Page 42 of Tall, Dark and Haunted

Chapter Eighteen

Davy

WhenJuniperwalksup, I’m not surprised by the sparkly dildo that’s flapping about in her hand. For some reason, I’ve just accepted that where Juniper is concerned, there are bound to be sex toys. At least she’s less intimidating without the flogger.

“What are you waiting for?” she asks a little impatiently, her eyes wandering to where the coven is working their spell on the castle. “You don’t have time to sit around.”

“We’re not using the stone,” Rhi says in a voice that perfectly matches the dejection I feel.

I wish there was something I could say that would bring her some comfort. But there is no comfort when you know you’re about to die—again.

It’s the again bit that I take particular exception to. Dying once should be plenty.

“Why aren’t you?” She clearly doesn’t look impressed. I can’t tell if it’s because of how much work we put her through last night for the stone or if she is worried about us dying. Based on the look in her eyes, I’m leaning more towards the fact that we’ve wasted her time. She obviously had other things—sexual things—to do instead.

“We had a shifter poacher trapped in the castle’s basement,” I tell her. “Well, the dungeon…”

“I’m going to ignore how kinky that sounds and ask you what you mean by a shifter poacher.”

“A warlock with a particular disdain for shifters. He killed us,” I explain with a nod of my head in Topher and Red’s direction.

“He attacked Margam Castle because it is a shifter sanctuary.” Topher puffs up. “My ancestor—”

“Yes, Topher! We know!” I grumble. “Point is—he killed us and all the other shifters living on the estate, so we trapped his ghost in the basement. But he escaped and is running loose in Silver Springs.”

“He’s the one who attacked those mafia wolves?” Juniper smirks. “He’s got nuts as big as disco balls to do that. It’s the biggest shifter mafia in the world since Lupine and Enzo brought the rival families together.”

“He’s the reason the castle is here. His magic,” I tell her, feeling more than a little bit sorry for myself. “I thought it was destiny. The chance to live again with my mate.”

Rhiannon’s hand clasps mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze as our eyes meet. I take little solace in the touch, a touch that I won’t ever forget, but will never be able to repeat.

This isn’t what’s supposed to happen when you find the one.

You’re supposed to get married, fuck like bunnies—literal bunnies in my case—for a lifetime, have several kittens—because someone, somewhere, decided that it makes sense to name baby bunnies kittens—and grow old together. Point is, you’re not supposed to die and spend the rest of your existence guarding a raving lunatic in the basement.

“So your plan is to sacrifice yourselves like a bunch of moronic martyrs?” Juniper frowns.

“Er—Yes.” Topher hesitates, and I understand why. It’s not like any of us actually want to die today. “If we don’t use the stone, he’ll go back to being a ghost. We don’t really see another option.”

“Lucky that I came back to check on you, isn’t it?” She shakes her head, and I’m pretty sure I see her rolling her eyes. “All we need to do is bind the poacher’s soul to Margam Castle first. It’s easy enough magic.”

“It is?” We all stare at her in disbelief. Is it really possible that we might be able to stay in Silver Springs and, more importantly, stay alive?

“Well, assuming we can do it in time, yes.”

I gulp. Rhi’s nails dig into my hand. And Red and Topher both tense next to us.

“In fact, we can use the coven’s salt circle.” Juniper seems to take particular delight in that. She isn’t really talking to us anymore as she describes what needs to be done. It’s more like she’s telling herself. “We’ll need to be quick. There isn’t much time.”

Rhiannon is shaking beside me, so I pull her against my side. “It’s all right, Rhi. Everything is going to be all right.”

“I… It’s just a shock. A good shock.” She’s smiling up at me, but there are tears in her eyes. I reach over to wipe them away before bringing my mouth to hers in a gentle kiss.

Unlike our earlier kisses, this one lacks the desperation that came from thinking we were going to die. This time, it’s filled with nerves—worries that Juniper can’t complete the binding spell in time. But I’m no warlock. There is nothing I can do to help. So I distract my mate by kissing her instead.

Our kiss is slow and sensual and so, so good. I take my time, enjoying the way her lips move against mine, the way our tongues circle and dance around each other.

“The stone will work on everyone,” Juniper interrupts. “So long as they aren’t separated from you by magic. That means that as long as you all stay outside the salt line, the stone’s magic won’t affect the warlock trapped inside.”

Which means we might actually be able to have a future. Me and my mate. Together. For a whole lifetime.

Juniper is no longer paying us any attention as she mutters to herself, ensuring that she is ready to cast the spell. The coven is still reciting their own spell, and I can’t help feeling absolutely useless.

The four of us exchange a look. I’m still not sure I like sharing Rhiannon. As much as I love my friends, I want her all to myself. I don’t want to only get one third of Rhiannon’s time. That doesn’t sound good at all.

In fact, when I consider the fact that she’ll be asleep for a huge chunk of that time and she’ll probably want some time alone too—damn, I don’t like it one bit.

I look at her, and she’s smiling so brightly it fills my heart with joy. Her eyes are literally shining and all because if Juniper’s spell works, we’ll be together. The four of us. So as much as I might dislike sharing, I can’t resist giving her what she needs.

And she needs all of us. I can’t deny her that. What sort of mate would that make me? Not one worthy of Rhi, that’s for sure.

“Rhi, I—” I start, but something catches my eye. I turn just in time to see Henry Jones running towards us around the side of the castle. He looks furious, his mouth snarling.

“I’ll be taking that stone,” he shouts. He waves his hands in the air and mutters a spell under his breath. I don’t catch the words. All I know is that Henry Jones is dangerous, and I need to protect my mate.

But his spell freezes me in place, and I no doubt look like a bunny caught in the path of a galloping horse.