Burned (Keeper of the Flame Book 1)

by Lila Kane

  “Willow…”

  Getting to my feet, I shove the necklace in my pocket. I open the door before turning back to the sink. I brace my hand on the counter, leaning over to splash water on my face.

  I feel warm hands at my neck, fingers pulling my hair back so it doesn’t get water on it.

  “Just take a minute,” Logan says.

  The tenderness in his voice almost undoes me. I got what I needed from Selena, but it took its toll. All I want right now is for someone to hold onto me and tell me it’s going to be okay.

  But not Logan. I have dangerous feelings for Logan and it’s much easier to hate him than to be stuck in between.

  “I hope I don’t have to do that again for a long time,” I say, straightening.

  He releases my hair but doesn’t move. “I don’t want you to either.”

  I face him fully, pressing as far back against the counter as I can. “It’s fine. It worked.”

  “Did it?”

  “Yes. I saw Selena‒or heard her voice. I knew she was attached to Shadow Hill Hotel, but I didn’t know how much.”

  “Her family‒your family‒lived there. Of course she’s connected.”

  I give a shaky smile. “I guess I need to brush up on my history.”

  “Why don’t you sit down?”

  Before I can answer, he takes my arm and leads me to the kitchen. I figured he’d be asking me question after question, but instead he’s trying to take care of me.

  “Logan, I’m fine.”

  “You look like you’re about to vomit.” He frowns. “Unless you already did.”

  Close. I was exaggerating a bit, but I needed to get a minute alone. Now I have to convince Logan to take us to the Shadow Hill Hotel.

  I stare at my hands, clenching them together and missing the feel of the necklace between them. I hope Logan forgets about it, that I’ll somehow be able to use it to my advantage to get to the cave.

  He steps closer, and I straighten when he brushes his thumb on my cheekbone. “You need a drink?” he asks.

  “No.”

  His lips curve. “You need something else to distract you?”

  I glare at him. “Not if you’re the one offering.”

  “You know you can feel it,” he says.

  I push his hand away. “Feel what?”

  “That thing. That spark between us.”

  “I’m pretty sure you’re delusional.”

  “I’m pretty sure you’re in denial.”

  He holds my stare. And there it is. That spark. It has nothing to do with influence and everything to do with attraction on a very basic level. That would be easy to ignore, but then I keep seeing these glimpses of humanity behind his bad-boy façade.

  “Logan,” I say, voice low. Warning him. “We’re supposed to be figuring out this spell. I want to get out of here, I want my mom safe. So let’s just get to it.”

  He flashes a smile. “That brought your color back. Fine, so what did Selena say?”

  I think fast and answer without hesitation. “Her Book of Shadows is in a cave connected to the hotel.”

  “What?”

  “Remember that panel we found there? There’s a tunnel inside and it leads to a cave at the back of the hotel.”

  He lifts his eyebrows. “For real?”

  I sigh. “I’m not making this up. You can follow me the whole way there if you don’t believe me.”

  “That’s a given. I’m not just letting you waltz off to some hotel and trust that you’ll come back.”

  “I came here, didn’t I?” I challenge.

  He doesn’t argue. I don’t care either way. I need him to come with me or I can’t get him in that cave. I just don’t want him to think I’m up to anything. Better to keep challenging him and make him think I’m defensive.

  “I think what we’re looking for is at the hotel,” I tell him. “It wouldn’t hurt to take a look because her book might have something about the original spell. Otherwise, we’re going to have to do more research and…” I shrug. “I don’t know. Figure it out somehow.”

  “Okay,” he says simply.

  I’m happy dancing inside but all I do is nod.

  “You sure you don’t want to wait?” he asks. “We could have lunch. Or wait until tomorrow.”

  “I thought you were in a hurry.”

  “I just want to make sure you’re up for this.”

  I stand from the chair, not meeting his eyes. “I don’t have much of a choice. But I am most definitely up for this.”

  Chapter 26

  Logan vanishes to talk to his sister before we leave. I’m curious but keep my questions to myself as we walk out of the house. I spot a rock near Logan’s car and duck down quickly, yanking my shoelace to make it come loose.

  He glances over when I crouch down.

  “My shoe’s untied,” I explain.

  He doesn’t say anything, just waits and scans the property as if he’s expecting an attack. Before I stand, I scoop the rock into my palm and shove it in my pocket. Now I have something from the property to do my spell.

  The sky is clouding over as we drive to the hotel. Logan is quiet, thought etched on his face. Inspired, I reach out and turn on the radio.

  He lifts his eyebrows at me.

  “Filling the silence,” I say. Among other things. I switch the channel to something louder, faster. For a moment, I sing along, trying to distract Logan.

  He turns the volume down some, but lets me listen. Good. Once we get closer to the hotel, I wiggle the rock out of my pocket. I glance at Logan, but he doesn’t seem suspicious at all.

  I try to keep the words under my breath as I picture Logan’s house and say, “Take the boundaries from this house, the ones we cannot see.” I glance at Logan. “As I will so let it be.”

  Logan looks at me. “What?”

  “Nothing,” I say. I stare at the window, repeating the spell under my breath.

  He parks the car, giving me a look of warning.

  “I’m not going anywhere,” I say.

  “You’re up to something.”

  “What?” I swallow. He doesn’t know anything, I just have to play it cool. “What am I up to?”

  He reaches out slowly, gripping my wrist. “Willow, we’re past the games now.”

  “I know. Logan, let go.”

  He doesn’t. He leans in. “This is important. You want answers, I want results. We’re both going to get what we want if you’ll just cooperate.”

  I yank my wrist, but he’s too strong. “I am cooperating. Logan‒”

  He releases me. I lean against the door, rubbing my wrist and glaring at him. “What’s your problem?”

  “I don’t want to fuck this up, that’s my problem.”

  My chest rises and falls with a few deep breaths. I’m normally a terrible liar, but I’m playing this one off pretty well. He has his motivations, whatever they are, but mine are so much bigger. My mother, for one. My independence. Not to mention the fate of this entire town.

  Everyone could be in danger if I break this spell.

  “Lighten up, Logan,” I say, reaching for the door handle. “You’re getting what you want. You should be happy.”

  He gets out without a word, and he’s on my side of the car before I’m all the way out. His hand closes on my elbow.

  “How about we stay close,” he says quietly.

  “My dream come true.”

  He smirks at me. I can still see and feel the undercurrent of anxiety. He’s almost as worried about this as I am. We walk across the parking lot, and we’re almost to the stairs when I feel him tense up.

  He stops. “Wait.” His grip is like a vice on my arm.

  “What?” I ask, looking around.

  His jaw clenches. “The shifter is here.”

  I yank in a breath. Ryan? No, he’s not supposed to be here, he’s supposed to be helping out my mom. I have to get Logan to the cave, I don’t have time to deal with this right now.

  “Why a
re you surprised?” Logan asks, keeping his eyes on the parking lot. Searching for Ryan.

  “I didn’t ask him to come here. I want to get to the cave, just like you.”

  His shoulders tense, gaze focused on the other side of the lot. “We’re going back to my house.”

  I shake my head. “No.”

  His grip tightens on my arm. “Now.”

  With one smooth motion, I whip the necklace from my pocket and shove it against the exposed skin on his neck. He shouts, releasing me at the same time.

  I turn and run. Around the building and to the trees. I glance behind me and don’t see Logan, boosting my resolve to get away. The graveyard is nearby. Selena has to be around, doesn’t she? Maybe she can help me somehow.

  Stopping at a tree, I hide behind the trunk. When I peer around, I spot Logan standing from his crouch. He glances back to the parking lot again and I dart farther into the trees. I glance back once more and see him looking my way.

  “No,” I gasp. I bypass the cemetery, spotting the hedge maze.

  I’m afraid to turn around, but when I do, Logan is crashing through the trees. Stifling a scream, I dash into the maze. I don’t know if he saw me go in or not. I don’t even know where to go from here.

  My chest is heaving. I don’t stop. I keep running, taking turn after turn. When I come around a corner and nearly run into a tourist, I yelp and apologize repeatedly while I’m sprinting away.

  Two more steps and I hear him.

  “Will-ow.” His voice has an almost singsong quality. He’s inside the maze with me.

  “No,” I whimper. I keep going forward, afraid to turn back. But the maze has me trapped now. “Selena.”

  I say her name again under my breath. “I need help!”

  I spot her translucent figure at the end of the aisle I’m in. She beckons and I run toward her without hesitation. I follow her around curve after curve until I see the exit.

  Logan calls my name again as I race to the end of the maze. When I exit the hedges, someone catches me around the waist and presses a hand over my mouth.

  I struggle to take a breath, thrashing around until I hear a voice at my ear.

  “It’s me. Ryan.”

  I turn in his embrace. “Ryan! God, he’s in there. Go, let’s go.”

  I grab his hand and run to the back of the hotel.

  “Willow, wait!” he says.

  “No, we have to get to the cave. Hurry, Ryan, please.”

  He hears the urgency in my voice and tightens his grip on my hand. Soon he’s pulling me as my breath hitches in sharp gasps.

  “We have to find the opening,” I say, slowing down.

  “Where?”

  “Hidden in the rocks or back in the trees. I don’t think it’s too far from the hotel. But‒”

  We both hear the snap of a twig. Ryan jerks me behind him and faces the noise. “Stay close,” he says.

  I glance around, looking for Logan as much as I look for the opening. “Selena,” I hiss. “Where?”

  When we hear the snap of another twig and Logan appears several feet away, I gasp and back up. He’s fast as he launches himself in our direction. Ryan intercepts him, slamming him back against a tree.

  Logan grunts and then punches Ryan.

  The sun shines through the clouds, light spearing down to a rock only ten feet away. The cave.

  I dart to the rock, wiping at the leaves and twigs and all the overgrowth around it. There’s another large rock in front and I shove at it, trying to roll it away. Closing my eyes, I use the strength of my mind, willing the rock to move. When I hear it shift, I push harder. The rock starts to roll and I dart out of the way.

  Behind me, Logan is on the ground and Ryan kicks him in the stomach. He goes for another kick and Logan grabs his leg, sending him crashing to the forest floor.

  I sway on my feet, feeling drained of power. Tired. But I put force into my voice when I yell, “Stop!”

  Ryan glances my way just as Logan gets him hard across the jaw.

  “Logan!” I scream. He looks to Ryan, who’s lying on the ground, and back to me. “The cave,” I say, stepping inside the opening. “This way.”

  He looks confused for a minute, like he’s not sure if I’m helping him or tricking him. Then he jogs my way.

  Ryan climbs to his feet and starts to say something, but Logan is in front of me now. I retreat farther into the cave. He follows.

  “Just a little more,” I whisper.

  He strolls inside, looking almost triumphant. Then he freezes. The light is dim, but I can see sparkling everywhere.

  “What?” he croaks.

  He stumbles and then falls. He’s writhing on the floor like he’s being tortured and I turn away.

  “What are you doing to me?” he asks.

  “I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I need to help my mom. I won’t do the spell for you.”

  He looks to the opening of the cave. Ryan is standing there, but he still tries to drag himself in that direction.

  I take a deep breath and say, “Block this exit from all but me. As I will, so let it be.”

  I feel a surge of power travel through me, and I have to catch myself on the wall of the cave. “Don’t come in here,” I tell Ryan. I don’t think he can come in anyway. He was blocked from the other side at the panel.

  Ryan reaches his hand out. “Get out of there, Willow.”

  Logan curls up on his side. “Don’t do this.”

  My lip trembles. I don’t want to see anyone hurting, but I don’t know what else to do.

  I step to the entryway, almost through when Logan asks, “You’re going to leave me here?”

  “Yes,” Ryan snaps. “Come on, Willow.”

  “He can’t stay in here forever‒”

  “This is not the place to talk about this.” He beckons me with his hand. “Willow, I’m serious. Get out here.”

  I exhale, stepping through the entryway. Ryan yanks me against his chest, hands running down my shoulders, up to my cheeks to cup them.

  “Are you okay?” he asks.

  My hands are shaking. So are my legs. I feel like I’m going to fall down any minute. “I don’t know. I…” I glance back to the cave, see Logan’s feet through the opening. “I don’t think I can leave him in there.”

  “You have to. You have to for now because Cheyenne is there trying to get your mom and Logan is going to come after you if you let him out. There’s not another option.”

  He starts pushing the rock back toward the opening.

  “What are you doing?” I ask.

  “We can’t risk anyone seeing him in there.”

  “But‒”

  “It’s just temporary. Willow, we have to do this. It’s our best option right now.”

  I lean against a tree, swallowing a wave of nausea. I nod, trying to convince myself. He’s right, it’s our best option. But torture? That’s not me…

  My stomach churns. I watch Ryan cover the surface again with twigs and leaves. When he turns to me, he doesn’t look any happier about the situation.

  “Let’s just go get your mom and think fast.”

  With one last glance at the cave, I push away from the trees and walk with Ryan. He looks concerned when he meets my gaze.

  “You don’t look well.”

  “I think I used too much power.” I rub my hand over my cheek as my vision gets blurry. I stop, swaying on my feet.

  Willow…

  I hear the voice again, like a whisper on the wind. But it doesn’t sound like Selena. It’s a male voice.

  It sounds like Logan.

  Help me, Willow.

  I yank in a breath. Is it possible we’re connected somehow, too?

  “Willow,” Ryan says. I know he can feel something is wrong. “You’re hurt.”

  I turn to a tree and vomit. I sink to my knees, trying to steady myself against the trunk. My veins feel like they’re on fire, like I’m burning from the inside.

  Ryan leans next to me as I gri
mace. “What’s going on?”

  “It’s Logan, I think. I can…” I shake my head, not believing it’s true. But my stomach churns because I know I’m right. “I think I can feel what he’s feeling.”

  Chapter 27

  “Maybe we should go back,” I whisper. Leaves crackle beneath my feet as I shift to face Ryan.

  His jaw clenches and he glances around before answering. “I can feel you hurting. But there’s got to be something else we can do.”

  “It’s not too bad, it just hit me out of nowhere.”

  “Tell me the truth.”

  I stand, straightening my shoulders. “I am. I’m just…tired.”

  “Yeah, I can feel that, too,” he says, taking my hand. “You need to rest. You’ll feel better once we get your mom.”

  I nod.

  “Come on.” He curls his arm around my waist. “Can you make it to the truck?”

  “I think so.”

  My feet are dragging by the time we get there. He opens the door for me and I get in, anxious about going to Logan’s house again. What if his sister knows what’s going on? What if Myra suspects something and she’s going to try to stop us, too?

  “You said Cheyenne’s at his house?”

  Ryan nods.

  “Was she able to get onto his property? I did the spell, but I don’t know if it worked.”

  “I’m not sure. I haven’t heard anything from her yet, so hopefully she got in.”

  It takes five minutes to get there with Ryan breaking the speed limit. When he turns down the road that leads to Logan’s property, he says, “It worked. Your spell worked. I couldn’t get further than this before.”

  Good. It means Cheyenne might already be there. When we go around the drive and see her car, I’m even more encouraged. Ryan parks behind her.

  I get out and race to the front door as fast as my wobbly legs will carry me, but Ryan beats me there. He steps in front of me.

  “Let me go in first. In fact, you should stay out here.”

  “Ryan, don’t you dare start this with me.” I push him toward the door. “I’m going in.”

  “Stay close to me, got it?”