The Keepers: Archer (8 page)

Absolute destruction.

Archer’s frown became more pronounced. “You should go, Declan.”

“Like hell. I live here.”

“Sienna’s been marked, and you’re no good to her if you’re hell bent on revenge and trouble.”

“Revenge? A given considering our sister is dead and our witch has been marked. Trouble? That’s reserved for enemies so you might want to determine which side you’re on, Archer.”

“The only side I’m on is the one that protects Sienna.”

Declan smiled, without amusement, and sipped his drink. “Then that puts me squarely on team you,” he said, crossing the room to where Archer stood. For a brief moment, the brothers looked at each other in prickly silence.

Declan sighed and spoke first. “We may have a difference in opinion but we agree on one thing, brother. Sienna’s wellbeing comes first.”

“And why do I find it hard to trust anything you say?”

“Ouch.”

Sienna stepped between them, slamming a fist against each burly chest. The anger that burned between the two men was overwhelming, and she drew in a deep breath. “Stop this,” she said, her voice steady, even though their hostility to each other had shaken her to the core. “We can’t fight each other.”

Without breaking eye contact and in perfect unison, each brother took Sienna by the arm and hoisted her out of their way.

“Like I said,” Archer murmured, turning back to his brother, closing the space between them. “You should go.”

“You need me, Archer. Warrick plans to get into that tomb and Sienna’s his way in. There’s no chance in hell I can leave and you know it.”

“You’re not much help to us if you’re still caught up in revenge and guilt, Declan.”

Declan shrugged and gave a half smile. “Nothing a little alcohol can’t numb.”

“Will you be serious for one damn minute?”

Their level of tension and testosterone had reached a peak that unnerved Sienna. She stared at the two handsome brothers and sighed.

Two men, each with a remarkable strength and power of their own, sized each other up. Both dark, both handsome, and both rattling with anger and resentment. But so different. Their loyalty and dedication to their legacy, to her, was the only thing they shared. Archer held a deep intensity and fierceness about him that Sienna had always found incredibly sexy. Declan, on the hand, consisted of smouldering dark looks and heaps of attitude. Whereas Archer had neat cut hair, Declan had grown his to the point that it almost touched his shoulders. A perfect illustration of their different personalities. Archer had always been the more controlled brother of the two, and Declan more reckless. Water and fire. This wasn’t the first time they’d butted heads and wouldn’t be the last, but Sienna found their hostility and aggression to each other disturbing.

“Stop it.” Her voice was low and insistent but failed to catch their attention. Deciding she’d had enough of their fiery banter, she raised her hands and drew on her centre.

Both brothers immediately grabbed their heads, groaning and cursing, and stumbled to their knees.

“Sienna, dammit,” Archer ground out, clutching his head.

Sienna’s hand fell to her sides, putting an instant stop to the mental torment, and lifted a brow. “Will you stop the fighting?”

Still holding a hand to his head, Archer got to his feet. “I told you never to use that witchy crap on me again.”

“It got your attention, didn’t it?”

Declan rose, wincing as he rubbed his forehead, and peered at her through narrowed eyes. “Damn, Sienna. It’s been a while since you mind blasted me with your witch’s joo joo. That hurt, dammit.”

“It’s supposed to hurt or it wouldn’t be a useful tool for breaking up stupid male driven, testosterone loaded fights, now would it?” She lifted her chin and straightened her shoulders, needing all the height she could muster to face the two brothers glaring at her. “If we’re going to stop the Brogan brothers, we have to work together.” She looked at Archer. “You were the one who told me I was crazy for thinking I had to do this alone, Archer. Now who’s the crazy one for thinking you can do this without your brothers?”

“Sienna –”

Ignoring him, Sienna pinned Declan with a steely gaze. “Sarah’s death was not your fault, Declan. She was in that damn tomb protecting me. We were blindsided and nothing you did could’ve saved her.” She saw the flash of sadness in Declan’s eyes, followed by his quick attempt to mask it. “Sarah wouldn’t want this. Before her death, the five of us were inseparable, ready to take on any crap the Brogan brothers threw at us. Now, we’re divided and don’t for one minute think that Warrick Brogan doesn’t know that.” Her shoulders fell and her tone softened. “Don’t you see? We owe it to Sarah to pull together to protect everything she died for. Everything our parents died for. If we keep the seal of the curse in place, the Brogan brothers will continue to live out that curse until their deaths. That alone is revenge in itself.”

Declan tilted his head, the word “revenge” striking a core. He slowly nodded. “She’s right, Archer.”

“I know. Still don’t have to like it.”

“Neither do I.”

Two pairs of eyes met in an unspoken truce.

Declan was the first to look away, turning to Sienna. “Sienna, you try that mind fry on me again, and I’ll personally feed you some damn Rose Thorn.”

“Yeah, as if that’s going to happen.”

He arched a brow. “Try me.”

“Oh, you’re just jealous because my powers top yours.”

“Is that a challenge?”

“Declan, that’s enough,” Archer said, stepping forward.

Declan glanced at his brother and smiled. “Still her big protector, aren’t you brother? Glad to see nothing’s changed.”

“Stop being an ass.”

Declan scooped his bloody t-shirt off the counter and dumped it in the bin. “The three Bennett brothers and their witch are back, and all’s well in Rapid Falls.”

“Where’re you going?” Archer asked as Declan moved to the kitchen door.

“I’m assuming you haven’t torched my room so I’m going to bed.”

“It’s almost morning.”

“Who cares?” Declan threw over his shoulder and walked out the door without looking back.

Archer exhaled softly before turning to face Sienna. “Are you okay?”

She nodded. “At least he’s back.”

“He’s a pain in the ass.”

“He always has been, Archer, but he’s your brother.”

“It’s the only thing that’s kept me from ripping his spleen through his throat.”

Sienna smiled at the empty threat, not unfamiliar with them, and then her expression cleared. She sobered and wrapped her arms around herself. “I was wrong to run two years ago.”

“We’ve all been running, Sienna. In different ways.”

“Declan blames himself for Sarah’s death.”

“We all blame ourselves.”

“No, Archer. You weren’t there the moment it happened. It’s different for Declan.”

And it was. Memories of the moment Warrick Brogan had targeted Sarah shortly after the ceremony they’d performed to cast the spell came to mind. Archer and Ethan had taken Rose above ground, leaving Declan and Sarah with her. One Brogan brother sealed in the tomb, the other sprawled unconscious on the floor. Their defences were down as everything had fallen silent, the spell was over, and the curse was in place. As they were about to walk away, Warrick Brogan charged Declan with a warlike cry and a vintage dagger clasped in one hand. Acting on instinct, Sarah had flung herself in the way, protecting her brother, and taking the stab to the heart meant for him.

The only way to kill a Keeper was to attack the heart.

And the dagger had gone straight into Sarah’s, killing her instantly.

A violent fight had broken out between Warrick and Declan and everything after that was a blur to Sienna. Overwhelmed with grief and fuelled by rage, she’d tapped into a very deep, raw part of herself and had allowed her powers to consume her. When she’d finally snapped out of her trance, exhausted and depleted of energy, the tomb was on fire, Warrick was gone, and Declan and Ethan were unconscious. She’d channelled their elemental powers, fire and air, draining them of their energy source. Almost killing them. Thanks to Archer who’d dragged them all out of the tomb, they had escaped the flames. Archer hadn’t been so fortunate.

“Sienna.” Archer’s words, spoken softly in the quiet room, speared the memories of that horrible night and brought her mind back to the present. “You’ve got to let it go.”

She shrugged and shook her head. “I hurt my Keepers. I can’t let it go, Archer, and neither can Declan. We both feel responsible. Sarah was there to protect me and died protecting Declan.” A tragedy that had bonded Declan to her forever.

“I get it, Sienna. Trust me, I get it.”

“So cut him some slack, okay?”

“Only if you cut yourself some slack.”

The mood shifted between them when he stepped forward, tangling his fingers in her hair. His thumb stroked the faded bruise on her cheek, his gaze flickering from hers to her lips, as if contemplating whether to kiss her.

“Archer, don’t,” she whispered, wrapping her hands around his to stop him.

“Sienna –”

“No. We can’t. Ethan was right. We shouldn’t do this.”

He shifted his grip and captured both her hands in his. “Can you really walk away from this?”

She knew what he meant, and her entire body reacted at the thought. Her heartbeat raced, her stomach clenched, and she dragged in a choppy gasp of air.

“Can you, Sienna?”

He was looking at her with an intensity that held her fixed to the spot and everything that sizzled when they were together sprang to the surface.

“You can’t kiss me again,” she said softly.

“But you want me to.”

She wouldn’t deny it. “Our relationship is cursed, you know that. Last time we got too close, you lost a sister and I lost my best friend.” She tipped her head to the side. “You know I’m right, Archer.”

“I’m willing to fight for it.”

“But I’m not.” She couldn’t risk losing again and she’d had enough of the bad that the good didn’t seem worth fighting for anymore.

“Sienna.”

“No.”

He closed his eyes and exhaled softly. When he opened them a moment later, she saw the struggle reflected there. With a final nod, he turned around and walked to the door.

Sienna ached to stop him, to call his name, but she held back.

Her breath caught when he paused in the doorway, spun around and took three quick, determined strides towards her.

Capturing her face in his hands, his lips caught hers in a kiss so powerful, so urgent, and so full of emotion that it stunned her into stillness.

Fire ignited, along with the familiar longing that always came when he touched her. When he pulled back moments later, she stared at him in breathless silence.

His hands still cradling her face, he dipped his head to meet her gaze. “That’s just a reminder of what you refuse to fight for.”

And just like that, he left her alone.

FOLLOWING MORNING

SIENNA’S APARTMENT, NEW YORK CITY

Her hideout. After all this time, Sienna had opted for a simple apartment in the city. A far cry from the rambling gardens, endless vineyards, and small town life of Rapid Falls, but perfect for a woman needing to vanish.

Sienna put a finger to her lips as they stepped off the elevator. “I don’t want Alex to hear that I’m back or we’ll never get out of here.”

“Who is Alex?” Archer asked, automatically scanning the hallway to ensure there were no lurkers nearby.

“A friend from across the hall.”

“Is he a problem?” His stomach clenched at the thought but he kept a straight face as he followed her to her door.

She shot him a small smile. “Not unless you’re afraid of little old ladies.”

Archer ignored Declan’s chuckle behind them. “Who is she?”

“She’s my friend and worked with me at the bookshop.”

“You worked at a bookshop all this time?”

“It was peaceful, gave me something to do, and Alex needed the help.”

“So why are we hiding from her?”

“If she sees us, she’ll want to feed us and I’m not in the mood for food or chit chats with little old ladies right now, no matter how sweet dear old Alex has been to me.”

He smiled and watched as she opened the apartment door. In a way, it pleased him that she’d had someone to watch out for her in the time she’d lived here.

When Archer saw the chaos and destruction of Sienna’s apartment, everything inside him shifted. Torn couches, slashed pillows, books tossed from the bookshelves, broken glass, and shattered lamps. It looked as though a whirlwind or a tornado – some natural disaster – had ripped through the apartment and destroyed everything in its path.

Except it hadn’t been a natural disaster.

With a low whistle, Declan disappeared into the rest of the apartment as Sienna came up behind him, peering over his shoulder.

Archer heard her sharp intake of breath, felt the bolt of horror that shot through her the moment she saw the destruction.

“Oh, my,” she whispered as her hands flew to her mouth. She stepped further into the room and looked around in silence.

Archer left her side and pulled open the curtains. Light filtered through the large windows, chasing away some of the gloom. Knowing Sienna, the small apartment had once been warm, neat, and homely. Now it was impossible to tell as they’d searched, moved, and destroyed everything.

Sienna turned to look at him. “They really thought I’d be stupid enough to keep my Grimoire here?”

“They probably knew it wouldn’t be here but still had to try.”

“You’ve got to give them points for their thoroughness.”

“And desperation.”

Declan returned with a grim expression, and Archer didn’t need to be told that the path of destruction followed the same throughout the apartment. A silent look passed between them, and Archer stepped behind Sienna, placing a hand at her lower back.

“Sienna, we should go. There’s nothing left for you here.”

She nodded and dragged in a deep breath.

He went with her to the bedroom, another disaster, and frowned at her expression as she looked around sadly at the life she’d once had, a life destroyed.

Clothes, shoes, and other paraphernalia littered the floor amongst the dozens of feathers from the torn duvet. Shattered mirrors, wrecked lights, doors torn from their hinges.

With a soft moan, she gathered a broken photo frame from the floor and shook off the shards of glass.

“Why would they do this?” she said softly, looking at the photograph in her hands. “They knew the Grimoire wouldn’t be in a damn photo frame. Why destroy them?” Her eyes shifted to the rest of the ruined frames scattered on the floor. “Why destroy everything?”

“They’re angry, Sienna. We’ve taken so much from them and they have to fight an ocean of resistance in order to achieve their goals.”

“All they’ve done is piss me off and make me more determined to keep them from getting what they want. Do they seriously think that every witch and her Keeper will stand back and allow them to achieve their vision for control? Our kind may be stronger and more powerful but we are so outnumbered by the ordinary people around us. Exposing our abilities and existence to everyone would be suicide.”

“I know.” He came up behind her to peer over her shoulder at the photograph in her hands.

He recognized it immediately and felt the tug of nostalgia as the faces of the four Bennett siblings stared back at him. A time when they’d all been together, laughing, happy. A silly picture taken at a silly moment and treasured by them all.

“You kept this,” he said, taking the photograph from her. Something stirred inside, quiet and reassuring, and he rubbed a thumb across the four faces.

“It was a happy day.”

“Sarah had just announced that she was planning to open the restaurant.”

There’d been huge celebrations and brainstorming that day. Archer brushed his thumb across his sister’s face, familiar with the longing that always came when he thought of her. She’d never had the chance to realize her dream but Ethan was determined to renovate the old pub in town into the restaurant she’d envisioned. Her dream would be a reality even if she wasn’t here to see it herself.

Without saying anything more, Sienna gave him a brief reassuring squeeze on the arm before walking into the closet. She slowly turned around, surveying the damage. “There’s not much here to rescue.”

“Leave it,” he said, placing the photograph on the drawer and looking up. “We’ll stop at the store and get you some things.” The thought of her wearing any of the clothes handled by the intruders made him shudder.

She nodded and with a final glance around the room, she headed for the door.

He followed closely behind but collided with her when she suddenly whirled around to face him. His hands shot out to steady her, and he raised an eyebrow.

“I forgot something,” she said, quickly looking away in an attempt to hide the unshed tears.

“Sienna.” Archer captured her chin with his fingers and tilted her face to his. She tried to pull away but his other hand slid behind her back, keeping her in place. “Look at me.”

“I’m fine, Archer.”

“I know.”

She reached for the photograph on the drawer beside them and held it against her chest. “We should go.”

He studied her in silence, his thumb stroking the fading bruise on her cheek. Of everything she’d come for, the only thing she was walking away with was a photograph of his family. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

She closed her eyes, resting her head against his. “Warrick should know better than to piss off a Beckham witch.”

True, but in fact, Warrick had done him a favour. Thanks to his meddling, Sienna seemed to be slipping back into her defend the world mode. He smiled, slid an arm around her shoulders, and led her back to the living area.

Declan’s eyes narrowed when he saw Sienna, and he glanced at his brother. “Is she okay?” he mouthed.

Archer nodded. “Let’s go.”

“We don’t have to clean this mess?”

Sienna smiled at the relief in Declan’s voice. “Leave it. When this is over I’ll come back to sort it out. And don’t look so damn pleased with yourself.”

“Trust me, honey. Pleased is the last thing I feel right now,” Declan said and followed her out the door.

****

Sienna had never been a fan of road trip bonding but the tension between the two brothers hung in the air like an unwelcome aunt.

Her efforts to break the silence during the long drive home had resulted in quick one-worded answers, and she’d eventually given up and made peace with the fact that the trip back to Rapid Falls would be far from exciting.

For two brothers that had once been inseparable, the rift between them was unnerving.

The darkness had added to her boredom, making her road trip pure torture. At least with the light, she’d been able to watch the passing scenery.

Her relief came an hour later when they finally stopped for fuel and refreshments. Determined to mellow them both, she returned to the car loaded with enough drinks and food that had both men raising an eyebrow at her.

She ignored them and held back a smile once they were back on the road, and both brothers attacked her stash of road trip munchies with fervour.

She’d figured they’d be hungry. All that muscle and testosterone in the front of the car needed fuelling, didn’t it?

“Have either of you spoken to Ethan?” Sienna asked from the back of the car and handed out hot coffee.

Declan took a sip and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “He’s with Rose. They’re alerting the four witches who have the stones and their Keepers.”

“I wonder how long it’ll be before Warrick strikes at one of them.”

“If he’s able to track them down, I say we should let him.”

Archer choked back his coffee and cleared his throat. “Hell no. Someone could get killed.”

“I meant we should let him strike, not that we should let him succeed,” Declan replied, rolling his eyes.

“You want to use one of the four witches as bait? That’s absurd.”

“Worth a try, don’t you think?”

“We can’t anticipate his moves, Declan. It’s too risky. He has no use for any of the four witches other than to get the stones they harbour. He’d kill them in a heartbeat.”

“So what else would you suggest? That we sit back on our asses and wait for him to come to us? Either we use a witch to draw him out or we go find him ourselves.”

“We wouldn’t even know where to look.”

“Can’t you or Rose use a locator spell or something?” Declan glanced at Sienna, blue eyes flashing with hope. “Surely one of you Beckham witches can track him?”

Sienna shook her head and hauled out a chocolate. If she was going to deal with all this testosterone, she might as well enjoy it with a sugar rush. “Warrick’s not one of us, Declan, you know that. Locator spells don’t work for evil.”

“Yes, but isn’t there a loop hole or something?”

“It’s magic, Declan. You’re not going to find loop holes.”

Declan reached back and snatched the chocolate from her. Settling back in his seat, he bit into the chocolate, chewed, and swallowed. “I still think we should draw him out.”

“We’re not using a witch,” Archer said firmly and everything about his rigid posture and the way he gripped the steering wheel, staring straight ahead, made it clear that he wouldn’t budge on this one.

And Sienna knew the handsome Keeper well enough to know that he was as stubborn as a cat about to have a bath.

Especially when it came to witches.

Declan shot Archer an impatient look. “Since when are you scared of Warrick?”

“I’m not afraid of Warrick, Declan. If anything, I’d love to rip his heart out.”

“And yet you choose to sit back and do nothing.”

“I can’t risk someone else getting hurt.”

“If we leave Warrick to his free reign, someone will get hurt.”

“That’s why we’ve alerted the four witches and their Keepers. They’ll be safe. Their Keepers won’t let anything happen to them. And once we find Warrick, his days are numbered, but we’ll find him without using the witches as bait.”

“Fine, then we’ll leave the witches out of it. After all, the only witch he wants is sitting in the back seat of this car.” Declan turned to face Sienna, and something about the way he looked at her had her freezing mid bite.

And it had nothing to do with his glorious blue eyes or chiselled, perfect features.

“Declan, don’t even think about it,” Archer said.

Apparently, Archer knew his brother well as the gleam in Declan’s eyes brightened and a wicked smile played at the corners of his mouth.

Sienna lowered the chocolate and licked her lips. “You want me to be the bait?”

Declan shrugged and turned back in his seat. “It might be the only way.”

“There’s no way in hell we’re using Sienna to draw him out, Declan,” Archer said through gritted teeth and slapped a hand across the back of Declan’s head. “What the hell are you thinking?”

“What? We’d be there to watch out for her.” Declan swatted Archer’s hand away and ran his fingers through his thick mane of hair.

A muscle worked in Archer’s jaw. “Seriously?”

“Your bait is listening to every word you say, so stop talking as though I’m not here,” Sienna interrupted, shifting forward in her seat. “Declan has a point, Archer.”

“A crazy point, that is.”

She should’ve known he’d never go for it. “We draw Warrick out and end this power trip of his before anyone gets hurt.”

“You could get hurt, Sienna.”

“We all could, but it’s a risk we’ll have to take in order to protect the seal of the curse.”

“We have no idea who’s working with Warrick or what powers they possess. We wouldn’t even know where to find Warrick.”

“No, but his minions do, and they seem to be hot on my trail lately. It’d be easy to send a message.”

“Saying what? Inviting him for tea?”

Sienna smiled. “I doubt a man like Warrick even drinks tea. Way too civilized for him.”

“Yeah, he probably drinks the blood of newborn babies,” Declan said, taking another bite of chocolate.

“He’s not a vampire, Declan.”

“Who knows what he does in his leisure time?”

Archer scowled at her in the rear-view mirror. “We’re not using anyone as bait to draw Warrick out.”

“Fine,” Sienna said, slumping back in her seat with a noisy sigh. “Let me know when you come up with a better plan.”

“I will,” he said in a low tone. “And it’ll be a far better plan than you offering yourself up as a sacrificial lamb.”

Sienna rolled her eyes and turned her attention to the window, relieved to see they were approaching Rapid Falls.

Home.

She’d grown up here, had friends here. Her family had lived here for generations – they were one of the founding members of the town, along with the Bennett family and several others.

And even though she’d resisted coming home with every fibre of her being, now that she was here, she wondered how she’d ever left.