Warlock Brothers of Havenbridge 01 - Spell Bound (19 page)

“Well, that wasn’t very subtle,” Drake muttered.

“Nope. Not at all,” I said with a laugh. “But since we’re alone and all.” I wiggled my eyebrows at him.

Drake hitched up the right corner of his mouth. “I was attacked and conked unconscious, and you’re hittin’ on me?” If he had been any more exasperated, he’d have been climbing up the wall.

“Well, you do look darn cute in that hospital gown.”

“I look darn cute in just about anythin’,” he said.

I leaned in and rested my forehead against his. Even in the sterile environment of the hospital room, Drake’s earthy scent filled the space between us. “I won’t argue with you on that.”

Drake swallowed hard. He focused on my lips as he held his breath. When he finally exhaled, he said, “Thanks for savin’ me.”

“I would say ‘anytime,’ but let’s not do that again, okay?”

He nodded and bit his lip. “Okay.”

As I pulled away, he wrapped his arms around my neck and brought me close. He held me tight, unwilling to let me move farther away, my forehead once again upon his. The fire in his eyes told me what he really wanted was to be as close to me as possible.

“Mason?” he asked. His voice was low and throaty.

“Yeah,” I replied. A husk deepened my tone.

“Will you kiss me?”

I smiled and ran my fingers along his lips, which pursed against my touch. “I only kiss boyfriends, remember?”

He nodded. “Then kiss me.” His lips quivered as he drew me to him.

“I thought you’d never ask.”

I hooked Drake’s chin with my thumb and tilted his head.

When our lips brushed, my body exploded to life. I’d kissed other boys before, but none of them had been like this. Drake’s smooth skin on mine caused the magic within me to rise and fall like he was the moon and I was the tide. Whatever power resided within me had doubled—no, quadrupled—by kissing the boy who’d come to mean so much to me in a relatively short time.

Every part of me surged toward the magical pull he’d had on me since the day we met.

My toes tingled and my legs quivered. I pushed harder into the kiss, opening my mouth and slowly pushing my tongue into his hot, wet warmth. Our tongues wrapped around each other, sliding and dancing from his mouth to mine. I rustled my hands through his blond hair as his clutched at my bicep and chest.

His breath plumed across my flesh, and I moaned every time our lips parted for the briefest of seconds. I couldn’t get enough. I dove back on his lips as he touched me from my chest to my face, which he cupped and caressed. Each flutter of his fingertips sent jolts of electricity more powerful than any Pierce could summon rippling through my body.

Drake pulled away, panting heavily. “We’ve gotta stop.”

What was this crazy talk? “No, thank you,” I said as I molded my lips to his once again. He moaned into the kiss and lay back in bed. My body followed, and I pressed my chest against his.

“We have to,” he mumbled while his tongue darted once again past my lips. His body and his brain were not in agreement. I kissed my way from his lips to his neck, where I nibbled. He gasped and clutched at my shoulders as I inhaled his heady scent. “Please,” he whimpered. “Not here.”

Reluctantly, I pulled away. Drake was right. This wasn’t the time or the place.

“I’m sorry,” I said as I forced the air from my lungs. My rock-hard cock throbbed in my jeans and bent at an uncomfortable angle.

Drake blew out a lungful of air as well. “Don’t be,” he said. “It was nice.”

I frowned at him. “Nice? Playing with a new puppy is nice. And that was definitely
not
what we were doing.”

He laughed and laced his fingers with mine. “You’re right. It was hot. Is that better?”

“Much.”

“Good,” he said, pressing his forehead against mine. “I really like you, Mason Blackmoor. I don’t know how that happened, but I do.”

“I’m glad. Because I really like you too, even though you’re constantly getting yourself in trouble.”

“Well, then, it’s a good thing you’re always there.”

“And I will be there for you. That’s a promise.”

And it was a promise I intended to keep.

T
WO
DAYS
had passed since the attack in the woods, and we weren’t any closer to finding the shadow weaver. The Conclave’s lack of directions increasingly frustrated my father. They had promised to get back to us when they had a decision on what our next move should be. Until then, the protector covens were not supposed to act.

When we heard that bit of news, Pierce fried our television.

“It doesn’t make sense,” I practically screamed. My brothers and I sat in the great hall after my father left the house to meet with Mr. Proctor and Mr. Stonewall. What they were meeting about, he would not reveal. “What the hell is the Conclave thinking?”

“They aren’t,” Pierce growled. “And it’s pissing me off.”

Thad nodded. “This doesn’t make sense.”

No, it didn’t. People were dying, and a corrupt warlock was on the loose. We had no clue what its endgame was. It could be after anything, including the Gate, which was the source of all magic in this world. If it was destroyed, not only would we be powerless, but the balance by which this world thrived would end. The result would be chaos and destruction.

“We’re obviously missing a vital piece of this puzzle,” Thad said. He sat on the overstuffed chair and placed his index fingers to his lips. He was in thinking mode. “Whatever is really going on must have the Conclave in disagreement. That is the only thing that makes sense. They usually act swiftly, but to not act at all means that perhaps they can’t agree on what to do.”

“So we’re supposed to sit here with our thumbs up our asses while they figure it out?” Pierce asked. “That’s bullshit!”

“I agree.”

“You’re the smart one, Thad,” I said. “What do you think has caused this?”

Thad rose from where he sat and paced. “I’m not sure, but my gut is telling me one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Whatever rhyme or reason is behind this, I have a feeling you are the key.”

Pierce’s open mouth communicated exactly how I felt. “Why do you think that?” I asked.

“I don’t know. It’s just the way the Conclave reacted to you at the Mabon celebration. It was like they were studying you, waiting for something they expected to happen. And you’re right, Mason. They are afraid. I couldn’t believe it before because of the power they wield collectively, but now, with the way they are acting, something has them scared so shitless, they don’t know which way to turn.”

“Is that why you don’t want us to tell Dad anything about our suspicions?”

He nodded. “Dad can’t be objective about the Conclave. As our high priest, he’s honor-bound to follow their wishes.”

“Yeah, well, so are we,” Pierce added with a sniff.

“Yes, but we aren’t scrutinized to the extent our father is,” Thad added. “He has direct access to both the Council of Black and the Conclave. He travels in circles far more powerful than we do. We operate on the periphery, away from their prying eyes. Their magic could detect his apprehension or doubts. That’s why we can’t share what we think with him. It has to be our burden to bear. At least until we stumble upon the truth.”

That made sense. It was difficult to keep thoughts and emotions from magical beings who could read people as easily as I read a book. If they caught even a hint of dissent from a high priest, the entire coven would suffer. “So how do we find out what’s going on?”

“I don’t know,” Thad admitted. “I need to think about this. For now, we have to go about our business as usual.”

I didn’t like that answer and neither did Pierce. The low hum of his electrical powers filled the room.

But what else could we do?

A
FTER
MY
talk with Pierce and Thad, I had to get out of the house. I called Drake and told him I was taking him out for the afternoon. Not that my invitation was any big surprise. Ever since our first kiss in the hospital, we’d been virtually inseparable.

I drove him to and from school, partly because I didn’t want him being attacked again, but mostly because I enjoyed holding his hand while we drove. And, of course, there were the kisses.

Before I started the car and after I turned it off, I’d draw Drake into my arms and we’d linger upon each other’s lips for a good ten minutes before getting out of the vehicle with red, chapped lips.

Miranda teased us mercilessly, saying we might as well just eat each other’s face. If I could have, I would have. Kissing Drake and tasting his sweet lips was like sucking on sugar. It gave me such a natural high, I practically floated through the halls.

The kids at school noticed the change in me. Instead of averting their eyes in fear, they’d smile and nod at me. Even stranger, I’d smile and nod back. Brandon wasn’t pleased. He’d enjoyed our badass, don’t-look-at-us reputations. He preferred having people fear him to trying to be friendly. He didn’t know how to cope with kindness.

Simon and Eddie didn’t seem bothered by the change in our status. They’d begun making friends outside of our small group. It was like they had been waiting their entire lives for the smallest amount of recognition. Now that they had it, they were eating it up.

After parking in front of Aunt Millie’s house, I knocked on the door. A few moments later, she stood behind the open door, a smile breaking across her lips. Today she wore a long-sleeved, oversized white blouse with the top two buttons unfastened, which proudly displayed the emerald pendant Gerald Wa had given her before his death. “What’s taken you so long?” she teased as she drew me into a hug. “I haven’t seen you here for almost two hours.”

“Just some family stuff,” I answered. “But I’m leaving home tomorrow so that I can spend all my time here.”

She chuckled and patted my back while lovingly stroking the smooth face of the green stone that hung around her neck. It obviously gave her great comfort. She seemed to touch it every chance she got. “You’re welcome here anytime,” she said.

“Don’t encourage him, Aunt Millie.” Drake leaned against the hall doorway with his left hip jutting out. He wore a white ribbed cut-off T-shirt that showed off the lean muscles on his arms. His khaki shorts hugged his groin, nicely lifting and presenting the package I most longed to open. “I’ll never get rid of him that way.”

I snorted. “As if you want to get rid of me. I’m quite the catch, right, Aunt Millie?”

Before she could answer, Drake chimed in, “If you mean like the cold or the flu, then yes. You’re quite the catch.”

“You two!” Aunt Millie said as she playfully swatted at me. “Anyone listening to you both would think you didn’t like each other one bit.”

“I don’t,” I protested, scrunching up my face in fake disgust.

“Yeah, me either.” Drake turned up his nose and looked away.

“I don’t know why I put up with you two.” She sighed in exasperation.

“Because we’re so darn cute,” I answered with a cheesy grin.

She stared blankly at me before motioning to the front door. “Go on,” she said. “I know you boys have plans, and I’ve got things I’ve got to get done. I can’t spend all day doing nothing, like you two.”

“Remember what your doctor said,” Drake told her. “You have to take it easy.”

“Easy smeasy,” she spat. “Those doctors aren’t God. They don’t get to tell me what to do.”

Drake sighed. “I doubt you’d even listen to God.”

Aunt Millie tapped her chin for a few seconds. “You’re right. I wouldn’t. I’ve got my own mind, and I aim to use it.” She opened the door and shooed us out. “Now you boys have fun.”

Drake slid his hand in mine, and we walked to the car.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t,” she called after us.

I turned around and waved. She still clutched her emerald pendant.

“Don’t forget I know you, Aunt Millie,” Drake said. “You were quite the pioneer in your day.”

She snorted. “You’re right. I was.” She smiled and blew us a kiss. “Just have fun, boys. And be safe.”

I got in the car with Drake.

“Where are we goin’?”

Before I answered, I put my arm around his shoulder and pulled him to me. Our lips molded together perfectly as he slid his tongue in my mouth. It wrapped around my tongue and coaxed it from my mouth to his, where I drank down the licorice flavor of his kiss. He’d obviously had a root beer before I arrived. My two favorite things combined—Drake and A&W.

His hand wound its way through my long dark hair, which he grabbed and passionately yanked backward. I moaned as he gazed down at me. “You’re avoidin’ my question.”

I cupped his white cheeks in my hands and brought him back to my lips before kissing a soft trail to his neck, where I lightly nibbled. That always got him going. Drake groaned and dug his fingers into my shoulder. “Are you complaining?”

“Not right now, I ain’t,” he panted.

I sat up and stroked his cheek before flicking a stray blond strand from his forehead. “I didn’t think so.”

He twisted his lips. “Don’t try and get cute with me. I’m immune to your charms.”

“So you find me charming?” I asked. I pulled out of our embrace and started the car. Since Drake enjoyed nature so much, I aimed my car for the Ocean Avenue Bridge that would deposit us onto the peninsula that extended into Massachusetts Bay.

“I said no such thing. I said I’m immune to what you think is charmin’.”

“Uh-huh,” I replied before reaching over the console and grabbing his hand. I’d never held another guy’s hand before, but whenever I was around Drake, I couldn’t help myself. The weight and warmth of Drake’s fingers interlaced with mine made me feel like I could cast any spell I put my mind to.

Drake seemed similarly affected. A sly grin turned up the left corner of his lips as he stared at our interlocking fingers.

We didn’t say a word the rest of the drive. We relished the feel of each other’s hand and the wind whipping through our hair.

Fifteen minutes later, we arrived in the parking lot of the Havenbridge Neck Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, a state park home to rare birds, beautiful hiking trails, and a wonderful panoramic view of the ocean.