The Keepers: Declan (10 page)

Declan stopped at a cluster of rocks by the river, unloaded his rucksack, and tuned his hearing into the sounds.

A waterfall.

He grinned and peered up at the sky, tinted pink from the setting sun. Trees surrounded them, the mountains looming. He unfolded the map and scanned it briefly.

With a nod, he returned the map to his pocket and looked over his shoulder for Kate, who had fallen behind.

They’d had a gruelling day trudging through trees, rocks and snow. She’d done well, kept up with him, but exhaustion showed in her flushed face and lips clamped in determination.

Gutsy. He had to give her that.

“Why are we stopping?” Kate panted, coming up behind him.

“The waterfall is near, which means we’re close to the railway line.”

Wide eyes flashed with relief and a huge smile broke free. “Really?”

He checked his watch. “According to the schedule, there’s a scenic train scheduled to pass through this evening.”

Her expression brightened. “How far away are the tracks?”

“Lower down the mountain, past the waterfall.”

“There’s a waterfall?”

“You don’t hear it?”

“No.” Her smile faded and she stared at the river. She waggled her fingers toward her right ear. “I hear everything and nothing. It’s weird.”

“You need to filter.”

Her eyebrows rose and he grinned.

“Without the filter, the noise will drive you mad.” Taking her hand, he helped her onto the rock and felt her heartbeat quicken against his chest as he stepped behind her. His closeness unsettled her. Good.

Keeping one hand on either side of her hips, he turned her to face the river. For a moment they stood in silence, absorbing the beauty, a mocking contrast to the evil on their trail.

Raising one arm, he pointed further down the river. “If you close your eyes and listen, you’ll hear the roar of water up ahead.”

“I can’t, Declan.”

“Close your eyes, Kate,” he insisted, tightening his hold when she tried to pull away. “Focus on each noise, one by one, until you hear it.”

She tilted her head, brown eyes flashing with suspicion.

“Close your eyes,” he murmured. “Focus. Eliminate every noise until the sound of the water is magnified against everything else you hear.”

With a soft sigh, she closed her eyes and fell silent. A small frown creased her delicate brows as she listened.

“Whatever you’re hearing, tune it out,” he whispered against her ear.

“Even you?”

“Can you?”

He heard the increase in her heartbeat, felt it pulse against his fingers. She didn’t answer and he smiled.

Apparently, he wasn’t the only one having a hard time.

Unable to stop himself, his hands trailed up her body, across her shoulders. One hand cupped the back of her head while the other shifted her hair to expose the long column of her throat.

“I can’t concentrate when you do that,” she whispered, but didn’t pull away.

“I can’t help it. You’re beautiful.”

“You’re just horny.”

He laughed and touched his lips to her neck, breathing her in. Keeping her in place with one hand, he left soft kisses across her skin, a trail of teasers along her jaw. He tilted her head back and sideways, nibbling the corner of her mouth.

She released a breathy sigh, the sound making him instantly hard.

So he kissed her. Soft, teasing, tasting. And it took everything he had not to turn her around and demand more.

He drew back, grinning, not missing the flush in her cheeks, or the way her heartbeat pounded furiously against him.

Clearing his throat, he turned her back to the river. “Filter through until you’re only hearing the water.”

“Right. That should be easy now.”

He chuckled, teasing her cheekbone with another kiss, receiving an elbow in the ribs for his efforts.

“Stop kissing me!”

“Focus, Kate.”

She did, although it took a while for her to relax. He felt the agitation lessen and she tipped her head back against his shoulder.

“Can you hear it?” he prompted.

A brief smile hinted that she could and Declan grinned.

“Yes. It’s all I hear.” Her eyes flew open and she shifted in his arms so that she faced him. “Everything else went so quiet. God, it’s the most silence I’ve heard in ages!”

He smiled. “Filtering. Without it, you’ll go mad.”

“You could have told me this earlier.”

“In between the moments that you drugged me or tried to stab me?” He flashed a fake smile.

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic.”

She began to move away but he stopped her. Edging closer, he brushed his lips against her ear, grinning when he felt the shiver run through her. “Fool me once, Wildcat.”

Her reply was snatched away by the sound of voices in the distance. With lightning speed, he backed her behind a tree.

Her heart rate spiked and her breathing quickened.

Declan scanned the forest, focusing on the voices, his agitation mounting.

“Harper?” Kate asked.

He nodded, glancing at the river, calculating an escape plan. “All of them.”

He saw the flash of fear in her eyes, ached to wash it away, and drew on the anger that beckoned. He needed to get them off the damn mountain.

He held her, conflicted by the urge to protect and stand his ground. Running from their attackers contradicted every one of his fighting instincts, but he knew that Harper and his warriors would be a challenge. Especially ones with freaky magical powers like the ones he’d witnessed at the club.

And he had Kate to consider.

Shit.

Not that she couldn’t hold her own.

Declan hoisted his rucksack and took her hand. “The river.”

As they turned, a flash of movement collided with the tree branches nearby. The tree shook on impact, disrupting layers of snow. Declan shoved Kate behind him, cursing when he saw one of Harper’s warriors perched above them.

A jumper. Dammit.

His sweaty blond hair clung to his face and there were dark smudges under his eyes. He appeared human, but his movements smacked of something else.

The warrior grinned and tilted his head back, releasing an animal cry that made Declan’s gut clench.

His accomplices echoed the cry and Declan heard them in the distance.

“Well, well, the Null is alive and kicking,” the warrior drawled.

He jumped across to the next tree, landing on a thick branch above them. Declan followed with a leap of his own, using his speed and bulk to disarm the warrior.

The collision sent them tumbling to the ground in an explosion of grunts and curses. Declan jumped to his feet, blocking a blow with a roar. He ducked, spun around and kicked, grunting with satisfaction when the warrior smashed against a tree. He lunged forward, shoving his hand against the warrior’s heart. Pinning him with a death stare, Declan channelled his force. Droplets of sweat pooled on the warrior’s forehead and he grunted as heat overtook his body.

His face reddened, as though someone had fired up a blow torch. Gasping, he passed out and Declan tossed his body aside with a growl.

Sweet fucking justice.

His senses flickered in warning at the arrival of more warriors. Their movements were sleek and animal-like as they jumped, climbed, or leapt toward them.

Whatever magic Harper had used was effective as they gained on them with alarming ease.

Kate stood by the edge of the river, staring pointedly into the tree above their attackers.

Declan followed her gaze to the beehive situated above and swallowed a grin.

Oh, yeah.

Megan took a leap, landing silently nearby, her hands behind her back. She straightened, dark eyes circled with make-up, pinned on Kate. She appeared less ruffled than the men and cracked a smile when her arms came forward to reveal a whip.

In swift succession, Rick and Max were beside her, closely followed by Harper.

“We meet again,” Harper said with a smug grin edging his lips. His shaved head was concealed beneath a black cap, his tattoo visible at the back of his neck. He lacked height, but his bulky frame made up for it. His nose still carried a hint of a bruise and Declan glanced at Kate.

“I hope he has you to thank for that?”

The corner of her lip twisted in confirmation and he gave a grunt of approval.

“It appears you got away lightly, Harper,” Declan said. “Again. I should have killed you when I had the chance.”

“Cut the reminiscing crap and give us the girl, Bennett.”

“Pick on someone your own size.”

“You’re one. We’re five.”

“Underestimating Kate? Bad move.” Declan nodded in the direction of the unconscious warrior at the foot of the tree. “And do your math, Harper.”

Harper’s nostrils flared. “So we’re four. You’re still outnumbered. And you’ve seen what we’re capable of.”

“Warriors on witchy steroids?” Declan snorted. “Your magic doesn’t scare me.”

It only made him wary. He’d never been one for running but with Kate as their target, Harper would pull out all the stops.

He needed to get Kate home, out of Harper’s reach, and decode what the hell they wanted from her.

They’d follow, but between him and his brothers, getting to Kate would be near impossible.

They’d already lost three women. Losing another was not an option.

Harper’s mouth turned downward and he nodded at his men. “Get the girl.”

Kate stepped forward, hurling a rock at the beehive with such force that Declan heard the whoosh of air as it passed him. The rock collided with the branch, disrupting the quiet hive.

It swung violently, exploding into a buzz of fury. Hundreds of bees spilled from the hive and surrounded Harper and his men.

Their outraged roars tore through the silence as Declan grabbed Kate’s hand and bolted to the river.

“Why didn’t you just use your joo joo on them?” he asked as they ran.

“It’s not that easy. Too many of them,” she replied, her face clouded with fury.

It didn’t take long before they neared the waterfall, but Harper’s men had recovered quickly and set chase with renewed anger.

He could hear their snatched breathing, muttered curses and Harper’s barking orders.

Tugging Kate closer, he headed toward the water, skidding to a halt at the top of the waterfall. Water roared around them in a powerful current that swept off the ledge and crashed into the pool below.

Declan eyed the cluster of rocks a few feet below that formed a ledge. It was slippery and probably suicide, but would offer temporary shelter.

Not stopping to weigh other options, knowing they were out of time, he grabbed Kate around the waist. “Do not scream,” he ordered and leapt.

Their landing was smoother than he’d anticipated, adrenaline wiping away the blow of the fall. He glanced up as they scrambled for cover against the back rock, and felt the kick of triumph when he realised Harper hadn’t caught up yet.

And with any luck, they’d assume Declan had opted for the safer hike down the mountain in the opposite direction. He hoped his plan worked, hating to admit their lack of alternatives.

Shouts could be heard above them as Harper and his warriors arrived at the top of the waterfall. The roar of the water muffled their words but they sounded furious. Moments later, they took off for the hiking trail.

Declan sagged against the rock and exhaled noisily. Thank God.

“Are they gone?’

He nodded, breathless, and slid an arm around her shoulders, giving her a quick squeeze. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

She shook her head, her shoulders heaving as she tried to catch her breath.

A few minutes passed in silence, the need for words unnecessary as they waited for their attackers to move on.

Kate glanced at the edge of the rock and raised a brow. “How are we going to get off here?”

He hadn’t thought that far ahead, but she didn’t have to know that.

Walking to the edge, he scanned the climb down. Too damn steep. Too risky. And climbing up would mean they’d have to take the same path as the warriors.

Plan B.

Kate wouldn’t like it. Hell,
he
didn’t like it, but it was their only option.

Declan dropped his rucksack and shrugged off his jacket. “Take off your jeans and jacket,” he told her, pulling off his shoes.

She gaped at him. “It’s bad enough we’re being chased and now you want me naked?”

“Trust me.”

“Fine,” she replied and began to unbutton her jeans, “but I’m not wearing any underwear so I’m keeping my shirt.”

“Honey, as much as I love what’s under that shirt, it’s the last thing on my mind right now.”

The cold air sent a wave of goose bumps across her body and she grimaced as she handed him the clothing.

He stripped to his boxers and T-shirt, shoved everything into the bag and tossed it over the ledge, aiming it toward dry ground.

“What –?” she asked as he reached for her hand.

“We’ll need dry clothing.”

“Declan, no!” Kate shouted, her words a breathless gasp as she traced his intentions. “The water’s freezing, we’ll –”

Ignoring her protests, he grabbed her hand and leapt.

The icy temperature snagged his breath as the water swallowed them, an endless tidal wave sweeping them down.

“Kate!” he shouted under the water as he lost his grip on her. Using all his strength, he fought to the surface, cursing when he couldn’t find her. As the current swept them along, he scanned the river, horror gripping his insides.

Relief soared when she burst through the surface of the water with a gasp and he was beside her in a flash, drawing her toward the edge.

They heaved themselves onto the riverbank, panting. Declan reached for her, tugging her up. “Are you okay?” he grunted, unable to keep his hands off her as he checked for injuries.

She nodded, drenched, breathless.

“You jumped?” she screeched, looking at the height they’d attempted. She punched his arm, her small fist packing a powerful blow. “You’re crazy!”

Insane. And it irked him to admit how risky that manoeuvre had been.

“We survived, didn’t we?” he snapped, searching the horizon above them. Still no sign of Harper or his men. He went to retrieve the rucksack but was quick to return. She was shivering, her wet hair clinging to her face. Reaching for her hand, he headed to a cluster of large trees.