The Keepers

by Rae Rivers

  “Jen,” he said, injecting a casual tone to his words. “Get off her.”

  “She attacked me. With a damn baseball bat.”

  Apparently, that insulted her more than the attack itself. Which explained the irritation. He smothered a grin and moved closer. “She’s half your size.”

  “Doesn’t make her swing less brutal.”

  He thought of the photograph he’d seen on the back wall. Four generations of women, each wearing pentagram necklaces. “She wasn’t attacking you. She was defending herself.”

  Jenna leaned forward. “I meant you no harm. Why’d you do that?”

  “I was wrong about you. You’re one of them,” Susan hissed. Jenna stilled but Ethan caught the slight flinch. “I’ve seen that mark around here enough times recently to know who to avoid.”

  “You’re a witch?”

  Ethan picked up the bat and placed a hand on Jenna’s shoulder. “Jenna, back off.”

  But she didn’t budge.

  “She attacked you because of your mark,” he pointed out. “I think that makes it clear whose side she’s on.” He eased her off Susan, not missing the bristle of energy that radiated off her. Susan straightened, her eyes widening when he handed the bat to her.

  She placed it on the counter, her gaze on his ring. Recognition dawned in her eyes but she didn’t comment. With a soft sigh, she pulled out two beers from the fridge behind her and slid them closer. “You shouldn’t be here. We’ve already had enough trouble from the likes of your kind.”

  Ignoring her disgruntled expression, Ethan slid into the chair and took the beer. “Thanks. Likes of our kind? And that would be …?”

  “Warlocks and witches. Keepers.”

  “Keepers?” Jenna said quickly, straightening.

  “Haven’t seen any around here in years and this week there’ve been a few. Only difference is, this lot’s furious. Violent.”

  “Keepers aren’t violent,” Ethan said. “Not without a reason.”

  “They are in Ameera. It’s different here.” Susan’s shoulders sagged, a sign she’d lowered her defences. “For so long, I’ve managed to stay off everyone’s radar, but suddenly my bar’s a magnet for people like you. Others too.”

  Others? Ethan sipped his beer, wishing she’d stopped referring to them like sidewalk vermin. “You’ve had trouble?”

  “Bar fights. Arguing.” She grabbed two glasses from a tray behind her, motioning to the far wall, which contained a shattered mirror. “That’s what you get for turning a blind eye on your kind.”

  Sidewalk vermin.

  “What happened?”

  “An argument broke out between Axel, a Keeper, and a warlock. Next thing I know, there’s a Herculean brawl that trashed my bar.” Ethan skimmed a gaze across the room. It didn’t look trashed. “I had a friend who owed me a favour. What brought you here? To my bar? I can’t afford more trouble.”

  “The men who were fighting … do you know them?”

  “Only Axel. As for the other two, the one wore a ring like yours, the other a mark like hers.” She shot Jenna a disgruntled look. “Lots of strangers in and out of here lately and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out where you’re all coming from.”

  “You know about the portal.”

  “The earth tremors have started again so it’s obvious it’s open. First time in ages. Got people stir-crazy looking for it, but they won’t find it unless that dark witch caster wants them to.”

  “You’ve met Hazel?” Jenna asked, taking a sip of her beer. Susan scowled at her wrist as though it would sprout something. “Any idea why she’s in Ameera?”

  Susan shrugged and reached for another glass, but not before Ethan caught the way the lines tightened around her mouth. He’d mastered the art of reading people and right now his instincts were firing all over the place.

  He studied her in silence, contemplating his next move, his finger working around the rim of his glass. She must’ve sensed the intense scrutiny because her heartbeat sped up.

  She was nervous. Good. She had answers for them. He was damn sure of it.

  Without taking his eyes off her, he nodded at the door. “Of all the places in Ameera, we ended up here, in your bar. That wasn’t a coincidence, was it?” Surprise coloured her expression but she continued to clean the glass. “How did we get here, Susan?”

  “We happened to be on the same train.”

  His hand shot out to catch her wrist. “Bullshit. You wanted us here. What did you do? An enticement spell?” Her eyes rounded and they stared at each other, a heated silence beating between them. He pushed back his chair and stood, bringing her arm closer. “We’re in enemy territory, Susan, so right now I’m assuming that everyone’s a threat. I don’t take lightly to threats or games, or whatever the hell you’ve got going on here.”

  She broke free and lowered her gaze. “How did you know?”

  “I’ve lived with witches a very long time. I know when I’m being played by one. Why’d you cast the spell?”

  “I knew when you stood up to Axel that you were different. I had to talk to you.”

  Well … shit. He hadn’t expected that. “I’m assuming that means you don’t side with them?”

  “The only way I’ve stayed alive all these years is by not picking a side. I do what I have to. A lot of us do. This place might be a dump, but there are still some good people here. Hazel’s meddling with the portal will ruin us.”

  “So help us stop her. You know that we can or you wouldn’t have spelled us here.”

  “I know,” she replied softly, nodding. She glanced at the clock on the wall. “You should go.”

  “We’re not done here.”

  “No, but you’ve already been here too long. If I’m going to help you, it’s best we’re not seen talking to each other.”

  Ethan clamped the flare of frustration, but knew she was right. “You got a suggestion for a place to crash tonight?” Ethan ignored Jenna’s surprised look and hauled out his wallet. “Clean linen and no rats will get you money for a brand new mirror.”

  “There’s only one other mirror like it in Ameera. It’s an antique. Costs a fortune.”

  He smiled. He’d spotted it the moment he’d entered the bar. His mother had loved antiques and their home still contained many items from her collection.

  A group of women burst through the doorway in a whirl of high-pitched chatter. They all wore heavy makeup and cocktail dresses that barely covered their asses.

  Susan’s gaze flickered between Ethan and the girls. With a low grumble of words that sounded like she was arguing with herself, she reached into the drawer beneath the counter. She scribbled something onto a napkin before sliding it across the counter, along with a set of keys. “Directions to my apartment. I’m not staying there as I sleep here most nights. It looks like a dump from the outside but its clean and off everyone’s radar. You’ll be safe there.”

  Ethan covered her hand with his. “Thank you.”

  “Be careful.” She gave him the keys. “You’re in Ameera. There are enemies everywhere.”

  Yeah, he’d figured that out already.

  Jenna’s eyes narrowed. “Why are you helping us, Susan?”

  “It’s no secret that Hazel’s after the magic those dead witches left behind. She accesses that energy, there’ll be no stopping her. Not in your world or mine. We’ll all be at her mercy, ruined. Not even your Beckham witches will stand a chance.”

  Witch. Ethan held back the urge to correct her about Rose. Then he raised a brow. “How do you know I protect a Beckham witch?”

  She avoided his gaze and backed away. Wiping her hands on a towel, she turned to serve the women. A few minutes later, the jukebox boomed to life again. Two couples appeared in the doorway, followed by a waitress.

  “You trust her?” Jenna asked after they finished their beers and made their way to the door.

  “We’d be a fool to trust anyone here, but I think she’s the least of our problems right now.
” And she hadn’t answered his question about Sienna.

  He glanced through the window. A crowd of men had gathered outside. Apprehension trickled through him when he recognised one. Rick, Hazel’s right-hand man – the warlock with the ability to create smoke at will. He was older than the others, his arms covered in tattoos.

  “Ethan.” Jenna’s eyes rounded, his name escaping on a rush of air when she saw Rick.

  The warlock broke away from the crowd and headed toward the door. She swung around, pressing herself into Ethan, and backed them up against the wall in the corner. He raised a brow and she raised her chin.

  And then she kissed him.

  CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

  A diversion.

  That’s all the kiss was meant to be.

  Ethan knew that, but the moment her mouth touched his, heat fired between them. Her lips were soft, hesitant, and she tasted like beer, smelt like soap. His hands found her hips, his body reacting to hers, despite her guarded kiss. And the danger.

  Ethan wrapped his arms around her shoulders, shielding them from the warlock’s glance en route to the counter.

  When Ethan took full possession of her mouth, her eyes widened. But she didn’t object.

  Rick gave Susan his order and walked outside, oblivious to them.

  And yet Ethan continued to kiss her, the pull of the woman in his arms more enticing than he’d ever imagined. Her body was firm and strong, soft where it mattered. It ignited all sorts of wicked desire through him and he ached to explore more of her.

  With a soft groan, she broke away. Her lips were swollen, her eyes wild. She looked over her shoulder. When she turned back, he kissed her again. Slow and tantalising, a delicious torment he couldn’t resist.

  “Ethan.” Her words were a breathy rumble of sexiness against his lips. “Rick’s gone outside.”

  “I know.”

  “So why are you still kissing me?”

  “Trying to be inconspicuous.”

  She lowered her gaze to his arousal pressed between them, her lips twitching. “Any more kissing and inconspicuous won’t be an option for you.”

  He smiled and rested his forehead on hers, shoving aside the urge for more. His heart raced, a rhythm that matched hers, and his heavy breathing fanned her face, mingling with the sound of her own. The need for words had evaporated with the kiss, leaving them both breathless and wanting. But reality loomed, like a great big shark circling them, crashing the heat ignited by the kiss.

  “You know him?” He reluctantly withdrew, the absence of her body against his immediately noticeable.

  “Yes, I despise the man. I don’t recognise the others.” Although disapproval laced her tone, excitement, not fear, radiated off her. “If Rick’s here, Hazel can’t be too far. We’re onto them, Ethan. I figured the portal would lead us close, but I never expected to find them so soon.”

  He straightened her shirt.

  She swatted his hand away. “You weren’t supposed to kiss me back.”

  “You were so persistent. I didn’t want to blow you off.”

  “Camouflage, Ethan. That’s all it was.”

  “I was obliged to play along.”

  “Right.” Her mouth curled and she glanced at the door. “Keen to get out of here?”

  “Will it involve any more kissing?”

  “That wasn’t a kiss.”

  “Ah. Camouflage?”

  “Exactly. And it won’t happen again.”

  Unable to stop himself, he slid an arm around her waist. He took great satisfaction when her eyes widened and her breath caught. His gaze lowered to her mouth. Full lips, rounded in surprise. He ached to kiss her again.

  Her pulse sped up, a flutter of movement beneath his fingertips. He tilted his head forward, his mouth close to hers.

  “Want to say that again?” he murmured and grinned when it earned him a punch to the gut. He glanced outside. “The coast is clear. Let’s sneak out the back and watch from the roof.”

  “Fine, but no more kissing.”

  “Spoil sport.”

  ****

  Jenna hovered at the edge of the rooftop, watching the street. The late hour had brought more people, the entrance humming with activity. A beefy bouncer had arrived to guard the door, his stern expression evoking cautious glances from the steady stream of people in and out.

  They all looked so ordinary. Like normal people out for an evening of fun.

  “Any idea what they are?” Ethan asked from beside her.

  “It’s hard to tell them apart. Shifters. Maybe even witches and warlocks.” She shrugged and shook her head. “Definitely no vampires or werewolves, though. They keep to their districts.” Most of the time, anyway. Her fingers tingled and her mouth felt dry. Frustration had long since overruled her excitement. “We’ve been waiting for two hours and nothing’s happened.”

  “We could consider that a plus.”

  His voice was level, his tone light, but everything about the way he stood, his body rigid, his jaw clenched, told her that he felt it too. The need to charge into the bar, to hunt them down.

  To do something.

  For Jenna, that was the tame version. Being back in Ameera made her feel restless and agitated, two destructive states she loathed. Seeing Rick again only aggravated her more. She hadn’t anticipated seeing him so soon. Tonight. Here. Drinking beer and acting like he wasn’t the spawn of pure evil.

  She’d seen right through Rick’s Italian charm the moment she’d met him – the underlying cruelty he covered to perfection. Cold, evil, calculating.

  Two women came out of the bar clinging to each other as they wobbled on high heels and the fumes of alcohol. They were from the group they’d seen earlier – only a messier version. Wild hair and squeals of laughter.

  Jenna almost envied them.

  Ethan shifted beside her, folding his arms. Her skin tingled, the way it always did when he stared at her. “So we’re pretending like those kisses never happened?”

  Jenna stilled, surprised he’d brought it up, but she appreciated the distraction. “Absolutely.”

  “Figured you’d say that.”

  Even though she kept staring straight ahead, she knew he’d smiled. His head dipped toward hers and he grinned when she froze. Despite her iron will, her heartbeat upped its rhythm.

  And he knew it.

  His low chuckle broke the silence. “Oh, they happened, Jen,” he murmured against her ear, his gentle breath evoking a shiver down her spine. “We kissed. Twice. And it’ll happen again. We both know it.”

  She turned her face toward his, her cheek brushing his, aware of how dangerously close his mouth was to hers. “Maybe, but it shouldn’t. We both know that.”

  “Could be fun.”

  “Could be dangerous.”

  “Since when do we shy away from danger?”

  Despite herself, she smiled. “You realise we’re playing with fire, right?”

  “We’ll make sure to bring enough water.”

  She laughed, but her reply vanished when beefcakes below burst out laughing. The sound was immediately followed by Rick’s boisterous laughter, flirtatious and easy. It grated Jenna’s nerves, just as it had every time she’d heard it during the time she’d lived with them.

  She’d underestimated him once. Never again. Hot resentment and anger speared through the memories. Asshole.

  “I’m gonna assume that comment was aimed at Rick and not me.” Ethan’s tone was mild, but a slight frown creased his brows.

  Jenna blinked. Darn, had she said that aloud? She stared straight ahead, flooded with memories and emotions of a time when she’d been limited, helpless. Alone.

  “What happened?” Ethan asked softly.

  “He broke my arm.” Her words were barely audible and she cleared her throat. “He was bullying an innocent witch and I stepped in. It hurt like hell.” She turned, meeting his gaze, connecting to the quiet anger that simmered off him. But he remained quiet. “My arm healed, but I had to pr
etend it was still broken. I walked around with a sling, acting all pissed off and injured and all I wanted to do was put his face through a wall.”

  The memory made her sick to the stomach. She’d tolerated his quiet smirks, even though she’d itched to retaliate. But retaliation would reveal her Keeper strengths and blow her cover. To them, she’d been a scavenger with the same vision as theirs, not the Keeper with a hidden agenda.

  “I was watched like a hawk after that,” she continued. “It highlighted how careful I needed to be. After that, he became more sadistic. Constantly taunting me for a reaction.”

  Ethan cast a gaze across the city. “Did that happen here?”

  “No. New Orleans.”

  “Tell me about Ameera.”

  His quiet question didn’t surprise her. She’d known it was coming. And when he stepped around her, reaching for her shoulders, she had the urge to shrink back. Run. To guard her secrets. Instead, she raised her chin, trying to ignore the fear that rolled through her. She’d always known the time would come to tell him about her background and she’d always been terrified he’d see her differently when she did.

  The conversation they’d had in the attic came to mind and she fought the urge to cringe.

  “I’ve never told anyone about Ameera,” she whispered. Her chest ached from the pressure that always came with thoughts of her family. The night everything changed. The images of her father fighting their enemies and the worry on her mother’s face were forever burned in her brain.

  “You’re familiar with the city. You’ve spent a lot of time here?” he prompted.

  She nodded and opened her mouth to reply, but no sound came out. The words remained trapped, forever sealed within her mother’s warning. Tell no one what you really are. Protecting our identity protects our secret. Especially in the mortal world. It’s our legacy and despite everything we were accused of, it’s our duty to guard it.

  “Jen?”

  Tears welled in her eyes and she hurriedly blinked them away, appalled to feel the wetness. A shuffle of movement below drew their attention. Taking a deep breath, Jenna stepped back, grateful for the distraction.

  Laughter erupted from the street, a sound Jenna instantly recognised. Megan. She sported the same short, pitch-black hair and heavy eye makeup. Her hands were jammed into her coat pockets.