To Wrangle A Witch (Southern Sanctuary Book 3)

by Jane Cousins

“Ah, here comes one of my brother’s now.” Crowed Locke jovially.

  Kirsten immediately bolted, with Lucy close on her heels, pleading for her to calm down and stay.

  “Something I said?” Vaughn came to a stop by Hadleigh, elbowing Locke out of the way so he could wrap a large arm around his gorgeous wife’s waist, one of his huge hands coming to rest on her shapely butt.

  “Not at all, thank the Goddess she left, otherwise we’d be having an awkward conversation right now about just how close a family we are.” He stared pointedly at Vaughn’s hand squeezing Hadleigh’s rear.

  Hadleigh and Locke both burst out laughing; even Alma bit back a chuckle as Vaughn stared hard at Locke trying to work out what exactly was going on.

  “It’s okay Viking.” Hadleigh patted Vaughn on the arm. “You just helped scare away a potential baby momma for Locke.”

  “Excellent.” Vaughn grinned. “That will wipe out my debt to you for saving Serena.”

  “Hold on there Magic Mike, you didn’t do anything more than walk outside.”

  “And that is beauty of me.” Vaughn leaned down to peck an adoring kiss on his beautiful wife’s lips. Hadleigh shifted uncomfortably, glancing Alma’s way.

  “Oh don’t mind me you two.” Alma got to her feet, gathering her belongings. “There’s nothing I like more than seeing my magic at work. I’m off then, have fun with the blood suckers tonight.”

  “How did she know about the vamps?” Locke frowned as Alma sauntered away, not bothering to hide the pleased smile on her face.

  Hadleigh shrugged. “Who knows how the meddlesome old biddy knows half of what she does. If you’re really that curious ask her next time.”

  “No way, after seeing her idea of who she thinks my perfect match is, I’ll be avoiding Alma and her tricky ways from now on in.”

  Hadleigh smiled and then laughed, Vaughn joining in.

  “What?” Locke looked between the two.

  “Did Alma state categorically that Kirsten is your perfect match?” Hadleigh enquired.

  “Well no.” Locke shook his head, if anything Alma had been kind of uninterested in how he and Kirsten interacted.

  Vaughn grinned. “You just fell for the oldest con in the book Locke. You’re looking under the wrong cup Sunshine, the pea’s not there.”

  “What?” Locke was genuinely perplexed.

  Both Vaughn and Hadleigh laughed once more, his sister shaking her head. “Honestly you are doomed already Locke, just accept your fate and go quietly.”

  “What fate? Stop laughing and tell me what’s going on?”

  “No time I’m afraid.” Vaughn shrugged looking unapologetic. “The others have arrived. We need to clear everything away out here. There’s a new plan in play, we want to tag the vampire Queen with an electronic tracker, have her lead us back to Sek and Mot. Once we’ve found them we can identify where Apep’s sarcophagus is being kept, after we’ve snagged the coffin we can close in and take out the demi-gods and the vamp Queen at our leisure. And of course we need to go over…” He paused as if it were painful to say. “…Serena’s role tonight.”

  “About that...” Locke saw an opportunity; maybe it wasn’t too late to convince Maat’s warriors to take Serena out of the equation.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “I’m doing this, so just shut up and deal with it.” Serena stomped into the living room, her gaze travelling over several grumpy Maat warriors. She was dressed in tiny white shorts and a violet short sleeve top that bought out the purple of her eyes.

  Locke gave her a disbelieving look, she called this getting ready to meet the blood vamps? Where were the long pants, turtle neck sweater and body armour any sane person would have chosen to wear? The woman even had the gall to wear her hair up in a slick pony tail, all the better to show off her delicate neck. She practically screamed vamp bait.

  “And don’t say a thing about what I have on.” She whirled to face Locke. “If you say even one word I’m going skyclad, I swear by the Earth.”

  “You wouldn’t dare!” Locke glared her way.

  “It’s not like they haven’t seen it all before.”

  “What’s skyclad?” Hadleigh asked off to his left.

  Locke ignored the question, too busy focusing upon extinguishing the volcanic surge of heat that punched through his gut at the idea that the Chippendales had witnessed Serena dancing skyclad, a childish jealous rant right at this moment would not be helpful.

  Vaughn reached over patting his wife’s arm. “I’ll tell you what it means later, one fight at a time.”

  “Well if we can’t talk you out of this madness at least wear some body armour or carry a weapon.” Locke pleaded.

  “The vamps will know something’s up if I wear armour and you’re forgetting that now that I have most of my strength back I am a weapon.” Serena coolly faced Locke down, even though inside her stomach was churning and her eyes still burned from her recent silly woe is me weep-fest.

  “Most of her powers are back she says…” muttered Locke under his breath as Drum stood up and ran through the plan once more for the evening.

  This was going to end badly. Locke knew it in his gut as sure as he knew cheap suits were badly made. Yet there was nothing he could do but be ready to step in when the vamp shit hit the fan. Goddess, please protect Serena.

  * * *

  Trying to act nonchalant with a hidden audience of elite warriors was a challenge for Serena as she moved through the garden, sweeping her hands across the foliage, drawing strength from the greenery, catching her breath slightly as the sharp edge of a ginger plant leaf gave her the equivalent of a paper cut, drawing forth a small bead of blood. The hook was officially baited and ready.

  “Relax your shoulders, Muffin. Try and think about something else.”

  Serena jumped, her hand going to her chest in reactionary shock at the sudden appearance of the Goddess Maat by her side. “Earth, you scared me.” Issuing a deep sigh she glared at Maat. “I don’t think my stiff shoulders will be an issue if they see me chatting away with a Goddess.”

  Maat issued a throaty chuckle as she rested her delicate hands on her hips. In pale pink yoga pants and a matching wrap top the Goddess looked infinitely relaxed and at peace with the world. Her hair pulled back in its normal plait trailing down her spine. Her dark coffee skin appearing velvet soft under the just risen moon’s light. Only her eyes revealed clearly her heavenly status, currently the colour of a dark sandstorm, swirling and slightly foreboding. “We have plenty of time Doll-face.”

  Serena took a deep breath promising herself she would not react to Maat’s presence. She would remain focused on the job at hand. Ignore Maat long enough and she’d go annoy someone else. With that in mind she opened her mouth to engage the Goddess in some meaningless polite chit chat. “Where the fuck have you been for the past five months?”

  “Whoa there Sweet-cheeks, anger issues much?”

  “You… You… You knew exactly where I was all along, didn’t you?” Serena couldn’t help but laugh, wincing as the sound came out high pitched and jarring. “Of course you did, I was basically in the middle of a fricking desert. You knew exactly where I was being held prisoner.”

  Maat shrugged her shoulders. “So what if I did? I’m not exactly your Goddess to call now am I Flowerchild?”

  “You…” Serena clamped her mouth shut on all the expletives she wanted to hurl at Maat. Screaming profanities at a Goddess was not a smart idea, she might be angry but she wasn’t suicidal. “I was dying for Earth’s sake!”

  Maat’s alien eyes did a slow careful stock take of Serena’s current wellbeing. “Really Petal? You look bodaciously blooming to my biased eyes.”

  “Oh don’t act as if you care about the little Earth Witch in your midst. I know I’m not of the desert, the sun or the sky but I would have thought…” Serena dug her nails deeply into her palms, vowing she would not cry. “I would have thought I still warranted rescuing from that hell hole. It would have take
n barely an iota of your attention and strength. Even if you couldn’t be bothered personally you could have sent Vaughn or one of your other minions.”

  Maat laughed in real amusement. “They don’t like it when I refer to them as my minions, you know that. And Sugar-pie, forgive me for stating the obvious here, but you were rescued from that hell hole.”

  “No thanks to you!” Earth, who knew she had all this pent up rage towards Maat bubbling beneath the surface, perhaps she really did have anger issues.

  “Are you sure about your facts there Dewdrop?” Maat’s eyes shimmered as if sand devils were contained within them.

  “You… you had something to do with my rescue?”

  “As much as I could Baby-cakes… a forgotten pot plant, a patch of virulent fungi. I would have done more if I was not constrained by the rules governing balance and free will. Besides if I had interfered, then you would never have met the studly lawyer with the beautiful midnight eyes and broad shoulders.”

  “Yeah, thanks a bunch for that.” Earth, even to her own ears she sounded petulant.

  “Problem between you and your handsome honey?”

  “Not my anything, and I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Then what does that leave us to discuss? How about this sumptuous oasis you’ve created out of thin air? I can see your fingerprints all over it.”

  “Yeah, well don’t get too attached, come tomorrow I’ll be long gone.”

  “The winds are calling your name are they Princess? The tides yanking your chains? I’m surprised you’re letting Mother Earth still call the shots. What has she done for you lately anyway? I didn’t exactly see her elbowing me aside to provide you with any assistance over the last five months.”

  “I will not turn my back on the Earth. It’s the source of all my powers for one thing.”

  “I’m not asking that of you Rosebud, I’m just asking what the Earth has done for you lately?”

  “It’s given me this garden for one thing. A place to recharge and recover, soothe my soul and ease my spirit.”

  The corner of Maat’s lips lifted in that taunting smile of hers. “And just like that you’re prepared to leave this heaven sent haven.” Maat surveyed her surroundings, her eyes drifting until they finally settled upon Locke, pacing back and forth across the living room floor. “I should imagine it’s not to everyone’s taste, a little manicure, a little clearing A lot of trimming.” The Goddess eyed the palm tree, before her gaze once more flicked back to Locke. “High maintenance, demanding… a real challenge. Hmmm, yes I can see why you might not be putting up your hand to claim it anytime soon.”

  Serena saw red, she didn’t like the way Maat was eyeing her garden or Locke for that matter. “No one touches what’s mine.” The air around Serena thickened for a moment, the garden around her singing one silent joyous note that only she could hear. Serena cast a wide eyed look Maat’s way. “Oh shit, what did I just do?”

  Maat laughed softly. “Oh I’m sure you’ll work it out given time. Heads up Ladybug, the vamps are here.” And just like that the Goddess Maat was gone.

  Serena would have preferred the blood vamps make some sort of noise because it was all too chilling to suddenly find herself surrounded on all four sides by the suckers. Her mind barely able to register their speed and grace as they touched down to present a united threat. All four were painfully thin but strong looking, dressed in head to toe black leather, with metal shields strapped to their forearms. Their complexions pale, their eyes a strange but fascinating almost silver colour that reflected the moonlight. The three males could have passed for brothers, their blonde hair cut in the exact same manner and slicked back. Only slight variations in height and jawlines differentiated them.

  Serena supposed in the right light and with enough alcohol in her system if she’d bumped into them in a dark alley she might have mistaken them for human. Though, as one opened his mouth slightly revealing two rows of fanged teeth, similar to that of a shark, she highly doubted anyone ever dumb enough to go into an alley with one of these guys ever emerged again.

  And that went doubly so for their Queen, fitted out in a tight black catsuit, the zipper stopping a few inches above her navel displaying the edges of her high small breasts to maximum advantage. Her hair, like her lackeys, was pale blonde, short and slicked back from her face. Taller than her minions at over six foot the Queen was delicately built and strangely beautiful in a gaunt dominatrix meets supermodel kind of way, high cheekbones with large glittering silver eyes, tilted up at the edges, giving her a distinct cat eyeing its prey look. Currently those cat eyes were fixated on Serena, as a small triumphant smile played around the edges of her surprisingly full mouth.

  “Hello my pretty.”

  “Oh well that’s disappointing.” Serena let out a small sigh.

  “Do tell?” The Queen’s voice was throaty and velvety smooth.

  “I was hoping for something more than the clichéd super-villainess for my first and last vampire Queen encounter.”

  “Oh goody, I like food that fights back. When they just scream and faint… tres boring Cherie.”

  Serena cocked her head slightly to the left, aware the three male vamps were all poised and ready to jump her; they just waited upon the signal from her highness. “So if I play dead you’ll just get bored and leave?”

  “No need to play. Let’s make it a reality shall we?” The Queen sent her a chilling smile, flashing two razor sharp incisors which appeared to be the signal for her flunkies to attack.

  At the exact same moment Serena whirled and ran at the vamp standing directly behind her. She ignored the echoing battle cry that filled the courtyard as eight warriors charged into the fray, too busy pulling moonlight into her skin. The vamp she was heading for was surprised for only a split second before she disappeared from sight, invisible to the naked eye. It was enough of a slight advantage to have her zigzag past him.

  Even above the cacophony of yells and striking of steel she clearly heard the vampire take a loud sniff. Oh Earth, of course the suckers relied upon more than their sight to track prey, their sense of smell would be incredible. And Moon and Stars she was bleeding! All these thoughts had barely registered in Serena’s head when the vamp twisted, ducking a tackle from Rafe and began to give chase.

  She sensed him close on her heels knowing instinctively she’d never make the safety of the house. By the Tides, she changed course, pulling energy from the earth as she ran, her bare feet slapping down hard. She was terrified, her breath coming in harsh pants but she was still ready when she felt the vamp’s claws brush against her back trying to find purchase on her invisible body. She didn’t hold back, sending the charge of natural electricity snapping up his arm. The power suck on her magic meant she instantly became visible at the same moment the vamp was slammed into the dirt, his body arching into a bow as the electricity surged through him.

  She thought again of trying to reach the safety of the house, chancing a glance back at the nearest threat, the vamp she’d just zapped, Earth they were resilient, the damn thing was already wriggling fast along the ground towards her like a snake, though its snapping razor sharp claws reminded her more of a monster crab, eek. Down but by no means out of action. Okay new plan.

  She changed direction yet again, charging through the greenery now, the vamp following close behind with a strange lurching scrabbling stride, its senses might still be jangled but it was moving fast despite the surrounding foliage doing its best to block the vamp’s path, providing Serena with precious seconds to reach her destination.

  Pulling magic Serena sank into the welcoming embrace of the palm tree trunk. A split second later she felt the tree shudder as the vamp close on her heels hit it hard. Holding her breath she wrapped her arms tightly around her body. Earth she hoped the battle would be over soon, she could only hold her breath for so long. And by the Stars what was that sound? Was the vamp really using its bare hands and nails to rip into the tree trunk?

&nb
sp; As the palm tree screamed in agony around her she had to accept that perhaps she hadn’t chosen the most secure of hiding places after all. Oh Earth, how long until those razor sharp claws stopped ripping off bark and started ripping into her flesh?

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  While Serena wandered around the garden acting like the equivalent of a bucket full of chum, Locke paced the living room, gripping the handle of his broadsword so tightly his fist ached. The sword was Hadleigh’s; in fact he recognized it from their childhood. Her instructions upon handing it over to him had been that it was for emergencies and that whatever he did - don’t scratch it. Seriously his sister had like a zillion swords and she was worried about him scratching the sword she used to train with when she was ten? And how dare she fob a child’s toy off on him.

  To distract himself whilst Serena danced and pranced around the garden imitating an all you can eat vampire buffet he took a few practise swings. Well it was light for one thing, important when your muscles aren’t used to handling a weapon, Goddess his last training session with his father had been just before he turned eighteen. Okay so it had been a while, but it all surged back as he parried an invisible opponent, ending with a flurry as he sent them off to imaginary heaven with one final riposte to their heart.

  Okay so light was good, but still, this was a child’s toy. A feather tickled his nose and he brushed it away, as a second and then a third feather drifted past his face. Goddess, he’d just accidently sliced and diced an antique cushion hand sewn by Sicilian nuns over two hundred years ago… cool.

  Turning to check on Serena he was just in time to see four vamps appear seemingly out of thin air to box her in. Damn those suckers moved fast, faster than the two he’d taken out a couple of nights ago. Had those been newbie assassins? Or had the vamp Queen underestimated the strength and skill it would take to capture and kill one little Earth Witch by sending in the b-team first?

  Moving quickly to the threshold of the living room he stood there poised waiting to see what would happen next? Where were the warriors? Why was Serena chatting with the cat suited Queen instead of running for her life?