by Unknown
“Lana says her grandmother was knocked out somehow. We’re not sure how they got to either of them. She’s not sure why she was left alone, either.”
“They want you to suffer the most.” The brothers turned to Gen. She too was glowing, but with that serene green light Zach was beginning to believe characterized a warlock Own. “My father hates you for killing his son. He’ll take each of your brothers’ mates one by one until all of them are dead. Then, when you despair, he’ll steal your mate and his revenge will be complete.”
“Shit.” Chris turned up Delaware Avenue and headed north. “That would work too. If our mates die, we die.”
“Where the hell are you going?” Gareth looked behind them. “The water’s that way.”
“Do you want to try and explain to the Navy what the fuck we’re doing?”
Gareth grimaced. “Good point.”
“I’ll take us up Delaware Ave until I hit a place where we can… What the fuck are we doing?”
“Driving.” Zach sat back and began composing his spell. Wisps of white power danced along his skin.
“Driving. Right.” Chris rolled his eyes and kept going. “If you mess up my car I’m telling Mom.”
Zach ignored Chris. His best hope for saving all of them was to get to the water.
After that, it was up to the Goddess.
“Keep an eye out. I doubt the Becketts will get here before we’re done, but you never know.” Davis waved his hand. “Arthur, you patrol the shore. Hugh, keep watch in case they slip past Arthur.”
“And the girl?” Hugh buried his hand in the blonde’s curls, tugging her head until her back was arched.
“She’s tied firmly?” Hugh nodded. “Then she’s fine.”
Arthur slunk off into the woods, anticipation highlighting his features. Jo could tell he was looking forward to a fight.
She hoped Zach didn’t give him one. She hoped Zach snuck up behind his ass and took him out before he knew what hit him.
“Do you know what this is?”
Jo turned her attention back to the scary-ass man holding what looked to be a long, reddish-silver knife. She bit her lip and refused to answer.
Davis Godwin slid one finger down the blade. “This is the source of my power.”
His power? Didn’t he share with Tweedledum and Tweedledumber?
“When I plunge it into your heart, all of your power will belong to me.”
Joy. Jo couldn’t help but strain against the ropes tying her down.
“That’s it. Struggle.” He leaned in close enough that she could smell peanuts on his breath. Those god-awful blue eyes smiled with eerie cheer. “It makes the end that much sweeter as your power rises to the surface, little witch.”
She had to get herself under control. The more emotional she became, the more tempting she was. Her power would ratchet out of her control, and then Davis Godwin would end her life.
She closed her eyes and began to chant a mantra, hoping to stay as calm as she could. She had to hold on.
A flash of fire raced down her left arm. Jo opened her eyes to find Davis scoring a line with the dagger from her shoulder to her wrist. Her heart pounded in fear at the sickly feel of the dagger. Something was wrong with it, something that had every instinct she owned screaming with fear.
“Do you know what I call it?”
She refused to answer, refused to give him the satisfaction.
“Witchbane.”
What a fucking stupid name. She whimpered. What a fucking stupid way to die. She held still as Davis moved to her leg. He began drawing the dagger down her left thigh.
“I’ve always wondered whether or not I could flay someone alive.”
He was doing his damndest to frighten her, and fuck if it wasn’t beginning to work. Zach is coming. Zach is coming.
He reached her foot, the dagger tracing underneath her smallest toe. “You don’t really need this, do you?”
Jo’s breath stuttered. Zach is coming.
She repeated it even as the pain burned.
“Fuck.” Chris let go of the death grip he had on the wheel and opened his car door.
“That was so cool.” Gen bounced in her seat like a twelve-year-old at an amusement park. “When can we do it again?”
“Dude. We are not doing that again.” Daniel got out of the SUV with a grimace. Gareth had jumped out the minute they’d hit sand and was doubled over behind the SUV. The sound of retching could be clearly heard as Gareth emptied his stomach.
Zach’s hand shook as he opened the door to Chris’s black Equinox and stepped out onto the sandy shore. “I thought that rocked.” Of course, he’d need to replenish his energy if he hoped to be of any use in the coming fight.
And there would be a fight. The island was once more shrouded in darkness, a sign of the Godwin’s attempt at black magic.
“You skipped my SUV across the Delaware like it was a rock. Dude. That’s just wrong.”
“You’re going to have to get it looked at for rust, especially the undercarriage.” When Chris groaned Daniel patted his shoulder. “Look on the bright side. His Highness waited until landfall to toss his cookies.”
Gareth flicked Daniel the bird before spitting into the sand one final time. “Asshole.” He wiped a shaking hand across his mouth. “I hate boats.”
Gen bounced on her toes, looking remarkably child-like. “I loved it.”
Gareth stalked over to them, unsteady and pale.
Gen held out a small container with a shaky smile. “Tic Tac?”
Zach tensed as the shadow of a wolf slipped into the trees.
“Did you see that?” Gen pointed right where the wolf had been, once more all business. The little girl who’d squealed with glee disappeared behind Hecate’s Own.
Zach was almost sorry to see her go. “Your guardian?”
She nodded. “How they got Jo past it I don’t know, but it’s still trying to protect her.”
Zach nodded. “They’re close.”
“And you’re exhausted.”
Zach shrugged. He’d do what he had to do and worry about the rest later. “Any ideas on where they might be?”
Gen bit her lip, shading her eyes against the late-afternoon sun. “That way.” She pointed without hesitation toward where the wolf had disappeared.
“Thanks, brain surgeon.” Gareth sighed. “How difficult is it to follow a shadow wolf through a dark forest?”
“If idiots land on my island and die, will anyone miss them?”
Zach turned toward the sound of the voice just in time to catch a shot of sickly green fire to the stomach.
In the distance, a woman screamed.
Jo!
Chapter Seventeen
Jo screamed as the knife dug into her flesh. It was too much, it hurt too damn bad to keep it inside.
“That’s better,” Davis crooned. “Let it all out for me.”
She sobbed in a breath as the knife lifted, blood gleaming on the tip. Zach is coming. Zach is coming.
The knife began a slow trail up her right leg. Jo clenched her fists, unable to find the calm center she needed. He was going to kill her before Zach got here.
The tip of the knife hit her knee. “Hmm. Should I?”
She was shaking her head no before she could stop herself.
“Wolves hamstring their prey. Wouldn’t that be appropriate?”
“Coward.”
Davis blinked. So did Jo. That was the first word she’d heard the other woman, the other captive, speak. Her voice was shaky, but full of defiance.
Davis turned to face the blonde. “Excuse me?”
“The only people you can deal with are tied up and helpless. Coward.”
“Is this the point where you expect me to get upset?” Davis wandered toward the woman, the dagger still in his hand.
Jo tugged as hard as she could on her bonds.
The one around her right wrist loosened. Jo slid her hand free, keeping a close watch on Davis Godwin.
“Because your death means nothing to me. I’m not going to untie you to prove my manhood. I’m not going to rape you, no matter how badly Hugh would enjoy such a thing.”
Jo shuddered.
Her left wrist slipped free. She risked a glance toward the rope and nearly gasped at the wisp of dark smoke that drifted down to her ankles.
In the middle of that smoke were feral golden eyes.
She turned her attention back to Davis Godwin and the battered girl, and silently slipped off the altar.
“I’m going to kill you and watch your mate writhe in eternal torment.”
The girl looked confused. “Mate? What the fuck are you talking about?”
The girl sounded like someone from Philly. Who was she?
Could this be Kerry, Daniel’s mate? But…how the fuck would they know Kerry was Daniel’s future mate? And why would they take her before the mating was complete?
These people were seriously fucked-up.
Jo followed the golden-eyed shadow toward the woods. Each step was misery, but she bit back her pain and moved. The only way to save not only herself but the other woman was to get to Zach.
The shadow became a wolf, and Jo smiled. The relief was almost overwhelming.
Zach is here.
“You haven’t been claimed yet, more’s the pity, but Zachary and my prissy little daughter are becoming suspicious.” Jo heard a soft chuckle. “Hell. You almost had me monologueing like a villain in a cartoon.”
She had a split second to slip into the shadows before Davis Godwin shrieked in rage.
Jo was gone.
Genevieve Godwin stood in front of Gareth, a pale wand in her hand. She glowed a brilliant green. Green fire danced around her eyes. “Back off, Arthur.”
“So it’s true. You’re an Own.”
“I will not allow you to harm the Becketts.”
Zach noticed the only Beckett she seemed really intent on protecting was Gareth, but he let it slide. “And she’s not the only Own on the island.” He let his own power slip free, the light of the Goddess filling him, infusing him with energy. Here, now, he understood what Gen had said when she told him that he was acting as a true Hecate’s Own when he beat back the hex.
He would use the power Hecate gave him and break this nest of evil once and for all. “Back the fuck off, warlock.” Zach flung his hand out and Arthur Godwin went sailing right into the river. He landed with a splash between the shore of the island and the Navy Yard. Zach wondered if he’d done any damage to the warlock, but really? He didn’t give a fuck. Jo wasn’t with him, which meant one of the other Godwins still had his mate.
“Nice.”
“I give it a ten.”
Zach pinched the bridge of his nose. He loved his family, but seriously? “Guys? Shut up.” He turned toward his brothers. “We need to find Jo.”
“Done.” Jo limped out of the trees, dirty, bleeding and so beautiful his heart ached.
He raced toward her, scooping her up into his arms. “You scared the fucking life out of me!”
“Me too.” She whimpered when his arms tightened. “Listen. There’s someone else there.”
Zach’s eyes narrowed. “Another victim?”
Jo nodded. “And he said that she was one of your brothers’ mates.”
Zach’s head whipped around. “Daniel.”
“What?”
“I think Davis has your mate.”
At that, Chris’s head snapped up from where he was studying the struggling form of Arthur Godwin. “Kerry?”
Daniel’s eyes rolled, but Zach could see the tension in his jaw. “She’s not my mate. Besides, how do you know it isn’t his mate?” He pointed toward Gareth, who got wide-eyed.
“Because it’s not.” Gen was safe, glaring out over the water at her brother’s body.
Jo scowled at Daniel. “Then it’s okay with you if Davis sacrifices her soul?”
Daniel quivered. His jaw clenched. “Fuck. I hate that girl.”
Jo turned her attention back to Zach, where it belonged. “He’s got this knife that he calls Witchbane. He says that when he plunges it into a witch’s heart it sucks out her power and gives it to him like a demonic sippy straw.”
“The source of his power?”
Jo frowned. “He did call it that.”
Zach exchanged a glance with Gen, who nodded. “We need to get that knife.”
“And it goes in the concrete with the candle as soon as we get back to Chris’s place.” Daniel stalked forward. “Where is she?”
Zach hid his grin. Sure she’s not your mate.
Jo sighed. “Put me down. I’ll show you.” That last came out as a gasp as Zach’s arms tightened around Jo.
“You can point.”
They glared at one another until Jo gave up, laying her head against his shoulder. “Fine. That way.” She raised her hand and he saw the long, bloody trail.
“Davis did that?” His arms began to tremble. He was going to kill the fucker. Rip his throat out. He could feel his wolf howling to be set free, to find the man who’d dared draw his mate’s blood and feast on his flesh.
“Zach?” He stared into Jo’s warm brown eyes. “Don’t let anger rule you. Rule it.”
He took a deep breath, but that only brought the scent of her blood to his nostrils. Not helping.
“Let me hold her.”
He was snarling before Daniel’s hands ever touched his mate.
“I won’t hurt her, dickhead. She’s my family.”
Zach gritted his teeth. “My head knows that. Hell, my wolf knows that. But she’s bleeding.” So his heart snarled at his brother despite knowing Daniel would chew his own paw off rather than hurt her.
“And that needs to be seen to.” Chris took hold of Jo and set her down on the ground. “Give me your shirt.”
Zach whipped his shirt over his head and handed it over. He watched Chris begin cleaning Jo up and wondered why his wolf had backed down when Chris touched Jo, but hadn’t allowed Daniel near her.
“Chris is mated and safe. Daniel isn’t.”
Zach turned to Gen. “How do you know so much about our curse?”
Her eyes darted to Gareth, her cheeks flaming. “Research.”
Of course. She was the type to find out the facts, check her instincts, and then act on them. She’d want to know everything she could about the family she planned on marrying into. “Sorry, Daniel.”
Daniel smiled. For once it wasn’t full of anything but genuine joy. “You’re mated, bro. You’re entitled.” His gaze was drawn to the woods, the smile slowly fading away. “Do you think…?”
“I know.” If Kerry wasn’t Daniel’s mate Zach knew he wouldn’t be the only one shocked.
“I won’t be positive until I do the spell.”
Of course not. You’re a wizard.
A muffled scream broke the quiet afternoon, cut off before it could really begin.
Daniel stripped so fast his sock landed on Zach’s head. He didn’t even have time to complain that his mate was getting an eyeful. “Let’s go save the girl.”
“Wait.” He turned back to Jo. “She taunted him, kept his attention off me so the shadow wolf could save me. He’s not going to be happy about that, especially since she’s not mated yet.”
“And now he’ll have her blood and Lord knows what else.” The brothers exchanged grim glances. “Let’s go.”
Daniel shifted and sprinted off through the woods, hot on the scent of Davis Godwin’s other captive…and his mate.
Jo watched Daniel and Zach head into the woods. “I have to be there.”
“Looks like Arthur is swimming for shore.”
She turned to Gareth, who was looking out over the river, hand shading his eyes. She couldn’t see anything but the waves against the shore. “Which one?”
“The Philly side.”
Meaning he’d abandoned his father and brother. That didn’t surprise her in the least. He’d seemed way too cold to risk himsel
f in a fight where the odds were so against him. “Smart move.”
“I’d rather take care of all of them here and now, damn it.” Gareth sighed and dropped his hand. “Chris, finish binding those wounds. We have to go after Tweedles Dumb and Dumber.”
Jo couldn’t quite choke back her cry when Chris bound her foot. “Sorry.”
“Not your fault.” Luckily that sick bastard hadn’t cut the toe off, but the wound was deep. She’d need stitches. Zach’s shirt wasn’t going to be enough to staunch the flow of blood. “If he’s got the girl’s blood, then he’s more than got enough of mine.”
Chris picked her up and began following Gareth into the trees. “Which means you’re still vulnerable to attack.”
“We’ll do what we can to negate whatever he’s taken.” Gen brushed aside a branch, keeping easy pace with the brothers. “But let’s get this taken care of first.”
Jo noticed the way Gen’s hands were shaking. “You okay?”
Gen started, her expression turning grim. “No matter what, they’re still my family.”
And you’ve declared war on them. Jo hoped that Davis would just give up, spare his daughter the pain of facing him, but she didn’t think they would be so lucky.
“They’re assholes who are trying to kill our mates. Sorry if I don’t cry over them.”
Gen flinched.
Too bad Gareth didn’t see that. He had his back to them, so missed the effect his words had on the Own. If he had he might have reconsidered them.
“There.” She recognized the twisted tree she’d walked past to get to the shore, and her mate. “We’re pretty close.”
Chris knelt down and placed her carefully on the ground. He tapped her nose. “Sit. Stay. Good witch.”
“Woof.” Jo moved until her back was against a tree, careful of her wounds. “Bring me back my mate.”
Chris nodded. “Will do.” He gestured toward Gareth. “We’ll be back.”
Gareth glared at Gen. “You’re staying here.”
Gen was toe-to-toe with Gareth. “I am not. This is as much my fight as it is Zach’s. I will be there to see it through.”
