by Unknown
“What?”
He popped the M&M into his mouth. “Thanks for the snack.” He had the feeling he’d be seeing a lot of green M&M’s popping up around the place before he was done. The lecture Annabelle had given Daniel on acceptance seemed to have hit Gareth the hardest. Of all his brothers Gareth seemed to be the only one truly taking his fuck-up in stride. He seemed determined that Zach would too.
His gut churned for a brief instant, distracting him from his spell. Somehow he suddenly knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Gareth was going to need that ability to accept others more than anyone could understand.
Zach blew out a chocolate-scented breath and rubbed his hands together. “Okay, let’s rock this thing.” He ignored Chris’s chuckle and concentrated on what he really wanted in a future mate.
It took him a bit to drive Jo’s image from his mind. He could not cast this spell on a particular person. To do so would create a karmic backlash that would result not only in his destruction but the destruction of the person the spell was aimed at. Using magic to force another being to do your will was anathema to all the known laws of magic. Only warlocks could get away with crap like that, and as Annabelle liked to say, they merely paid the price at the back end instead of the front.
Zach didn’t want to find out what she meant by that. He had the feeling it was bad.
So, the question was, what did he want? Other than Jo.
He forced thoughts of Jo away once more and concentrated on the spell. His perfect mate would be strong, strong enough to stand up to the wolf in him, the dominant male he did everything he could to hide from his brothers. He knew deep inside that there was a part of him dying to get out, to prove itself to the family. Hell, to the world. He needed someone who could bring that out, help him tame it. Hone it.
Make it into a weapon that could save people.
Zach frowned. Save people? What the hell?
He shook his head and moved on to the next item on his list. His chosen one would accept the fact that his magic didn’t always work out the way he planned. He needed someone who understood that Zach was different from everyone else. Whether Lana was right, and he was the most powerful witch she’d ever met, or Jo was right and he was a complete incompetent, he wanted someone who loved him no matter what.
When he thought about it, it boiled down to one thing. He wanted someone who believed in him. He didn’t care if they were a witch or a wizard, or even one of the rare good warlocks. He just wanted someone who wanted him, the complete Zach, bumbles and all. Hell, at this point he’d be tickled pink with a human so long as she loved him.
Although he had to admit, he’d be less than pleased to get a bad warlock. Those people were seriously fucked in the head.
He felt someone poke him in the side, trying to hurry him along, but he ignored it. He knew he wasn’t quite done yet. Chris had mentioned thinking about desired physical characteristics, so Zach focused on that next. He’d always been partial to dark-haired girls with liquid brown eyes, full lips and hourglass figures. No stick women for him. Zach liked a girl with curves, the more the better. He wanted a woman shorter than he was, not that difficult since he was roughly six feet tall. And he wanted someone who was strong in her own right, a woman who didn’t need to be in Zach’s pocket twenty-four-seven. Zach hated clingy women with a passion. He wanted to be able to go to a ball game with the guys and not get called and texted twenty times in the first inning.
Zach touched the blue piece of paper he’d written his wishes down on. All of it, the desire for acceptance, the dark hair, the strength, were written there and waiting for the fire. He could feel the power building within him, white hot and blinding in its intensity.
“Holy shit.”
He ignored whoever had whispered. Without even opening his eyes he held out his hand and dropped the sheet of paper into the flames. He then moved his hand until he felt the pulse of the Beckett ring under his palm though he didn’t touch it. He didn’t need to. He opened his eyes and focused intently on the two red candles.
It was time.
“I call on forces higher than I,
To awaken the dreams that I hold inside.
Venus, grant me the love that I lack;
With this spell my mate attract!
This candle for her,
This candle for me.
When they touch,
United we’ll be.
Kindle the love,
Kindle the flame,
When we meet, she’ll know my name
By the power of earth and fire,
Bring unto me my heart’s desire.
By the power of air and sea,
As I will so mote it be.”
As he chanted, the two red candles, one carved with the symbol for female, the other marked with the symbol for male and bearing a lock of his hair, shifted toward one another. Already they were almost touching.
The ritual was working.
He repeated the chant two more times, invoking the power of three, and felt the spell settle in his bones. The last of the paper burned to ash in a puff of red smoke.
“Dude. Tone it down.”
Zach opened his eyes to find Daniel staring at him in shock, his mouth hanging open. “What?”
“You’re glowing.”
“What, again?” Zach looked down at himself. Even through the black leather of his glove he could see his own light. “Huh.”
Daniel snapped his mouth shut. “Right. Just another day in Zach’s World.”
The way Daniel stared at him left Zach feeling uncomfortable. Because when Daniel got that particular look in his eye Zach wound up in a world of trouble.
Just a fraction of a second more and she would have hit that deer.
Jo’s heart raced, her hands trembling as she pulled into the long driveway leading to where Ari had told her Zach’s house was. Something was off, wrong, and she was trembling from more than the adrenaline rush.
She could have sworn that deer had glowing red eyes.
Jo shook her head. It had to be a side effect of the concussion, seeing something that couldn’t be there. But still, her instincts were rarely off, and they were screaming at her Danger, Will Robinson, the warning loud and clear. At night, she could have dismissed it as the glow of her headlights. But in the fading afternoon light?
No way in hell. What had Zach gotten himself into now?
She parked outside the protections she sensed just on the edge of the driveway, eager to find Zach and make sure he was all right.
She stared at the house in front of her, feeling more confused than she ever had in her entire life. The Registry entry on most of the Beckett family had been fairly mundane. Wizards for more centuries than she cared to count, the Beckett’s main claim to fame was the curse they lived under. A witch named Theresa Langhorn had been jilted by Andrew Beckett, Zach’s ancestor, who’d decided it was more prudent to marry a fellow wizard than the witch he’d bedded. In retaliation she’d cursed the entire Beckett family with lycanthropy. And not the hairy-faced genetic condition humans thought lycanthropy was.
The Becketts really did turn into wolves. And there hadn’t been a daughter born into the Becketts since the curse went into effect. They were all males, and all werewolves.
She stifled a hysterical giggle. From the pictures in The Registry the Beckett boys were definitely all male.
It had taken a few generations but the Becketts supposedly lived in harmony with their inner animal now. There was a strange notation about a spell and the women the Becketts married, but she’d glossed over it. She’d been more interested in reading the main part of Zach’s entry into The Registry.
The only blue-eyed brother, Zachary Beckett’s entry read distinctly different from the rest of his family. It was no surprise that initially, the brothers had thought him nothing more than a witch. But someone with the experience of Annabelle Evans should have known better than to send him to court without any warning.
People like Za
ch needed special handling.
She blew her bangs out of her eyes and debated what to do next. Should she ring the bell? Should she call first and see if he was even there?
And if Annabelle was there, should she protect herself from the other witch first?
And what if Ari’s friend was already here? Would Zach still allow Jo to help him?
“You look like a woman with a lot on her mind.”
Jo screeched and whirled around. “Who the hell…?” She blinked up at the dark-haired, amber-eyed man with the cheeky grin. “Oh. You’re a Beckett.”
That grin turned into a laugh. “Yes, I am. And you’re a…?”
She held out her hand. “Johra Yashodhar.” She shook the huge paw the man held out. “I’m here looking for Zach.”
That easy-going grin tightened into something a lot more dangerous. “Are you?” She found herself pulled forward. “Are you one of the people who made my little brother upset?”
She cleared her throat. “Gareth Beckett, I assume?”
He nodded.
Oh great. I’m being held by the future Wizard King and he looks like he wants to take a chunk out of my ass. She blinked, thinking about the Beckett curse. Literally. “Look, I’m here to help.”
“And apologize.”
He had no idea. “And apologize.”
He let her go, setting her back gently. “Good.” The grin lightened back up. He began tugging her toward the front door, his stride easygoing until she tugged back. It was like trying to stop a moving mountain. “He’s inside. How did you find this place, anyway?”
“He listed it in the Archives as his place of residence.”
Gareth’s head whipped around, a lightning-quick frown on his face. “What?”
“It’s listed in the… Look, I hate repeating myself. I’m here, he’s here, and I need to see him. Can we go inside, please?” She gestured toward the two-story house seated at the inner edge of the woods.
“After you.” The future king bowed to her and waved her on.
She took the challenge and stepped forward. She knew he’d sooner chew off his own paw than hurt her unless she gave him cause to. Every instinct she had told her this man would protect those he considered weaker than him.
She had to wonder what he made of Zach, then. Had he tried to protect the younger man? Had that hindered Zach’s growth? And did he know now what his baby brother truly was?
She shivered as she passed through some sort of protection. It whispered over her skin, satin soft. Behind her she heard Gareth grunt, whether in surprise or approval she didn’t know or care. All she wanted to do was get to Zach. During the flight into Philadelphia it had become a compulsion, the need to see him, check him. Make sure he was unharmed. That screaming instinct that had sent her running to his Cleveland townhouse was at full throttle, and Jo was terrified something had happened to him during the time it had taken her to get from there to here.
Wherever here was.
She was in a hilly, wooded area somewhere between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. It had taken her an extra twenty minutes just to find the driveway, but it had been worth it.
This place was beautiful. She could understand why Zach would come back to it for comfort.
“Welcome to my brother’s home.” Gareth reached around her and opened the front door. “Chris! Guest!”
She wiggled her finger in her ear. “Wait. Chris?” This wasn’t Zach’s house?
“Hey.” Another tall, golden-eyed man greeted her at the front door. This one had something Gareth didn’t. There was a smiling brunette tucked firmly by his side. “Can I help you?”
“I’m looking for Zachary Beckett.” Jo held out her hand. “My name’s Johra Yashodhar.”
The woman’s eyes narrowed. Her mouth opened. “You—!”
The male holding her slammed his hand over her mouth. “So you’re Johra, huh?” Jo wasn’t certain what happened next, but he hissed in a breath. “We’ve been expecting you.” His voice was strained. His hand lifted off his companion’s mouth and he shook it out with a wince.
“Why are you here?” The woman pulled herself from the Beckett man’s arms. She stood toe-to-toe with Jo and glared at her.
What the hell has Zach been telling these people? “I’m his teacher. He left court without asking permission.”
The woman’s eyes narrowed. “He’s twenty-four. Do you want him to ask permission to go potty too?”
“Lana.” Her companion pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh.
Gareth merely laughed. “Down, tiger. I have the feeling this one is the answer to some prayers.”
She turned to stare at the oldest Beckett brother, but his expression remained the same.
Jo wasn’t fooled. He had to be pretty powerful if he was next in line to be the Wizard King. But Jo refused to back down. She’d come here for one reason only, and damn if the Beckett brothers were going to stop her. She poked Gareth in the chest and used what Ari called her Brünnhilde voice, the one that always sent her students scurrying to their seats. “Take me to your brother.”
A snort of amusement sounded behind her. “I take it this is the teacher Zach’s hot for?”
Jo turned to find yet another golden-eyed man staring down at her. This one had a slight sneer on his face, one she wanted to smack off.
“Excuse me?” What exactly has Zach told his brothers about me?
“Jo?”
She looked beyond the brothers surrounding her and right into the blue eyes she’d been dying to see. “Zachary.” She pushed past the other men and walked right up to her former student. “Are you all right? What the hell is going on?”
Thank the gods, she’d finally found him.
Zach stared down at Jo, a chill racing down his spine. “What are you doing here?” He’d felt her presence on Chris’s land long before she’d come in with Gareth, but he’d hoped he was wrong.
Shit. It wasn’t supposed to suck to be right.
She frowned. “What do you think? You disappeared without a word to anyone. When I tried to find you your house attacked me, your mentor tried to bind me, and…” She huffed out a breath and Zach knew something was seriously wrong. “I have a very bad feeling you’re going to need me.”
“You need to leave.” Dear Lord, no. This can’t be happening.
Her eyes went wide. “Do you know what I’ve gone through to get to you?”
He took hold of her shoulders and turned her toward the door. “Bye, Johra. Have a nice life.” Because one of us should.
“I’m not leaving, Zach.” She fought him, pushing against his hands, refusing to allow herself to be turned toward the door.
He didn’t have the heart to force her. He could see what his brothers couldn’t. Pain dulled the deep brown eyes he’d studied for weeks. Fatigue made her shoulders droop. And concern for him highlighted it all.
Zach closed his eyes and realized he’d made his own personal hell. “Do you have a place to stay tonight?”
Silence. He opened his eyes to find her staring up at him. “Where? We’re in East Bumblefuck. There isn’t exactly a Comfort Inn nearby.”
“Central Bumblefuck, actually.” Chris walked around to stand behind Zach. “I’m sorry, but if my brother wants you gone?” Chris shrugged. “You’re out of here.”
“You don’t understand.” Johra grabbed hold of Zach’s arm, the contact burning through him. “He needs me.”
“Like a hole in the head.” Annabelle entered the room, her bare feet making no sound on the hardwood floors. “Get out.”
“But—”
“Now!” Annabelle pointed toward the door. Her voice took on a weird commanding tone Zach had never heard before. “Go.”
Johra, eyes wide, went out the front door without a peep.
His jaw dropped in shock. I wonder if she can teach me that trick.
Gareth closed the door behind Johra. “Well. That was fun. I just love picking on girls.” He crossed his arms over his chest
and stared at Zach. “Want to explain that one, little bro?”
“No.” Zach turned to leave the room only to find Chris blocking his way. “Not now, Chris.”
“Zach, you know you can talk to us, right?”
Zach shook his head. Not about this. This one was his fault. He couldn’t drag his family into it. “I need to be alone for a few minutes.”
Chris backed off, but Zach knew his brother wasn’t done with him yet.
“Hell, if you don’t want the little hottie I’ll go after her.” Daniel made a move toward the front door.
Zach didn’t even think. His arm moved, and Daniel went flying. He crashed into the wall with a dull thud. “Don’t even think about it.”
Daniel tried to stare him down, but Zach knew that right here, right now, he could take his brother. Daniel needed to stay the fuck away from Jo or Zach wouldn’t be able to control his reactions.
“Calm down, Zach.”
Annabelle’s order went right through him, barely brushing against his senses. He kept his gaze on his brother, allowing the wolf out long enough to snarl.
Daniel turned his head away first.
Zachary left the silent room and made his way to Chris’s workroom. He shut and locked the door behind him. He collapsed into Chris’s overstuffed chair and groaned. “What the hell am I going to do?” He stared at the two red candles. One of them bore a lock of his hair.
They were touching.
He thought of Jo and her declaration that she knew he needed her. She had no idea how right she was.
Alasdair jumped onto his lap and began to knead his thigh.
Zach petted the cat, his head dropping down wearily. “I’m so screwed.”
How could he explain to her that he might have accidentally cast a love spell on her?
Chapter Six
Something was stalking her. Something close. Something evil. She could feel its hot breath on her neck, strong with the stench of decay. Underneath it was the smell of hot, fresh blood.
Jo wanted to gag.