Rae Rivers - The Keepers - Declan

“Is that why you want me? To use me to destroy him?”

His brief flinch hinted that she’d struck a chord. Declan placed his hands on her shoulders as she was about to step back. “We protect the innocent. We don’t hurt for the fun of it like Harper. You saw what he did to that witch because she wouldn’t join his cause.”

“I refuse to be the pawn in this game.”

“It’s not a game and you have no choice. Your magic has made you the most powerful weapon in this damned war. I’ve lost too many people in this fight.” His expression hardened, resentment flickering in eyes coloured with sadness. “You’re in a whole lot of shit, Kate Carrigan, but either way, you’re coming with me.”

She shrugged off the flash of fear sparked by his statement. “Fine,” she replied in a casual tone. She hoped like hell she’d used enough herbs. “You win, Declan.”

Right .

****

Declan didn’t reply and blinked in an attempt to clear the fog in his head. Damn, exhaustion had ripped through him like the Road Runner on a mission. Considering he was with a gorgeous woman, albeit a thief, sleep should be the last thing on his mind.

He must be losing his touch. If Kate couldn’t keep him awake, then not much else would. She was a real beauty, and a tough one at that. With her sheen of dark hair, big brown eyes, slender curves, and the flush of temper that reared in her cheeks when she was angry, Kate was incredible.

And he was having a hard time reminding himself that he was still mad at her.

“Where did you get the scroll?” he asked, giving a quick shake of the head.

“The scroll?”

“Yes, witchy. You left it behind when you attacked me.”

“ You attacked me . And don’t call me witchy.”

“I call it like I see it. Either way you left behind a scroll that has Sienna in a frenzy. What does it mean?”

“I have no idea.”

“Do you …” He paused, frowning as his senses prickled the way they always did when something wasn’t right.

“Declan?”

He held out a hand to silence her and moved toward the sliding door. Stepping out, he did a quick scan of the area, his heightened hearing straining for something that didn’t fit.

Silence dulled his suspicions and he turned back to her, only to grab onto the door as the room began to tilt.

Shit.

Dizziness took over and he drew in a ragged breath, blinking as everything went blurry. What the hell?

“It’s okay,” Kate said, coming closer. “You’ll be okay.”

“What did you do?” he grumbled, stumbling toward the couch.

She dropped to his side, a hand on his arm. He wanted to throttle her. Every deceitful, beautiful damn inch of her. “It’s a sedative.”

“Bitch!”

When he reared forward, the room began spinning and she pushed him back down. “Easy, warrior boy. Sleep it off.”

“You roofied me? Like a damn drunk sorority chick?”

“I had no choice.”

“If you wanted to have your way with me, all you had to do was ask.”

A brief laugh escaped her but she was quick to reel it in. “That’s not what this is about!”

Declan’s reply was forgotten as his instincts bristled. He turned away, staring at the porch outside.

“Declan?”

He shook his head again, focusing on the noise. What was that? Declan looked at her, grimacing against the black cloud that threatened to swallow him. “You’re insane, you know that?”

“I have to leave and I can’t have you following me again. This was the only way.”

“I’m going to hunt you down, Kate, and when I find you, I’m going to feed you to Harper myself.” His instincts rumbled a clear warning to him, this time unmistakable in its strength and accuracy. He knew when to trust them and he knew trouble when it was brewing. His hand shot out and gripped her arm. “Kate, you have to run.”

She flinched, a frown creasing her brows.

“Run.”

She swatted his hand. “Declan, you’re in no shape for that right now.”

Declan brought up both arms as the darkness beckoned, pulling her toward him with as much strength as he could muster. “ They’re here . Run!”

****

The air whooshed out of Kate as if he’d struck her. She reeled back just in time to see the front door burst open in an explosion of splintering wood.

Megan stood at the bottom of the stairs, dressed in a skin-tight black suit, her legs planted firmly apart.

“Go, dammit” Declan grunted, swaying as he struggled to his feet.

Kate stared at the witch, taking in her smug smile and penetrating gaze. If Megan was here, her warrior partners wouldn’t be far . Too many of them . And Kate had just debilitated the one man who could help her.

And put him in danger.

“Oh, God, I’m so sorry, Declan,” she whispered, almost choking on the panic that surged through her. “I didn’t think they’d find me so soon.”

The windows exploded, the screech of shattering glass ripping through the house. Declan lunged for Kate, shielding her body with his.

Crushing her beneath his weight, he didn’t budge, simply pegged her with a dark stare, his hands gripping her shoulders. He whispered something under his breath as intense heat flooded through her, almost scalding her from the inside out. Gulping for air, she pushed him away.

“You have to get out of here.” Declan pulled back, breaking the connection. The release of heat was instant. They rose, his movements unsteady. Kate bit down on the guilt.

“Go, dammit!” he snapped, shoving her away.

“I can’t leave you here.”

“ Now you decide to play fair?”

“This is different,” she replied, turning to face Megan.

The witch grinned and began to channel more energy at Kate. The house began to shake violently, two sliding doors shattering in response.

Fear slammed home and Kate stood her ground. Glaring at the witch, she drew on her defensive powers that would nullify the magic bristling around them.

Kate barely flinched as heat pooled in her stomach, her survival instincts stronger than her hatred of the foreign magic. The confrontation was intense but didn’t last long. Kate sensed Megan’s resistance crumble and she concentrated on absorbing the witch’s energy, immobilizing it.

If only it wasn’t temporary.

“Kate!” Declan grunted, fury twisting his expression.

She whirled around as Max and Rick stepped through the broken sliding doors, glass crunching beneath their boots.

Spotting Declan, they charged him simultaneously.

Declan shoved her away and she reared back, only to collide with Harper who’d come in the back way. She lashed out, her fist connecting with him in a powerful punch.

He caught her wrist, twisting her arm behind her, and slammed her body against his. Thick arms snaked around her, and a syringe was shoved into her neck. “I told you I’d come for you,” he laughed, his voice thick with mockery. He inhaled deeply, breathing her in, and dipped his face against hers. This time, all traces of amusement had vanished. “Ah, a Bennett. I’d recognise his scent anywhere, I just never expected it on you.”

A shudder ripped through her and everything went blurry, numb, and she sought out Declan as she crumbled.

As he struggled with his attackers, their gazes met and held for a long moment until her eyes fluttered closed.

Declan .

****

Everything inside him hammered in protest as Declan saw Kate succumb to the drug. Rose Thorn? Shit.

He fought for his own consciousness, his protective instincts hampered in a way that was driving him crazy. “KATE!” he roared, charging Harper with every ounce of remaining strength he had.