“What happened in New York?” Raul asked, as his sister hugged Dean, momentarily.
“We found this book,” Dean sighed, lowering his gaze, as Monica handed the book in question over to Raul. “Kate’s mother left it to her. It glows pink when she touches it. No one else can open it, but her.”
“She inherited it, then,” Raul concluded, dropping his eyes down at the book, as his fingers traced the cover. “Have you read it yet?”
“No. She was too shocked for that,” Dean replied, catching a glimpse of Kate, as she wandered across the driveway. Her gaze drifted away, up to the forest line and the hillside across from her. Never before did she seem so lost; not even the first time she met him and his family. On the contrary, Kate socialized with him and his siblings easily, and had no problem at all with their nature. This time, however, she looked more like a toddler on her first day in kindergarten that had just been parted from her mother. Once again, Dean’s heart was melting. She had not sung a ballad; her face itself was the ballad. Saddened, without a shred of hope, she desperately sought a way out of her predicament. He was not going to leave her alone. More than ever, Kate needed someone to comfort her, and he was not going to resist the urge.
“Hey, Siren,” Dean spoke in his deep voice, shoving his hands into his pockets, as he sauntered towards her. “Will you talk to me?”
Much to his pleasure, the nickname he had come up with grabbed her attention. Kate’s face contorted into confusion, as she slowly turned around to face him.
“Siren?” She uttered, her own voice wobbly.
“You know: the mythical creatures who were capable of enchanting sailors with their singing,” he explained, taking a longer step closer. “That was my first thought, when I heard you sing.”
“Please, don’t do t…”
“Kate…” He interrupted, slightly raising his voice, as he pulled the key to his cabin out of his pocket. “Go get some rest. Take my bed. It’s a lot more comfortable than my couch. I wish I had more answers, but I don’t. We’re visiting Helena tonight.”
She didn’t speak any further. Instead, a big smile lit up her face, just when she took his keys in her palm. Dean watched, as Kate passed by him. Before unlocking his door, she cast a glance at him, over her right shoulder. It only lasted for two seconds, but it was filled with much more than just empty words. He could see the gratitude in her eyes. For him, that was the ideal acquiescence, one that would stay with him longer than a simple “ok.”
“Go, Siren. Rest your weary mind. I won’t leave you alone in this. That’s a promise.”
Chapter Ten
Still mad at his brother, Dean would not venture back to the workshop. It wouldn’t be hard for him to concentrate on his work. Kate’s matter might have been significant, but his hands were tied. He couldn’t do much about it, other than wait. However, should he decide to work that day, sooner or later, he would argue with Ray once more. A smirk or a nasty comment would be enough to ignite his rage. So, he chose the peace and quiet of his cabin.
His chest filled up with pride, as Kate’s delicious cinnamon filled his nostrils. Her scent was lingering in the air, convincing him that he had done something to lift up her spirits. Dean would love to get closer… being around her was a temptation of its own. Knowing that she was in his bedroom; lying on his bed; put dirty thoughts into his mind: like swiping his blanket away; taking her in his arms; and kissing her all over. But, he would not act on them. He didn’t drive her all the way to Paxton, just to seduce her. He knew they were attracted to each other; her passionate kisses had attested to that, but his timing would be off. Kate was even more vulnerable than the night of Raul and Monica’s mating ceremony. Dean would not take advantage of her. Still, nothing could prevent him from planning a date with her, after their meeting with Helena. It would have to be wonderful in every way, and also be unlike anything she had ever experienced before in her life. City girls like her did not – and could not – know the value of a date in the countryside, and Dean was going to show Kate precisely what she had been missing.
What he had expected to last two or three hours though, turned out to be a much longer wait. Lunchtime came and went, and she would not get up. Dean went to Melissa’s cabin, and brought two plates of lasagna, in the hope that Kate would wake up in time, but it was all just wishful thinking. He had to have lunch alone.
Lying on his living room couch, he closed his eyes, believing that she would soon join him; but again, no such thing happened. After taking a nap, he looked out his window, only to discover that daylight was fading. For an instant, he thought that she had fled; yet, her scent was too strong. She was still there. But, before he could climb up the stairs and find out if she was awake, the sound of the creaky door handle forced him to stop. Kate walked out of his bedroom, with messy hair and puffy eyes, but wearing a sweet smile on her face.
“Heyyyy!” She sang, a deep rasp in her voice, as she strolled down the staircase. “You were right. Your bed’s really comfortable.”
“Nice to see you’re finally awake,” he remarked, stepping onto the landing. “You must have been exhausted.”
“I was a lot of things,” Kate confessed, her tone lazy, as she gazed down into his eyes. “Exhausted wasn’t one of them.”
“What were you, then?” Dean asked, curiosity written all over his face. She didn’t dignify his question with an answer. Instead, as soon as she reached him, she placed both palms on his waist, and then pushed him back. A soft snarl rattled in his throat, as he found himself pinned up against the wall.
“When we left New York, I really wanted to scream at you,” she claimed, her voice deepening to a raspy whisper, as she slid her hands up his body. “I’d still be in the dark, if you hadn’t told me anything. But then, I realized how great you’ve been to me. You didn’t run when I talked to you about my past, Dean. You stayed. You care. I mean, why else would someone drive almost 400 miles in less than a day, if they didn’t?”
Dean was at a loss for words, but, even if he did know what to say to her, Kate didn’t give him much time to respond. Holding onto his shoulders, she tilted her head up, as he curled his arms around her back. Her kiss sent his heart into a flurry of wild beats, as she trailed her fingers up the sides of his neck. The siren that had stormed into his life was enchanting him more and more by the second, and he was not going to resist her. Dean was swimming in the sweetness of her soul; why would he ever attempt to break free? After all, he could tell that he had a certain power over her. Dean could be the one to put an end to her misery. He could tell by the way she talked to him, by her kiss, by her tender touch…
“She’s coming back,” he whispered, planting a quick kiss on her chin, as he opened his eyes. “That cheerful girl is coming back.”
“She will, if you stay with her,” Kate said, the corners of her lips quirking up, as she flashed him a happy-eyed look.
“That’s my desire,” Dean stated, his voice bass-deep as he removed his arms from her body. “Follow me,” He continued, offering her his hand.
“Okay; let’s go.” She winked at him. Taking her hand into his, he turned his body to the left, and picked up her book from the kitchen table. The two of them would set off into the unknown that night. Neither of them had a clue about what Kate was really capable of, but they were willing to face it together.
A light breeze rustled through the trees, as she stepped outside. The colors of the sunset on the sky were fading to indigo, as they began walking towards the forest. By now, uncertainty, anger and tension had vanished altogether. There was an unruffled serenity in the air, a sense of calmness on their faces that could not be disturbed so easily.
“Monica said you and your brothers were close. I thought so, too,” Kate remarked, glancing over at the shut door of their workshop. “Today, you were ready to kill each other. Why?”
“Oh, Ray…” Dean sighed, lowering his eyes in disapproval. “He’s a brave kid. He wouldn’t min
d taking on ten wolves his size, but he’s afraid of the unknown.”
“By ‘unknown’ you mean…”
“…Witches,” he said, finishing her sentence. “Tooth and muscle we can handle. When it comes to spells and hexes, we know nothing about fighting those.”
“I had no idea my mother was a witch.” She sighed, her voice dropping down an octave, as they neared the forest border. “I never saw or heard anything to even imply that. I guess she hid it pretty well.”
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of, Kate.” Dean spoke, his tone mellow, as he tightened his grip around her fingers. “I mean, sure, the world doesn’t like your kind very much, but you shouldn’t despair over it.”
“What did you do when you discovered you could shift?” Kate asked, a hint of discomfort in her voice.
“Well…” He snorted in amusement, as dry leaves gave way beneath his weight. “I had fun with it.”
“Fun?”
“I had just broken my mom’s china.” Dean’s laugh turned into a chuckle, as he recalled his mother’s furious reaction. “I got scared, and I just…” He paused; “shifted. I rushed outside; I kept running, for almost a mile. I was only five at the time.”
“Oh, God,” Kate huffed in frustration. “You’re not helping me.”
Dean parted his lips, willing to comfort her once again, when another scent forced him to keep his mouth shut. It was human, and, judging by its strength, very close indeed. The scent of cedar wood was Helena’s trick to hide her scent from any lurking predators or shifters, who couldn’t care less about another type of tree in the woods.
“She’s here,” he whispered, his feet frozen to the ground. The moonlight was showing in scarce, dim patches through the trees, as Dean took a few, furtive glances around him. Helena’s eyes glowed red in the darkness, beside a tree almost across from him and slightly to the right.
“Very well, second son,” she muttered, as a bright light on the top end of her staff slowly lit up her pale face. “You are much more careful now. I see you have brought her with you. It is fantastic to finally meet one of my own, after all this time. What is that book in your hand?”
“My mother left it to me, before she died,” Kate responded, as the witch’s confident steps led her to Dean.
“You’re a pureblood,” Helena concluded, her voice dripping admiration. “That’s very good.”
“Is that important?” Dean inquired, a hint of worry in his baritone, as he handed over the book to her.
“Quite.” Helena gave a firm nod. “Her powers will peak much faster than mine did. Come, child.” She smiled, extending her other arm to Kate.
“Well, here goes,” Kate hummed, letting go of Dean’s hand.
“Helena, can I ask you something, before you guys get started?” Dean requested, as Kate stopped next to the witch.
“Yes?”
“Why didn’t you look into my future?” He wondered, pointing at himself. “I mean, that’s what you did with Raul.”
“I did,” Helena retorted, her tone stiff. “Let me tell you how it works. I peer into the future, based on decisions you have made, and I can only see the next twenty-four hours. For instance, I looked into Raul’s future, a few hours after he had agreed to fight with Bryant. I did so with you, a week ago. Back then, it was quite clear; but, when you and Kate talked to each other, it became a blur. I suspected why, but I had to look into her future, too. I couldn’t. That’s why I reached out to you. Ok?”
“Alright; Kate, do your thing,” he urged with a nod, turning his attention to her. The pink glow spread throughout the front and back cover, as the blonde obliged. Helena raised an eyebrow, watching as Kate flipped the front cover. Too intrigued and eager to discover more about the book that had stunned her so much, Dean joined her.
“Very interesting,” Helena commented, as her eyes landed on the first page. It read:
“My dear Kate,
I can’t imagine the surprise you are in right now. However, you should know that being a witch is not necessarily a bad thing. Witches are not evil, they are simply humans, gifted with the power of the mind. As you will read in this book, we bend things to our will. In here, you will find powerful, potent spells that will assist you in discovering and honing your powers, along with the one I have cast on your future. You will find a way to break that spell, but I strongly advise you not to. Knowing too much about one’s future can lead to disaster. Anyway, it is up to you, my child. I only hope you take my advice.
Love,
Your mom,
Marianne McIntyre”
“Spell books require quite a lot of time to read. More often than not, meanings are hidden between the lines,” Helena informed, her voice unusually businesslike. “Child, your maiden name is ‘McIntyre’?
“Yes.” Kate affirmed, as a touch of worry tinged her eyes a shade of deeper brown. “Why are you asking?”
“Because I need to do some research,” Helena stated, putting a little force in her voice. “Please, remove your hand from the book.”
“What does my mother’s maiden name have to do with your research?” Kate inquired, turning her head around enough to glance up at Dean, as if she’d been seeking his advice.
“I have to look up her name, Kate. I need to trace your ancestry, in order to figure out your exact powers. Not all witches can do the same things.” Helena’s mellow tone convinced her to oblige. Kate indeed took her hand off the book. It continued to glow, precisely like before.
“Just as I thought,” Helena spoke, as relief flashed in her eyes. “This book doesn’t need her touch to stay open. Dean, I will reach out to you, soon. Have a good night, both of you.”
“Why do I get the feeling that she’s hiding something?” Kate whispered, as Helena wandered off towards the lake area.
“I don’t know.” Dean shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t think so, though. It’s not like her to keep secrets.”
“Can you please take me to the lake?” She begged, wrapping her fingers around his wrist, as she leaned closer. Her request shocked him. Kate hadn’t had anything to eat, and he hadn’t slept in almost forty-eight hours. In truth, Dean was so exhausted that he could barely stand.
“I, um…” He faltered. “Ok. Let’s take you there.”
“I was just messing with you,” Kate chuckled, craning her neck to kiss him. “Let’s go back. I’m starving, and I also want to talk to Monica.”
Chapter Eleven
Up until a few minutes ago, Kate was still wondering if she could handle her nature. However, this was not the case anymore. Her mother had assisted her in seeing the truth about witches, and it was not as scary as she initially believed. Not long afterwards, she would venture into this new world, with a seasoned, powerful witch like Helena by her side, and with her mother’s book as a guide. Nevertheless, there was something else that had been haunting her mind, even more than this journey into the unknown: Dean Bradford. “Mr. Sexy Beard” as she used to call him, had turned into more than just a handsome man she admired. There were plenty of those in this world, and, in her experience, very few of them were worth her attention. But Dean was an entirely different matter. As a matter of fact, Kate would be silly to not give him a chance. Why? Because, very quickly, he had proven to her that he was as beautiful on the inside, as he was on the outside. This combination had always been very hard to find.
As the two of them left the woods behind them, Kate noticed a feminine figure in the distance. The woman in question could not have been anyone other than Monica. After all, she was right outside her mate’s cabin. An upbeat tango resounded through the wilderness, as her friend danced around. Much to Kate’s amusement, she was dancing all by herself, holding an imaginary partner. She burst out into loud, sweet laughter, lifting her free hand to her chest, as Dean watched, huffing out a breath in an almost-laugh. The two friends’ eyes met; yet, Monica was not going to stop, as Kate closed in on her. Inevitably however, she an
d Dean reached his cabin. He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, before whispering in her ear:
“I’m going to bed. Tell me about this tomorrow. Please.”
Kate dismissed him with a smile, and crossed her arms over her chest, as Monica rushed towards the entrance of Raul’s cabin. In a few seconds, the tango music ceased altogether.
“My kitchen’s too narrow for my tango practice! Come on in! I have pizza!” Her stomach growled at Monica’s words. Kate would not waste another second. She quickened her pace, and strode through the door, desperate to grab a bite to eat. Just as she did, the smell of bacon, salami and molten cheese filled her nostrils. Monica was slicing the pizza, with a perceptive smile on her face.
“Jesus Christ, Kate!” Monica exclaimed, as her friend pulled a chair from the table. “When did you last eat? Last week?”
“I’m too hungry to answer that,” Kate muttered, reaching forward to grab a slice. She brought it to her mouth, as Monica pulled her oven mitt off her hand. “God…” Kate mumbled around a mouthful of hot pizza. “This is almost as good as sex.”
“Speaking of which…” Monica started, seating herself across from her. “Girl, why did you f… I can’t even bring myself to say it.”
“Actually, I was wrong about that,” Kate maintained.
“What do you mean you were wrong?” Monica’s curiosity made her voice high-pitched. “You either did it or you didn’t.”
“We did,” Kate admitted with a nod. “I just didn’t fuck him.”
“Oh, my God,” Monica let out a huff of frustration, raising her hands to her temples. “You’re driving me crazy here. Did you guys have sex or not?”
“Yes!” Kate gave an emphatic nod. “It was just a lot different than any other time, Mon. Remember how I take charge, talk dirty and all?”
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