Enemy Mine (Mending The Veil) (7 page)

“What are you doing?”

“There are two ways to kill a Witch, Travis. One way is to burn the Witch with fire until they turn to ash; the other is by separating the head from the body. Beheading breaks the bond of spirit and magic. The Witch’s magic cannot follow their soul to their next life. It cannot be passed to the next generation, but is absorbed into the universe, lost to us forever.” Her green eyes burned into his, imprinting the importance of her sacrifice. “My life is yours to take for the sake of your hunger for vengeance. In return, I need your sacred oath that you will take no other life by your hand.” She raised a palm to silence him as he opened his mouth to speak. What he meant to say, he didn’t have a clue. “I realize you’re bound to the Guardians. What you do to aid them is on your conscience, but after you take me I need to know no other Witch’s blood will run from your hand.”

“Is this a trick, Witch?” His hands gripped the wooden handle of the ax He needed to prepare himself for her treachery. No Witch gave up her life this easily. She was lulling him into a false sense of security. He wasn’t one to be fooled.

“No trick. Say it. Give me your oath.”

“I give you my oath that I will harm no one that doesn’t deserve it.”

“Close enough,” she said with a sweet smile. He watched her every move as she pulled her skirt up and knelt on her knees before the stump. She took a deep breath as she looked up at him. “I saw what could be, you know. Our future could have been happy and full of promises, but all good things have an end. Let’s make this one quick, enemy mine.”

Travis felt a sense of loss burn in his chest as she turned her beautiful face away to lay her cheek against the rough wood. Her hair, threaded with red and gold from the sun fell over her back in the thick rope she’d wound and tied. Her arms, bare and strong, clung to the stump as her fingers dug into the bark. She clearly meant to show him no fear, resolved in her sacrifice for his soul and her people, but he knew she was terrified of dying. He moved closer to her and the stump; close enough to strike the wood, but not close enough for her to reach out to him.

Travis steeled himself against her shivering form, trying to ignore the voice in his head that told him he could not accomplish his mission, and so must kill the Witch. She wouldn’t let him in, wouldn’t betray her kind. She was his enemy, plain and simple. She had to die. He gritted his teeth as he reached down deep for the horrible need to avenge his parent’s death. The wronged needed to be redeemed. Someone had to pay for their murders. Who better than the beloved daughter of the man who ordered their deaths?

Travis trembled with the rage burning through him as he glared at her small form. His arm muscles flexed as he lifted the ax slowly over his shoulder. He would make her death quick, sparing her of the pain and torment he’d planned, but only because she’d come to her death willingly.

“For my parents.” He growled lowly.

“For you.” She whispered softly.

His arms paused mid-swing over his shoulder as a white streak raced from the woods to slide to a stop in front of the stump and Rissa. The white cat’s fur stuck up from head to bushy tail as she hissed at him in warning. Travis raised a brow and shook his head at the animal as he lifted the ax one more time in preparation to swing.

Do not do this! Rissa has never harmed anyone. She helps those in need. She brought you into her cabin and into her body without a thought to her own safety. You repay her this way?

“What the hell?” Travis stared in awe at the animal as a soft feminine voice entered his head, clear as day. He shook his head to clear it. This was not possible...

You hear me, I know you do. In England Rissa adopted me from the streets and has saved me from her father more than once. He wanted to kill me because a white Familiar can be bad luck. Rubbish!
The cat turned her head to look at her friend and owner.
Though, right now it could be argued that he may be right. My mistress deserves to live and I will give my life for her.
A rumbling growl vibrated through the small chest beneath the thick, white fur.

Rissa’s head turned on the wood. Her dark eyes widened as they landed on her pet. She closed her eyes, pain reflecting in her calm face. “Theophyline, I asked you to stay at the river. This does not concern you.” The cat’s ears flattened against her head as blue eyes narrowed up at him. Then her head turned toward Rissa. “I know. You have been my best friend, my teacher, and my confidant. The time has come to release you from your bonds. You are free to go your own way. Know I love you, Theo.” Rissa seemed to swallow a lump of emotions as she looked up at him. “Do it.”

“I don’t take orders from a Witch.” He snapped at her as he dropped the ax that suddenly felt like it weighed a ton. He let the head rest on the ground by his right foot as he glared down at her. “Why?”

“Why, what?” She looked confused as she brushed a strand of hair off her cheek.

“Why do you want to die? You would have let me whack your head off right now. What is so wrong with your life that you’d rather have it end this way?”

“What do you care?”

“I don’t. I do have the right to know why.” He tapped the ax handle against his leg as he held her gaze.

“Retribution.” She shrugged a shoulder.

“Bull shit! The truth, Witch.”

“Stop calling me that!” Her head came off the stump, reddish brown braid flying over her shoulder. “My name is Rissa.”

“Rissa, talk.”

Tell him, Rissa. He deserves to know the truth.

“Shut up!” They stared at each other as they spoke as one. Theophyline huffed an agitated breath, tail switching as she sat down, still between the two of them as if her tiny body could stop the inevitable.

“Spill it.” He ordered her, jaw clenched in anger.

“I’m truly sorry for your loss. My father—”

“I know about your father. Tell me why you’re so bent on ending your life.”

“I’m promised to someone. As soon as I go home I will be hand-fasted to Gerimaia Garlock, a man I don’t really know. A man that I can’t even think about letting touch me, much less love him in return. Especially not after I’ve been in your arms.” Rissa shook her head and dropped her forehead on the stump with a thud. “Do it, please.” Her voice shook with emotions he didn’t want to hear, didn’t want to be touched by.

Travis felt like his chest was about to explode under the force of his pounding heart. He couldn’t picture her with another man, didn’t want to accept that the very idea made his skin crawl. He ground his teeth together as his hand curled into a tight fist. She was crying softly, he could tell by the small movement of her shoulders and an occasional sniff.

Don’t make me take out the claws, Holt.
He looked down at the cat that was once more standing guard over her owner. A deep hiss rumbled through the animal as her tail bushed out in preparation of an attack.

“Da... Shit!” He growled back at the animal in frustrated rage.

Chapter Eight

Rissa braced for the strike that was bound to come. She didn’t want to die, but what other end could there be for them. She was a born and raised member of a coven. Travis Holt was a hereditary Witch turned Guardian of the Light because of what her father had done to his parents. Giving her life would create a balance, one she was hopeful would turn his view on their people around. Perhaps, it would give him a new start on his life. She heard Theophyline hiss loudly beside her. She closed her eyes, knowing the pain would be quick. “Blessed be.”

Her eyes flew open at his deep curse. She heard the thump of the ax fall against the stump and jumped in reflex. His warm hands pulled her shoulders back against his solid chest. Sobs shook her as his arms wrapped around her from behind. Warmth and confusion made her dizzy as she struggled to regain control of herself.

“Don’t cry.” The soft tone of his words in her ear comforted her, even as it felt surreal. He was her enemy, he shouldn’t be comforting her, holding her, nor rubbing her bare arm with a gentle touch. “Please...stop crying. I won’t hurt you.” He dropped a light kiss on her shoulder as his arms hugged her against his chest.

“I want you to.” She whispered brokenly into his shoulder.

“Sorry, sweetheart. You’ll have to find another way out of your arranged marriage.” He breathed in and released warm air against her neck. “Of course, there is more than one way to kill two birds. The more I think about it, the better it sounds in my head. Come on. Let’s get you something to eat and we’ll discuss the plan I have hatching.”

“What?” Rissa found herself cradled safely in his arms as he started toward the front of the cabin.

About time you humans started listening with your ears and thinking with your hearts.

“Theo, stand guard.” Travis ordered without looking back at the small animal.

I didn’t say you could use my name, Guardian!

“You need to train your pet better.” Rissa smiled into his shoulder as she watched Theophyline’s ears go flat in disgust.

“She doesn’t like orders, I’m afraid. I can’t believe you can hear her.”

“Neither can I.” He grunted, not at all pleased about it. She realized adjusting to his Witch side would be difficult for him. He would obviously hate everything about her culture. How could she cultivate his love when everything she believed in would ultimately bring him pain? Her rituals and habitual use of magic would eventually widen the gap between them. It was hopeless.

“You should put me down. I can walk.” His eyes met hers as she pulled her head up off his warm shoulder.

“I’m sure you can, but right now I don’t feel like letting you go.” His jaw clenched as he looked past her to the cabin’s door. She remained quiet until he dropped her onto the bed. “Sit there and be quiet while I think this through for a minute.” His quiet order piqued her curiosity as she sat on the edge of the rumpled bed to watch him pace back and forth. His hair stuck up as he shoved a hand through it.

“You might not have a minute, Travis.”

“You just can’t be quiet, can you?” Though his words were harsh, his look wasn’t. He grinned down at her before turning away to stare through the doorway. He placed his hands on his narrow hips, giving her an opportunity to study his backside in the tight jean shorts. She jumped, her cheeks burning hot with guilty pleasure as he turned around and caught her staring at him.

“I think we should elope.” His words were harsh, but definite.

“Sorry, I think my ears aren’t working. Did you just suggest...” She shook her head and grabbed her braid with both hands like a lifeline. She couldn’t have heard him right. She was losing her mind, obviously too overwhelmed by falling in-love with a man who was a member of the Guardians of Light. Her mouth dropped open as she realized that her brain was already recognizing the truth of her heart. She loved her enemy more than she loved herself. Why else would she put her neck on a wooden block beneath a raised ax?

“We’ll elope, Rissa. Think about it, you won’t have to marry a man you don’t even know. I’ll get the satisfaction of ruining the plans of the man responsible for my parent’s deaths. The High Priest will not only lose his daughter and the marriage connections he wanted to gain through tying you to that Garlock guy, but also he’ll gain a Guardian as a son-in-law.”

“You’re crazy!” Rissa hit her feet as panic struck her with the blind need to get away from him. His hands captured her by the upper arms, easily holding her still in front of him.

“Maybe.” His smile was rakish as his dark eyes danced with mischief. “Look, this is a plan that will work—”

“It can’t!” She placed her hands on his firm chest to push him away, but the instant her palms came in contact with his heated flesh beneath the light cotton shirt; her resolve to run away from him disappeared into thin air.

“It can. If I walk away from you, Rissa, the Guardians will want to know why I couldn’t accomplish my first mission. They’ll put me through the trials. I’m not a coward, but I’m pretty sure that isn’t an outcome I’m going to like. Then they will send someone else after you. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that they’ll try to kill you.” His lips thinned as his eyes narrowed. “You don’t want to be hunted by them, Rissa.”

“I’ve been hunted by them since I was born.” She smiled at his raised brows. “I’m the High Priest’s daughter, Travis. I’m enemy number one for your little group of activists.”

“You came here alone, knowing they were out to get you?” His look turned stormy as he glared down at her. “You really would prefer death over marrying that guy.”

“Yes.” She rolled her eyes at him. “I thought that was already stated.”

“Then marrying me can’t be that much of a sacrifice. You already know we have chemistry.” Her face heated as he flicked a glance toward the tangled blankets on her bed.

“I don’t know you any better than I know him. Don’t laugh at me!” She smacked his chest as he laughed. She liked the sound more than she wanted to admit. “Yes, being with you was...good.”

“Well, just good? I’m pretty sure you came more than I did, and I found sex with you was more than just good.” He held her hands against his chest as she meant to smack him harder.

“Be serious! You are a Guardian. I’m a Witch. I can’t change that any more than you can change the fact that you gave a blood oath to join them. We are enemies, Travis.
Enemies.
” She felt the warmth of the sunlight lose its heat as a cold chill raced down her spine.

“I don’t know what it was that changed things, but I’m not your enemy, Rissa.”

“I hope not. You’ll have to decide that, Travis. Your friend is on the edge of the woods. He’s watching for us. I don’t think he’s alone.” She watched the way his mouth thinned with worry. He took a deep breath and nodded his head as he lifted her palm to his lips for a soft kiss.

“Don’t leave this room. Stay away from the windows. Promise you’ll do as I ask.”

“I promise.” She found herself feeling lost and helpless as he released her hands and turned for the door. “Travis!” She rushed into his arms, pressing her mouth to his in a kiss to convey her feelings for him. His arms held her tight for a long moment before he gently put her away from him. His brown eyes held hers easily as he grinned. He lifted his hands to pull the silver chain over his head. Rissa swallowed a lump in her throat as he slowly draped it around her head. The amethyst necklace hung heavily around her neck, but the warmth of it hit her bare skin with a feeling of rightness. His hands landed on her shoulders as she shook her head.