“Good to know. Let’s get cracking.” Gloria headed for the door, but turned at the last second. “Quinn, practice. Everything you need is inside of you. You just need to tap into it.” I nodded and watched them leave one by one, an easiness between them as they were united by a common goal or enemy in this case.
“Are you ready?” His hand rubbed my back and I glanced at him over my shoulder.
“Is no an acceptable answer?”
“It’s an honest answer.” He allowed, the corner of his eyes crinkling as he smiled. “But is it one I’m going to let you get away with?” He continued and answered himself, “Not so much.”
“Slave driver.” I muttered, nerves overwhelming me as I considered how important it was for me to master my ability.
“Stop. You’re psyching yourself out and we haven’t even started yet.” He exhaled, looking around the room. “You need a distraction.”
“You could always take off your shirt.” His gaze jerked back to mine as he looked to see if I was joking. While I might have been, I also wasn’t going to turn down a shirtless Dane.
“If you teleport us upstairs, I’ll take it off.” He offered instead, as he slid his hand along my waist, his thumb finding its way underneath my shirt, branding me as he stroked the skin along the waistband of my shorts. My breath caught as he whispered against my ear, “In fact, I’ll take off anything you want.”
“Incentive instead of distraction?” I breathed, his mouth hovering next to mine, the merest millimeter would bring our lips together, but he held back.
“How about both if you get us upstairs.” We swayed, but he maintained the distance between us, tempting me, but not giving in until I’d done what he wanted. Nerves crept back in as I contemplated moving us up the stairs. Horrible thoughts of getting stuck somewhere in between, or inside of a wall threatened to shatter the mood he’d created.
“Perhaps a bit more incentive,” he murmured throatily. His nose brushed my cheek and his breath whispered against my ear, the hot warmth sending a shudder through me. He continued on his path, his lips a breath away from my skin and my heart pounded. I knew if we were upstairs he’d press his lips to my skin, easing the ache inside of me. My hand wrapped around the top of his arm, digging in to the hard flesh as I thought about us upstairs. Tingles raced through me and my eyes popped open as I realized it wasn’t from his teasing touch.
His smile was excited as I gripped him tighter, terrified he wouldn’t go with me. Blue light reflected on him and then we were standing in his room.
He threw back his head and laughed, spinning me around.
“I did it! And we’re not stuck in a wall.” Relief made me heady or maybe it was the spinning, but either way I’d moved us. It might not have been far, but I’d safely teleported myself and Dane which meant I could do it again if necessary. He finally set me down, tilting my chin up as he brushed his lips against mine.
“I do believe I owe you.” He whispered against my mouth and I nodded happily.
“Strip it off.” I commanded and then with a mischievous wink added, “Slowly.”
He lifted an eyebrow, but did as I asked. His fingers hooked under the bottom of his grey tee and inched it up, revealing the upper edge of a defined V, and showing off his dedication to the gym while we were apart. His own grin was devilish as I groaned in impatience as he moved the shirt up inch by torturous inch, showcasing sculpted abs and a light dusting of golden hair. Once my patience was thoroughly shredded he reached behind his head and tugged the shirt all the way off.
“See what a little practice gets you?” He teased, eyes bright as he sauntered back to me.
“A front row seat to Magic Mike?” I replied, finally getting the chance to run my hands over the muscles he’d flaunted. I heard him suck in a breath as my fingers grazed over him. “Really though, who’s winning here? Hmmm?”
“I believe this is what they call a win/win situation.” His hands settled on my hips, the tips of his fingers resting on the curve of my butt as his thumbs made lazy circles on the exposed skin of my waist.
I smiled, snaking my hand around the back of his neck and tugging his head closer to mine.
“This is a win/win.” I whispered, pressing my lips against his firmly and feeling his part under mine. I ran my tongue along his lower lip, then grazed it with my teeth, and he growled, wrapping his hand in my hair to tug my head back and give him control. I clung to him as he moved his mouth over mine, interchanging rough kisses with the softest brush of his lips against mine. The alternating kisses drove me wild and I arched against him wanting the hard press of his lips against mine. He wouldn’t let me though, maintaining a firm grip on my hair to drive the pace.
“Dane…” I pleaded, and felt his lips curve up.
“Something wrong?” He murmured before sealing his lips over mine, giving me what I wanted as he explored my mouth with his tongue. He was thorough, every flick of this tongue deliberate as he devoured me completely. I sucked in a breath when he tore his mouth from mine, panting from the lack of oxygen and he studied me, his eyes taking in the swollen lips, flushed cheeks, and I was positive my eyes were dilated. He was equally affected, his nose flared as he tried to catch his own breath, his bright green eyes excited.
“We should probably take a break.” He rumbled and his words said one thing, but his eyes said something completely different as his mouth came crashing back down on mine, any control he’d had shattered. He scooped his arm under my butt, lifting me, and I happily assisted by wrapping my legs around his hips, allowing our bodies to melt together as our lips fused.
There was no doubt where we’d wind up since the bed was right there, but my stomach chose that moment to growl loudly. And by loudly I meant the people outside should have heard it. Dane’s chuckle vibrated against my mouth as I flushed for an entirely different reason.
“I think I need to satisfy one appetite before another.” He murmured, leaning back to smile at me. I groaned and buried my head in his neck, my tongue flicking out to taste his salty skin. He swatted my butt and set me down. “Yep, definitely better feed you before you start gnawing on me.”
He reached down and grabbed his abandoned t-shirt and I frowned.
“You don’t have to put that back on for my sake.” I told him as he tugged it over his head.
“Oh, I think I do. Keep you from being tempted to jump me in the kitchen where anyone could walk in and see us.” He said, walking me backwards to the door.
“I can make us disappear like that.” I snapped my fingers to indicate my point and he laughed.
“Glad you’re so confident in your ability now. But if I don’t get food in you, then we won’t be going anywhere.”
My stomach chose that moment to grumble again, loudly and painfully, silencing any argument I was going to give.
Dane sat me down at the table while he gathered up food. He tossed me a banana to eat as he made sandwiches, as in a dozen sandwiches.
I popped the last bite of banana in my mouth and watched him.
“Those aren’t all for me are they?” It felt like I could eat them all but physically I wasn’t sure it was possible to eat that much at once.
“They’re a start.” He answered, sliding the first two toward me. I snatched the sandwich up, cramming it into my mouth, too hungry to protest. He’d barely finished another two before I was finished with the first and I realized, yes, it was physically possible to eat a dozen sandwiches, a bag of chips, an apple, a banana, and half a pan of brownies. I could have eaten the whole pan, but Dane took the other half.
“We need to make food for the others. They’re going to need something after getting that protection circle up.” I nodded and helped him make more sandwiches, impressed at the amount of food in Gloria’s pantry. “She’s used to feeding a hungry crowd.” Dane said, pulling out more chips and a package of cookies.
“Do you think it’ll work?” I asked, leaning my hip against the counter.
“What?
The protection circle?” He verified and at my nod, he looked contemplative. “Yes, I think it’ll work.” He answered slowly, as he considered his next words carefully.
“But….”
“But, it’s not a solution. Not a long term solution.” He finished, his expression serious as he came up to me, and tucked my hair behind my ears. “It’s to give you enough time to go.” I curled my hands around his wrists holding his hands to my face.
“Not without you.”
“You may not have a choice.” He swallowed and his eyes shuttered. “Your life is more important than anything else. I need to know you’ll do whatever it takes to protect yourself.”
“I will, but not at the expense of your life.” I argued, unwilling to make the concession he was asking for. There had to be another way. “Maybe it won’t come to that. Maybe we’ll find my…” I stumbled over the word but managed to spit it out, “Sisters, and everything will be fine.” I was grasping at straws, desperately hoping I wouldn’t be forced to make the decision to abandon Dane or the others.
“Maybe.” He replied, granting me some small hope before dashing it. “But you need to be prepared if things go sideways.” I glanced down, unable to meet his eyes when I knew he wanted me to make a promise I couldn’t keep. He guided my chin up, forcing our eyes to meet. “I need to know you’re safe. You need to promise me.”
“I promise.” I said it quickly, hoping he didn’t notice I didn’t promise anything specific. He shook his head, a grin brightening his serious expression.
“Nope. Not good enough.” He told me, holding my hands in his. “Repeat after me. I, Quinn Montgomery which used to be Davis and will soon be Holt.”
The utter ridiculousness of the first line dragged a smile out of me and I repeated, “I, Quinn Montgomery which used to be Davis and soon to be Holt.”
“Solemnly swear to teleport to safety when Dane says too.”
“Solemnly swear to teleport to safety when Dane says too.” I grumbled, knowing he wouldn’t trust me to make the call on when.
“And by safety I mean far, far away from danger. Not the next room.” He added, tying up loopholes. I gritted my teeth, but he only stared at me expectantly.
“And by safety I mean far, far away from danger. Not the next room.”
“At least a hundred miles.”
“Dane, now this is getting ridiculous.”
“We passed ridiculous a long time ago, darling. Now repeat it.”
“At least a hundred miles.” He looked like he was about to add more so I clapped my hand over his mouth. “That’s enough. I understand, and trust me when I say, I will make sure Mitchell and his coven don’t get me.” Or you, I added silently. He didn’t need to know about my little addendum to my vow, but he was bat shit crazy if he thought I’d go anywhere without him. I found it difficult to be out of sight of him for a few minutes much less teleport myself to safety and leave him behind.
He narrowed his eyes at me, suspecting I was up to something, but I gave him my best innocent smile, the one that never worked on him, and quickly changed the subject.
“What did it feel like when you teleported with me?”
He blinked at the change in topic, but answered me easily enough. “Kind of how it feels when your foot goes to sleep, but all over. It disappeared as soon as we landed…reappeared in my room.”
“That’s how it feels for me too. I wondered.” Another question occurred to me and he would be the only one to know since he was the only person to see me teleport besides a dead man. “Do I turn blue when I teleport?”
He gave me a look like he thought I was joking, but realized I was serious as I gazed at him.
“No, not at all. Why would you think you turned blue?”
“Well, I see a blue glow when I teleport. So, I thought maybe I turned blue or something.” I admitted with a semi-embarrassed shrug. He gave me a lopsided grin and looped his arms around my waist.
“No, you don’t turn into a Smurf when you teleport.” He paused, considering the idea. “You’d be a really hot Smurf though.” I smacked him in the chest and he pretended to flinch like I’d actually hurt him. “But you’re eyes do glow, bright blue, and maybe that’s why you see a blue glow.”
“So, my eyes go freakish blue when I do magic?”
“Well, I don’t know if it’s all magic, but yes, when you teleport they do.”
The back door slammed open then and we spun around. My racing heart tried to slow down when I saw it was the other coven members coming back in.
“Food!” Peter cried, spotting the sandwiches we’d piled up on a plate on the table. “Never have I been so happy to see you.” Tori had a ghost of a smile at seeing his enthusiasm and chose the seat next to him at the table.
“Good idea, my dears. You’ve eaten?” Gloria asked, nudging us out of the way as she washed her hands at the sink.
“Yep,” Dane replied as we watched Vincent and Cecily settle at the table with the others.
“Any success?” She continued, eyeing us speculatively. I blushed, thinking about our success and she rolled her eyes. Tori glanced up from her plate as did Vincent when I answered.
“Yes, I moved myself and Dane up the stairs.”
They looked impressed and Gloria nodded in satisfaction.
“We might just win this battle yet.” She said, sitting at the head of the table and taking a sandwich.
“Have you thought about sending a message to them?” Vincent asked her, gulping down a cookie in between sandwiches.
“That’s old magic, Vincent. I’m not sure her sisters would know how to receive it. Or if they could be found that way.” He shrugged noncommittally, grabbing another sandwich.
“It may be something Mitchell wouldn’t think of.” He added, making quick work of his food.
“What are you talking about?” I asked curiously, my mind immediately jumping to text messages and emails even though I knew it wouldn’t be that simple.
“You’re not that far off.” Dane answered, smiling at my surprise. I knew I hadn’t projected that thought. “I am familiar with the way your mind works, you know. But they’re talking about ravens. The instant messaging for witches back in the day before texts and email. And more reliable.”
“Ravens?”
“Yes, they’ve been messengers for witches for centuries. Clever birds, but with a mind of their own. It would take a witch time to develop a relationship with a particular bird, but once she did it would often relay messages to fellow witches for her.” Gloria explained, and I felt like this should surprise me, maybe awe me, but I was past being surprised by now. “There’s a raven that hangs around here, but I’ve never developed a relationship with him.” She frowned lightly and waved her hand. “The ease of modern day communication, I’m afraid.”
“So, that’s probably not an option.” I confirmed, curious about the logistics of communicating with a bird. Was it the same as how I communicated telepathically with Dane? Could birds carry on a conversation?
“Maybe not. We’ll see how the locator spell goes. The ravens are a good backup plan.”
“Vincent, can you show us a couple of the defensive spells you were working on?” Dane asked, coming around the table to look at him. “I want to make sure Quinn has a fighting chance.”
“Sure. The others grasped it pretty quick. We’re not going to make a huge dent if they come at us, but we can buy a few minutes.” He answered easily. “The spells aren’t really complicated, simple words stating what you want to do. The real power lies in your intent, your focus. You need to be able to draw on the magic and the more magic the more power you’ll give to the spell.”
He stood up and faced me.
“For instance, try the word deflect when I throw a spell at you, okay?” I nodded, uncertain but willing to try. He whispered something and flung his hand. I instinctively threw my own arm up and belatedly remembered to add, “Deflect!”
A green spot appeared on my shirt, like some
one had thrown a paint ball on me. There was a little sting, but nothing hurt if you discounted my pride.
“I missed.” My acknowledgement caused a ripple of laughter, and Vincent nodded giving me a small grin.
“So did everybody else the first time.”
Fifteen minutes later, and I looked like a paint factory had exploded on me. I hadn’t deflected a single one of his spells.
“Maybe we should try something else.” He said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “You’re saying the spell, but you you’re not using magic with it.” He grabbed a knife off the table and lunged at me suddenly, and I reacted instinctively.
A second later I was standing behind Dane as he stared daggers at Vincent who held his hands up placating.
“I wasn’t going to hurt her. I just needed her to react. Okay? Don’t kill me.” He said, not moving forward until Dane jerked his head in a tiny nod. “Well, I don’t think you need a spell to deflect what I’m throwing at you, but you need to tap into your power. It might be easier if you initiate the magic.”
I peeked at him from behind Dane not sure I understood what he meant. He gave me an encouraging smile, beckoning me to come out from behind Dane.
“I want you to throw a paint spell at me this time and I’m going to deflect it.”
“Okaaaay.” I said slowly, having no idea how to send a paint spell. “What do I say?”
“You know what? You don’t have to say anything. I want you to think about doing it and will it to be done, okay? Let’s try that.”
My face must have reflected the doubt I felt about this, but I took a deep breath and focused. This time I wasn’t trying to disappear, but project. Like sending thoughts to Dane, a voice whispered encouragingly in my head. But this needed to manifest as paint, I retorted to the optimistic little voice. How the hell was something I thought about actually going to happen?
The Trinity Sisters Page 43
