A Witch's Love (15 page)

Chapter 12

Ava made her way down to the cabin where Lucas waited for her. He had gone down there early to reset the chains, which would keep him from coming to her tonight. She had treasured the time they had spent together at his home but it had to be coming to an end. Happy was not a term she’d use to describe her life at the moment.

She had spent most of the day studying some of the spell books and other materials on demons Belinda had given her, losing track of time.

Her feet were on the steps of the cabin, when a crash met her ears. Had the demons found them?

Heart pounding, she ran the rest of the way up the stairs and flew across the deck to the door. She didn’t even think, just went crashing into the cabin and landed hard on the wood floor.

After a moment, she raised herself up onto her elbows to find Lucas’s inquisitive look on her. “Ava, are you all right?” He strode to her side as she glanced around the room. It was empty of any demons.

“I thought . . . I heard a noise and . . .” He helped her to her feet. “I thought the demons had found us,” she said, finger-combing her hair back into place. Hearing her thought out loud, she realized how silly it was to think that demons had found them already. How would they even know to look for them up here anyways?

She brushed the dirt from her clothes, then looked up to find Lucas’s face had turned very serious. He obviously didn’t think that it was a silly thought.

“Yes, well, we will be leaving tomorrow. We can’t take the chance of them finding you. It was a necessary to stay as long as we could at Belinda’s but now we will have to keep moving.” He turned back to the chains.

What he said was true, but she would be sad to leave this place. She prayed one day they would return and tried to quiet the fears that told her that they never would. A heaviness settled in her chest. She noticed that part of the wall had been ripped out. “What happened?” She moved closer to inspect the damage.

“I thought being indoors would mask my scent from any demons trying to find us, but I see now that the walls won’t hold me. I will have to be chained to the tree.” He gathered the chains as fear made her heart race. This would be the worst night for demons to find them.

He turned from her. “I hate being away from you. The thought of it makes me sick to my stomach.”

She laid a hand on his shoulder, forcing him to look to her. “Lucas, don’t worry, everything will be fine. Even if things don’t go according to plan, I will be in the protection of the crystal cage,” she said, wrapping her arms around him. She was scared, too, but seeing him worry so, made her heart ache. She couldn’t help reassuring him, even though she wasn’t sure if she believed her words.

He encircled her waist as he brushed the side of her face with the back of his hand. “I just can’t stand the thought of being away from you, unable to protect you. But what burns me the most is that you need protection from me,” he said, letting her go and crossing to the doorway.

Tears stung her eyes, knowing what he said was true. Even though she could never imagine the thought of him harming her, she also had never seen him on a full moon night. He would be completely taken over by the beast, unable to change back to his human form. “Lucas, I don’t care what you say, I don’t believe that you could ever harm me,” she said, approaching him slowly.

He whirled on her. “You don’t understand, Ava, you don’t know what I’m like. I won’t have control. I will be capable of anything, including harming you. Don’t be naïve to think that I won’t,” he said as he gripped her by her shoulders. She felt a tear slip from her eye, then roll down her face.

How could he feel that way? After everything they had been through, he still felt that he was able to harm her.

“I. Don’t. Believe. It,” she grated, then shrugged out of his grasp. She strode through the door, needing air desperately. He had been so gentle with her, saved her life many times, yet he felt like he could harm her. How could they ever be together if the every full moon hung over their relationship? She felt Lucas behind her, knew he was feeling bad about their current situation but was unable to care.

“I’m not naïve. I know you’re dangerous,” she said without turning. She just wanted this night to be over with, to show him that he would never harm her.

“Shit, Ava, I—”

“Don’t bother, Lucas, I get it,” she said, turning to face him. “You don’t trust in our feelings or my abilities.”

She turned from him, heading off the porch, when she felt him grab her arm. “Ava, that’s not true, I know you’re strong, I . . . Bloody hell! Ava, why can’t you understand how this is for me?” His muscles in jaw stiffened as his forehead creased.

“I do understand, Lucas. I just wish you could see that.” A deep ache settled in her chest as she realized it wasn’t going to work out between them. “Once my sisters are safe, I won’t be asking you to stay with me, so let’s just be done with this. Hook up the chains, and I will read the spell. The sun will be setting soon.”

He let go of her arm and stalked off the porch without agreeing with what she’d said. Did he not think she was serious?

“I mean it, Lucas.”

His back faced her as he said, “We will see about that.”

Traxen laughed as he acquired the swarm. Humans were so easily duped. All he had to do to find out the location of the lycan’s home was to win the heart of a local waitress. He blinked them to the forest encompassing
his
property. They would search here first. Afterward, he would leave some of them to canvas the area while he took the others to the house.

It wouldn’t be easy, but one way or another he was getting that witch. He faced the swarm that eagerly waited for his command. The contents of the vial he’d taken were still in effect, bringing forth his human half, but the swarm obeyed him nonetheless.
They
understood he took it only to achieve their shared goal. Besides, it was much easier to seduce a human when he looked like one.

“Keep in mind the witch will most likely be with the lycan. He will stop at nothing to protect her. Separate the lycan from the witch first, then grab her. If I’m not close, find a safe area in the forest and send someone for me. I will be there as soon as I can.”

He waited for the swarm to nod in agreement before he continued. “When night comes, we will use the dark and full moon in our favor. The beast won’t be rational. Stay hidden until you are absolutely sure you have something, otherwise you threaten to alert them to our presence. We cannot risk losing them again.”

He moved toward the swarm, wanting them to clearly understand what he was about to say next. "No one is to kill the witch or the lycan. The witch is for Zatar, to do with as he pleases and the lycan is a gift for him as well. Anyone tempted to take a life, will sacrifice their own. Don’t forget that.”

A resounding grunt in agreement sounded from the swarm, drawing a smile to his face.

“Move out!”

After coming back to the house, anger consumed Ava. She wanted nothing more than a good long run even though there wasn’t enough time. There was only a half an hour until sun down. That would give her time for at least a twenty-minute run. Lucas would no doubt be angry with her for leaving the house but she had to run some of these nerves off.

Ava opened the door, remembering at the last minute that she wanted to set a trap. She had decided to enchant some rocks in hopes that they would work the same way as the crystal cage. Once Lucas entered the surrounding rocks, he would be trapped within them.

As she closed the door behind her, she placed the rocks around the house, hiding them within the landscape. If Lucas wanted to enter the building, he would have to get through the cage first. She nodded, happy with the arrangement of the rocks then gave the sky one last look. Satisfied that she still had time, she started jogging.

This was it. They were right outside the home of the lycan and the wolf’s scent was everywhere, but it was the witch’s scent that brought a smile to his lips. The lycan was indeed rich, judging from his home. With such a large home he had to be. The house looked empty and with dusk descending rapidly, he figured he could handle the structure alone. “Go into the woods. Look for any signs of them. Keep your eyes and ears open. They could be anywhere. Remember, if you find the girl, send someone to come and get me. Understand?”

The demons nodded, then spread out through the trees and shrubs. Traxen surveyed the building, trying to gauge the best point of entry. Blinking in would be no problem, however he didn’t want to blink into an unknown area as he could lose the element of surprise, not to mention put himself at risk. He figured he would get a better look. Blinking, he appeared at the edge of the house.

He turned toward the house and moved from window to window, getting an idea of the layout. No one seemed to be home. Perfect, he could blink inside and wait for them to come home. Once the girl was within his reach, he would blink her back to the hive. She would be gone before he knew what was happening.

He took another step forward.

A bolt of electricity brought him to his knees. When the tingling pain eased, he gained his feet, searching for the cause of the trauma. Finding none, he stepped forward once more. This time the jolt was two-fold. With an agonized cry, he collapsed to his knees, gritting his teeth through the pain.

He waited for the pain to pass before he stood once more. He had been weakened by the blows, but there was no way he was turning back down. This had to be some kind of trick. He held out his hand, searching for the invisible source of his discomfort. Electrical pulses surrounded his hand and it soon became evident that he was surrounded by the pulsing electricity.

He gave a harsh laugh. Cute parlor trick but the perpetrator wasn’t taking into consideration that he could blink. He closed his eyes, willing himself out of the cage. His body reverberated with electrical pulses and he could smell his burning skin and hair as his body continued to pulse. He shrank back into the cage, collapsing to the ground. His powers had been severely weakened. He couldn’t move or blink out of the cage.

He smirked. So he’d underestimated the witch. His laughter turned to rage at the thought of the humiliation and pain this would bring him if the other demons found out. Zatar would not let him forget a witch had outsmarted him and the torture he would receive could have lasting effects.

On the other hand, if the witch and lycan found him first, he wouldn’t have to worry about Zatar. Either way, he was sure he would pray for death.

Ava approached the edge of the forest when she heard a rustling behind her. Dusk was making it harder to see beyond the tree line. As her fear began to rise, she took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. There was no way Lucas was able to escape. Right?

She peered into the woods, finding nothing that would have caused the noise. It was probably just a squirrel or a bird. With a feeling of unease, she focused her attention on getting back to the house before the sun completely set.

The run had really helped. Her conversation with Lucas had made one thing clear to her. They didn’t belong together. Her heart ached at the truth. Once her sisters had been found, and he had fulfilled his promise to help her, she would tell him that he should leave. A relationship with Lucas would never work. He could barely look her in the eye when she had left him earlier. There was no way they could be together for all eternity. They couldn’t even make it through a week without arguing.

Her heart sank and moisture welled up in her eyes. She had promised herself she wouldn’t cry, had told herself that she hadn’t really become that attached to him, but the thought of him leaving hurt her to the core. Deep down, even though she didn’t want to admit it, she had hoped it would work out between them because . . . she loved him.

Her heart belonged to him. Tears streamed down her face as her jog turned into a walk. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t see straight, couldn’t stand. The feeling brought her to her knees. They were more than life mates, they were soul mates. Yes, he was handsome, but it was more than that. He didn’t take life too seriously and enjoyed himself. He protected her, always putting her safety above his. Most of all, he encouraged her to be the best witch she could be, never doubting in her abilities.

Sure, he had a grizzle bear temper but she knew he was all bluster-

And Stubborn as a goat.

Hell, he more than just shared the spirit of the wolf, he was all animal, and she loved his wild side.

He matched her in almost every aspect, understood her moods, comforted her when she needed it even if she didn’t want it but their relationship would never work.

A gut-wrenching sob escaped her. He was everything to her, yet she was going to have to walk her immortal life without him.

She calmed her racing heart as the light of the sky disappeared from the earth. She wiped the tears from her face as she took a deep breath and stood. Her eyes burned with tears she refused to shed. There was no time to break down. She had too much—

A noise behind her drew her attention. Ava turned toward the tree line. Pain seared through her head as her world went dark.

Chapter 13

Chained, Lucas sat under the tree in utter despair. Ava didn’t want him. The thought broke him in two. He hadn’t meant for the conversation to turn that way, but the truth was, he was terrified of what he might do to her.

Only this night could bring the memories of the past back to him. The memory of the first time he changed on a full moon still haunted him.

He was at his family estate when he turned. He had loved the freedom, had raced through the countryside, over the fields and wooded valleys when he came upon a house. The scent of meat drew his attention and he was too young and inexperienced to turn away from the glorious smell. As the beast, he crept quietly to the cottage, stalking his prey. Even without seeing, his senses knew where to find it. When the scent grew stronger, he was unable to restrain himself any longer.

He leapt toward the window, crashing through the panes with ease. He bounded on his prize, savoring the taste, lavishing in the feel of warm meat between his teeth as he ripped and clawed at his meal. He had never tasted anything so good in all his life. It wasn’t until the screams started that he realized he had attacked a human.

A woman stood in the doorway, horrified at the scene she beheld. Her screams filled the room, causing his ears to ring in response. His gaze traveled to the man he had pinned to the floor. The man’s neck oozed blood and scratches marred his torso. The attack had rendered the man unconscious, but the man’s short breaths told Lucas he was still alive. He growled as other men filled the room with weapons in hand. He turned from them, leaping back through the window he had broken, disappearing into the night.

He had never forgiven himself for what he had done that night. With time and age, he had learned to control his urges. Until now. Ava had awakened his wild side. Desire pumped through his veins every time he beheld her. Now, on a full moon, the thought of history repeating itself shook him to his core. His fear was shoving her away, but he figured he would have to live with that. What he couldn’t live with was harming her. At the realization that she was right to leave him, his temper raged.

Dusk turned into night, causing him to look to the sky. The clouds parted from the moon, gracing the earth with its beam of light. He felt the change in his blood first, the stirring spread through his body, enveloping him in warm heat. His muscles expanded, his strength growing with every second that passed. His instincts took over as his thoughts turned to finding Ava. He needed to be inside her, claim her as his own. Mark her with his scent. He tried to fight his urges as his claws and fangs lengthened. The chains began to glow as he fought against them. They knew he wanted to be free, to claim his prize.

He howled at the moon as the need to be with Ava consumed him.

“Take her! Tie her to the tree and don’t take your eyes off her.” Ava heard the voices around her but was unable to see. A bag covered her head and her hands and feet were tied. Demons. Their strong smell gave them away every time. If she hadn’t been so distracted with thoughts of Lucas, she would have protected herself.

Demons had found the house and were wandering the property. Which meant Lucas was in danger. She had magically chained him to a tree, vulnerable to attack by demons. A tightness settled in her chest as her heart pounded like a jackhammer.

Chaining Lucas to a tree was a bad idea. She had to find a way to free him. He would come for her. In spite of the way he felt about it, she had to risk it. She couldn’t let harm come to him.

She kept her mouth shut as she sat against the tree. She could hear
them
move about her and tried to think of a way to free Lucas. First, she had to free herself.

The bag was snatched from her head. “Look who is awake, boys,” the demon shouted to the others. She suppressed her fear, giving him a glare that would make a weaker man turn away.

“Awe, look at who is trying to be brave. How cute, you just wait till Traxen gets here, then we will see how brave you are,” another demon said, rolling her hair around his fingers.

She jerked her head away from his grasp. He reached out, striking her across the face. The side of her face felt wet. Blood? No matter. She had to find a way to free Lucas.

“Don’t give me that, witch, and don’t be thinking your lycan is coming to free ya, either,” the demon snarled, pacing in front of her.

She looked away, unable to hold his dark glare any longer. When his laughter filled the air, her attention was drawn back to him. “Believe me, you wouldn’t want him to find you on a full moon anyhow.”

She shouldn’t talk to them, but her interest was piqued. “Why? You scared?” She tried to force a smile.

He tilted his head, regarding her. “No, not at all, but you should be. His interest will be only to rip you apart . . . from the inside out.”

Her anger rose at his words, yet what he said might be true. She looked away. Why did she care what a demon thought anyways?

“Oh, don’t like the truth, do ya? Too much to bear? Knowing your precious beast would hurt ya.” His laughter filled the air. “Take ya in the dirt, too, he would. Animals! The lot of them.”

Her fury had reached her limit. “You don’t know him, so just—”

“I’m sure you’ve never seen a lycan completely filled with the beast. Don’t worry, we have another swarm wandering around up in these parts. One of us will find him first and dispose of him for ya. In the meantime, we’ll keep ya safe from the beast and once Traxen is here, he will transport you to the hive, in the blink of an eye.”

“And where is the hive exactly?” Maybe she could get a little information from him.

He leaned in close to her face. “Nice try, but you don’t get to know that. Besides, if I was you, I would be more worried about the lycan finding me. You’re the one he wants after all. Pretty thing that you are, maybe I will take you myself,” he said as he leaned in to kiss her.

She tried to twist out his grasp, but being tied up made it difficult. He pawed at her breasts, then ran his lips on her face—

Suddenly, he was thrown away from her. “You’re not supposed to touch her, remember?” another demon shouted. She saw their claws lengthen and knew it would be a fight. Good, maybe they would kill each other.

“It’s none of your business what I do. Just back off.”

Ava cringed as the demons clashed in front of her. She had to free Lucas before the demons found him. But how? She struggled against the ropes as her mouth went try.

They were loosening. The demons still fought before her. Maybe she could sneak away long enough to use some magic.

The ropes fell from her wrist. She stood and ran. As she called forth a water sphere, she said the spell.

“Chains of steel, chains of might

Hear my words

It’s my right

To use my key

Setting my prisoner free.”

Ava released the globe of water and watched it course through the night air. The moon illuminated the sphere and relief washed over her.

She was hit hard from behind. As her face met dirt, the air left her lungs. A demon hunkered next to her ear. “You’re not going anywhere.”

Lucas howled in frustration. No matter how hard he strained, he couldn’t part the chains. They remained intact. The need to be with Ava overwhelmed him. Even worse, he was having trouble sensing her.

Protect. Claim.

His instincts overrode his better judgment. The need to be free, to find her, was more than he could take.

A distant noise in the woods caught his attention. He crouched low, letting his instincts take over. A growl escaped his lips when the scent of demons filled his nose.

They were close.

Staying low to the ground, he hoped for the element of surprise. His fangs would be his best chance of attack.

Clouds began to cover the moonlit sky, shielding him in darkness. He readied his position when it hit him like a Mack truck. Ava.

What if Ava had never made it back to the house? What if the demons had her right now? Rage pumped through his veins. He would kill them—all of them. Rip them apart limb by limb.

A rustling noise told him the demons were upon him. He watched silently as they combed the property in front of him, unaware of what was about to be unleashed on them.

One of the demons passed by him. “The lycan scent is close—”

Lucas grabbed his prey, hauling the demon up against his chest. “Where is the girl?”

The demon began to struggle as the other moved into formation around him. “You’ll never find her. She is probably already at the hive.”

Lucas growled deep in his chest, then ripped the demon’s head from his body.

Tossing the body to the side, he prepared for the rest of the demons to attack. Two of them charged. His wrists were chained, but he still had use of his hands and fangs. He took hold of the first demon, slamming him into the other. The rest attacked all at once.

He was able to keep a few at bay but the demons that escaped clawed at him. He roared in fury as the demons bit into his arms and legs. He tried to shake them from his body, but there were too many of them.

The chains restricted him as the demons fed off of his flesh. He clawed at them, sinking his fangs into any within reach but it was a losing battle. He tugged on the chains, trying to free himself from their hold. He was losing strength by the moment. The demons were sucking the life out of him, and he was becoming powerless to stop it.

Rain droplets began to fall. They made him think of Ava, and he felt a surge of strength. He had to save Ava. He ignored the fatigue, fighting even harder, when out of nowhere, he heard Ava’s voice. Was he hallucinating?

Her voice was subtle and he couldn’t understand what she was saying but it was definitely her. Chanting. She was chanting a spell, but from where?

A sphere floated before him, causing the chains to glow and rattle with the power she had bestowed upon them.

The unnatural scene frightened the demons and most of them scattered. The rain fell harder, drenching him in water.

Ava freed him.

When the glowing chains dimmed, he grinned at the few remaining demons before him. He yanked violently on the chains, breaking free of them.

He charged toward the demons, taking them out one by one. He ripped them apart, biting into them then twisting their heads from their bodies. Only one was left alive, and he went barreling through the trees in the opposite direction. Lucas bounded after him. He had to find Ava.

He needed information and that demon was as good as any. He closed in on him, tackling him to the ground.

“Please don’t kill me,” the demon begged.

“Tell me where the girl is and I will think about letting you live.” Lucas couldn’t keep his growl contained.

“I-I don’t know exactly. They took her north. That’s all I know. Please-”

“You listen to me, you piece of shit. You tell your king that I’m coming for him and I’m bringing hell with me!”

The rope bound her wrists once more. Ava took another deep breath and recited the disenchantment spell over again. She needed her voice to travel on the sphere . . .

If she really were connected to nature and water the way she thought she was, then this would work. She imagined her voice being carried by the liquid, traveling to Lucas’s chains, and setting him free.

“What are you doing? Stop that talking, ya hear.”

The demon closed in on her, surrounding her, but she didn’t care, she kept on chanting.

“Are you deaf? I said stop,” the demon shouted, grabbing her by the throat.

She gasped. Struggling against him was futile. She tried to breathe, but his grip was too strong.

He tightened his hold, lifting her from the ground. “Are you ready to listen like a good little witch?” He let her drop to the ground in a heap.

She gasped for air and her laugh came out as a croak. “You think you have won, but you have no idea what you have gotten into.”

The demon turned back at her words. “What did you say to me?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you deaf?”

The demon untied her from the tree but her wrists were still bound. He hauled her to her feet as he clutched her to his side, dragging her across their makeshift camp. He threw her into the shrubs and approached her slowly. “I have killed for lesser offensives. You know very well I can’t kill you, but I can make you pay for your words.”

She shoved away from him, her breathing fast. Her hands were tied. She couldn’t use her powers.

“Scared now, without your powers?” He closed the space between them.

Panic erupted in her, followed by a growling sound coming from somewhere behind her.

The demon must have heard it, too. He dropped down into a fighting stance, hissing at the bush behind her. He reached for her, dragging her behind him just as a beast leapt out of the bushes, attacking him with fury.

The night was dark and it was hard for her to see but she could make out that the demon was fighting for his life against a wild beast. Her breath left her as amber eyes meet hers.
Lucas.

Her spell had worked. She’d freed him from the chains and he’d found her. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a group of demons coming to join the fight. Her heart leapt to her throat as tears stung her eyes.

Until then, Lucas had been winning the fight but now they surrounded him. How could he survive against so many?

She shifted to her feet and squared her shoulders. There was no way she was going to let them kill Lucas.

She had to try to use her powers. She reached out her bound hands and took aim at a demon that was making a meal of Lucas. She threw a sphere, sending him flying back into the bushes. Her action gained the attention of the others.