Fuck Arthur, he could have what was left of the asshole.
He felt Arthur beside him, but didn’t spare a look his way, his attention focused solely on Juliet, waiting for any opening he could use to get to her. He watched as Vance pulled Juliet into the small darkened alcove, saw movement within the half closed door to what looked like an office.
A small figure darted out of the room, something metallic glinted in the light as it swiped at Vance’s arm holding Juliet. With a roar of rage Vance let go of her to round on his attacker. His arm shot out grabbing the weapon he backhanded his assailant who fell in a sprawled heap of pink paisley.
He heard Juliet gasp at the sight of the old woman lying on the floor in a crumpled heap. The rise and fall of her chest assured him she was only knocked out. Colin felt the crawl of perverted magic press against him watching Vance form a sickly green ball of light in his hands. Juliet spun and ran toward where he still stood at the top of the stairs.
Everything seemed to slow down, though the horror of events took only seconds. Vance threw his deadly missile in their direction. Simon shouted as Darius made a running leap to tackle Arthur to the ground while Colin reached for Juliet, taking her down to the floor and curled his body over hers. He saw a blur of pink paisley followed by a blood curdling scream. A sulfurous order singed the air as the sickening sound of a body hit the floor near where he lay curled over Juliet. Raising his head relief flooded thorough his system realizing all men were unharmed. Darius had tackled Arthur to the ground and laid over him in a sprawl of limbs. Though irate as hell, Arthur was fine.
Juliet struggled beneath his weight and he immediately rolled off of her scanning the area. He prepared for Vance’s second attack, but there wouldn’t be one. Vance had vanished, slipping away unscathed, leaving them with the aftermath of his doing.
The usual MO where Vance was concerned, Colin thought with no small amount of disgust.
Only the unknown woman remained, and from the looks of her rigid body and pasty grey coloring, she had little time left before whatever spell Vance conjured would consume her completely.
On a hoarse cry Juliet crawled to the woman. “Oh, Carlotta, what have you done.”
“I’ve done what is right. Now you look after my niece, keep her safe, please,” Carlotta’s voice was so soft Juliet had to lean in to hear her.
Tears coursed down her cheeks as she nodded in solemn agreement. “Of course I will do everything in my power to keep her safe. All of these men here will do likewise I’m sure.” Juliet glanced at Arthur as she spoke, reassured by his small nod of agreement.
Carlotta’s face smoothed at Juliet’s words, seeming to take solace from them as a faint smile formed on her blue tined lips. “That’s good,” she spoke barely a whisper of breath as the air left her lungs a final time. Her gaze dimmed as death claimed her.
He watched helpless as Juliet mourned for the woman, a stranger really and yet this woman, Carlotta, sacrificed her life for Arthur, Juliet and even his men. Humbled by the depth of courage it must have taken, he vowed to find some way to honor the woman. Another death by the hands of Vance Hollister put a sharp point on the ruthlessness of Vance’s nature.
He watched mutely as Juliet caught and held the pain filled brown gaze of Arthur, saw the sadness and resignation and something else burned in her eyes, a deep seated determination to make things right. “I pledge everything I am and my abilities to your cause, Arthur, if you will have me.” There was unshakable strength in her declaration and pride welled up in his chest. This was a woman any man would be lucky to have at his side.
Colin knelt by her so close, yet not touching. Felt the eyes of the men watching with fixed attention on both Juliet and Arthur. Slowly their leader bent his head in acceptance, his blond hair obscuring his eyes as the locks swept forward on his face.
“I accept you, Juliet Boyd, into our fold.” He turned to Colin with a grimace, “Damn, Colin, you need to put on some clothes.”
Amongst the good natured ribbings Colin caught Juliet’s gaze for just an instant before her eyes turned distant, as if a light had been snuffed out. Dread filled him as she turned her face away from him.
Had he come all this way only to lose her?
Chapter Eleven
Simon was pissed.
Straight up, without a doubt, mad as hell. As his heavy boots ate up the distance between his room and Darius’s down the long hallway, his pulse jack hammered and his gut churned. The stunt Darius pulled earlier that day, throwing his body in front of Vance’s lethal spell damn near killed him. Never in his life had he felt so powerless, forced to watch as the one person who mattered above all others placed himself in harm’s way.
He damn near lost the only person he truly cared about today and he sure as hell deserved an answer to why. If not for the sacrifice of that old woman throwing herself in front of Darius he would be dead. He pounded on the door suppressing the urge to just walk right in and beat the living shit out of his friend. He needed the time to leash his spiking anger and fear lurking on the edges of his mind, like a cancer feeding off his emotions twisting them into Goddess knew what.
The door swung open as he raised his fist to bang on it a second time. The dark scowl on Darius’ face matched his own foul mood. The male wanted to fight, then Simon would be more than happy to oblige.
Darius stood in the doorway, his whole body throwing off a get-the-fuck-away vibe even a blind man could feel. “What the hell do you want, Simon. I’m not in the mood for your shit.”
Simon felt his irritation ratchet up another notch as he leaned into the guy’s space almost nose to nose. “Too fucking bad! You are going to tell me what the hell was up with that little stunt of yours today. You could have been toast asshole.”
“Yeah, well here’s a newsflash for you buddy, it’s my life. I did what was needed. Now leave me alone.”
“No way. Let me in or I’ll go through you and you know I’ll do it,” Simon hissed out between clenched teeth.
Darius’s dark eyes narrowed, a calculating glint flashing and Simon tensed waiting for the blow to come. Instead Darius surprised him by turning is back on him and walking deeper into the room leaving the door wide open for him.
Simon shut the door behind him and looked at his friends retreating back. After the fuck up at Fore Play things between them were going from bad to worse, the tension so thick he felt like he was wading in a thick quagmire of sludge. He had no clue how to fix things between them, but damn it he wanted him and he refused to deny it any longer. His hands itched to untie the thong keeping all that thick dark hair back and run his hands through it. He wanted those same soft strands covering his body while he took him in his mouth.
Shit the whole thing was driving him insane.
The thought of that kiss had him hard and aching, his jeans tight as his cock pressed against his fly. Darius sat in a high backed chair by his bed and glowered at Simon.
“Talk to me man, there was a time when we talked about everything,” Simon exploded unable to hold back the frustration any more than he could hold back an avalanche with a shovel. Something had to give between them, even if it broke their friendship irreparably, things couldn’t go on the way they were.
“What do you want from me, Simon? You want to know how I feel. Fine, I feel betrayed, confused and shit, I am attracted to women. We were attracted to women.” Darius shot him an accusing glare. “When did you change, Simon, huh? Why the hell did you have to fuck everything up?”
The accusation hit him like a punch to the gut taking a deep breath he blew it out slowly. “I still am attracted to women, I don’t know when it changed for me it just did. Hell, no one could have been more surprised than I when I found myself attracted that way to you. I certainly didn’t plan it for Christ sake!”
“When? ‘Cause you sure as shit didn’t give me the memo you were switching hitters on me. I feel like I’ve lost my best friend.”
“Nope, never happen. Whatever it i
s, this…thing between us, it doesn’t have to destroy us you know.” Simon prayed it wouldn’t. At this point it was all up to Darius.
“Honestly, I don’t quite know how to react to the whole thing. I want things back the way we were, but I know that won’t happen.”
Simon let out a gust of air he had been holding in, waiting for his friends answer. His heart hammered in his chest causing his pulse to speed up. “We can take it slow and see where things go.”
Darius stood a small smile lifting his lips as he moved up to Simon. “Yeah, that sounds good. Real good.” His voice came out in a husky whisper his warm breath caressing as it brushed against his throat.
Then he did something Simon never expected. He rose up close. Simon’s arms ached to wrap around him, his heart kicked up an erratic beat and his cock pressed painfully against the fly of his jeans. Darius’s firm warm lips found his in a tentative kiss, a hoarse groan exploded out of him as he kissed him back putting every emotion he felt into it. Fear, lust, longing and love were all there for Darius when he was ready for it.
Simon broke the kiss and narrowed in on him. “And no more heroics like today. You damn near took years off my life.”
“I saw it all happen, Simon, in here,” he touched a finger to his forehead briefly. “It all played out just the way I saw it up until that old woman jumped in front of us.”
“Your vision?” He bit off a curse at Darius’s slow nod. “I really hate that gift of yours. I see what they do to you and feel powerless to help you with them.”
“But you do help, Simon. Just being there gives me the strength to get through them. Knowing you’re on the other side of it pushes me through the other side,” Darius argued.
Pleasure at Darius’s words coursed through him. Whatever their future held they would face it together.
* * * *
Juliet stared out of the open window at the ocean churning up white frothy billows as it surged and crashed upon the sandy shore. The cry of gulls blended with the roar of the surf bringing with it a deep sense of calm. It was over, she was safe and Colin healed thanks to Viviane and her magic. It came as a bit of a shock to her when Viviane confessed she thought all Druids were lost to her. It seemed Mordred in one of his many incarnations had gone out of his way to annihilate every Druid he came across knowing that they were under the Lady of Avalon’s protection. The only reason he kept her alive was the darker aspect of her talents otherwise she would have gone the way of the Dodo Bird.
She could feel Colin at her back, his heat wrapping around her in a silky slide of awareness prickling her sensitized skin. Her pulse picked up speed, her gut churning with unease. They hadn’t spoken since the rescue, but she remembered vividly the look of horror in his eyes that nightmarish night on the beach when he witnessed firsthand what she was capable of. The talent she tried so hard to hide all her life.
Juliet kept her back to him staring sightlessly out at the vista before her. Terrified if she so much as glanced his way of what she would see. The ache in her heart grew to a sharp stabbing pain and she swallowed her mouth dry as ash.
“Thank you for allowing me to use your room, I will be leaving in just a few moments. Though I will be working for Templar Security and Investigation, there will be no need for us to have contact.”
Hands clamped down on her shoulders, turning her to face him against her will. Why couldn’t he just leave well enough alone? Did he have to gloat over the hurt she knew was written plainly on her face? She kept her focus on the floor and for a brief moment she hated him for putting her through this painful parting. She didn’t hold any animosity against Colin, after witnessing what her gift was capable of—the monster that dwelled inside her—how could anyone ever feel anything for her but repugnance?
“What’s this? Why are you running from me, Jules?” Colin’s Irish brogue thickened with the sharp edge of anger. She didn’t need to look up at him know his beautiful green eyes were dark with irritation.
“It would be best. I live only a short distance from here and can be called in if needed.”
“Best for whom, Jules?”
Juliet blinked hard doing her best to keep the tears at bay. It would only make things more difficult and she really didn’t need things between them to be more awkward than they already were. “For the both of us of course. Look, I’m giving you an easy out here the least you can do it take it,” she snapped her anger at the stubborn Irishman’s refusal to see what she offered, a painless out with no tears or histrionics. She would hold in all her pain until she was alone. Then she could break down and grieve.
Colin let one hand trail over her smooth cheek in a light caress ending underneath her chin. Gently he lifted her face to meet his. “Damn the easy out, Jules, I want you. In my life, in my bed and in my heart.”
“But I’m a monster, you saw what I’m capable of,” she argued, her control frayed allowing one tear to slide down her cheek unchecked. “I saw the horror on your face at what I can do.”
“Yes it was a bit of a shock, but that’s not all you are, Jules. I see so much more than your talent in you.”
She fell into eyes as cool and inviting as the woodlands which gently tugged on a part of her soul. Her heart skittered in her chest like a trapped bird fighting to get out. Could she dare to accept what he offered. Love and acceptance were there for the taking if she had the courage to grasp it. This gorgeous, stubborn warrior who stood by her did indeed want her. Her eyes caressed him, her knees a touch wobbly from the sheer sexuality coming off him in waves. Her body responded instantly, her pulse beating a heavy thrum through her veins as her nipples tightened and warmth pooled between her legs.
Colin’s head bent down, his lips captured hers in a searing kiss. His arms circled around her, pulling her flush to his hard muscled body. Her arms moved over his large biceps relishing the taut flesh beneath her fingertips. He deepened the kiss, hungry and demanding as his tongue clashed with hers. A low moan filled the silence of the room whether hers or his, she didn’t care. She just wanted…more. More of his bone melting kisses, more of everything she could have of him. She felt parched and only he could ease her thirst. Her fingers ran through the soft copper tinged locks of his hair as she dragged him closer still. His erection pressed against her lower belly in silent demand bringing a scorching heat to the juncture of her legs.
With a sudden growl he pulled out of the kiss, his gaze scorching her with its intensity her body turned into liquid heat. Shivers swept through her as her blood turned molten and only Colin could quench the need within her.
“You are mine, Jules, best for you to get used to the idea for I’m never letting you go.”
Her heart soared at his possessiveness infusing her with a happiness she never thought possible, “As you are mine.”
“Sweet darlin’ Jules, you are my heart and soul. You will forever be this Knight’s Druid.”
Epilogue
Vance stood looking over the darkened city streets. At four in the morning very little activity met his brooding gaze. Only the glow of red or green traffic lights and darkened windows kept vigil with his black thoughts. Once again, Arthur successfully wiggled out of his grasp, along with his prize. Fury at the loss of Juliet Boyd to the hands of his enemies pumped through his veins, the world around him shimmering in a red haze.
Control, he reminded himself, breathing deeply, taking in the cool air offered up from the AC purring softly in the background. He heard the door swish open behind him as watched the reflection through the glass as Marco approached with a heavy urn in his arms. His heavy boots barely making a sound on the thick cream carpeting.
“So that’s it?” Vance asked cool as an artic breeze. His tone alone was warning enough to his hired muscle. Marco gave him a slow nod, his gaze wary, most likely gauging his mood.
Smart man.
“Yes, sir, it was right where you said it would be.”
“No witnesses correct.”
“I took care of the old
man who owned it. Made sure it looked like an accident.”
Vance turned to look at the large ornate urn sitting on the polished table. Power thrummed from the vessel, old magic still as potent as the day it came into the world. His rage receded easing the vice like constriction in his chest.
“And the location of Carlotta’s niece?” Vance shot a look at Marco looking for any telltale sign of failure.
“Found it in that huge bag of hers. She had a phone bill, she probably was going to pay it after meeting with you.” The man replied, holding out a crumpled envelope in his hand.”
Vance took it reading the address a cold smile of satisfaction curving his lips. “It looks like it’s time to take a mini vacation up the coast.”
The time was now to step up his plans. The loss of Juliet- a setback true – but one he at least plotted contingencies for. Soon nothing would stand in his way. With Carlotta’s little witch in his possession and Morgan Le Fey’s ashes no one would stand in his way. Soon he would wield the power to bring hell on earth. He would rule with his mother, Morgana, at his side. Arthur and his meddling Knights were on a countdown to total annihilation.
Oh yes, right now it was good to be him.
About the Author
Shannan Albright lives in Las Vegas, NV with her husband, two dogs and two cats. When not writing she spends her time between oil painting and reading. She loves writing paranormal romances because of the world building and rich characters she finds. She loves dark, edgy heroes and heroines overcoming impossible odds internal and external. I am a “hopeful” Romantic and believe healthy relationships and strong partnerships are the key to a happy ever after.
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