Rae Rivers - The Keepers - Ethan

But Jenna and Kate had escaped.

Ethan dumped his spoon into the tub, not surprising her. Talking about Hazel was always an appetite-killer. “Despite my search, my questions, no one will reveal where Hazel’s hiding. Even witches that side with us.”

“They’re afraid, Ethan. Hazel is all power and fear. Few people would dare cross her.”

“You did.”

“That’s different. I had Kate to protect.” She didn’t elaborate, didn’t have to. He’d put himself in danger countless times defending Sienna. Their witches, their lives, came first above all else. Even their own.

“Are you afraid?”

“When it comes to Hazel, it’d be stupid not to be. All the more reason you shouldn’t be gallivanting the streets looking for her.”

“ Gallivanting is not quite the term I’d use.”

“It’s still reckless.”

“The waiting is killing me.”

“Your brothers find out you’ve been searching for her behind their backs, they’ll be furious.”

“They’ll get over it.”

“Not if you die.”

His expression hardened and he tossed his spoon into the sink, his blue eyes flashing with a sadness that needed no words. Sarah . Losing their sister had nearly destroyed them. “I’ve been discreet, Jenna.”

“Underestimating Hazel and her reach is foolish. I figured it out. It won’t be long before your brothers do too.”

“Stay out of it. I’ll tell them when the time’s right.”

Something about his expression told her it wouldn’t be any time soon.

“I won’t say anything.” She placed the tub on the counter, along with her spoon. “Provided you take me with you next time you go looking for them.”

His smirk triggered the dimple in his cheek. “You’re resorting to bribery?”

“I won today’s challenge, so you have no choice. Besides, it’ll be safer if there are two of us.”

“Safer? If anything, you coming with me makes you a liability. Anyone wanting to get into Hazel’s good books will rat you out in a heartbeat.”

His words stung, mostly because they held a truth to them that left Jenna with a permanent sense of dread in the pit of her stomach. For Hazel, no betrayal ever went unpunished. Jenna had witnessed that too many times. Freeing Kate and destroying the blood that would set Hazel’s nephew free had sealed Jenna’s fate. She knew there’d be consequences.

“Guess I’ll have to watch my back, then.” She gave him a small smile and hopped off the counter to rinse the spoons. They could’ve waited until morning, but she needed something to do.

She was grateful when he didn’t press, but a quick glance in his direction told her what she already knew. He had his quiet, thoughtful, smouldering gaze pinned on her. Almost as though he saw right through her.

Damn, she adored all three brothers, found them all attractive, but something about Ethan’s all-knowing, quiet stares seemed to touch her in places the other two brothers couldn’t.

He moved so quickly, a soft rush of air filling the silence, and when she turned around, he was there. A rock-solid wall of muscles and simmering heat. A sizzle of awareness raced down her spine, his closeness snatching her breath away.

“Don’t do that,” he murmured. When she tried to avert her gaze, his fingers tipped her chin upward. “Don’t pretend like it doesn’t matter.”

Her throat tightened, the reply trapped between the worry and emotion. Clearing her throat, she shrugged. “I did what I had to do, Ethan.”

“And you’re marked because of that.”

“I had to protect Kate.”

“Doesn’t make it an easy burden to carry.”

His features were illuminated in a soft shade of yellow from the light outside. His dark blue gaze held her captive. An all-knowing look that threatened her facade. Air evaded her, along with a reply, and she stepped back but flinched when her arm brushed her hip. Damn, her flesh still ached from the new mark.

“Rough day?” he asked, his tone softening with the familiar playfulness she loved. A small smile played on his lips. No doubt a ploy to return them to neutral territory.

She smiled, grateful for the reprieve. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

“It wasn’t all bad.”

Her stomach flipped at the reminder of their intimacy in the forest. Her cheeks heated and the image of a sorority girl with a crush came to mind. She bit back a groan. Could she be more pathetic?

“It’s late.” She cleaned up and wiped her hands on a cloth. “I should go to bed. I’ll need my beauty sleep for combat practice with you and your brothers in the morning.”

Their sunrise training sessions in the forest had become a daily ritual. It kept them in shape and improved their skills.

And helped to work off the ice cream.

“Jenna.” His fingers toyed with hers. “About what happened earlier at the river, with us … I’m sorry. I was out of line.”

“Me too.” Relieved to clear the air, she withdrew her hand, flicked his shirt, and smiled. “But I still won our bet, so that makes me your travel buddy. And you’re still buying me beers. Shirtless.”

“You won’t let that go, will you?”

“Not on your life.”

FRIDAY MORNING

BENNETT ESTATE

The tranquillity of the forest did little to ease Jenna’s worry. Her body tingled in anticipation, her senses primed as she made her way through the trees.

A thin fog blanketed the ground and the air felt crisp and cool. The sun would be up soon, along with the trio of Bennett brothers, ready for their daily training session.

She could hardly wait. Her entire body felt coiled, ready to unravel at any moment. A kick-ass fight was just the kind of outlet that would help.

Until then, Jenna would revel in the quiet, walking, searching. Like she’d done countless times when she’d thought no one else was watching.

But Ethan was onto her.

She clamped the worry that flared at that thought and shone her flashlight at the path ahead. It highlighted the remains of an old well, unused and dilapidated, but served as a beacon that would help her find the entrance to the underground storage rooms, where Hazel’s nephew was kept. Sienna and her grandmother had spelled Mason years ago, the night Sarah had died. A horrible fate for a horrible man but a fitting punishment for someone so evil.

Jenna wasn’t here for the warlock, but at some point Hazel would come for him. Not that she’d easily reach him as Sienna had sealed the tunnels with a spell, but still. Hazel was close. She could feel it and if that were true, they would’ve used their favourite mode of transport into Rapid Falls – a portal.

Portals were instant doorways to anywhere in the world. They allowed Hazel and her followers to move between cities with ease. Quick entrances, quick escapes. And a whole lot of damage caused in between.

That was the mild part.

The most dangerous portal was the one that led to Ameera. A door that remained firmly sealed because opening it meant anything could emerge and enter the mortal world. Their world. The portal was the only thing that separated the two realms.

Because of the risks involved, The Circle had bound the spell to open portals a long time ago, but it had been stolen by a dark witch caster, an evil lineage of witches with a love of black magic.

Hazel’s lineage.

Over time, on the rare occasions they’d opened the portal to Ameera, it had been brief and they’d ensured no one escaped.

But Jenna had.

The last time the portal had been opened had been the last night Jenna had seen her parents. The night her mother had sent her through the portal, along with a young orphaned witch her parents had taken under their wing, hurtling them into another world that was far prettier and more peaceful.