Bound by Blood (The Garner Witch Series)

by P. A. Lupton

  Swiping at my tears, I finished the rest of the story. “It seemed like an eternity had passed, but I’m sure it was only minutes. I stared into his lifeless, gray eyes and thought that I would feel guilty. I waited for it, waited for the regret. He was dead, and I knew I was responsible for it. But I felt absolutely no remorse. As far as I was concerned, he was a monster.”

  I glanced wearily at Morrison, noticing his straining jaw. His fingers curled tight around the steering wheel as he listened to me pour it all out.

  “It took a while, but eventually I struggled through the shock and I managed to get up and find a house where I called the police…and then my dad. I found out much later that the man was wanted in other nearby cities for the rape and murder of at least four other women. The police had never been able to figure out how he was able to get his victims to come with him without a struggle. When they saw the police lights in the dashboard, and I explained how he pulled me over and succeeded in cuffing me, they were furious to discover that he was posing as a police officer. They all commended me for my quick thinking. The police believed that the strain of chasing me, coupled with a broken leg, is what caused his heart attack. I knew the truth, though...I killed him.”

  The two of us sat silently as the weight of my admission hung in the air. “That’s when I decided to go into law enforcement. I wanted to use my gift to help stop men like that.”

  It felt good to unburden myself of this knowledge, I hadn’t even told Nathan about the attack, but I felt like I owed it to Morrison after he shared his story about his sister.

  “You did the right thing, men like that will never stop, and you shouldn’t feel guilty. He died from being subjected to the pain that he inflicted on others. That’s divine justice if I’ve ever heard it.” We both mulled over the conversation in quiet contemplation.

  “Thanks Reece, it’s nice to finally have someone to talk to about my sister. I’ve kept it to myself for so long, I didn’t realize how unburdening it would feel to share it.”

  “Any time, and thank you too.”

  The remainder of the ride back to Denver was spent in comfortable silence, until I eventually fell asleep.

  “Reece we’re back. Wake up.” Morrison gently nudged my shoulder.

  “I’m sorry I fell asleep. How long was I out?”

  “You’ve been out for two hours. Has anyone ever told you that you snore?” he chuckled.

  “So I’ve heard.” I laughed. “Good night Morrison.”

  “Good Night. See you tomorrow for the big day.” He said enthusiastically.

  I shook my head and opened the door to get out, but before I did, I turned back to him. “Morrison, please don’t take this the wrong way but, when I first met you I didn’t like you very much.”

  He gave a loud snort, “Gee I would’ve never guessed...you did punch me in the face. But I had it coming.”

  “I’m sorry I acted like such a jerk, by the way.” He added.

  My mouth curled into a wry smirk, “Don’t worry I’m used to it.”

  Morrison burst into a loud bark of laughter.

  “Incidentally, I don’t feel that way anymore. There’s a lot about you that you don’t show people, but you’re really a decent guy.”

  “Thanks Reece, you’d better not tell anyone.” He laughed. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “You too.”

  Chapter 17

  Friday night arrived. Eager to ensure all was prepared for the binding spell, Nathan and I arrived at the house a few hours before Morrison was due. We unpacked our bags and ascended to the attic to set up for the midnight ritual. “Do you think this will work?” I asked Nathan, anxiously.

  “I know it will work. I think Todd’s idea was inspired. Truly, I wish I had thought of it earlier.”

  After checking—for the tenth time—that everything was ready to go, we headed back down to the living room to wait and relax until Morrison arrived. Nathan sat gracefully on the couch, arms slung casually over the back of the sofa. Lithe and elegant, I stared at the sexy, graceful way he moved. His vampire abilities no doubt the reason for his smooth and dexterous movements. My eyes tracked him hungrily. I couldn’t help but appreciate the view. He nearly took my breath away he was so stunning. The soft lighting cast from the lamps bounced off his contours and seemed to accentuate every chiseled feature. I knew if I lived a hundred years I would never grow tired of looking at him. Instead of sitting beside him, I climbed onto the couch, straddling his lap. Leaning over with a mischievous smirk, I traced my tongue around the outer shell of his ear.

  “Mmmm...That feels magnificent,” he purred silkily against me.

  “God, you’re sexy. I want to draw my tongue across every part of you right now.” I groaned in a throaty whisper.

  Reaching up, gently, he caressed the pads of his fingertips along the surface of my neck and throat. His reverent touch sparked my already budding desire. It caused a tightening that traveled from my scalp, down my neck and drew goose bumps along my skin. Heat mushroomed through me like a slow burning flame that flickered and expanded, spreading to every nerve ending and cell in my body.

  “Your lips,” he said as he lightly outlined the plump, fleshy surface of my mouth with his tongue before pulling back, “taste so sweet.” Another kiss and lick of his tongue. “I literally crave your kiss, Brianna, like a drug.” His words, barely audible, were murmured between the teasing swipes of his mouth and tongue against mine.

  Blood raced through my veins and thundered loudly in my ears. I surrendered to the kiss and let my hands wander eagerly over his muscular upper body. Still on his lap, I shifted back slightly so I could reach the edge of his shirt. Tugging the hem from his pants, I pulled it over his head and tossed it to the floor.

  His next movement had me sucking in a surprised breath. It was unbelievable. Before I knew what had happened, my shirt lay on the floor next to his, my sluggish human eyes unable to register the actions.

  Through the lace of my bra, his mouth closed over my breasts, tongue laving at my nipples. He took each of the tight buds into his mouth alternately, and drove me crazy with his ministrations. If he continued this way, it wouldn’t be long before I had him naked.

  “Ahem.” Someone cleared a throat. “Mr. Donovan?” an unfamiliar voice called from behind me.

  I squealed and jumped off Nathan—it would have been comedic if it wasn’t so humiliating. I scrambled desperately to pick up my clothes, along with the tattered shreds of my dignity.

  “Who are you?” I snapped.

  “I’m sorry.” His eyes widened and he turned his back quickly, obviously giving me a minute of privacy. “My name is Aidan O’Farrell,” he said with the hint of an Irish accent.

  I looked over at Nathan who had a smug grin plastered on his face. “Brianna, Aidan is one of the bodyguards at Donovan Security.” His voice was cool, unapologetic, as if we hadn’t just been caught half naked while I practically molested him. Nathan was so at ease given the circumstances, it truly seemed as though he wasn’t in the least bit embarrassed. Dazed, I watched as he leisurely pulled his shirt back over his chest.

  I finished straightening my clothes. “You can turn around now.”

  Spinning back to face us, he glanced toward Nathan, his expression contrite. “I’m sorry Mr. Donovan, you did say eight o’clock. I knocked on the door, but when no one answered I was concerned.”

  “The fault is mine, Aidan. Please do not concern yourself.” Nathan assured him kindly.

  “John had a family emergency, sir. He asked that I come in his place.” He shrugged. “I hope that won’t be a problem?”

  “Not at all.” He turned to me, amusement evident in his face. “Brianna would you excuse us for a moment, I need to give Aidan his instructions for the next few days.

  “Sure.” I said, grudgingly.

  I watched him walk away, not even trying to hide the smirk on his face. Trying to push Nathan’s misplaced amusement out of my mind, I decided to make mys
elf useful and order dinner for everyone. Nathan came back a few minutes later, sans bodyguard.

  “What’s going on, why do you have a bodyguard here?” I couldn’t hide the worry in my question.

  “Aidan is a vampire. We will need him after the spell is cast. As I mentioned earlier, the spell will drain our energy and leave us especially vulnerable. It will take some time for us to recuperate and regain our strength. Unfortunately, it would be an opportune time for an attack.”

  Eyes smoldering with intensity, he continued his explanation. “I will not risk your safety.” Leaning down he gave me a gentle peck on the forehead. “Aidan is quite comfortable around witchcraft, and he is a good bodyguard. He will protect us while we rest.”

  I felt the blush staining my cheeks as I thought of having to face Aidan again after the scene he walked into earlier. Nathan just chuckled.

  “You find my embarrassment funny?” I snapped.

  He laughed, “No, I do not. But then again, after one hundred and thirty years one does not embarrass so easily.”

  “I hardly think I’m embarrassing easily. We were caught half naked making out on the couch. You’re telling me you find absolutely no discomfort in that situation?” I asked skeptically.

  “None whatsoever, you will understand one day.” A slight hint of condescension filled his words, as if I were a child.

  “Well I hope one day I’ll be mature like you, and thankfully immune to humiliation.” I replied sarcastically.

  He burst out in a full belly laugh at my indignation.

  “I’m going to take a shower.” I bit out, frustrated at his unflappable tone. I headed upstairs, thoroughly annoyed by his attitude. How dare he treat my embarrassment like a childlike, irrational outburst. I don’t tell him how he should feel.

  Still brooding over Nathan’s dismissive attitude, I took my time to shower and change. When I was ready to head downstairs, I heard Morrison’s voice wafting up from the living room. As I left the bedroom to join our guests, my feet skidded to a halt and an impish grin spread across my face, an intriguing idea suddenly occurring to me. I’d concocted a devilish plan to prove to Nathan that he wasn’t above a little embarrassment. Oh Yeah, dinner was going to be interesting.

  The Chinese food I ordered smelled tantalizing. Right before we entered the dining room, Nathan leaned over to whisper in my ear, “I am sorry about earlier.”

  I slanted a wry grin in his direction. “No problem,” I answered sweetly. Too sweetly.

  I felt his trepidation, no doubt in response my suddenly saccharine sweet attitude. Apprehensively, he took his seat across from me. Morrison sat at the end of the table to Nathan’s right, Aidan opposite to him.

  “So Nathan, what do you need me to do tonight during the spell?” Morrison began the conversation, unable to contain his excitement.

  Surreptitiously, I glanced at Nathan, concentrating on conjuring a burst of sensation. I thought about how I felt earlier this evening as he kissed and licked my nipples, recalling in explicit detail every wicked, tingling sensation. I shoved those delicious, forbidden, and very private feelings into Nathan.

  The tone of his voice pitched high in surprise, and his eyes widened. “Um...nothing Todd...if you could just make sure we are not interrupted.” Preoccupied with the erotic stimuli I was forcing into him, he barely managed an answer. Morrison looked at him a little strangely, as did Aidan. I kept my eyes fixed on my food not daring to meet his eyes.

  “Are you expecting trouble?” There was a little alarm in Morrison’s voice.

  I decided to increase the sensitivity. Vividly, I drew on every tactile sensation in those precious moments before I reached orgasm. Again, right as he was about to answer the questions I inexorably thrust those stimulations into Nathan.

  His breath caught, he lowered his head and I could see his breathing increase. He was panting, now, barely able to string together a few simple words. “I...um...what...Oh”

  Inside, I was laughing. Outside, I sat innocently eating my dinner and ignoring the spectacle he was making.

  “Nathan, are you all right?” I asked, knowingly. I had to bite my lip to conceal my smile. “You look a little uncomfortable.”

  Mercilessly, I continued the erogenous assault.

  “I...ah...I am fine.” He managed to answer in a cracked voice.

  Morrison looked to me in question. I just shrugged with feigned innocence and continued eating.

  “Mr. Donovan do you need me to get you anything sir?” Aidan asked, confounded by Nathan’s behavior. He’d obviously never seen the man so out of sorts.

  I pretended I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary, and decided to give the poor man a break. Flashing me a strange look I couldn’t quite decipher, he sat up straight and composed himself. “Sorry, I will be fine.”

  “Do you expect the killer to attack us here at the house once he realizes what you’ve done?” Morrison continued, disregarding Nathan’s odd behavior.

  “No, I think he will wait,” he said assuredly. “He will most likely feel too weakened and vulnerable.”

  “So why the bodyguard?”

  He’d had long enough to compose himself. With as much clarity as I could evoke, I conjured the sensations of the most powerful orgasm I’d ever experienced. Ruthlessly, I slammed it into Nathan.

  “I thought it better not to risk—Ahhhh—oh—my…”

  His words were cut short as he tried, unsuccessfully, to muffle the blissful exclamations. His body shuddered and he groaned in pleasured agony. With labored breath, he clutched desperately at the table.

  I nearly burst out laughing. Cool, I thought. I hadn’t been sure I could actually give the man an orgasm just by thinking it, but kudos to me. This gift had some intriguing possibilities.

  Hiding what was happening was no longer an option. Morrison looked away and disguised his laugh with a cough. Aidan left his unfinished food and made an excuse to leave.

  After a few minutes, Nathan finally quieted down and looked up, his face scalded with heat. Morrison excused himself and left us alone. I leaned back in my chair with my arms crossed over my chest, a smug grin plastered to my face.

  “You know they are aware of what just happened,” he bit out with chagrin.

  “Well, it’s a good thing you’ve matured beyond the infantile emotion of embarrassment, isn’t it.” I said with arrogant satisfaction.

  “You little minx!” He broke into a grin, admiration filling his voice. “I apologize for earlier, and I promise I will never again belittle your emotions.”

  He walked over and lifted me into his arms. “You have an especially unique way of proving a point.”

  I chuckled, shaking my head.

  “In case you have not noticed, I can be obstinate at times. You may need to prove your point again later when we are alone.” He waggled his brows, suggestively.

  I laughed. “I would apologize to you, but I’d have a very hard time being sincere. I really enjoyed that!”

  “Laugh it up. How does the saying go? Payback is a bitch.’” he taunted while claiming my mouth in a searing kiss. It was a pleasant distraction from the danger looming ahead.

  “We should rest a bit before midnight.” He laced his fingers in mine and guided me upstairs to rest.

  ***

  Gone was the playful mood from earlier, it was all business now as midnight was only minutes away. Morrison wanted to observe the spell, but I insisted he remain outside the door. I forgot that Nathan and I would have to be nude while casting the spell. Nathan wasn’t bothered at the prospect of Morrison see him in all his glory, but I drew the line at my partner seeing me naked, no matter how much I liked him. Morrison argued, thinking it was unfair because Aidan was allowed in the room. He even went so far as to offer to take his clothes off so he could stay—that didn’t help his case.

  Closing the circle was much more potent this time, now that my powers had been unbound. There was an instant charge of power that nearly took my breat
h away.

  Nathan asked that I chant the words of the spell with him. Apparently, we had to do it eight separate times to bind the powers of each individual slain witch. Lying on the altar was eight miniature dolls; each contained the herbs Nathan had procured, and the soil that had been collected from the graves.

  “Are you ready to begin?” he asked

  “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

  He’d gone over the spell and specifics of the ritual many times, so I knew exactly what to do when he nodded his head. At the signal we both began the chanting rhyme in sync.

  Goddess your guidance we seek this hour,

  That we may bind Morganna’s power.

  I summon the power of the Garner witches,

  That evil has taken with dark bewitches.

  I call for the power to contain it within,

  This vessel we bind, to keep it from sin.

  We recited the final lines, slowly, as Nathan took a black ribbon and little by little wound it around the puppet.

  In the name of justice by the law of three,

  That no harm will be done, so mote it be.

  With the doll fully swathed in black ribbon and the spell completed, I held my hand above the puppet. Nathan took the silver athame and sliced a line over my palm. Giving time first for the blood to pool in my hand, I tilted it over the doll and let the crimson fluid drip generously to saturate the vessel.

  After a few heartbeats, I felt an almost imperceptible stirring of energy in the air. The force increased, gradually. The stimulating charge became so dense a furious snapping and popping of light and power filled the circle. Slowly, it disappeared, infusing and filling the doll until it literally droned with power. Nathan put the doll aside and grabbed the next.

  Holy crap, only one binding done and already I could sleep for a week. Nathan was right, this was draining, and we still had to repeat the spell seven times over. Fuck. I wasn’t sure I would make it.

  When all was said and done, it took until three o’clock in the morning to complete all eight bindings. When it was finished, we closed the circle and re-donned our clothes. Nathan locked the dolls in a hidden safe in the attic. “Aversion spells and wards are implemented to protect the safe from evil,” he explained.