The Keepers: Declan. Rae Rivers

      “Think love child of Spiderman, Mason Brogan, and Catwoman.”

      Ethan laughed, although the sound lacked humour. “You’re kidding?”

      “I wish I was, brother.”

      “Where’s the woman?”

      “About three hours from Rapid Falls.”

      “She lives here?”

      “Passing through. Apparently she’s renting a house for a few days.”

      “Planning another attempt at the third dagger, no doubt?”

      “Probably.”

      “So use your key, check her out.”

      Right. “I plan to.”

      “Declan,” Ethan said, his voice taking on an edge. “You have to bring her back to Rapid Falls.”

      “I know.”

      “If Harper’s after her, then he has a use for her.”

      “She’s a Null.”

      There was a brief pause. Ethan exhaled into the phone. “Shit. You sure?”

      “She’s inexperienced but definitely a Null.”

      “All the more reason we can’t let Harper get to her.”

      Declan felt a flare of frustration. “I know, brother. I get it, but she’s jittery and doesn’t trust me.”

      “You can’t blame her. With her powers, everyone in our world will want her.” Ethan cursed softly. “Use your Bennett charm, whatever it takes, but get her here.”

      “If she uses her creepy powers to mess with my magical mojo, then I’m holding you responsible.”

      “To hell with your mojo. If Harper gets to her, we’re all screwed.”

      A clattering of dustbin lids caught Declan’s attention. Good. She was there and was awake – if she’d even slept. The sun was up, rays of light licking at the house with the promise of a new day.

      “I gotta go,” Declan said, sitting up straighter.

      “Call us when you have her.”

      “I will. Just keep Sienna close. We don’t know what Harper’s up to.”

      There was silence, followed by a brief grunt. “Don’t worry about Sienna. Watch your back, brother.”

      “Yeah, yeah.” Declan disconnected the call and pocketed his phone. He rolled his shoulders, his muscles aching from the lack of sleep, and climbed out the car.

      As he walked down the driveway, he caught sight of Kate straightening the bins. She looked different when she wasn’t in burglar mode. Long brown hair hung in big curls over her shoulders, and she was slender with curves in all the right places. The sweater she wore had the words ‘New Orleans Wonder’ sprawled across perky breasts.

      Beautiful. Sexy. Damn annoying.

      He heard her sharp breathing even from this distance. If he concentrated, he could even hear her heartbeat. A faint, rapid pulse that hinted at her uneasiness.

      She glanced around before straightening the bin.

      Declan stepped out of the bushes and stood in the middle of the driveway.

      A blackbird took flight and she spun around with a gasp, a bag of rubbish in one hand. Their eyes locked and the need for words fell away.

      She moved first.

      Dropping the bag, she whirled around and bolted up the stairs to the front door. He anticipated her movements and it took little effort for him to reach the door before she did.

      He cocked a brow as she froze. “You really think you’re going to run from me?”

      Eyes wide, she shoved him away and raced around the house along the porch.

      He gave chase and snatched her wrist as she slipped into the half-open sliding door. With a shriek, she spun around and kicked out, packing a tight blow for someone her size. He released her and she dashed inside, slamming the door.

      They stared at each other through the glass, both breathless from the struggle.

      “Open the door, Kate.”

      “Go away!”

      “Yeah, right. As if that’ll happen after what you’ve done to me. Open the door before I break the lock.”

      Her eyes narrowed as she scanned the length of him, zeroing in on his Keeper ring. “Declan?”

      His eyebrows shot up and he reached out, ripping the door open with ease. Kate gasped, spun around, and ran. Declan followed, but halted as he found himself staring down the barrel of a handgun.

      “You need to leave,” she panted, and he heard the shaking anger in her voice. Despite the fact that her shoulders heaved from her choppy gasps of air, neither her arms nor the gun wavered.

      “Seriously? You’re going to shoot me?”

      “You’re the one who started this game of cat and mouse.” She gave him a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Not so nice when you’re the mouse, is it?”

      “I wouldn’t know. I’m not going to hurt you, Kate.”

      “Right. You tracked me down and I doubt you had tea and a catch up in mind.” She nudged the gun in his direction. “You should go.”

      “Like hell. You want to shoot me? Then do it. I doubt you even know how to use that thing.” He lowered his hands and took a step closer to her. “Go on, shoot me.”

      She cocked the gun.

      Shit. “Put the gun down, Kate.”

      Keeping his eyes pinned on her, he edged closer, holding his breath. “You might be a thief but I doubt you’re a murderer.” He sensed the slightest crack appear in her armour and took another step forward. “Lower the gun. I won’t hurt you.”

      “After what I’ve done to you I find that hard to believe.”

      “Payback’s a bitch but it’s not what I’m after. I simply want answers.”

      He used her moment of hesitation to close the distance between them in a lightning quick move. She screamed as he grabbed the gun from her but he tossed it to the couch where it landed with a thud.

      She tried to punch him but he caught her wrists. She lurched forward, unbalancing them both and they stumbled across the couch and onto the floor.

      “Kate!” he snapped, keeping a firm grip on her wrists. He adjusted his weight, pinning her beneath him. “Kate, stop it!”

      Their eyes met and he heard the air leave her lungs in surrender. They stared at each other in prickly silence, electricity pulsing between them. Her heart hammered in her chest against his, reminding him of the last time she’d been breathless in his arms.

      “Calm down,” he said, pushing away the memories. “I won’t hurt you. I just want to talk.”

      “By attacking me on the front porch?”

      “I’m sorry. You ran and I acted without thinking.” His lips twitched in an attempt to bring them onto even ground. “Animal instinct and all that.”

      “You broke down my door.”

      “Apparently locks aren’t a hindrance to either of us.”

      “What do you want, Declan?”

      He could think of a lot he wanted from her. A shitload of answers for starters. He released her wrists and lifted his weight, but still kept her pinned beneath him. No chance he was letting this wildcat go until he was convinced she was calm.

      “Now