Sacred Circle (11 page)

“Wait! You can't leave, Tommy, You've been brought to the coven to witness our marriage, and spirit never makes mistakes.”

Once again, his expression looked startled.

“I came to comfort you in your time of need. It wasn't to participate in this farce you're concocting.”

Devlin sprang to his feet.

“Nevertheless, your sudden decision to follow Brianna may have been orchestrated by spirit. Now, the question becomes, what does spirit intend for you to do here, besides witness our marriage?”

Devlin strode to the door without offering any answer, and Brianna listened as the door slammed shut behind him. She gave a long sigh, glad to have a quiet moment without him. She dropped back into her chair, chewing on her thumbnail. Taking note of her actions, Tommy dropped into the vacated chair beside her, and brought her fingers from her face.

“Why are you marrying this Devlin character without thinking it all through? It's not like you. And what will the marriage accomplish anyway? The chance to perform God-knows what, in a clearing with painted circles on the ground?”

“You don't understand, Tommy, the circle might still be open.”

“You've lost me.”

Brianna squeezed his fingers.

“Casting a Sacred Circle is like playing with matches. If you're not careful, you could set off a fire that consumes everything it touches, including yourself. One of the worst things that can happen inside a circle is to leave it open when you've finished performing your ritual. It opens a door between two worlds, allowing all kinds of negative energy to seep through and attach its essence to whatever it finds.”

“Holy crap! That sounds like a page out of a horror film.”

“Don't make fun; this is serious. Great harm could come to the commune if we don't learn what caused Mother's collapse!”

“And what happens if you find the circle has been left open? What then?”

“The Elders will have to close it.”

Tommy's face soured.

“Surely the Elders can do that without a marriage. Take Reverend Lord up on his offer. Let this Francis person take the risk.”

“You need a healthy witch to examine a circle of this magnitude. The Elders are suffering with energy sickness. Devlin and I aren't.”

Tommy bounded up from his chair, dragging his fingers through his hair.

“This is crazy. You could get yourself killed; maybe even get this Janus fellow killed.”

“Thanks again for the vote of confidence,” Brianna stated, hopping to her feet. It was clear Tommy would never fully understand what it meant to be connected to the world of spirit. He was far too jaded—and too much of a stickler for organized protocol. “On that bleak note, I think I'll visit the little girl's room and repair my face. I can't get married looking like a drowned rat, you know.”

“You shouldn't get married at all.”

Brianna sighed.

“Go and keep an eye on Devlin. I wouldn't put it past him to change his mind about the marriage. There's no love-lost between us.”

A frown stained Tommy's lips at her confession.

“And that's exactly why you should cancel this farce you're contemplating. Hasty marriages always end unpleasantly—for both parties.”

“Not in this case. We will sign divorce papers once this whole debacle is behind us.”

Tommy clasped her hands.

“I know you've been thrown for a loop by all this, and I admire your sense of right and wrong, but a makeshift marriage?”

Brianna met his glance, her voice turning brittle again.

“There is no other way, Tommy. The Coven Book of Shadows is specific. No unmarried man or woman may enter a Sacred Circle after they are of age. It's a good law—just inconvenient, at the moment. Besides, if there's any possibility that Mother's collapse wasn't a freak accident of nature, I have to know it and take steps to bring the sinner to justice.”

“That smacks of harming someone, blue eyes.”

“It certainly does,” Brianna stated, spinning on her heel and heading for the door. Reaching it, she flung it open and crossed out into the hall. “Go and find Devlin.”

A loud grunt followed her exit, and her lips twitched. In seconds, she was entering the ladies bathroom and studying her appearance. She did look like a drowned rat; her mascara caked and splintered. She brushed the dark streaks from her lower lid, noting her shaking fingers. Could she recite the marriage vows without becoming hysterical? She had to. She had to keep believing spirit would carry her down the right path, with the right tools, with the right person, at the right time. So mote it be, she decided. Everything connected to everything.

Devlin drew back into the shadows, relieved that Brianna hadn't spotted him lurking behind the fountain rocks. He watched her enter the washroom and exhaled. She was preparing to pull herself together for the wedding ceremony. And he should be doing the same—but first he had to talk to Tommy. His gaze drifted to the hallway. What was keeping the man? It wasn't as if he knew his way around the building, or the commune. Had Brianna given him instructions to stay put until she returned? No, he didn't think Brianna would feel comfortable leaving him on his own. He was simply dawdling in the office, trying to think of a way to short-circuit the marriage. Damn him, he was smart. He might think of a way.

A minute later, Devlin caught sight of his stout figure, and stepped out of the shadows. He crossed the room and pulled Tommy out the front door, and down the sidewalk—to a shady area alongside the building.

“Have you lost your mind coming here?” he asked.

“Me? I'm not the one keeping secrets and telling lies,” Tommy accused. “Nor am I pretending to be someone I'm not.” He stepped forward. “It's clear that Brianna has no idea that you own D.J. Corp, or that we've met once before.”

Devlin returned his scowl.

“No. And you're not to tell her.”

Tommy shook his head in disbelief.

“Man-o-man, you
are
a bastard.”

Devlin's hands raked his hair in exasperation.

“I'm not being a bastard on purpose. In case you haven't noticed, we're in the middle of a crisis here.”

“Well, it's nothing compared to the one you'll be facing when Brianna learns who you really are, and that you've bought her company.”

Devlin swung about, focusing his gaze on the park gazebo in the distance.

“You think I haven't thought of that?”

He felt a shadow at his back.

“If I thought that, I wouldn't be bullying you now. Christ, man, she wanted to get on a plane to Texas after I returned with your refusal. She wanted to plead her case to you.”

Devlin raked his hands through his hair again.

“I'm stuck between two rocks here, both of them unappetizing. Do I tear her professional life apart? Or do I tear her personal one?”

“If you're that torn, then why the hell did you just agree to marry her?”

“To buy some time,” Devlin snarled. “You saw her in there. She was nothing short of a she-bear defending her cubs. The word ‘no' was not an option.”

“You should've put your foot down more forcibly, right from the start. And why the hell did you buy her company, when, one, you don't need it, and two, you've already torn her life apart once. Do you have some kind of perverted revenge wish against her?”

Devlin fired up, his fists clenching.

“You're lucky I like you, Tommy. Otherwise, you'd be flat on the ground by now.”

Tommy fired up as well.

“Screw you! I call a spade a spade when I see it. And this spade reeks of deceit.”

A fierce scowl returned to Devlin's face.

“You're really pushing it, Tommy.”

“Of course I am!” His tone changed and Devlin knew what was coming. “Now, I'm warning you. Unless you can prove to me that getting married and going into a damaged circle will positively save this commune, I will do everything in my power to stop you and Brianna from attempting it.”

Devlin felt his anger rising again.

“That sounded a lot like an ultimatum.”

“I don't care if it did.” He began scuffing his shoe tip across a clump of grass.

“As Brianna's business partner, I'm advising you to think long and carefully about putting her in harm's way.”

Devlin's tone hardened.

“You needn't worry. Neither of us is going into the circle. And for your information, there is a way out of this farce.”

Tommy's face split into a grin.

“I'm listening.”

“There can be no marriage if a credible witness objects to the marriage. You need to speak up and offer an objection.”

Tommy's voice rose in surprise.

“Are you saying you aren't going to marry Brianna?”

Devlin ripped out his words, impatiently.

“I don't intend to marry and divorce, all in a space of a few days. If I can't have Brianna's love for a lifetime, I don't want to have it at all. If you help me by objecting to this marriage, the Council will have to delay the wedding ceremony—until the objection can be sorted out. Brianna will have no option then, but to let me enter the circle alone.”

Devlin saw the jerk of Tommy's shoulders. His penetrating gaze bespoke a raw anger.

“You're in love with her—probably always have been,” he remarked.

“And always will be,” Devlin answered. “So what's your point?”

“I might have to marry Brianna to spite you.”

Devlin's growl was ear-splitting.

“You do, and you'll regret it before the vows are even concluded. Brianna needs a husband who can withstand her strong will and viperous tongue. You don't fit that bill.”

“Well, she'll certainly get a bastard if she marries you,” Tommy scoffed.

“Right, so there's no use in staying silent, is there? Object to the marriage.”

Tommy shook his head.

“I won't do it. Suddenly, I like the marriage.” He stepped off the grass onto the curbing and away from Devlin, who followed with a vehement growl.

“Dammit, Tommy! The longer you stay here, the sooner Brianna will figure out that we've met before.”

“And how is that my problem?” he asked, striding down the sidewalk.

Devlin ground his teeth. It was clear he would have to marry Brianna and hope they didn't kill each other before the sun rose in the morning. He pulled alongside Tommy as they approached the front entrance of the Healing Center. Climbing the steps, he issued a stern warning.

“You have to play by coven rules while you're here. The health of this community depends on it.”

A triumphant laugh greeted Devlin.

“You'll marry Brianna?”

“I'll marry her.”

“You could make that sound a little less like ‘I'll kill her,'” Tommy chided.

“You're pushing again, Tommy.”

“Good. Now, do you or do you not suspect foul play in Mrs. Sage's collapse?”

“We won't know the answer to that until we examine the circle.”

“Why wait until sunrise, by the way?” Tommy asked.

Devlin lifted his face to study the night sky.

“First impressions are everything, and since energy consists of nothing more than shades of light and dark, it will be to our benefit to judge the energy as the earth shifts from night to day. Until then, you and I need to make an alteration to the marriage certificate—a codicil that will circumvent the Coven Dowry Law.”

“Dowry Law?”

“As archaic as it sounds, a High Priestess cannot own property of any kind. She belongs to the earth, dedicating herself to all living things.”

“You mean plants, and animals, and shit?”

“Exactly.”

Devlin heard a familiar chuckle.

“Does that mean the man she chooses as her husband loses his property, too?”

“On the contrary, her property becomes his.”

A gleeful laugh emanated.

”And to think, you could've had Sage Industries for free—if only you had just waited one more day.”

“You're pushing again, Tommy.”

“I certainly hope so.”

Unable to resist his grinning features, Devlin clapped Tommy on the back and pushed him towards the Healing Center door. “Now then, what say we make ourselves presentable for a wedding?”

“You first. You smell like . . . well, let's just say, it's impolite to marry a woman smelling like a garbage truck.”

“She pushed this marriage, not me.”

Tommy's lips curled derisively.

“Don't pretend that you aren't thrilled by the turn of events.”

“Go to hell, Tommy.”

“Not quite yet. I've a wedding to witness.”

• • •

Brianna swung her legs over the bed and sat up. It was useless trying to sleep. All she was doing was staring at the ceiling and cursing herself for being the biggest fool in wedding history. She glanced down at the gold wedding band on her finger and shivered. Mrs. Devlin Janus. The words chilled her as nothing else could. And yet, a small part of her insides jangled with excitement.

Her gaze lifted from the ring to the open window across the way. It had been a no-frills wedding, complete with a "you may now kiss the bride" moment that lacked heart or substance. A brief brush along her cheek had been the extent of the kiss, and even Tommy's congratulatory peck had lacked warmth.

The walk to her parent's cottage had been even more ghastly, the trio splitting up as soon as they entered the house. Devlin had hustled Tommy upstairs, into a guest bedroom, while she took refuge in her old room, hoping to catnap until the time came to consummate the marriage.

That had been her plan, but she had been unable to relax. And now here she was, standing in front of her closet, searching for an appropriate item to wear for the Joining. She could go with the sexy trapeze tunic, using it as camouflage for her rattled nerves. Or, she could wear the flannel pajama top plastered with Barbie figurines and endure Devlin's snide remarks when he saw it.