never uses them. He also hates cameras, computers and most other types of technology.”

  He saw Summer was shivering and used his ability to pull the water from their clothes, sending it in a mist to settle down over the meadow.

  She kissed his cheek. “You should have been a dry-cleaner.”

  Michael lifted his hand and touched the same spot on his face. “Keep doing that and you won’t be wearing any clothes.”

  Summer chuckled. “I need food first.”

  While she went off to the kitchen to make them sandwiches and warm up a pot of soup Erica had sent with them, Troy built a fire in the old dining room, where he also showed Michael the effect Summer had had on his mother’s old furniture, which was still covered with tiny twigs and new green leaves.

  Michael crouched down to peer at the legs of one chair. “They’ve rooted themselves through the floor, did you notice that?”

  Troy nodded. “I don’t know whether I should leave them be or take them outside and plant them.” He sat back on his haunches to watch the first flames of the fire flare up. “After this little chat with my father, all of us may have to leave, Paladin. I’ll have to resign from the Magus Corps, too. Any thoughts on where we should go?”

  “Canada.” Michael straightened and glanced at him. “We can try to track down Beauty’s people.”

  “I think she may be from Quebec,” Troy told him. “I went there once on assignment, and one of the witches from the local coven made that same kind of meat pie that Summer fixed for us last night. It’s a specialty of theirs.”

  “The Templars are headquartered out of Montreal,” Michael said slowly. “But they have a priory in Quebec, too.”

  “We’re not going to Canada,” Summer said as she carried in a tray filled with food. “We’re staying here, with Troy’s family. They’re our best defense against the order, and I still need to find out who I am and why I was brought here.” Before Troy could say anything she added, “I’ll talk to your father, as a gesture of good will. Maybe I can even persuade him to see that we’re not a threat to the coven.”

  “I hope you can,” Troy said. “But I wouldn’t count on it.”

  • • • • •

  Before they left the old house, Summer changed into a pretty red dress Aileen had given her, and put up her hair in an attractive chignon. Red lipstick from a very chic woman in Central Park added the perfect touch of color to her face, and emphasized the rainbow colors of her eyes.

  Michael appeared behind her in the mirror’s reflection. “You look like a siren.”

  “Thank you, kind sir, and don’t even think about it,” she added as she saw his hands lift. “Later, when we come back, you can touch whatever you want.”

  “Does that go for me, too?” Troy asked as he looked in on them.

  She nodded briskly. “Just remember to raid our room before we come back. We’re going to need condoms. All of them. And maybe plan a trip into town soon because those aren’t going to last us very long.”

  Michael dropped a kiss on her shoulder, and Troy chuckled.

  When they arrived at the pavilion, Abel was waiting for them, and after nodding to Troy and pointedly ignoring Michael he said to Summer, “If you’ll join me in the library, I’d like a word with you.”

  “Come on, Paladin,” Troy said as he brushed past his father and headed to the rooms they’d used.

  After giving her a warning glance, Michael followed him. Though she wanted nothing more than to follow the two of them, she accompanied Abel.

  Summer saw Erica pacing in the kitchen as she passed it to go to the library with Abel, and noticed Lachlan doing almost the same thing at the other end of the corridor.

  “Is something wrong, Coven Master?”

  He ushered her inside and closed the door before he answered her.

  “I’ve informed the other coven leaders of the Templar plan to attack the winter solstice gathering, and we’ve agreed on a new site for the celebration. I also told them about offering Michael Charbon sanctuary. They agreed that it was foolhardy of me to harbor a Templar traitor, but they will abide by whatever I decide to do with him.”

  Summer watched his face. “So what have you decided?”

  “It’s time for me to step down as Coven Master, and I intend to do so at the gathering,” he said, surprising her. He walked over and poured whiskey from a decanter into two short glasses. “Troy has obviously grown disenchanted with his service to the Magus
Corps, and he has been thoroughly trained to take my place. It’s time for him to assume leadership of this coven.” He brought the glasses over to her and offered her one. “Which you will persuade him to do.”

  Summer didn’t touch the glass. “And if I don’t?”

  “Your friend the Templar may be immortal,” Abel said, and took a sip of his whiskey. “But he is not invulnerable. Accidents happen all the time.”

  Summer felt her temper spike. “Are you threatening to hurt Michael if I don’t talk Troy into taking over as Coven Master?”

  “I don’t make threats, my dear.” Abel gave her an unpleasant smile. “Only remember that your friend is a Templar among Wiccans. His kind have slaughtered our people for centuries. If the worst happens, no one will mourn his passing but you.”

  That was when Summer knew she had to walk out, or she might very well do something she’d regret. She turned on her heel and went to the door, jerking it open to find Lachlan standing just outside.

  “Did you get all that?” she demanded. “Or do I need to repeat anything for you?”

  Before Abel’s apprentice could reply Wilson appeared.

  “What’s going on? Aileen’s trying to rest.”

  “Your father just needed to threaten me,” Summer told him before she headed for the room she’d shared with Troy, and found him and Michael packing up some clothes in a duffel. “We need to go, guys. Right now.”

  Lachlan and Wilson followed them out of the main house, but it was Lachlan who got in Summer’s face.

  “Troy is never going to be Coven Master. It’s Wilson’s place. If Troy tries to take over the coven I’ll tell everyone about you perverts.”

  Wilson frowned at him. “That’s enough.”

  Troy shouldered his younger brother aside and stepped up to Lachlan. “Piss off, you whiny little toad.”

  Michael tugged Summer back out of the way.

  “We should go.”

  He repeated that in a louder voice for Troy’s benefit, but the warlock was now arguing with his brother.

  Summer saw Abel and Erica come out of the main house and felt the clash of different powers swelling in the air.

  “Michael, get him,” she said. “We need to go, now.”

  Just as Michael stepped up beside Troy, Lachlan bunched his fist and launched it at Troy’s face, only to have it smack into Michael’s big palm.

  “I think you should go and cool off, little man,” the Templar told Lachlan.

  But then Wilson pushed him away. At that, Troy launched a fist at Wilson that resulted in his brother sprawled on the ground and holding a bloody nose.

  Lachlan bellowed in rage and pulled out a dagger as he hurled himself at Troy, but came up short as Michael stepped in front of the warlock.

  “Oh, right, I forgot,” the shorter man said as he backed away from the Templar. “You two are boyfriends.”

  “What are you talking about?” Abel demanded.

  His apprentice nodded at Troy and Michael.

  “They’ve been screwing the little whore together, Master. At the same time. I saw them doing it last night.”

  Troy closed his eyes briefly. “The owl.”

  Lachlan threw down his blade and strode off into the night while Abel stalked up to Troy.

  “Is this true? Are you and the Templar sharing the witch between you? Without an initiation, or a ceremony, or any pledge between you?” When Troy said nothing Abel stepped back, an ugly red color flooding his face. “It is a sacrilege.”

  “No, it’s none of your business,” Troy told him. “We’re adults.”

  Michael caught Summer’s eye. “Get in the car,” he said under his breath.

  “You’re fools,” Troy’s father ranted. “I could expel all of you from the coven for this.”

  As Michael reached for Troy’s arm, Summer turned and stepped toward the Jeep, but she didn’t get far.

  A soft, wet thud rocked her back on her heels, just as a sharp pain in her side made her gasp. She looked down to see the hilt of a dagger sticking out of her pretty red dress. A dark stain blossomed around it, spreading on the delicate fabric. For a moment, she could only stare. With a strange sadness, she realized the dress was ruined. Only when she started to sway, did it occur to her to scream for help. But she couldn’t draw in enough air to breathe, let alone call for Troy or Michael. Instead something seized her, and jerked her into the shadows.

  Summer saw trees blur past as she was dragged through the forest, but by who or what she didn’t know. She scraped over rough roots, then through brambles and low branches. Pain shot through her as the blade was forced deeper. Warmth gushed down her hip and over her thigh. Though she struggled, she couldn’t resist. Even in the darkness, she knew that no hands gripped her. There wasn’t anyone to fight. As dizziness made her vision swim, she realized it had to be magic.

  Suddenly, the forest gave way to rocky ground, and the edge of a cliff appeared. Terror gripped her as she recognized the icy gleam of the river below. With everything in her, she wanted to scream, to cry, to do something, anything at all––but it was no use. The magic released her with a final shove, and she sailed over the edge and down.

  • • • • •

  Summer’s story continues in BETRAYED: Book Four of the Silver Wood Coven Series, available soon.

  For a sneak peek, turn the page.

  Book 4 Excerpt:

  BETRAYED

  Silver Wood Coven Book Four

  Both men guided her back to the bed, where Michael lifted her onto the mattress. A moment later they lay on either side of her, their hands stroking her and their voices soft as they murmured words of reassurance.

  They wanted to make love to her, Summer could feel that, but they held back, afraid it would hurt her.

  “I wish I could make love to you both again, but you’re right. I think I need more rest.”

  Michael drew his finger down the length of her nose.

  “I’ve waited hundreds of years for you.” He lightly brushed her lips. “I can manage a few days more.”

  “I have a better idea,” Troy said, eying Michael as he untied the belt of her robe. “Why don’t you let us take care of you for a change?”

  Being sandwiched between her lovers made Summer feel more than safe, especially as their scents enveloped her. Troy smelled clean and cool, like the air after a light snowfall, while Michael exuded a darker, earthier scent, like a grove of dark trees. Together they made her think of walking through the woods in the winter sun, with all the promise of summer waiting just beneath the snow.

  Am I the promise of summer?

  She felt an ache and glanced down to see that her nipples had grown so engorged they looked like two little, ripe strawberries.

  “What are you two planning to take care of?”

  “Watch,” was all Michael said.

  Her eyelids fluttered as both men shifted down and put their mouths to her breasts. Troy cradled her right mound in his long, beautiful fingers as he licked his tongue back and forth over her peak, while Michael stroked her belly as he fastened his mouth over her left nipple to tug on it gently. The sensations of having both breasts attended to at once made Summer forget about everything but her men, and how sexy they made her feel.

  “When you’re feeling better,” Troy murmured as he slowly fondled her. “We’d like to try something new.”

  “If you would like it, Beauty.” Michael gently rolled her over to face Troy, moving up behind her to rub his big hand over her bottom. “We know we would.”

  They seemed to be entirely in sync now, and Summer felt their hunger for her like hot water flowing over her skin. Her own desires seemed to be blooming inside her like a secret garden of dark flowers.

  “Why are we waiting?” she murmured, her head spinning.

  MORE BOOKS BY HAZEL HUNTER

  THE SILVER WOOD COVEN SERIES

  Though she’s taken the name given her by a kind stranger, Summer can no more explain waking up homeles
s and covered in blood, than she can the extreme attraction drawing people to her. Amnesiac, confused, and frightened, she’s not even aware that she’s a witch. But help arrives in two very different forms: the cool and restrained Templar Michael Charbon and his centuries-long friend Wiccan Major Troy Atwater.

  Rescued (Silver Wood Coven Book One)

  Stolen (Silver Wood Coven Book Two)

  United (Silver Wood Coven Book Three)

  Betrayed (Silver Wood Coven Book Four) - coming soon.

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  THE CASTLE COVEN SERIES

  Novice witch Hailey Devereaux had resolved to live life as an outsider. Possessed of a unique Wiccan ability, her own people shun her. But that all ends when two very different men enter her life: the brooding Major Kieran McCallen and Coven Master Piers Dayton. But their training and tests are only the beginning. As she struggles to fulfill her destiny and find her place in the world, Hailey also discovers love.

  Found (Castle Coven Book One)

  Abandoned (Castle Coven Book Two)

  Healed (Castle Coven Book Three)

  Claimed (Castle Coven Book Four)

  Imprisoned (Castle Coven Book Five)

  Sacrificed (Castle Coven Book Six)

  THE MAGUS CORPS SERIES

  Meet the warlocks of the Magus Corps, sworn to protect Wiccans at all costs. As they find and track fledgling witches, it’s a race against an ancient enemy that would rather see all Wiccans dead. But where danger and intimacy come together, passion is never far behind.