“Why are we stopping?” Alex nervously glanced around the lot. “What happens if they followed us?”
He shifted toward her looking for any possible injuries. “I don’t think whoever is controlling them wants to risk being seen; otherwise, you and I wouldn’t be the only ones who have seen them so far.”
He placed his hand on her thigh. “Are you okay? Did it hurt you?” She seemed shaken, and her skin appeared a shade lighter than normal.
She took several deep breaths and shook her head. “I’m fine.” Her gaze landed on the blade, and her hand trembled.
By her shocked expression, he assumed this was the first time she’d ever used the weapon on another being. “Here, let me have that.” He took the dagger and placed it on a plastic floor mat behind her seat. He planned to have Chance do an analysis of the blood before cleaning the blade and returning it to her.
Mason didn’t want to do any more driving until he was satisfied Alex was okay. He also needed to call Drake and fill him in on their situation. After reaching for his phone and swiping his thumb across the number, he waited for his boss to answer.
“Mason, did you find something?” Drake asked.
Finding something was an understatement. “We found Alex’s creatures, or I should say they found us.”
“Are you both all right?” Drake asked.
Mason hadn’t taken his eyes off Alex since he started the call. “We’re good.” He spent the next few minutes explaining what had happened, including the damage to Alex’s car.
Once he was through, Drake asked, “You still think they were after Alex, don’t you?”
Mason replayed the events of the last twenty-four hours through his mind. A dead body and two attacks focused on Alex. It didn’t take an expert to know the creatures were somehow tied to their case. Or that she was their next target. “I do.”
“Then keeping her safe is now your priority. I want you to take her back to her place and keep her there.”
“Wouldn’t she be safer with you or Aidan?” Mason cared about what happened to Alex, but this situation called for someone with strong magical abilities. He’d defend her with his life if necessary, but he wasn’t sure his best would be good enough.
His wolf, the contrary animal, agreed with Drake, believed Alex was his to protect, and was ready to take on the beasts if they made an appearance.
“Wouldn’t who be safer with my family?” Alex, who had been listening intently to Mason’s side of the conversation, and interrupted.
It didn’t take long after Mason frowned for her to figure out she was the one they’d been discussing. She leveled her angry gaze in his direction, then held out her hand. “Let me talk to him…please.”
“Drake, Alex wants to talk to you.” Mason didn’t give him a chance to respond before handing her the phone. Their conversation was brief, Alex listening more than speaking. By the time they were done and she’d returned his phone, her eyes had turned a bright green and she was fuming. “I guess we’re going to my place.” She leaned back in the seat and stared out the window.
With his enhanced hearing. Mason had overheard what Drake had said, knew there was nothing more he could do to change things, so he nodded, started the jeep’s engine, and drove out of the lot. Since Alex’s place was across town and he didn’t want her sitting in the glass and blood any longer than she already had, he stopped at the first gas station he found along the way. While she used the bathroom to clean up her jacket, he removed the broken glass and wiped the blood off the door. He also sent a text letting Drake know what had happened to Alex’s car.
By the time they reached her apartment, faded hues of pink and gray spread across the early evening sky. Wariness thrummed along Mason’s senses, awareness of their surroundings drawing his attention as they walked along the sidewalk leading to Alex’s apartment.
She glanced over her shoulder. “Are you hungry? We could order Chinese. Or something else if you’d rather.”
She’d spent most of the drive deep in thought, and this was the first time she’d really spoken to him. “I can always eat, and Chinese sounds fine.”
She wrestled the keys out of her pocket. “Great, I know a place that delivers.”
The smell of blood prickled his nostrils at the same time Alex stepped onto the porch. The motion triggered a sensor, and an overhead lamp doused the small area with light. The light reflected off the door, where he noticed strange symbols drawn on the surface above her head.
“Don’t touch the door.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her backward against his chest.
Alex turned and scowled when he released her. “Why not?”
He pointed at the faint symbols. “I think the door’s been spelled.” He wasn’t an expert, but he’d worked enough cases involving witchcraft to know marks drawn in blood usually meant dark magic. And dark magic usually translated into pain or even death. Neither of which he wanted to experience firsthand.
She moved closer to examine the door. “You’re right, it’s definitely witchcraft.” She glanced at him over her shoulder. “And before you ask, I have no idea who’d could have done this.”
Mason suspected it was probably the same person responsible for slashing her tires and sending the creatures after her. “Do you recognize the spell?”
She shook her head. “No, it’s not my area of expertise.” She blew out an exasperated breath. “But Aidan might know.”
Mason reached into his pocket, took out his phone, and swiped the autodial again. When Drake answered, he said, “We have another problem.”
#
Twenty minutes later, Aidan arrived in a dark blue sedan and parked across the street from Alex’s apartment. Drake had assured Mason his nephew was more than capable of handling their current predicament. He rushed toward them carrying a large black briefcase, a contradiction to the laid-back appearance created by his olive-colored T-shirt and faded jeans.
His concerned gaze locked on his sister and was drawn to the faded pink area on the sleeve of her jacket—the remnants of her attempt to clean off the creature’s blood. He dropped the case and tugged her into a strangling hug. “Are you okay? Nobody told me you’d been hurt.”
“I’m fine,” she managed with a breathless squeak.
“Are you sure?”
She pushed against his chest until he released her. “Yes, I’m sure. It’s not my blood.” She slid the strap of her backpack over her shoulder.
He stepped back and checked her over from top to bottom one more time before turning to Mason. “Thank you. Drake told me what you did.”
Mason nodded. “No problem. I’m just glad I was with her when it happened.” He brushed away the uncomfortable feeling left by the other man’s gratitude.
“Anything new on the case?” Alex asked, a hint of irritation in her voice.
Mason didn’t blame her for being frustrated. He’d be mad too if he’d gone from having a babysitter to having his life threatened to being under house arrest in a matter of hours.
“Drake and Chance headed over to the campus to search for signs of the creatures and said they’d call if they found anything.”
“How about the tests on the blood and glass fragments? Do we have any results yet?” Mason was more than a little anxious to find out what the team was up against.
“Nothing so far.” Aidan reached for the case. “So, where’s this magic-related problem?”
Mason tipped his chin. “The top of the door is covered with symbols.”
Aidan stepped around him and set the case on the small porch. “Let’s see what we’ve got.” His studied the door and the area around the entryway, then rubbed his chin speculatively. Without touching the surface, he moved his hand along the doorframe. Small star-shaped bursts of light sprang up under his palm.
“Definitely black magic.” Aidan knelt on the ground. He popped open the case, withdrew a long thin candle, and held it out to Alex. “Here, do your thing.”
S
he took the candle and rolled her eyes. “Very funny.”
“I’m serious. I need witch’s fire to enact the tracing spell.”
“Fine.” After rolling her shoulders, she inhaled deeply, then pushed her breath out slowly. Concentration fueled her fiery green gaze as she pinched the wick between her thumb and index finger. She lifted her arm in an upward motion, and a small flame emerged on the end of the candle.
Mason widened his eyes, astonished by her graceful fluidity. It was a simple act, but she’d executed it flawlessly, which made him wonder why she had trouble with more difficult magic.
“Now what?” she asked.
Aidan pulled out a clear bottle containing a thick ruby-red liquid. “Now we determine what kind of spell was cast.” He opened the bottle, poured a thin line of liquid along the base of the door, then took the candle from her. “You may want to step back.”
As soon as Mason and Alex stepped off the porch, he leaned forward, touched the candle’s flame to the liquid, and quickly moved backward. The liquid burst into a transparent wall of red flames, dancing inside the door frame but not causing any damage. The fire lasted only a few seconds before transforming into a red mist. A red mist containing black, viperous tendrils that coiled up from the ground and covered the door’s exterior.
“Holy shit.” Aidan blew out the candle and placed it back in the case. “This spell is darker than dark.”
Distress, irritation, and anger rolled across Alex’s features. “What does that mean?”
“It means you’re not staying here tonight.”
“Why not?” By the outraged gleam in the other man’s eyes, Mason was sure he wasn’t going to like the answer.
“It’s a confining spell.”
“A what?” Mason asked.
Alex wrinkled her nose. “A spell used for entrapment.”
“It means whoever spelled the door wanted to keep Alex inside.” Aidan’s eyes widened as if he’d thought of something even more troubling. “Oh no, what about Paige?”
“Who is Paige?” It was the first time Mason had heard anyone mention the name.
“My roommate.” Alex placed a comforting hand on her brother’s arm. “It’s okay, Aidan. She’s shopping in Boston with her mom and won’t be back until tomorrow.”
Aidan released a relieved sighed. “Someone needs to warn her. Let her know what’s happened.”
Alex cringed. “She’s going to freak out.” She pulled out her phone, typed a text message, then turned to Aidan. “Other than not coming home, is there anything else you want me to tell her?”
“No,” Aidan groaned. “Okay.” Alex sent the message and tucked her phone back in her pocket.
Mason glanced between the siblings. Though he decided it was none of his business, he wondered if there was something he’d missed, something that involved Aidan and Paige specifically. Instead, he asked, “Is it possible to trace the magic back to its source?”
“If this was done by an amateur, I’d say yes, but…” Aidan scratched his chin, a glint of admiration flashed in his eyes.
“But what?” Alex asked.
Aidan glanced at his sister, then back to Mason. “This was done by someone extremely practiced and very powerful.” Apprehension weighted his words. “And whoever it was knows how to find Alex. She can’t stay here. We need to get her somewhere safe.”
Alex’s angry yet vulnerable appearance twisted Mason’s gut. He’d come to Wicks Hollow for a fresh start, to escape the tragedy marring his life, and to avoid situations where other’s lives depended directly on him.
Being alone with her—under any circumstances—was such a bad idea. Yet he couldn’t walk away from the beautiful witch any more than he could deny his wolf’s overwhelming urge to protect her.
He remembered how she’d responded to his kiss, how having her in his arms had heated his blood. What if his wolf was right, that his attraction to Alex meant something more, something along the lines of a future mate?
Even if Aidan found somewhere safe for his sister to stay, Mason wasn’t going to leave Alex alone to take care of herself.
He jammed his hands into his pockets to keep from pulling her into his arms, to reassure her, to tell her everything would be okay. That they’d find the person responsible. “She can stay at my place,” Mason blurted.
Aidan narrowed his eyes and shot him the protective-big-brother glare. Mason returned his glare with a this-is-not-negotiable look. After several seconds of silently staring each other down, Aidan finally conceded. “I think it’s a great idea.”
“What?” Alex glanced first at her brother, then at Mason. “You guys do know I have had training, and can take care of myself, right?”
Aidan held up his hands defensively and took a step back. “No one is saying you can’t, but Mason’s right. Paige is out of town. Drake and Chance are tied up, and it’s going to take some time for me to disarm this spell.”
“Alex, please be reasonable,” Mason said. “There’s a good possibility that whoever did is expecting you to be trapped inside and will be back.” He tried to remain calm and persuasive though his insides churned. “They were already able to find out where you live.” He didn’t want to worry her more by pointing out the next place they might look would be the homes of her family. “I’m new here, nobody outside of the office knows me, and staying with me is your best option.”
She crossed her arms and scowled. “Neither of you are going to give me a say in the matter, are you?”
“No,” both men said at the same time.
Chapter Eight
Not all the tension radiating through the interior of the jeep belonged to Mason. At least half, or maybe more, was coming from Alex. Her world was in a state of chaos thanks to some scary creatures and some unknown being who was adept at wielding dark magic.
She’d worked for her uncle long enough to know that investigating, especially in the paranormal world, could be dangerous. She’d trained hard during Professor Reynard’s classes, learning every technique possible that didn’t involve using magic, and been mentally prepared to face any obstacle she’d been faced with.
She hadn’t, however, anticipated becoming a target on the first case she assisted with. Nor had she expected to be assigned a handsome mentor who could make her forget how to breathe with a single kiss.
Normally, she’d be angry the men in her life were making decisions for her. She’d never admit it, but right now, she was glad to be alive, and thankful they were looking out for her. Later, when things settled down and she could analyze things rationally, she could decide whether or not she planned to be angry.
Mason had remained silent during the entire drive to the outskirts of the city. He focused on the road and their surroundings, his hands clamped on the steering wheel in a white-knuckled grip.
She couldn’t tell if he was experiencing his own bout of irritation about the latest developments in the case, or if something else was bothering him. She hoped he’d volunteered to keep her safe because he’d wanted to and not because of some obligation he felt toward her uncle.
“This is it.” He turned onto a gravel drive located in a secluded and heavily wooded area, then parked next to a pale blue one-story house. He’d probably chosen the location so he could shift and let his wolf run without human detection.
A woodsy aroma combined with his unique male scent greeted her the minute she stepped through the door. She was reminded of the afternoon they’d spent together, how relaxed he made her feel, and the way his kiss set her body on fire. The memory reignited the flame, and warmth spread through her insides.
Now was not the time to be thinking about her attraction to Mason or how her feelings for him were moving outside the like zone. Needing a distraction, she glanced around the room. The house was small, with bare white walls and unpacked boxes stacked in a corner of his living room. The only furniture in the room was a worn tan couch and coffee table. No pictures, no personal items, nothing to give her any clues ab
out the man standing next to her.
“Nice place,” she said, thinking that with a little work, the place had potential.
He shrugged. “It’s temporary.”
Did he mean the home was temporary until he found something better, or was he implying he wouldn’t be staying in the city long? She wanted to ask, but didn’t.
She actually enjoyed having him around, and the idea of him leaving bothered her more than she wanted to admit.
He took off his jacket, then tossed it on top of the boxes. “Make yourself at home, unless you’re still not convinced I don’t bite.” He grinned.
At his inquisitive gaze, she noticed she was still standing near the entryway. Heat swept across her cheeks, and she moved farther into the living room. “How long have you been in Wicks Hollow?”
“I arrived about a week ago.”
She propped her backpack next to the couch, then removed her jacket. It was one of her favorites, and she stared at the pink-stained sleeve, wondering if Paige knew of a charm that would magically clean it. After placing the jacket next to his she asked, “How do you like it here?”
“It’s not bad. A lot cooler than Miami.”
Coming from Florida explained the darkened glow on his skin and the sun-bleached highlights in his blond hair. It didn’t explain his connection to her uncle or why he’d relocated so far up the coast. St. Claire’s was a family business, and Drake was particular about who he hired.
She watched him walk across the room, her gaze drawn to his tight-fitting pants and nicely defined backside, one that clearly ranked at the top of her most desirable list. “So why did you give up the big city and beautiful beaches?”
“Personal reasons.”
His reasons for moving must have been significant. She didn’t miss the way he’d quickly masked his troubled expression or the way his shoulder muscles tensed before he flipped the switch to light the small kitchen. Besides a mismatched refrigerator and stove, and an electric coffeemaker sitting on a bare counter, the room had the same empty appearance as the living room. It reminded her once again about his mention of things being temporary.
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