The Keepers: Ethan

“Shitty timing with the opening of the restaurant and the festival this weekend. The entire town will be there.”

And Hazel’s timing was no coincidence. Their enemies loved public events as it meant tons of witnesses, most of them unaware of the supernatural happenings right under their noses, so magic was on a tight rein.

Whilst Keepers and witches protected the secret of their magic, their enemies flaunted it in their determination to achieve their goals of power, exposure and control.

But Ethan couldn’t delay the opening of the restaurant any longer.

Jenna lowered her spoon and sighed. “There will be so many people there. The idea of taking Sienna and Kate out after what happened today –”

“We can’t keep them locked up.”

“It’s dangerous.”

“I know.”

Of course he did. He’d been protecting Sienna far longer than she’d been protecting Kate. But there was so much more at stake now.

She scrunched her nose. “As much as I love being a Keeper, it sometimes sucks big monkey balls, you know?”

His rumble of laughter reverberated across the room. “That about sums it up.” He laughed again and she smiled. Sobering, his gaze met hers. “We won’t let anything happen to them,” he said softly, his tone taking on a more serious edge. “To be honest, I wish Hazel would hurry the hell up and appear.”

His words didn’t surprise her. She knew how much he hated waiting for an attack. They all did, but for Ethan it was different. He’d grown tired of constantly being in defence mode, always primed in case their enemies showed up. Despite knowing that Archer would never agree to an attack, Ethan had tried everything to find Hazel. He’d grown impatient, frustrated, a side of him she hadn’t seen very often.

“A part of me is relieved she’s showing presence again,” Jenna said. “Her silence has been unnerving.”

“Damn right.”

The dark witch caster had been far too quiet ever since Jenna had rescued Kate from her in a New Orleans cemetery a few months ago. She’d almost lost Kate that night – an offering in one of Hazel’s sacrificial rituals. Hazel had intended using Kate’s blood to free her nephew, Mason Brogan, imprisoned and desiccating in an abandoned storage room on the Bennett estate. Once they’d harvested Kate’s blood, they would’ve killed her and scavenged her magic – a victory that would turn the war in Hazel’s favour.

But Jenna and Kate had escaped.

Ethan dumped his spoon into the tub, not surprising her. Talking about Hazel was always an appetite-killer. “Despite my search, my questions, no one will reveal where Hazel’s hiding. Even witches that side with us.”

“They’re afraid, Ethan. Hazel is all power and fear. Few people would dare cross her.”

“You did.”

“That’s different. I had Kate to protect.” She didn’t elaborate, didn’t have to. He’d put himself in danger countless times defending Sienna. Their witches, their lives, came first above all else. Even their own.

“Are you afraid?”

“When it comes to Hazel, it’d be stupid not to be. All the more reason you shouldn’t be gallivanting the streets looking for her.”

“Gallivanting is not quite the term I’d use.”

“It’s still reckless.”

“The waiting is killing me.”

“Your brothers find out you’ve been searching for her behind their backs, they’ll be furious.”

“They’ll get over it.”

“Not if you die.”

His expression hardened and he tossed his spoon into the sink, his blue eyes flashing with a sadness that needed no words. Sarah. Losing their sister had nearly destroyed them. “I’ve been discreet, Jenna.”

“Underestimating Hazel and her reach is foolish. I figured it out. It won’t be long before your brothers do too.”

“Stay out of it. I’ll tell them when the time’s right.”

Something about his expression told her it wouldn’t be any time soon.

“I won’t say anything.” She placed the tub on the counter, along with her spoon. “Provided you take me with you next time you go looking for them.”

His smirk triggered the dimple in his cheek. “You’re resorting to bribery?”

“I won today’s challenge, so you have no choice. Besides, it’ll be safer if there are two of us.”

“Safer? If anything, you coming with me makes you a liability. Anyone wanting to get into Hazel’s good books will rat you out in a heartbeat.”

His words stung, mostly because they held a truth to them that left Jenna with a permanent sense of dread in the pit of her stomach. For Hazel, no betrayal ever went unpunished. Jenna had witnessed that too many times. Freeing Kate and destroying the blood that would set Hazel’s nephew free had sealed Jenna’s fate. She knew there’d be consequences.

“Guess I’ll have to watch my back, then.” She gave him a small smile and hopped off the counter to rinse the spoons. They could’ve waited until morning, but she needed something to do.

She was grateful when he didn’t press, but a quick glance in his direction told her what she already knew. He had his quiet, thoughtful, smouldering gaze pinned on her. Almost as though he saw right through her.

Damn, she adored all three brothers, found them all attractive, but something about Ethan’s all-knowing, quiet stares seemed to touch her in places the other two brothers couldn’t.

He moved so quickly, a soft rush of air filling the silence, and when she turned around, he was there. A rock-solid wall of muscles and simmering heat. A sizzle of awareness raced down her spine, his closeness snatching her breath away.

“Don’t do that,” he murmured. When she tried to avert her gaze, his fingers tipped her chin upward. “Don’t pretend like it doesn’t matter.”

Her throat tightened, the reply trapped between the worry and emotion. Clearing her throat, she shrugged. “I did what I had to do, Ethan.”

“And you’re marked because of that.”

“I had to protect Kate.”

“Doesn’t make it an easy burden to carry.”

His features were illuminated in a soft shade of yellow from the light outside. His dark blue gaze held her captive. An all-knowing look that threatened her facade. Air evaded her, along with a reply, and she stepped back but flinched when her arm brushed her hip. Damn, her flesh still ached from the new mark.

“Rough day?” he asked, his tone softening with the familiar playfulness she loved. A small smile played on his lips. No doubt a ploy to return them to neutral territory.

She smiled, grateful for the reprieve. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

“It wasn’t all bad.”