Bound by Magick 4-in-1 Box Set (Pentacles of Magick) (14 page)

“I've got to go. Need some clothes and a ride. I have to
find her. She isn't safe you know. Somehow she is tied into all of this with
our illustrious uncle.”

“Great.”

“Exactly. She had a mercenary tracking her, seemingly to
retrieve her, but the bastard knew who I was and was particularly pleased that
he could essentially kill two birds with one stone by finding us together.” He
moved through the house, following his brother as they made their way down the
hall to the master suite.

“You can find some clothes in there.” He pointed to a large
walk in closet in the back corner of the room.

Cash reached into the dark closet, flipping the switch to
illuminate the clothes inside. Damn. His brother had become quite the clothes
horse since moving to Louisiana. Rows of pants along one wall, everything from
silk Armani slacks to multiples of brand new Gap jeans. He grabbed a pair of
jeans off the rack and a black t-shirt to go along with it. Quickly donning the
clothes, he began considering what it would take to find Selene.

“I'm going to need some crystals, Denn. I have to find her
fast.”

“Oh, brother, I can do better than that.” He walked over to
the desk next to the king-sized bed, reaching in to the top drawer and drawing
out a small GPS tracking screen. “Sometimes technology is a whole lot more
efficient than magic.” He handed the screen over and Cash looked at it.

“You put a tracking device on her?” Denn nodded. “Dayum, I
am so proud right now. Who would've thought an earth witch would be so clever?”

“Fuck off.”

Cash grinned at his brother. It was a rare moment he got to
spend any time with his brothers. Years passed and they all changed so much.
Despite their intentions to keep in touch through the Internet and the phone it
just wasn't the same as spending time together in person.

“She's on the move, but at least now it won't take me that
long to catch up to her.” Excitement coursed through him at the prospect of
finding her fast. Taking her fast.

“Grae's right, isn't he? Is there really a chance for us?”
asked Denn.

“No. Maybe. Hell, I don’t really know. Even after he showed
me I still doubted. But damn, Denn, I haven't felt this free in over ten years.
It gives me hope. It gives us all hope.” They faced each other, thinking of the
words that could bring them the freedom they had all yearned for too many years
to count.

Find your empathic
mate
.

Chapter
Five

Selene stopped to gas up her new bike and take a much needed
rest break. The sun slanted down across her face, warming her skin. She'd been
riding hard and long for three days. Trying to escape from the inescapable. She
rubbed her hands across the denim covering her thighs, stretching out her tired
and sore muscles. Every mile she rode farther away from him, the heavier the
weight constricting her chest became. Her mind and body screamed for her to
turn back but it was too dangerous to go back.

She'd changed. Her power had shifted and she didn't know how
to control it. That much dark magick, as they called it, had been nearly her
undoing.
Witches
. She shook her head.
It still wasn't all that easy to wrap her head around that fact. Merc had
certainly surprised her. He hadn't seemed that powerful in the past. She
wondered what could have changed. Or who had changed him.

She looked out at the dry and barren desert that went on for
miles in front of her, feeling weary and lost. How long would she have to run
before she began to feel like she'd survive without him? No matter, really. It
was for the best. She was a hunted woman and would be until she figured out
what more they wanted from her and there was definitely more. God help her if
the company ever found out about the change. So far she was the only one who
knew, but everyday it grew harder to hide it. She'd left Cash sooner than she'd
wanted because of Denn. Damn, he was one nosy man. He'd seemed on the verge of
figuring it out.

She wistfully looked over at the pay phone attached to the
corner of the building. One quick call to check on Cash. Find out if he was
awake. Maybe hear his voice one last time. Just to reassure herself…

No!

She left her bike and her thoughts to go inside the ancient
gas station to pay for her gas and find something cool to wet her parched
throat.

The little bells attached to the door handle tinkled,
announcing her arrival inside the small but familiar store. Being on the run
always had her off the beaten path stopping at small mom and pop type places
like this. She could find what she needed without worrying about the technology
of the modern world finding her here. Damn, her head hurt. The tension reached
an unbearable level.

She took the food and drinks she'd picked out to the counter
where she was greeted by an elderly woman with a soft smile. Selene watched her
ring up the purchase with strong, sure hands that looked to have seen plenty of
work but were now curved with arthritis.

“$33.61 is the total, honey.”

Selene peeled some bills from the roll she clutched in her
hand, giving them over to the woman. When the woman handed the change back to
her, she covered both the money and her hand with her own.

“Such a pretty young girl, but the sad eyes tell a different
story. You are living far beyond your years. It's time to stop running and take
a stand.”

Selene jerked her hand from underneath the woman's. A small
hum of residual power tickled her skin.

“With balance comes a great power, when the four are
combined it will be to defeat the greatest evil.”

“Uh, what did you say?”

“You don't trust in much, but there is one you can trust.”
The woman pressed a small key on a chain in to her hand. “You need to rest.
This key is for Room Seven in the small motel out back. Get some sleep.” Selene
started to protest and hand the key back to her. “No. Take it. You will be safe
there. Trust me.”

Selene almost snorted at that. Running 101—trust no
one.

Still… She had to admit she was exhausted and desperately
tired. Maybe a few hours would do her some good. She took a deep breath,
letting loose of some of the shields she surrounded herself with long enough to
study her stranger’s aura. The woman's intentions were pure and strong. She
meant her no harm. Just the opposite. She seemed genuinely concerned.

Selene relaxed. “Just for a few hours.” The woman smiled at
her. She turned and reached behind her, grabbing a bottle of tequila from the
shelf and bagged it up.

“This, too. You look like you could enjoy it.”

Selene laughed then, surprised at the intuitiveness of this
stranger. “You're probably right about that.” She accepted the bag. “Thank
you.”

“No thanks. Just rest. Things will be different tomorrow, I
promise.”

She shook her head at the woman but didn't respond. No need
to tell her that despite her generosity, she would leave in the morning and
continue to run.

After stashing her Busa so that it wouldn't be seen, she
slid the key into the lock of Room Seven. She'd been surprised when she'd
caught sight of the motel sitting back behind the station. The building didn't
look any newer than the store out front, but with a fresh coat of adobe red
paint and some recently potted flowers next to each door, all eight units had a
homey flavor. It was a welcome she didn't realize she had needed.

The interior was as simple as the outside with just a
queen-sized bed, nightstand, and small wardrobe in the corner as the only
furnishings. She set her things down on the nightstand and contemplated whether
she wanted to sleep or shower first. She bent to remove her leather boots,
loosening the tight laces before removing them. She then slid her jeans down
her legs and stepped out of them.

Selene looked at the bag with the tequila and decided a
drink was just what the doctor ordered. She padded into the bathroom to look
for a glass or cup she could use. The bathroom looked as simple as the rest of
the room. She reached for the cups wrapped in plastic on the counter and caught
sight of the tub.

Oh, God.

There in the corner stood the largest white claw foot tub
she'd ever seen in her life. She moved closer, making her mind up instantly
that she had to soak in that tub before she went to sleep. She turned the faucets
on, watching the tub slowly fill with swirling warm water. She hurried back out
to the room, checking the lock on the door before grabbing up the alcohol and
carrying it to the bathroom with her.

With little finesse she stripped the remainder of her
clothes from her body, tossing them to the floor. She sank down in the tub with
a deep sigh as the heated water flowed over her skin, warming her to the bone.
Her eyes slid closed. She couldn't remember the last time she'd allowed herself
such a luxury.

Long minutes later she reached for the bag containing her
drink. When her hand reached inside to pull it out she touched something
unexpected. A piece of paper? Her fingers gripped the edge. No, it was thicker
than paper. She pulled it out of the bag, realizing it was a card. A Tarot
card? What the—?

She didn't know much about Tarot, but she recognized the
pentacle on the face of the card and the roman numerals for ten. The Ten of
Pentacles. She flipped it over and over looking for something that might give her
a clue as to why the woman in the store would have given her this card. What
could it signify? After a few minutes of studying it, she set it down in favor
of a drink.

I'm too tired to deal
with this right now.

Ripping the plastic wrap from the cheap paper cup, she
poured three fingers of the amber liquid, drinking it down in three fast gulps.
Her eyes screwed shut and she crunched up her nose as the liquid went down like
live fire. Gasping for a few breaths, she eased back into the water to allow
the alcohol and heat to ease all the built up anxiety over the last couple of
weeks.

A long while later, when the water had cooled to room
temperature and her skin was completely water logged, Selene forced herself to
get out of the tub. She stepped onto the bath mat, wrapping herself tightly in
the soft, fluffy towel provided.

Sleep. She needed sleep.

She grabbed up the bottle of tequila and the lone Tarot card
and headed into the other room. The sun had set while she'd been in the bath,
and the room was cloaked in total darkness. Perfect for sleeping. She unwrapped
the towel from her body, letting the cool air of the room caress her skin. Her
nipples puckered and she thought of Cash. His touch.

“You shouldn't have left.”

She gasped at the sound of his voice in the room. Her heart
stuttered. “What the hell? Jeesus, Cash. Scare the hell out of me, why don't
you?”

His laughter rumbled through the room. “Did you really think
I would let you just leave?”

“Yes.”

“Well, you were wrong.” She heard the mattress creak as she
watched his silhouette get up from the bed and move toward her. Her body
tingled at his closeness.

“You shouldn't be here. This is exactly what we don’t need.”

“Yes, I should. It's too dangerous for you to be on the run
alone.”

She bristled at his words. “Is that why you came? Because
you thought I couldn't take care of myself? The organization will never stop
looking.”

“I know. Denn told me what you said.”

“I couldn't do it. Can't do it.”

“I know.”

“How did you find me anyway?”

“I came because I had to.”

“You had to?”

“There are things you don't know that you are somehow
involved in. Dangerous things. I think it's time for you to meet Grae. My twin.
A few weeks ago a woman who studied our family Tarot cards revealed some
possible secrets about a family prophecy. I haven't even wrapped my mind around
it all, but considering what's happened between us it's looking more like truth
than I thought.”

“Wait. Did you say Tarot card?” She fingered the card she
still held in her hand at her side.

“Yes. Our family history was documented with a set of
distinct Tarot cards. Long story, but the short version speaks to a prophecy of
four brothers and four empaths who will save them from themselves and their
power.”

She stepped away from him and sat on the edge of the bed,
setting the bottle and card down on the floor, thinking about what he and the
old woman had said. “So that's it, then? You're here because you need my help.
Somehow my abilities will help your family.”

“No, Selene. That is not why I’m here. It's true I want to
protect you. Keep you safe. But not because my family needs you.” He grabbed
her shoulders, pushing her down on her back, his body moving forward on top of
hers. “I need you. Don't you get it? When I woke up in New Orleans and found
you gone I freaked.” He ran his finger along her jawline, tracing down her neck
and shoulder to the top of her bare breast. “When you left you took my heart
with you. There aren't very many things in this world that I really need. But
you are it for me.”

“You don’t even know me,” she objected.

“I know my heart and yours. The rest we’ll figure out along
the way. This is real.”

Selene's head spun at his revelation. She didn't think she
could speak. Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes at his words. Her hands
came up to thread through his thick, wavy hair. Pulling him down, she pressed
her lips to his. His taste went straight to her head, leaving her desperate for
more of him. She knew she would never tire of his touch. No man could possibly
get to her the way he could.

Remembering the card on the floor she wrenched herself free
from his mouth. “Wait!” She pushed at his chest, trying to get him off of her.
Slowly he eased his body off and to the side.

“What are we waiting for, babe? I’m already hot and
bothered.”

She dove for the card plucking it up from the floor.

“This.” She handed it over and watched him look at it.

“Where did you get this?”

“The old woman at the store out front. I found it in my bag.
But she said the strangest thing to me.”

He tossed the card to the table. “Don't get me wrong,
Selene. I am curious about the card and what she had to say but first things
first. You, me, naked in the bed.” The smile on his face, along with the wicked
gleam in his eyes, were her undoing. He was right, it could wait.

Determined to focus on the man in front of her instead of
the drama surrounding them, Selene pulled at his shirt and brushed against the
bare skin she found underneath it. “Someone in this room is overdressed.”

A deep laugh rumbled from Cash’s chest, filling her with a
new warmth that spread between her legs. She pushed aside all thoughts of
trouble as he eased her down to the mattress. They were blissfully alone in a
dark room without a flame in sight. That thought sobered her.

“Are you really all right now? I know Denn said you’d be
fine but shouldn’t you still be resting or something?”

He pressed his lips to her shoulder for a brief kiss. “You
worry too much.” He swept his shirt over his head and maneuvered out of his
jeans in about two seconds. “Do I look like a main aching to rest?”

The sight of his erection long and hard pointing in her
direction made her mouth water. No he looked like a man with a mission. Selene
licked her lips. Life was definitely too short to spend every moment worrying
about what might happen. It was time to grab the bull by the horns and hang
on.
 

Without giving her an opportunity to respond, Cash covered
her body and kissed her feverishly, his mouth devouring hers in a wash of need
and desire that left her heated and breathless. He sank so deep into her she
momentarily forget where she left off and he began. He consumed her.

She sensed his kiss had more to do with possession than
simple lust. Somehow she needed to acknowledge that everything he wanted to
give she ached for. While her plan had been simple enough to leave him behind,
her heart had leapt for joy at the sound of his voice. He’d come for her. No
one had ever done that except when they wanted her to do something for them.

Her hands went everywhere. Smooth flesh over corded muscle.
The rough stubble covering his jaw. Goddess, she loved touching him. She had no
idea how they’d make this situation work but they’d have to find a way. She’d
managed to walk away once no way would she survive doing it again. Selene
sucked on his tongue until he groaned and went deeper.