He reached her just as the air split open in a rush of wind and pouring rain.Her hair whipped across her face, and her mouth was open in a cry of pain and terror.
He grabbed her wrist and pulled her against him, covering her from whatever was happening.
The world went suddenly silent.
No more wind, rain, or earthquakes.The sky was dark and lit only with stars, and the bonfire had returned to normal.
Kaeli collapsed against him, trembling and crying.Her hands curled tightly into his shirt like she was anchoring herself to him.
He lowered his head and breathed her in, sage and honey.The scent felt like home.And so did she.
“I’ve got you,Nightling,” he whispered.The nickname was one he hadn’t thought of in years, a name his father had called his mother.
“You stopped it,” she said, her voice hoarse.She tilted her head to look at him, her eyes no longer glowing amber.
“I don’t know what I did,” he said.“Are you okay?”
He felt someone drawing near, and he spun with a growl and tucked Kaeli behind him.It was Lorene, the North Corner.She lowered her hood and said, “Hello, Solan.”
“Lorene.”
“Kaeli is a visitor.And you are her catalyst.”
He felt Kaeli lean around him to look at the head witch.“He’s why my magic flared?And then stopped?”
She nodded.“I believe so.We told you, dear, that fate would bring your catalyst to you when the time was right.”
“What’s going on?”Solan asked.
“I’ll leave her to tell you the details,” Lorene said.“As long as you’re touching her right now, her magics are under control.If you could…keep that going until we’re done?That would be great.”
Lorene returned to the circle, which the others were setting up again.He turned slowly and faced the female.
“I’m Solan Keane, and I’m part of the wolf pack.You’re Kaeli?”
She nodded.“Kaeli Shaw.I don’t belong anywhere.”
Something softened inside him.“I think you belong with me.Do you feel connected to me?”
She inhaled, and her eyes flashed pale bronze for a moment.“You’re mine.But how is that possible?I just got to Ohio yesterday.”
“Fate has a strange way of making things happen,” he said.“I normally don’t stand guard during the ceremonies, but I was asked to fill in.”
“I’m… you should know that I’m a little broken.A lot broken.”
“You don’t look broken to me.”
She smiled, a ghost of one that tipped up the corners of her mouth.“Solan Keane, I think you might be biased.”
The witches got back to the business of their spells and blessings, and Solan stayed right by Kaeli’s side.She had one hand twisted in his shirt like she had to be touching him in some way, but her gaze was longingly set on the witches.
He mulled over the words he’d heard—catalyst, magics.It seemed that something was different about his Kaeli, and it wasn’t just that she was gorgeous and made his wolf want to roll over and show his belly.
When the coven was finished, Solan and Kaeli made their way down to the lot and stopped next to his truck.She looked around like she was lost, and hoping to find some direction.
“So tell me what’s going on with you,” he said.
“I don’t think there’s enough time in the night for that,” she said with a grimace.
