Page 21 of Hidden Magic

Chapter Ten

Thunder echoed through the room, shaking Kat out of her slumber. Before she opened her eyes, the sweet smell of wood told her she was at the cabin, and that made her smile because it meant Brant was nearby.

Once more, it was difficult to push through that haze that kept invading her brain lately. Was she coming down with the flu or some sort of nasty bug? Rolling to her side, her hand searched for Brant, but his side of the bed was empty and cold. Sitting up, she felt sluggish and weird. Why couldn’t she remember coming to the cabin with Brant? What day was it? Each movement seemed to be complicated or required too much effort, but nonetheless, she pushed the covers and stood.

As she walked to the dresser, she saw some of her clothing strewn on the floor and delicious images of Brant naked on the bed came to her mind. Pleading eyes, caressing hands, pleasure that made her want to forget everything ... and something else. The thought nagged at her mind as she dressed.

Why couldn’t she remember anything before last night? Had she been drugged? Where was Brant?

Worry gnawing at her, Kat wanted to stand, but her body was fighting her, shivering, almost leading her back to bed where it was safe. Safe. That word kept popping up. Why would she want to be safe? She was with Brant, he would keep her safe. Unless he wasn’t there. A slow rise of panic and anxiety made her want to go under again. It became so debilitating, it was as if she didn’t have any control again.Again?

The word was like a punch in the solar plexus, emptying her lungs of all the air that was left. Gasping, Kat couldn’t do anything but let the images come to her, drowning her with information. It was as if her entire being was daring her to stay sane after all was said and done, and she knew what had happened.

The bakery, Christmas cookies, Yanni and Lawrence’s sudden appearance, her kidnapping and them wanting to... Her stomach wanted to heave as her worst nightmare came to life. As what she had desperately tried to escape, as she’d realized all her efforts and sacrifices, had been for nothing.

Kat wanted to scream and cry all at the same time. In a split second, her hopes of building anything with Brant had been dashed, reduced to cinders. What man would willingly sacrifice his whole life to be on the run with her? The door was there. She could walk out and never return, but something was no longer the same inside her.

Panic was slowly drowned out by something softer, warmer. Love. Brant loved her. And with the little she knew about his world, he’d offered himself to her. Wonderful words came up, vows that imprinted themselves on her heart.

They were bonded mates now. When she’d asked him to marry her last night, had he known everything that had happened? Had he discovered the awful truth when he’d rescued her? There were still so many blanks to fill in, but if she was here with him, it meant that he’d intervened somehow. That he’d saved her and brought her here. But what about Yanni and Lawrence?

A roar came from outside followed by a loud bang. Brant was nearby, she could feel it in her bones and when she searched for him with her telepathic abilities, it was a wall of fur and fangs that greeted her. His lynx was ignoring everything, as he focused on another target. She couldn’t understand anything coherent from him, only pain, sorrow, and a desire to lash out.

It was a feminine scream, followed by a howl she didn’t recognize that propelled her into action.

In the living room, the decorations everywhere almost made her stop in her tracks, but the large picture window that was now shattered told her that something bad was happening. Running out, her feet on a thin trace of white snow, Kat couldn’t believe her eyes. In front of her a lynx and a wolf were in a mighty fight. Fur flew and drops of blood colored the mix of snow and dirt. The lynx was much smaller than its opponent but moved like lightning. Out the corner of her eye, she saw two women she vaguely recognized who remained frozen in place, giving the two animals a wide berth. They hadn’t seen her yet, too entranced in the battle.

Kat couldn’t look away either, but when Brant in his animal form couldn’t evade one of the wolf’s blows, and was thrown hard into a tree, Kat wanted a weapon to appear in her hands for the first time in her life.

As the wolf shook himself and jumped toward Brant as if to make the kill, Kat screamed.

Weirdly, and as time suddenly seemed to slow, a tremendous heat formed in her chest and started to spread. Her entire body burning, she saw the wolf bunch up and attack. Brant was still struggling to get up, and when the black beast bounded toward him, Kat shouted, her body leaping forward. The blast that came from her surprised her, but not as much as the large black wolf who was suspended in midair in front of her. The women on the other side of her gasped.

Had she done that? Her hands were outstretched, the tickling feeling on her skin, that heat that seemed to pour out her fingertips. Only one way to find out. As if grabbing the threat with her bare hands, she swung both arms, throwing him away and catapulted him deep into the forest.

Scared out of her mind by what had just happened, Kat ran toward Brant who was shaking himself off. It was the first time she had physically seen him in his animal form. Often, she had caught a glimpse of him when she’d accidentally read his mind, but she’d never had the pleasure of running her hand through the soft fur covering him. He was way bigger than lynxes she’d seen on TV or in books. But it was him, his eyes were his and she could feel his energy connecting to her. The bond they had formed hours ago was tightening as time passed, linking them even closer.

Are you okay?This time the connection didn’t take any focus, it was as if she was talking with actual words.

There was blood on him and she didn’t know the extent of his wounds. Tears welled as she both caressed the muscled body and searched to see if he was hurt.

I’m fine beloved. I’m fine. Don’t cry. I was the one who provoked Ian into a fight.There was hesitation in him.I, you ... you just returned into that sort of unconsciousness where I couldn’t reach you. I was selfish when you asked me to bond with you...

Stop, you didn’t force me into anything. I love you. I should never have asked you to tie yourself to me. I am... I don’t even know who I am anymore...

The last thread of self-control holding her together literally dissolved as her body quaked. The image of the wolf crashed into her mind and she looked at her hands in horror.

The world closed in on her. Telepathy was one thing she had learned to live with, even if it brought her grief and sacrifice. But how could she be with Brant with this uncontrolled power inside her? She could put him at risk.

Enough!

The strong voice inside her brain was a jolt, pushing her panic aside enough so she could think again. She didn’t have time to answer as a shadow was making its way toward them. Adrenaline overtook her, and she scrambled to put herself in front of Brant as the wolf headed toward them. Brant’s voice was drowned out by her thundering heart, and as she felt a familiar heat take hold of her, the two women rushed in front of the wolf.

“Kat, stop! He means no harm.”

It took a moment for Kat to take a full breath and fall back against Brant. The two women looked familiar. The smallest of them, stepped back to the black wolf as it sat. The other woman, beautiful with warm eyes slowly lowered her hands and smiled.

“I knew that there was more to you than met the eye, Kat. I’m Valeria. Behind me is my friend Sera with her mate, Ian. We mean no harm. The guys fight all the time, it’s a way for them to let off steam.”

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