Aurora’s Coven: The Lost Coven | Book 1

by K. A Knight

  “Just my mind...” he whispers, and something inside of me breaks.

  “I’m here,” I say quietly.

  His eyes roll around, seemingly in disbelief.

  “Great, now, I’m hearing things, too,” he mutters.

  Unable to say why, I want him to know I’m here, to know that he’s not alone. I step closer again until my jeans almost brush against his bound legs. For the first time, I realise he’s bare-chested. Muscle after corded muscle greets me, and I greedily look my fill. To my shock, a bar pierces through each nipple. I lean forward, curiosity fills me, and my breath moves over his pale skin. He jumps, and I lean back.

  Anger and confusion swirl in his eyes. He felt that. I grin naughtily. Instead of doing the dirty things I imagine—because I have some self-control... I think—I allow my fingers to graze his cheek.

  “I’m here,” I whisper. “Can you feel me?”

  I cup his cheek, allowing my warmth to pass to his freezing face. The smells of old blood and after a lightning storm make my nose twitch.

  “Yes.” His eyes sharpen now, trying to find me. I stroke next to the cut. “Who are you? What are you?”

  My hands still at his questions. I hesitate, and it’s like he knows.

  “Are you real?” He stops. “Are you really here?”

  I shake my head before realising he can’t see me.

  “I don’t know. I woke up here. I don’t know if this is real.” My hand rests on his cheek, but I drop it.

  “Don’t.” He closes his eyes in pain. “Please, don’t leave.” It comes out softly, so quiet I almost miss it. The words pierce my heart and echoes inside me, resonating with my own fears. I place my hand on his chest, above his heart, and it speeds up.

  “I don’t know who you are, or where you are, or if you’re even real. But if you are, I promise I will find and free you,” I vow, and it’s like the world holds its breath.

  The man shakes his head in sadness. “Don’t, I know I will die here. It’s not worth risking your life.” He eyes meet mine, and even though it’s impossible, I swear he sees me.

  “Find my family, please. Tell them to stop searching.” Before I can ask who and how, a clanking sounds, and footsteps follow. His breathing picks up as a partially healed cut on his chest slowly opens. A slow trail of bright red trickles down his chest, but he doesn’t even flinch.

  “Go,” he whispers. When my hand remains on his heart, he tries again. “Go!” he shouts.

  I step back, letting my hand fall away. Resignation and defeat enter those beautiful eyes, and I promise myself I will save him. The room fades around the edges as the steel door unlocks and swings open behind the man.

  “Ugh,” I moan as I wake up.

  The room is pitch black, and I’m in a bed. I flop onto my back and stretch. I swallow against the dryness in my mouth. I’m extremely thirsty, which must have been what woke me up. I stop stretching as a shiver wracks over me. My room is always warm. I frown, sit up, and stare at my feet on my clean bed in shock. The surrounding bedding is soiled with dirt, and my feet are filthy.

  Holy shit. Was the dream real? If so, who was that? How could it be real? More questions pile up until I almost explode. I try to think through it logically, but I draw a blank. I could ask Tom if something like this is possible, but that would only open up additional questions.

  I remember I packed some old family books as I was leaving home. I wonder if they might have something useful in them. With determination, I stride out of my bedroom, only to stop when voices drift from downstairs.

  “What the monkey fuck...” I whisper to myself. I hesitate, then lean over the railing to view the floor below. Ben is on my sofa with Nev curled up on him. Traitor. Trying to ignore the fact I’m jealous of my dog, I look around further. Ezra leans against my fireplace. Amber-eyes paces in front of him. The other guy, who I’ve seen once, reclines on my sofa and reads a book. I rub my eyes, hoping I’m imagining things.

  “I can’t believe how out of it she was.” Ben rubs Nev’s head.

  Huh, is he talking about me?

  “It must have been a crazy powerful spell,” Ezra replies, not budging an inch.

  “That’s what I’m worried about, that kind of power is uncommon. Not to mention it will attract others.” Amber-eyes stops and drops to the free chair with a sigh. They all eye each other.

  “Was anyone else drawn to her?” Comes a soft voice from the red-headed man. He sets the book he’s reading aside to glance around. They all share guarded glances and nod.

  “I’ve never felt anything like that, it’s like she called to my magic,” Ben says cautiously.

  They can’t be on about me. I scrub my hands through my hair as memories tumble through my head of what happened tonight. My cheeks heat when I realise how I acted. Oh God, I’m never going to face them. I was like a toddler on crack.

  “Anyone else thinks it’s a coincidence she’s here?” They all watch the red-head until he crosses his legs and folds his arms across his chest. “Come on, we came here, searching for Mikael, and we find her? It’s suspicious.”

  He stops when all the others stare at him.

  “You don’t think she has anything to do with Mikael disappearing?” he asks.

  As they all consider it, confusion and a little anger fill me. Shit, they really think I could do that? And who is Mikael?

  “We have no idea. But he’s still missing, and she’s here. I don’t know what she’s capable of, but I sensed a darkness tonight. It wasn’t from her,” Amber-eyes declares, making eye contact with every single one of them.

  The red-headed man glances away. “Yes, but she’s obviously powerful,” the man argues.

  “But to overthrow Mikael? And then keep him prisoner for all this time, c’mon man,” Ben scoffs.

  The red-headed man hesitates. “Maybe he’s dead...”

  A sharp inhale echoes but I can’t tell who it came from.

  “We would know,” Ben says quietly.

  “It’s not her.” Ezra’s been silent all this time until his voice cuts through the argument.

  “She’s hiding from something, maybe it’s the same thing we are hunting. I’m not sure, but I felt her. It’s not her.” Ezra’s voice sends my heart pounding.

  What does he mean he felt me? They all consider his words, but more questions pop into my head.

  “Either way, we need to keep searching. Don’t let your guard down. Something is going on here.” Amber-eyes gives out the order, and they all nod, even Ezra.

  Knowing I won’t get any answers and feeling weird for spying and not wanting to get caught, I tiptoe back into my room and throw myself on my bed.

  “What the hell is going on,” I mutter into my pillow. Intending to hide in here until they leave, I get comfy.

  12

  - AURORA -

  Hiding in my room for most of the morning seems like a good idea until my stomach starts to roar, reminding me I’ve usually eaten the whole sweet aisle by now. It’s the downside of being a fatty, my own stomach betrays me. Nev made his way in some time this morning and stares at me.

  “Yes, fine, damn, I’m finished hiding.”

  He barks, and I groan. Bracing myself, I head downstairs. No one is in the living room. I cock my head listening. The house is silent, and I do a little happy dance. They must have left some time during my pity party. At least, I don’t have to have any awkward morning after talks; really, this is more embarrassing than a one-night stand.

  In a better mood, I dance through the kitchen door with cookies on my mind. I don’t notice him until it’s too late. I crash into his hard body, and we both go down with me sprawled on top of him. I just lay there taking in my life. He shifts beneath me awkwardly. Being this close means I can smell him, and he smells of man and cedar. I really need to stop sniffing everyone, but honestly, why do they all smell so good?

  “Erm, you okay?” comes a hesitant voice.

  I snort. “Sure.”

  I
t goes silent again, and he squirms. My mind goes dirty. Oops.

  “Okay, not that this isn’t fun just lying here on the floor, but can I ask when you plan to get up?” The teasing in his voice makes me smile a little.

  It also makes me bite my tongue to keep the dirty remarks the getting up part inspires. Hmm, maybe Lane’s right, I do always have sex on the brain.

  “Never, I might just stay here.” I wiggle, getting comfortable, and he groans beneath me. A satisfied smirk graces my lips when I realise he’s just as affected as I am, maybe more if I go by the rock-hard thing poking my thigh. He holds himself still beneath me, and I’m tempted to wiggle again.

  “Did you sleep okay?”

  I lift my head enough to meet his eyes. They aren’t fully green. Emerald with yellow running through, almost hypnotising me. His ruby red hair sticks out all over like he just woke up, and a slight tint brightens his cheeks which is adorable. His face is pained, and heat flares in his eyes when I shift again.

  “Yes, after making a fool of myself then passing out, I slept amazing,” I reply dryly.

  His smile grows, and it turns him from a cutie to a total hottie. Okay, time to move. I jump to my feet, and he struggles to sit up before he flops back down again.

  This time it’s my turn to ask, wondering if I hurt him when we fell. I was a little too distracted to ask before. “You okay?” I eye his body, searching for any injuries, totally not just checking him out.

  He nods, banging his head on the floor with the movement. I wince as he groans, his cheeks turning redder, and I hold back a giggle. The kitchen door swings open behind me. Whoever it is hesitates in the doorway, so I turn to look. Ezra, Ben, and the guy whose name I still don’t know stand in the doorway with confusion on their faces. They glance from me to him and back again. Okay, awkward.

  I make my way to the counter, grabbing the last bag of cookies on my way. Hopping up and letting my legs swing back and forth, I watch them, decide to be me, and go with the flow. I munch on a cookie, waiting for them to break the silence.

  “Okay, so I guess I’ll ask. Why is Jason on the floor?” Ben’s confused gaze runs over Jason and then shifts to me.

  Shopping bags fill their hands, and I clap mine. “Did you bring food? Are there cookies? Or doughnuts?” I squeal like a kid and cough, shoving the last cookie from the bag in my mouth.

  All four of them stare at me like I’ve grown a second head. I wonder what having two heads would be like. Would they have different voices? What if one was getting laid, would the other have to cover their eyes?

  Ezra interrupts my internal blabbering by walking through the guys and setting his bags on the counter opposite where I sit and leans against it.

  “Cookies, huh? That’s the way to your heart?” He studies me with a serious expression on his face, but his lips twitch.

  Ha, fool thinks I won’t notice.

  “Yes, obviously. Don’t you know anything?” I eye the bags, wondering if they bought any.

  “Again, I ask why Jason is on the floor?” Ben interrupts from the doorway. We both ignore him.

  “What kind?” His lips lose the fight and quirk up in a tiny smile, and I can’t seem to stop staring at them. Bad Aurora.

  “Double chocolate,” I say matter-of-factly.

  Jason jumps up, and out of the corner of my eye, I see him unpack the bags Ezra put down. I watch intently, waiting to discover if they bought cookies. When none come out of the bags, I slump. Someone chuckles, and I turn to find Amber-eyes unpacked his bags, too, and now watches me.

  Realising I’m probably being rude, even if this is a weird situation, I try to be nice. “So, you went to buy me food?”

  He nods and comes to stand next to me. Heat pours off him, and unable to resist, I lean into him. He smells delicious. Seriously, when did I start sniffing everyone? If I carry on like this, I might as well be a shifter.

  “Well, all you had was a bag of cookies and a very questionable orange.” He smirks at me.

  I shrug not the least be bothered. It’s not like I cook a lot.

  “Hello? Why was Jason on the floor?” Ben’s voice grows, and it sounds grumpy to me.

  “Tell me someone bought me cookies.” I push my lip out, glancing around the room in hopes that they will appear.

  I catch Jason’s eye, and he shrugs. Turning to Ezra next, my lip pushes out even more, dramatically trying to appear as sad as possible. I probably look like a bee stung me, but whatever.

  “Fucking hell, someone give her the cookies,” he pleads.

  I clap. “Yay! So there are cookies?”

  I peer around like they will just appear; how good would that be? You just say cookies, and they appear. I wonder if it would work for men to...

  Amber-eyes pulls them from behind his back and gives me a bag of double chocolate happiness. I moan and tear into the packet as he talks. “Figured you would need some sugar. I noticed the empty packets of them.” He watches me devour two with an incredulous expression.

  “Why. Is. Jason. On. The. Floor!” Ben shouts.

  We all turn to stare at him. I wipe my mouth to get rid of the chocolate.

  “He’s not.” I point at where Jason puts stuff into the fridge. Wow, who knew what a full fridge looked like? I bet they don’t know I burn toast, or they wouldn’t have bought all that.

  Amber-eyes leans forward, blocking my view. He gently swipes the chocolate from the edge of my lips. Slowly, making sure he holds my attention, he licks it off his finger. I clench my thighs together with a muttered, “Jesus,” and he smirks. My dirty mind imagines me pouring chocolate on other places in hopes he will lick it up, too.

  “I give up.” Ben bangs his bags down.

  I peer around the stick of sex in front of me, banishing thoughts of licking to my mental spank bank to see Ben sulking, banging cupboards open. I bite my lip to stop it quirking when I realise he’s annoyed.

  “Mean, Kitten, real mean.” The whisper sends heat right to my centre, and I’m instantly wondering what he would sound like whispering naughty things in my ear. He leans back next to me, and we all watch as Ben dramatically puts the food away. I sigh, feeling harsh for ignoring him now.

  “I didn’t realise he was here and crashed into him, we both fell,” I say with an apologetic smile aimed at him. He stops, and his shoulders slump.

  “Oh.” It’s silent until he turns around with a mischievous grin on his lips. Damn, that man is going to be trouble.

  “So, you tackled him to the floor, then left him down there? That’s not nice, Sunshine.” Happiness bursts through me at the nickname. Shit, why does this feel so normal?

  “Yeah, well, he looked like he liked the floor,” I mutter still trying to figure out why I’m not running as far and fast away as possible.

  Jason laughs, and Ezra stares at me like he knows I’m considering running. With a quirked eyebrow, he tells me he will stop me. Ugh, fine. Leaning back, I wait while they pack the food away, then start to cook something.

  “So, Jason, Ezra, Ben, and...?” I glance at the only one left whose name I don’t know.

  He leans forward again offering me his hand. “Sorry, Kitten, I’m Alexander.”

  When I go to shake his hand, he lifts it and kisses the back of it. His warm lips meet my skin, and a shiver runs up my spine. He doesn’t lose eye contact as he does it.

  Bloody hell, I’m so screwed... well, I wish I was. Clearing my throat, I try to think of a response. Words. Right, come on words. Wait, what did he say again? Luckily, I’m saved by the front door banging open.

  “Aurora, you fucking bitch!” The familiar scream echoes through the apartment.

  I smile while all the boys look really confused. Ezra straightens and moves in front of me, and Alexander—yum—moves next to him, blocking my view. I can’t even stare at their asses they are that close. Their scents drift to me, and I have the urge to lick them. They would think I’m really weird, then. I bite my lip to contain a giggle. Ben moves clo
ser, too. Aww, cute. I wonder what they’ll do when they realise they’re trying to protect me from a little blond human.

  “Where are you! You’re dead, you hear me!”

  The men tense. Shit, okay, they believe she’s serious. I put my palms on each of their backs, and the muscle through their shirts flex. Come to mama. No, okay, pay attention. Down girl.

  “It’s okay, it’s my friend,” I say. They all turn to stare at me.

  “Your friend?” Alexander’s confusion makes him so cute. Probably shouldn’t tell him that.

  “Yep,” I say proudly.

  The kitchen door bangs open, and I turn in time to see Lane realise I’m not alone. She stands still, taking it all in, me holding onto to two extremely hot men as one carries on cooking, and the other looks ready to pounce on her, and not in a good way.

  “Er...“ Her words die off.

  I wave with a small smile. “Hi, Lane, lovely to see you. Nice weather today, isn’t it?”

  Ben laughs as the tension in the room dissipates.

  “Aurora, what’s going on?” She still hasn’t moved from the door.

  Ben goes to Jason and tries to see what he’s cooking as Ezra and Alexander move to either side of me. Wow, I wonder if I’m the cheese to their meat sandwich. Wait, no, the cream to their Oreo.

  “Oh, you know, this and that. What about you?” I shove another cookie into my mouth as Ezra eyes them. I pull them closer and bare my teeth.

  “Mine,” I mutter to him.

  He stares right back at me, and I gesture from my eyes to him.

  “Yeah, okay. Who are these people?” Lane asks.

  With one more, narrow-eyed glare at Ezra, I turn back to her. “Who?” I ask innocently.

  A hand makes its way to my cookies, and I slap it away. The room stops as everyone turns to me in surprise, and to be honest, I surprised myself. Jason’s and Ben’s worried stare fix Ezra like they’re ready to pounce on him. I glance at Ezra, whose face reveals shock before he starts to laugh. I mean full-belly laughing. If I thought the boys looked surprised at my slap, Ezra’s reaction downright shocks them.