The Keepers

by Rae Rivers

“We’ll find a way around it, but it won’t be easy. At least they can’t make out our faces.”

  It was true. The video was blurry, shaky, and filmed from a distance. It captured the three women from behind, moving toward the house, wielding a shitload of magic that smacked of supernatural. It also showed the shadows of Ethan and his brothers waiting in the forest.

  “For so long, we’ve fought to protect our existence and in the blink of a damn phone recording, we’re so screwed,” Jenna breathed. “The last time our kind was exposed …” Her voice trailed off as she caught a glimpse of a shadow on the screen. Holding her breath, she swiped a finger across the glass, replaying the video, and almost dropped the iPad when she saw it again.

  “Jenna?”

  She jabbed the pause button, freezing the image, bringing it closer for a better look. She tugged on the neckline of her t-shirt, suddenly breathless, and studied the image she’d originally thought was Archer.

  Only, it wasn’t.

  The image was blurry, captured in the shadows of the tree. But it was a man. A man with a black and white tattooed face.

  Mason gave it to me himself. An icy hand raked down Jenna’s spine as she recalled Megan’s words in Ameera about the Brogan Grimoire.

  “Jen, what’s wrong?”

  Archer’s unaccustomed rage. His mood swings. The fights with Sienna. The missing Grimoire. The drowning.

  “Did anyone other than Archer check on Mason recently?” Jenna asked breathlessly.

  “No, Archer took care of it.”

  “That’s how Hazel knew all our movements.” Jenna swivelled around, her heart pounding so loud that she could hear it in her ears. Her breathing had turned choppy. She went to the window, peering out at the peaceful vineyards, mentally trying to shift the puzzle into place.

  “You’re making no sense, Jenna,” Kate grumbled, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the stained material in Jenna’s hand. “And where on earth did you find my t-shirt?”

  Jenna tossed it to her. “I found it in Archer’s jacket.”

  “He said he’d burn it. Where’s the rest of it?” Frowning, she dangled the torn material on one finger. “Why would Archer have kept –?” She gasped, her eyes rounded and she gaped at the t-shirt. “Oh, no.”

  Their gazes met and held, the truth nudging between them in a way they both loathed. But they couldn’t pretend none of this mattered.

  Jenna pointed to the t-shirt. “That’s how they broke the spell on the Brogan Grimoire. They used your blood.”

  “Archer wouldn’t give them my blood, Jenna. He knows what that means.”

  “Kate … they had your blood.”

  Which meant any spell ever cast was at risk. Even a spell cast by a Beckham witch.

  Kate paled. “If that’s true, then they could …”

  “Yes,” she finished as adrenaline flooded her veins. “They could free Mason.”

  CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT

  Ethan sipped his beer from his spot on the porch.

  The air was cooler, the sky painted pink from the sunset. A beauty that meant so little in the wake of their grief.

  He lowered the bottle when he saw Jenna and Kate running across the lawn in all their Keeper glory. Where were they off to?

  Curiosity spiked, a welcome change to the gloom that seemed to follow him everywhere. A given considering he’d just lost another sibling. Archer’s death had created an unbearable ache that seemed determined to claw its way through him in an attempt to get the attention it deserved.

  But he couldn’t.

  His parents, Rose, Sarah. And now Archer.

  So much damn heartache and crap he couldn’t deal with now. Not when Sienna was struggling to hold it together. She’d been so strong, quiet, moving through the last few days in robotic mode. But this evening, she’d crashed as the pain and grief had overwhelmed her.

  An inevitable crash they all faced.

  Fuck that.

  Needing a distraction, he glanced through the window, loathe to leave Sienna alone. But Declan hovered around her like a damn helicopter.

  When Jenna and Kate disappeared into the forest, Ethan discarded his beer and followed.

  The sun had begun to set, its rays filtering through the umbrella of trees in the forest. It was so quiet, too quiet, and he paused to listen for signs of the women. He tracked them instantly and took off at a run, following their trace with ease. They were in a hurry and uncaring about leaving one.

  He drew to an abrupt stop as he recognised the route the women had taken. The underground storage rooms. The ones that housed Mason Brogan.

  What the hell?

  Dodging bushes and fallen tree branches, he searched for the small door that led to the underground tunnel. It was overgrown and concealed by greenery. He might have missed it had it not been left ajar.

  He hovered, debating whether he should follow them, but the stuffy air was torture and triggered memories he’d rather avoid. So he waited, listening, his senses tuned into every sound.

  It wasn’t long before voices drifted through the tunnel, hurried and breathless, accompanied by movement. When the heavy door opened, Jenna emerged carrying a flashlight and inhaled deeply. She sensed his presence instantly and swung around, gasping when she saw him. Her eyes sparkled and her cheeks were flushed. She stared at him in silence, her mouth parted.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked.

  A smile broke free, softening her expression. “Ethan …”

  And then everything changed. Just like that. In a blink of an eye as Kate stepped out of the tunnel and all Ethan could do was stare, feasting on the vision that made no sense.

  A man stood between them, leaning heavily on Kate.

  Archer.

  The air slammed out of Ethan’s lungs and he gaped in stunned silence.

  Archer shifted his weight, his movements slow and weak. He wore torn jeans, his chest covered in dried blood. His wrists were bruised and red. He lifted his head, surprise brightening his features when he saw Ethan. “What took you so damn long, brother?”

  “Archer?” Ethan croaked.

  Not understanding what was happening, or bothering to question it, Ethan bolted forward. He engulfed his brother into his arms, shouting his name, ignoring the stupid-assed tears that blurred his vision.

  “Ouch, Ethan, that hurts,” Archer groaned, drawing back. But he grinned – the best damn sight Ethan had ever seen.

  Ethan glanced at Kate and Jenna. They were both crying. He caught his brother’s head between his hands and leaned in, their foreheads touching.

  “We saw you die,” he said in a choked voice that sounded nothing like his. He swallowed at the memory, willing away the goddamn lump in his throat. “Hazel stabbed you. How are you here? How’s this –”

  “That wasn’t me. It was Mason.”

  “Mason?”

  Jenna slid Archer’s arm around her shoulders. “Archer checked on Mason the night we left for Ameera. A desiccating, mummified body was not what he found.”

  “Hazel broke Sienna’s spell on Mason? How?”

  “I destroyed the blood they’d harvested from Kate in the cemetery that night in New Orleans. But Hazel must’ve salvaged enough to break the spell that’s kept Mason in a desiccating state.” She adjusted Archer’s arm, taking his weight. “Sienna sealed the tunnels with a separate spell so they were unable to access him.”

  “Why not use Kate’s blood to break it?”

  “They only had enough blood for one ritual,” Archer replied.

  “Although free, Mason was trapped underground,” Kate added, motioning to the door with a nod. “So when Archer came to check on him … surprise.”

  Ethan rubbed his face and shook his head, trying to make sense of it all. “But you died. I was there.”

  “No, Mason died,” Archer muttered, his brows narrowing. “After he attacked, he knocked me out cold and shackled me to the goddamn wall. Then he mimicked me and returned to the house, pretending to be
me. Asshole.”

  Holy shit, a damn Mimic. It was a favourite trick of Mason’s. He’d fooled Sienna once before, pretending to be Sarah. The night they’d lost her. And now again. But this time, his trickery had killed him. Ironic considering that after everything Hazel had done to free her nephew, she’d ended up killing him. Sweet justice.

  “That’s how the Grimoire went missing?” Ethan asked.

  Jenna nodded. “Without Sienna knowing, Mason took the book and gave it to Megan, along with a piece of Kate’s bloody t-shirt. That’s how they opened the book and found the location.”

  “That bastard’s been living in our house! He had access to everything.”

  Archer grunted. “If he touched Sienna in any way –”

  “I wouldn’t worry about that, Archer,” Kate said. “Things were pretty tense between them the last few days. Sienna spent most of the time furious with … you.”

  “Did he hurt her?”

  “No,” Ethan replied. “In fact, Mason saved her.”

  Surprise crossed Archer’s expression. “She’s the one who bound him to the tomb.”

  “But when Hazel threw a knife at Sienna, he didn’t hesitate to protect her. He always had a weird obsession with her. Fortunately, it worked in our favour this time.”

  “He’s still an asshole.”

  Ethan put his arms around his brother and hugged him tightly, a big ball of emotion wedged in his throat as he recalled the moment they’d lost him in Ameera. Unbelievable.

  “I’m okay, brother,” Archer grunted, returning the hug. “I’ve been stuck in this hellhole for days. It’s about time you guys figured it out. I’ve been worried sick and I’m starving.”

  “At least it was a safe hellhole. And it explains why you’ve been such a dick lately.” God, was Declan in for a surprise.

  Ethan grinned.

  “I felt Sienna connect to my magic. What happened? Where’s Hazel?”

  Ethan adjusted his brother’s weight, all too aware of how weak he was. “We’ll fill you in on the walk home.”

  Holy crap, Sienna was about to receive the surprise of her life too. His smile faded and his throat tightened as relief rolled through him.

  “How is she?” Archer asked, as though he’d read Ethan’s mind.

  He didn’t reply and lowered his gaze. But it was all the answer Archer needed. Cursing softly beneath his breath, he limped forward.

  ****

  The first thing Jenna saw as they came out of the forest was Declan nursing a glass of whiskey on the patio. He sported dishevelled hair and an old t-shirt of Archer’s.

  “Where the hell have you all been?” Declan called out, sipping his drink. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

  She saw the moment it all fell into place for him. That beautiful moment when his entire world shifted so that everything was finally, finally right again.

  His glass shattered and then he was running, shouting Archer’s name, calling for Sienna. He reached them on a rush of air and power and engulfed Archer into a hug.

  “What the hell is this?” Declan choked, his expression a mixture of relief and joy. He leaned back to study his brother, holding his head between both hands. “How’s this possible? How are you here?”

  Ethan stepped up, slinging his arms around both brothers. “It’s a long story.”

  “You said Archer died!”

  “We were fooled. It wasn’t Archer who died. It was Mason mimicking him.”

  “Mason?” Declan’s brows shot up and his jaw went slack. Then he frowned and slapped Archer’s head with the back of his hand. “Dying was a dick move, brother. Don’t you dare do that again.”

  Archer grinned and Declan threw his head back and released a long, joyful roar before pulling his brother in for another hug. Archer groaned at the force of his brother’s embrace, but didn’t pull away.

  And then they were laughing, hugging, all talking at once, and crying, the moment as touching as it was joyous. Archer took a deep breath and pulled away, suddenly searching.

  Sienna.

  His expression changed the moment he saw her. She’d reached the bottom of the stairs, but her legs buckled and she sank to her knees on the grass. Her hands covered her mouth, almost as though she dared not breathe. Or hope.

  She made no sound, but tears streaked her cheeks. She looked so small against the massive house looming behind her, the empty expanses of grass on either side of her.

  Archer’s strangled grunt broke the silence and he pulled away from his brothers, his movements unsteady.

  “Whoa. Easy, brother,” Declan said, sliding his arm around Archer’s shoulders.

  “Sienna,” Archer murmured in a gutted tone. “She thought …” His words trailed off on a groan and he limped forward.

  Declan and Kate went with him, supporting his brother’s weight as they walked.

  Jenna’s eyes swelled with fresh tears. She felt Ethan’s presence behind her moments before he touched her. Strong arms slid around her waist, enveloping her in a tight hug. Her back pressed against his chest and he rested his chin on her shoulder, his cheek beside hers.

  A small sob escaped her before she could reel it in and he kissed her cheek, inhaling deeply against her. “How did you know?”

  A hunch that wouldn’t let go. And from now on, she’d never disregard another one. “I knew something was off when I couldn’t heal him, but Kate helped me piece it all together.” Her stomach rolled at the thought of what might have happened if she’d ignored the hunch. If their fight hadn’t been filmed or Kate hadn’t seen it on the news, they might not have found Archer in time.

  “You didn’t say anything.”

  “I couldn’t until I was sure.”

  “My brother’s home, Jen. Because of you, he’s home.” He pushed his face into her hair, breathing her in, and whispered, “Thank you.”

  She felt the emotion behind that single word and nodded through her tears.

  Archer stopped in front of Sienna, still crouched on the ground, staring up at him, her entire body a quiver of hope.

  “Really?” Sienna asked, her voice barely audible. A sob escaped her when he nodded and knelt.

  They stared at each other in silence, a poignant moment Jenna would never forget.

  “How’s this possible?” Sienna whispered.

  “I would’ve come sooner, but I couldn’t get out of the damn storage room.” He cupped her cheeks within his palms. “I’ll explain everything later. For now, I just need to hold you.”

  Her hands covered his as she searched his gaze. “Is this really happening? Is this really you?”

  He smiled and nodded. Her sob tore at them all, muffled against his shirt when he pulled her into his arms.

  Jenna heard Ethan’s sharp intake of breath. She tilted her head to look up at him. Ruffled hair, bloodshot eyes, and a clenched jaw. A mess. But he was beautiful.

  Her beautiful.

  “We’re going to be okay,” she whispered, stroking the leather bracelet on his wrist. “It’s over.”

  Mason was dead. They’d beaten Hazel, trapped her in Ameera, and had power of the portal. Hazel had achieved her goal of exposure.

  But they’d won the war.

  Their secret was out, which likely meant that a new battle was on the horizon. But they’d deal with it like they always did. Together.

  All six of them.

  Grinning, Jenna averted her gaze to Kate. The incredible witch she’d defend with everything in her. When she’d accepted the duty of being Kate’s Keeper, she’d never expected to find new friends too. Ethan.

  A family.

  “Jenna!” Kate called, beckoning them closer.

  Ethan adjusted his arm around Jenna, tugging her into the curve of his shoulder. She leaned her head against him and smiled when he pressed a kiss into her hair.

  As they walked to the two couples, Jenna thought of her mother. She’d left her in Ameera and the pain that came with that would never leave entirely.
She’d always long for Catherine, but she was comforted by the fact that her mother had been right.

  Jenna had a purpose here. She was walking toward it and they needed her.

  As much as she needed them.

  CHAPTER FIFTY NINE

  BENNETT ESTATE

  THREE MONTHS LATER

  Jenna stood beside the photographer, a young woman laden with two cameras and an assortment of lenses.

  She had striking black hair and a friendly smile that remained in place despite the challenges of trying to organise a group of people for a photograph.

  A group of people more concerned with champagne and laughter than having their photograph taken – both of which were needed after all the time they’d spent putting out the fires that followed the release of the video.

  Thankfully, without any more public displays of magic, things had started quieting down.

  Sienna looked gorgeous in her wedding gown, a vision of white beauty amongst the backdrop of greenery and aqua-blue sky. It was warm and sunny; the air permeated with the smell of freshly cut grass and the sound of music and chatter from the guests in the marquee.

  Archer slid his arm around his bride, drawing her closer. Declan and Ethan gathered beside the couple, arms around each other. Dark hair, tanned skin, and black tuxedos. The sunlight caught their Keeper rings. They were smiling, relaxed, holding on to everything they treasured. Family. Love. Laughter.

  Moments of pure joy amongst the darkness of their world.

  And Jenna knew in that moment that the image of Sienna with her Keepers would be forever captured in her mind, just as the photographer captured the moment with several clicks of her camera.

  Three warrior men and the witch they were duty-bound to defend. So fiercely protective of life and each other. So powerful. They emanated pure joy. Courage. Honour. Loyalty. Love. A perfect image of everything that mattered.

  Sienna’s laughter broke the brief silence as everyone posed for a photograph. She hung her head back, giggling at something Archer had whispered in her ear, her veil hanging freely down her back.

  “They’re breathtaking,” Kate said, coming up behind Jenna. She hooked her arm through Jenna’s, giving it a gentle squeeze. Their gazes met and Jenna smiled.