Ronan

by Teresa Gabelman

  “You can babysit.” Mira grinned at her. “A lot.”

  “Oh, right.” Kira snorted, crossing her arms. “You hardly let Drew out of your sight as it is.”

  “There’s a wedding to plan,” Mira added, giving Kira’s hair a tug.

  “Well, there is that.” Kira tugged back until they were smacking hands, laughing as they tried to stop and yet, outdo the other. It felt good to enjoy themselves for once, even though they were trying to yank each other’s hair out.

  “Stop it!” Mira laughed so hard she wheezed.

  “You started it.” Kira snickered, then suddenly remembered and stopped. “Wait! I forgot to tell you. Lana had a message for us. It was from Emilia.”

  “Oh my God. That’s good news.” Mira gasped, turning serious. “Is she going to reverse the curse?”

  “I didn’t get to ask.” Kira frowned, hating the disappointment on her sister’s face. “Lana just said she had a message from Emilia that someone was coming.”

  “Okay, who?”

  “I don’t know.” Kira bit her lip. “Maybe Orjyll.”

  “Damn, Kira, I wish we could talk to her.” Mira’s voice shook with emotion.

  “You can if she’s dead.” Tessa looked up from Drew. “Just ask Lana and Caroline. They’d do it, but don’t ask Sid or Jax. Go to Lana and Caroline. Go, I’ll watch Drew.”

  “Come on.” Mira pulled at Kira, but Kira wasn’t sure. It may be too dangerous. “Please, Kira. This could be our only chance. We don’t even know if that letter will ever reach her.”

  Knowing Mira was right, Kira let her pull her out of the kitchen. Once out in the hallway, they headed toward the staircase next to Sloan’s office when the door opened. A man she had never seen walked out, followed by Ronan and then Steve. Her eyes dropped to the amulet at his neck.

  “No,” she whispered, horror and betrayal hitting her like a truck and actually making her step back, knocking into Mira. Her eyes went to Ronan, who was watching her, his mouth moving, but she couldn’t hear what he said from the roar pounding in her ears.

  Her eyes went back to the man, who also watched her without emotion, his face a stone mask. This was not going to happen. She refused to be beaten. Crossing her arms across her chest, she looked toward the ceiling as the protection/banishing chant left her lips. She felt the wind start to stir, whipping around her. Soon she would be consumed, as would Mira.

  With a snap of her head, she stared at the man who was reaching for his amulet, but she was faster. Her hand shot out, sparks flew from her fingertips hitting his hand, paralyzing it from moving any further. The air around her swirled as Sloan’s office emptied and all were staring at her, but all that mattered was Mira and Drew. She would die protecting them from this man who wore the amulet of a witch killer.

  Chapter 7

  Ronan walked into Sloan’s office. Everyone stood around talking. A man he had never seen before stood in front of Sloan’s desk listening to Sloan. He glanced Ronan’s way before looking back to Sloan. He hoped this was the guy Sloan had told him about earlier. The sooner they could find this asshole Orjyll, the better.

  “Listen up.” Sloan called everyone to order. “Since we haven’t had any leads on Orjyll, and I want this shit taken care of ASAP, I’ve called in some backup. This is Bishop, and his brother Viktor will be joining us in the next few days. They are experts on hunting down witches.”

  Ronan wondered about those words, his eyes meeting Steve’s and knew he was wondering the same thing.

  “When you say hunting down witches, what exactly do you mean?” Steve asked before Ronan could.

  “Steve, don’t start,” Sloan warned with narrowed eyes.

  “Actually I’m wondering the same thing.” Ronan stepped forward, watching this man named Bishop closely. He always judged people fairly, never jumping to conclusions, but this was different. This wasn’t about him. This was about making sure that Kira, Mira, and Drew stayed safe.

  When Sloan started to speak, the stranger raised his hand, stopping him. “It means I’m good at what I do. You have a problem with anyone with magical powers, I can take care of it.” The man’s voice was deep and even, his stare direct. Good qualities in a man, but that wasn’t good enough for Ronan, not where Kira was concerned.

  “You a Warrior?” Steve asked, looking him up and down.

  “I am,” he answered, but he still stared at Ronan. “I take it you two are protecting the two witches here?”

  “Actually, that would be all of us,” Damon rumbled from his usual quiet spot.

  Bishop looked over his shoulder at Damon and nodded. “Noted.”

  “So why do you hunt witches?” Sid asked casually, his arms crossed as he too studied the new guy.

  “Depends on the job, but now I only hunt the ones not following the law.” Bishop’s grin didn’t quite reach his eyes, and Ronan noticed that immediately. Something was off, but Sloan wouldn’t have brought someone in that he didn’t trust. He just made a mental note to keep a real close eye on the bastard until he had proven himself trustworthy.

  “Do you hate witches?” Sid glanced at his fingernails, then looked up at the man. “’Cause I don’t know about you guys, but I’m getting a weird vibe.”

  The room was silent, all eyes on the new guy. Steve took a step forward, his frown turning into a sneer.

  “Best answer the man before I Sparta kick your ass through that wall.” Steve tilted his head, glaring at the man. “We’re waiting.”

  Bishop looked Steve up and down, then laughed. “Damn, Sloan. You’ve taught them well, my friend.” Bishop shook his head. “No, I don’t hate all witches. I’m here to help you, not harm the three that reside under your roof. I have a history with Orjyll, as does my brother. We’re on your side.”

  “Good to know.” Sid nodded, then glanced at Steve. “Sparta kick?”

  Steve stared at Bishop for a few minutes longer before he looked at Sid, then changed his voice in a deep theatrical manner, “This is Sparta… and then King Leonidas thrust kicks the guy into the never-ending well. The movie, 300.” When Sid just stared at him, he sighed. “Dude, you have got to watch more TV.”

  “Great movie,” Bishop agreed, then glanced at Ronan who remained stone-faced. “You have a problem with me?”

  “Don’t know yet,” Ronan replied without hesitation. “But I’ll be sure you’re the first to know.”

  “Fair enough.” Bishop nodded, then glanced around at everyone. “Sloan pretty much filled me in on everything, but no offense, I’d really like to talk to the witches—”

  “They have names.” Ronan cut him off.

  “Of course they do. I apologize,” Bishop agreed, but didn’t really look sorry. “I’d like to talk to Kira and Mira, because I’m sure they have more information than I’ve been given.”

  Once again, Ronan and Steve made eye contact, and he knew they were on the same page. If this fucker even made a move toward either one of them, he would be a dead man. Actually, he made eye contact with each Warrior in the room, and they all said with their eyes the same promise.

  “Ronan, you and Steve go get Kira and Mira. Meet us in the kitchen.” Sloan walked over and opened the door. Bishop walked out first, followed by Ronan and Steve.

  Ronan spotted Kira in the entryway. She looked first at him and then to Bishop, her smile fading as her eyes lowered. He watched as her face visibly paled, fear moving swiftly across her face as her eyes shifted back to his. The fear was replaced with something he never wanted to see again as she stared at him wide-eyed, betrayal.

  Her lips formed the word “No.” He barely heard it. The air around them seemed to electrify as it picked up with speed. He glanced quickly to the door that led outside, but it was closed. Before he could look back, Kira had crossed her arms, her head leaned back as she stared at the ceiling. The circulation of air swirled her long hair around her head as it snapped back down, her glare on Bishop. Words were coming out of her mouth, but he couldn’t understand t
hem as her arms spread wide. He had never seen such a beautiful sight, and yet it was wrong. Felt wrong.

  Ronan started to go toward her, but Bishop moved, and with lightning speed, Kira’s hand shot out. Sparks flew from her fingertips, staying his hand.

  “That’s impossible.” Ronan heard Bishop gasp, but couldn’t think more on it. The air in the entryway was getting heavy as it swirled like they were outside in a wind storm. It was amazing and yet a little freaky if Ronan were being honest.

  “Mira!” Steve went to make a move toward Mira, who was standing slightly behind Kira. She wore the same look on her face as she glanced toward Steve, betrayal.

  Kira’s other hand shot toward Steve as he moved closer, stopping him. Kira continued to chant, the words getting louder and faster. Her eyes, now on Steve, looked unfocused, as if something had overtaken her. Her hair whipped in all directions, her long shirt wrapping around her body then flaring out to wrap the other way.

  “No, Kira!” Mira screamed, trying to get toward Steve. “Kira, stop! They don’t know. Steve doesn’t know!”

  Ronan sprang into action, shocked at how hard it was to actually get to Kira. It was like she had formed a vortex around her and Mira, but he fought through it. Without thought, he slammed his body into her, wrapping her in his embrace. His body felt like it had been zapped with volts of electricity as they went to the ground. He did his best to keep his body from smashing hers as they hit the floor hard.

  “Kira, stop!” Ronan ordered through clenched teeth. The pain rushing through his body was off the charts, and he was afraid she was feeling the same. He stared down at her, his body still pressed against hers. Their faces were inches apart, and her hair was spread out around her like a halo. “No one is going to hurt you, but you have to stop.”

  The more he talked, the more focused her eyes became and as they looked into his, the same look of betrayal and fear came through. The swirling air eased. He could hear Mira crying and then screaming something, but he was focused on the woman beneath him and couldn’t make out what Mira was saying.

  “How could you?” Kira whispered. Accusation slammed into him, but the accusation of what he didn’t know. A single tear slid out from the corner of her eye and disappeared into her hair

  “Witch killer!” Mira’s hissed scream finally penetrated Ronan’s ears. When Kira slowly squeezed her eyes shut, as if in pain from her sister’s words, as if she couldn’t stand to look at him a minute longer, Ronan felt rage he never had in his life felt. Now he understood the look he never wanted to see in her eyes again when she looked at him. Kira felt betrayed by him, by all of them.

  In a fluid motion, he pushed his way off Kira, shooting off the ground like a rocket. His hand gripped the handle of his whip that was always on his side as he swung around. Bishop didn’t have time to react, but Sloan did. He reached out, stopping the whip as it wrapped around his wrist. Sloan didn’t even flinch.

  “Stand down, Ronan,” Sloan warned, unwrapping the whip from his wrist. “And put this away. It’s not needed.”

  The door suddenly opened, and guns were drawn. Ronan didn’t take his eyes off Bishop, knowing the Warriors had his back.

  “Late to the party as usual.” A man’s voice chuckled from behind Ronan.

  “Dammit, put the guns down!” Sloan’s voice rose above the growls. “Doesn’t seem my Warriors like your brother too much.”

  “Yeah, well neither do I most days,” the man replied, and Ronan could feel him getting closer. “What the hell did you do now, brother?”

  “The amulet,” Bishop replied, also glaring at Ronan, but then glanced at the other man with a nod toward Kira and Mira.

  Ronan finally took his eyes off the Bishop asshole to glance at the stranger. “Viktor?”

  “Well, I’ll be damned, McDonald.” Viktor looked surprised. “Never thought I’d see your sorry ass again.”

  Ronan and Viktor shook hands. Ronan was still shocked to see a very old friend, who in truth he had forgotten about; it had been so long ago. He turned to look at Kira, who was staring at him once again with that look of betrayal on her face, along with fear. Realizing it had been too many years to count since he had seen Viktor, he didn’t really know him anymore. Nor did he know what he had been up to since then, but he knew for a fact Viktor never mentioned he had a brother.

  “What’s the meaning of the amulet?” Ronan looked back to Viktor and the amulet before watching the man’s eyes. Ronan had only to look into the eyes of a horse to know how hard he or she was going to be to break. He was never wrong because the eyes never lied. He had learned that the eyes could tell him everything he needed to know, and to this day, that had never failed him.

  “I’m here to help, friend,” Viktor, who was a large, intimidating man, replied without answering his question.

  “That’s not what I asked.” Ronan frowned as he readied himself. Whatever it took he would make damn sure Kira was safe. People changed, and it had been a long time since he had seen Viktor. “And you never told me you had a brother, friend.”

  The tension in the room was thick, but Ronan ignored everything other than finding the answers he wanted.

  “The amulet is worn by men who kill witches,” Mira said, her voice shaking.

  Viktor sighed with a shake of his head. “Mira Grail, we mean you nor Kira harm.”

  “You lie!” Kira hissed. Her voice still shook, driving Ronan crazy. Her fear did something to him, and he didn’t like it. It pissed him off, sending his rage over the edge.

  “I do not lie, witch,” the man replied, not unpleasantly, but there was a certain sinister sneer to his lips. “If I lied, you’d already be dead.”

  Ronan stepped into his line of vision cutting off Kira. “You forget,” Ronan growled. “You’d have to go through me first, and that definitely won’t happen, Viktor.”

  Chapter 8

  Kira slowly stood, her eyes on the matching amulet the new stranger wore. She knew exactly what it represented, and it repulsed her. “You both wear the amulet of a witch killer,” Kira accused with both words and her eyes.

  “And you are no ordinary witch, are you?” he shot back, his eyes going from her to Mira and then back again.

  Kira ignored the bastard’s statement, but unease seeped into her soul. She searched the eyes of every Warrior until they fell on Ronan. “Did you know?” she asked, afraid of the answer.

  “You really have to ask me that question?” Ronan replied, without answering her direct question.

  Kira nodded, then cleared her throat. “You obviously know him.”

  “And you obviously don’t know me.” His response was quick and to the point.

  The sadness sweeping over Kira surprised her. Deep down she had hoped he would deny knowing anything about these two men, but his inability or stubbornness told her more than answers ever would. “No, I don’t.”

  Kira turned her full attention on the man staring at her. She could feel his eyes on her the whole time, and it made her skin crawl.

  “Stay away from me and my sister,” she warned, not knowing how much good it would do, but she tried to sound strong and badass, the total opposite of what she felt. She turned to look at Mira. “Let’s go, Mira. This is not the place for us.”

  “It is for her,” Steve replied, gaining Kira’s attention, actually gaining everyone’s attention. “I trust Sloan and know he wouldn’t bring anyone here who would do harm. That’s why I’m not going batshit crazy here and taking them out.”

  The man called Viktor snorted, but Kira ignored it.

  “Mira?” Kira knew the answer to the unspoken question as she looked straight into her sister’s eyes.

  “He’s right,” Mira replied, looking quickly away from Kira. “They’ve done so much already to help us, and I trust them. We have to start trusting people who want to help us, or we are going to lose. I’m tired of running, and I have Drew to think about now.”

  “Exactly.” Kira took a step closer to her sist
er, but stopped. “And that is why we need to leave. To keep her here, around them, is too dangerous.”

  “I know I freaked out when I saw the amulets, but we haven’t even heard them out, Kira.” Mira frowned, and Kira knew that angry glint that sparked in her sister’s eyes. “Didn’t you hear me? I’m tired of running. I have a family now and if these men can help, well then, I want to hear what they have to say. I’m sorry.”

  “But—”

  “Just hear them out,” Mira pleaded, but she had taken her stance, and Kira knew her sister well enough that there would be no budging her. “For once listen, Kira. Let someone help us.”

  “I don’t associate with witch killers,” Kira hissed her disappointment.

  Mira pulled away from Steve and walked straight up to Kira. “Neither do I,” Mira hissed back with anger, then looked toward the two strangers. “Are you witch killers?”

  When they remained silent, Kira threw her hands up in the air as if their silence proved her point. “I’m out,” Kira said, her eyes begging Mira. “It’s not safe here for you or Drew.”

  “She is safer with me than anywhere,” Steve butted in, but Kira ignored him.

  “I’m leaving.” Kira’s voice softened. “Get Drew and come with me.”

  “No.” Mira shook her head. “Leave if you must, but I’m so done with that life. This is your choice, Kira. I won’t try and stop you, but it’s a mistake, and I think deep down you know it. You find excuses because trusting anyone is just too hard for you.”

  The words her sister spoke cut so deep she felt exposed to everyone staring at them. “Drew is—”

  “My daughter, Kira,” Mira said, as if she had to remind her of that fact. “And I will make the decisions regarding her. You don’t have to take care of me anymore. Actually, you never did. That was a role you took upon yourself, and I thank you for all that you’ve done for me. But I’m staying until the end or I die. I refuse to raise my daughter the same way we were raised, paranoid and on the run. I’m done with that life. So please, never again ask me to leave because the answer will always be the same.”