Page 26 of Fateful Reunion

“Can you shoot?” Zane barked at Charles, ready to toss him a gun and a magazine.

But Charles lifted his hand in refusal. “I won’t need a gun. Witches are best fought with witchcraft.”

Zane snarled, patting the knife that sat in a holster on his hip. “Even witches die when you stab or shoot ‘em.” He loaded a semi-automatic. “I’ll stick with that.”

Next to him Roxanne looked ready for a fight, too. She held a gun in her gloved hand, and grabbed a few throwing stars and tucked them into her pockets.

She looked at him now. “How will they attack?”

Charles approached her. “You’ll be outnumbered. Judging by the strength of the shaking I’d say there are at least half a dozen of them out there.”

“Backup is already on the way,” Roxanne assured him.

“They won’t be here in time.” By his estimate, the drive from Scanguards’ headquarters was at least twenty minutes, if not longer.

“You let us worry about that,” Zane cut in.

“All we need to do is hold them off until backup gets here,” Roxanne explained and glanced at her colleague. “Grayson can cover the back, you and I will take the front.”

“No!” Charles protested. “Grayson has to stay with Ilaria to keep her calm. Once she realizes we’re being attacked, the evil will try to rise in her. She’ll destroy us all to save herself, and there won’t be anything we can do.”

He noticed Roxanne’s lips trembling, as she looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “How is it that you’re still alive?”

“Because up until now I was still stronger than her. But what will happen shortly will put her over the edge. We can’t allow it. If the witches bring the fight inside this house, nobody will be able to stop the evil from rising.”

“Fuck!” Zane cursed. “And everybody wonders why I hate witches. Go figure.”

Ignoring him, Charles shifted his gaze to Roxanne. “We have to lure them away. It won’t be easy, and the ruse will be only temporary. But it might buy us enough time until the cavalry arrives.”

Roxanne’s eyes widened. “What’s your plan?”

“Misdirection.”

9

“Ready?” Charles asked ten minutes later, peeking out through the kitchen window that looked out over the backyard and up the steep slope.

“This is never gonna work,” Roxanne felt compelled to say, even though Charles had explained his plan in detail. He’d also informed Grayson about what to do once Charles, Roxanne, and Zane were outside.

Though Zane hadn’t liked the idea either, he’d voted in favor of it. “Better than being sitting ducks and waiting for them to strike.”

More worried about leaving Ilaria alone than about her own safety, Roxanne looked at Charles, hoping to sway him. “What if they immediately see through it? Ilaria will be defenseless.”

“They won’t.” Charles’s voice inspired confidence, as did the determined look in his eyes. “Have a little faith in my abilities. Don’t you remember what I’m capable of?”

Their gazes locked, and for a few seconds, she remembered the things she’d seen him do before, remembered the power that ran in his veins. “Trust me, love,” he murmured so softly that she wondered if he’d actually said it, or if she’d only imagined it.

“It’s time,” Zane advised. “I can hear them.”

Charles put his palm on the top of Roxanne’s head and closed his eyes. She felt warmth seeping into her, infusing her, changing her. The feeling ran through her veins, spreading like dye through water, until it had reached all her extremities. All of a sudden, she gasped for air. Took in a breath. Exhaled.

Roxanne opened her eyes and stared at Charles.

“Shit,” Zane said in wonder. “You smell like a witch.”

“Quickly,” Charles ordered. “The illusion won’t last long.”

Without making a sound, Charles eased the side door open and slid outside into the dark. Roxanne was on his heels, with Zane bringing up the rear. Hidden by high bushes and the trash cans that lined the narrow walkway, they crept along the side of the house toward the steep incline behind it. They reached the end of the yard without incident.