The Keepers: Declan. Rae Rivers

her breasts. As she unlocked the door, unease arrowed straight to her gut and her heart began to race. Her breath caught as Declan grabbed her hand, tugging her so roughly that she tripped on the step.

      “Dammit, Kate, get a move on!” he snapped. He reached for her and she drew on every ounce of willpower not to flinch at the mark on his left wrist.

      The tattoo of the warlock he supported.

       Slapping his hand away, she rose, eyeing him carefully as panic took grip.

       His gaze fell to his exposed wrist, triggering a smile.

      She drew on her centre, channelling her power the way she’d been taught.

      The lights flickered and energy filled the air as the image of Declan disappeared to reveal Max. His long hair hung in messy strands around his flushed face. A flicker of surprise crossed his expression when he realised she’d disarmed him, but disappeared as he gave her a smirk.

      Her mother had once warned her of Mimics – people with the ability to imitate others. It was a dark magic, seldom seen or used, but its perfect execution had fooled her.

      Declan.

      Like hell.

      She reeled for the door, but he lunged, slamming her against the wall. He shoved a hand against her mouth, muffling her scream. He smelt of cigars and aggression. Her attempts to break free only tightened his grip and earned her a yank of the hair.

      It got her attention.

      As did the knife he slid against her throat.

      He swung her around to face him, shoving her against the wall without budging the knife.

      “Crash course in survival, darling,” he drawled, pressing it into her flesh. “If you’re being hunted, don’t seek out your hunter.”

      Something snapped inside as Kate gasped for air, clawing at the hands that held her prisoner. She felt the flush of energy with her fury and dug her nails into his skin so hard that he grunted.

      “Crash course in survival, asshole,” she said in a steady voice, pleased that her tone gave nothing away. “If you’re hunting your prey, don’t underestimate her.” With an animal scream, her knee came up with a speed and force that buckled him.

      She aimed a kick that sent him sprawling across the floor. His outraged roar ripped through the corridor and he struggled to his feet, swiping hair from his face.

      He lunged forward, but with a dizzying movement, she grabbed the fire extinguisher attached to the wall and released the nozzle. Thick white spray devoured him, sparking howls of rage. She took four strides toward the blinded man and whacked the fire extinguisher across his head, crying out in relief when he crumpled to the ground.

      “Kate!” yelled a female voice as a door further down the corridor burst open to reveal a breathless blonde woman.

      Jenna froze in the doorway, her gaze shifting from the fallen warrior to Kate. Her eyebrows were tense, her mouth clamped in fury. She was still wearing Kate’s clothes.

      “What are you doing here?” Kate cried out. “You were asleep!”

      “No chance in hell I’m missing out on all this,” Jenna replied glancing at Max.

      For a brief moment, they stared at each other as Kate’s mind scrambled for an explanation.

      Damn Hazel’s stupid tea!

      “You drugged my tea!” Jenna snapped.

      “Clearly our dosages need work,” Kate shot back, glancing at the door behind her.

      “Harper will hunt you down, Kate. There’s nowhere to hide.”

      The truth sent her panic soaring. Raising the fire extinguisher, Kate squeezed the nozzle as Jenna began to run toward her. She threw the weapon into the white cloud and raced for the back door. Kate slammed it just as Jenna reached her, her fingers trembling around the magical key as she turned the lock. Ignoring Jenna’s furious pounding and shouts, Kate backtracked into the alley, her body trembling at the cold realisation that she’d almost walked into a trap.

      Had it not been for Max’s tattoo, she would have gone with him.

      Declan. Had he really been at the club?

      Adrenaline, fear, and confusion stirred and she sagged against the wall.

      Refusing to embrace her vulnerability, Kate pushed herself up. With shaking hands, she took to the streets, the truth gnawing at her:

      She couldn’t trust anyone.

       CHAPTER SEVEN

       Two days later

       Canada

      Declan parked the rental car beneath a cluster of trees and turned off the engine, his eyes fixed on the white house by the lake. It was neat, built on stilts, with a porch that wrapped all the way around. Something Barbie and Ken would like. All that was missing was a Golden Retriever and a few kids. It was a quiet road, interspersed with quaint houses miles apart on the outskirts of the small rural village.

      A few hours from Rapid Falls. Not surprising that Kate was renting in a town so tiny that it barely marked the map. What was surprising was that she’d returned to Canada.

      The third dagger?

      The peaceful village and the smell of the water wafting through his open window did little to calm the churning frustration in his gut.

       He shouldn’t worry, shouldn’t care. But dammit, he did. Losing her on Bourbon had made him want to punch something.

      But why would she seek out Harper, the Brogans' right-hand man? The last time he’d seen Harper was the night they’d killed Warrick. Harper had bolted and, somehow, Kate had tracked him to New Orleans, figured out that he owned the club, and found a way in to his private party.

      Clever. Or stupid? And why was she tracking him?

      Declan pulled out his phone and had his brother on speed dial.

      “Where the hell have you been?” Ethan asked in an agitated tone that matched Declan’s mood.

      “Someone’s testy today.”

      “You’d be too if you had Sienna breathing down your neck every five minutes wanting to know if we’ve heard from you.”

      Declan smiled, picturing his witch. “Tell Sienna I’m fine.”

      “Where are you?”

      “Back in Canada.”

      “Already?”

      “The woman gets around.”

      And thanks to her witch friend back in New Orleans, he’d been able to track her. It had taken some convincing but Hazel had finally relented and offered him an address.

      “Everything okay?” Ethan asked.

       “Everything’s peachy.” Liar, liar.

      “What happened at the club?”

      Images of Harper’s party erupting into chaos sprang to mind. In a world where their kind lived in secrecy, their scant regard for the rules had shocked him. It promised a heap of crap he’d thought they’d dealt with: the Brogans and their quest for exposure and control.

      “I think it’s safe to say that there's a new leader of the pack, with an even bigger following,” Declan muttered.

      “Harper?”

      “Yeah.”

      “We should’ve taken him out when he went for Sienna the first