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“They don’t, and won’t ever own you.” He hung on to that fact as he pulled the car off Shore Lane and drove up the narrow alleyway at the back of houses.
As he parked, Zoë’s attention sharpened and when they got out of the car she peered over at the back of the house. “Is this where you said Annabel’s bee bole is?”
Grayson nodded and walked around the car to take her hand and show her the way through the back gate. She stared across the patio at the old stone bee bole embedded in the wall, then walked quickly over to it and put her hand on the surface, as if intrigued.
“She worked here, she worked with this.” Her voice ran on, excited. “This hasn’t changed as much as the house. The house has been renovated many times.”
She put her hands right inside, feeling all around.
A surge of energy rushed from the house into the old stone monument. It happened so quickly that it took Grayson by surprise, but he felt it pulsating rhythmically, flowing out from the physical anchor to this outpost, and Zoë.
“She came to me in a vision, last night, when they had me…up there.” She turned to him, her eyes bright. “It was as if she was leading me through the forest, and there was blackness all around, but she told me I’d travel safely if I stayed with her.”
Oh, boy, he didn’t like the sound of that.
“At first I was afraid, but then she showed me something that happened to her, something we didn’t know. The coven master, the one who was her lover, she had ultimate control over him. She proved it to me.”
Grayson frowned. These things weren’t anything he’d ever heard mentioned during his research on Annabel. “Do you think it’s significant?”
“Yes, because I think she wants us to solve the mystery of how she died, why she died. It’s as if she needs someone to know, to understand it. I can’t help wondering if she tried with other visitors but they were scared off by it. I almost was.” She gazed over at the house. “Somehow, I don’t feel afraid anymore, not of Annabel.”
Grayson wasn’t so sure. Maybe she was just being duped into feeling content about the attempted possession.
Zoë rested her hands against the bee bole again and Grayson watched, sensing the psychic energy pouring into her. Curious, he stepped behind her and put his hands on her shoulders before moving them down her arms.
“Yes, come feel it with me.” She turned and smiled up at him, and then focused on the bee bole.
As she did, a rush of psychic energy came through the stones. It was so powerful that Grayson was surprised, and it pulsed powerfully all around them, like a mellow, tamed fire. “I had no idea it was this strong,” he whispered, against her hair.
“Close your eyes,” she said, “listen to the bees.”
There was something so very seductive about h
er voice. He closed his eyes, and as he did he heard the hum of the bees and smelled the heady, rich scent of the bole as it had been, alive and vital. The garden around them was waist high in blossoms. It was like full summer, and the heat had intensified. The sun beat down on them. He felt Zoë safe in his arms, but Annabel’s presence was there, too, and he inhaled sharply when the sun dazzled him and then something moved, blocking the sun, and he saw her image for the first time. Her form was outlined in sunlight as she worked at the bole, a large hat trailing a veil over her face. She turned from the bee bole and lifted the veil when a man came up behind her and kissed her, grabbing her into his arms, braving the bees to get a taste of her.
Grayson pulled away, taking Zoë with him.
He was shocked at the strength of the vision, and scared for Zoë. How close to completion was Cain’s handiwork?
Zoë rested back in his arms, unafraid as she continued to stare at the old stones. “She used to hate to come here, and then she grew to love it, the vibrancy of the bees, and the honey they made.” Looking up at him, she smiled. “Did you see him?”
He shook his head.
“It was Irvine, the fisherman.” She was fascinated by it.
Grayson remained wary. “Come on, let’s go inside and get your things,” he urged, eager to get her inside the safety of Cornerstone.
The hallway of Her Haven felt just that to Zoë, a haven. Why was she feeling that, she wondered, because it was Annabel’s haven? She turned to look at him. “It feels weird, being back in here, now. Things fell into place overnight, and although I’m not afraid of Annabel, it makes me reconsider why she appeared to me, you know.”
“It’s bound to.”
“Whenever I leave I’m drawn back here. Even in the cabin last night, I wanted to be here. It’s so odd.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good thing.” Concern emanated from him.
“Don’t worry, neither am I. This isn’t exactly like my everyday life, you know. It felt as if everyone was trying to seduce me when I got here, even Annabel.” She chuckled softly then pushed her hair back over her shoulder, watching him for his reaction.
Grayson lifted her chin with his thumb to look into her eyes. “Even without the unusual circumstances, you’d have attracted a lot of attention. You’re a beautiful woman.”
