Hedge Witch Diaries Complete Series Boxed Set, page 4
The silence that followed felt oddly comfortable, but I couldn’t help filling it with chatter. The words spilled out of me like water from an overflowing well. Conversations about my work at the animal shelter in addition to the bar and how much I loved the woods around here. How the tourist season was a nice distraction from all the dumbass locals like Jim Bob and the Honeycuts. As I talked, I realized I was desperately trying to hold onto this connection, afraid if I stopped, Dorian would disappear as suddenly as he had appeared.
“Sorry,” I finally stammered, cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “I don’t normally talk this much. I guess I’m not sure what else to say.”
“Think nothing of it,” Dorian reassured me, his smile never wavering. “I enjoy listening to you, Briar. Your voice is soothing.”
“Thanks!” I blushed, hoping he didn’t notice. “So, you can’t tell me much about your abilities. Can you tell me what you are?”
“What do you mean?” Dorian asked.
“Are you a witch?” I asked.
“Something like that. Most would say I’m a warlock, but as I said, I have to be careful who I talk to about all that.”
“Why? The magic police going to arrest you for spilling their secrets?”
Dorian laughed. “That’s closer to the truth than you realize. I operate in the hedge. Some covens in the region are not entirely comfortable with my independence. I have to tread carefully.”
“The hedge? What are you, some kind of gardener magician?”
Dorian laughed. “The hedge is a term used to describe those who practice magic outside the established covens or magical organizations.”
“Like living on the edge of society?” I ventured.
“Exactly,” he agreed. “Practicing in the hedge can be dangerous, as it often means working with powers not fully understood or sanctioned by the magical community. However, it also allows for greater freedom and creativity in one’s craft.”
“Sounds kind of badass, actually,” I admitted, feeling the pull of this strange, new world tugging at me. I could only imagine the wonders Dorian had access to, the mysteries he’d uncovered in his pursuit of power and knowledge. “Is that why you do it? So you can pursue more power on your own without someone telling you to hold your horses?”
Dorian grinned. “I do it less for those reasons and more because I’d prefer not to be at the beck and call of a coven.”
I nodded. “I get that. Don’t wanna be no one’s witch bitch.”
Dorian smirked. “In not so many words.”
“Where do you live, Dorian?”
“Where doesn’t matter,” he replied cryptically, his eyes never leaving mine. “I’ve made my home among the trees and shadows for longer than you’d believe.”
“You live outside?” I asked.
Dorian nodded. “Here, and places like it.”
“You must migrate. It gets cold here in the winter.”
Dorian laughed. “Well, this won’t be my first winter in the Ozarks. I’ve been here before. I’ve endured winters here before. My magic sustains me.”
“How long have you been here?” I asked.
“Not long. Little more than a week. Something about this land drew me here. Or, perhaps it was someone.” A sly smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
My heart skipped a beat, and I wondered if he was implying that he had been watching me. The thought sent a mix of fear and excitement coursing through my veins.
“Have you been watching me? Like some kind of stalker?” I asked boldly, determined to uncover the truth.
“Would that frighten you, Briar Bloom?” His voice was low, sending goosebumps rippling across my skin.
“Maybe,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “But I think like it.”
Dorian’s enigmatic smile grew wider, and the shadows seemed to dance around him as if they were a part of him.
“Tell me more about yourself,” Dorian requested softly, his voice barely audible above the rustling of leaves. “Why would a pretty girl like you stay in a town so far off the beaten path?”
I frowned. “Grew up around here after my parents died on the lake. Another family took me in, and I guess, you know, I sort of stayed.”
“In Sunrise Beach?” Dorian asked.
“Here, and other towns near the lake. Never really felt like I belonged. I did a semester of college at the state university, but that was even worse.”
I sighed, recalling my time at school. I’d thought it was my chance to get out of town, but the spirits there weren’t the same. Maybe I was too attached to my familiar spirits, but I wasn’t ready to tell Dorian about any of that.
“Perhaps it’s for the best,” Dorian murmured, his gaze piercing mine. “Witches like us often struggle to find a place where we belong. That’s one reason why I remain in the hedge.”
I laughed at his comment, a bit of levity entering the conversation. “I’m not a witch, Dorian.”
“Is that so?” Dorian’s fingers brushed against my cheek. “Are you certain about that?”
“Pretty sure,” I shot back, trying to ignore the warmth that spread through me from his touch. My heart raced, but I couldn’t tell if it was from the thrill of the unknown or the way he looked at me. “If I were a witch, don’t you think I’d know?”
“There is something different about you, isn’t there, Briar Bloom?”
I winced. I’d just met this man. I wasn’t about to divulge my secret. “I’ve always been the weird girl. The kind that boys notice but never want to date. Never had a lot of friends. Most people avoid me if they can.”
“Well, I have no intention of avoiding you. I don’t think I could if I wanted to.”
Something inside me stirred at his words, a mix of fear and longing. My heart hammered, and I heard the blood rushing through my veins like a torrent. Was I ready to let someone else into my life, to share the burden of my secrets and my powers?
A slow smile spread across Dorian’s face, and as our fingers brushed against one another in the firelight, I felt a spark of something new ignite between us. Something powerful yet fragile.
Suddenly, the sound of a twig snapping in the woods made Dorian’s head whip toward the noise. His eyes narrowed, and worry replaced the warmth that had been present moments ago.
He tilted his head, listening to something beyond my senses. “Someone’s coming.”
“Who?” I asked, tensing up.
“The Morai,” he replied, his voice urgent. “The local coven. It wouldn’t be good for them to find you here with me.”
“Morai? What do they want?” I tried to keep my voice steady, but it wavered.
“They have their own agenda,” Dorian revealed. “Like I said before, they aren’t keen on hedge witches like me. It’s all about authority. My guess is they heard about what happened at the bar.”
“What are they going to do to you?” I asked.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
“Dorian!”
“Quick, we don’t have much time.” Dorian grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the edge of the stone circle. With a few whispered words and a wave of his free hand, a cold, tingling sensation shivered down my spine. “I’ve made you invisible and silent. I can still see you. They won’t be able to. Now run.”
The sudden loss of sight of my own body was unnerving. It felt like I was floating in a sensory deprivation tank, with nothing but the cool night air brushing against my skin as evidence that I still existed. My heart hammered, fear and adrenaline coursing through me.
“Go!” Dorian urged, releasing my hand. I paused for a moment longer before sprinting away from the sanctuary, feeling the uneven ground beneath my feet.
When I reached the edge of the sanctuary, back to the path where the strange symbols of twigs hung from the trees, a loud voice boomed through the clearing.
“Dorian!”
I stopped in my tracks. I couldn’t leave him there. I moved back toward the sanctuary. I might have been invisible, but my instincts told me to duck behind one of the stones.
The Morai leader stepped into view, a tall and intimidating figure with sun-kissed blond hair. He towered over Dorian, exuding power and authority. A group of a half-dozen other witches and warlocks filtered in behind him. These witches weren’t a part of anything resembling a “hedge.” They were dressed like urban professionals in expensive three-piece suits and designer black dresses.
“Hello, Gareth,” Dorian replied, standing his ground despite the imposing presence before him.
“Is this your doing?” Gareth asked, gesturing toward the stone circle sanctuary. His tone was assertive and impatient, demanding answers to questions that were not yet clear.
“Perhaps,” Dorian replied nonchalantly, concealing any emotions behind a neutral façade.
“Enough with the games, Dorian,” Gareth snapped, his eyes narrowing. “You know why we’re here. If you think you can continue to defy us without consequence, you’re sorely mistaken.”
As I watched from my concealed vantage point, it was clear the Morai leader held significant influence over Dorian and likely the others who formed a circle around them.
“I’ve done nothing wrong,” Dorian stated.
“Nothing wrong?” Gareth echoed, his eyes cold and piercing. “We have reports of you attacking a man near the bar tonight. You used battle magic. You know our political situation at present is fragile. That kind of magic is strictly forbidden in public view. Care to explain yourself?”
Dorian remained stoic, but I noticed the slightest flicker of anger flash across his face before he composed himself again.
“Attacking might be an overstatement,” Dorian replied carefully. “I merely intervened in a situation that was getting out of hand.”
“Intervened?” Gareth raised an eyebrow skeptically. “By assaulting an innocent man and leaving him hospitalized?”
“An innocent man?” Dorian scoffed, his voice laced with disdain. “He was harassing a girl, threatening her. Someone needed to step in and protect her.”
Gareth looked unimpressed by Dorian’s explanation, but a glimmer of doubt entered his eyes as he considered Dorian’s words. The tension between them was palpable. As they stared each other down, I held my breath, hoping Gareth would back down and let Dorian go.
“Even if that’s true, it doesn’t change the fact that you violated our rules,” Gareth responded slowly. “You know we don’t condone this kind of vigilante behavior.”
“Your rules,” Dorian spat, defiance written all over his face. “Rules you all made for yourselves and decided to impose on others.”
“There must be order,” Gareth remarked. “Do you want to spark another inquisition?”
Dorian shook his head. “I did what I had to do, rules or no rules.”
“Very well.” Gareth flashed a malicious grin. “Then you’ll have to present your case to the coven.”
“The coven has no authority over me.”
Gareth shook his head and sighed. “I don’t know why you came here, Dorian, but your little pet project is getting in the way of our objectives. You need to remember where your true loyalties lie.”
“Enough, Gareth,” Dorian snapped, his anger boiling over. “I won’t be lectured by you or anyone else about loyalty.” He turned away from the Morai leader, but Gareth was not so easily deterred.
“It doesn’t matter what you say to me.” Gareth’s voice dripped with authority. “You will accompany us. We have matters to discuss to ensure your future compliance.”
Dorian stiffened at the command, and I thought he would refuse outright. Instead, he inhaled through his nose and turned back to face Gareth, his eyes burning with defiance.
“I’ll go, but not because you ordered me to,” he replied through gritted teeth. “I have my reasons.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night.” Gareth sneered.
My heart lurched as the Morai moved forward, surrounding him like a pack of wolves closing in on their prey. Desperation clawed at my insides, urging me to act, to do something to help him. Silently, I stepped forward, willing my legs to carry me closer to Dorian despite the fear that threatened to paralyze me.
As if sensing my intentions, Dorian looked in my direction and slowly shook his head, his eyes filled with sorrow. It felt as if a dagger had been plunged into my heart, the sharp edges tearing into my resolve. The message was clear. I needed to stay back, to not endanger myself any further by following him.
I stood there, the humidity nearly suffocating me as I watched Dorian walk away with the Morai.
What were they going to do to him? Was he right when he told me he’d be fine, or did he only say that to get me out of the way? There was nothing more I could do. After Dorian was gone, whatever spell he cast over me faded, and my feet reappeared beneath my legs. You know, right where they were supposed to be. I found Roy and Smokey on the trail, and they accompanied me back to my truck.
All I could do was go home and hope this strange warlock who’d so quickly captivated me would be all right.
CHAPTER FIVE
I stepped inside the trailer, my heart still twisted with worry about Dorian. The Morai had taken him, and I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something terrible would happen to him. I barely met the man, and here I was, worried about losing him. He wasn’t even mine.
I mean, we flirted a little, maybe. If you could call it that. Still, something was there, and now I couldn’t shake the fear from my mind. Not to mention, whoever Dorian was, nothing he did deserved punishment. I didn’t know anything about this Morai coven, but I doubted they’d give Dorian a fair hearing. All I could do was hope he was okay.
I flipped on the lights and hung my keys on the hook by the door, my fingers trembling slightly.
“God damn it, Aiden,” I muttered as soon as I saw my foster brother sprawled out on the couch. He’d passed out, his mouth hanging open and drooling onto a dirty pillow. In a stroke of poetic irony, a pair of lacy pink panties covered his face like a sleep mask. A souvenir from one of his many flings, no doubt.
I drew a deep breath, the scent of stale booze and sweat mingling with the faint perfume of the girl who’d recently invaded our living space. Aiden’s arm dangled over the side of the couch, fingertips brushing the threadbare carpet. His long legs bent awkwardly, folded haphazardly beneath him.
“Hey, jackass,” I snapped, yanking the panties off his face. His eyes fluttered open, bloodshot and unfocused.
“Wha’?” he slurred, squinting up at me.
“Get your shit together, Aiden,” I told him, my voice rough with irritation. “You can’t keep doing this.”
“Doing what?” he asked, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand.
“Getting wasted and passing out with random girls’ panties on your face.” I tossed the frilly undergarment on his chest. “You’re better than this.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” he mumbled, sitting up and running a hand through his tousled hair.
“Where have you been all night?” he asked groggily, taking a swig from a half-empty bottle of whiskey on the coffee table.
“I was with a guy, if you must know,” I replied, my voice softening as I thought of the enigmatic warlock who had saved me from Jim Bob’s attack.
Aiden tilted my head. “No, seriously.”
“What the hell, Aiden? You bring a different girl home almost every night, and you can’t imagine I might have one nice evening with a man?”
Aiden shook his head. “It’s not that bad. Only during tourist season. I don’t do townies.”
I rolled my eyes. “Right. Because they’d want commitment.”
Aiden nodded. “Damn straight. Now who was this guy? Do I know him?”
I shook my head. “He showed up at the bar tonight. Jim Bob was being an ass, like usual, and he and Charlie got into a fight. I caught a backhand to the face…”
“Jim Bob hit you?” Aiden asked. “That son of a bitch! I’ll kill him!”
“He’s in the hospital, Aiden.”
Aiden tilted his head. “Charlie put Jim Bob in the hospital?”
“Not Charlie. It was Dorian. The guy I was with tonight.”
“I don’t know any Dorian. Wait a second.” Aiden rubbed his brow. “Vanessa…or was it Stephanie? Whatever. Pink panties girl. Met her at the bar shortly after you got off work. She said there was a fight when she got there. A witch or some shit was involved. I guess those city girls are more used to that kind of thing than the locals.”
I winced. “Dorian. He’s not a witch. He’s a warlock, and he’s nice.”
“He’s one of them?” Aiden asked, his voice edged with concern. “One of the witches people have been talking about?”
“Maybe,” I admitted. “He’s not like you think. He protected me.”
“Protected you from what?” Aiden demanded, his eyes narrowing.
“From Jim Bob! I just told you, you drunk!”
“Briar, you can’t get involved with people like that. They’re dangerous.”
“Look who’s talking,” I snapped, gesturing at the disarray around us. “Keep it up, and you’re going to catch something. If you get the clap, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“That’s what doctors are for. So I can keep fucking and not worry about that shit.” Aiden took another swig from his whiskey bottle.
“Seriously, Aiden.” I yanked the bottle from his hand and dumped it into the sink. “You have that job interview tomorrow with Charlie, and I put in a word for you. You need to be on top of your game.”
“Fine,” he grumbled, rubbing his temples as if trying to push the pain away.
“Get up,” I commanded. “Drink some water and take a damn aspirin. You’ll thank me tomorrow.”
Aiden reluctantly peeled himself off the couch, his body moving like a marionette with tangled strings. He stumbled toward the kitchen, one hand pressed against his throbbing head. The faucet screeched in protest as he twisted it open, releasing a torrent of water into an old, chipped mug. It splashed against the porcelain with the sharp patter of raindrops on a tin roof.
“Promise me you’ll get your act together,” I urged, my voice softened by concern as I watched him gulp down the water, droplets spilling from the corners of his mouth and tracing rivulets down his stubbled chin.
“Sorry,” I finally stammered, cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “I don’t normally talk this much. I guess I’m not sure what else to say.”
“Think nothing of it,” Dorian reassured me, his smile never wavering. “I enjoy listening to you, Briar. Your voice is soothing.”
“Thanks!” I blushed, hoping he didn’t notice. “So, you can’t tell me much about your abilities. Can you tell me what you are?”
“What do you mean?” Dorian asked.
“Are you a witch?” I asked.
“Something like that. Most would say I’m a warlock, but as I said, I have to be careful who I talk to about all that.”
“Why? The magic police going to arrest you for spilling their secrets?”
Dorian laughed. “That’s closer to the truth than you realize. I operate in the hedge. Some covens in the region are not entirely comfortable with my independence. I have to tread carefully.”
“The hedge? What are you, some kind of gardener magician?”
Dorian laughed. “The hedge is a term used to describe those who practice magic outside the established covens or magical organizations.”
“Like living on the edge of society?” I ventured.
“Exactly,” he agreed. “Practicing in the hedge can be dangerous, as it often means working with powers not fully understood or sanctioned by the magical community. However, it also allows for greater freedom and creativity in one’s craft.”
“Sounds kind of badass, actually,” I admitted, feeling the pull of this strange, new world tugging at me. I could only imagine the wonders Dorian had access to, the mysteries he’d uncovered in his pursuit of power and knowledge. “Is that why you do it? So you can pursue more power on your own without someone telling you to hold your horses?”
Dorian grinned. “I do it less for those reasons and more because I’d prefer not to be at the beck and call of a coven.”
I nodded. “I get that. Don’t wanna be no one’s witch bitch.”
Dorian smirked. “In not so many words.”
“Where do you live, Dorian?”
“Where doesn’t matter,” he replied cryptically, his eyes never leaving mine. “I’ve made my home among the trees and shadows for longer than you’d believe.”
“You live outside?” I asked.
Dorian nodded. “Here, and places like it.”
“You must migrate. It gets cold here in the winter.”
Dorian laughed. “Well, this won’t be my first winter in the Ozarks. I’ve been here before. I’ve endured winters here before. My magic sustains me.”
“How long have you been here?” I asked.
“Not long. Little more than a week. Something about this land drew me here. Or, perhaps it was someone.” A sly smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
My heart skipped a beat, and I wondered if he was implying that he had been watching me. The thought sent a mix of fear and excitement coursing through my veins.
“Have you been watching me? Like some kind of stalker?” I asked boldly, determined to uncover the truth.
“Would that frighten you, Briar Bloom?” His voice was low, sending goosebumps rippling across my skin.
“Maybe,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “But I think like it.”
Dorian’s enigmatic smile grew wider, and the shadows seemed to dance around him as if they were a part of him.
“Tell me more about yourself,” Dorian requested softly, his voice barely audible above the rustling of leaves. “Why would a pretty girl like you stay in a town so far off the beaten path?”
I frowned. “Grew up around here after my parents died on the lake. Another family took me in, and I guess, you know, I sort of stayed.”
“In Sunrise Beach?” Dorian asked.
“Here, and other towns near the lake. Never really felt like I belonged. I did a semester of college at the state university, but that was even worse.”
I sighed, recalling my time at school. I’d thought it was my chance to get out of town, but the spirits there weren’t the same. Maybe I was too attached to my familiar spirits, but I wasn’t ready to tell Dorian about any of that.
“Perhaps it’s for the best,” Dorian murmured, his gaze piercing mine. “Witches like us often struggle to find a place where we belong. That’s one reason why I remain in the hedge.”
I laughed at his comment, a bit of levity entering the conversation. “I’m not a witch, Dorian.”
“Is that so?” Dorian’s fingers brushed against my cheek. “Are you certain about that?”
“Pretty sure,” I shot back, trying to ignore the warmth that spread through me from his touch. My heart raced, but I couldn’t tell if it was from the thrill of the unknown or the way he looked at me. “If I were a witch, don’t you think I’d know?”
“There is something different about you, isn’t there, Briar Bloom?”
I winced. I’d just met this man. I wasn’t about to divulge my secret. “I’ve always been the weird girl. The kind that boys notice but never want to date. Never had a lot of friends. Most people avoid me if they can.”
“Well, I have no intention of avoiding you. I don’t think I could if I wanted to.”
Something inside me stirred at his words, a mix of fear and longing. My heart hammered, and I heard the blood rushing through my veins like a torrent. Was I ready to let someone else into my life, to share the burden of my secrets and my powers?
A slow smile spread across Dorian’s face, and as our fingers brushed against one another in the firelight, I felt a spark of something new ignite between us. Something powerful yet fragile.
Suddenly, the sound of a twig snapping in the woods made Dorian’s head whip toward the noise. His eyes narrowed, and worry replaced the warmth that had been present moments ago.
He tilted his head, listening to something beyond my senses. “Someone’s coming.”
“Who?” I asked, tensing up.
“The Morai,” he replied, his voice urgent. “The local coven. It wouldn’t be good for them to find you here with me.”
“Morai? What do they want?” I tried to keep my voice steady, but it wavered.
“They have their own agenda,” Dorian revealed. “Like I said before, they aren’t keen on hedge witches like me. It’s all about authority. My guess is they heard about what happened at the bar.”
“What are they going to do to you?” I asked.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
“Dorian!”
“Quick, we don’t have much time.” Dorian grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the edge of the stone circle. With a few whispered words and a wave of his free hand, a cold, tingling sensation shivered down my spine. “I’ve made you invisible and silent. I can still see you. They won’t be able to. Now run.”
The sudden loss of sight of my own body was unnerving. It felt like I was floating in a sensory deprivation tank, with nothing but the cool night air brushing against my skin as evidence that I still existed. My heart hammered, fear and adrenaline coursing through me.
“Go!” Dorian urged, releasing my hand. I paused for a moment longer before sprinting away from the sanctuary, feeling the uneven ground beneath my feet.
When I reached the edge of the sanctuary, back to the path where the strange symbols of twigs hung from the trees, a loud voice boomed through the clearing.
“Dorian!”
I stopped in my tracks. I couldn’t leave him there. I moved back toward the sanctuary. I might have been invisible, but my instincts told me to duck behind one of the stones.
The Morai leader stepped into view, a tall and intimidating figure with sun-kissed blond hair. He towered over Dorian, exuding power and authority. A group of a half-dozen other witches and warlocks filtered in behind him. These witches weren’t a part of anything resembling a “hedge.” They were dressed like urban professionals in expensive three-piece suits and designer black dresses.
“Hello, Gareth,” Dorian replied, standing his ground despite the imposing presence before him.
“Is this your doing?” Gareth asked, gesturing toward the stone circle sanctuary. His tone was assertive and impatient, demanding answers to questions that were not yet clear.
“Perhaps,” Dorian replied nonchalantly, concealing any emotions behind a neutral façade.
“Enough with the games, Dorian,” Gareth snapped, his eyes narrowing. “You know why we’re here. If you think you can continue to defy us without consequence, you’re sorely mistaken.”
As I watched from my concealed vantage point, it was clear the Morai leader held significant influence over Dorian and likely the others who formed a circle around them.
“I’ve done nothing wrong,” Dorian stated.
“Nothing wrong?” Gareth echoed, his eyes cold and piercing. “We have reports of you attacking a man near the bar tonight. You used battle magic. You know our political situation at present is fragile. That kind of magic is strictly forbidden in public view. Care to explain yourself?”
Dorian remained stoic, but I noticed the slightest flicker of anger flash across his face before he composed himself again.
“Attacking might be an overstatement,” Dorian replied carefully. “I merely intervened in a situation that was getting out of hand.”
“Intervened?” Gareth raised an eyebrow skeptically. “By assaulting an innocent man and leaving him hospitalized?”
“An innocent man?” Dorian scoffed, his voice laced with disdain. “He was harassing a girl, threatening her. Someone needed to step in and protect her.”
Gareth looked unimpressed by Dorian’s explanation, but a glimmer of doubt entered his eyes as he considered Dorian’s words. The tension between them was palpable. As they stared each other down, I held my breath, hoping Gareth would back down and let Dorian go.
“Even if that’s true, it doesn’t change the fact that you violated our rules,” Gareth responded slowly. “You know we don’t condone this kind of vigilante behavior.”
“Your rules,” Dorian spat, defiance written all over his face. “Rules you all made for yourselves and decided to impose on others.”
“There must be order,” Gareth remarked. “Do you want to spark another inquisition?”
Dorian shook his head. “I did what I had to do, rules or no rules.”
“Very well.” Gareth flashed a malicious grin. “Then you’ll have to present your case to the coven.”
“The coven has no authority over me.”
Gareth shook his head and sighed. “I don’t know why you came here, Dorian, but your little pet project is getting in the way of our objectives. You need to remember where your true loyalties lie.”
“Enough, Gareth,” Dorian snapped, his anger boiling over. “I won’t be lectured by you or anyone else about loyalty.” He turned away from the Morai leader, but Gareth was not so easily deterred.
“It doesn’t matter what you say to me.” Gareth’s voice dripped with authority. “You will accompany us. We have matters to discuss to ensure your future compliance.”
Dorian stiffened at the command, and I thought he would refuse outright. Instead, he inhaled through his nose and turned back to face Gareth, his eyes burning with defiance.
“I’ll go, but not because you ordered me to,” he replied through gritted teeth. “I have my reasons.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night.” Gareth sneered.
My heart lurched as the Morai moved forward, surrounding him like a pack of wolves closing in on their prey. Desperation clawed at my insides, urging me to act, to do something to help him. Silently, I stepped forward, willing my legs to carry me closer to Dorian despite the fear that threatened to paralyze me.
As if sensing my intentions, Dorian looked in my direction and slowly shook his head, his eyes filled with sorrow. It felt as if a dagger had been plunged into my heart, the sharp edges tearing into my resolve. The message was clear. I needed to stay back, to not endanger myself any further by following him.
I stood there, the humidity nearly suffocating me as I watched Dorian walk away with the Morai.
What were they going to do to him? Was he right when he told me he’d be fine, or did he only say that to get me out of the way? There was nothing more I could do. After Dorian was gone, whatever spell he cast over me faded, and my feet reappeared beneath my legs. You know, right where they were supposed to be. I found Roy and Smokey on the trail, and they accompanied me back to my truck.
All I could do was go home and hope this strange warlock who’d so quickly captivated me would be all right.
CHAPTER FIVE
I stepped inside the trailer, my heart still twisted with worry about Dorian. The Morai had taken him, and I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something terrible would happen to him. I barely met the man, and here I was, worried about losing him. He wasn’t even mine.
I mean, we flirted a little, maybe. If you could call it that. Still, something was there, and now I couldn’t shake the fear from my mind. Not to mention, whoever Dorian was, nothing he did deserved punishment. I didn’t know anything about this Morai coven, but I doubted they’d give Dorian a fair hearing. All I could do was hope he was okay.
I flipped on the lights and hung my keys on the hook by the door, my fingers trembling slightly.
“God damn it, Aiden,” I muttered as soon as I saw my foster brother sprawled out on the couch. He’d passed out, his mouth hanging open and drooling onto a dirty pillow. In a stroke of poetic irony, a pair of lacy pink panties covered his face like a sleep mask. A souvenir from one of his many flings, no doubt.
I drew a deep breath, the scent of stale booze and sweat mingling with the faint perfume of the girl who’d recently invaded our living space. Aiden’s arm dangled over the side of the couch, fingertips brushing the threadbare carpet. His long legs bent awkwardly, folded haphazardly beneath him.
“Hey, jackass,” I snapped, yanking the panties off his face. His eyes fluttered open, bloodshot and unfocused.
“Wha’?” he slurred, squinting up at me.
“Get your shit together, Aiden,” I told him, my voice rough with irritation. “You can’t keep doing this.”
“Doing what?” he asked, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand.
“Getting wasted and passing out with random girls’ panties on your face.” I tossed the frilly undergarment on his chest. “You’re better than this.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” he mumbled, sitting up and running a hand through his tousled hair.
“Where have you been all night?” he asked groggily, taking a swig from a half-empty bottle of whiskey on the coffee table.
“I was with a guy, if you must know,” I replied, my voice softening as I thought of the enigmatic warlock who had saved me from Jim Bob’s attack.
Aiden tilted my head. “No, seriously.”
“What the hell, Aiden? You bring a different girl home almost every night, and you can’t imagine I might have one nice evening with a man?”
Aiden shook his head. “It’s not that bad. Only during tourist season. I don’t do townies.”
I rolled my eyes. “Right. Because they’d want commitment.”
Aiden nodded. “Damn straight. Now who was this guy? Do I know him?”
I shook my head. “He showed up at the bar tonight. Jim Bob was being an ass, like usual, and he and Charlie got into a fight. I caught a backhand to the face…”
“Jim Bob hit you?” Aiden asked. “That son of a bitch! I’ll kill him!”
“He’s in the hospital, Aiden.”
Aiden tilted his head. “Charlie put Jim Bob in the hospital?”
“Not Charlie. It was Dorian. The guy I was with tonight.”
“I don’t know any Dorian. Wait a second.” Aiden rubbed his brow. “Vanessa…or was it Stephanie? Whatever. Pink panties girl. Met her at the bar shortly after you got off work. She said there was a fight when she got there. A witch or some shit was involved. I guess those city girls are more used to that kind of thing than the locals.”
I winced. “Dorian. He’s not a witch. He’s a warlock, and he’s nice.”
“He’s one of them?” Aiden asked, his voice edged with concern. “One of the witches people have been talking about?”
“Maybe,” I admitted. “He’s not like you think. He protected me.”
“Protected you from what?” Aiden demanded, his eyes narrowing.
“From Jim Bob! I just told you, you drunk!”
“Briar, you can’t get involved with people like that. They’re dangerous.”
“Look who’s talking,” I snapped, gesturing at the disarray around us. “Keep it up, and you’re going to catch something. If you get the clap, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“That’s what doctors are for. So I can keep fucking and not worry about that shit.” Aiden took another swig from his whiskey bottle.
“Seriously, Aiden.” I yanked the bottle from his hand and dumped it into the sink. “You have that job interview tomorrow with Charlie, and I put in a word for you. You need to be on top of your game.”
“Fine,” he grumbled, rubbing his temples as if trying to push the pain away.
“Get up,” I commanded. “Drink some water and take a damn aspirin. You’ll thank me tomorrow.”
Aiden reluctantly peeled himself off the couch, his body moving like a marionette with tangled strings. He stumbled toward the kitchen, one hand pressed against his throbbing head. The faucet screeched in protest as he twisted it open, releasing a torrent of water into an old, chipped mug. It splashed against the porcelain with the sharp patter of raindrops on a tin roof.
“Promise me you’ll get your act together,” I urged, my voice softened by concern as I watched him gulp down the water, droplets spilling from the corners of his mouth and tracing rivulets down his stubbled chin.
