by Unknown
Gareth’s jaw clenched. “No offense, but that’s your family out there. I have no idea whether or not you’ll be able to fight when push comes to shove.”
“I know you don’t trust me, but I am an Own. I will go in there and stop what my father is trying to do and you will not stop me.” Gen’s gentle green glow reappeared, a sure sign, to Jo at least, that Gareth had lost this fight.
“Let it go, Gareth.” Jo ignored the low, almost continual growl rumbling from Gareth’s throat. “She’s right and you know it.”
“Fine.” He pointed his finger at the Own. “But if your ass goes down I’m not saving it.” He turned his back on her and began slowly stalking through the trees. “Fucking Godwins.”
Only Jo saw the pain his words caused. She shot Gen a glance, hoping it wasn’t as full of pity as she feared it was. Gareth was going to give Gen one hell of a hard time before he accepted their mating. “Fucking men.”
Gen’s lips twitched, but she didn’t respond. She followed Gareth, her footfalls silent, wrapped in serenity.
“Freaky.” Jo watched Chris shake his head. “I don’t think I’ll ever get over the glowing thing.”
“Chris? There’s more than just Davis out there. Hugh Godwin is with him.”
“Fuck. Thanks for the heads-up. Keep your eyes open. If you see a Godwin?”
She nodded. “Howl as loud as I can.”
“Be back soon.” And Chris disappeared in the footsteps of Gareth and Gen, leaving Jo by herself. She leaned her head back against the tree and bled.
“Well. This sucks rocks.”
Zach crouched behind the bush and glared at the man in the hooded robe. Kerry—and it was definitely Kerry under the bruises, dirt and blood—was barely conscious. How the fuck had they known Kerry was Daniel’s? And why take her before they’d mated? It made no sense, but nothing these assholes had done made much sense to sane people.
“You’re lucky I need you alive.” Davis Godwin stepped back and glared around the clearing. “Hugh!”
“What?” A younger, carbon copy of Davis poked his head around a tree to his father’s right.
“Strap her to the altar. I might not be able to use her soul yet, but I have a few surprises I’d like to set up for when the Becketts arrive.”
“Don’t you think that will be sooner rather than later now that the bitch disappeared?”
“What is she going to do? Send up smoke signals?” Davis shook his head. “No, she’s stranded here until they figure out where we are.”
Too late, asshole.
“You don’t think they’re already headed this way?”
“Why would they be? The crystal showed them putting the girl to bed.”
“And them leaving.” Hugh was already looking around, almost as if he sensed the presence of the Beckett brothers.
“So you think they already know where we are?”
You betcha. Zach inched forward, careful to make no sound.
Davis was so intent on his son he didn’t see Daniel slide up behind Kerry and begin to cut through her bonds. Good. He didn’t want the mundane girl caught in a magical firefight. She’d be completely helpless, possibly brain fried by the magical energy that would swirl around them.
Daniel would take care of Kerry. It was up to him to take care of Davis and Hugh.
“Father.”
Zach closed his eyes. Not now, damn it! Daniel hadn’t finished freeing Kerry. So why had Gen chosen this moment to step into the clearing?
She glowed so brightly it was almost impossible to see her. Her hair whipped around in a wind that didn’t exist. Her eyes were the only part of her that he could see easily.
Those eyes were clear, the intent in them firm. Genevieve Godwin was going to destroy her father even if it destroyed her in the process.
“Genevieve. I’ve been expecting you.” Davis turned and fired at the tree, snarling in rage when Daniel yanked Kerry out of the way just in time. “Bitch.”
“I know you are, but what am I?” Daniel sang out from the trees.
Zach rolled his eyes and stood, pulling his wand from the pouch at his hip. He pointed it at Hugh Godwin, who stared at him with wide eyes. He narrowed his own and mouthed “Pow.”
Hugh Godwin took the coward’s way out. He turned tail and fled into the trees, hopefully into the waiting arms of Gareth and Chris.
“Get back here, you coward!”
“It’s done, Father. Your coven is gone, your sons scattered, your altar broken.” There was a strange, echoing quality to Gen’s voice Zach had never heard before. It shivered through him, called to something deep inside him, deeper than even his wolf went. His wolf bowed before that something, allowed it to come to the fore. Allowed like to recognize like.
Gen was channeling the Goddess herself.
“My altar isn’t broken.”
Gen raised her fist and smashed it into the altar. The altar broke in two, neat as you please. Green fire licked along the edges, cleansing away the blood that had pooled on it. “It is now.”
Davis backed up, horror etched into his features. “What have you done?”
Black smoke curled up around the edges of the altar. Gen stepped toward it, only to go reeling back, coughing, her glow dimmed at the edges where light met dark.
Zach stepped out from behind his bush, shocked. “What the hell?”
“Possibly.” Gen moved to flank Davis, who was gibbering insane nonsense. “Be on your guard.”
Zach’s attention returned once more to Davis. He realized the man wasn’t spouting gibberish, but some complicated spell that had nothing to do with a human language.
Zach didn’t want him to finish what he’d started. He lifted his hand and sent Davis sailing into a tree, knocking the wind out of the warlock and ending his devilish chant.
“Zach, look out!”
Gareth rushed between him and the altar, taking a hit from a black tendril that reached out and wrapped itself around the wizard with startling, hungry speed.
“No!” Gen’s howl pierced through the Goddess’s voice, a woman’s cry of loss.
Zach was acting before she’d finished. He pointed his wand at the altar, ready to blast it to pieces.
Gareth moaned. A look of pure bliss crossed his face. His head tilted back, his mouth fell open. His eyes squeezed shut as he shuddered.
Fuck. Tell me he’s not enjoying having his soul shredded!
Then Zach saw the same look on Gen’s face, and knew why she thought Gareth would hate her. The Own was somehow inside Gareth, fighting the darkness that threatened him, her essence twined with his. A faint glow emanated from Gareth’s skin, green as bottle glass. The black tendril reared back, repulsed by…whatever the fuck Gen was doing.
Zach didn’t have time to figure it all out. He had to keep Davis—and the fucking thing inside the altar—busy long enough for Gen to free Gareth and for Daniel to get Kerry out. He glanced over at where he’d left Davis.
The man was gone.
“Shit!” He whirled around, barely stepping out of the way of the descending knife.
“I wonder how much power an Own would give me?” Davis was crazed, his eyes glittering dangerously. “I was only going to take your mate and let you die horribly. Instead, I think I’ll take you.”
“Good luck with that, asswipe.” Zach’s glow intensified until it rivaled Gen’s. “You’re going down.” Zach held up the amulet Chris had given him. Hecate’s Wheel faced the warlock. The wolf nestled against his palm. He narrowed his eyes and poured everything he was into his plea.
“Hecate, Lady of the Night,
Help this witch to put things right.
What evil this man has done
Let it now be undone.
By the law of three times three,
As I will so mote it be!”
The last phrase thundered in the air as Zach poured his will into the amulet and lashed out at Davis Godwin with all his might.
The sound that poured from Da
vis was never meant for human throats. Darkness leapt from Davis’s body into the shattered altar, becoming one with the evil miasma that still surrounded it.
And out of the knife that fell at Davis’s feet, white light poured forth as the freed souls of at least three witches took flight, forever free of the Godwins.
The last thing Zach saw was Gareth, his expression shocked, leaping toward him.
Chapter Eighteen
Jo tapped her fingers against her thigh and kept an eye out for roving Godwins. The pains in her arms, legs and especially foot were growing. She’d need to get that checked out before infection set in. They’d need to go soon. She was starting to feel a little woozy. “I’m Henery the Eighth I am, Henery the Eighth I am, I am. I got married to the widow next door, she’s been married seven times before, and every one was an Henery Hene-ry! She wouldn’t have a Willy or a Sam no Sam! I’m her eighth old man I’m Henery, Henery the Eighth I am!” Jo took a deep breath and another glance around the grove. “Second verse! Same as the first! I’m Henery the Eighth I am—”
“Gods, what has this man been eating?”
Jo jumped at the grumpy sound of Gareth’s voice.
“Anything he can get his hands on?” Gen’s voice was so weary Jo had to wonder how badly the battle had gone.
Wait. Who is Gareth carrying?
Jo stood, not caring who heard her moving about. If Gen and Gareth were this close and this grumbly, things must have gone well.
Gareth and Gen stepped through the trees. Gareth had Zach slung over his shoulder, Gen’s hand keeping him steady. “He’ll be all right.”
“He’d better!” Jo limped over as quickly as she could. “What happened?”
“He poured too much of himself into stopping my father.” The sorrow in Gen’s face was matched by the weary slump of her shoulders. “He’s dead.”
Jo’s heart stopped. “Wh-what?”
“Oh! No, no, no! My father, not Zach! Zach’s just burned out. He’ll be fine with rest and food.”
Gareth had the most peculiar look on his face. He refused to look at Gen. “Let’s get him out of here.”
“Where’s Hugh?” She knew one of the Godwin boys had gotten away. Had the other?
“He booked when he realized the odds were against him.” Gareth marched forward, Zach swaying boneless in his grasp. “Let’s go, ladies. Time’s a-wasting.”
Gen schlepped forward, her feet dragging. The Own looked beaten, defeated.
Jo placed her hand on Gen’s arm. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
Gen stopped, her head dropping. Jo could feel the tension in her. It had to suck knowing that your family, the people you were supposed to love and trust most in the world, were psychopaths. “Thank you.”
Jo blinked, confused. She had the feeling Gen hadn’t been talking about her father.
Jo limped after them, more worried about Zach than any infection. She kept her eyes open, just in case Hugh decided to take a parting shot at them.
They arrived at the sandy beach to find Chris, Daniel and the beaten blonde waiting for them. Daniel was standing over the blonde, arms crossed, a scowl on his face. The blonde glared at him defiantly, but Jo could see the way her hands trembled.
Chris rubbed his hand over his face. “Kerry, Lana’s going to want to know you’re all right. You know how she gets.”
“She’ll freak out. Besides, you know she doesn’t want me involved in the woo-woo stuff.”
“She was trying to protect both of you.”
Kerry shrugged. “Whatev.” She winced. “Hospital. Gonna need one. I’m pretty sure I have a broken rib.”
“Shit.” Daniel bent down and picked her up. “We need to get back across the river.” He climbed into the passenger seat, Kerry settled on his lap. “Where the fuck is Zach?”
“Right here.” Gareth carefully lowered Zach’s unconscious body to the ground. “Davis is dead. Glowbug lit his ass like the Fourth of July.”
Daniel looked torn, but stayed put, keeping the squirming blonde on his lap with a well-placed, muscular arm. “Will he be all right?”
“She says so.” Gareth pointed toward Gen with his thumb without looking, his voice taking on an odd timbre. Jo couldn’t place it, but if push came to shove she’d say it was embarrassment.
“He needs lots of food and rest. He’s depleted his reserves. Every action has a price, and Zach is paying for saving us all.”
Chris nodded. “Anyone else hurt?”
“Me.” Jo limped forward. “But I think that’s it.”
“There’s a dead body back there with no marks on it, a dagger that’s…shit.” Daniel ran his fingers through his hair wearily. “I’ve never seen anything like it, man. The metal’s twisted, the handle cracked. I don’t think anyone will be using it as anything other than scrap ever again.”
“The souls cleansed the blade when they were freed.” Gen collapsed wearily on the sand, her eyes closed. She looked fragile. “I’m going to need some alone time soon.”
“What?” For the first time since they met up with her Jo saw Gareth look at Gen. And the expression on his face did not bode well for the Own.
“There’s always a price to pay.” Gen’s eyes closed, but she didn’t pass out.
“Fuck.” Gareth ran his fingers through his hair. “And our handy-dandy car skipper is still passed out. How do we get back?”
Chris and Gareth stared at the car. “Good question.”
Gen sighed. “I can open a portal to the other side of the river.”
Chris stared at her. “You can?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Jo tried not to giggle when Gareth scowled. “Why didn’t you say so? We could have avoided that!” He jabbed his finger at the river. He looked so put-upon, she had to wonder what they’d…
Wait.
She stared at the SUV, just now registering the significance of its presence. “Um. How did the car get here?”
They hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Gen since she’d opened a portal wide enough to get the car through. Jo had no idea what the Own’s price was going to be for channeling the Goddess the way she had, but from the way Gen’s body had drooped she bet it was going to be significant. Gareth was still a little wild-eyed around the Own, so it was no shocker that he’d also managed to disappear. Whether they were together or not was anyone’s guess.
Jo was thinking not. Every instinct she had screamed that Gareth would need to come to terms with whatever Gen had done that had messed so much with his head before he’d be able to accept the Own as, well, his own.
Kerry and Jo had been to taken to the hospital, where they’d claimed the truth. They’d been kidnapped by some crazy guy who was into devil worship, and they’d been lucky to escape with their lives. Since the kidnapping had occurred in Pennsylvania but the victims had been taken across state lines, the feds were called in.
Kerry and Jo decided between them that the Beckett name would be kept out of it. Hugh and Arthur Godwin would also be kept out of it. Mundane feds couldn’t handle two warlocks.
Hecate’s Own would hunt them down. Jo knew Zach would be right in the middle of it.
“Hey.”
Jo looked up, shocked to see Prince Roland standing at her bedside. “We have to stop meeting like this.”
Roland smirked. “Hospital gowns look so good on you though.”
Jo bopped him on the arm with her book. “Where’s Ari?”
“Outside, talking to some very growly men. Who the fuck are they, anyway?”
Jo shrugged. “Probably the Becketts.”
She could practically hear Roland’s teeth grinding together. “When are you coming home?”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“Am not.”
“Are too.”
“Am not.”
“Are… Jo. Please don’t do this to me. It’s undignified.” He hitched up his leg until he was seated on the side of her bed. “Besides, I’ll tell your mothe
r you were mean to me.”
Jo’s head dropped back. “Why oh why did we have to be kindergarten buddies?”
“You’re just pissed because she likes me better.” She felt him brush her bangs off her forehead. “You okay?”
And there was her friend, the one she’d have done anything for just a few short weeks ago. “Believe it or not, I’ve never been better.”
He snorted. “You sure about that?”
She lifted a hand and pulled aside the shoulder of her hospital gown, exposing Zach’s mark. His indrawn breath was all the answer she needed.
Roland groaned. “Damn it. I owe Ari ten bucks.”
Jo giggled. “You should know better than to bet against your wife.”
“I know. The woman’s a shark.” His hand gripped hers. “Don’t leave the court, Jo. You’re one of the few people who keep me sane.”
She opened her eyes and squeezed his hand back. “I have to be where Zach is.”
He nodded. “So be it.” He stood, and Jo wondered what he was up to. He had that look on his face that had gotten her into way too many scrapes in grade school. “I’ll see you soon.”
She frowned. Her eyes narrowed dangerously. She broke out her Brünnhilde voice, ready to do battle on Zach’s behalf. “Roland…”
“Not the voice, not the voice!” He ran out of the room, leaving her laughing in her bed.
“Nut.”
“Yes, he is, but he’s a worried nut.” Ari swept in, sniffed the crisp, ten-dollar bill in her fingers, and sighed. “Ah, I love the smell of defeat in the morning.” She grinned and flopped into the chair next to Jo’s bed. “You know, we have to stop meeting like this.” She propped her feet up on the edge of Jo’s hospital bed. “Well?”
Jo laughed. “Yes, we’ll invite you to the wedding, just so long as Roland doesn’t try to still my fiancé.”
“Got it. I’ll put a leash on him.” She leaned forward and propped her chin on her hand. “Details.”
Jo’s brows rose.
“Length, width, motion in the ocean. C’mon, girl, spill.”
“Please don’t. It might scar me for life.” Daniel walked in. “Zach is awake.”