The Keepers: Declan (16 page)

Waking alone had a certain sting to it that Kate refused to acknowledge. Instead, she reached for a steely indifference, threw back the covers and stomped to the bathroom. The shower did little to lessen the frustration that stirred inside, and even less for the flush triggered by every memory of Declan.

Wow.

Her body tightened, her nipples hardened, and she groaned.

Steely indifference be damned.

By the time she made her way downstairs, her stomach was riddled with butterflies itching for flight.

As she reached the last step, the front door opened, the hinges of the solid, heavy door creaking. Declan walked in, carrying fire wood, Levi trailing behind him.

The top of his head was dusted with a thin layer of fresh snow, the white ice a contrast to his jet black hair. He paused when he saw her, his eyes narrowing a fraction, his expression a blank canvas.

She took a few deep breaths, trying to steady the rush of emotions. Levi trotted forward with her trademark wagging tail and Kate patted her head.

At least there was one friendly face there to greet her.

“You’re up,” he said, opting for a casual tone that irked her. He stomped his boots to get rid of the snow and shut the door. “How’s the wound?”

“Fine.” Healed, in fact.

“Everyone’s in the study. Sienna’s in party mode and could use some help.” He crossed the room and backed into a door, nodding at Kate to follow him.

Disappointment flared, along with a fresh bout of irritation. What had she expected? Taking a deep breath, she shoved aside the urge to run, and followed.

The smell of polish greeted her when she went inside; not surprising considering the heavy wooden book shelves that lined most of the walls. They added a serious appeal to the room, decorated with darker furniture, a leather couch, and three large desks kitted out with the latest technology.

Ethan was at his desk and Sienna stood beside the couch, surrounded by heaps of clothing that looked suspiciously like Halloween outfits. Her expression brightened when she saw them.

“Oh, great, you’re here,” Sienna said, smiling. Her fire red hair had been subdued into a knot at the nape of her neck and she wore a white shirt, leggings, and knee length boots. “We were about to grab some brunch. Hope you’re hungry.”

“Starving,” Kate admitted, edging closer.

Sienna held up a costume. “What do you think?”

Black. Skin tight. Catwoman.

Kate grinned.

Declan glanced at the suits as he knelt in front of the fireplace and offloaded the wood. “You planning a robbery?”

Sienna lowered the costume, her grin matching Kate’s. “Not tonight.”

“Anyone dressed in that can only mean trouble.”

“It’s cute, don’t you think?”

“Sure, if you’re attending a Halloween party.” He rose, dusting off his hands, and shifted his narrowed gaze to Sienna. “Going ahead with this party is insane.”

Her expression fell. “You say that like we have a choice.”

A muscle clenched in his jaw, but he didn’t argue.

“You know what this party means to our friends, our business. Tara’s gone to a lot of trouble.”

Declan looked at the clothes. Colourful and boisterous, hinting that tonight’s party called for something other than formal wear. “So what’s with the gear?”

Sienna reached into the pile and pulled out a Captain America costume, double the size of hers. “It’s our costumes for tonight’s party.”

“What are we, twelve?”

“Don’t be a grouch.”

Ethan leaned back in his chair, toying with the leather straps around his wrist. Kate caught a glimpse of his Keeper ring, identical to Declan’s. Against the navy blue T-shirt he wore, his eyes were a shade darker. “If it wasn’t for Sienna, you’d have nothing to wear tonight. Show some gratitude, brother.”

“I’m not in the mood to play dress up for some stupid party that shouldn’t even be happening.”

“We’re having this party, Declan.” Sienna dumped the costumes. “If we lived in hiding, then all the crap that comes with this life would destroy the tiny bit of normality we strive for!”

The admission was a powerful one, which neither of the brothers denied.

Sienna exhaled, sending Kate an apologetic glance before lowering her voice. “Tonight is a celebration and we’re part of this community. You know we can’t cancel at such short notice without causing alarm.”

“Harper is also part of this community. If he pitches up, no one will question it.”

“We’ll be ready for him.”

“As Catwoman?”

“Don’t be snarky.”

“If he tries something, there’s nothing we can do with everyone watching. Our powers are bound at events like these.”

“I agree, Declan, but Sienna has a point,” Ethan said, his tone taking on a more serious edge. “With the upcoming harvest in a few days, we need to mingle with our friends. Cancelling the party now would unsettle everyone.”

Kate placed a hand on Declan’s arm. “They’re right. And if Harper shows, we’ll deal with him.”

“Whose side are you on?”

“The side that helps me figure out how
not
to be a pawn in this stupid war.”

His gaze flickered between the two women and he shrugged. “Fair enough, but if Harper shows tonight, neither of you get to reel me in. And I’m not going as Captain America.”

“No, you’re not,” Sienna replied.

Kate glanced at the costumes. “So what’s tonight’s theme?”

“Superheroes.”

“Great,” Declan grumbled, taking a seat at his desk, “we get to hang out with Spiderman and Batman. Love it.”

“We always have fun at these parties,” Sienna argued, ignoring his sarcasm. “With any luck, Harper won’t show.”

“It would be an incredibly stupid move on his part if he did,” Ethan said. “By now he knows we’ll be rallying around Kate.”

Kate felt a flash of warmth at his words. Besides her mother and Hazel, no one had ever looked out for her before. It was  …  refreshing, comforting. It tugged at the part of her that had insisted she could operate alone.

Declan waved a hand at the costumes. “So which is mine?”

Sienna grinned. Reaching into the pile, she pulled out Iron Man.

A boyish grin broke free and Declan nodded. “Oh yeah.”

When Declan walked into the living room, Ethan shoved a whiskey in his hand. “What’s this for?” he asked, giving his brother’s black and silver suit a nod of approval. Ethan had transformed into an excellent version of Thor. He had to admit, Sienna’s costume choice of The Avengers wasn’t completely lame.

At least she hadn’t opted for Spiderman.

“Thought you might need a mood booster,” Ethan replied, adjusting his red cape.

“I hope you brought the bottle.”

Ethan chuckled and motioned to it with his hammer.

“I can’t take you seriously when you wave that thing at me.”

“Yeah, me neither,” Archer said, joining them. He wore a black sleeveless jacket, a bow and arrow attached to his back.

“If you’re Hawkeye, then Sienna must be  … ” Declan’s words trailed off as Sienna walked into the room.

“Black Widow,” she finished, giving a courtesy twirl, a gorgeous vision of pale skin and fire red hair. She wore a skin-tight black jumpsuit marked with the symbol of the Avengers on each shoulder and a pair of high-heeled boots.

He heard Archer’s grunt of approval and took a sip of bourbon, almost choking on it when Kate walked through the door.

For a moment, all he could do was simply stare, caught off guard by the way his body reacted to seeing her.

Her skinny Catwoman jumpsuit hugged her hips, reminding him of the curves he’d spent all night exploring. Her hair was curlier and left loose around her shoulders, silky and gorgeous. In her hand, she held the cat ears, a mask, and a black cape.

Hot damn.

He crossed the room, hoping no one would notice that his suit had grown abruptly uncomfortable. Damn, would he ever get enough of her?

Suddenly, the idea of sharing her with a room full of town folk seemed as appealing as a root canal and he had the insane urge to toss her over his shoulder and drag her back to bed.

His bed.

She gave his suit a quick once-over. “Nice, warrior boy.”

He reached for the mask in her hand and adjusted it around her head, pleased to see the transformation. With her mop of dark curls and the mask, she wasn’t easily recognisable.

“We don’t know who’s siding with Harper and he may have people watching you,” he told her, relieved that his voice held no hint of the strain his body felt. He fastened the cape around her neck. “You’ll need to mingle around the room so not to give away that you’re with us.”

“I know. Sienna explained everything.”

“Stay close, don’t wander off.”

“I’ve got it, Declan.”

“And if there are any problems,” he said, unable to keep the grittiness out of his voice, “remember I can hear you from across the room so all you need to do is murmur my name.”

Her face relaxed into a smile that took his breath away. “You should have worn a White Knight suit.”

“I told you –”

“Yeah, yeah,” she interrupted, clearly remembering his earlier response to a similar statement, “but I’m finding that harder to believe the more I’m with you.”

He frowned at her words but didn’t offer a reply. He turned to his brothers. “Shall we go?”

They all made their way out the door, looking either ridiculous or cool, depending on which way you looked at it.

Declan caught Kate’s arm before she walked out, drawing her back toward him.

“Something you forgot?” she asked, her tone taking on a playful ring.

He dipped his head closer, his lips an inch from hers, and gave a brief nod. “Yeah, this,” he said, covering her mouth with his.

Her sharp intake of air made him hard and he slid his hands in the nape of her neck.

Their kiss was brutal for the available space left in his suit and he lifted his head.

“Of all the damn superhero suits, you had to wear this one?” he grumbled.

“What would you have preferred? My options were limited.”

“I’d prefer you naked, in my bed, away from all those people.”

“You had me naked but you walked out on me.”

And suddenly, he couldn’t remember why. “I had things to do.”

“Liar.”

He hitched a brow, surprised by her candour.

“You ran, Declan, and I’m okay with that, but spare me the crappy excuses.”

“Considering there was a time that you left me butt-naked, I’d say we’re even.”

“That was different. We were on neutral ground then.”

“And we’re not now?”

“Far from it.”

True. His town, his home, his family. And dammit, he hadn’t once thought about what it would be like for her in Rapid Falls.

Her words sent a wave of guilt through him and he pressed his lips to her forehead, exhaling slowly. “I was an ass.”

“Is that your way of apologising?”

“No. This is,” he murmured, covering her lips with his in a kiss so powerful that she swayed against him.

“Declan!” she breathed and smiled.

For a moment, he simply stared at her, absorbed in that beautiful smile that lit up her face. Her mouth, the soft curve of her full lips, and perfect teeth.

Gorgeous.

Inhaling her vanilla scent, he kissed her again and pulled away before his pants either split or he gave in to the urge to toss her across his shoulder.

The latter being his preferred choice.

****

The party was in full swing and Tara had outdone herself. Superheroes filled the massive entertainment room in a whirl of celebrations. The icy cold temperatures had done little to keep anyone at home. The hall closet was bursting at the seams with shed coats, jackets and capes. A live band at the far end of the room had everyone on the dance floor, superheroes jazzing it up with laughter and drinks. The mood was festive, happy, the theme adding a touch of childlike amusement. The room was full of round tables, decorated in dark colours, a contrast to the bright outfits of the guests. Fairy lights, low lighting, and candles illuminated the room in a warm, atmospheric glow.

Once a fancy ballroom, it was now only used for winery events.

Declan joined Ethan at their table, tossed his helmet onto his chair, and reached for the drink in his brother’s hand. “Why do I feel like we’re back in high school?”

“Same crowd, same theme, same celebrations. Not hard to feel nostalgic,” Ethan replied.

“Trust me, brother, it’s not nostalgia I feel right now.” Declan drained the glass and pushed it into his brother’s hand, ignoring the hitched eyebrows. He searched the room for Kate, who had done a splendid job of blending in. Clearly, years of keeping in the background had made it an easy task for her and she moved effortlessly through the crowd.

He wanted to tug her onto the dance floor, kiss her senseless. But it would out her to Harper the moment he walked in the door.

Provided he wasn’t already amongst the crowd. Although many of the guests had shed their masks shortly after arrival, there were still a handful of guests who’d kept them on. Spiderman seemed to be a firm favourite, along with Batman and Superman. He’d even spotted a few Mr and Mrs Incredibles. It was a fun theme, he had to admit, and seeing their friends dressed up, drinking, dancing and laughing was always good. After all, that’s precisely why they worked so hard to maintain the serenity of their town.

But he couldn’t shake the feeling that the party was about to be crashed and he’d set a sheep loose amongst the wolves. His instincts urged him to drag Kate upstairs.

Archer joined them, handing out fresh drinks, and scanned the room for Sienna. She was talking to an old school friend. Outwardly, she appeared calm and relaxed, almost amused at their conversation, but Declan knew his witch well enough to know that she was as riddled with tension as they were.

Ethan stepped between them, slinging an arm over each of their shoulders, and squeezed. “You boys realise you’ve just doubled our worries?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Declan asked, watching Kate over the rim of his glass.

Ethan nodded at Kate. “As if one witch wasn’t enough to worry about, we now have two.”

“Sienna’s our main concern.”

“Of course.” Ethan grinned. “But it’s not like we’re about to feed Kate to Harper either.”

“Not if we want him to use her against us.”

“Cut the crap, brother. For you, this is about more than just the balance.”

Archer nodded. “You marked her.”

“You’re not going to let that go, are you?” Declan grunted.

Archer grinned and raised his glass mid-air. “Seems like we have our hands full, brothers.”

“If we can handle Sienna, Kate’s a walk in the park,” Declan muttered.

The arrival of Tara ended their conversation. The blonde bombshell had imitated X-Men’s Storm to perfection and looked incredible. She kissed them each on the cheek, leaving Declan for last, her lips lingering a moment longer than her first two kisses.

They’d had a lot of fun over the years but he’d always warned her that a relationship was never on the cards.

“Declan,” she murmured, pulling away. “Your brothers said you were away. Is everything okay?”

His nod was brief, not caring to elaborate. As her family had been one of the founding members of their town, along with their Bennett, Beckham, and Brogan ancestors, Tara knew of their supernatural existence. Like the few others who knew about them, she understood their role in maintaining the peace and seldom brought it up.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you tonight,” she said.

“I just got back. Everything on track for the harvest?”

She beamed. “With the temperature dropping, I’ll be giving the go-ahead any day now to pick those beautiful babies.”

He nodded, familiar with the drill. The moment the temperature dipped below a certain degree, it would be all hands on deck and the whole town would come to assist them. It was a joyous occasion, his sister’s favourite time of the year; but also a lot of hard work in freezing temperatures, working throughout the night. Once the grapes were picked, they went to the town’s winery where the winemaking process started, and the town erupted into a massive festival of celebration.

Tara began talking about the upcoming harvest, her chatter easily tuned out as Declan sought out Kate. He ached to go to her, needing a distraction, needing
her
.

More than he’d ever needed another woman.

The realisation surprised him, made him uneasy, and he frowned at the vagrant thought that Kate might not fit so readily into the category he usually assigned to his women.

And refused to embrace why.