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“I told you never to set foot in Rapid Falls again,” Jenna hissed through gritted teeth, temper flaring.
Megan grinned. “But this is where all the good witches are.”
“If you harm my witch, no amount of –”
“I’m not here for that. Not today.” Megan’s expression grew serious, her brows creasing with worry. “Hazel’s opened the portal to Ameera, Jenna.” Hearing the name aloud sent an icy spurt of alarm through Jenna. Their gazes locked, the mention of their old home jarring the rivalry between them. “I have a message from her.”
“Forever her sidekick.”
Megan let the comment slide. “She’ll keep the portal open until Sienna hands over the Brogan Grimoire.”
Ah, the damn Brogan Grimoire. Sienna’s mother had once sealed the book with a powerful spell. According to her grandmother, a Beckham spell and four enchanted stones would unseal the book, but so far Sienna hadn’t been able to crack it.
Hazel was convinced the book contained the location of the witch massacre – a minefield of potent energy left behind by the slaughtered witches. If she ever found where that magic was buried, she’d have access to a power that went beyond anything they’d ever seen. She’d be unstoppable. So the book remained in hiding, safely tucked away at the Bennett Estate.
“Sienna will never relinquish the Grimoire,” Jenna said.
“You know what will happen if that portal stays open!”
“And you know what will happen if Hazel finds that magic!”
“Ameera is so much worse now –”
“You’ve been back?” Jenna cut in. When Megan looked away, her lips thinning into a grimace, Jenna gasped. “Hazel’s in Ameera, isn’t she?”
“Jenna –”
“Did you find my parents?” A surge of desperation had Jenna in front of Megan in a sudden movement. “Did you see them?”
Megan’s unfaltering gaze met hers and held, an ocean of memories bristling between them. “No.”
The ache in Jenna’s chest was almost unbearable. “Why’s Hazel in Ameera?”
The question served as a stark reminder of everything that stood between them and Megan jerked back, her expression hardening. “Like I’d tell you.”
A scream in the distance jarred Jenna into action. Anxious to find Kate and instinctively knowing that Megan wouldn’t offer any more information, she backed away, scowling at her. “Stay away from my witch, Megan.”
Turning around, she bolted for the street.
The fire had spread, claiming trees and plants along the way. The awning above a boutique window went up in flames.
A child stood in the centre of the chaos, clutching the arm of a teddy bear, crying hysterically. Jenna raced forward, scooped him up and pushed him into the arms of a young woman with saucer-wide eyes.
It began to rain. Soft droplets that soon grew heavy and persistent, dousing the flames. Archer?
A ripple of energy washed over Jenna, one she instantly recognised. Kate’s magic. Her body soared with relief when she spotted her witch beside Sienna in the distance, surrounded by the three brothers. They were all drenched from the rain. Kate wore a blank expression, almost oblivious to the chaos, but Jenna knew better. Her witch had gone into that quiet, private place that would stop the madness.
Jenna was beside her in a heartbeat.
Instantly, as though Kate had flicked a whip, everything began to settle. The explosions stopped, the panic lessened, and the shifters retreated. Clearly, they’d been warned that the hybrid Null was no match for them. More so now that Kate had been practicing with her grandmother every day for the last few months. Honing her powers, developing her skill. Lethal.
When Kate snapped out of her trance, blinking rapidly, Jenna reached for her arm, frowning at the slight tremble beneath her touch. “It’s okay, I’m here,” Jenna said. “Are you hurt?”
Kate shook her head but leaned in, holding Jenna’s arm.
“Where the hell have you been?” Declan snapped, scowling at Jenna.
“Bumping heads with your lookalike.”
“A Mimic?”
“Yeah, and he was much friendlier than the genuine version.” She pointed to the retreating shifters. No sign of Megan or the Mimic. “They’re leaving already.”
Cursing, Ethan spun around, but Archer was in front of him in the blink of an eye. A barricade of rigid resistance.
“Ethan!” Archer grabbed his shoulder, adding more resistance when Ethan ignored him. “Stop, dammit!”
“Let me go, brother.” Ethan kept moving forward, taking his brother with him. An inescapable force. “They attacked a town full of innocent people, Archer! This is bullshit and you know it!”
“You can’t go alone! We don’t know how many there are.” Archer’s shoulders heaved and his eyes flashed with something wild. He jabbed a finger at Declan. “Go with him. We’ll take care of Kate and Sienna. Go.”
Declan jerked forward, his protective instincts itching for a fight. But he hesitated, his gaze moving between Archer, Kate, and Sienna.
His brother. His woman. His witch.
Jenna stepped forward and touched his arm. “Go with Ethan, Declan. We’ll be fine. I promise.”
Declan’s frown deepened, words unnecessary. They both knew what was at stake. Exhaling harshly, he scanned the crowd. With a quick nod, he pulled out the keys to his Harley Davidson and tossed them to Jenna. “Stay in town. It’s safer. We’ll come back for you.”
As the two men took off, Jenna wondered if their witches were safe anywhere.
CHAPTER TEN (#ulink_93a62d96-e056-5c78-9e0d-6d8054b9278b)
Usually, Jenna loved the feel of a Harley between her legs. The freedom, the speed, the power. Pure bliss.
Not tonight.
If anything, she felt ill. Fear and worry had taken up residence within her, her mind reeling with all kinds of thoughts that only escalated the closer they got to home.
The portal to Ameera was open.
The shifters had already filtered through and it wouldn’t be long before other supernatural beings and creatures followed. Greed, destruction, and violence had depleted their resources ages ago, feeding a growing restlessness and hunger throughout the city. They knew there was another world outside their realm and had been searching for a way in for so long.
Something Hazel seemed quite happy to provide.
If the portal stayed open, it was only a matter of time before both worlds would be altered forever.
The thought frightened Jenna, but she couldn’t deny the nugget of truth gnawing at her. After so many years of searching for a way back to Ameera, she finally – finally – had a way in.
She could find her parents.
Jenna’s chest burned at the thought and she realised she’d stopped breathing. The pressure eased when she drew in a deep breath, but it did nothing to ease the ache in her heart. She released the throttle, slowing the bike, and turned toward the Bennett estate. Home.
It was late, dark, and so damn cold. The rain had stopped, but thunder and lightning still worked its fury across the sky.
Sienna and Archer trailed in his SUV behind, the glint of their headlights a small comfort in a lot of tension. They’d opted to drive separately. Easier to split up if needed.
The aftermath of the attack had been a crazy whirlwind of fire engines, police, and ambulances that had their local sheriff, Pam, in a frenzy. Debris and glass littered the blackened sidewalks. Injuries were minor, so the sheriff had sent people home.
Kate sat behind Jenna, arms around her waist. They huddled together on the bike, gliding along the mountain pass on the gentle hum of the Harley.
They arrived home without trouble and Jenna exhaled as the huge gate closed behind them. Soft lighting illuminated the driveway all the way to the house. A safety they longed for. Levi, their Golden Retriever, stood on the front steps, always eager to greet them.
Only this time, there was no wagging tail. Or friendly face. The dog stared into the darkness, growling. Jenna’s stomach lurched when she saw why. Two black shadows had emerged from the forest and were racing across the lawn on all-fours.
Hellhounds.
A force crashed into them from behind, the impact so powerful it threw Kate off the bike. Jenna skidded across the road, weighed down by the machine on top of her.
Jenna cried out as the gravel tore her flesh, but before the bike came to a stop, she was already scrambling beneath it, frantically searching for her witch.
Three enormous hounds surrounded Kate. They had large heads, pointed ears, and eyes that glowed like embers. They circled: dark bodies crouched in attack mode, growling through upturned lips and sharp canines.
She’d seen them before. Back home in Ameera, now here.
One of the hounds glared at Jenna. With a howl, it turned and sped across the lawn toward her. The other two hounds were quick to follow, abandoning Kate. They circled Jenna in perfect synchronisation. Saliva dripped from their mouths, their snarls as frightening as their sharp teeth. Large claws protruded from their paws as they moved.
Jenna reached for the bike as Levi tore across the lawn, barking viciously. “Levi, NO!”
But Levi charged the hound closest to her.
Jenna climbed onto the bike. It revved to life and she sped across the lawn, drawing to an abrupt stop – just long enough for Kate to jump on behind her. With another loud roar of the engine, Jenna took off on a burst of speed and aimed for the house.
Abandoning Levi, the hounds set chase, quick to reach them.
Plan B.
“Hold on tight!” Jenna shouted, turning toward the forest. A dodgy decision, but their options were limited. And dammit, where the hell was Archer?
“Trust me, I’m not going anywhere!” Kate tightened her grip. “They’re so fast! What the hell are they?”
The moment they reached the umbrella of leaves, blackness engulfed them. Jenna steered the bike between the trees, grateful for the single beam of light at the front. She zoned in on their surroundings, her Keeper instincts slipping to the forefront like she’d flipped an internal switch. Jenna gave into them, gliding through the forest as though she knew it by heart.
In a way, she did. She’d jogged these woods every day since her arrival in town.
The hounds made no sound, but she knew they were close. She could feel them. Smell them.
“Jenna!” Kate screamed when one came catapulting between two trees. Jenna changed direction and the hound soared above them, connecting with a tree, yelping on impact. The other two had raced ahead, readying themselves for the ambush.
A barricade of canine force.
Jenna looked around, mentally scrambling for other options. The volume of adrenaline pouring through her veins sharpened her senses, numbing the fear. It was exhilarating.
The sound of the river in the distance set a new plan into place. “Kate, hold on!” she called over her shoulder, slowing the bike so suddenly that they both slid forward. In a swift movement, she changed direction and accelerated. “Time to lose these beasts!”
Kate tightened her arms around Jenna. “If the beasts don’t kill us, your driving will!”
“My driving skills might be the only thing going for you right now. Show some respect.”
The sound of water gushing nearby gave her hope and she sped through the trees, searching for the bridge Ethan had shown her the previous day. An old wooden bridge at the foot of the mountain. It joined two valleys, each side consisting of high rocks covered in moss, trees and ferns. A waterfall ran down the rocks behind it, flowing into the river below.
At the time, she’d even stopped to admire the beauty. Now, it might be their lifeline.
Finding it was easier than she’d expected. She slowed the bike, cringing at the sound of the heavy breathing and snapped growls behind them. The bike rattled along the wooden slats, the wheels skidding in the sand as they came to an abrupt stop on the opposite side.
Jenna’s head reeled from her sudden movements. Insane. She scrambled off the bike, pulling Kate with her. “Where are they? Can you see them?”
“No, but I can hear them. They’re close,” Kate replied breathlessly, scanning the valley.
Jenna tilted the bike toward her and twisted open the fuel cap. She reached into her pocket for the matches she’d taken from the bar and shook the box at Kate.
Kate’s eyes widened. “What are you doing?”
“Serving hot dogs.”
“You’re cracking jokes? Now?”
“You’d rather I was quivering in fear?”
“Seriously, Jenna, no comedic timing at all.”
Even though it was dark, Jenna could hear the smile in her tone. Jenna grinned, tossed her the box, and aimed the bike toward the bridge. “On the count of three, you light the match and throw it into the fuel can. I’ll do the rest.”
“You’re going to blow up Declan’s bike?” Surprise laced Kate’s words but she didn’t argue and readied the match. “On the count of three –”
The rustle of trees signalled the hounds’ arrival. All three of them.
“Now!” Jenna snapped, scrapping the countdown.
Kate dropped the match as Jenna gave the bike a mammoth push, along with a spurt of the throttle before releasing it. The bike charged along the bridge and smashed into the railing. Metal scraped and glass shattered, followed by a burst of air as the fuel ignited. Flames engulfed the bike and a deafening explosion echoed through the darkness.
Whining, the hounds paced the edge of the rocks, eyeing the fire, their bodies illuminated in a yellow blaze.
A second explosion claimed the bridge, devouring it within seconds. Wood splintered, ropes snapped, and the flaming bike plummeted into the river below, taking the middle of the bridge with it.
The hounds howled. They eyed the waterfall, the flames, and their prey standing out of their reach. One mock-charged, causing Kate to reel back, but it backed off as it reached the edge of the rocks.
“It’s okay,” Jenna said breathlessly, eyeing their predators. “They’re terrified of fire.” She focused on steadying her breathing. Her body felt charged with fear and energy. The fear she despised. The energy she welcomed. The immediate threat had passed, but they had no idea what else awaited them in the forest.
