Eleri Stone - Witch Bound

Guns were like engines, unreliable during a surge. And nonnative metals often didn’t come out the other side of a portal in the same shape they entered.

Grace gripped the edge of the counter, head bowed. “I’m sorry. I hate this. I wish...”

For one alarming moment, Raquel thought she was going to start crying. Raquel liked Grace well enough—what she knew of her—but she barely had the strength to keep her own nerves in check right now, let alone try to soothe someone else’s. But Grace didn’t cry. Her hands balled into fists and she scowled at the dishes. There was a slight tremor in her shoulders. This was worse, watching her try to swallow all her emotions.

Hesitantly, Raquel put her hand on Grace’s back. When Grace took a squeaky breath, Raquel took a step closer. Aiden walked into the kitchen just as she was wrapping her arms around his wife. He paused in the doorway before stepping forward.

“Your husband looks jealous,” she whispered into Grace’s hair. “He’s not going to drag me outside for this, is he?”

“I’ll protect you if he does.”

“Maybe between the two of us we can take him.”

Aiden grunted. “I might risk it, but I’m pretty sure both Christian and Fen would take your side.” He drew Grace into his arms and nodded at Raquel. For once, there was a touch of real warmth in his eyes. “I’ve got this. Thank you.”

Raquel dropped her hand towel onto the counter and left them alone. The twins were playing UNO with Hallie on the living room floor. A dog sprawled beside them, head on his paws, watching the fall of the cards with interest. For a split second, Raquel wondered where the hell the dog had come from until she realized it was one of the hounds, already changed.

Not Fen. This one was smaller and dark brown rather than midnight black. She waved when Rane looked up and then fled upstairs to the only bathroom in the house. If she’d actually managed to eat anything at dinner, she’d probably throw it up now. She didn’t really have to use the bathroom. She just needed a minute to herself. Her hands shook as she closed the door and leaned against it.

She hadn’t been in there long—she didn’t think she’d been in there long—before there was a knock on the door. Opening her eyes, she breathed a curse.

“Just a minute,” Raquel called out as she washed her hands to cover up the fact that she was in there hiding like a coward.

She flung open the door and froze when she saw who it was. Fen. One hand resting on the doorframe, dark head bent.

He looked up when she sucked in a mouthful of air. “Can I come in?”

Stepping back, she sat on the closed toilet seat as he shut the door.

“Are you okay?”

“Great.” She might die tonight. She’d destroyed every plan she had for her future. The man she’d fallen hopelessly, desperately in love with had rejected her. Twice. “I’ll be fine.”

He shoved his hands into his pockets and leaned against the wall opposite her. “You know, for two people who just met, we spend a lot of time in the bathroom together.”

Despite everything, he still had the power to make her smile. “This one wasn’t my doing. I was innocently using the bathroom when you came along.”

“You were hiding,” he said. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“Is that why you tracked me down? You don’t have to smother me, Fen. I get plenty of that.”

“Is your mom giving you trouble...Christian?”

She glanced at the door and thought about skipping this conversation, not sure her nerves could take it. But then she thought about all the people waiting downstairs, remembered Grace in Aiden’s arms. Fen stood as far away from her as he could get in this small space, but he was here. Her friend despite the fact she’d done nothing but complicate his life.

She sighed. “They’re fine. Neither of them wants me to do this.”

Fen frowned at the tips of his boots. “I have a right to watch out for you too.”

“As a clan member.”

He raised his head and something about the look in his eyes locked her in place. A hard look. No hint of humor there. Just a deep and raw hunger she felt like an ache in her bones.

“More than that, Rocky. You know that.”

“A friend.”

He stared and seemed to struggle with himself for a moment before pushing off the wall. One step brought him within reach, another and he did touch her, sliding his fingers along her jaw to lift her face. She closed her eyes, absorbing every second of that touch, wrapping it up in memory and making it a part of her.

He waited for her to open her eyes, then stared at her for a moment longer.

The corners of his mouth were pulled tight. He really had a beautiful mouth for a man—wide and expressive. His lips thin but fascinatingly mobile. Tension trembled in the hand that cupped her face, but his touch was careful, almost reverent.

“You really have no idea, do you?” His voice was husky. “I thought for sure that you would know.”

“Know what?”

He swallowed, the muscles in his neck flexing with the movement. “I barely understood what sex meant when I swore it off. It hasn’t been easy to keep that promise. It was never easy. But I never doubted it was the right thing to do.”

“Until you suddenly decide to bond to a woman you don’t even like?”

“I like Carly.”

She flinched as if struck.

“That’s not what—” Fen swore and leaned down to grab her hand. “Come here.”

“Fen...I can’t do this right now. It hurts.”

“I know. Believe me, I know it.” He straightened, pulling her up with him. When his arms settled around her, she stiffened. She wanted this so badly. But her world was falling apart right now and she couldn’t handle another blow. Pressing his cheek to her hair, he whispered, “Let me hold you, Rocky. Please. I just want to hold you for a minute.”

How could she say no to that?

A shudder ran the length of her body, and she let him draw her in. His legs were parted and she stood between them, her hips snug to his, her head resting on his shoulder, lips pressed to the side of his neck. He’d showered before coming. His skin smelled strongly of the soap he used, the fabric softener on his T-shirt, Fen. She could feel his warmth seep into her where they touched, feel the strength in his lean, hard body.

“This okay?”

Okay? Nothing... nothing had every felt so deeply, perfectly right. When she wrapped her arms around his waist, he sighed and touched his lips to her temple.

“I’m doing a crap job of this. When we get back, we need to talk.” She held her breath, waiting for him to continue. “About you upending my life and shaking out all the pieces. About exactly how the mating bond works.”

He wasn’t making any promises, she noticed, but hope filled her anyway, as powerful as the flow of magic passing through the fault. “We can talk now.”

“Not now. It’s almost time to go.” Placing him thumb beneath her jaw, he tipped back her head. His eyes fairly glowed. “I need you to do something for me. Don’t take any chances while we’re over there. You listen to Christian, and to Aiden.” The arm around her waist tightened. “You make it back. Okay, Rocky?”

She swallowed past the lump in throat. “Same goes for you.”

He touched his forehead to hers and closed his eyes. She thought he meant to kiss her. And— oh gods —did she want that kiss. Warmth slid down her spine. Her whole body tingled in expectation. He seemed to brace himself, but instead of kissing her, he let out a shaky breath. Then he let her go. She didn’t immediately release him, but Fen backed away slowly, as if every muscle had gone stiff.

“They’re bringing the horses around now. You’re sure you want to do this?”