She took the momentum and threw her knee into his groin with every bit of strength she could muster. Mason crumpled to the ground and Jacinda rushed out the door.
Someone caught her around the waist, lifting her off the ground. She gripped his hand and pulled on his thumb as she looked back.
David had tears in his eyes as he cried out in pain but still managed to snap cuffs around her wrists that dampened her magic.
What the hell?
She tried to twist away, but David spun her around and slammed her against the wall.
“Shh, please, don’t make me hurt you. They’ll figure out you’re just a girl and let you go, but if you fight, Mason will hurt you.”
Her face scrunched up as she stared him in the eye. “He’s down. Let me go and you’ll never see me again.”
David looked inside the diner and closed his eyes.
The door slammed open. Mason shoved David to the ground and threw her over his shoulder.
Jacinda kicked at him, trying to twist free, calling on magic that wouldn’t come. “Let me down!” she screamed.
Doors opened and she landed in the back of the van with a thud. Mason caught her legs and snapped another set of cuffs around her ankles.
She sat up, jerking her legs away, and kicked at Mason again.
He reached in and slapped her hard enough to send her to the floor before slamming the door.
Mason shouted, “I’m going to show that little bitch some manners.”
“Why are you being like this?” David demanded. “She hasn’t done anything but try to protect herself.”
“She’s a witch or worse. Josephine wants to strip her of her power before she becomes a danger to the rest of us. Now get in the damned van.”
“She’s not a witch. She’s just a girl,” David argued.
“Bullshit. She’s hiding her power, playing the innocent act.” Mason gunned the engine
She scooted back against the door and took a deep breath. As long as they were driving a few minutes, she could get out of this. She needed to keep her wits.
* * * *
Wait.
Wait.
Wait.
That’s what the elders always said. Never go in and stop shit before it happens. Why the hell had they sent him if they wanted him to fucking wait?
Fuck waiting.
Chatan crept closer to the van, planning to throw the door open, and he’d figure out the rest once he got her out of there.
Mason and David climbed in. Chatan ran for the backdoors where he could see the woman’s red hair. The van peeled out of the parking lot and Chatan skidded to a halt with a curse.
There went his chance. He turned and ran for the trail that led parallel to the road. As soon as he was behind cover, he shifted to a hawk and flew down the path, attempting to catch them.
He hissed when his phone buzzed. He didn’t know how that worked exactly, only that the phone was wherever his clothes and everything else was when he shifted. He could hear it but not reach it, not that he was going to stop to answer the stupid thing.
There was a crash and a flash of magic, then screaming. He flew faster to help.
* * * *
“What makes you think she’s evil?” David demanded.
Mason snorted. “Josephine says so.”
“Ever think she’s the evil one?” David snapped, growing a set of balls.
Jacinda had to hide a smile.
While asshole and dumbass argued over whether or not they should take her to someone named Josephine, Jacinda managed to get the pin out of her bracelet and click one of the cuffs open, then the other. Moving the set under her ass, she got the ones around her ankles opened and stuffed the pin into her bracelet.
“Josephine is anything but evil. She’s protecting the rest of us,” Mason argued.
“How can you be sure? What did Wendy do?”
“She’s evil.”
“But why?” David demanded.
Mason backhanded David in the face. “Don’t disrespect Josephine. She’s bringing our town back to life. It was falling apart before she arrived.”
David growled, “She was dead, Mason. The woman died and was brought back. She’s not right.”
“Josephine never died.”
Tuning them out, she took a steadying breath and decided she didn’t have anything to lose by trying shifty magic when they were taking her to some unknown location and a zombie chick.
But that name, why did Josephine ring a bell?
Placing her hands on the floor of the van, she closed her eyes and followed the metal mentally to find the gas tank. Holding her breath, she used magic to transmute fuel into water, which would stop the vehicle from getting anywhere.
If it worked.
She’d only ever managed long-distance transmutation when not touching the object or substance twice when she had plenty of time to concentrate.
There wasn’t much time now.
Magic flowed from her. The spell worked.
The engine sputtered and Mason let out a string of curses. Then the van died and she scooted forward with the abrupt stop.
David looked back with wide eyes.
Jacinda turned and slammed her hand into the back door of the van with a blast of pure energy. The doors burst open and she bolted for the trees.
She got about ten steps before someone caught a handful of her hair and yanked her off her feet. She hit the ground and rolled before Mason straddled her waist and caught her arms.
“I don’t know how you got out, but you’re going to regret it,” he barked.
Jacinda slammed her forehead into his nose and blood splattered her face. “You’ll regret trying to take me,” she promised, twisting her arms free.
Pushing fire through her palms, she shoved his chest. “Go to hell!” She rolled him over and shot to her feet, running for the trees again, her heart slamming against her ribs, her breath coming in heavy pants.
She slipped into shadows with a spell as a hawk flew past her, heading down the trail, faster than she could go. She glanced back and saw a dazzling shield behind her. One she didn’t cast, and she knew neither Mason, nor David had an ounce of magic, though both were influenced by magic. Probably by this Josephine chick. From their arguing, she had to assume David was fighting the influence. She hoped he could break the hold and nothing bad happened to him because of it.
Jacinda burst through the trees, into the parking lot, and slid to a stop when she saw a wolf sitting a few steps from the driver side door. Or maybe a husky? Maybe mixed?
Glancing back, Jacinda weighed her options. Deal with the dog or run for the reservation. Though really, why did he seem to look straight at her when she was invisible?
Dogs had extra senses, sure. But she’d snuck by plenty of animals in the past who didn’t see her. Maybe scented, but they never stared in her direction like they were watching.
“Move, just please move,” she whispered in a hurry, fear keeping her from rushing to the car.
His head cocked. He was definitely looking at her.
She spoke a little louder, a tremble in her voice. “I’m not here to hurt you, just please move. I need to leave, like now.”
The dog stood up and moved away from the car.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her hand covering her thumping heart as she dashed past him and slid into the open window of her car. She turned the key and threw it in reverse, flying out of the parking lot.
She almost missed the sign that said Wanatoga with an arrow to her left. She took the turn and protective magic washed over her as she crossed over the barrier.
* * * *
Chatan stared after the car with a frown. He came back to make sure no one else came to the diner for the woman. They hadn’t.
Nothing made him happier than the fact she got away from Mason. However, he’d scented her fear, which spiked the second she spotted him and skidded to a halt. Why was she terrified of dogs? Or maybe just wolves? Either way, he d
idn’t like it.
Instead of going straight for her car, she almost ran back into the woods.
George let out a bird call and Chatan ran back to his previous hiding spot where the elder leaned against a tree, his arms crossed over his massive chest.
His brow arched. “You acted without us.”
After shifting back, Chatan sighed. “Didn’t need to, as it turns out.”
George glanced in the direction where Mason still screamed bloody murder. “That so?”
He nodded. “Don’t know what the young woman is, but she’s powerful. I felt her long before she pulled into the parking lot, which means Josephine did too.”
“We don’t know that Josephine is behind the murders,” George stated.
“Bullshit. It’s her. She came back from the dead with one goal and more power. And that power is wrong. Remember what Nadie said?”
“Perhaps, but we need proof before we attempt to kill her again.”
Chatan pushed his fingers through his hair. “Why did you send me if not to act?”
George smiled, as if glad Chatan ignored the wait order. “To protect those they try to take. Now what happened?”
Chatan explained what he could, like the fact she went into the van, cuffed, but by the time she got out, she wasn’t. He couldn’t explain why the truck stopped, but something went wrong with the engine. Though he may have smirked when he retold how she burned the hell out of Mason with a touch.
George nodded. “Where is she now?”
He shook his head. “She drove toward the reservation, but there’s no way to know where she went.” And it sucked because he wanted to know who she was. If she were smart, she’d go far away from Saint Morton and Wanatoga.
“I’ll give you a ride back,” George offered.
“Nah, I’m faster in the air.” He shifted again and flew for Wanatoga.
Chapter 2
Her heart had finally slowed by the time she pulled into the far spot in the motel’s parking lot. Jacinda laid her head back and counted to a hundred, willing herself to relax.
She needed a room and to attempt to sleep. In the morning, she’d find food. Shaking off the nerves, she pulled the visor down and flipped on the light. Blood splattered on her face and chest. She grabbed her hoody that sat in the passenger seat and cleaned the blood off, then gripped the shoulder of her tank top and transmuted it into a T-shirt. She changed her pants into a skirt and tied her hair back because she couldn’t quickly detangle the mess after rolling around in the dirt with the asshole.
Once she was fairly certain her voice wouldn’t shake half as bad as her hands, she stepped out of the car and touched the roof, morphing the color from blue to white. Then she touched the plates, and morphed the numbers so no one from Saint Morton could place the car.
Finally, she plastered a smile on her face and walked into the office. Shaman magic hummed through the building, and Jacinda closed her eyes, taking it in. Her father had mentioned Wanatoga was home to many shaman, and a few druids.
“Good evening,” a pleasant voice called.
A smile stretched across her face before Jacinda crossed the room to the counter. “Sorry it’s so late, ma’am—”
The woman held up her hand with a warm, inviting smile. “No apologies. Please. I’m Loretta, and you?”
She wet her bottom lip and decided to go with the truth. “Jacinda. I was hoping I could get a room.”
“Of course. How long are you planning to stay?”
“I’m not sure yet. Let me pay for a week, and if I need more time, I’ll pay for another then.”
Loretta gave her the rate, which seemed far too low, but Jacinda handed over cash, and Loretta gave her the key for the room on the end.
“Thank you for the room.” Jacinda started for the door and her stomach rumbled again.
“My nephew should be here anytime. I’m going to send him over with some leftovers,” Loretta offered.
“Really, that’s unnecessary. I don’t want to trouble anyone.” It had to be eleven, maybe later. She lost track of time somewhere along the way. “I’m tired, and I’m sure your nephew could use his sleep.”
“Oh, he’s grown. Don’t worry about that. He’s a bit of a night hawk. Chatan should be over shortly.”
“Thank you.” She nodded once and slipped through the door with the key gripped in her hand. After gathering her box that held all of her possessions, she entered her new home for the next few days or weeks.
That all depended on how long it took to find the answers she needed.
Inside, she took in her surroundings. Warm earth tones. A table and two chairs sat under the front window. A kitchenette was to one side, with a couch and small entertainment set on the other. A woven blanket covered the back of the couch with two matching pillows. The bathroom was a typical motel bathroom. The bedroom sported a queen-sized bed. Roomy enough for her and cozy.
Jacinda stashed her box in the corner of the closet and grabbed the brush. Time to detangle her messy mane.
Luckily, she managed to tame her hair without much trouble before scrubbing her face with a rag and water. Feeling halfway presentable, she went back to the bedroom to grab her father’s journal.
Picking up the book gave her the feeling he was there with her. Only, he’d died when she was two years old. He lured Thanatos away from her and her mother. The beast tore him apart.
If Mom found out where she was, she’d come to drag her away before she got a chance to finish Dad’s search. Mom had warned her every day since losing him.
Jacinda had put off the search too long. Time was running out. Her father had been convinced the only way to stop Thanatos was with something hidden on the reservation.
Besides, Jacinda was twenty-two, an adult, and had been on her own for the last six years because it was safer apart than together. Not to mention the fact her magic worried Mom.
Thanatos had been hunting her maternal bloodline for ages. He’d wanted a woman of her bloodline, tried to claim her by force, and she’d cursed him. He’d asked for help from a powerful force and become something truly evil. None of them were safe, and so far, nothing had stopped him.
The knock on the door made her jump out of her skin. Jacinda rushed across the room, tucked the journal under the pillow, then walked over. She pulled the door open as far as the chain would allow.
Her breath caught as she took in the powerful thighs, the white shirt stretched across a sculpted torso, and silky black hair that hung over his shoulder. Blinking, she forced her gaze up to the darkest eyes she’d ever encountered.
His full mouth curved into a smile. “Loretta sent me over. I’m Chatan.” The aroma of a home-cooked meal reached her nose and her stomach rumbled.
“Oh, right, hi. Hang on.” She shut the door to drop the chain and prayed her mouth was watering from the food and not the beautiful man before her.
Chatan was not what she expected.
She pulled the door open and stepped aside. “Sorry. I assumed your aunt would send a teenager.” She winced.
He chuckled and stepped inside. “I wasn’t expecting such a divine creature to come all the way out to Wanatoga.”
Blushing, she moved toward the table. “Thanks.”
“Mind if I eat with you? It’s hot, and she packed both meals into one basket.” He ducked his gaze.
She froze for a second, then turned to him. His aura radiated with warmth, curiosity, a hint of desire, but nothing to worry her. It was late, and if he was half as hungry as her, she didn’t want to make him wait to eat.
She offered a smile, hoping she didn’t look nervous. “Sure, make yourself comfortable.” Maybe she could learn something from him, if she could do more than stare at him.
Man, what’s wrong with me? It’s not like I haven’t seen insanely gorgeous men before. Okay, not quite this gorgeous, but he’s a man, not a god.
Mentally shaking out the stupid thoughts, she sat down and waited while he pulled two covered dishes
out and two glasses, then the bottle of iced tea. “Would you like some?”
“Please, thanks.”
He motioned to her face. “You’re hurt. What happened?”
She gulped, touching the tender cheek. “Ran into the roof of the car when I climbed in.” She hoped the lie convinced him. “I’m not the most coordinated person around.”
He looked into her eyes and reached out to caress her cheek. Her panties probably melted, but she was too busy leaning into his touch while he pushed healing energy at her.
The pain ebbed away. She wanted more contact, a lot more.
His eyes twinkled. “Better?”
“Thank you, yes.” Blinking, she glanced down at her hands. “Most casters don’t do things like that without knowing what the other person is.”
He lifted a shoulder. “You’re definitely Other, and I’ve never been discriminating. Figured a little good old-fashioned healing wouldn’t hurt.”
“Not at all.”
He tipped his head. “What are you? I mean, your magic is…” Chatan shook his head. “I can’t place it.”
She frowned. “Then why do you think it’s magic?”
He sat back, his brow cocked. “I sense it. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. Eat. Please.” He handed over a napkin and silverware.
Maybe if the food hadn’t smelled so scrumptious, she could have kicked him out. But she was intrigued, and she’d likely need a guide to find some of the landmarks her father mentioned in the journal.
* * * *
Captivated, Chatan couldn’t help watching Jacinda. Striking red waves that brushed the curve of her ass, slight build, wide pale green eyes. He wanted to taste her plump, pink lips.
Her stomach grumbled again.
“Please eat. I promise, the food is good. My aunt always fixes fresh meals, even when she’s working at the motel.” He lifted the lid of his plate and nodded to hers as he took a fork.
Her eyes shot up. “I should have stopped earlier to eat, but I was driving and didn’t think.”
Finding Hawk (Branches of Emrys Book 3) Page 2