Captive Witch

by September Stone

  Under ordinary circumstances, I might agree with him. Nearly everything in my experience taught me not to trust people. But when I met Calder, I had a feeling he wouldn’t hurt me. I had the same sense about Taj. And now, I believe the same is true about Sophie. I can’t explain it, but I don’t think this woman will harm us.

  “Thank you so much,” I say as Sophie places her hand on the door. “I’m Bryn, by the way.”

  She glances over her shoulder and offers me a reassuring smile. “It’s nice to meet you. Things look all clear out here.”

  When she pushes the door open, I hesitate only a second before following her out into the parking lot. When I make it three steps without anyone leaping out to attack me, I breathe a little easier.

  “This one’s mine.” Sophie gestures to a black four-door pickup parked a few spaces away. A giant of a man sits behind the wheel and I stop dead in my tracks. I’ve never seen a person so huge in real life. His size alone should be reason for me to turn tail and run, but Sophie doesn’t seem bothered. He’s the kind of man who could break me in half with little effort, and I don’t think that my four companions together could stop him.

  As if detecting my unease, Sophie pauses and turns. “That’s Hagan. Don’t worry, he’s a teddy bear.” A smile curves her lips as if she’s letting me in on a secret.

  Poe shuffles to the front of our pack. “I know him. He’s a bouncer at Shipwreck Tavern. Good guy.”

  “He was. He works at Riverside Garage now.” Sophie beams with a mix of pride and adoration. Although the two haven’t exchanged a word in my presence, I can tell she thinks the world of him.

  Poe nods, and some of the tension in his shoulders drains. I can’t help smiling, knowing my intuition hasn’t steered us wrong.

  Sophie gives the tailgate a quick double tap. “Hop into the bed of the truck and stay down. We’ll be at the Nightshade in no time.”

  Hagan’s eyes narrow as the five of us follow Sophie’s directions, but he doesn’t stop us.

  Taj rubs his fingers against his palm almost absently as we walk, his eyebrows furrowed with concentration. Is he picking up on something I’m missing, or is his mind somewhere else entirely?

  I put my hands on the tailgate and prop my foot onto the bumper, but before I can haul myself up, a wave of exhaustion threatens to take me under. I’ve been through so much today, and my body is rebelling after such a brief rest.

  Strong hands hold me upright, and I almost thank Calder for catching me before Taj’s voice murmurs in my ear. “You okay, love?”

  My skin tingles, and something in me warms and turns to liquid. The feel of Taj’s hands on my back, his body flush against mine, is almost too overwhelming. For a moment, there’s nothing but the two of us.

  But when Poe and Silas vault into the truck bed, reality seeps back into my awareness. We can’t be seen by McDee or any other guards who might be wandering through the town.

  “I’m okay. I… I think I need something to eat.” I’m not sure if it’s the truth, but I hope it is. After so many years in captivity, maybe my body is just revolting against all the walking I’ve been doing. Getting some rest and a good meal in me might be just what I need.

  With the help of Taj and Calder, I make it into the back of the truck. Once the two of them are in, the five of us arrange ourselves to keep any errant limbs from poking over the sides. When Poe raps on the back window, Hagan starts the engine and backs out of the space.

  I close my eyes as we move through the streets of Twin Rivers, reminding myself of when I’d play hide and seek as a child with my mother. More often than not, my hiding places were right out in the open, but when I closed my eyes, I would imagine she couldn’t see me if I couldn’t see her.

  Besides the jostling of the vehicle, I’m aware of Silas and Taj pressed in next to me. Butterflies beat their wings in my stomach and my heart pounds so loud I’m afraid they both can hear it. Something about touching so much of them at once sparks something deep within me. My lips tingle at the memory of kissing Taj, but the scene quickly morphs into imagining what it would feel like to kiss Silas.

  I give myself a mental shake. I must be coming down with something. After what Calder and I shared last night, how can I be thinking about Taj and Silas like this? Especially Silas. Not only are we in this mess because of him, but I barely know him. And he’s a daemon. There must be something really wrong with me.

  The truck lurches to a stop and Hagan cuts the engine. Neither Taj nor Silas stir, so I keep still as I open my eyes.

  One of the cab doors creaks open and slams shut, and several seconds pass before Sophie whispers, “Looks clear.”

  The other door opens and whole vehicle jolts as Hagan’s bulk steps out onto the pavement. Calder and Taj help me out of the back as Silas and Poe jump over the sides. We all follow Sophie in to a door marked Employee Entrance.

  The one-story building is nothing like I expected. For some reason, I equated “vampire motel” with something out of a horror movie. But while the place is nothing fancy, the brand-new-looking bright red shutters give the place a pleasant pop of color. “You work here, Sophie?” I ask as Hagan pulls open the door.

  She shakes her head as she enters. “But don’t worry. I’m allowed to use this door. It’s less likely anyone will see you if you come in the back way.”

  Poe enters next, his muscles coiled as if he’s expecting a trap. Calder follows him, and Taj ushers me in after, his hand glued to the small of my back. I’m glad for the contact. While the dizziness that plagued me earlier isn’t as acute, I still feel fuzzy and uncoordinated.

  As soon as Silas is in, Hagan crosses the threshold and closes the door behind us. But instead of moving further into the office area, he stands like a silent sentinel. There’s no way someone could get past a man of his size, which is both reassuring and nerve-wracking. If this is a trap, we’re in the middle of it now.

  “Valor?” Sophie calls, crossing to the inside door and poking her head into the hall. “You here, baby doll?”

  Calder’s eyebrow quirks at the pet name, and I feel a measure of his surprise. “Baby doll” seems an odd nickname for an immortal vampire. Just how close is this woman to this guy?

  Poe’s back straightening is the only warning before Valor glides into view. For a moment, I’m overcome with his unearthly beauty. Maybe doll isn’t too far off the mark. His perfect features could have been sculpted out of porcelain.

  He greets Sophie with a kiss on the lips, and although the contact is brief, it sends a jolt through my body. She lifts her face to his ear and murmurs something I can’t hear. His arm curls protectively around her back and she seems to melt against him.

  Longing surges inside me. I’ve never had that opportunity—to simply touch and be touched by the person I love without worrying who might be watching. Part of me wondered if, after last night, Calder and I might have that sensual ease between us. But with everything that’s happened so far today, there hasn’t really been time.

  But Taj’s hand is still on my back and I can’t help leaning into it. He moves his body incrementally closer, and some of the haziness in my head evaporates.

  Sophie finishes her explanation and Valor fixes his violet gaze on us. His jaw is tight, but I don’t get the sense he’s angry.

  “You want to find Elowen.” It isn’t a question. He locks eyes with each of us, studying me longer than the others. “Why?”

  I open my mouth to answer, but Silas is faster. “Our business is our own.”

  “It’s okay,” Sophie says quietly. “Valor only wants to help. He has a…” Her words are cut off when a cell phone begins to ring. She swings her purse in front of her and digs through it for a moment before locating it. When she glances at the screen, her face softens. “Hey, Cary. What’s going on?” She holds her hand out to Hagan as she listens to the caller. “Come on, honeybear,” she murmurs.

  With the enthusiasm of a puppy invited over for belly rubs, Hagan leaves his post an
d links his hand with Sophie. After her greeting of Valor, I’m surprised at the familiar touch with the giant, but the vampire doesn’t seem bothered.

  “We stopped off at the Nightshade,” Sophie says, edging past Valor into the hall. “Yes, tell Jonas I picked up his suit from the cleaner.”

  Valor closes the door behind them, but whether the move is for the sake of Sophie’s privacy or our own, I’m not sure. He surveys us all again before his gaze lands on Poe. His head tilts to the side. “Wait—you live here, don’t you? I think I’ve seen you around town before.”

  Poe gives a curt nod.

  “Then why on earth do you seek an audience with Elowen? Surely you’ve heard the stories. Elowen never gives without taking something in return.”

  “Because we don’t have a choice.” Sighing, Poe holds up his left hand. After a beat, the rest of us do as well.

  Valor curses softly under his breath. “All marked for death? How did that happen?”

  I fight glancing at Silas. “It was an accident. The mark was meant for just me, but the others were cursed, too.” I bite my lower lip. I just escaped punishment from the elders, but I don’t believe Valor is the kind of person who would turn me in. “I was a prisoner for many years, and I was forced to make potions—sometimes deadly potions.”

  Silas touches my shoulder. “The thing is, this mark won’t just kill us. Bryn has a strong nature affinity. The person who ordered the hit wants to siphon off her magic, and this curse will do that. If it’s left to run its course, we risk creating an unstoppable monster.”

  Valor’s expression clouds, and I can’t help wondering what thoughts are playing out behind his eyes. But after a moment, he nods. “I’ll tell you how to find her. But the trek is long, and I recommend you rest and get an early start tomorrow. The forest is no place to wander at night.” A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. “Sophie informed me you’re welcome to as many rooms as you want. Let me know what you decide. I’ll be at the front desk.”

  The door closes behind Valor before Silas claps his hands together. “So, five rooms, then? Do you think this place has room service?”

  My gaze flickers to Calder, but he’s staring at the door. We made do with fewer rooms last night. And while I doubt Poe will want to spend another night sleeping outside, maybe five rooms aren’t necessary.

  We got going so quickly this morning that Calder and I didn’t have a chance to discuss what last night meant—if it meant anything at all. Does he want a room to himself tonight? If I share a room with Calder tonight, how will Taj react? I care for Taj, and the thought of hurting him sends a sharp pang through the very core of my being. His friendship these last several months reminded me I was still a person—not just a tool to be used by Mona. And while I’m not a prisoner anymore, Taj hasn’t stopped being important to me. The last thing I want is for him to think he no longer matters. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. But with everything that’s happened since last night, I haven’t found the chance to talk with him about my feelings for him and for Calder.

  Calder clears his throat. “Um, yeah. One room for each of us. Probably the best idea.”

  Disappointment crests within me, but the sleeping arrangements are probably for the best. As much as I’d love to spend tonight becoming even more intimately acquainted with Calder’s body, I’m not sure I’m up for more than snuggling. At this point, I feel like I could sleep for a thousand years.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Bryn

  The Nightshade Motel does not, in fact, have room service, but since Poe insists the five of us stay together and it’s not safe for me to head into town, Valor agrees to have takeout brought up to Poe’s room—along with fresh clothes for us all. While Silas suggests it must have been at Sophie’s insistence, I’m not so sure. Despite the negative connotations surrounding vampires, Valor strikes me as a caring individual.

  I know I need to eat, but the idea of food makes my stomach churn. I push broccoli, mushrooms, and rice around the lid of a Styrofoam takeout container with a plastic fork and try to follow the thread of the guys’ conversation, but even that is taxing.

  “I’m just saying, how do we know the information the vampire gave us is good?” Silas asks around a mouthful of sesame chicken. He couldn’t look more different than the silver-haired menace who attacked me last night. His jet-black hair is still ruffled from our ride in the bed of Hagan’s truck. Sitting cross-legged on the floor opposite the bed, he looks about as dangerous as a fluffy bunny.

  Taj glances up from his spot on the worn blue chair between the window and the desk where I’m sitting. “What reason does he have to lie?”

  Silas lifts a shoulder. “Maybe Mona’s goons got to him first. Maybe he gets his kicks sending people off into the forest to wander aimlessly. You know, I’m actually a little more than surprised that you’re giving him the benefit of the doubt. He’s a vampire, after all.”

  “Says the daemon,” Calder mutters from his spot against the wall beside me.

  Silas smirks. “Exactly.”

  Poe pulls his leg up onto his mattress before resting his takeout container on his knee. “Hagan is cool with Valor. That’s good enough for me.”

  “Of course it is,” Silas says with a snort. “Shifters before… Wait, what’s the furry equivalent of ‘bros before hoes’?”

  Poe’s jaw clenches, but before he can respond, Taj sets his food aside and leans forward. “As much as I’m inclined to believe Valor means us no harm, are we just going to ignore how weird that whole situation was? What was going on with Sophie?”

  I perk up at the name. “What about her? We were lucky to run into her when we did.”

  Taj holds up a hand. “Don’t misunderstand. You’re absolutely right—without her, I don’t know how we would’ve gotten here safely. But when we were walking out into the parking lot, I tried to summon a fireball—just in case—but I couldn’t.”

  Silas chuckles. “Having a little performance anxiety there, were you?”

  Taj shoots him a withering look. “No. It was like I couldn’t connect with my magic at all. Like it wasn’t even there, no matter how hard I tried to find it.”

  Poe wrinkles his nose and Silas sniggers again, but Calder nods. “I felt something weird, too,” he says. “I wanted to be ready in case she was leading us into a trap, but I couldn’t get a handle on my power, either.”

  “Is it possible you drained yourselves after fighting your way into the elders’ mansion?” Poe asks. “I know those guards, and you must’ve had to—hey!”

  Poe floats two feet above his mattress, clutching his carton of lo mein to keep it from spilling onto the burgundy comforter. A wave of dizziness overtakes me. I squeeze my eyes closed and take in a deep breath to keep down what little food I’ve managed to eat.

  “Seems to be working just fine to me,” Calder says, and the squeak of the boxspring assures me he’s settled Poe back on the bed. Still, I don’t chance opening my eyes for several more seconds. I’m not sure why the sight affected me the way it did, but I don’t want to puke over a parlor trick.

  “You all right, Bryn?” Taj’s warm hand is gentle and reassuring on my shoulder.

  I swallow and suck in a breath before looking at him. “Just tired, I think. After all those years in solitary, all this exercise and fresh air is taking it out of me.” I try to smile, but I’m not sure my mouth curves. It takes considerable effort to hoist myself to my feet. “I think I’ll head to my room.”

  Calder stands and his hands down my arms. An electric current zips along my skin where he touches. “Are you feeling okay? I could call down to the front desk and see if they’ve got any aspirin or…”

  I shake my head. “I think I just need some sleep.”

  I wave at the guys as I exit Poe’s room and turn down the hall toward my own. The walls smell faintly of paint and while the carpet is thin and industrial, it seems relatively new.

  It takes three tries to get my door unl
ocked, and by the time I get inside, the walk to the bed seems insurmountable. I lean against the door, conserving my energy for the final push.

  None of this makes sense. Being tired after everything that happened today is logical, but this level of exhaustion is beyond reason.

  I’m considering simply lying down on the floor in front of the en suite bathroom when a gentle knock startles me. When I pull open the door, Taj’s eyes widen in surprise. “That was quick.”

  I wrinkle my nose. “I haven’t made it to the bed yet.”

  His eyebrows hike upward. “You left Poe’s room fifteen minutes ago.”

  I spin my journey down the hall through my head. I was moving slowly, sure, but could it really have taken me that long to make it seven doors down?

  He gestures into the room. “May I?”

  With effort, I step out of the way to allow him entrance. Once he’s inside, he closes the door and scoops me into his arms. I’m so tired I can’t muster even a gasp as he whisks me to my bed.

  He lays me out on the mattress and perches beside me. “I’ve never seen you like this—not even after you made some of Mona’s more involved potions. Has this happened before?”

  I try to shake my head, but it simply lolls to one side. “No, never like this. It’s just… I’m not used to all this walking.”

  But Taj scrutinizes my face. “I don’t think that’s it.” He presses a hand to my forehead before moving it to my cheek. “You don’t feel warm. That’s good, at least. No fever.”

  But heat surges beneath my skin where he touches. Something inside me longs for the contact, and when he removes his hand, a whimper escapes me.

  “Are you in pain, love?”

  I shake my head, stars popping in my vision. “No, just…”

  “Exhausted, yeah.” He presses his lips together. “How’s your magic?”

  “My magic? It’s fine. Normal.” The words come out automatically, but I feel in my bones they’re a lie. “Actually, I haven’t tried to use it since the elders’ mansion. And toward the end of when I was making that potion for them, I felt like I was going to faint. But that doesn’t make sense for such a simple draught.”