The Keepers: Archer (13 page)

Archer abandoned his drink and straightened, determined not to take the bait. “Mess with Sienna or Rose and you mess with the Bennett brothers. Again.”

“Ah, Sarah.”

“You remember her?” Archer said in a cool, sarcastic tone. He stepped closer to Warrick, shoving his face so close to the warlock’s face that their noses were almost touching. “Don’t for one minute confuse the fact that we haven’t set you alight yet for forgiveness. We don’t forget or forgive when we lose one of our own.” Warrick shifted and tried to back away, but Archer gripped the warlock’s arm, keeping him in place. The resistance, the strength, he felt beneath his grip surprised Archer, but he was quick to dismiss it. “Watch your back, Warrick. You’re one. We’re three, and we have two kick ass Beckham witches on our side. We’re equally protective of our own, and you’ve messed with both. Together, we’re all chomping at the bit to get a piece of you for what you did to Sarah.”

Warrick quietly swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down in his throat. “Pursue your relationship with Sienna and you’re down two members of your little fabulous five.”

“My relationship with Sienna is none of your damn business,” Archer said through gritted teeth and released him with a subtle shove.

No point in creating a scene, but he’d made his point and delivered a message.

And by the look on Warrick’s face, he’d heard it loud and clear.

“Perhaps you should leave, Bennett,” Warrick suggested, straightening his jacket.

“Suits the hell out of me. But Sienna comes with me.”

“We have unfinished business.”

Archer put a hand on Warrick’s shoulder, leaned forward, and put his mouth close to Warrick’s ear. “Then finish it,” he said with razor sharp edging to his tone. “Because when I leave, I’m taking her with me.”

With a final, firm squeeze to Warrick’s shoulder, Archer backed off and went to find Sienna and his brothers.

It didn’t take long to find them – surrounded by several friends – and it took a wad of effort for Archer to bury his fury and regain his calm veneer before joining them.

In the end, the party wasn’t a complete dud.

At least it had given them all an opportunity to catch up with old friends, a rarity in their daily schedules and different circumstances.

When Sienna quietly disappeared from the crowd to seek out Warrick, the Bennett brothers were quick to follow.

Ethan spotted them first. “Up there,” he said, gesturing to the top of the steps.

Warrick had a hand against Sienna’s lower back, guiding her toward the house. Thanks to the large glass windows, it was easy to track their movements through the house. When they disappeared into a room at the back of the house, Archer realized he’d stopped breathing.

Everything inside him had to fight the urge to charge after her.

“Let’s surround the back room,” Archer said, moving forward. He tilted his head to Declan. “And please try being as inconspicuous as possible, Declan. We don’t need Warrick and his minions knowing that we’re listening in on their conversation.”

“Inconspicuous? Oh please,” he said, pushing past his brother and taking the lead. “When it comes to an evil warlock conversing with our witch, I can be damn near invisible.”

“Whatever, just don’t mess this up.”

Declan spun around so fast that he drew raised eyebrows from both his brothers. “If anyone’s going to mess this up it’ll be you, Archer.”

“Declan, it’s Sienna.”

“Precisely,” Declan replied, jabbing a finger against Archer’s chest. “Make sure you’re thinking with your head and not your heart or you’re going to get her killed.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“We’ll all protect Sienna but we’ll protect each other and everything we stand for too. For you, it’s different. It’s only about Sienna.”

Archer blinked several times, staring at his brother. Damn, what was it with everyone tackling his relationship with Sienna tonight?

Was it that obvious?

And what annoyed him more was that Declan was right. Crossing the line with Sienna put them all in danger. She wasn’t simply his witch, his charge, anymore.

And that knowledge alone changed everything.

Ethan stepped between them. “Now’s not the time for this conversation. Come,” he said, edging them forward. “Sienna’s already been alone with Warrick too long.”

With a curt nod, both brothers followed.

Warrick’s mansion was as impressive on the inside as it was on the outside. High ceilings with extravagant chandeliers, wide windows and doors, and large rooms decorated with an exorbitant taste in furniture, accessories, and electronic equipment. He’d spared no expense, a testament to the endless zeros in his bank account.

Evil, power, and money made for all sorts of wicked results and Warrick was the perfect example of what a man could be if he had all three.

Sienna walked into the study and glanced around. A massive desk that held a laptop and a phone sat in the centre of the room, facing several brown leather couches that still smelt new. Dark mahogany bookshelves, filled to capacity with various books in different shapes and sizes, adorned the entire back wall. Wide floor to ceiling windows lined with wooden blinds made up the wall to her right, and to her left was a solid door that led to a large walk-in safe. Filled with loads of secrets, no doubt. Several lamps and unlit candles were randomly scattered around the study, the dim lighting suited to the mood of the gloomy room.

Warrick came up behind her, quickly shutting the double-edged door behind them. She heard him turn the lock, saw him pocket the key, but she didn’t comment. The lock would be no hindrance to her or her Keepers and Warrick knew that – which made her wonder if he was simply trying to unnerve her.

It would take a lot more than a locked door to frighten her.

She was tired, cranky, her feet ached from the ridiculous heels she’d chosen, and her Keepers were on edge about this little visit which made her want to get this over with before either of them did anything stupid. She couldn’t blame them. It couldn’t be easy for them to be here, with the man who’d murdered their sister, knowing he was with their witch.

Sienna whirled around, her gown swishing with the sudden movement. “Fine, we’re alone. Spill.”

Warrick shrugged out of his jacket and tie and tossed it to the couch, one side of his mouth curling into a half smile. “What’s the rush?”

“This isn’t a social call, Warrick. If you have something to say, then say it.”

He walked to the window, scanning the grounds outside. “I suspect your Keepers aren’t far?”

“They won’t interfere unless you try hurting me.”

“Ah, you have them on a leash.” He went to the liquor cabinet and pulled out a bottle of brandy and two glasses. Crystal, of course. “Drink?”

“No thanks.”

“It’s only Brandy.”

“Right. Bottoms up then.”

He returned the one glass to the shelf and took his time pouring brandy into the other one. “They can’t get in here even if they tried, Sienna.”

Sienna kept her voice steady and her gaze level. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“And you can’t get out.” He smiled, more of a ploy to frighten her than anything else.

“I’m not afraid of you, Warrick, and I’ll never reverse my spell to break your stupid curse.”

He swirled his brandy around in the glass and took a large sip. “I thought you might say that, and I was hoping I wouldn’t have to force you.”

She laughed, but the sound held no trace of humour. “No one forces a Beckham witch to do anything.”

“Careful, Sienna. Over confidence often leads to a man’s downfall.”

“I’m not a man, and I’m all confidence.”

He was in front of her in an instant and although inwardly, she recoiled at his sudden approach, outwardly, she remained still. He discarded his glass to the table beside them and captured her hand in his. She didn’t pull away, didn’t step back. “I’ve always liked a confident woman who knows what she wants.”

“Pity they don’t like you.”

He barked a quick laugh. “And here I was hoping for neutral corners.”

“Warrick, you’ve trapped me in a room without my Keepers, you’ve threatened me, and now you’re holding my hand. There are no neutral corners in your world.”

“I always thought we’d make a remarkable team together.”

“I think someone like Cruella DeVil would be more your type. You both like to prey on the innocent.”

“Ah, but she likes puppies, I like people.”

“You like to hurt people, Warrick. There’s a difference.”

“Only if they stand in my way. And of course, there are those, like Sarah, that are collateral damage.”

The icy chill ran down Sienna’s back at the mention of Sarah in such a callous statement, but she kept her game face in tact. “All the more reason why I’d never undo the spell.”

He ignored her and ran a finger along the length of her arm. “Just think of all the power we’d have if we combined ours.”

“Who’d want your puny powers?” she shot back, deliberately baiting him. She needed to know for sure if he had any powers, and the only way to do that was to force him to use them. A risky plan, but one she was sure would work. She knew him well enough to know which buttons would set him off and she was determined to press them all if she had to.

It worked, because even though his expression remained even, his tone had a lethal undercurrent. “You’re so sure I have no powers?”

“I suspect you’ve been dallying with fire spells and popping poor unsuspecting bunnies out of a hat, but I know you have no powers. In case you forgot, I was the one who bound you.”

His body grew rigid, and his hands tightened around her arms. Frowning, he tugged her nearer until her face was close to his. The faint smell of brandy and cigars teased her nostrils, but she refused to pull away. “I’ve never forgotten, witch.”

The chill in his words sent a flare of warning through her, but she pushed it aside. Her gaze flickered to the scar on his neck that peaked out from beneath his collar, a permanent reminder of their last encounter together. “Good. Then you’ll remember what I’m capable of. So stop with the scare tactics and stupid games, and let me go.”

“I want my brother. And I want my powers back. All of them.”

“Hell no.”

“Figured you’d say that. So the question is what will make you agreeable?” He walked to the window and pulled the cord to lower the blinds, no doubt an attempt to block her Keepers from watching them. She couldn’t see them but she knew they were out there, watching, listening, and ready to pounce. Without saying anything, Warrick moved across the glass and repeated the action until all the windows in the room were covered.

He turned, his shoulders erect, his gaze steady. “It didn’t take Einstein to realize you’d never break the spell out of your own. But everyone has a weakness, Sienna. Even you.”

“I’m not afraid of you, Warrick. You can’t hurt me.”

“You may be a powerful Beckham witch, Sienna, but you best remember that with every great power comes a weakness. For you it’s Rose Thorn and your grandmother. But neither of those two options appealed to me. And then we ransacked your apartment. One look at your photograph display in your bedroom and it struck me.” A slow, wicked smile crossed his face. “I found your weakness.”

It wasn’t hard to figure where he was headed with this. The thought made her stomach roll, repeatedly, but she inhaled quietly and fought for control.

Warrick walked to his desk, produced a thick key to unlock one of the drawers, and pulled out a photo frame. He gestured to the photo with his free hand. ““Your fearless courage is admirable, Sienna, but it’s also damn annoying. It took me a while to discover what would frighten you enough to make you relent and all this time, it’s been right here in front of me.”

She recognized the photo frame from her collection, a cherished photo of herself surrounded by her four Keepers.

“Besides your powers, your Keepers are supposed to be your biggest ally, your biggest strength, and your most potent protectors. Isn’t it ironic that in the end, they might be your greatest weakness?”

“You’re a fool to think you can threaten my Keepers, Warrick.”

He studied her over the rim of his glass, challenge oozing off his posture. “I’ve yet to come across a link that can’t be broken. Imagine a world where Keepers don’t exist? A world where witches are left to fend for themselves?” He smiled, the idea making his eyes sparkle. “Makes me think of a kid in a candy store.”

“Ah, so there’s your deal. Break the spell, and you’ll spare my Keepers.” Anger fired, and she took a step toward him. “We’re not afraid of you, Warrick. You can huff and you can puff all you want but I’ll never unbind your powers. Your minions are no match for us.” She gave him a quick, mocking once over. “And neither are you.”

“And you’re still so sure I have no powers?”

“As I’m not interested in seeing you pull bunnies out of your hat, I’d like to go.” She moved to the door and gasped when he appeared in front of her in a flash, stopping her in her tracks.

What the hell? She blinked and stepped back, quickly masking her surprise. Since when did Warrick have the power of accelerated movement – an ability she’d only ever seen in her Keepers?

He grinned. “I have something to show you.”

“So show me.”

He held out his hand, palm facing upwards, to reveal a silver antique ring. The ring of a Keeper.

Sienna recognized it immediately and sucked in air. Sarah’s ring. “How did you get this?”

“You should know by now how resourceful I can be.”

They’d always wondered what had happened to Sarah’s ring in the confusion surrounding her death. Warrick.

With a casual shrug of his shoulders, he closed his fingers around the ring, flipped his fist, and held out his hand to Sienna. “Here.”

A possessive reflex had her reaching for the ring without further thought, but she cried out and quickly retracted her hand when the silver burnt her skin. The ring fell to the floor and rolled across the room. When she shifted her gaze to meet Warrick’s, all she saw was wicked amusement.

He has Sarah’s powers.

Sienna frowned. A warlock could absorb a witch’s powers if he killed her. But a Keeper’s powers?

Warrick smiled as understanding crossed her expression. “Thanks to the annoying spell you and Rose cast on me, I may not have the full use of my powers, but Sarah’s have been enough to tide me over until now.”

The thought sent several waves of fury through her, and everything inside Sienna began to prickle. He was using powers meant for protecting the good, for his evil gain.

It was such a violation of everything pure about Sarah’s memory.

She thrust her chin upwards and met his ridiculously cheerful gaze. “So you have the powers of a Keeper. One Keeper. You have three more above you – and the wrath of one very pissed off witch.”

Muttering a string of soft curses, she flung her arms out and sent Warrick flying backward in a whoosh of air that slammed past her ears. He crashed against the desk, the impact dislodging the open drawer, and slumped to the floor. The drawer slid across the ground, scattering its contents along its path.

Sienna zoned in on the photographs splashed across the wooden floor, the punch of horror taking her breath away. Strewn around him were pictures of young men and women, newspaper clippings, and various keepsakes.

With a shaking hand and a pounding heart, she kept him rooted to the spot, unable to move, and edged closer to the mess.

Several faces of unsuspecting and innocent people stared back at her. She gasped when she recognized the faces of two women, their recent disappearances splashed across the news for weeks.

“All these people in these photographs…” she breathed, staring at their smiling faces. “This was all you? Did you hurt them? What did you do?”

“Whatever I wanted.” With a speed that didn’t surprise her this time, he was on his feet, eyes flaring, fists clenched. He struggled against the invisible bind that kept him in place and flicked her an irritated glare.

“Are they dead?”

He simply smiled. “As if I’d ever tell you.”

Rage flared, mingled with a fresh bout of panic, and she whirled around to face him with an aggression that sparked every powerful instinct she possessed.

“I refuse to let you harm any more people, Warrick, and before you threaten me or my Keepers, you’d best remember that I hold the one thing that is your weakness.” She lowered her hand slightly, the motion causing him to drop to his knees with a low grunt. “Mason.”

“I will hunt down every damn Keeper I know until they are all dead and once I’ve claimed their powers, I’ll start on the witches.” Everything about his tone, the determined look in his eyes, and the rigid stance of his shoulders proved that he meant every word. “Unless, of course, you’re willing to strike a deal. Give me Mason and unbind my powers, and we’ll leave Rapid Falls forever. We won’t harm anyone you care about.”

It was a tempting deal, one he might even honour, and the idea of keeping the Bennett brothers unharmed and never seeing the Brogan brothers again appealed to her.

Sienna glanced at the photographs scattered across the floor and shook her head. “I told you before, Warrick. I don’t make deals with the Devil.”

“Then you’ve just signed the death warrant of every Keeper you know.”

His words twisted her gut, and her breath caught in her chest as she fully processed them.

Somehow, she managed not to flinch. “The spell remains, the curse holds. Your brother is dead to the world as evil should be. You on the other hand, should’ve had the same fate. I was stupid to think that you were different and that by binding your powers you’d have some sense shaken into you. I was wrong. You’ve become as evil as Mason.” She flashed him a fake smile, her tone softening. “And we both know what I did to Mason, don’t we?”

“You’re trying to find my fuse, Sienna. It won’t work.”

“Oh, not only do I intend to find your fuse, Warrick, but I intend to light it.”

Without shifting her gaze from his, she narrowed her eyes, and drew on the one power she was famous for.

Fire.

A moment later, all the candles in the room suddenly caught alight.

He laughed. “You would never hurt me, Sienna. Not with everyone outside.”

“You threatened my Keepers, Warrick. Don’t be so sure of that.”