Eleri Stone - Witch Bound

Brian lifted his head and started trying to get up all over again. Fen thought about changing so he could yell at Dan to get back in the house, but all of the kids were up now. They’d been traumatized enough without having to witness Fen’s change too...or the fact that he’d be nude after he did it. Instead, he gave a warning growl when Dan tried to step off the porch and nipped Brian in the shoulder to warn him to stay the fuck down.

Brian and Dan didn’t get along well during the best of times. With Brian hurt and anxious, well...enough blood had been spilled for one night.

Dan squinted into the dark and then turned to usher the kids back inside. Julia would be here soon. The hunt should be aware of their location by now. Fen could hear the horses moving through the woods, felt the tremor in the earth beneath his belly.

Julia was the first in, taking in the scene with one look and choking back a sob as she slid from her horse. She ran across the yard, ignoring the twitching mound of demon flesh, the hounds, everything. Tara saw her first from the door and shouted, “Mom.”

Julia leaped onto the porch and immediately dropped to her knees to gather up the little ones. The five-year-old boy was crying but the youngest, barely two, was wide-eyed and silent as his mother clutched him to her chest. Tara pointed toward the demon and began to excitedly relate the story to her shaken mother. A born huntswoman, that one.

Fen felt Brian’s body stiffen as Dan bent to kiss the top of Julia’s head. He wrapped his arms around his wife’s trembling shoulders and drew her up with him, ordering the kids back inside. Tara paused as if she might argue, but one look from her dad and she turned around, taking the youngest by the hand and dragging him along behind her.

Christian and Aiden had both arrived by then. Christian had already dismounted and was walking toward the demon, sword drawn. Aiden rode up to the porch and spoke briefly with Julia. A moment later, she and Dan entered the house and closed the door behind them.

Brian whimpered and lowered his head to his paws. With a sigh, Fen dropped his chin to his friend’s back. Not worth it. Whatever Brian had gained in those few months of pleasure, it sure as hell wasn’t worth this.

Raquel was standing outside Lois’s shop, trying to make up her mind on whether to go inside, when Fen turned the corner. He stopped in his tracks when he saw her, and for a second she thought he might turn and run. He actually glanced down the alley before shoving his hands in his pockets and starting toward her again. The thought that someone like her might scare off a hound made her smile.

He smiled back, more a grim twist of his mouth than the full, mischievous grin of the night before. It’d be a lie to say she didn’t enjoy his discomfort a little bit. Maybe next time he’d think twice before ratting her out to Christian. Of course, that had been a particularly low moment for her. There was unlikely to be a next time.

Fen quickly closed the distance between them. Funny, he hadn’t really seemed like a hound last night. Not like someone who could take down a demon without even using a weapon. But now she could see it. Every movement spare and clean, he moved like a hound. Fluid. Precise. Deadly. She still thought he was too skinny, but there was muscle beneath the loose clothing. Muscle, taut skin and maybe a few more tattoos like the one she’d caught a glimpse of the other night. Heat warmed her cheeks. She should probably stop thinking about what was beneath his clothes.

And she should stop staring.

She turned back to the shop. Fen came to a stop beside her and followed her gaze. An old wooden sign attached to an iron arm swung with a whining, creaking noise in the wind. In addition to being the clan witch, Lois was also the town florist. She was doing the flowers for the wedding and charging Raquel’s father an arm and a leg for the work.

Fen broke the silence. “She’s a tough old bird.”

Raquel looked at him askance. “She’s a ravening harpy.”

“Yes, that.” Fen grinned, that flash of a smile, gone as quickly as it came. He cleared his throat and in a cautious tone, asked, “So, last night didn’t scare you off?”

“I’m still here. Thanks to you and your warning. I told my mom I knew about the surges and that staved off an explosion from her. Christian soothed her feathers this morning at brunch.”

She could feel the weight of his gaze but kept her attention on the shop. There was no movement inside and the closed sign was up. Lois had said noon. Even if the door hadn’t been spell-locked Raquel would have known the coven was inside. Their gathered magic vibrated like a gentle hum below her feet. She’d bet money they were in the basement.

“Are you and Christian all right then?”

“We haven’t had a chance to talk. My mom ambushed him as soon as he came through the door this morning. I almost felt sorry for him.”

“Almost?”

A blast of wind drove a crumpled piece of newspaper across the sidewalk, plastering it to the side of her leg. She peeled it off and stuffed it into the bin beside the door before turning to look at Fen. “What did you tell him exactly?”

“That he should make an effort to woo you.”

“Woo me?” She smiled. “Is that some kind of euphemism?”

“No. You know what I mean and so did he. I didn’t...I didn’t go and repeat our conversation word for word if that’s what you’re thinking. I don’t do that— wouldn’t do that—to anyone in the clan.”

“I’m not your clan yet.”

“Sure you are.”

“Christian said the hunt went well last night,” she said. “Brian is okay, right?”

A complicated look crossed Fen’s face. “He’s healed.”

Something about the tone of his voice didn’t sit right with her, but she couldn’t think of a good way to ask him about it. Before she made up her mind about whether to pry, he changed the subject. “Christian said you apprenticed for a while to a clan historian?”

She nodded. “Kathy made sure I had a good education. She wanted to make sure that when I came into my power, I’d know what to do with it. Historian. Healer. Folklore. Metaphysics...”

“You didn’t happen to ever come across a way to break a mate bond, did you?”

Her stomach flipped over. “No. Once triggered, the bond is permanent until the mate dies.” She paused. “Not that I’m recommending that as a way out.”

His gaze slid back to hers, warm hazel eyes framed by spiky black lashes. “Don’t worry. We’re all pretty fond of Julia.”

“Julia? Then you weren’t asking for yourself?”

She felt relieved by that and then vaguely guilty. It was none of her business to have any sort of opinion about who Fen chose to mate with. A faint wash of color touched his cheekbones and he ducked his head. “Not me, no. Unless you want to tell me how to avoid ending up like Brian.”

“Well, that one’s easy. Don’t fall in love.”

“From what I’ve seen, love doesn’t necessarily have to be involved.”

She shook her head. “You’re wrong about that. For hounds, it does matter. Love. Consent. The physical act just provides an anchor for the magic.”

“Guess I’ll just have to stay away from anchors then.” He shrugged and glanced back at the door. “She won’t eat you, you know. Her bark’s worse than her bite, and I’m something of an expert on that particular subject.”

“I don’t mind her bark. At least with Lois, I know where I stand.”

He studied her again and Raquel could almost hear the wheels turning. He thought she was talking about Christian, but she wasn’t. Sadly, she knew exactly where Christian stood. “Everyone’s been nice. It makes it harder to figure out who you’re friends really are.”