Bewitched, Bothered, and Bitten Read online

  The message ended. I noticed the coffee was ready, went to the stove and turned off the burner. Then I called Belinda.

  After one ring, she picked up. “Kerry. How are you feeling this morning?”

  “I’m fine.” My voice caught and I cleared my throat and repeated, “I’m fine.”

  “You’re sure?” she asked.

  My voice was stronger when I answered. “Yeah, I’m okay.”

  Though she probably knew better than to believe me, the High Priestess didn’t push me for the truth. Instead, she said something that shocked me. “I had a vision but I don’t think we should discuss it over the phone. Are you still at your mother’s house in Farmersville?”

  “Yes. Are you sure you can’t tell me now? Won’t it be dangerous to come out here?” I asked, my heart beating faster.

  “It will be easier if I talk to you in person. Lachlan and Calder will bring me in a couple of hours and we can discuss it then.”

  “Okay.”

  “I’ll see you soon, Kerry.” Belinda paused. “Be sure and tell Finn we’re coming, okay? I don’t want to surprise him.”

  I doubted that would happen, but I knew she was right to remind me. I was so used to being alone, I often forgot my manners. “I will.”

  “Good-bye.”

  I disconnected the call without responding, curious as to what Belinda had foreseen.

  “Is everything okay?”

  At Finn’s question, I gasped and whirled around, clutching my chest. “Dammit, you nearly gave me a heart attack! Can you make at least a little noise to let me know when you’re around?”

  He smirked. “I’ll try.”

  Grumbling under my breath, I grabbed the mug of coffee I’d poured and handed it to him. “Belinda, Lachlan, and Calder are coming by in a couple of hours. She had a vision and she wants to discuss it with me.”

  “That sounds ominous,” he muttered.

  Without saying anything else, Finn went to the fridge and began to rummage around inside. A few moments later, he emerged with bacon, a carton of eggs, and butter in his hands. I watched as he placed them all on the counter and reached into a cabinet for a bowl.

  “I’ll make breakfast while you take a shower,” he stated, without turning to look at me.

  I didn’t argue. Finn might be right that I was stubborn, but I wasn’t stupid. If I could have a meal that I didn’t have to cook myself, I’d take it. Though I would probably bite my tongue off before I admitted it, it was nice to be taken care of from time to time.

  Chapter Nine

  After I took my shower and discovered that I had dried mud in places I could barely reach, I dressed in a pair of jeans and a incredibly soft navy sweater that brought out my blue eyes. I didn’t bother with shoes, just a pair of fluffy, warm socks.

  I could no longer ignore the smell of frying bacon and decided to skip primping. I twisted my hair into a bun before I headed downstairs, my empty coffee cup in hand. I paused when I entered the kitchen because Finn was still shirtless and barefoot, standing in front of my stove with his back to me.

  For the first time since we’d met, I let myself really look at him and openly appreciate what I saw. His dark brown hair was tousled, just brushing his shoulders, and his lightly tanned skin felt as smooth as it looked. Though he wasn’t as bulky as Conner and Lex, his shoulders were broad and the taut muscles of his back flexed with each movement of his arms. The jeans he wore rode low on his hips and, while they weren’t tight, they molded perfectly to the curve of his ass and left my mouth watering. I wanted to sink my teeth into the firm muscle. Which was strange, because I’d never thought about doing something like that before.

  “Are you going to stand there and stare at my ass all day or come eat this breakfast I’m slaving over?”

  I jumped at Finn’s voice and felt my face heat up. I moved to the side of the stove and picked up the percolator to refill my cup.

  Desperate to change the subject, I said, “Frying bacon shirtless is a little risky, don’t you think?”

  One corner of Finn’s mouth lifted and he looked sideways at me. “How so?”

  “Hot grease and bare nipples are not two things I’d want to put together.”

  He chuckled as he began to shift the bacon from the frying pan to a plate covered with a paper towel. “You’re worth the pain,” he answered wryly.

  I rolled my eyes toward the ceiling. “Save the corny lines and finish my eggs. I’m starving.”

  Finn’s hand shot out and gave my ass a light smack as I added sugar and creamer to my coffee, but he didn’t reply.

  A few minutes later, he brought two plates to the table, each filled with eggs, several strips of bacon, and toast. My eyebrows rose as I looked at all the food in front of me, then my stomach rumbled, reminding me that I could indeed eat it all.

  After channeling so much power, my body needed to be fed and I would probably need a nap later in the day as well. All magic carried a price and the more you used, the more you paid. Residual magic gave you an energy high that would last a few hours before you crashed hard. I paused at the thought. Last night, I’d cast the most powerful spell I’d ever attempted, then, later, I began to shake and sweat. I realized that the two could be related and decided to ask Belinda if she knew anything.

  I took a bite of eggs and was pleasantly surprised at the texture and flavor. They were just right. The bacon was crispy and well done, exactly the way I preferred it.

  “Wow, this is delicious, Finn,” I murmured, taking another bite of egg.

  “Thanks.” His eyes twinkled with good humor. “Although this is one of the five things I can cook well.”

  After I finished another bite, I asked, “What are the other four?”

  “Spaghetti and meatballs, grilled steak and baked potato, just about any kind soup, and fish and chips.”

  “That all sounds pretty good.”

  He shrugged. “It is until you’ve been eating it for a decade. Before he met Donna, I ate at Conner’s a lot because he’s the best cook I know.”

  I chuckled. He had a good point. Having tasted Conner’s food, I had to agree. He could probably make cardboard taste good.

  We finished our breakfast in companionable silence. I started to wash dishes, but Finn insisted on helping me, so he dried them.

  I couldn’t help thinking about the strangeness of this situation. Just twelve hours ago, I’d been in mortal danger, and now I was standing in my kitchen doing mundane chores with a vampire. The concept of vampires was so exotic that the idea of one of them keeping house seemed foreign. Yet, here we were, washing dishes together like an old married couple. Well, maybe not married, since most of the married men I knew couldn’t put their dirty dishes in the dishwasher, much less help with actual hand washing and drying.

  After we finished cleaning up the kitchen, Finn said he had some calls to make and I poured myself another cup of coffee and headed into the study. Years ago, before she died, my mother had the house expanded to include a spacious library that connected to a solarium. In the solarium, my mother had grown herbs and medicinal plants needed to cast spells, create potions, and make charms. I continued this practice, but also included cooking herbs and a few orchid plants. There was even a small cast iron wood stove in the corner of the library.

  It was by far my favorite room in the house.

  I walked around the room, trailing my fingers along the spines of the books on the shelves. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular, but, as my finger tips slid across the back of one book, I felt a tremor go up my arm. I paused and pulled the text from the shelf.

  There were no markings or writings on the binding, so I opened the book. When I realized what I was holding, my stomach plummeted to the floor.

  It was a translation of an ancient Latin text that had been banned by the coven. The elders claimed that, while it wasn’t true black magic, it was a gateway to the dark arts. My mother obviously hadn’t agreed. It surprised me that she kept it on
her shelf so openly. Even more shocking was that I hadn’t noticed it before. While I hadn’t catalogued her library after her death, I had spent many hours in the study during the last few years.

  I took the book to the table and sat. As I turned the pages, a feeling of recognition sparked through me though I’d never read them before. Midway through my scan of the text, I found a folded paper tucked inside.

  My heart stopped when I saw my name in my mother’s handwriting. With shaking hands, I unfolded the sheet and began to read.

  Beloved Daughter,

  If you are reading this letter, then you have found the Book of Shadows. There is speculation that this is one of the first in history.

  It also means that you are in need of the information it contains.

  The spell I cast on this book keeps it hidden until it is needed by my blood. When its contents are required, it will appear on a shelf in the library when you are near. You will also feel it call to you, as though you’ve been looking for something but you’re not sure what. Don’t ignore that call. It may mean the difference between victory or defeat, life or death.

  I hope, Kerry, that you never need the spells and prophecy in this book. However, if you do, please use them wisely. Don’t be fooled into believing that some of the spells aren’t verging on dark magic.

  In some ways, the coven elders are correct about this text. Should it fall into the wrong hands, it would be extremely dangerous.

  I love you, my sweet girl.

  ~Mom~

  “Dear Goddess,” I whispered. My emotions were in turmoil and impossible to separate or recognize.

  I ran my hands over the binding. The book seemed to vibrate beneath my palms, urging me to explore what lay between the covers. Moving slowly, I lifted my hands. Goose bumps broke out on my arms and energy seemed to be gathering around me, centering on the text that sat on the table.

  I jumped to my feet, knocking over my chair, as the front cover flew open and the pages turned on their own, moving so quickly they were only a blur. When they began to slow, I backed away and watched in shock, until one last page flipped and the book lay flat and still. The power that had gathered around me began to fade.

  Wary, I took a hesitant step forward. Nothing happened. There was no surge of power or movement from the Book of Shadows.

  I bent and righted my chair, yelping when Finn barreled around the corner, a fierce snarl on his face. When he saw that I was alone, his expression cleared, but his body remained tense.

  “What happened?” Unable to speak, I merely pointed at the book on the table. “The book?” he asked.

  I nodded.

  He approached the table and looked down at the pages. Frowning slightly, he lifted his gaze to me. “I’m not sure, but I think it’s a prophecy.”

  I moved to stand next to him and, careful not to touch the tome, I read what was written on the page.

  One will live

  Two will die

  Three will return the Fourth to life

  Together the Five will right the past,

  Create the future and hold it fast

  All hold keys to power untold

  And will find their Fate as evil grows bold

  Five may live

  Five may die

  Five may love

  Five may fall

  Should this come to pass

  Then ten will save Creation

  Or lose that which they have found at last

  “Oh shit,” I breathed.

  “Do you know what it is?” Finn asked.

  “Yes. You were right, it is a prophecy.” My voice cracked, so I cleared my throat. “It’s something that no one has seen in centuries and most witches in the coven consider it pure myth.”

  “What does it mean?”

  “It means, that unless we figure out how to stop the Faction, we’re fucked,” I answered.

  Chapter Ten

  Half an hour later, Belinda, Lachlan, and Calder arrived. I immediately grabbed Belinda’s hand and practically dragged her to the study.

  “Well, hello to you too, Kerry.” She looked around the library and out into the solarium, smiling. “I always loved this room. I used to come here as a teenager and sit and read for hours.”

  “No time for reminiscing. We have a major problem.” I knew I sounded melodramatic, but I was still on edge after what had happened with the Book of Shadows.

  Belinda sighed. “I should say so, since you and I have to go into hiding just to avoid being kidnapped or killed.”

  Gesturing to the book, which was still open on the table, I explained, “No, really, we have a huge problem. This whole situation, the Faction, it’s been prophesied. There’s more at stake than just the vampire council, wolf pack, and our coven. This could change the entire course of supernatural history, and not in a good way.”

  Frowning, she went over to the table and began reading. When she finished, her face paled. “It’s the prophecy of the Five,” she whispered.

  According to legend, the prophecy of the Five was the supernatural version of the Apocalypse. We could all live or die. Our fate was in our own hands.

  “I know.”

  “But who are the Five? You and I and three others? Or five people we don’t know?” she asked.

  My body tensed. I hated the idea that I was about to suggest because it meant my friends were in danger. “I think that my friends and I are the Five.”

  “But ancient lore…”

  I nodded. “I know what the books say, but I think they’re wrong. I don’t think the Five are only witches.”

  Belinda stood and walked into the solarium. I followed, knowing she would have something to say.

  “Tell me why you think that your friends are involved,” she murmured.

  Before I began, I took a deep breath. “First of all, there are five of us.” When Belinda sighed, I hurried on because I knew she thought my idea was ridiculous. “Two will die….Donna technically died before Conner turned her. She almost didn’t make it. I think she’s the first. One will live. I think that each of the numbers means two different things. It’s not just how many will live or die, but each number represents a person. Donna is One. Ivie is Two.” I paused, my voice dropping. “I think I’m Three.”

  “Do you have any other reason to believe that you and your friends are the Five? That’s a very flimsy foundation for your theory.” She sounded skeptical and I couldn’t blame her.

  “Think about it, Belinda. Twenty years ago, hell, even ten, what would happen to a human who learned of the supernatural community? They were eliminated, either through memory wiping or death. No one could know. Yet, for some reason, the Council makes an exception for Ivie, Ricki, and Shannon? That’s not a coincidence. That’s destiny. They were meant to be involved and, whether the Council, coven, or pack is willing to admit it or not, the fate of our species lies in their hands as much as ours.”

  The High Priestess didn’t speak for a long time. She stared out the glass wall of the solarium, deep in thought. Finally, she asked, “Who is Four?”

  The book intimated that the fourth would die before being brought back, the second of the two deaths. As much as I hated to even consider it, I said, “I think it’s Ricki. She and, uh, Calder, they….” I swallowed hard because I hated the idea of something bad happening to someone I cared so deeply about. “He marked her.”

  “I see.”

  Belinda began to walk around the sunroom, studying the herbs and other plants I had growing there. I tried not to fidget, but her silence was making me nervous, so I had to stop myself from shifting from foot to foot several times.

  Finally, she stated, “We need to get them all here and then to safe houses. Though I doubt the Faction is aware of the prophecy, we can’t trust anyone not to share what they learned. If this is coming to pass, then you’re right. The peril isn’t just to the Dallas underground, it’s to supernaturals around the world.” She seemed distracted as she ran a hand over her hair, smoothing
invisible stray hairs back into her bun.

  “I’ll make the calls.”

  Belinda nodded her assent, but she seemed lost in her own thoughts as I turned to leave the room.

  “Kerry.”

  I stopped and looked back at her. Her face was pale and composed, but something in her eyes seemed wild.

  “Promise me that you will do everything in your power to get the coven to agree to the truce between the Council and the pack.”

  Confused, I answered, “Of course I will.”

  “I need to hear the words.”

  The sliver of worry in my gut expanded. “I promise I will do everything in my power to see the supernatural community united.”

  Her shoulders slumped, as though my declaration relieved her.

  “What’s going on, Belinda?”

  She didn’t answer, merely turned her back on me, an effective dismissal.

  Unsettled, I left the room, my pace much slower than before. I had a feeling her demand was a precursor to something much, much worse. I would make a point to pull Lachlan to the side today and talk to him. A whisper of premonition fueled my paranoia. I sensed that he would need to keep an even closer watch than he thought on the High Priestess.

  * * *

  Two hours later, my house was filling up with vampires, werewolves, and humans. It was like some sort of twisted, paranormal menagerie. All we needed were a couple of ghosts, goblins, and some zombies.

  Though the males were impatient, Belinda and I only wanted to explain things once, so we were waiting for Ricki and Shannon to show up. When Calder heard that Ricki was on her way, I thought he was going to crawl out of his skin. He hadn’t stopped moving since.

  Lex and Conner were watching him closely as he paced in the living room by the front window, looking out every thirty seconds or so. I had a feeling they wouldn’t hesitate to intervene if Ricki was overwhelmed by Calder’s intensity.

  Calder stopped prowling, his gaze fixed on something outside the window. I heard a car door slam and assumed that Shannon and Ricki were here. A few minutes later, the front door opened, and a blast of cold air followed my friends into the house.