Witch Bound totg-2

by Eleri Stone

  “I’m sorry about all this.” Grace’s gaze swept the hall before returning to her. “We can have another party this weekend and—”

  “No,” she said, too quickly judging by the way Grace’s eyes sharpened. Raquel softened her voice. “That won’t be necessary. This was lovely. Thank you for it.”

  Grace gave her a wobbly smile. “Well then, welcome to Ragnarok. We are really happy to have you here.”

  Chapter Three

  Humans called his kind wolves, the Æsir called them Odin’s hounds. They ran with the hunt, killing the demons that had destroyed their home and now chased them through cracks in the fault line between worlds. In oldentimes the hunt hadn’t bothered to hide themselves and if, occasionally, humans saw them and called them gods or ghosts or faeries, what of it? Legends arose wherever they settled. The Wild Hunt, Wilde Jagd, Woden’s Hunt, štvaní, Estantiga, Åsgårdsreia. Now they did their best to avoid notice, casting glamour over weapons and horses, armor and of course the riders themselves.

  His mother had been a rider, a huntswoman. She’d had the poor judgment to wed a hound, bond him to her and give birth to a son. Hounds only sired sons, all of them cursed to assume the same role in the clan as their fathers. Fen wasn’t miserable enough to regret his birth, only the circumstances of it. And times like these when he was flying through the woods, a streak of shadow and legend, feet barely touching the earth and the wind cutting through his fur, he couldn’t even bring himself to regret that.

  The half-moon was high and bright, casting stark shadows through the bare branches of the trees. The demon darting through the woods ahead of him was fast but poorly adapted to this world, blinded by moonlight and sliding on the dead leaves that covered the frozen earth. Fen stretched his body, pulled himself forward with his forepaws and launched himself onto the demon’s back, clamping his jaws around its neck and severing the main artery. He pulled away from the spurt of blood. Still it numbed his tongue, ice cold and bitter. He let saliva wash the taste from his mouth and swung his head wide looking for more prey.

  This chase had brought him nearly to the lake, over a mile away from the breach and the rest of the pack. No one was here. He howled, one piercing cry to draw a huntsman to sever the thing’s neck to be sure it was truly dead and dispose of the body.

  Hoofbeats sounded behind him and then Beth’s voice, “Got this one, Fen. You’re clear to go.”

  He yipped an acknowledgment and turned, already feeling the pack closing the distance between them. It wasn’t a true psychic connection. He couldn’t read their minds but was always aware of location, and all of the hounds had a keen instinct for interpreting body posture. Brian had turned his rear foot and was limping. Fen could feel an echo of that pain through the pack bond. He swore under his breath. In this form, it came out as more of a growl.

  No wonder Brian is still running on an injured leg.

  Ben, the youngest member of the pack, was chasing a higher-level demon who’d headed directly for the nearest Æsir homestead.

  Julia’s house.

  Fen flew, covering the distance as fast as he could, ignoring the burn in his lungs and the ache in his limbs. His pack needed him. The knowledge was like a whip at his back. Launching himself over a boulder, he half skidded down the leaf-matted slope on the other side. Hagan fell into pace with him on his right flank. After another quarter mile, Garret covered his left.

  Garret snarled at the same time Fen felt Ben attack the demon. His mind was partitioned, one part aware of the fight taking place in Julia’s backyard. Only forty fucking feet from the house. Another part was entirely focused on pushing his body to the limit, his paws hitting the earth, the obstacles in his path and the clearest route to Julia’s house.

  It took less than five minutes but seemed like a lifetime. Two lifetimes when he tasted blood. Brian had joined the fight and was injured. Idiot. He should have known better than to run on a wrenched leg in the first place. Fen understood though. He understood all too well why Brian wasn’t sitting this one out.

  Brian still considered Julia his mate. It didn’t matter that she’d broken up with Brian ten years ago after graduating from the community college. It didn’t matter that she’d met another man and married him. That she’d given that man three children and was evidently extremely happy. It didn’t matter that Julia probably didn’t spare Brian more than a few seconds of thought—hopefully regretful thought—every other month or so. Brian had slept with her when he was sixteen and stupid. He’d thought they’d spend the rest of their lives together.

  For a hound, that was all it took. One fuck and you were screwed for the rest of your life, bonded to that woman. Over the years, Brian had come to hate Julia. Oh, he knew she hadn’t done it on purpose. She’d been young and stupid too. It wasn’t fair to make her pay for it for the rest of her life, right? Brian hated her anyway. Fen could feel that bitterness through the bond, even as Brian killed himself trying to save Julia’s husband and the three children that were not his.

  When Fen and the others got there, the demon was tangled in the chains of the swing set and Brian was bleeding in the sandbox. Ben—young, scrawny Ben—crouched between the demon and the house, catching his breath and waiting for the rest of the pack to arrive. Kid was smart. He’d be the next pack leader if he survived long enough...and if Fen didn’t.

  The demon ripped the chains from his chest and stepped toward the house. Fen signaled Ben to fall back and then launched himself at the demon, clawing a deep gash in the creature’s flank even as he was swatted aside. Hagan surged forward immediately after, baiting the creature to the left while Garret darted in low from the right. Garret’s jaws clamped just above the demon’s knee and ripped away, tearing muscle and shredding the tendon. Blood splattered across the grass, lighting it up like a miniature lava flow. The blood glowed molten but wasn’t actually hot to touch. Instead it crackled faintly as it touched the frost-covered grass and dulled within seconds.

  When the demon’s leg gave out, he howled. An eerily high-pitched scream filled with rage and pain but no sign of surrender. The creature knew he was surrounded in an alien world. He knew he couldn’t make it back to the fault, that there would be no mercy from the Æsir.

  Someone inside the house flicked on a light and, like a beacon, it drew every eye. The silhouette of a girl peeking through the curtains. Tara. She was eight and should surely know better. The demon’s head swiveled around, and Fen rushed to intercept him.

  The light flicked off, but the demon was already moving. So fast. Even after all these years, it still surprised him just how quickly the higher-level demons could move when they wanted to. The thing plowed right through Hagan and hooked his claws into the aluminum siding. Fen landed on the demon’s back, sinking his teeth into the shoulder joint and using his weight to drive them both to the ground. The sound of rending metal split the night as the demon’s claws ripped free. Hagen made the killing blow, tearing out the jugular and dragging the corpse away from the house.

  Ben howled to alert the huntsmen to their location. Fen padded over to check on Brian. He was alive, panting and still trying to get back to his feet to fight. He had a long but shallow gash in his side, and his leg hung limp and useless beneath him. That leg was more of a concern than the cut. Joint injuries could be tricky to mend even for Alan, the clan’s healer. Fen lay beside Brian, using his weight to keep him down. Still, Brian didn’t go limp until Fen growled a warning and wedged him against the wooden wall of the sandbox.

  They settled in to wait for the rest of the hunt to catch up. Aiden could carry Brian back to the house. Hell, maybe Julia could ride him over in the Jeep. Fen looked toward the house when he heard the front door open. It was Dan, calling to see if anyone needed help. His five-year-old son had his little hand fisted in his father’s sweatpants and Tara was a step behind. Fuck.

  Brian lifted his head and started trying to get up all over again. Fen thought about changing so he could yell at Dan to get back in the
house, but all of the kids were up now. They’d been traumatized enough without having to witness Fen’s change too...or the fact that he’d be nude after he did it. Instead, he gave a warning growl when Dan tried to step off the porch and nipped Brian in the shoulder to warn him to stay the fuck down.

  Brian and Dan didn’t get along well during the best of times. With Brian hurt and anxious, well...enough blood had been spilled for one night.

  Dan squinted into the dark and then turned to usher the kids back inside. Julia would be here soon. The hunt should be aware of their location by now. Fen could hear the horses moving through the woods, felt the tremor in the earth beneath his belly.

  Julia was the first in, taking in the scene with one look and choking back a sob as she slid from her horse. She ran across the yard, ignoring the twitching mound of demon flesh, the hounds, everything. Tara saw her first from the door and shouted, “Mom.”

  Julia leaped onto the porch and immediately dropped to her knees to gather up the little ones. The five-year-old boy was crying but the youngest, barely two, was wide-eyed and silent as his mother clutched him to her chest. Tara pointed toward the demon and began to excitedly relate the story to her shaken mother. A born huntswoman, that one.

  Fen felt Brian’s body stiffen as Dan bent to kiss the top of Julia’s head. He wrapped his arms around his wife’s trembling shoulders and drew her up with him, ordering the kids back inside. Tara paused as if she might argue, but one look from her dad and she turned around, taking the youngest by the hand and dragging him along behind her.

  Christian and Aiden had both arrived by then. Christian had already dismounted and was walking toward the demon, sword drawn. Aiden rode up to the porch and spoke briefly with Julia. A moment later, she and Dan entered the house and closed the door behind them.

  Brian whimpered and lowered his head to his paws. With a sigh, Fen dropped his chin to his friend’s back. Not worth it. Whatever Brian had gained in those few months of pleasure, it sure as hell wasn’t worth this.

  Chapter Four

  Raquel was standing outside Lois’s shop, trying to make up her mind on whether to go inside, when Fen turned the corner. He stopped in his tracks when he saw her, and for a second she thought he might turn and run. He actually glanced down the alley before shoving his hands in his pockets and starting toward her again. The thought that someone like her might scare off a hound made her smile.

  He smiled back, more a grim twist of his mouth than the full, mischievous grin of the night before. It’d be a lie to say she didn’t enjoy his discomfort a little bit. Maybe next time he’d think twice before ratting her out to Christian. Of course, that had been a particularly low moment for her. There was unlikely to be a next time.

  Fen quickly closed the distance between them. Funny, he hadn’t really seemed like a hound last night. Not like someone who could take down a demon without even using a weapon. But now she could see it. Every movement spare and clean, he moved like a hound. Fluid. Precise. Deadly. She still thought he was too skinny, but there was muscle beneath the loose clothing. Muscle, taut skin and maybe a few more tattoos like the one she’d caught a glimpse of the other night. Heat warmed her cheeks. She should probably stop thinking about what was beneath his clothes.

  And she should stop staring.

  She turned back to the shop. Fen came to a stop beside her and followed her gaze. An old wooden sign attached to an iron arm swung with a whining, creaking noise in the wind. In addition to being the clan witch, Lois was also the town florist. She was doing the flowers for the wedding and charging Raquel’s father an arm and a leg for the work.

  Fen broke the silence. “She’s a tough old bird.”

  Raquel looked at him askance. “She’s a ravening harpy.”

  “Yes, that.” Fen grinned, that flash of a smile, gone as quickly as it came. He cleared his throat and in a cautious tone, asked, “So, last night didn’t scare you off?”

  “I’m still here. Thanks to you and your warning. I told my mom I knew about the surges and that staved off an explosion from her. Christian soothed her feathers this morning at brunch.”

  She could feel the weight of his gaze but kept her attention on the shop. There was no movement inside and the closed sign was up. Lois had said noon. Even if the door hadn’t been spell-locked Raquel would have known the coven was inside. Their gathered magic vibrated like a gentle hum below her feet. She’d bet money they were in the basement.

  “Are you and Christian all right then?”

  “We haven’t had a chance to talk. My mom ambushed him as soon as he came through the door this morning. I almost felt sorry for him.”

  “Almost?”

  A blast of wind drove a crumpled piece of newspaper across the sidewalk, plastering it to the side of her leg. She peeled it off and stuffed it into the bin beside the door before turning to look at Fen. “What did you tell him exactly?”

  “That he should make an effort to woo you.”

  “Woo me?” She smiled. “Is that some kind of euphemism?”

  “No. You know what I mean and so did he. I didn’t...I didn’t go and repeat our conversation word for word if that’s what you’re thinking. I don’t do that—wouldn’t do that—to anyone in the clan.”

  “I’m not your clan yet.”

  “Sure you are.”

  “Christian said the hunt went well last night,” she said. “Brian is okay, right?”

  A complicated look crossed Fen’s face. “He’s healed.”

  Something about the tone of his voice didn’t sit right with her, but she couldn’t think of a good way to ask him about it. Before she made up her mind about whether to pry, he changed the subject. “Christian said you apprenticed for a while to a clan historian?”

  She nodded. “Kathy made sure I had a good education. She wanted to make sure that when I came into my power, I’d know what to do with it. Historian. Healer. Folklore. Metaphysics...”

  “You didn’t happen to ever come across a way to break a mate bond, did you?”

  Her stomach flipped over. “No. Once triggered, the bond is permanent until the mate dies.” She paused. “Not that I’m recommending that as a way out.”

  His gaze slid back to hers, warm hazel eyes framed by spiky black lashes. “Don’t worry. We’re all pretty fond of Julia.”

  “Julia? Then you weren’t asking for yourself?”

  She felt relieved by that and then vaguely guilty. It was none of her business to have any sort of opinion about who Fen chose to mate with. A faint wash of color touched his cheekbones and he ducked his head. “Not me, no. Unless you want to tell me how to avoid ending up like Brian.”

  “Well, that one’s easy. Don’t fall in love.”

  “From what I’ve seen, love doesn’t necessarily have to be involved.”

  She shook her head. “You’re wrong about that. For hounds, it does matter. Love. Consent. The physical act just provides an anchor for the magic.”

  “Guess I’ll just have to stay away from anchors then.” He shrugged and glanced back at the door. “She won’t eat you, you know. Her bark’s worse than her bite, and I’m something of an expert on that particular subject.”

  “I don’t mind her bark. At least with Lois, I know where I stand.”

  He studied her again and Raquel could almost hear the wheels turning. He thought she was talking about Christian, but she wasn’t. Sadly, she knew exactly where Christian stood. “Everyone’s been nice. It makes it harder to figure out who you’re friends really are.”

  “I can help with that.” He tipped his head toward the shop. “Lois is not your friend, and she’ll have the coven behind her. It’s nothing personal really, but you are taking over her job and it’s all she’s got going for her since her daughter ran. Christian’s in your corner, of course.”

  “Of course,” she echoed because he seemed to expect it.

  “Aiden’s fair and Grace has had her own share of trouble adjusting. I suspect she’s sizing you
up as an ally. She wasn’t raised clan and hasn’t lived here long herself. At the very least, she’ll be sympathetic.”

  Raquel hadn’t heard that Grace was an outsider, though now that Fen mentioned it, some of the interactions she’d witnessed last night made more sense. “Grace was a runner?”

  “Her parents were. I can see you two becoming friends. You’ll get along well, I think.”

  “Maybe you can set us up on a playdate.”

  She regretted the sharpness in her tone when he frowned. She didn’t know where it had come from, but she was ashamed of it. Her nose was running. She fished out a crumpled tissue from her pocket and blew it soundly. Fen looked on, bemused.

  Tucking her tissue away, she asked, “What about you?”

  “Me? I’ve got your back, Rocky.” He took her by the shoulders and pushed her toward the door. “Now get in there and start swinging.”

  She grabbed the knob and disabled the simple spell without thinking about it, surprised at how easily it slid away. It happened sometimes when she wasn’t concentrating. She watched Fen disappear into the diner two doors down, shook her head and went inside.

  A sign that said Coven with an arrow beneath it pointed toward the basement stairs. It was something of a presumptuous title. Lois’s witches weren’t really witches, they were men and women with just enough talent and training to work the simple spells—drawing rain from a thunderhead, unlocking a spelled door. Kathy called her small group of people with that kind of low-level talent her friends and students, not her coven.

  Raquel couldn’t look down on them though. For all the power she had bottled up in her, she couldn’t accomplish much more than they could. She was a dud—incredible potential, more power than anyone had seen in generations, but she couldn’t tap into it no matter how hard she tried. She knew she had to tell these people the truth, she was just picking her moment. Best to get the lay of the land before she lobbed that particular grenade.