Beyond Bewitching

by Mellanie Szereto

  Rather than backing off, he followed his instincts. “You don’t like accepting help from anyone. I get that. But I’ll be damned if I’m going to let you twist an ankle navigating a trench in high heels.”

  From the edge of the road, Tanner shot a grin over his shoulder. “He’s stubborn, Sarah. Sometimes it’s easier just to do things his way.”

  Her breathy sigh suggested she was short on patience. “I am stubborn as well.”

  Not wanting to engage her in a verbal battle, John forced his lips closed to keep his thoughts to himself. Winning the war was far more important than a minor skirmish.

  Evening chill crept into his bones as they hiked along the deserted road. Neon lights flickered on several hundred yards ahead of them, and he prayed to the Goddess that the sign marked a motel. Too many unseen dangers lurked in the falling dusk. The psychopath might be following them, or the Triad elder could easily spy on them, risking not only Sarah’s plan to destroy him but Sarah herself.

  John had meant every word of the oath. He would die to protect her if necessary, but the prophecy couldn’t come to pass if he and Tanner failed to save her and themselves. She would provide the means to create a new generation of Xanthus witches and warlocks—children empowered with her superior abilities in witchcraft and his and Tanner’s telepathy. The line would grow strong again after decades of decline from defending against the Black Triad.

  Together, he, Sarah, and Tanner would bring the future to the clan.

  We’ll get one room. Tanner’s voice in John’s head startled him. She can’t be left alone.

  I’ll stay with her while you go in to get the room. See if we can stay at the end of the building away from the office. The words on the sign finally came into focus, and John adjusted his hold the luggage.

  Sarah pulled her hand away. “You two are talking to each other without speaking again. If you expect me to trust you, then no more buzzing in my ears.”

  John nearly dropped the suitcases in an effort to regain physical contact with her. She could tell when he and Tanner were communicating telepathically? Was she already that deeply connected to them, or was she simply that perceptive?

  Luckily, Tanner grasped her elbow before she could attempt to disappear, with only the red mist to guide them in her wake. “The majority of communication is done through our minds, Sarah. As children, we were taught to practice it to keep ourselves safe. If you wish for us to speak in your presence, we will speak.”

  Glancing back and forth between John and Tanner, she frowned. “I do. You are Elemental warlocks. What other powers do you have?”

  Her astute observation brought a rush of panic to John’s already frayed nerves. Did she know everything about him? Few in the clan were even aware of their gifts, and that she recognized their heritage meant Naga might as well. “It’s almost dark. We need to hurry.”

  She stopped dead in her tracks. “You refuse to answer?”

  Ready to hand the luggage to Tanner and toss her over his shoulder, John struggled against the urge to sigh. “Not here. Not now.”

  Tanner threw him a warning look. “When we get inside. We’re almost there.”

  The wariness in her eyes told John if they didn’t tell her the truth, she’d leave them behind the first chance she got. “I’ll take you at your word this time. Lie, and I will never trust you again.”

  He nodded. “Let’s go.”

  They were silent the last fifty yards to the motel office, John’s jaw muscle twitching at the prospect of revealing one of his most private secrets. His mate deserved to know what he was capable of—especially since he was privy to knowledge about her that she had yet to discover—but he’d hoped to earn her acceptance and loyalty first.

  Following the sidewalk to the main office, Tanner paused. “Sarah, wait here with John. I’ll be right back.”

  Her gaze seemed to track him as he entered the building, talked to the clerk behind the counter, and exchanged money for a key. With a nod, Tanner turned toward the door. He rejoined John and Sarah outside, leading them down the length of the motel to the last door. The lock snicked open with a twist of the key in the knob, and he flipped the light switch as he pushed inside.

  Harsh light glared off the dark brown, bright orange, and olive green cover of the lone bed in the room. A scuffed dresser was the only other furniture, and a partially open door hinted at a bathroom.

  Tanner set his suitcase on the floor. “We’ll have to share the bed. Last available room.”

  The tension level increased a hundredfold at his statement, Sarah instantly stepping away from them. “I don’t require sleep. You may have the bed.”

  John’s stomach knotted. Her reason for giving up her third of the mattress didn’t fool him for a second. “You need to rest too, and we would never touch you like that without your permission. A man who takes from a woman for his own pleasure is no man.”

  Tanner clenched and unclenched his fists, his anger about the abuse she’d suffered seeping through their mental connection. “John and I will take shifts sleeping. We’ll have to wait until morning to eat. The manager said everything’s closed this late.”

  Determined to gain some ground with her, John laid the luggage on the end of the bed and backed away. Maybe telling her the truth about his abilities would earn him a place at her side. “Besides being able to communicate telepathically with each other, Tanner and I are trackers.”

  She stilled as if waiting for the information that would give her complete control over him. If she knew his Elemental power, she would know his weakness and how to fight against it.

  Leaving himself vulnerable might convince her to trust him. “We’re also horse shifters.”

  Chapter 6

  Retreating to the bathroom, Sarah closed the door and sank down on the edge of the chipped and stained porcelain tub. Her captors possessed a power equal—no, greater—than hers. Shifting into one of the most magnificent creatures on Earth made Tanner and John not only stronger than her but far more worthy of the gift. Her ability to change forms had come with the symbol on her back and her association with the Triad. Elder or not, her power wasn’t inborn like theirs, only simple witchcraft.

  She’d always been comfortable with the belief that the tattoo had given her the strength to shift, travel through time, and influence the thoughts of others. Those acts were separate from her somehow. Had Naga enabled her to perform tricks she already should’ve known as a witch?

  Who am I? What am I?

  Lack of self-definition chipped away at her confidence, reminding her of the weak girl who’d tolerated her husband’s cruelty. How many times had she begged the Goddess to send her someplace she could be alone?

  The overwhelming compulsion to allow John and Tanner to care for her also brought out the need for isolation. Fear of succumbing to the intense attraction to them had forced her to widen the physical distance between her and the men who’d managed to find, follow, and capture her. Knowing their strength—and weakness—engaged her emotions, and she hadn’t let anyone get close to her in centuries. Why had she insisted they tell her?

  I don’t want to become Sarah again.

  She drew in a long, slow breath, trying to ease the tightness in her chest. Instinct had caused her panicked reaction to Tanner’s pronouncement about sharing the bed, but the images that formed in her mind had induced the kind of response her girls at the brothel would’ve experienced when offered a night with two handsome patrons. A spasm had shuddered through her pussy, sending a rush of heat and wetness between her thighs. Even her nipples had hardened to stiff peaks.

  In all her interminable life, her body had never wanted before. The smell of sexual need had permeated Wyndham House, but desire hadn’t been hers—until now.

  During her marriage, Percy Ellington had carried the stench of greedy thirst for power. He hadn’t lusted after her body for sex. He’d gotten off on intimidation and domination of a helpless woman, feeding his attempt to prove he was a power
ful man. His pitiful pleas for a quick death had brought her satisfaction in his final moments, but in months of recurring dreams afterward, his echoing whines quickly began to trigger disgust and utter revulsion. He would’ve made the perfect follower for Naga and Kazmer.

  A soft knock on the door set her heart racing.

  “Sarah, I have some food. Will you come out and eat?”

  Her stomach somersaulted at the sound of Tanner’s voice, and she closed her eyes to calm the effect. Hell had been her prison for three and a half centuries, and she’d survived. She had no wish for desire to take its place. Allowing her body to rule her mind would destroy her.

  “Sarah?”

  Gathering every ounce of courage she could muster, she stood and walked to the door. Her hand trembled as she reached for the knob and turned it, anxiety stealing her voice. With less than two feet between her and Tanner, she could only stare at him.

  His brown eyes softened, even while the razor stubble on his jaw dubbed him rough and rugged. “Are you hungry? I forgot I bought some jerky in New Orleans.”

  Behind him, John held out a piece of dried beef. “You should eat. All that time jumping had to have drained your energy.”

  Exhaustion?

  Was that the reason she’d gotten emotional? Could it be affecting her state of mind?

  She took the offered snack, careful not to touch John’s fingers. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Why don’t you take the bed? I’ll crash on the floor until it’s my turn to stand watch.” He paced the few steps to the bed, grabbing a pillow and dropping it to the carpet. A moment later, he was stretched out beside the dresser.

  Moving away from the bathroom doorway, Tanner stopped at the foot of the bed. He held up a package. “Help yourself if you want more. Best twenty-five cents I’ve ever spent.”

  The men’s behavior confused her. Rather than getting angry with her for hiding out in the bathroom, they’d gently coaxed her out and given her what little comforts they had. Why did they have to be nice to her? She’d threatened to kill them, after all.

  Tanner lined up his eye with the peephole to the outside. “The little girl I bought the jerky from told me which way you went. We probably wouldn’t have found you again so quickly without her help.”

  “Adeline, the shop owner’s daughter.” Sarah nibbled on the strip of seasoned meat as she took a few small steps toward the inviting mattress. Neither of her captors seemed to notice her hesitation. “I knew someone was watching me. How did you find me?”

  The men exchanged a look before John levered up on elbows to meet her gaze. “Luck mostly. We trailed you from the Macska estate to Texas after their matriarch destroyed Kazmer, but the time tunnel dropped us out in the middle of nowhere instead of taking us to your destination. When we were about ready to give up the search for you in that time, we came across a horse. A big bay gelding. Because we’re horse shifters, we can communicate with non-shifters. He told us about your journey, where you were headed, and how you set him free. We found traces of your essence by the abandoned wagon.”

  What were the chances of all those events leading them to her?

  Tanner checked the locks and then stepped away from the door. “The Fates decided it was time for us to find you.”

  The Fates?

  Those fickle bitches had left her for dead long ago. Why would they suddenly wish to influence her life? “I don’t believe in the Fates. Our actions and those of the people around us determine what happens in our lives. As John said, you got lucky.”

  “And you’ve had a harder life than most.” He closed in on her, and just as panic pushed her to flee to another place and time, he halted. “I’m sorry for that, Sarah.”

  A faint buzzing in her ears sparked her temper. “If you have something to say, then say it! I’ve had enough of your secretive chatter!”

  John was on his feet in one lightning-quick movement, yanking back his partner’s hand when he reached for her. “I told Tanner to give you some space. That’s all. You get this wild look in your eyes whenever we get too close. We’re not going to hurt you.”

  Whirling away, she blinked against the stinging tears in her eyes. She’d rather risk turning her back to them than allow them to witness her emotional weakness. The last time she’d cried, she’d awakened to find her son dead, but the mourning had been overshadowed by her persecution and death by fire. Her confinement in jail had prevented her from attending his burial. Even in the years she’d spent in hiding, she hadn’t dared visit his final resting place or focus on the devastating loss. Feeding her rage had been her lone goal.

  She breathed in a slow inhale to relax her tight throat. “You can’t hurt someone with the ability to escape at will.”

  A low growl came from behind her. “I wasn’t referring to assaulting you.”

  Gathering all the sarcasm she could unearth, she barked a laugh. “You think I have feelings to damage? I lost my capacity to suffer human failings centuries ago. Nothing you say or do will affect me.”

  John’s voice softened. “You adapted to survive, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t affected. Accept your goodness, Sarah. There’s kindness and generosity inside you.”

  They saw goodness in her? No, that perception had to have come from the markings on her lower back. She was too good at hiding her inner thoughts for them to decipher her motives, and they were incapable of lying to trick her. Their eyes revealed souls far more honest and loyal than the average person.

  “I’m sorry.” The remorse in Tanner’s apology reverberated through her chest. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. Why don’t you try to get some sleep while I stand watch? I promise to stay over here by the door.”

  Footsteps moved away from her, and the distance brought a chill to her bones. She stifled a shiver as she turned to make sure they hadn’t vanished. Confusion warred with desire. They stood less than five feet from her, but it seemed like inches and miles.

  Too close, yet too far.

  The light touch of something when they’d studied the tattoo came to the forefront of her mind. Had they drugged her or added to the design? They might’ve pledged to protect her, but it could’ve been a ruse concocted to fool her into trusting them. Could she have read them wrong?

  Backing away, a dozen possible destinations raced through her head. Only escape remained a constant. Desire was a human weakness, and she couldn’t allow them to have power over her—no matter the strength their shifting ability gave them. They couldn’t outrun her through time.

  Her vision blurred and then cleared. Maybe they’d poisoned her with jerky. She hadn’t witnessed either man eating any of the dried meat. “What did you do to me?”

  She stumbled, reaching for the wall as the floor tilted beneath her feet. Muffled sounds suggested John or Tanner was responding to her question, but she couldn’t discern any words.

  Her rubbery legs gave out, and she prepared to collapse on the wavering carpet. The floor came up to meet her, and suddenly she landed on a pillowy surface, its welcoming softness dragging her deeper.

  This is how it ends? You are safe from the Black Triad’s evil for a time, fragile world.

  * * * *

  Hesitant to invade Sarah’s personal space, Tanner missed his opportunity to carry her to the bed when John hauled her falling body into his arms. Tanner could only guess she’d crumpled from exhaustion. The stress of time jumping, learning she wasn’t really an elder of the Triad, and being tracked by John and him had to have sapped her energy.

  John settled her head on the pillows as he laid her on the bed. His frustration carried to Tanner through their connection. “She thinks we did this to her. Damn, we have our work cut out for us. I thought she’d at least give us a chance when we pledged ourselves to her.”

  Her skirt hiked up, showing off a good portion of her shapely thighs, and Tanner forced his gaze higher to keep his dick under control. “Do you think knowing she isn’t an elder has something to do with what hap
pened? I mean, she probably expects to have less strength as the witch she is. Maybe it’s messing with her mind.”

  “That could be part of the problem.” Folding the covers over her, John sat down beside her. “I’m wondering if we should take her to a safe place until she recovers. We’re sitting ducks if he decides to send his followers to find her.”

  They were on the same wavelength as usual. Even omitting the name of the place and the identity of “he,” Tanner had no trouble knowing exactly where and who John referred to. “Let’s do it. She could sleep for two hours or two days, and I’d rather not risk detection.”

  Grabbing the luggage from the floor, he positioned the two bags in a line with the suitcase on the end of the bed, their edges touching. Then he scanned the motel room for any evidence of their presence. Not seeing anything else, he placed the key on the nightstand and lay down next to Sarah while John mirrored the action.

  Linking his fingers with hers, Tanner rested his feet against the bag at the end of the bed and reached over his mate. “Ready?”

  John huffed out a noisy breath and extended his outer arm across Sarah. He was clearly as tired of zipping through time and space as Tanner. “Yeah.”

  With their forearms locked together, he and John wove their thoughts into a single spell.

  Through time and space, our trio travels,

  Into the lair, where truth unravels,

  Bringing peace to careworn souls

  And giving shelter beneath the boles.

  Blessed be and harm to none.

  Goddess, let your will be done.

  A loud bang assured Tanner they’d made the right decision—in the nick of time. The outer door burst inward as they were sucked headfirst into the tunnel the spell had formed. Guttural voices followed them, even when the passageway closed behind them. Tightening his grip on Sarah, he tried to streamline their shape into an arrow by tucking his head against her shoulder. John’s shared thoughts informed Tanner he’d done the same.