A Witch's Love (12 page)

She must have seen the smile because next thing he knew she was punching his shoulder. He opened his eyes, only to catch a glimpse of her back as she was leaving. With quick movements, he grabbed her by the waist then turned her in his arms as he hauled her on top of him. While he gazed upon her angelic face, he thanked the Fates for sending him such a gem. “Have I told you how beautiful you are?” He laced his fingers laced through her hair.

She closed her eyes. Did she enjoy his touch?

“Not today,” she said as a smile played on her lips. “We really should be practicing, though, Lucas.”

He nodded, but didn’t let her go. “You’re all powerful. Make it happen.” Before he knew what was happening, he was covered in water while she lifted into the air, out of his grasp. “What the—”

She’d outmaneuvered him, this time. With a laugh, he moved to his feet. “Let’s dance.” He circled her as water rushed around her.

Conjuring a small water sphere, she bounced the miniature water ball in her hand, giving him a smile before she turned the sphere on him. Instinctively, he crouched to the ground. The sphere flew past him.

Leaping from his position, he bounded toward her, realizing at the last second that she held out her hand. He hadn’t even heard her call for the sphere before it connected with the back of his head. The impact sent him flying facedown into the dirt for the second time today.

Dammit.
Regaining his senses, he rolled to his back, only to be met by the point of her dagger. “So this is how you want to play is it?” He tried not to smile. She’d gotten quite skilled. He had to admit she was a quick learner, but were her sisters?

“I’m just remaining true to your one and only rule in sparing.”

Swiftly, he moved, knocking the dagger out of his face then buckling her knees.

She fell flat onto her back. Her eyes narrowed as she looked upon him.

She still held her dagger but he had control of the weapon. With a fierce grip on her wrist, he angled the tip to her chest.

“And what rule is that?” He ran his free hand up her leg. He felt her shiver as his palm glided over her thigh.

“To practice as if this was for real.” She smiled then kneed him in the groin.

A groan escaped him, while pain filled his pelvis. She took the advantage, moving out of reach, but he wasn’t through with her yet. He kicked out his leg, connecting with her calves, causing her to fall face first. When he turned onto his side, he saw that her face was covered in dirt and grass stains marred her white shirt. She was breathing hard from having the air knocked out of her lungs, but she was still the most perfect creature he had ever seen.

“I thought I told you guys not to kill each other,” Belinda called from the doorway to the house.

Ava cleared her throat. “It’s okay, Belinda, I’m winning.”

Winning? Lucas tried to brush the mud off his shirt, making a worse mess. She certainly wasn’t winning. Sure, she had some good shots but he wouldn’t go as far as to say she was winning.

“I can see that, Ava.” Belinda’s laughter filled the air as she turned back into the house.

Lucas rolled to his abdomen. “Shall we try that again?”

Ava shoved herself up, supporting her weight with her arms. “I don’t know, you think you can handle it?”

He stood, then crossed to her side, offering her his hand. “I can take whatever you got.”

She accepted his hand, leapt to her feet, and met his gaze. “We’ll see about that.”

With both hands, she reached up and gave him a good shove on his chest, enough to make him take a step back. Losing his footing on something hard, he fell on his ass again, only to find himself eyelevel with a large branch that wasn’t there before.

He looked up to find Ava in hysterics. “You think this is funny?”

He found his footing once more.

She nodded while she continued to laugh.

Allowing his claws and fangs to lengthen, he stood as her laughter faded away. “Lucas, what are you doing?” She took a step back.

It was his turn to laugh. “What does it look like I’m doing, Ava? I’m leveling the playing field.” He took a measured step in her direction.

With a gasp, she turned and ran in the opposite direction.

He sighed, then ran after her. When was the last time he’d had so much fun sparing with someone? “Ready or not, here I come.”

Ava picked up the book she had been reading from the table. Belinda sat across from her reading a book of spells. She had told Ava how excited she was to teach her how to construct and cast her very own spell. Ava, on the other hand, was just trying to get a handle on the stuff she had just learned and wasn’t interested in learning another new technique at the moment.

The book she had been reading listed all immortals, their known powers, and characteristics. She’d been amazed to find out that vampires existed. She couldn’t wait to meet one. “When do you have to start sparring with Lucas?” Belinda’s voice broke the silence.

“In about an hour,” Ava said, glancing at her watch. “Why?”

“I was just trying to see if we had time to write a spell, but I don’t think we do. Tomorrow, we can start.”

“Whatever you think.” Ava flipped to the next page.

“How is that book”

“Good, I think.” Ava’s eyes scanned the page when she realized the next chapter was all about lycans. “Ahh, Belinda, I think I’m going to take this outside.”

“Okay, but don’t stray too far from Lucas. I have to go to the store this afternoon so I won’t be home if you need me,” Belinda said, giving her a smile.

Ava nodded as she stepped out the door. The need to know about Lucas’s and his kind was overwhelming.

Lucas was out patrolling the grounds, which meant she had to stay near the house. Walking toward the back of the house, she settled on the back steps. Opening the book to the chapter, she began to read.

Halfway through the chapter, she realized nothing really surprised her. The book stated that they shared the spirit of the wolf, which in turn made lycans strong, possessive, highly intelligent, and active. They needed little sleep, loved to eat, and moved in clans. Which was one thing she knew that Lucas didn’t do. He’d once referred to himself as a lone wolf. Turning the page, she read quickly, eager to know more, when something caught her eye.

Her heart began to race as she read the passage. This couldn’t possibly be true. She had to find Lucas. Jumping to her feet, she bolted toward the forest. Running at a steady rate, she made her way down to the water’s edge. She knew he would sense her and come, especially if what the passage said was true.

Chapter 9

She didn’t have to wait long. Before she knew it, she felt his presence behind her. “Ava, what are you doing here? I’m supposed to meet you in half an hour,” Lucas said, approaching her. He circled around and took hold of her hand.

Her temper rose. She tugged out of his grasp and glared at him. “Is this true?” She waved the book in front of him.

“Is what true?” He snatched the book from her, then opened it to where she left her bookmark.

“Read it.”

She watched his face as he read through the passage. He seemed curious at first, with his brows furrowed together, then his grip tightened on the book and his eyes narrowed. When he finished the page, he tossed the book aside. “Shit, Ava, I wanted to tell you—”

“Tell me what, exactly?” She balled her fists at her sides as he reached out to her. “No, don’t. Tell me the truth.” She needed to hear him say the words.

“Ava, you already know the truth. You are my life mate.”

“How could you keep that from me? Didn’t you think that I had a right to know?” She felt dizzy. Her breathing came in bursts, while her heart beat out of her chest. She couldn’t breathe. If she didn’t calm down, she’d go into a full-blown panic attack.

“Damn it, of course I did. I have been trying to think of a way to tell you for weeks.”

He reached for her again but she stepped away. Concentrating on slow, steady breaths, she turned away from him, unable to process all that was happening. Tears filled her eyes as she made her way through the trees. How could he not tell her?

“Ava, just listen. I should have told you a while ago.” He followed her through the trees. The more he said, the angrier she became until she turned to face him.

“So everything between us is just some instinct?”

“No, I mean, my instincts allowed me to find you, yes, but Ava—”

“Enough! Now I know why you were hanging around the Adirondack Inn. All that time I actually thought you cared.” Her heart ached. The only reason he was in her life was not because he really liked her but because he had no other choice.

She turned from him, not wanting him to see her tears. He caught her hand before she was able to move away. Without warning, a water shield formed around him. He was trapped inside. And she didn’t care.

Her eyes searched his. She had come to trust him, and he’d yet again withheld information from her. She had to get out of here. As she turned on her heels and started to run, she never looked back.

Lucas didn’t know how long he’d been inside the globe of water before it fell away. Maybe Ava was too far away to keep up the shield but it didn’t matter. He had to find her, and explain.

He’d expected her anger and even her fear but he hadn’t been prepared for her pain. How could she think that he didn’t care for her?

Her scent was everywhere in the forest. She wouldn’t be so easy to find but he would search the house first. Running at full speed, he should make it back to Belinda’s in no time.

Making his way through the forest, he dodged branches and leapt over logs. Birds and other forest creatures scurried out of the way. His senses told him he was getting close. He burned to hold Ava, reassure her of his feelings. When he broke through the trees, he entered the clearing near the house. Increasing his speed, he flew over the landscape, not wanting one more minute to go by without seeing Ava. Bursting through the front door, he called for her. “Ava!”

Belinda paced the living room, worry etched over her face. “Shit, Belinda, don’t worry I’m going to fix it. Where’s Ava? Have you seen her?”

“She’s not here. I thought she was with you.” Belinda moved to his side.

“Bloody hell,” he muttered, going around her, striding to the door.

“Why? What’s going on?”

“She found out she’s my mate. She, ah, she didn’t really take it well,” he said as he opened the door.

“No.” Belinda took hold of his arm. “Wait, Lucas, there is something you should know. I was just in town, and I’m afraid the demons are close.” Her grip tightened. “I could sense them, Lucas. You must find Ava—fast. Then be away from this place.” She let go.

He felt fear beginning to rise in him. He nodded to Belinda and strode out the door. Tamping the fear down, he began his search for Ava. Nothing frightened him more than Ava alone, with demons closing in on her. Her powers would no doubt be a beacon, calling them right to her. He had to hurry. With her scent saturating the air, he knew he had to start in the last place he saw her. The lake.

Ava ran until she couldn’t feel her legs anymore. Passing the town, she sprinted along the shoreline of the lake, finding herself amidst a sea of trees. The sun was setting and it was starting to get cold. Perhaps her sudden departure wasn’t a well thought out plan. She should head back to Belinda’s. As for Lucas, she didn’t want to think about him, or what she’d done to him. Following the shoreline, she hoped she could make made it back before it got dark.

She prayed Lucas was all right. She really hadn’t meant for the water to cage him like that, but it seemed her powers had a mind of their own when she was an emotional mess. There had to be a way to keep them in check.

The more she thought about Lucas, the more her heart began to ache. She didn’t even give him a chance to explain. He had been there for her every step of the way. Still, he thought she was his mate. Would things have been different if they’d met and he’d been given a choice? She had to get back and ask him to forgive her. He must have had a good reason not to tell her. Perhaps he had been less than honest, but she could trust him with her life.

Visions of Lucas, being surrounded by water, clouded her mind. Tears blurred her sight. “Please, let him be all right.”

The more she thought, the faster she ran. Ignoring the pain, her thoughts centered in on Lucas.

Distracted, her vision clouded with tears and her foot hit the edge of a downed tree, throwing her head over heels through the air. She landed hard on the other side of the trunk in a pile of branches. Her breath left her as a searing pain radiated up her right side. She reached for the source of the injury, shocked to feel a stick protruding out of her abdomen. Trying to fill her lungs with air, she lifted her hand, finding it covered in blood.

Panic consumed her. Her breath came in bursts. She tried to calm her racing heart.
Tried to move.
Only to be discover that the stick had impaled her completely. Horrified, her hand began to shake. Night was falling fast and she was too injured to move. “What have I done?” she whispered, wiping the blood on her shirt, then brushing the hair out of her eyes.

She had failed her sisters and pushed Lucas away. She deserved no better than to rot alone in the dark. She felt the blood seeping from her wound as her vision began to fade away. Her eyes closed, too weak to remain open. As the world went dark, a wolf’s howl sounded in the distance.

Ava’s scent grew stronger by the moment. Lucas ran harder, knowing she was close, racing through the forest at a neck-breaking speed. Then a waft of blood filled his scenes. He stopped, inhaled deeply, and recognized it as Ava’s. His heart began to pound with fear. Throwing his head back, he let out a howl, setting the beast free.

He flew through the trees once more, but unexpectedly lost her scent. He must have passed her, somehow. Using his lycan vision to scan the underbrush, he backtracked through the forest. When her scent grew strong once more, he stopped, looking for any sign of her. The dark would make it almost impossible for any mortal to see, but with his Lycan eyes, he saw everything. His gaze traveled from tree to fallen tree until he spotted her. She lay motionless, covered in blood, in a pile of branches.

In an instant, he was at her side, taking note of her injuries. Thank heavens she was still breathing, although her breaths were shallow. Fear and anger gripped him when he discovered a large stick protruding out of her body. “Bloody hell!”

He should have been there to protect her. Her blood was everywhere, making it hard to see if there were any other injuries. He had to get her out of there and back to Belinda’s.

He shouldn’t remove the stick until he had other supplies, otherwise he may not be able to stop the bleeding. With care, he bent down and placed his arms underneath her body, surprised to find the stick had gone straight through. He cringed at her injury. A soft moan escaped her lips. “Ava, can you hear me?”

Her eyelids fluttered but didn’t open.

“I’m going to get you out if here, Ava, just hang in there.” When he started to move back toward Belinda’s, he heard a branch snap behind him. He stopped, taking a deep breath, praying it wasn’t what he thought.

The wind blew a gust of air that smelled of rotting flesh.
Only one being smelled like that
. He turned his head to look over his shoulder and he watched as they moved in on him. A dozen demons circled him. He wanted to rip them to pieces for threatening Ava, but it was more important to get her to safety. He was faster than they were. He could out run them with no problem. Once Ava was safe, he would double back and finish them off.

He adjusted Ava in his arms, hoping he wouldn’t cause her too much pain by running at his top speed. With a growl, he shot through the forest, bounding around trees and rocks, all the while clutching Ava to his body. He listened, trying to determine if they were following, when he was hit hard from the side. Ava tumbled out of his arms and into the lake as three demons jumped on top of him.

At a glance, he saw Ava’s body began to sink in the water. With a growl, he used his legs to force two of the demons off him, while he sliced the third demons head off with his claws. He had to get to Ava. Four demons entered the water, about to grab her. He moved with speed, diving into the water, just as the demons got to her.

He sliced open the chest of the first demon, as he kicked another in the face, sending him flying back into the water. He whirled on the other two, cutting off both their heads with one mighty deathblow. When he turned to grab for Ava, he was struck in the back with a blade. He roared with anger and pain as the rest of the demons moved into the water.

Reaching around, he yanked the blade out of his back. With unearthly speed, he threw the blade at the closest demon, nailing him in the heart.

Ava was running out of time.

Reaching for her under the water, he was able to get her head above the surface before the rest of the demons got to him. In seconds, they overwhelmed him, restraining his arms, as they sank another blade into his abdomen. He groaned in pain while they dragged him to shore.

“Ava!” he cried out, as her head disappeared beneath the water once more.

More demons poured into the area while he struggled against the ones holding him. The new demons moved toward the water, determined to get Ava. Suddenly, the water began to recede.

Ava.

He didn’t know how she’s managed it, but she wasn’t going down without a fight. He renewed his escape efforts, keeping an eye on the water. Suddenly, a roar filled the air followed by an angry wave racing toward the land, causing the demons to scatter.

Lucas couldn’t move, stunned by the vision before him. The wave halted at the edge of the forest. Three stories tall, the wall of water was a monster moving with an energy he had never seen before. At the top of the wave stood Ava, her hair flying around her shoulders and her hands gracefully outstretched.

The demons scurried away in obvious fear. He heard her call for the spheres seconds before they began to rain down on the demons. The balls of compacted water slammed into the demons, knocking them into trees and sending them flying into each other. Taking advantage of their vulnerability, Lucas moved from one demon to another, ending them with a quick snap of the neck.

When he had taken out the last demon, he rotated toward Ava. She still rode the wave as he approached her. The wave lowered, allowing her to step to the ground. Holding out his arms to her, she ran to him, throwing her arms around him. “Oh god, Lucas, I’m so sorry.”

He wrapped his arms around her. “Don’t ever doubt what I feel for you,” he said, holding her at arm’s length. “Ever, do you understand me?”

She nodded. “I was so scared, Lucas.” She embraced him once more. He smiled, holding her close, then abruptly he let her go, remembering her wound.

He gazed at her abdomen, finding her blood-stained shirt but no wound. “How?”

She smiled at him. “It seems that I don’t have to be immortal to heal quickly. Water works just as well for me,” she said, lifting her shirt to prove she was fully healed. Unharmed porcelain skin gleamed in the starlight, making him smile with joy.

“Are you saying the water healed you?” He shook his head, struggling to make sense of this new ability.

“Yes! One minute I was lost to the dark, then I heard you call for me. The next thing I knew, the water was pouring life back into me. It was the most amazing thing.”

He drew her tight against his chest. “I thought I’d lost you,” he said, raking his fingers through her hair.

Without warning, she leaned back, examining her blood-stained hands.

She looked to him. “Are you bleeding?”

He nodded. “I took a couple blades, but don’t worry, it’s already started to heal. We really need to get out of here. More demons could show up any minute. Do you think you are up for a swim?”

She cocked an eyebrow at his words. “Swim?”

He smiled. “The water will mask our scent. Hopefully, the demons won’t find their way to Belinda’s by following us. But, Ava, we can’t stay. We will have to leave right away.” He stroked her cheek.

She solemnly nodded. “I understand. I don’t want to endanger Belinda, but where will we go?”

“I’ve been thinking about it. I think I know the perfect place. Do you think you are well enough to travel?”