The Keepers: Ethan

When Kate snapped out of her trance, blinking rapidly, Jenna reached for her arm, frowning at the slight tremble beneath her touch. “It’s okay, I’m here,” Jenna said. “Are you hurt?”

Kate shook her head but leaned in, holding Jenna’s arm.

“Where the hell have you been?” Declan snapped, scowling at Jenna.

“Bumping heads with your lookalike.”

“A Mimic?”

“Yeah, and he was much friendlier than the genuine version.” She pointed to the retreating shifters. No sign of Megan or the Mimic. “They’re leaving already.”

Cursing, Ethan spun around, but Archer was in front of him in the blink of an eye. A barricade of rigid resistance.

“Ethan!” Archer grabbed his shoulder, adding more resistance when Ethan ignored him. “Stop, dammit!”

“Let me go, brother.” Ethan kept moving forward, taking his brother with him. An inescapable force. “They attacked a town full of innocent people, Archer! This is bullshit and you know it!”

“You can’t go alone! We don’t know how many there are.” Archer’s shoulders heaved and his eyes flashed with something wild. He jabbed a finger at Declan. “Go with him. We’ll take care of Kate and Sienna. Go.”

Declan jerked forward, his protective instincts itching for a fight. But he hesitated, his gaze moving between Archer, Kate, and Sienna.

His brother. His woman. His witch.

Jenna stepped forward and touched his arm. “Go with Ethan, Declan. We’ll be fine. I promise.”

Declan’s frown deepened, words unnecessary. They both knew what was at stake. Exhaling harshly, he scanned the crowd. With a quick nod, he pulled out the keys to his Harley Davidson and tossed them to Jenna. “Stay in town. It’s safer. We’ll come back for you.”

As the two men took off, Jenna wondered if their witches were safe anywhere.

CHAPTER TEN

Usually, Jenna loved the feel of a Harley between her legs. The freedom, the speed, the power. Pure bliss.

Not tonight.

If anything, she felt ill. Fear and worry had taken up residence within her, her mind reeling with all kinds of thoughts that only escalated the closer they got to home.

The portal to Ameera was open.

The shifters had already filtered through and it wouldn’t be long before other supernatural beings and creatures followed. Greed, destruction, and violence had depleted their resources ages ago, feeding a growing restlessness and hunger throughout the city. They knew there was another world outside their realm and had been searching for a way in for so long.

Something Hazel seemed quite happy to provide.

If the portal stayed open, it was only a matter of time before both worlds would be altered forever.

The thought frightened Jenna, but she couldn’t deny the nugget of truth gnawing at her. After so many years of searching for a way back to Ameera, she finally – finally – had a way in.

She could find her parents.

Jenna’s chest burned at the thought and she realised she’d stopped breathing. The pressure eased when she drew in a deep breath, but it did nothing to ease the ache in her heart. She released the throttle, slowing the bike, and turned toward the Bennett estate. Home.

It was late, dark, and so damn cold. The rain had stopped, but thunder and lightning still worked its fury across the sky.

Sienna and Archer trailed in his SUV behind, the glint of their headlights a small comfort in a lot of tension. They’d opted to drive separately. Easier to split up if needed.

The aftermath of the attack had been a crazy whirlwind of fire engines, police, and ambulances that had their local sheriff, Pam, in a frenzy. Debris and glass littered the blackened sidewalks. Injuries were minor, so the sheriff had sent people home.

Kate sat behind Jenna, arms around her waist. They huddled together on the bike, gliding along the mountain pass on the gentle hum of the Harley.

They arrived home without trouble and Jenna exhaled as the huge gate closed behind them. Soft lighting illuminated the driveway all the way to the house. A safety they longed for. Levi, their Golden Retriever, stood on the front steps, always eager to greet them.

Only this time, there was no wagging tail. Or friendly face. The dog stared into the darkness, growling. Jenna’s stomach lurched when she saw why. Two black shadows had emerged from the forest and were racing across the lawn on all-fours.

Hellhounds.

A force crashed into them from behind, the impact so powerful it threw Kate off the bike. Jenna skidded across the road, weighed down by the machine on top of her.

Jenna cried out as the gravel tore her flesh, but before the bike came to a stop, she was already scrambling beneath it, frantically searching for her witch.

Three enormous hounds surrounded Kate. They had large heads, pointed ears, and eyes that glowed like embers. They circled: dark bodies crouched in attack mode, growling through upturned lips and sharp canines.

She’d seen them before. Back home in Ameera, now here.

One of the hounds glared at Jenna. With a howl, it turned and sped across the lawn toward her. The other two hounds were quick to follow, abandoning Kate. They circled Jenna in perfect synchronisation. Saliva dripped from their mouths, their snarls as frightening as their sharp teeth. Large claws protruded from their paws as they moved.

Jenna reached for the bike as Levi tore across the lawn, barking viciously. “Levi, NO!”

But Levi charged the hound closest to her.

Jenna climbed onto the bike. It revved to life and she sped across the lawn, drawing to an abrupt stop – just long enough for Kate to jump on behind her. With another loud roar of the engine, Jenna took off on a burst of speed and aimed for the house.

Abandoning Levi, the hounds set chase, quick to reach them.

Plan B.

“Hold on tight!” Jenna shouted, turning toward the forest. A dodgy decision, but their options were limited. And dammit, where the hell was Archer?

“Trust me, I’m not going anywhere!” Kate tightened her grip. “They’re so fast! What the hell are they?”

The moment they reached the umbrella of leaves, blackness engulfed them. Jenna steered the bike between the trees, grateful for the single beam of light at the front. She zoned in on their surroundings, her Keeper instincts slipping to the forefront like she’d flipped an internal switch. Jenna gave into them, gliding through the forest as though she knew it by heart.

In a way, she did. She’d jogged these woods every day since her arrival in town.

The hounds made no sound, but she knew they were close. She could feel them. Smell them.

“Jenna!” Kate screamed when one came catapulting between two trees. Jenna changed direction and the hound soared above them, connecting with a tree, yelping on impact. The other two had raced ahead, readying themselves for the ambush.

A barricade of canine force.

Jenna looked around, mentally scrambling for other options. The volume of adrenaline pouring through her veins sharpened her senses, numbing the fear. It was exhilarating.

The sound of the river in the distance set a new plan into place. “Kate, hold on!” she called over her shoulder, slowing the bike so suddenly that they both slid forward. In a swift movement, she changed direction and accelerated. “Time to lose these beasts!”

Kate tightened her arms around Jenna. “If the beasts don’t kill us, your driving will!”

“My driving skills might be the only thing going for you right now. Show some respect.”

The sound of water gushing nearby gave her hope and she sped through the trees, searching for the bridge Ethan had shown her the previous day. An old wooden bridge at the foot of the mountain. It joined two valleys, each side consisting of high rocks covered in moss, trees and ferns. A waterfall ran down the rocks behind it, flowing into the river below.

At the time, she’d even stopped to admire the beauty. Now, it might be their lifeline.

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.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

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.”

“That was the explosion we heard?” His nostrils flared. “How’s it possible that in one night, one fucking night, creatures from hell set fire to our town and targeted Kate?”

“Oh, and that’s the other thing,” Jenna said quietly. “I don’t think they were after Kate. They were after me.”

****

They were after me.

Jenna’s words echoed in Ethan’s mind as he climbed the stairs to his room.

Hot damn, but hearing her say that had given him a good dose of the shivers. She’d said it so casually, as though being marked by vicious wolves on a magical high was the most normal thing in the world.

But he saw right through her. Beneath the bad-ass front she maintained around his brothers existed layers of worry that seldom showed.

Everyone had gone to bed, even though the morning sunlight would soon filter through the windows. They’d kept most of the blinds shut to keep the rest of the world out for a few hours.

He revelled in the silence of his room. Quiet and in the furthest part of the mansion. His space. Designed as a spacious apartment attached to the house, complete with an open-plan living area, kitchenette, and bedroom. Decorated the way he liked it. Simple and sparse.

The exact opposite of his lifestyle.

He never brought women up here. Excluding Jenna, but that was different on so many levels. Other than Sienna, she had the only woman pass he’d ever issued.

He’d soon figured out she shared his need for space – time out from the touchy-feely shit and all-knowing looks happening downstairs. Their single status amongst a house full of lovebirds had bound their friendship immediately.

His dates used to be fun. But now, with all the crap he and his brothers faced on a daily basis? Not so much. Although great women, making smalltalk over dinner with them had grown increasingly harder, soon frustrating the hell out of him – to the point that he’d begun to swap nights out for nights in.

With Jenna.

And they weren’t even having sex.

He blinked.

Where the hell had that come from?

He tossed his jacket over the leather couch, ignoring the way his body had reacted to that thought.

Right. Water.

Clearing his throat again, he walked to the kitchen. It was small but stocked with the basics.

In the months following Sarah’s death, other than venturing out to work, he’d holed up here. The main house had been too empty, sad. His sister’s death had sent Sienna and Declan hightailing it out of Rapid Falls. He’d missed Sienna, worried about her, but Declan’s departure had been a blessing. Had he stayed, his brothers would’ve killed each other, the rift more than a simple spat.

Guilt. Anger. Resentment.

And a shitload of grief that paled everything else.

Managing the restaurant renovations and the winery had fallen on Ethan’s shoulders. He’d had no choice. With Archer’s focus on finding Sienna, and Declan drowning his sorrows in whiskey and women, someone had to man the hell up.

Declan and Sienna had finally returned two years later to fend off Mason Brogan’s younger brother, Warrick. They’d killed Warrick and ensured Mason remained entombed in an underground storage room on their estate. A victory, but one that had come with a price. They’d almost lost Sienna. Instead, they’d lost Rose, her grandmother.

Kate and Jenna’s arrival a while later had tallied their head count to six people living under one roof. Despite the size of their house, Ethan had soon felt crowded. After having only Archer as company for so long and with two budding relationships between his brothers and the women, the communal areas were quick to resemble an international airport on a romance high.

So Ethan often retreated upstairs.

Not that he minded. Kate, Sienna, and Jenna were welcome. They belonged here. But still.

He grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and headed to the bathroom, knowing the shower would do little to cleanse the frustration gnawing at his gut.

At least it would cleanse the grime of the night.

His mind reeled with everything that had happened. The crows, the shifters, the hellhounds.

Jenna.

The shower was brief and hot, the air permeated with soap and steam when he finished. He walked to the door, towel-drying his hair with a vigour that resembled his mood.

Jenna’s sudden appearance in the bedroom doorway drew him to an abrupt stop.

“Oh!” Her jaw fell and her hand came up to cover her eyes. Her cheeks coloured, not surprising considering he was as naked as the day he was born.

“Looking for something?” he drawled, lowering the towel just enough to cover his crotch. His ass was on its own.

She shuffled in the doorway. Hair in a ponytail, black robe and barefoot, no armour in sight. Vulnerable. Beautiful.

The hint of her feminine side always intrigued him. He’d connected to her as a Keeper, one to another. He’d fought beside her, witnessed her strength, but thanks to sheer willpower and many cold showers, he’d never dared to dwell on what he’d find if he delved further.

A whole lot of woman beneath the warrior.

Her fingers covering her eyes opened just an inch. “Ethan!” she cried, her voice laced with exasperation.

And Jenna never did exasperated. Ever.

He bit back a grin. “You should’ve knocked.”

“Your door was open.”

“I wasn’t expecting company.”

“Clearly.” She peeped through her fingers again. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“Tremendously.”

“Well then, in that case, let me join in too.” Surprising him, she lowered her hand and zeroed her gaze on him. Down there. Still blushing, but taking her fill.

This time, if he had the ability to blush easily, he would. Hot damn. Chuckling at her candour, he flashed a wide grin and slowly fastened the towel around his waist. “Happy?”

Her gaze did a lingering sweep across his body. “I’ve always wondered if your female fans were after your money or your body.”

“Now you know.”

“Definitely the money.”

He laughed and went to her, wondering why she was here, surprised at how much it pleased him – and how easily she made him forget everything else. It was always like that with her. “Attacking my manhood again? I thought you learnt your lesson in the forest.”

“I wasn’t attacking anything.”

“Yet we’re back to my manhood.”

“No we’re not.”

“I’d be more than happy to –”

“Not in your wildest dreams, stud muffin.”

“– make some coffee, if you’d like.”

A sheepish grin spread across her face. “That’s not what you were going to say!”

“You’ll never know, will you?” He took her wrist and drew her inside, frowning when she flinched. He froze. “You’re hurting.”

She didn’t reply. Didn’t deny it either.

A ripple of unease crashed his amusement and he quietly scanned her body for signs of injuries. She’d fobbed him off earlier in the tunnel when he’d asked if she’d been hurt. He’d suspected it then. He knew it now.

“What’s wrong? And tell me you’re fine and I’ll feed you to Declan,” he added.

She rolled her eyes. “Declan doesn’t scare me.”

“I know. That’s why you’re perfect for Kate. Now answer my question.”

Her shoulders fell and she blew out air. “I have some serious road rash on my back from the fall on the bike. Usually it would heal, but I caught a few shards of glass.” She held up a small first-aid box with her other hand. Damn, he hadn’t even seen the white box that always followed trouble. “I tried removing them but …”

With a single nod, Ethan put a hand on her waist, led her inside, and shut the door.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Asking for help hurt almost as much as the pain.

Jenna swallowed the pills Ethan had given her, watching him as he rummaged through the first-aid box on the kitchen counter. A mild frown drew his brows together and a muscle worked in his jaw.

He was worried. About her.

His wet hair had been finger-raked into place. Glorious tanned flesh contrasted the white towel. He had broad shoulders and a smooth, muscular back. He wore the mark of a Keeper, a large pentagram tattoo, on his upper right arm. A perfect resemblance of their connection to earth, his connection to his siblings and their witch. Five elements of nature. Earth. Fire. Air. Water. And Sienna, the spirit, that connected them all.