Heart of the Witch (14 page)

"Poor guy, he loves his daughter so much. I feel sorry for him, and we could use the help," Sorina reasoned, the same as she had the mornings previous.

"We've gotten along fine so far without him."

Sorina shrugged. "You never know. Sometimes it's a good idea to need someone."

Ravyn harrumphed. "Sometimes being needy just makes you pathetic." When pain flashed across her sister's face, Ravyn regretted the words immediately.

Sorina lifted her chin. "Sometimes being cold makes you lonely and bitter."

Ravyn sighed. "I'm sorry, Sorina, I didn't mean it."

Her sister nodded. "I know. It's okay. And you know? Nick seems like a pretty good guy." She grinned. "And he's
hot
. I could tell he likes you. I thought maybe you two would hit it off, if you gave him a chance. I don't like seeing you so lonely."

Ravyn knew Sorina was only trying to help, but she didn't
need
the help. She didn't want it. "There's a difference between being alone and being lonely. I'm fine, Sorina. Really."

The bell above the door dinged, and Sorina looked over Ravyn's shoulder, a smile lighting her face. Ravyn turned and her body tensed with irritation.

Nick.

She clenched her fists at her sides, burying them in the folds of her blouse. She resisted the urge to disappear into the back. She wouldn't run from him. No way would she let him see the effect he had on her.

"Morning, ladies."

"Good morning, Nick." Sorina practically gushed, but Ravyn only nodded.

"Want me to start on those shelves again?"

"Actually, I'll be working back there today, so you need to find something out front to do," Ravyn spoke up.

Sorina the Traitor shook her head. "Not much out here to do. He can work on those shelves while you're pouring candles. I'm sure it won't be too much of a distraction."

Ravyn tried to choke back resentment as she nodded. "Fine." She turned and marched through the curtain, determined to ignore the interloper for the entire day.

It wasn't easy. As much as she hated to admit the truth, Sorina was right—Nick was hot. He wore a white T-shirt tucked into well-worn Levi's that hugged his rear end. He smelled good, too. Once in a while, as he walked near her to place a box on the floor, his woodsy, masculine scent would drift over. The scruffy cheeks were gone, and she kind of missed them. There was something rugged and sexy about the way that dark stubble emphasized the blue of his eyes. But none of that was important. It was nothing to her. She once again went about the business of ignoring him.

She did a pretty good job for the next hour as she poured candles and carefully set the wicks. That is, she managed until he spoke.

"You have any pets?"

Ravyn shook her head and didn't turn around.

"I have a dog," he offered, even though she hadn't asked. "He just showed up one day last year, so I kept him."

Sighing, she swiveled in her chair. There was nothing to do at the moment other than wait for the candles to set, and she couldn't very well keep her back to him while doing absolutely nothing.

When he didn't comment further, she lifted her eyebrows. "You've started this riveting conversation. I assume there's more?"

He clutched his chest and staggered back as if wounded. "Riveting, huh? Ouch. I was just trying to start a little dialogue—you know, get to know one another. I guess that's asking too much."

Ravyn crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair, purposely keeping her gaze above chest level so she wouldn't see the way the tool belt slanted across his lean hips. "What do you want to know about me? I make candles and jewelry. I have one sister and a mother. I live alone. No pets. I like long walks in the rain and old music… you know, Otis Redding, the Platters, Elvis Presley. Anything else?"

He gave a satisfied smile. "See? Was that so hard? My turn. I work construction, and I have two sisters and two parents. One dog, a golden retriever named Dog. I don't like long walks
anywhere
, and I'm not crazy about oldies. Not crazy about Elvis's music, although the later stuff was pretty good. I like his movies, though."

"Are we done?"

He let out a low whistle. "Man, chatting with you is more work than repairing these shelves."

"Then maybe you shouldn't try so hard."

"Wanna hear a joke?"

Ravyn blew out a breath and said, "If I listen to your joke, will you let me get back to work? In silence this time?"

"Sure."

When she gave a slight nod, he put his hammer down and leaned a hip against a shelf. He rubbed his hands together and smiled.

"Okay, here goes. There's this little boy sitting on a park bench with a dog lying at his feet. A man walks up and sits down next to him and says, 'Hello, son, does your dog bite?' The little boy says, 'Nope.' The man reaches down to pet the dog. The animal promptly growls and takes a chunk out of the guy's hand. 'Geez!' he shouts, holding his injury. 'I thought you said your dog didn't bite!' 'He doesn't,' the boy says. 'That's not my dog.'"

Ravyn laughed in spite of herself.

Nick smiled. "You have a nice laugh," he told her. "You'd think it'd sound rusty, since you never use it."

"Very funny," she muttered.

Still grinning, Nick straightened and said, "Well, guess I'll let you get back to work."

Ravyn nodded, but she stared at him just a moment longer. She noticed that even when he was joking, there was sadness lurking in his eyes. Was it because of his daughter? Suddenly she wanted to lay her hand over his heart, feel it beating beneath her palm until she knew what put such sorrow there. But just as quickly, the urge was gone and she turned away.

She tried to concentrate on her task, but she was aware of Nick working behind her. Aware of his movements, of his breathing. He didn't try to make conversation again, but she couldn't have been any more aware of him if he'd played a drum solo in the middle of her workbench.

The bell jingled out front. Using it as an excuse, Ravyn went out to help Sorina with the customer. Dealing with people was something she normally avoided like a root canal, but this time it would be a welcome distraction. Things were starting to feel a little too easy with Nick, a little too enjoyable.

She was irritated when Nick followed, but she forced a smile as she stepped out of the back. The smile died on her lips when she saw the man standing just inside the door of the shop. A man she'd thought—hoped—she'd never see again.

Ravyn couldn't breathe. It was as if the newcomer's very presence had sucked all the air from the room. "What are you doing here?" she demanded, her throat aching with the effort it took for her to say those few words. From the corner of her eye she saw Nick flick a glance at her. He was probably deciding she was rude to everyone.

"Come on, baby, you're not happy to see me?" His voice was as smooth as fine whiskey. His hair was a wild mass of gold that would almost have looked like an angel's halo, if she hadn't known he was the Devil himself. He wore a tight black muscle shirt and jeans. A tattoo of a python wrapped his arm from elbow to wrist.

Sorina stood behind the counter, her normally kind face tight with anger. Sorina didn't hate anyone, but if she ever decided to try, Kayne would be at the top of her list.

"What do you want?" Ravyn's lungs felt restricted. It was all she could do to speak.

Kayne moved closer, bringing with him the musky scent she remembered so well. Instinctively, Ravyn stepped back.

"I heard what happened," he said, his voice filled with false concern. "I heard what that madman did to you. You were nearly murdered by a vicious serial killer. I was so worried, so horrified. Are you okay?"

Everyone was silent. Ravyn sucked in a breath. The last thing she wanted was for Nick to know such a personal detail about her. The last thing she wanted was to have to deal with some random asshole's morbid curiosity.

"I'm fine," she gritted out between clenched teeth. She took Kayne by the hand and pulled him into the back room, dropping her hold as soon as they were out of sight. But she knew it was too late. Nick had already heard.
Damn
.

With the curtain closed behind them, she and Kayne were hidden from view but still within earshot, so she kept her voice low. "You can drop the concerned act," she spat. "You don't give a damn about me or anyone else. I told you I never wanted to see you again."

"That was a while back, baby. I thought you'd miss me as much as I miss you. Besides, I told you, I was worried."

He reached out a hand, but she slapped it away. "That's a lie. I don't know what you're up to, but it's not concern that brought you here. And how dare you say something so private in front of a complete stranger? How did you find out what happened, anyway?"

Kayne looked down at his hands, spread them out as if the answer could be found between his splayed fingers. When he raised his eyes to meet her gaze, they glowed. It was a whirlpool of power that could suck her in, if she wasn't careful.

His entire face seemed to transform into something different, something evil. "Life has changed since I last saw you," he said. Even his voice was different. Although he still spoke quietly, there was a booming presence behind the words. "You wouldn't believe what I can do now, what power unleashing the spirits has given me."

A chill raced up Ravyn's spine. The energy emanating from Kayne was so strong, it was almost palpable. She wanted to step back farther. At the same time, she was mesmerized by his words, by his presence. "What do you mean?"

"I found myself in a town called Wyldewood. Ever heard of it?" When she shook her head, he continued. "I just wandered in, and in no time at all, I owned it. Everyone does my bidding. Everyone there lives to please me."

"You can't mess with free will. You
know
that," she chided. But her voice was no more than a whisper, and there was no conviction behind her words.

"Oh, but I can. I've learned the secret."

"But that will weaken you. You know that using your powers for forbidden goals will make you weaker until eventually you completely deteriorate."

Slowly Kayne shook his head, and the action was like that of a snake charmer. "I'm learning to overcome that. You can do it, too. I'll show you. We'll rule together. I can absorb the soul of another, and I will be replenished. Transcendent."

She'd read something of this in the book of black magic he'd given her. She'd been curious, yet at the same time afraid to learn more.

In spite of her misgivings, she asked, "What happens to that person?"

Kayne shrugged. "They are also reborn… so to speak. They lose their old soul, their old personality. And yes, there's the possibility of death. I haven't attempted it yet, so I'm not certain." His gaze gripped hers as he continued to speak in that hypnotic tone. "It's not too late to join me. You and I together would make a hell of a team. There's nothing we couldn't do. Nothing we won't do. I can help you with your problem."

Somehow she found her voice, but when she spoke it didn't sound at all like her. "What problem?"

"Him. The bastard who dared touch you. Dared threaten you. Together we can make him suffer as no human on earth has ever suffered."