“No argument here,” agreed Charlie.
“Let me guess,” said Lizzy. “You lose your temper and go all wolfy on everyone.”
Charlie smirked and rolled his eyes at her simple, yet poignant, explanation of his temperament. “I’m much better on the front lines or behind the scenes.”
“Regardless,” said Jack. “It’s a good position for you, Michael. I see you doing well in this.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
God, he’s really back.
Michael couldn’t express what this did inside him.
He never realized just how much he missed his father. He cast an overwhelmed glance at his brother. The wore the same look.
Once they’d gotten through this day, and gotten everyone out of the clutches of the Feyk, and dealt with Eva Jordan… things would be different. A good different.
Jack caught Mack’s eye, her gaze penetrating, as if trying to read his mind.
Just what are you up to, Jack Howard? Something she saw in his gaze disturbed her. Jack was always a doting father, but it felt like he was preparing his sons to continue on… alone. She shook it off, supposing they had to be prepared for any scenario.
“You ready then, Mr. Spokesman,” said the sheriff to Michael.
Michael shuddered. It sounded so official and final. Like he’d just been hired for a job he wasn’t even certain he was ready for or wanted. “I don’t have to wear a suit do I?”
Mack let out a sharp cackle. “C’mon, Kid. Although you’d look mighty damn fine in one. I’d sure as hell let my eyes linger.” She tossed him a playful wink.
Michael rolled his eyes and ventured toward the front door. “Wish me luck…” he called out, waving goodbye.
Mack cast a glance at the others. “We’re going to get everyone back, safe and sound. You all just remember that.” She followed Michael out the front door.
“Okay then,” started Charlie. “Lizzy, from what I’ve heard, you’re good at making potions. Would you mind helping me out? We’re going to need as many as we can make.”
“Of course.” She headed into the kitchen, making herself at home.
“William…” Charlie stopped himself, shaking his head. “Sorry. So used to William being here. So stupid of me…”
“Why don’t you go help Lizzy, Charlie,” said Jack. “If you don’t mind, I need a little time. I’ve got a few things I’d like to do and honestly now that I’m free of the Hunter, I’m starting to feel like I haven’t showered, shaved or changed my clothes in four years.” The excuse sounded lame, but he did need a bit of time alone.
Charlie chuckled understandingly. “I can’t even imagine. We’ll be in the kitchen.”
Jack Howard headed to what he hoped was still his bedroom.
It was.
They hadn’t moved or changed a thing. In four years. All their clothes and belongings were in the same places they had always been. Maintained and cleaned, but gratefully, something that was as his memory remembered it.
He reached into a drawer and grabbed a notebook and pen.
He sat down at a small desk and started to write.
William,
My longest friend in this world. I write this letter in case things tonight go badly and I don’t have the chance to speak with you in person. I realize in my short time back that I’m living on borrowed time.
First, I must thank you on behalf of Catherine and myself for looking out for our children after our sudden departure from your lives. I cannot express what your presence in their lives, means to me. You have kept them alive and seen them through difficult times, and for this, I am forever grateful.
Second, there is something that’s become painfully obvious to me in my short hours back on the Isle. There is something I must ask of you…
Jack stopped and set down the pen and tossed the letter, leaning his head onto his hands. It tore at him, what he needed ask of William. He needed to think hard and fast on it, making certain he secured his children’s future, as well as the safety of The Demon Isle.
CHAPTER THREE
Charlie entered the kitchen, watching Lizzy gathering ingredients. Almost like she belonged there.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized. “I didn’t mean to be so insensitive earlier. You love your family, and I know that. My wolfy temper does tend to flare and make me say stupid things.”
“Don’t worry about it. I did the same thing to your father right after he got here. I was pissed at Lucas for flying off with Melinda like he did. He’s like a lost puppy… has no idea what goes on around here. How dangerous it can be. He hasn’t accepted his heritage at all, and it makes him an easy target who can’t defend himself. And he’s dragging his brother down with him.”
“I’d like to disagree with you on that, but I wasn’t terribly thrilled with the idea myself. Lucas or Melinda going off like that. She’s still pretty new at some of this, too.”
“Let’s just hope they’re all right. Is your father okay?” she asked, changing the subject.
“I do not imagine so. It’s all got to be hitting him pretty hard at this point. All the time he’s been gone. All that’s happened. All he’s lost. I’m sure he needs a bit of time to decompress.”
“I can sympathize,” replied Lizzy. “We got this anyway. Let him rest a bit.”
“I suppose if anyone did understand, it would be you. How are you managing, anyway?” Charlie grabbed bottles of herbs for potion making while she responded.
“Fine. Sometimes, not so fine. It’s an adjustment. But I’m fairly certain that even on my worst day, living, I’d take it a thousand times over versus being a ghast again. Hand me that cattail, would you? And the lady slipper.”
“What are you making?” he asked, handing them over.
“I was going to make an explosive, but then I decided it might be more prudent to have some cover in addition to the fireworks. So I’m making a cloaking potion.”
“I’ve never heard of that. But I definitely agree with explosive. I can make those.” There was an impassioned eagerness in his words.
She nodded, but with a smirk on her face.
“What?”
“Men… you’re always so excited to blow things up.”
“Yes. Well. Me, Man. Like things go BOOM!”
She laughed lightly, shaking her head.
“So what’s the cloaking potion?” he asked curiously.
“It’s for us. We drink it, and for about six to maybe seven minutes, you can’t be seen.”
“I had no idea that even existed.”
“It has its drawbacks.”
“Like?”
“Like no one can see you, including the people you want to be seen by. You’re invisible, but not impenetrable. You can still get hurt. And you have to work fast because the magic wears off fast.”
“So we can be heard?” he clarified.
“Yes. Another major drawback, if you happen to be heavy footed, or a mouth breather.”
Charlie snickered at her lack of eloquence in explaining. “Still, I can see the advantage of it.”
“I think so as well.”
They each kept at it, assisting each other when possible, filling vial after vial with potions for the upcoming battle.
After a couple hours, Lizzy noticed Charlie looking away, just as she made eye contact with him. It was obvious he wanted to ask something, but didn’t dare. After a while, when he didn’t, she got annoyed and stopped what she was doing.
“What’s on your mind, Charlie?”
“Nothing,” he insisted poorly.
“Right…”
He let out a sigh. “It’s about something you said earlier, it shouldn’t bother me, and it’s not that it bothers me, exactly, I just can’t wrap my brain around it.”
“You’re talking about the Melinda and William thing,” she guessed.
“I thought she liked Riley. I guess I’m confused.”
“She’s young. You fall in love a lot when you’re young. And
sometimes you love more than one person at a time when you’re young.”
“I’m not that much older than her.”
“Ah, but you’re a man. Men fall hard. And once they do… that’s it. First true love equals final true love. At least that’s what my father told me. And my fiancé.”
“I forget you had this entire life that you lost out on. But you can’t be much older than Melinda, either?”
“Is that a sneaky way of asking me how old I am?
He shrugged in a, you caught me manner.
“Twenty-five, in human years… and yes, I fell in love quite a few times before I met my fiancé.”
“I’m sorry you didn’t get to live out your life as you should have, Lizzy.”
“I’m all about the future now.”
Charlie shook his head, sighing. “I’ve never seen William act like he’s in love with Melinda.”
“You’re not going to let it go, are you?” she groaned. She didn’t wait for his reply. “Sometimes it’s hardest to see the things happening right in front you. And just because he loves her doesn’t mean he’ll ever admit it, or act on it. In fact, I think he means not to. Ever. But would it be so bad if he did?”
“I... I don’t know what to think about it. And to be honest, I kind of, maybe thought, you and William might be...” he didn’t finish. “You seemed to be hitting it off. You’ve both got that you’ve been around a long time thing going on.”
“I won’t admit to anything either way,” she replied, with a wink. “But there’s love, and then there’s the need to... not feel alone. And William is lonely. That’s something I do understand.”
“He’s got us,” argued Charlie.
“And I have my new brothers, but sometimes that’s not enough. Sometimes you need a more intimate connection. Even vampires need to get...”
“Don’t finish that sentence,” appealed Charlie. “Not a picture I need in my head. Especially if it involves my sister.”
“Everyone needs release, Charlie. It’s just the facts of life.”
He did understand that. He’d been seeing the Guardian, Nina, in secret for years, before Eva killed her. And he’d been sleeping with Eva, unconsciously, because his wolf craved it.
“Love and lust are definitely two different beasts,” he decided to agree.
“You’ve never been in love, have you?”
“No. Not if it really does happen like your father and fiancé spoke of.”
“Ever been close?”
“No.”
“Being too picky are we?”
“No. Definitely not, Just haven’t met the right woman, I guess. I have not had that wow, I just fell hard, moment.”
“She would have to be someone extra special, wouldn’t she? I mean, you are Charlie Howard, after all…”
Charlie let out a flustered huff.
Lizzy was right though, even though she was teasing him.
She would have to be someone special. Someone extraordinary. Someone he could trust implicitly. Someone that understood what being married to him meant. He wasn’t sure that woman existed.
Her life would not be easy.
It would also be dangerous; not only because he was a witch, but also because he was a werewolf. He might be protected with the Guardian’s ring, but not her.
A single, accidental bite would change her life, forever.
Who would take on, or be able to handle, such a volatile relationship?
And having children… he didn’t even know if it was possible. It was his responsibility to carry on the family bloodline. But if that wasn’t safe for him to do, could he ask that of a woman? A life without children…
“Apparently, I’ve brought up a sore subject,” said Lizzy, apologetically.
He shrugged. “It’s a subject that’s been on my mind…”
“Because of Eva,” she guessed perceptively.
“Yes and no. Eva… when she told me she was pregnant, I… freaked out. Closed down. Thought I was going to have to choose her over my family. Thought for sure I’d doomed her to a painful death. A werewolf baby… I just can’t imagine it, and I thought Eva was human. There’s just so many questions I don’t have the answers to.” He was surprised that he admitted this to Lizzy. But it felt good to get it off his chest. “Of course now I don’t give a shit what happens to her, and would prefer a very painful death…” his eyes widened in disbelief over the whole situation.
Lizzy agreed. “I can’t answer many questions on the subject, Charlie. However, I can tell you if she’d actually been pregnant, she would have survived it, being that she was a wolf.”
He pulled a Jack Howard, getting tongue-tied, the words getting all jumbled together. He wanted to ask what she meant, and how she knew this.
“Back when I was a human, so long, long ago,” she explained as if reading his mind, “my family was friends with a clan of werewolves. They were a peaceful clan, no idea if they still exist or not. And it was not here on the Isle, obviously. I was young when I visited them, maybe nine or so. I don’t remember a lot. But they had children. I played with them. Of course, both parents in that case were werewolves. And so were their children.”
“Hm,” was all he could answer, his mind reeling. “We’ve done so much research on the subject, and yet I did not know that.”
“You mean, William’s done a lot of research,” she scolded, playfully.
“Yeah.” He frowned. “There’s so many things I don’t know. Sometimes, I feel like I really suck at my job.”
“You live in a small world here, Charlie. But you’ll be pleased to know there is a solution to that problem.” He waited for her explanation. “Pick up a book now and then.”
“Right. Books…” murmured Charlie, his eyes glazing over.
Lizzy grinned.
“I usually leave the heavy reading to William. I prefer the hands on work. And speaking of that…” he turned off the stove, another explosive potion ready for the upcoming combat. He slid it to a cold burner to cool.
He let out a cleansing breath. None of this future talk mattered right now. Not until he was certain they all had a future. The night’s impending battle rattled its way back into his brain.
He glanced at the clock. Just going on ten-thirty in the morning.
He looked down at his cell phone. Not a single call. From anyone. No sign of William.
Charlie didn’t care whether he’d ever fall in love.
Or if William loved his sister, or she, him.
Right now, he’d give just about anything to find out they were safe. And if together, he knew without a doubt that William would see to it nothing happened to her.
The pit in his gut returned, knotting, and tightening.
He leaned against the kitchen island his arms holding him up, letting out an uneasy breath.
“We’re going to find them,” comforted Lizzy. “Luckily, they have us, and we aren’t the giving up types.”
“It’s just the not knowing. Not knowing if Eva is hurting them. What if they are…” Lizzy reached across the island and placed her hand on his, her gaze still focused on her potion in front of her.
“Get back to work,” she ordered him kindly. “We can’t help them by standing around worrying about it. What’s done, is done and…” her head flicked upward as Charlie let out a robust exhale.
“What?” she asked, concerned.
“Sorry. Nothing. You’re right.”
He felt like he’d just been in a head-on collision.
No, more like the ground had been pulled out from under his feet.
Lizzy had sounded so much like his mother just then.
It brought an instant deja vu of her standing in the same spot, saying the same thing. His mind’s eye almost saw her there, next to Lizzy, comforting him, at the same time passing along a very loud, very clear, message.
Message received, Mom. He had to say it. If even in his mind. It almost brought a tear to his eye. The meaning of it digging into him,
creating a new pit, this one deep inside his soul.
He looked up to see his father in the doorway. He’d heard it too. Although Charlie was sure it meant something different to him.
“Hey, Dad. Did you get some rest?”
His father nodded, entering.
Lizzy saw him and grinned. “Don’t you look dashing all cleaned up?”
Charlie noted in his father’s demeanor that he’d warmed up to Lizzy.
“It is sort of miraculous, what a hot shower and a shave can do. So where are we at in here?”
Charlie caught him up, while brewing up a new potion.
“Looks like we’re coming right along,” said his father. “No contact with anyone I take it?”
“No. Nothing. They haven’t made contact with any demands. What if something else happened to them? Something completely unrelated,” said Charlie.
“I suppose it’s possible. It’s just not likely,” replied Jack. “Still, I thought for sure we’d hear something by now. That they’d offer some sort of trade, or deal.”
“They don’t know we’re planning on attacking tonight,” reminded Charlie. “We could be working on two different timelines. Or maybe like you thought, Dad, they did expect we’d go rushing in last night.”
“And if that is the case,” said Lizzy, “we’ve thrown them off, and hopefully they don’t suspect an attack tonight.”
“I just hate to think what Eva might do if we don’t live up to her expectations,” insinuated Charlie. “If she hurts any of them…” He had to fight the urge to rush out right that minute to see what exactly was going on. They only assumed they were at White Pines, but they were not even certain about that.
No. They wanted the power source. It’s where they’d be.
“Let’s just keep at it,” encouraged Jack. “Day’s ticking away.”
“Yeah, it is,” agreed Charlie. “Too bad William isn’t here he’d whip through all these in minutes.”
“You depend on him a lot,” noted Lizzy.
Bite Me Baby! (Wicked Good Witches Book 7) Page 3