The Keepers: Declan

Harper stood up so abruptly that his chair fell over, crashing to the ground in an elaborate display of temper. He closed the gap between himself and Lara.

“You refuse?” A fake smile softened the glare in his eyes. “Sweetie. You have no choice.”

“What do you want from me?”

He waved a hand at the crowd. “Witches and warlocks. You’ll fit right in.”

Witches and warlocks? All of them? Keeping to the shadows against the wall, Kate scoped out the room, her entire body prickling.

“I don’t side with evil,” Lara replied, glowering at him.

“Pity.” Harper trailed a finger along her chin. “You’re just the type of witch I’m looking for.”

“I will never join your cause.”

Harper’s grin faded and his eyes narrowed, all traces of playfulness disappearing. “You sure you won’t join me, dear? There’s a bigger picture here.”

“Screw your bigger picture. I’m not interested in violence, control or exposure. What’s wrong with you all?” she snapped at the gawking crowd. “The last time our kind came out of the closet, we were hunted down and destroyed.”

A frown creased Harper's eyebrows.

Kate’s stomach twisted at the reminder of the witch massacre, a tragic bloodbath that had claimed dozens of harmless witches. The event had marred their existence ever since, reminding them how crucial it was to live in secrecy.

“You know the agreement we have with the ordinary people who know about us,” Lara said, waving a hand across the room. “If they see you all gathered here, you’ll start a war!”

“We deserve to live freely, out in the open. After all, we’re the superior species.”

“We’re the minority species. Have you forgotten what happened to the Brogan brothers?”

“The Bennetts and their witch are responsible and they will pay for what they’ve done.”

A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd.

But Lara only spoke louder and with more determination. “Sienna and her Keepers were protecting the innocent and keeping our secret. Continue with this and your fate won’t differ from the Brogans!”

“That’s enough!” Harper yelled, reaching into his pocket. He withdrew a sharp blade and with a flick of the wrist, he slashed the witch’s throat.

There was a gasp that trickled through the crowd, yet no one moved. Lara’s eyes widened, her mouth rounded in horror as blood gushed from her wound.

Harper pulled out a white handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the blade, unperturbed at the dying woman in front of him. When his warriors released her, she collapsed to the ground. “There’s one thing you witches fail to realise,” he said in a calm tone and nudged her with a booted foot. Pocketing his knife, he knelt over her, placing his hands on her heart. “You either side with me or die. Either way, your powers are mine.”

Kate’s stomach flipped and she gaped at the motionless crowd who seemed more excited than appalled. Fuelled by rage, she stepped forward, only to collide with a hard wall of muscles.

“Don’t you dare,” said a low, insistent voice that sparked a flush through her.

Her jaw fell open and her head shot up to look at Declan. He wore a hat pulled low across his face. “Declan!” she gasped, glancing past his shoulder at the witch.

“She’s already gone,” he murmured, lowering his head to hers as strong hands gripped her arms. He had a thunderous expression, his eyes dark with fury and regret, and he glanced back at the woman. “I arrived too late.”

“Why hasn’t anyone moved? Why aren’t they helping –?”

“They’re all like him.”

“Let me go. I have to help her,” she breathed, the words coming out like a hiss. She tried to tug loose but he tightened his grip on her arm.

“You do that and you’re dead, Kate. She’s gone. He’s already absorbing her powers.”

Kate gasped, taking in the sick satisfaction plastered across Harper’s face. “Who are these people?”

“Scavenger warlocks and witches. They kill a witch and then scavenge her powers. Lara refused to offer hers willingly.”

His words packed a punch and the air whooshed out of her in response. Unable to stop herself, she gripped his arms as every fear her mother had ever voiced came to mind.

“This is the last place you should be,” said Declan.

Panic churned with hatred and, unthinking, she began pushing forward.

“Are you crazy?” Declan snapped, tugging her against him. “If Harper sees you here, you'll go the same way as Lara!”

Megan sidled up toward Harper. She wore a smirk, her dark eyes, heavily outlined, beamed with pleasure. Harper released the witch with an insignificant toss, flexing his jaw and inhaling as though he’d just had his fill of something delectable. Turning, he grinned at Megan and slid an arm around her shoulders. “Now this is a New Orleans witch,” he said, his voice booming across the courtyard, “that has some common sense!”

There was a low murmur of chuckles that spread across the room. The mood shifted as everyone began to relax, dismissing the murder as though nothing had happened.

Harper flicked an irritated glare at Lara before pointing to a nearby waitress. “Clean up this mess,” he ordered, dipping his head toward Megan as she whispered something in his ear. Her words triggered a flash of fury in his eyes, along with a tightened expression, and his head whipped up to scan the crowd.

With a swift movement, Declan tugged Kate behind a palm tree, pinning her to the wall. All muscle, all powerful. His presence made everything inside her snap to attention. Declan. Here.

Oh, God.

CHAPTER SIX (#u29a99197-83e3-5ee1-aaa6-bfdf6684414a)

“What are you doing here?” she whispered, her heart slamming against her chest.

“You really think I’d let you get away with stealing from me?”

“And you’ve picked now as the time for vengeance?” She gaped at him. “Are you crazy?”

“You’re the one who’s crazy for coming here in the first place!” He flicked a glance at Harper. “What were you thinking? You saw what they just did.”

“You know him?”

“He tried to kill my witches a while back. What do you want with him?”

“That’s none of your business, Declan. Why are you here? You’re going to blow my cover.” Something she clung to desperately now that she’d seen what Harper was capable of.

“Honey, your cover was blown the second you walked in that door.”

“What do you mean?”