The Keepers: Archer

“Because Rose’s powers scare the hell out of me!” Sienna yanked her wrist free and took a step back, needing the distance between them – and the masculine sexiness that still wreaked havoc with her body. Her pulse was on a runaway mission and parts of her tingled that had hadn’t tingled in a very long time.

Damn him.

“Sienna, they’re not Rose’s powers anymore,” he said softly. “They’re yours.”

She glanced away, knowing that he was right, and hating it. How could he know the fear that came with her powers, the anger toward her grandmother for passing them onto her without an explanation, or the guilt that gnawed at her for what she’d done the first time she’d tapped into her newfound powers?

Her gaze fell to his scarred hand, and she dragged in a deep breath.

“I have to go, Archer,” she said, knowing he’d never allow it.

“Like hell.”

No surprise. “You’re not a part of my life anymore, and I can’t go back. For the first time in years, I’ve known peace.” Liar, liar.

He studied her, adding a touch of frost to his gaze. “I’m one of your Keepers, Sienna, and that makes me a part of you until the day you die.”

“How did you find me?”

“Rose sensed you were in danger. Clearly, she was right.”

“My grandmother sent you?” Sienna had always known the older witch would one day give her away. Her hand returned to her necklace, and she frowned. “How …?”

He shrugged, and she tried not to concentrate on all that muscle beneath the ripped black shirt. “Emotions fuel her remaining powers and when she sensed you were in danger, there was enough anger and worry to frighten even me. A simple locator spell led us here.”

“That easy, huh?”

Something dark and angry clouded his features. “No, Sienna. Finding you has been anything but easy.” In two strides, he closed the gap between them. “Do you have any idea what it’s been like for us to lose you?”

“So you and your brothers lost your witch. Big deal. Find a new one.”

“It’s not that simple and you know it,” he said, tightening his grip.

She knew. They were all bound together by destiny and a magical connection that could only be broken by death. It wasn’t something she could easily forget, no matter how hard she’d tried. It was a life neither of them had asked for but had accepted as part of their duty and family legacy, as had their parents and generations of grandparents before them. And when it had become too much for her, she’d run.

Coward.

“Two years, Sienna. Two bloody years I’ve been searching for you. How the hell did you keep me away?” His eyes fell on her necklace and his jaw clenched. Before she could stop him, he reached out and closed his fingers around the bulky pendant. “It’s the necklace, isn’t it? That’s why I’ve been unable to sense you.” He looked up, dark eyes burning into hers. “That’s why it’s taken me so long to track you down.”

“I cast a spell on the necklace. It was the only way you’d stay away.”

Anger oozed off him in waves and his fingers tightened around the pendant. For a brief moment, she feared he would rip it from her neck.

She placed her hands around his, willing him not to. “Don’t.”

He fingered the pendant, glaring at it with a harsh frown. A pentagram with five points that symbolized the five elements of nature, that symbolized them. It was the perfect illustration of what they stood for. Four Keepers who each had the power to manipulate an element of nature. Earth, fire, air, and water. And she was the fifth element that bound them all together. Without her, their elemental powers were useless. Interlinked in a way few people could ever understand, they shared the same destiny and a mutual purpose of maintaining the balance of nature.

His gaze lifted to meet hers and the raw emotion she saw in his dark green eyes rattled her. “This necklace depicts everything we stand for. Everything we are. How could you use it to keep us apart?”

“I left that life behind. I can’t go back, Archer.”

“Sienna” he said softly, forcefully. “You’re a Beckham witch. That’s not something you can hide from.”

“I’m not that person anymore, Archer. I have a life here, one that doesn’t involve magic, evil warlocks, or powers so potent that I can’t control them. Or death,” she added, her voice quietening as memories of their last encounter resurfaced. Memories she’d run from. “I can’t be a part of all that anymore.”

She saw the moment it all fell into place for him. His expression softened, and they stared at each other in silence.

“My sister’s death wasn’t your fault,” he said softly, releasing the pendant.

Sienna took a step back, not wanting the discussion that would follow such a statement.

“You can’t hide from who you are.”

“It worked for the last two years.”

“Only because the balance in the paranormal world has been in our favour. That’s changed and you’re in danger.”

Ah, so he’d found her because his duty as her Keeper had him wanting to protect her. And what about the man finding a woman he’d almost made his?

“You have to come home, Sienna. We’ll help you, protect you.”

Something cold and determined washed over her, and she lifted her chin defiantly. “You’re crazy if you think I’m going to let another one of my Keepers die protecting me.”

“Sarah’s death was not your fault.”

Unable to stop herself, her gaze fell to his scarred hand. “But I hurt you. I hurt you all, and there’s no guarantee that I won’t do it again. I refuse to put you or your brothers at risk again.”

“And you’re crazy if you think I’m going to let you go off alone on this stupid Kamikaze mission. The fact that they’ve targeted you and tracked you down means they need a Beckham witch. They also know that you haven’t mastered your powers yet so they will come for you, repeatedly, until they have you.”

He was right. Few people ever messed with Rose because of the power she could wield. It was one of the reasons that she needed less protection than Sienna. But since passing on her powers, Rose was an ordinary witch like all others. Still in high regard because of her Beckham status, but her powers had lessened. Archer was right. To them Sienna, her full powers still untouched, was the inexperienced witch needed to unleash their own evil. They would be wary of her, perhaps a bit fearful because of her Beckham name, but it wouldn’t stop them.

Of course, that would all change once she learned how to channel all her powers simultaneously.

Never.

She stepped back, the familiar fear slamming home at the thought of ever using her full powers again.

Archer narrowed his eyes, and he reached for her. “You know I’m right. You have no choice, Sienna, I’m taking you home.”

She raised an eyebrow, refusing to be forced back to a life that frightened her. “You said it yourself, Archer. I’m a powerful witch. You might want to keep that in mind when you threaten to caveman me home.”

“Now who’s threatening?”

Her smile was slow, cheeky, and challenged him in a way that only he would understand. He straightened, readying himself for whatever she was about to throw at him.

“Sienna, don’t you dare,” he warned softly.

Apparently, he knew her well.