Charmed & Deadly Page 14

  Azir helped Sam lift one of the children onto his back. “Do not worry, Bronwyn.”

  I nodded.

  Gathering strength, I prepared for battle. All of a sudden the guards, who I noticed wore the blue rebel uniform, had turned their attention to the entrance and away from us.

  There was gunfire and then they ran toward the cave opening.

  “What the—hey.” There was a hand on my back. My dad was pushing me forward. “Your friends are giving us the distraction we need. Don’t just stand there.”

  The cavern was now empty, except for the trucks. Dad was right. I put a protective shield around all of us, then told everyone to run. We made it to the back side of one of the transports, and I peeked around the hood. The guards were firing into the jungle. I could hear the growl of not one, but several animals.

  “Good girl, Shanasa,” my brother whispered.

  At the time I had no idea what he was talking about, but I later discovered the leopard who had followed me was his protector. In much the same way Casper is mine, only a whole lot bigger and deadlier. She’d shown up in the middle of the jungle one day and had protected him and the children at the tiny camp from the rebels. Brett figured she’d felt guilty for going on a hunt when he was captured. That’s why she’d been following me, to make sure I made it to him.

  We were at the mouth of the cave but I wasn’t sure how we were going to get through the guards to find Kaz.

  Azir touched my arm and pointed to a truck a few yards ahead. It was one of the smaller transports and I saw a figure move slightly. Kaz sat behind the wheel.

  Staying behind the cover of the other vehicles, we made our way to the truck at the front of the cave. One by one we loaded the children in, and each of the men grabbed a gun from the pile Kaz had stashed in the back.

  Sliding into the cab with Kaz, I sat next to him.

  “Give me a minute,” I whispered.

  Chanting a protection spell, I created a bubble around the truck, but I wasn’t sure how long I could sustain it.

  “Go.” I held my hands out against the dash. Pulling as much as I could from the jungle around me, I continued the chant.

  Once the truck engine turned, the guards moved their attention to us. At first they were shocked. As the truck lurched forward they opened fire.

  I chanted louder, and I could hear Sam and my brother doing the same. They are both warlocks who do not use their powers, but they understood what I was doing. Not long after, Kaz and the children also chanted, though I’m not sure what language it was in. It didn’t hurt to have our collective power protecting everyone.

  “They are loading the trucks!” Azir yelled.

  I looked in the rearview mirror. The guards were piling into the two remaining transports just inside the cave.

  “Can you outrun them?” I asked Kaz.

  He frowned.

  There was no way I could use my firepower and protect us at the same time. “Put the children flat on the floor. I have to release the shields for a moment.” I could hear them moving in the back.

  Focusing on the gas tank of the first truck, I threw a fireball with my mind. It exploded and caught the other truck on fire. The ground rumbled and I threw another fireball at the mouth of the cave. Rocks slid down a few pebbles at a time, and then the entire thing collapsed. Smoke billowed out and more explosions followed. Whatever I had done had set off a chain reaction inside the cave.

  We were on a rough road at the base of the mountain and Kaz swerved to dodge boulders sliding down and smashing into the ground.

  Throwing up the protection spell, I began the chant again and heard the men and children doing the same. Except for Azir, who was barking orders into his cell phone.

  Tired, I was so tired, and I could feel the nausea from overextending my powers.

  “Azir, tell me you have friends close.” I focused hard on keeping the truck protected from the falling debris.

  “Two miles!” Azir yelled through the window in the rear of the cab.

  Two miles could be an eternity in the jungle, but I held tight. When the helicopters came into view in the clearing, I finally let myself take a breath, and that’s the last thing I remembered until waking up in my brother’s camp with Sam on one side of the bed and my dad at the other.

  “Welcome back, my dear.” My father put his hand on my arm. “Did you rest well?”

  I snorted. “What day is it?” I squeezed Sam’s hand, which was holding mine.

  “Same day. You’ve only been out a couple of hours.” Sam kissed my knuckles. “How do you feel?”

  I sat up on the cot, and noticed I was in a private tent. “Where are we?”

  “In your brother’s tent.” Sam smiled. “He insisted.”

  My brother could be bossy.

  “Are the children okay?” I coughed, and Sam handed me a cup of water. My throat felt like I’d been swallowing glass. “And Kaz?” The man had risked his life to save my family and I needed to know he was okay.

  “Everyone is fine. Azir is working on transport to move the children to a safer location. In fact, he’s moving the entire camp.” My dad walked around to take my other hand and he checked my pulse.

  “The whole camp?” I frowned. “Why?”

  “Whoever was running the mine did not have permission from the government,” Sam added. “The area is too unstable, and Dr. Zocando feels it would be safer if the camp moves about ten miles down the river.

  “Dr. Zocando?” For some reason the mention of his name made me uncomfortable. I don’t know, maybe because I’d totally gone against his wishes and struck out on my own last week.

  “Yes, he’s helping with the relief effort. He, Azir, and the prime minister have already found a place for the new camp.” Sam frowned. “Why?”

  My dad had stepped out of the tent.

  I reached across and wrapped my arms around Sam. He felt so good against me. I never wanted to let go. “No reason. I just can’t get a read on Zocando, and that always makes me cautious.”

  “I missed you,” Sam whispered across my cheek. He still sounded congested and his lip was twice its normal size on one side.

  Touching it, I sent a healing spell. “I’m still mad at you for coming out here. You could have been killed.” I kissed his neck to take the sting out of my words.

  “You know I’m not a very good listener. Especially when my favorite witch is in trouble.”

  I love it when he calls me “witch.” I don’t know why. When other people say it, it sounds like a dirty word. But when he says it, it makes me feel sexy.

  “I don’t suppose we could…”

  He laughed. “Bron, we have no privacy here. But as soon as we get home, we can do whatever you want. I promise.”

  Before we left the camp, I had a chance to tell Tambana and the other children good-bye. She hugged me hard for such a little girl. Each of them is so precious, and it hurts my heart that they live such difficult lives.

  I was feeling so melancholy that I even hugged my brother. “Don’t get captured again, idiot. This place is murder on my hair.”

  He squeezed me back, and not the tepid hugs we usually dole out at the holidays. “For a runt, you pack a punch.” Stepping back, he stared at me. “I’m not so sure I could have made it out of this one on my own.” His voice caught. “Thanks.”

  “Golly, Brett. Don’t go gettin’ all soft on me. I might have to like you or something.” I grinned. “You take care of these babies.” I pointed to the children. “Anytime you need anything, call me. And don’t be a stubborn butthead about it.”

  He laughed.

  When we made it back to Sweet, Sam was true to his word about letting me do whatever I wanted. I jumped him over and over again the night we finally made it home, and he never complained once.

  We even tried out the new shower for two, which was mighty delightful.

  Argh! Is that the time?

  I need to get cleaned up. We’re meeting the coven tonight to disc
uss my Jason problem.

  I checked with Cole and there’s still no word on Garnout. He’s just disappeared off planet Earth.

  The trouble just never seems to end.

  Nineteen

  Sweet, Texas

  11 a.m.

  Saturday

  Goddess-worshipping hunky docs: 1

  I’ m one lucky witch. Sure, I have a nasty ex-boyfriend who is trying to assassinate me, but I’m equally lucky to have a perfectly lovely boyfriend now who loves and adores me.

  Last night Sam devised a new game called “How Do I Worship Bronwyn.” I must say it’s a delightful game, where I am the prize. It’s my absolute favorite way to pass the time.

  Usually Sam finishes at the office early on Fridays, but there was a problem with one of the patients at the nursing home and he was running late.

  I’d been working with plants and potions all day, and I finally had my potion stock back up to where it needed to be. I was sticky from ingredients and sweating from working out in the September heat, so I decided to take a hot, soaking bath.

  A few weeks before I’d left for London, I had a big new tub installed. It looks like a giant soup tureen and it has jets that come from every angle.

  I lit a few candles, threw in my favorite vanilla and cinnamon oil, and turned on some old-school Joss Stone. The tension of the day melted away in a matter of seconds once the pulsating jets beat a calming rhythm into my neck and shoulders.

  My mind wandered over the past few weeks and all the craziness, from Jason to Africa. I forced my mind to let go of of it all and I concentrated on finding peace, staring at the candle’s flame.

  I must have dozed off, because at some point my dead Irish ancestor Darcy came to visit. She usually shows up in my dreams when she wants to chat. I’d helped to reunite her with her lost love a while back, and she’s been visiting me since.

  “Good evening, young witch.” I opened my eyes to see Darcy standing there. She was dressed in a lacy white dress and her long blond curls were piled on top of her head.

  I smiled. “How are you?” The first time I met her she’d possessed Sheik Azir, which was beyond weird. She usually shows up with sage advice when something big is about to happen. Sometimes I’m smart and follow it; other times, not so much.

  She sighed, but it was a happy one. “Lovely, my dear. I’m perfectly lovely. I have a message for you from Garnout.”

  That made me sit up, and I wrapped an arm around my chest. “What?”

  “He’s fine, and he says not to worry, all will be well.”

  A crushing thought entered my mind. “Is he dead?”

  She laughed. “No, darling child, but he does want you to let go and concentrate on your troubles here.”

  “Why did he just disappear like that? I’ve been worried sick. Did that sorceress Calinda kidnap him? Who is she? If you can talk to him, why can’t I?” My mind raced with questions.

  Darcy smoothed an errant curl off her forehead. “Who can say?”

  Have I mentioned that my ancestor isn’t always straight with the answers?

  I didn’t understand how he could get a message to Darcy but not to me. It didn’t make sense.

  “I see your mind is turning fast. He didn’t want to cause you worry. He’s conserving energy and it was easier for him to contact me than you. I’m not someone she can harm.”

  I wondered if the “she” was the sorceress. “He’s really okay?” It dawned on me that I was sitting naked in the water, but it didn’t seem to bother Darcy. After all, she was family.

  “Yes. Now, on to the real business of my visit.” Darcy pointed at me. “You must find a way to defeat the past, and the only way to do that is to grasp on tight to the future.”

  Geez, I hate when she talks in riddles like this. “Darcy, if you have something to say, just do it.” I rolled my eyes.

  She gave me a smart look. “I did, young witch. You know we must be careful when discussing future events. Keep your wits about you and strengthen your powers.”

  She looked at the door. “Ah, that is lovely. I must go now.”

  A few seconds later I woke up when Sam slid a finger between my breasts. Then he reached down and kissed me hard.

  I wanted to pull him into the water with me, tie, shirt, shoes, and all, but he backed away.

  “You look like a goddess.” He stood and grabbed a fluffy towel from the rack. Then he reached down and pushed the button to turn off the jets and pulled the lever to drain the tub.

  “Really?”

  “Yes.” He pulled me to a standing position. The cool air on my wet skin made my body tingle and my nipples turn into tight peaks.

  Beginning with one breast and then the other, he moved the towel in slow, sensual circles, drying me off inch by inch. Moving to my arms, he slid the towel down to my hands then took my fingers and kissed each one.

  I couldn’t breathe, and my body warmed under his touch as he moved the towel under my breasts and down my belly.

  “Lift your leg.” That sexy voice of his made me want to pounce, but I enjoyed the game and wanted it to continue. I raised my foot to the edge as he asked, and he slid the towel from my thigh to my ankle.

  “The other one,” he demanded.

  I shifted and put the other leg up this time and when he reached my ankle, he went back up and slid his fingers inside me. I almost collapsed and knocked him to the floor. He dropped the towel and pulled me to him as his fingers slid in and out.

  Holding me close, he picked me up out of the tub, and moved me to the bathroom counter. When he found the tiny nub between my legs and rubbed it, my body exploded.

  “Sam.”

  “Yes, my goddess.”

  “I want you.” The words were difficult to say because I was in the middle of another orgasm. “Please.”

  “As you wish.” I heard his zipper, then his pants fell. I leaned back on my hands, giving him full access. When he pushed himself inside me, I wrapped my legs around him tight. At first, his thrusts were slow and agonizing.

  “Sam.” I growled.

  He shifted and pulled me toward him, shoving his tongue into my mouth as he pounded me harder and harder. I moved my hands into his hair and then slid them down to his back. I know I had to have left marks as I came again and again. My mind was a blur and I thought of nothing but him and our bodies being together.

  When he finally came, something happened with our auras, a flash of gold and then tiny shimmers of silver. I’d never seen anything like it, but in that moment my heart was so filled with love for the man, I can’t explain it. Not because he’d just played my body to perfection, but because he’d opened my heart and I think I finally, really, let him in.

  He must have realized it, too. He stayed inside of me, but pulled back a little to look at my face. Taking my chin in his hand, he kissed me softly.

  “I love you, Bron.”

  I kissed him back. “I love you, too.”

  For a moment we stared at each other, and then we smiled.

  “Kind of cool.” I was a little embarrassed and I didn’t know what to say. I knew I loved the guy, but this was something more.

  He chuckled. “Very cool.” Reaching over he grabbed another towel and wrapped it around me. Then he hugged me, and suddenly I felt filled with love. I know it sounds so damn corny when I try to explain it, but I’ve just never had such an intense feeling. We stayed like that for a few minutes.

  “I have another surprise for you.” He pulled away and wrapped a towel from the rack around his waist.

  I laughed. “Whew. I’m not sure I can handle another surprise right away.” Well, I could have, but I was curious about what he had in store.

  “I stopped at Lulu’s on the way home.”

  That made me perk up. “And?”

  “There’s chicken-fried steak, fried okra, and mashed potatoes downstairs on the table.”

  I gently shoved him to the side, and tucked the towel more firmly around me. “Why the hell did
n’t you say so? My god, man. What were you thinking?”

  He faked a hurt look. “I was thinking it might not be such a bad idea to get a little exercise before we clogged our arteries.”

  I giggled. “True. You are forgiven. But now the goddess really needs to eat.” I took off in a run downstairs with him close on my heels.

  In that moment I felt such complete joy, and I savored it along with the food.

  Later in the night, when we made love again, I felt the same thing as before. It made me wonder if this is what Darcy had been talking about—if Sam was my future that I needed to hold on to in order to defeat my past.

  One thing is for sure, I’m not letting go of this guy anytime soon.

  Sunday

  Noon

  We’re headed to the Methodist Men’s social at the church this afternoon. The guys cook hamburgers, tell really bad jokes, and the men’s choir sings. It’s hokey fun, and I love that kind of stuff. It’s one of the best things about living in a small town.

  Kira, Caleb, Margie, and Billy will be there, and it should be interesting. Billy still hasn’t asked Margie to marry him, even though Kira and I both know he has the ring.

  Awkward? Perhaps.

  Interesting? Absolutely. It’s like having our own little soap opera right here in Sweet.

  The only person I’m not looking forward to seeing is the head of the coven, Peggy. She still isn’t happy about the extra protection they’ve had to put on the town because of Jason. So far no one has tried to get in.

  I would have thought this would be the first place he’d show up. In a way he’s already working magic against me because he’s made me paranoid in my own home—I keep waiting for something to happen. It’s sort of like what happens with terrorism, part of the way terrorists get to you is mentally.

  After I looked out the window for the thirtieth time, I made myself stop. There was no way that puny warlock could get past my wards, and if he did show up the coven would be aware immediately.

  The last time Blackstock, the badass warlock who tried to kill me a few months ago showed up, the coven knew before I did. Again, that’s another great thing about living in a town that’s flush with cool witches and warlocks.