The Keepers: Declan (17 page)

Two hours later, the loud music had everyone circling the dance floor in high spirits.

It was fun to watch and despite the tension that kept Kate on the edge of nausea, she began to relax and enjoy herself. The town folk of Rapid Falls were easy-going, eager to welcome a newbie to the community.

When Sienna grabbed Kate’s hand, tugging her toward the dance floor with a bright smile and swaying hips, Kate dug in her heels.

“I thought I shouldn’t be seen with you,” Kate said loudly, dipping her head toward Sienna’s so she could be heard.

Sienna turned her mouth to Kate’s ear. “There’s no sign of Harper and I think you could use some good old fashioned R&R.” She smiled when she saw Kate’s frown. “Relax, Kate. If Harper shows, we’ll deal with him. In the meantime, let’s have some fun!” Grabbing Kate’s hand, she led her onto the dance floor amongst the crowd.

Declan and his brothers joined them, their previous unease momentarily dispelled. Kate laughed when Declan grabbed her hand and twirled her around.

“Look at you, Bennett,” she said with a bright smile. “You’re smiling and dancing. Wow, you actually look happy.”

Grinning, he twirled her around again before drawing her close. Electricity fired, as it always did when they touched, and he gave her an all-knowing gaze.

She blushed and broke away with a carefree laugh to join Sienna. Despite her worry, Kate relented, unable to resist the infectious spirit around her. For the next hour, she lost herself in the whirlwind of fun that began to chip away at the lead weight in her belly.

The tempo of the music slowed, drawing couples together, and Declan was there, taking her hand and tugging her into his arms.

She went willingly and smiled up at him, the impact of his touch stirring something needful inside.

His tousled black hair brushed his shoulders. Blue eyes, full of heated mischief, peered into hers for a lingering moment before breaking away.

It was becoming increasingly hard not to lose herself to him.

The thought made her uneasy, but she pushed her discomfort aside. For now, dancing with Declan was much more appealing than dealing with that conflict.

They danced in silence, swaying to the music, unmistakable heat sizzling between them. It was captivating, exciting, and sent tingles through her.

As the song continued, Declan tightened his arms around her, holding her in place as they moved to the music.

His grip was firm, possessive, and had her grinning against him when he slid a hand across her curves.

“Careful with those hands, Bennett. Keep up with the touchy-feely, you’ll blow my cover and people will know I’m with you.”

“Are you?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“I can’t exactly see you siding with Harper.”

“No.”

“Besides, is there anywhere else you’d rather be than here, with me?”

“I could be washing my hair.”

“Right. You’d rather be washing your hair than doing this?” He captured her mouth with his, smiling when she sucked in air, caught by his boldness. His lips were soft and sinful, teasing her with promises of more. He pulled away, grinning wildly at her as though he’d just proved a point. And he had. “You were saying?”

“Stop it, Declan.”

He kissed her again, his chuckle lost in the heat that reared to life the moment his lips covered hers. It was always like this between them. Hot and overwhelming.

She grinned at his arousal pressing against her and met his gaze – beautiful blue eyes that flashed with amusement. “Hmm, Iron Man seems happy.”

“So happy he wants to take you back to bed.”

“Iron Man and Catwoman. That could be interesting.”

He squeezed her hand. “Love it, let’s go.”

“Declan,” she gushed, as heat flooded her cheeks.

Laughing, he released her, keeping her hand in his, and led her to the bar to join his brothers and Sienna.

The barman, Jonathan Malloy, greeted them with a cheerful wave. He’d opted for a Superman suit that looked a little worse for wear after a night serving drinks behind the bar, but his smile was friendly, his personality larger than the beer belly he sported.

Kate watched the brothers exchange celebratory slaps on their backs and hand out drinks. Their boisterous male laughter, teasing quips, and brotherly bond were mesmerising. And Sienna fit right in.

It was something Kate had never had. She’d been the outcast, isolated from both her worlds. Growing up, she’d been an only child, indifferent to what life with a sibling was like. Now, watching the brothers, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of longing.

Dozens of warnings her mother had given her over the years replayed in her mind, mingling with a sense of guilt. Kate was falling for the very world she’d been taught to avoid.

She sipped her wine as a prickle ran down her spine. She tensed and scanned the room over the rim of her glass.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

An older woman approached, the prickle increasing with every step she took.

“Lora!” Sienna said with an excited hitch to her tone. “Join us for a glass of wine.”

Her white hair cupped her face, accentuating high cheek bones and a beautiful smile that brightened when she saw Sienna. She’d opted against a superhero outfit and wore black slacks and a soft pink cardigan. “I’m assuming Catwoman is yours?” she asked, glancing at Kate.

“She’s staying with us for a while,” Sienna replied.

“I’m Lora,” she said, holding out a hand.

Kate swiped her curls out of her eyes and reached out. “Ah, I have you to thank for the fabulous goody bag.”

“You have everything you need?”

“I do. Thank you so much, and thank you for the phone.” She’d already used it to call Hazel, soothing her friend’s fears. “I’m Kate,” she said, closing her hand around the woman’s.

The jolt of electricity was immediate and had them reeling back. Lora gasped, staring at Kate with wide eyes.

Kate shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “What just happened?”

Sienna’s gaze flickered between them and her hands flew up to cover an unhinged jaw. “Oh my God!”

Alarm prickled through Kate. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Lora interrupted, silencing Sienna with a glare. She turned to Kate, her expression softening. “I’m sorry, this cardigan always seems to generate static. I should’ve tossed it out years ago, but it’s a favourite.”

Kate relaxed, disarmed by her warm smile, but she couldn’t shake the sense of unease. Sienna shifted beside them, clearing her throat.

“Lora was a close friend of Rose’s,” she explained.

“And she’s the one who taught me to play the guitar,” Declan added, coming up behind Lora. He slid an arm around Lora’s shoulders and kissed her cheek.

“You’ve heard him play?” Lora asked Kate.

Images of their heated kisses on the train came to mind and Kate was mortified when she blushed. “Yes, it’s beautiful.”

Lora tapped a finger against Declan’s chest. “Nice to know our lessons paid off.”

“Kate sings,” he said, not bothering to hide the teasing grin.

Kate’s blush deepened and she sipped her wine, ignoring his chuckle.

Lora’s eyebrows lifted. “You do?”

“And I play the piano. My mother taught me.” It was one of the fond memories Kate always welcomed in an effort to drown out the marred ones.

Lora’s lips drew together into a thin line and she took a large sip of wine before handing it back to Sienna. They exchanged quiet glances before Lora turned back to her with a shaky smile. “Excuse me, but I need the ladies’ room.”

Kate watched her walk away, unable to dismiss the odd sensation that Lora was upset. She looked at Sienna, surprised to find them all staring at her. “Did I say something wrong?”

Sienna shook her head. “Losing Rose has been hard for Lora.” She offered Kate a small smile and took a seat beside Archer, effectively ending the discussion.

Kate didn’t press and swore she saw a flash of relief in Sienna’s eyes. Hundreds of questions sprung to mind but she dismissed them, deciding she’d ask Declan about Lora later when they were alone.

If
they were alone.

The thought of spending another night with him did crazy things to her insides and she reeled in the grin before it broke free.

Oh, brother.

Archer drew Sienna into his arms and kissed her cheek. He looked smitten with his witch, and Kate couldn’t tear her eyes away from them.

“It wasn’t always that easy for them,” Ethan said, pulling up a chair beside Kate, his gaze on the couple. He had an ease about him that was different to his brothers; a quiet confidence that she found attractive. Reassuring.

“Because of The Circle?”

“Those old bats mean business with their rules.”

“Yet Sienna and Archer found a way to be together.”

“They have Rose to thank for that,” Ethan said, his brows creasing.

“He loves her.”

“That he does.” His frown deepened and he tilted his glass to hers. “Lots of history in this town, Miss Kate.”

She liked that. The town had roots, generations of heart and soul. A place where friendships were built and maintained.

Ethan toyed with his leather necklace as he sipped his drink. He was the only brother who wore any jewellery other than their Keeper rings.

The flash of a silver pendant caught her attention. Curious, she reached out, but his hand snapped around her wrist so fast that she gasped.

“I’m sorry,” she said, withdrawing, caught off-guard by the harshness to his touch. “I was just curious.”

Releasing her wrist, he fisted the pendant, his eyes flashing with a dark emotion she hadn’t expected of him.

Tucking the pendant into his shirt, he reached for his drink, his expression softening as he offered a smile that held more of an apology than humour. The darkness was gone, quickly replaced with the easy charm she’d grown accustomed to.

She looked away, hating that she’d touched a nerve. She considered asking him about it but Tara arrived with swinging hips and cat calls, rattling a bottle of champagne. She sidled up to Declan, draping her arm around him. Declan’s smile was easy, and he didn’t pull away, but his gaze shifted to Kate’s.

An old flame?

Jealousy curled her insides, surprising her with its fierceness, and she was quick to stamp it down.

Jonathan arrived with a tray of glasses. Placing them on the counter, he slapped Declan on the back. “Declan, my man. I’ve missed our daily whiskeys. Glad you’re back.”

“Yeah, me too, buddy,” Declan replied with a brief nod but caught the glass Jonathan slid across the counter.

“You shot out of here like a bat out of hell last week. Did you find what you were looking for?” Jonathan asked, pouring champagne.

Declan’s gaze locked with Kate’s. “Damn right.”

“And he’s back in time for the harvest,” Tara said, handing out the champagne. “According to the weather forecast, it’s soon. Everyone ready for some fun?”

There was a roar of cheers and a clashing of glasses as everyone toasted the harvest. Clearly, it was a huge event for them; not surprising considering their home-brewed wine kept the town thriving.

Tara unwrapped herself from Declan and shook the empty champagne bottle. With a laugh, she handed it to Jonathan. “I think we need more of this,” she said, and sauntered off behind the bar.

Jonathan adjusted his Superman cape and motioned toward the crowd with the empty bottle in his hand. “Clearly that lot missed the memo for tonight’s dress code.”

They all turned to see what Jonathan was gesturing at. Everything inside Kate snapped to attention at the sight of the three people wandering through the crowd.

All dressed in black capes with wide hoods, their eyes outlined in thick black circles.

And from the sudden tension that seeped through the Keepers, she wasn’t the only one who felt the impact of their presence.

Jonathan laughed, the cheerful sound piercing the silence. “They look like Grim Reapers.”

“Yeah,” Archer said, slamming his glass down and straightening, “they do.”

“Gotta love their sense of humour,” Jonathan retorted and moved off to serve the other guests.

“Their humour needs some adjusting,” Ethan grumbled, clenching his fists.

“I’m in,” Declan replied through gritted teeth, quietly sidling closer to Kate. His fingers closed around her upper arm, his touch firm, protective.

“What’s it with these damn warlocks and their deathly faces?” Sienna snapped, her tone firing with disgust.

“Alliance to Mason.”

The three caped guests combed the crowd, who were indifferent to their presence, thanks to the alcohol and the festive mood. As for the hooded strangers, they were invincible and nothing could mar their fun.

For Declan and his brothers, the uninvited guests spelled serious trouble, threatening everything they had vowed to defend.

Harper’s men turned to face them, a blur between the living and dead. They grinned as one, issuing a silent challenge.

Declan’s grip tightened. The flames of all the candles in the room flared brighter, provoking a few excited murmurs from the guests.

“Easy, brother,” Ethan cautioned, slapping a hand on Declan’s shoulder. “Room full of innocents, remember?

“All the more reason to get them out of here,” Declan replied.

“And we will, but we have to be smart.”

“They came here.
To our house
.”

“Probably just a ploy to remind us who they fight for. And to point out our limitations in a crowd like this.”

Declan growled, but didn’t argue. “We need to lure them outside.”

“I doubt they’d respond to a friendly request.”

Declan shot his brother a smirk. “Who said anything about being friendly?”

“Declan,” Archer said, reaching for Declan’s arm. “Ethan and I will go. You stay with Sienna and Kate.”

“No.”

“You’re wired and we can’t leave the witches unprotected.”

“I wasn’t planning to.”

Kate ignored Archer’s quiet reply and scoped the room for Harper, her instincts prickling. His minions were here, which meant he would be too. Anger flared, triggering the resentment she’d harboured for years. There was only one reason they were here and she was it.

A black cloaked figure at the far end of the bar caught her attention and for a moment, she simply stared, struck by the way he sat watching her. Casual, unperturbed, quietly waiting to be noticed. The hoodie shadowed his face.

A face she’d seen before.

The demon stared back at her, teeth bared, eyebrows creased into a vicious frown, black eyes burning into hers.

She fixed him with a steely glare, refusing to flinch at the immobile expression that stared back. It sent her entire body into a frenzy of warning. Everything clenched in objection.

Kate pulled away from Declan, ignoring the snap of her name, and marched around the bar. “Looking for me?” she demanded, almost breathless from the whirl of protective energy inside.

A low chuckle grated on her nerves. He lowered the hoodie and revealed his true face, his lips hitched into a grin.

Harper.

She inhaled quietly, reaching for the calm over the storm that brewed inside.

“Crashing a party on the Bennett estate. I’m not sure if that’s bold or incredibly stupid,” Kate said, pleased that her voice sounded casual.

Harper’s face cracked a cocky smile and he waved a hand across the room. “I grew up here. These are my people too.”

“And yet you wouldn’t think twice about hurting them.”

He gave a dismissive shrug. “Some are  …  collateral damage.”

“Which is why your name wasn’t on the guest list,” Declan said through gritted teeth, coming up behind Kate.

She could feel his presence behind her, even though he hadn’t touched her.

Harper flicked him a casual glance. “I never thought to check. My bad.”

“You should leave, Harper,” Declan said, his tone icy with warning.

“The only way I’ll leave here quietly is if the girl comes with me.”

“Right,” Kate replied, “as if that’ll ever happen.”

His smile faded but he didn’t reply. Instead, the two large chandeliers in the centre of the room began to rattle. Slowly at first, enough to attract a few concerned glances, but soon a trickle of alarm rippled through the crowd.

Everyone cleared the floor beneath each chandelier. The music faltered briefly but the band was quick to recommence.

“Threatening to expose us so that you get your way?” Declan hitched a brow. “This is getting rather old, Harper.”

“Maybe, but it works every time.” He chuckled, mocking the tension. Pushing back his chair, he stood. “I’ll make you a deal.”

“We don’t make deals with the devil.”

“My, you’re extra broody tonight, Bennett. And here I thought that was Archer’s thing.”

“Yeah, that happens when you attack one of our own and return to our town. Did you lot learn nothing from Warrick?”

Despite Harper’s calm facade, his expression shifted. “Perhaps it’s you who failed to learn anything from that unfortunate ordeal.” Harper took a step closer to Declan, challenge oozing from his rigid stance. “We’re not going away and we’re not backing down.”

A smile broke the tension on Declan’s face, but it lacked enthusiasm and was tainted with a challenge of its own. “Pity we have the one thing you want.”

Harper’s gaze flickered between them before finally settling on Declan. “And you have no idea why, do you?”

Declan closed the gap between them, so close that their noses were almost touching. “The only way you will ever have Kate’s powers is if you kill her, and there’s no way in hell we’ll let that happen.”

“You’re forgetting one thing, Bennett.”

Declan’s glare didn’t falter and he remained quiet, refusing to bite.

But Harper told him anyway. “You can’t watch her forever.”

Kate choked back a roar of anger and pushed between the men, slamming a hand on either chest. Rock hard muscles met each palm, along with the rapid heartbeat of each man.

Testosterone soared, adrenaline had reached its peak, and everything inside Kate warned her to separate them.

“Let’s take this outside,” she ordered, surprising herself with the strength she’d mustered in pushing them apart. She felt the churning of energy deep inside. She took in a deep breath, hoping to calm the fierceness, grateful for the energy spike she’d experienced since her arrival in Rapid Falls.

Harper drained his drink and slammed the glass on the counter. “Happy to.”

The chandeliers grew still as though someone had flicked a switch. There was a ripple of excitement through the guests but the gaps in the dance floor soon closed as they resumed their fun.

Harper turned to Kate and offered his hand. “Follow me?”

Declan stepped in front of Kate, shielding her body with his. Anger radiated off him, despite his cool pose.

The action triggered a wide grin from Harper and he nodded to Archer and Ethan. “Call your brothers. We might as well have one big, happy reunion.”

“‘Happy’ is not a word that’s in your vocabulary, Harper. Let’s get this over with.”

“Happiness is for ordinary people.” Without looking back, he headed for the back entrance. In perfect unison, his warriors flocked around him as they piled out of the back door and onto the lawn.

It was cold outside. A thick blanket of snow covered the grounds and trees. To the side of the house was the indoor heated swimming pool. The patio doors that faced the garden were open for tonight’s occasion. Hundreds of candles burned around the pool area, along with six barrels of fire scattered along the pathway, creating the warm ambience Tara had hoped for.

Except there was nothing warm about the huddle of warriors in the middle of the garden. They stood waiting, poised for battle, a barrier of determination and simmering anger.

But it didn’t stop Sienna. “Let’s get them out of here,” she said, marching down the stairs, glaring at them as though they were vermin in need of extermination.

The three Keepers immediately followed directly behind her, but came to an abrupt halt as they slammed against a powerful force on the top step.

An eruption of curses sliced through the stunned silence.

“Sienna!” Archer yelled. “Sienna, get back here!”

Sienna reeled around, her eyes widening in surprise to see them all paused at the top of the stairs.

Archer beat his fists against the invisible barrier that held them captive. “It’s a trap! We can’t get out!”

Sienna shifted her gaze to the ground in front of them. “Oh, no,” she said, her words coming out in a breathy gasp.

“What’s wrong?” Kate asked, alarm stinging every one of her senses. She bolted past them, gasping when she too collided with the invisible wall. “What’s happening?”

Declan knelt, brushing aside the snow covered stairs. He touched a finger to his lips and stood, pointing to a white trail that ran along the length of the patio. “Salt. The bastards have used salt.” He charged forward, roaring when he hit the invisible barrier. “Sienna! Get back here, dammit!”

Sienna bolted for the stairs, gasping when she hit another magical wall. A sudden silence cut through the night and Kate knew instinctively that something horrible had happened.

Sienna stood still, at the bottom the stairs, staring at the second trail of salt that separated her from her Keepers.

Archer went mad.

“Sienna!” he yelled, pounding the invisible wall that separated them. He shoved with his shoulder, cursing, shouting her name, and pinned a deathly glare at the grinning warlocks. “You touch her and I’ll fucking kill you, Harper!”

Harper laughed, the sound gravelly in the darkness.

“Sienna!”

Ethan and Declan parted, frantically combing the porch in search of escape, cursing when there was none.

“It’s no use,” Harper called in a casual tone, looking like a kid in a candy store. He motioned to the salt that ran in a neat line around the house. “Don’t bother trying to find another exit. The entire house is surrounded with salt.” He walked closer, his eyes flashing with crazed amusement and zoning in on Kate. “A spell designed to trap a Keeper. Witches are so nifty to have as allies, don’t you think?”