Actually, he had a way of making a woman do many things.
She needed to keep a distance from him, at least until her heartbeat slowed and her dizziness subsided.
What has the man done to me? What is this spell he has cast?
Desire… Although the word whispered through her mind, it was not an emotion afforded to a promised witch.
What would she know of it anyway? She lived a sheltered life here in the woodland. No man had ever touched her.
She closed her eyes.
Kian had touched her.
She stroked the side of her throat, caressing the spot where his lips had brushed. The memory of his sweet kiss lingered. Turning her face toward her shoulder, she caught his scent on her skin. The spicy, masculine musk clung to her clothes and settled on her thick head of curls, branding her as his.
A simple taste of his lips to satisfy her lust, what would it hurt?
Was she really considering betraying her promised male, her people, and her family for a single moment of pleasure?
Never…
Yes…
I don't know.
She banged her fist against the counter, furious at herself for even contemplating such a disgraceful act. Shame and confusion weighed heavy on her soul. She hung her head.
“You okay in there?” Kian called out.
His sudden question derailed her train of thought.
She froze, praying he didn't pop his head in the kitchen. Kian's presence had a way of filling a room, leaving little opportunities for composure. In the short time she'd known him, he'd become her weakness. Putting some distance between her and his enthralling eyes and tempting lips would give her time to sort through the intense sensations and new desires rising within her.
She glanced over her shoulder. “Yes, I'm fine.”
To her shock, she presented a level, almost carefree response, considering the storm of emotions battering her spirit.
The second the chatter and laughter rose to its previous level, Summer sighed in relief.
She knew what the Goddess decreed. Nothing would make her betray her promise to her deity, but she needed to set some ground rules of her own. Friendship did not require lust. No more casual touching. No more flirty glances. No more added temptation. Platonic camaraderie would be her mantra from now on.
Summer flashed a smile
I will not betray my coven for anyone. Not even you, Kian Lancaster.
Chapter 12
Summer sat in the passenger seat of Kian's oversized pickup, headed for a human healthcare facility with her sister in tow and Kian's large frame behind the wheel.
She dared to pass Kian a glance. He tilted his head, and as their eyes met, he grinned. Whenever he stared at her with his incredible, deep brown irises, her chest tightened. She flashed him a quick smile and brought her eyes back to the passing landscape of the shoulder.
This did not equate to keeping things professional. Seeing his sick mother and promising to ease her suffering was as personal as a witch could get.
What am I doing?
She should have denied him. But how… how did you deny a man like Kian, a man who, with a single glance, made her heart race?
More than her failure to keep her distance, she feared disappointing him.
Minor ailments, injuries, even some emotional issues, she was able to heal. Life-threatening human diseases and other serious issues were beyond any witch’s ability.
When a witch healed, they forced their life force into another, destroying the injury or ailment with the special magic a healer possessed. Certain human conditions, like cancer, were resistant to their magic. The malignant cells fought the invasion with vicious intent. The battle proved impossible to win.
Goddess be, she didn't want to dishearten him, but how could she say no to his appeal when his warm, russet brown eyes overflowed with hope? She owed it to their growing friendship to try.
Beside her, Winter played with her phone. It wasn't surprising her sister understood Kian's instructions with ease. Winter had an aptitude for learning. Whether it was her magical instruction or her own inquisitiveness, she excelled.
Beeps and music accompanied whatever game Winter played. Summer shook her head. She didn't envy the one sent to take Winter's new toy away. When the time came to extract the device from her sister's hands, Winter would fight them like a starving wolf protecting the last scrap of meat.
Summer watched the human world pass her by in a blur. Once again, she questioned her decision to leave the sanctity of their woodlands. If her parents found out she left and took Winter with her, they'd banish her to the cells of Hades, a dark place absent of life and power.
Yes, she risked much for him, a virtual stranger, more than he could ever comprehend. Yet, for some reason, the chance to spend the day in Kian's company far outweighed the possible punishment she may suffer.
True to her self-proclaimed promise, she kept a physical distance from him; although emotionally, she grew closer by the moment. With each passing second, she learned more about him. He spoke of his mother and his sister often, his love and grief sincere and profound. The man loved with all his heart. She learned of his passion for building and creating machines with his hands. Never would she have guessed the amount of work needed to create one of those metal beasts. Kian's dedication to his craft was commendable.
Trust had blossomed between them as well. She found herself telling him of her world without restraint. She explained the history of the Goddess and her siblings and spoke of her coven, her family, and even trusted him with her hopes and dreams. To his credit, he listened, asked questions, and didn't judge her answers.
By the time they pulled into the grounds of the hospital and parked, she had explained the last five hundred years of witch history. She found as long as she kept her mouth moving, she didn't have to think about the way the sun lightened his eyes from a deep brown to warm amber, or how his biceps flexed when he shifted.
Kian jumped out. She followed his lead, opening the door and stepping out into the sunshine. She glanced at the clear, sapphire sky. Energy caressed her, recharging her in an instant. The humidity had lessened over night, but the temperature leveled in the high eighties. The solar rays remained a powerful friend to her kind.
Plagued by a sudden odd discomfort, she glanced at her sister. Winter showed no signs of unease. Strange. Perhaps Summer's anxiety spiked due to the closeness of Kian. His presence had a way of drawing on her instincts, exciting the essence of her power.
No… this shift of energy was different.
“What's wrong, Summer?” Winter stared at her with concern.
Summer offered an assuring smile. “It's nothing.”
She ignored the disquiet. As they drew closer to the front doors, the odd energy scratched along her flesh. She struggled to maintain control over her powers the deeper they walked into the hospital. She had no doubt a witch resided somewhere among these humans. It was an ancient power she hadn't encountered since her last visit to the coven meeting. More surprising than this observation was what she discovered wrapped around the great wealth of energy.
Death.
“You okay?” Kian slipped his hand into hers, and her fears and all the simmering anxiousness vanished. For the first time since she jumped out of the truck, an aura of security and protection surrounded her.
“Yes.” I am now.
They stopped at a desk where a petite, elderly woman sat. The woman gazed up with huge glasses that seemed to swallow her face. “Hello, Mr. Lancaster, and who do you have here with you today?”
Kian flashed a charming smile. “Morning, Agnus. This is Summer and her sister, Winter. I'm taking them to meet my mom.”
“Two beautiful young women.” Agnus winked at Kian. “And I love your names. So unique. Your mother will be so pleased to meet new friends. She seems sad today. Here are your passes. Have a nice visit, Kian.”
“Thanks Agnus.”
Kian grabbed the passes. W
ith his hand locked in hers, he led them down the hall.
Winter whispered in her ear, “Do you feel it?”
She wasn't crazy after all. Her sister sensed the trace of energy as well. Where was it coming from? When they arrived at the last door at the end of the hall, she received her answer.
Kian's mother lay in her bed. Her pale face stared out the window. Dull strands of long, copper-colored hair draped on the bed beside her.
“Mom, I brought some people to meet you.”
When Kian released her hand, the cold stench of dying power hit her with the force of an open-handed slap. She staggered back. A hint of fear spread over his mother's face the second her bloodshot eyes locked on Summer. This woman was a witch, and from the remnants of power still lingering, she had once been a powerful one.
If this woman was a witch, then so was Kian.
Summer glanced at him. Now she knew how Kian and his friends managed to get through her father's magical safeguards. The protective spells must have recognized Kian's witch blood.
“What's going on? Why are you all looking at each other like that?” Kian asked. His eyes narrowed as he stared at Summer.
“Umm, nothing is going on.” Summer gained her composure. She took a step forward, even though her instincts screamed for her to keep her distance. “My name is Summer, and this is my sister, Winter.” She made sure her sister didn't get too close. Sometimes a witch drained of power would become desperate and siphon energy from any available force.
“Summer, is she—” Summer squeezed Winter's hand, cutting off her words and the fear and pity that filled her sister's tone. She lowered her head.
“Is she what?” Kian asked.
Summer ignored his query. “It's very nice to meet you, piuthar.” She used the language of her ancestors. Piuthar meant sister, and using the endearment was a sign of great respect when greeting a fellow witch. She wanted to let this woman know she recognized her as kin and no threat existed from Summer and Winter.
Kian's mother's fear vanished and was replaced by a warm smile. “Nice to meet you too, Summer. My name is Lenora.”
They all sat together and chatted for an hour or so. The witch hadn't made any move to drain either Summer or her sister of power. A good sign in her book, but Summer had a horrible feeling no amount of siphoning could help this woman.
“I'm hungry,” Winter declared.
“Kian, dear, why don't you take her to the café and get her something to eat,” Lenora suggested.
“How about I introduce you to pizza, little one?” he suggested.
Winter’s head snapped in Kian's direction, wearing a huge grin. “What's pizza?”
“How could your parents never let you try pizza?” Kian shook his head. “It's blasphemy. Come on. You're in for a treat.”
Winter followed Kian out the door.
Summer bit her lip as awkwardness settled between her and the mysterious witch.
“Thank you for not saying anything. I would like to be the one to tell him. He knows what you are?”
“Yes, Lenora. By decree of the Goddess, he was given approval to learn our secrets.”
Lenore shifted uncomfortably. “Unexpected, considering I left my coven to marry a human. To be honest, I’m surprised you haven't found a reason to leave. Have the coven leaders become loose in their views of witch and human mingling? I never thought I'd see the day.”
Summer glanced at the door Kian left through. “There was a time when I would have left, but times change, for me at least.” Heat spread across her cheeks. She fidgeted in her seat. Her gaze dropped to her lap. “He is an amazing man, Lenora. I should have known he possessed power. I sensed energy on occasion, but dismissed the signs. His power is so muted, almost non-existent.”
“I'm dying, Summer.” Summer's eyes widened with shock. “I am afflicted. My days are numbered.”
Affliction was a rare disease among her kind. A witch's powers for some unknown reason ceased. The life force within them slowly dulled until finally flickering out. Once a witch became afflicted, there was no cure but death.
“I’m sorry,” Summer said. “Perhaps, if you seek counsel with the elders, they may offer some sort of hope or care.”
“You know it's not possible. Once I left and married a human, I withdrew my rights to seek the elder's guidance. I have no coven, I have no counsel, and I have no family. I am as I have been for the last thirty years. On my own.” She glanced out the window. “How old are you, Summer?'
“I am twenty-five,” she answered.
Lenora snapped her gaze to Summer. “And not yet promised? A pretty woman like you, with the amount of power I sense within you?”
Summer gazed out the window. “I am to be bound on the next full moon.”
“Ahh… you know even spending time with my son, no matter how platonic, would be viewed as a betrayal to the witch you were promised to.”
Summer lowered her gaze to her lap. “Yes, I know.”
“I was in the same position as you. Young and full of adventure. Promised to a powerful witch chosen by my parents. Then I met Kian's father on a little trip in the woods. He was hunting. Oh, I remember how handsome he was. He charmed me like no other. Clandestine meetings in the woods. Expensive gifts. Passionate kisses and romantic walks. I became pregnant with Kian not long after. When he asked me to marry him, I saw it as an escape from my fate, and I took it. I loved him—well, I thought I did. He was a wealthy man and he said he'd love me until the end of time. It may not have worked out as I planned, but I did have two beautiful children. I've never regretted my decision to leave the coven.”
“Kian told me about Alana. I’m sorry for your loss. Goddess go with her.”
Tears formed in Lenora's eyes. “Thank you for the blessing. I haven't been in the company of my own kind for so long. I forgot how much a simple gesture could ease one's soul.”
Summer took the frail woman's hand. No longer did she fear this witch. She sensed no malice, only sadness and a need to repent radiated from her. Summer reached inside the frail witch with her healing essence. What she discovered made her cringe. The affliction had destroyed the witch's core power. Where her energy once thrived rested a dark, cold void. Summer closed her eyes and took some of Lenora's pain. She filled her with warmth, injecting a small amount of energy into the minuscule fragment of power still remaining. It wouldn't cure her, but the exchange would offer her some temporary comfort.
“Thank you.” A tear trailed down Lenora's cheek. “You are a unique witch, Summer. I’m so glad Kian has found you.”
Summer glanced away as heat spread over her cheeks. “I'm glad I met him too. What I don't understand is why his powers haven't manifested. I sense them. Yet they're almost nonexistent. Did his humanity muffle them?”
Lenora scowled. “My son would have been a powerful witch.” Her voice became reprimanding. “The narrow minds of the coven leaders forced me to do what I did.”
“I didn't mean to offend… wait… What did you do?”
“I protected him.” Lenora curled the blanket in her fingers. “It was not a decision I made without great consideration.” Lenora gripped the fabric tight. “When he was a toddler, I bound his magic.”
Summer gasped. For a witch to lose the ability to wield magic equated to a human losing their soul. For a mother to force her child to suffer such a fate was incomprehensible. “How could you do such a thing?”
“I feared for him in every way possible. Feared humans would discover his power. Feared his father would find out what he possessed and manipulate Kian for his own sick needs. The elders were wrong, Summer. Kian had great power regardless of his human genetics, more power than any full-blood witch I had ever met.”
“And Alana. You bound her magic as well?”
She lowered her head as a tear escaped her eye.
“You need to tell him, Lenora. He needs to know who he is.”
Lenora stared at her with tears drenching her face. “You know they w
ill never treat him as an equal. They will hold his half-breed status against him. They will never accept him.” She dropped her gaze. “But I see I cannot protect him forever.”
“No, Mom, you can't.”
Kian entered the room, fury darkening his features.
Chapter 13
“Who are you, Mom? Because right now, I have no fucking clue.”
After getting Winter a slice of crappy snack bar pizza, they headed back to his mom's room. When Winter said she had to go to the bathroom, he took her lunch, pointed the way for her, and stopped by his mom's room in time to hear her confession.
“Watch your mouth, young man. Regardless of everything, I'm still your mother.”
“What am I, Mom?”
“You are my son. A strong, powerful man—”
“No, I'm not a man. I'm a witch. Let’s get this right, okay?” He had never taken a tone like that with his mother, but betrayal by the one person he trusted above everyone fueled his insolence.
His mother sighed. “Yes, you are part witch. From the amount of power you had at such an early age, a powerful one, but you are also half human and as stubborn as your father.”
“Does Maxwell know what you are? What I am?”
She shook her head. “I may have disobeyed the laws by mating with a human, but I never betrayed the coven. Your father has no idea witches exist. To him and his lawyers, I was an illegal alien from Scotland. He bought my citizenship and created me a new identity. I made sure he tied every loose end. Yes, I fell in love with a selfish bastard, but I wasn't completely blinded by my heart. I knew not to offer him more power for his already bloated ego. When I left the coven, I abandoned my life and my magic.”
“Is Lenora even your real name?”
She sighed. “Yes, but my maiden name was Campbell, not Johnson as I told your father. I am the daughter of Brion.”
Summer gasped. “What?” Kian didn't mistake the fear in Summer's gaze. “Are you… Is Eton Campbell your brother?”
Great sadness filled her eyes at the sound of the name. “Yes, you know him? I'm not surprised. The witch community is tight-knit. How is he? I have not seen my brother in almost thirty years. We were so close at one time.”
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