Enemy Mine (Mending The Veil) (9 page)

“Thank you.” He pushed himself to his feet, flinching as just taking a breath hurt. He looked toward the house, a feeling of relief and warm affection easing his discomfort as he watched Rissa’s dark curls flying in the air as she ran toward him.

Chapter Eleven

Rissa stumbled to a stop a few feet from where Travis was swaying. He looked like he’d been hit by a freight train! His eyes were both darkening, one swollen almost completely shut, his lips were split and bleeding, and there was a deep gash on his forehead deep enough for stitches. She examined him all over; concerned as she saw him wince when he took a shallow breath.

“Don’t cry, Rissa. I’ll heal.” He tried to smile, but flinched instead. Her gaze went to the prone body behind him.

“Is he...?”

“He’s unconscious, but he won’t stay that way for long.” Travis glanced behind him as well.

He should have let me kill him.
Rissa watched as Theo jumped up on the big man’s chest. The cat stared down at him with a low hiss before both paws reached out to deliver a series of blows to the Guardian’s cheeks.

“Theo!” Rissa’s shocked call brought the cat back to her senses. Theo turned, slapped the man’s face with her tail, jumped to the ground, and proceeded to kick dirt on him with her back feet as if she’d just left the kitty litter box.

Travis’s deep chuckle beside her only got a snotty twitch of the cat’s fluffy white tail as she walked past them to the cabin. Rissa’s gaze caught his good eye, as the other was red and swollen shut, and smiled herself. Relief that he was alive–battered, but alive – made her let out a deep breath. He was safe, they were safe, and the Guardian was still breathing. Her soul was still pure, her magic intact, and she owed it to the man before her.

“Thank you, Travis.”

“Tell you what, you can thank me once we’re on our way out of here. He won’t be out for long.” He angled a look at the unconscious man behind him.

“You should have let Theo kill him. He’ll be on our trail, hunting us down like deer.” Her teeth bit into her lower lip as his split lips pulled into a frown. “Hunting me down,” she corrected herself.

“Killing him would only bring more of them down on us.” He shook his head as he reached out to place his hands on her arms. “I bought us some time by keeping him alive. We have to get out of here.”

“How have you bought time?” Her stomach flipped with suspicions that would not go away. Could she trust him not to turn on her? Was he really trying to gain her trust to get to her father, though she’d already told him that wasn’t going to happen? Did he already know how she loved him? She was so tired of hiding it that she decided to give up trying as she watched him smile at her with split lips.

“I lied to him. I told him I couldn’t complete my mission if I was being shadowed and hunted. They’ll leave us alone, for now.”

“If we run away together, you need to know I’ll be cut off from my family. My father won’t help us, won’t acknowledge me as his daughter. I’ll be dead to him, Travis. You won’t get into the coven by running off with me.” There she’d told him straight out. If he was playing her for the fool, it was for naught because she wouldn’t be a connection to the coven once she broke off her hand-fasting to Garlock. She waited with her breath held as he stared down at her.

“I don’t give a damn what your father does. I want you. I want to be with you and if we have to run, hide, and fight everyone on the planet to be together, then I’m game for it. Are you?”

“Travis...” Her eyes burned with tears as she watched him hold out a hand to her. She didn’t care if his hand was scraped open, dirty, and bleeding. It was the hand of the only man she loved. A man who would have given his life to protect her. The road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but she’d take the short amount of time they had and bless the Goddess for it.

“What do you say, little Witch? Will you run away with me? Will you marry me and let me love and protect you for as long as I can?”

“Yes, enemy mine.” She placed her hand in his, but stepped forward to gently place a soft kiss on his sore lips. Her breath whooshed out as he thrust his other hand in her hair to pull her closer, turning the heat up as he sealed the deal with a kiss filled with love and promise. “For as long as you can.”

Chapter Twelve

New York August 6, 1978

The night was warm with a gentle breeze blowing through the branches of the trees. Crickets chirped, and tree frogs sang of happiness and peace. She found it a relaxing noise for a Witch with a heart silently bleeding and a plan that must be followed.

Rissa Holt silently watched as her husband moved around their camp, erecting their tent and forming a fire pit. His white cotton shirt stretched over strong shoulders, making her want to hug him and hold on tight for the rest of her life. Of course, in her condition, he’d feel like he was getting mauled by a fat bear. She placed a hand over her stomach and lovingly rubbed their child.

Never in all her life had she ever expected to love the feeling of sharing her body with another soul. Yet, here she was wishing she could keep her daughter safe in her belly. As soon as the little one took her first deep breath of air, her life would be in danger. The child of a Witch and a Witch turned Guardian would be seen as a threat to both factions. She would possess her mother’s magic and her father’s talents, Witch and Guardian, yet belonging to neither coven nor oath-bound. Making her enemy number one to both groups.

Rissa wanted to cry out against the unfairness of the situation she found herself in. Her child was innocent, yet she would face the world’s judgment all her life. Not for anything she had done, but because her mother and father fell in love.

You torture yourself with things you cannot hope to change, Rissa.
Theophyline jumped up on the log beside her, wrapping her fluffy white tail around her front paws as she turned her head to look where Travis was gathering wood for a fire.
He is not going to take this well, Rissa. I would ask you to reconsider this plan. I do not wish to see him hurt.

You didn’t even like him, Theo. If I remember correctly, you disapproved of our marriage so strongly that you threatened to scratch the captain’s eyes out so he couldn’t read the vows.

Unfortunately, he needed his eyes to keep the ship on course. I’m just saying you should talk to him of your intentions. He may have some suggestions that will keep you together. There is power and safety in numbers, you know.

If I stay with him, he will eventually hate me for turning his life into a living hell. I want him safe, Theo.
Rissa pointed out.

And you think leaving him alone will keep him safe?

Yes, I do. I wouldn’t even think of doing this if I didn’t believe being with me is putting his life in jeopardy. His superiors are not going to sit back and let us run around together forever. He isn’t even giving them reliable information on our coven’s safe houses. How long do you think they are going to let him slide?

A soft hiss rumbled in her pet’s throat as her ears twitched in irritation.
They should leave us all alone.

They won’t.

“I hope you two ladies are comfortable sitting over there. I will have a fire going in ten minutes, and then I’ll whip up some dinner.” Travis grinned as he dropped wood in the fire pit he’d dug out. “Hot dogs or dogs that are hot?”

“Since we have such a big choice, we’ll go with the hot dogs.” Rissa felt warmth spread over her as he winked before turning away for more wood. When he disappeared into the trees, a sudden chill of foreboding had her rubbing at her arms.

You feel them too.

They have been following us for a week, but they stay out of sight. I know they are waiting for this child to be born.
She met Theo’s angry glare.

They will not lay a hand upon her, Rissa.
Fierce possessive tones were in the cat’s thoughts. Rissa swallowed as she reached over to gently place her hand on Theo’s back.

You vow to watch over and protect her with your life, Theophyline?

I will protect and love her as I do you, Rissa.
The earnest light in her blue gaze eased Rissa’s tension enough to let her release her held breath.

You are my best friend in the world, Theo. I need your help and support in this decision. I can’t do it alone.

You will never have to be alone.
They both turned as Travis came back with an armload of wood. Rissa knew her Familiar would never leave her, but living without the love of her life was something she wasn’t sure she could survive. Her throat clogged with emotions held strictly in check. Her eyes burned enough to have her blinking to keep the tears back. She would not go through with it if she let just one tear fall.

“I hope you three are hungry,” Travis said as he stood staring down at the wood. A look of absolute anger filled his face as his lips thinned, his muscles tensed, and his eyes flared bright red.

Flames burst up at him, consuming the wood with a violent hunger. Being a Witch, Rissa should have been uncomfortable with his creation of fire, but it fascinated her instead. Her Guardian’s talent of creating and controlling fire should have repelled her, since it was a sure way to kill her people. Instead, she’d discovered there wasn’t anything about Travis Holt that she didn’t find appealing. Her baby moved beneath her hand, a solid reminder that no matter how much she might want to stay with him, she couldn’t.

Fate was pulling her in a different direction.

“Hey, is little Tamlynn kicking her mama, again?” She watched as he came over to kneel down in front of her. His hands landed on her hardened belly as he aimed a look of pride and love at her.

“I told you, Tamlynn is out.” She lifted a hand to brush her fingers through his silky hair.

“Tamlynn is a family name.” He argued with a teasing grin.

“No, it isn’t.”

“It comes from a Celtic ballad. I’m Celtic, so how do you know I’m not related to that Tamlynn?”

“It doesn’t matter. That Tamlynn is a male fairy that seduces women who wander upon his abode. Do you really want to name our daughter after a lecherous character like that?”

“It is just a name, Rissa. Our daughter will be strong enough to make it her own.”

“You’re right, but Tamlynn is out, Mr. Holt.”

“Well, I tried, babe. What’s that?” He turned his head to press his ear down on her belly. “Oh, you like my name for you? Well, we have a few weeks to work on your beautiful mama.” He dropped a kiss on the skin over their child before looking at her. His brows drew together as he studied her expression. Rissa turned her head away from him, knowing that he would read her pain and torment in her eyes. Hiding her feelings from him was a waste of energy. He had a knack for sensing her chaotic emotions; a gift she doubted he realized came from his ancestors. He was also a Guardian of the Light and with his blood oath came not only the gift of fire, but the ability to detect subterfuge. A handy tool for anyone looking for spies and hidden Witches, living in plain sight.

“Hey, don’t worry, love. I will protect you both.”

“I know you will.” She swallowed her tumultuous emotions and cemented his beloved features to memory. “I’m just getting nervous. Expectant mothers have every right to get jittery, you know.”

“Please don’t worry about it so much. You don’t want to scare our daughter into coming out of there early, do you?”

“She won’t.”

“Good, because I’m not ready to be outnumbered by three of you moody women, not yet.” He lifted his head to brush her mouth with a sweet kiss. “I love you, Mrs. Holt.”

“I love you too. Go get our dinner started. I’m hungry and so is your daughter.”

“Your wish is my command, love.” He placed a kiss on her forehead and stood up to prepare their dinner. Rissa turned her head to look at her pet. Theo had something of import on her mind, if she was reading the twitching ears and tail right.

I have recently started to regret my decision to become a Familiar, locked in this fur for the rest of my existence, especially as I witness the love and happiness that mans showers upon you. Now, knowing that the love that brought you both so much happiness is what is going to tear you apart and break both your hearts, I’m so very grateful that I’m just a Familiar. I will go stand guard until you summon me. You should have these last hours with him alone.

“Thank you, Theo.” She watched the white body slide into the forest shadows with an ease that made her wish she could move so easily. Her body was so off-balance that getting up by herself was more than a chore; it was a two-person maneuver. One among many that she realized she would be facing on her own after tonight. An ache in her chest stole her breath just as Travis came back from his car with the small cooler full of food and drinks.

“You all right, darling?” He bent and dropped a kiss on her lips before moving to the fire with a package of hot dogs and a skewer.

“I’m fine.” She smiled as he glanced her way, his brows furrowing as he sensed her lie. “I’m just really tired. This one kept me awake last night.” She tapped her belly, knowing what she said was partly the truth.

“It won’t be long before she’s here, and you’ll be able to sleep better.” He promised her.

“Yeah, then she’ll be keeping us both awake.” She watched him arrange four big sticks into a spit from which he hung the skewer with four hot dogs on it. Her husband was a resourceful man, who made their run for survival easy and fun. Every time the moving from place to place got her down, he’d do something sweet to make her smile or laugh. He was always bringing her a bundle of daisies to brighten her day. She would miss him more than she wanted to think about. “Travis, I love you.”

“Of course you do, I’m the man.” He laughed, but the tone of his deep voice held an anxiety that made her want to go to him. She wanted to tell him what she had in mind, but she knew he wouldn’t allow her to leave him. He’d gladly give his life for her and their child, but their daughter would need him in the future. There was no other way.