Rae Rivers - The Keepers - Ethan

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.

“You’ve seen them before?” Kate asked. “What are they?”

“Hellhounds.”

“What on earth is that?”

“Not something you want to mess with.” As a child in Ameera, hellhounds had been the equivalent of the monsters under the bed that haunted children’s dreams. Although they usually kept to the outskirts of the city, Jenna had always been terrified of them. “They came through the portal.”

“How do we know there aren’t more on this side of the river?”

“We don’t, but now we know to look out for them.”

With a final howl, the hellhounds fled.

Kate blew out air, her gaze shifting to the remains of the bike below. “So, Miss 007. We’re stuck in the forest and you’ve destroyed our ride home. What now?”

“We’ll stay close to the river. There’s an old well further down. It’ll be tricky to find in the dark, but if we can access it we can access the tunnel that leads to the house.” An old underground tunnel the brothers had cleared in case they needed a quick escape. She pulled out her phone to call Ethan. “With luck, Sienna and her muscles can meet us along the way.”

“Sienna would’ve spelled the entrance shut.”

“You’re the witch who eats magic. Piece of cake.”

“ Eats magic ?” Kate laughed, but her voice sounded tense. “That description totally kills my image.”

“Who cares if it’ll open the tunnel?”

“Are you sure it’s safe?”

Jenna’s grin widened as she put her arm around Kate. “Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“I should hope so. I’d hate to be hound food.”

“Declan would kill me.”

“Nice to know he motivates you.”

“Speaking of Declan …” Jenna grimaced at the bike. “I just blew up his bike.”

They both knew how much Declan loved his bike.

“Think he’ll be mad?” Jenna asked, even though she knew she’d just plummeted to the bottom of his Christmas list.

Her question went unanswered as they stared at the fading flames in silence.

And then Kate giggled.

The air in the tunnel was hot and musty. Dozens of cobwebs hung from the low ceiling, difficult to spot in the narrow flashlight of Jenna’s phone. It was a long, uncomfortable walk but the tunnel served its purpose.

Ethan and Declan were waiting for them, Sienna and Archer behind them. They all sported scratches and bruises, worried frowns and pissed-off expressions. But the tension in the air eased the moment they were reunited.

After exchanging relieved hugs and quick updates, Archer and Sienna led Kate out of the tunnel and into the basement. But Jenna didn’t follow. Instead, she turned to Declan, hovering beside her like a riled-up bear. She swiped at the moisture on her forehead and sighed. “You really want to do this now, Declan?”

“Damn right.” His words were quiet and fury clouded his expression. He pointed after Sienna and Kate. “Archer wrapped his car around a damn tree thanks to air bags exploding for no reason and Kate –”

“Is unhurt and home safely,” she interrupted, reaching for patience. “I said I’d take care of her and I did, Declan. That tunnel was torture and I’m not in the mood –”

“Were you hurt?” When her brows lifted, he moved around her. His hair was messier than usual, his shirt torn, a hint he’d had a struggle of his own. “Dammit, Jenna, were you hurt?”

“Like you care?”

“Kate cares so I care and if you’re watching over her, then I need to know you’re in top form.”

A small smile broke free. “Careful, or I might think you’re worried about me.”

“Keep dreaming, Blondie.” Frowning, he took her arm. “I told you to stay at the restaurant.”

“Things settled quickly after you left. It was safer to leave.” She yanked her arm free. “I brought her home , Declan. That was the best of a lot of crappy options.”

“What happened?” Ethan asked, dropping a hand on his brother’s shoulder, easing Declan away from her. His knuckles were red, swollen and scratched.

“We were ambushed in the driveway,” Jenna replied, her lowered tone losing the defensive edge, “by hellhounds.”

“Hellhounds?” Ethan gaped at her. “They’re legends. We’ve never –”

“They came through the open portal to Ameera,” Jenna interrupted. She explained what had happened and the more she spoke, the more their agitation grew. “We had no choice but to head for the forest.”

Ethan ran a hand across his face. “Shifters, hellhounds, what the hell’s next?”

“I saw Megan tonight. She had a message. Hazel wants to exchange closing the portal for her Grimoire.”

Declan snorted. “Right. Like we’d agree to that.”

“Of course not but …” Jenna inhaled quietly, her gaze moving between theirs. “If the portal stays open, what we saw tonight won’t scratch the surface of what’s to come.”

They nodded, a heavy silence wedging between them.

Ethan moved to the side of the tunnel and held out a hand, motioning her forward.

She glanced back at Declan. “Oh, and I should mention you’ll need a new bike.” Her heart thudded at the intensity of his glare. Slowly, silently, he raised a brow. “It was either saving Kate or your bike. I went with Kate.”