by Lila Kane
“Yes, I saw her. And we’re not going to be able to help her if we’re not on the same page.”
I can feel him walking up behind me, feel the heat from his body and the energy running through him. But he doesn’t touch me.
“Are we on the same page?” I ask softly.
“Yes.”
I turn, staring into his eyes. “Are you sure? Because this morning, you weren’t on the same page as me. You were on the same page as Morgan. And–”
“I just found out she was lying. Dammit, Willow! You have to give me time to adjust. I thought Morgan was telling the truth.”
“And I told you I didn’t trust her. I’m your fiancée, you’d think you’d believe me over her.”
“That’s low, Willow. And you know that’s not how it is at all.”
“No? Because that’s what it looks like from where I’m standing. If you don’t trust me, if you think influencing me to get what you want is how it’s going to be in our relationship, then we don’t have one.”
A muscle works in his jaw. He sets his hands on his hips, barely reining in his anger. “Sorry, I don’t accept that.”
“You’re going to have to,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
Logan shakes his head. “Fuck that.”
And before I know it, his mouth is on mine like a fever. I’m so surprised, I slump back against the wall. If I had more energy, I might have fought back, but his hands are on my arms and he’s kissing me like he hasn’t seen me in years.
“Logan,” I protest.
He doesn’t back down, only hikes my leg up so it’s around his hip. “We belong together, Willow.”
His words travel straight to my heart. He’s right. We do belong together.
“But–”
His mouth covers mine, silencing what else I have to say. I wrap my arms around his neck and return the kiss, sliding my tongue against his. He groans at the contact and squeezes my butt with one hand.
“We need each other,” he murmurs before kissing my neck.
I nod. “I know.”
When he hauls in his next breath, I ease back as much as he’ll allow. “Hold on.”
He squeezes me tighter and smiles. “I am.”
“Logan, listen.”
His breath is warm on my cheek when he leans in. “I’m listening.”
“I’m sorry about Morgan.”
“Me too. I should have believed you.”
I nod, relief seeping in.
“Tell me we’re still in this together,” he whispers, lips touching mine.
“We’re still in this together.”
“Tell me you’re still going to marry me.”
I touch his cheek, my heart melting. “Yes, I’m still going to marry you.”
He crushes his mouth to mine again while sliding his hand to the back of my head to hold me close. His fingers tangle in my hair.
Moved by love for him, I press as close as possible in a hug and hold on tight.
“Willow,” Logan whispers.
I don’t let go.
“Willow,” Logan says again. “What is it?”
“Are you going to help get the girl out?”
He tries to ease me back but my arms are locked around his neck. “Hold on,” he says.
My lips move in a small smile. “I am.”
I hear the brief amusement in his voice when he says. “I’m part of this team. I need to help.”
I lean back, staring at his face. The sharp eyes and the narrow slope of his nose. A mouth that’s been quick to smile the last several weeks, and the canines behind it that say he’s a full vampire now.
Just like his brother.
“I’m part of the team, too,” I say.
He touches my jaw. “Yes, you are. An important part. Which is why you need to stay here.”
He covers my mouth with his hand when I try to protest. “We all agreed. I think you should take that into consideration. Every single person in this house cares about you. We all want what’s best for you.”
I swallow, unwilling to give in just yet.
Logan presses a kiss to my lips. “Kane has very little reason to hurt the rest of us, and every reason to hurt you. You’re the one he wants. He can’t get to you here.”
Biting my lip, I nod. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Yes. I’ll stay here. But not in this room.”
He narrows his eyes at me. “That might not be the best idea…”
“I can’t be in here, Logan. What if something happens to one of you?”
“Then you’ll stay put and deal with it.”
My mouth drops open. I slide along the wall to get out from his grasp, and then walk to the invisible barrier. “That’s a terrible deal.”
“Then, I’m sorry, but you’re not getting out of here.”
Logan steps past me and through the doorway, moving with ease to the other side. I lift my hand and press it against the barrier.
“Don’t do this,” I say to him, my voice catching.
His eyes soften. “It’s just until we get back.”
“No, Logan–dammit!” I shove my hand into my hair, squeezing at the roots. “Fine. Fine. I promise I’ll stay here. On the property. Just let me out.”
His chest moves up and down in a few deeps breaths. He’s considering it.
“You don’t want me stuck in here,” I continue softly. “If someone does get on the property somehow, or something else happens, you don’t want me stuck in here, unable to defend myself. Do you?”
He swallows and shakes his head. “No. But you’re not staying here by yourself either. The werewolf should be here. And maybe James.”
“Go tell them to let me out,” I say.
Logan reaches through the invisible wall and touches my cheek. “I trust you, Willow.”
And with that, he walks away. He trusts me. Which means I have to stay here. I have to do what I promised. But, dammit, it’s not going to be easy.
I pace in front of the front door, my phone clenched tight in my hand as I wait to hear from the rest of the group. Diane is standing in the shadowed corner of the hallway, looking almost as nervous as I feel while James watches me as I wear a path on the hardwood floor.
“Willow,” James says.
I shake my head at him.
“They’ll be fine.”
My answer lodges in the back of my throat, a heavy lump that won’t go away. It’s bad enough that the group is going to potentially face Kane, but even worse that Morgan is there. Once she finds out we know about her, she’ll be officially on his side. She’ll use her powers against us. Against Logan.
I reach for the door handle, then pull back. I glance at James. “I’m going to check.”
He frowns. “Stay in the house.”
“I’ll project myself there. Just to make sure.”
Diane shifts from the corner, her arms folded. She’s got a defiant stance but her eyes glint with anxiety. “Doesn’t that like…use your energy? You probably want to save it.”
“She’s right,” James says. “They’ll call if they need you.”
“And what if they’re hurt or something’s happened and they can’t call?”
“And what if everything is fine, you waste your energy, and then you can’t help if something does happen?”
“Dammit,” I say, opening the door anyway. “Stop being logical.”
James follows me as I step out the door.
“Don’t worry, I’m just…” I’m not sure what I’m doing. Trying to feel closer to the group, I guess.
My phone dings with a message and I hastily push the button to check it. It’s from Logan.
Tripping fire alarm.
“What?” James asks. “Everything okay?”
“They’re causing a distraction.”
My fingers start buzzing. My stomach clenches.
“What’s wrong?” Diane asks, joining us at the doorway.
“How do you know something�
��s wrong?”
She looks at my hands. I follow her gaze and see the low glow of blue. My fingers are pulsing at a slow speed, like a beacon telling me something’s off.
“Do you think it’s something happening there? Can you really tell all the way over here?” James asks.
“I…” Closing my eyes, I listen as closely as I can.
Diane and I hear it at the same time. Low whispering, and the sound of footsteps.
“Someone’s here,” she says.
James straightens, staring out into the darkness. “Who is it?”
My hands start to ache. “Kane’s sent people, too.”
“Shit,” James murmurs. “They can’t come in, though. They’re stuck out there.”
“Yeah, but they’ll be able to intercept the others when they come back. Or…”
Suddenly, the sky lights up with a bright flame. It shoots across the sky, coming toward the house.
“What the hell is that?” James asks.
I suck in a breath and fling my hands toward the fireball, making it explode. Ashes and fire rain down into the gravel drive as another fireball comes our way.
“What are they doing?” Diane asks.
“Go the border. See if you can tell how many there are,” I tell her.
She nods, dashing into the darkness.
“We know you’re in there!” someone yells, voice rising into the night. “Come out, come out wherever you are!”
More fireballs rain in our direction. I ward most of them off, but they’re coming faster than I can deal with them. One lands on the porch and James stomps on it, only to jump back with a hiss of pain.
“What?” I glance back at him before exploding another ball of fire.
“Shit, shit.” He drops to the ground, yanking off his shoe.
“What–?”
The fire eats through his shoe, and when he tosses it away from him, it gobbles the shoe like it’s made of acid.
“Oh my God,” I whisper, dodging as a drop of fire falls nearby. “What is it?”
“Someone’s enchanted the fire or something,” James breathes, eyes squinting in pain.
“Did it get on you?”
“Just a little–watch out!”
Two balls of fire shoot toward us. “Go inside!” I shout.
“Willow–”
“I have to wait for Diane, and I can’t let the fire get on the house.”
With a deep breath, I hold both hands over my head, pushing as much energy as I can toward the sky. My phone dings again in my pocket, but I leave it there, concentrating on my hands. On the energy. Slowly, a blue dome forms, a canopy over our heads. The flames crackle against the dome, and then fade away.
“It’s working,” James breathes.
“Clever witch!” someone calls from the darkness. “But you’re outnumbered! We just want to talk.”
Diane runs back to the porch, her breathing quick. She glances down at James’s bare foot before saying, “At least four.”
“Four? How can they have four?” I ask, scanning the darkness.
“He’s building an army,” James murmurs. “Again.”
“But–” How is that possible? Were there more I didn’t know about? Or others… “Are they paranormal? Could you tell?”
“How can they be shooting enchanted fireballs?” James ask, staring at his foot.
“Because someone enchanted them. They’re just the delivery men.”
“Morgan,” James says.
I nod.
The same voice speaks up from the shadows. “Come to the border. Let’s have a little chat.”
“Not a good idea,” Diane mutters.
“Willow,” he calls. “Just talk.”
“No!” I scream back, frustrated. While we were busy planning our rescue mission, Kane was busy planning an attack on us. And I have a bad feeling these people aren’t even paranormals. They’re just regular townspeople he influenced to do his dirty work. Maybe to distract us from Morgan’s meeting with him. Or just to screw with us. To show us he still has the upper hand.
“Come on,” he says. “You don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
The blue dome overhead starts to fade. “Shit.”
I lift my hands, ready to make it stronger.
“No.” James grabs my arm. “Save your power. Just in case.”
“I’ll give you one more chance,” the voice calls, “or else.”
“Or else what?” I yell back.
This time the ball of fire shoots straight toward us. Before I can block it, it slams into Diane, knocking her down. She screams in a voice so raw and full of pain, it sinks to my toes.
I drop to her side as she writhes on the ground. James yanks off his shirt and tosses it on her, trying to put out the fire. It only fuels the flames, making Diane scream louder.
“Help! Help! Ahh!” Her voice echoes in the night and I swear I hear chuckles in the distance.
“James, here.” I grab his hand over the top of Diane, careful to avoid the fire. “Help.”
I close my eyes and murmur a spell, sending mellow waves of blue in her direction. James’s power links with mine and a wave of aqua flows over her, soothing the flames. Her face relaxes, and her body stops wriggling.
James makes a low sound in his throat. When I look up at him, his nose is bleeding. I barely register my phone dinging again.
“Can’t hold on,” James says.
I release his hand and lean over Diane. She’s lost consciousness, her head turned to the side. I fumble for her neck, pressing my fingers to the artery. Nothing. My heart leaps into my throat.
“Diane!” I shake her shoulders. “Diane! Oh my God. James–”
He’s struggling to sit up, but the blood is still dripping from his nose. “Willow. It’s too much–”
“We have to help her. Diane! No, no, no…”
I press my hands on her chest, ready to give her CPR. The burns on her skin are still hot, making me jerk back with a hiss. I look at my hands, gasping when I see the blisters.
“God, no. Diane!”
“Willow,” James tries again. His eyes start to roll in his head.
“Don’t pass out on me. James, please, I need your help.”
The voice calls from the darkness. “There’s more where that came from. Next time, just come and talk. We’ll settle this like adults.”
“Screw you!” I scream.
His chuckle reaches my ears briefly before fading away.
Swallowing a roll of nausea, I close my eyes and summon as much energy as I can. Positioning my hands over Diane’s chest, I push every last bit of power I have and let it pour out of me. Waves of blue stream from my hands, forming a shield over her. I feel my nose drip, see the blood as it falls onto my arm, but don’t stop.
James grips my hand weakly. “No. More.”
But I can’t stop. Not until–
And then Diane gasps, yanking in a full breath of air. Her eyes flash open, surprise in them. I slump against her as my stomach pitches.
“Willow,” she mumbles.
I use the last of my energy to reach into my pocket and pull out my phone, typing in a message to Logan before the world fades away.
HELP.
Chapter 13
Something is on my mouth. The pressure makes me sputter, and then cough. My eyelids flicker at the same time arms scoop me into a tight embrace.
“God, Willow, oh God,” Logan murmurs, saying my name over and over again. “You’re okay.”
“Logan, I need to see her,” Faye says.
“Not yet,” he growls. He puts his palms on my cheeks so he can look into my face. “You can breathe, right?”
I exhale, but it hurts my lungs. “Logan…”
“What the hell happened?”
“Diane,” I whisper. I shift in Logan’s grasp. We’re in the hallway, the dim lighting making it hard for me to focus, even with my sharper eyesight. James is crouched on the floor with his head between his knees. Myra kneel
s next to him, her hand on his shoulder.
Faye’s gripping my arm, and Logan won’t let go, but I have to find Diane.
“Willow, listen to me. I need–”
Diane steps from the kitchen and I bolt from Logan’s arms, reaching her in a heartbeat. My knees are shaking, my throat still raw from screaming at the faceless voice in the shadows, and my hands burning from the fire. But she’s here.
“You’re okay,” I say softly.
She blinks, as if surprised to see me on my feet, and then tosses her arms around me. “You saved my life.”
I stumble back, unable to support her weight. Barely able to support mine. Logan catches me by the waist.
“Easy,” he says, pulling me close. “Let’s sit.”
“Where’s Ryan?” I ask, trying to break from his grasp. “And Cheyenne?”
“It’s fine, Willow. They’re downstairs. We got the vampire.”
“You got her?” I look up into his face, see the strain in his cheeks and at the corners of his mouth.
“Yes. We’re keeping her in the room downstairs just in case. Faye,” he says, nodding his head to the living room.
He helps me to the couch, and Faye sits next to me. Her eyes shimmer in the low light, but she doesn’t say anything as she takes my hands and examines them.
Logan kneels in front of me. “What happened?”
“They came here.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know. Someone helping Kane.”
“They didn’t look like paranormals,” Diane says quietly from the doorway. “But they had fire. Like…nothing I’ve ever seen before.”
“It was like acid,” I murmur, staring at the burns on my hands. “It ate right through James’s shoe. I thought it was going to burn down the house, or–” My voice cracks and I swallow, trying to moisten my throat.
“I’ll get water,” Diane says.
“They couldn’t come in but they had fire somehow. Painful fire, like it was enchanted.”
Faye makes a noise of distress. “It was magic,” she says. “Done by a witch.”
“Morgan,” Logan growls. “I’m going to kill her.”
“Did she see you?” I start to stand but he presses his hands on my knees, giving them a squeeze. “Logan–”
“No, wait. I’m not going anywhere. Just hold on.”
“Did she see you?” I ask again. “Does she know we know the truth?”