The Keepers: Ethan. Rae Rivers

fell quiet.

      Blissful stillness tinged with choppy breathing as they struggled to catch their breaths. In the distance, the tornado faded, the sky still marked with a few lurking crows lucky enough to have avoided the turmoil.

      Blowing out air, she shifted her gaze to Ethan’s. He was scratched and bloodied. A quiet fury burned in his eyes.

      He ran his fingers through her tangled hair. “Are you hurt?”

      “I’m fine.” She leaned back on her knees and exhaled. “They came out of nowhere!”

      “That was the biggest damn infestation of crows I’ve ever seen.”

      She shook her head. “That wasn’t an infestation, Ethan. It was an attack.”

      A heavy silence filling the space between them.

      “It’s Hazel,” he said, the words coming out in a low growl. He leaned back on his haunches, a harsh frown narrowing his eyes, and met her gaze. “Dammit, she’s back, isn’t she?”

      “She never left. She’s simply been quiet.”

      Until now.

       CHAPTER THREE

      THURSDAY EVENING

      BENNETT ESTATE

      A matter of time.

      Jenna had known that. But the few months unmarred by Hazel’s darkness had been blissful, despite the constant anxiety that churned inside.

      But it was over.

      Ignoring the surge of panic at the thought, Jenna walked into the Bennett cellar, not bothering with the light, and retrieved another bottle of wine from the shelf.

      The temperature was cool, maintained for optimal storage of wine. Dark shelves lined the walls, stacked with bottles of wine; some home-brewed using their own grapes, some from other wine estates. It smelt of grapes and cork, a delicious aroma that brought comfort.

      The sound of her friends’ laughter drifted through from the living room, high-pitched and excited. A given, considering the amount of wine they’d consumed. She desperately needed another glass to ease the tension knocking at her insides. Ever since the incident with the crows earlier, a permanent sense of doom had hijacked her mood, her body wired with an adrenaline high she’d found impossible to shake.

      She headed back to the doorway, gasping as a familiar tingle of pain spread across her hip.

       Oh, no.

      She fumbled for the light switch and lifted her t-shirt. Even though she knew what awaited her, her heart still plummeted at the fresh mark etched on her flesh.

      Beside two others that had appeared a few days ago. Faint images, similar to a birthmark but darker. Like a tattoo. She’d always had a mark on her hip – the mark of her lineage, one she kept hidden from everyone. But lately, the damn thing kept sprouting. They held no meaning, but a few magical tattoos appearing on her body out of nowhere spelled trouble.

      “Jenna, where’s the wine?” Sienna called from the living room, startling her.

      She lowered her t-shirt, drew in a deep breath, and went into the kitchen. The house was mostly in darkness, dimly lit by a few lamps that offered warmth to the old house. It had been renovated over the years, carefully furnished with a style that smacked of wealth. Thanks to generations of family money and a thriving wine estate, the brothers lived a life of luxury Jenna had never known.

      The opposite of the poverty she’d endured whilst growing up.

      She hadn’t yet told them where she came from. Ameera. The secret realm that harboured supernatural beings, most of which had a hunger for violence and chaos. A place where danger lurked at every corner. A city of neglect and violence. Destruction and despair.

      The brothers knew of Ameera’s existence, but for them their knowledge of it was derived from stories and folklore.

      For Jenna, Ameera was home.

      Or at least, it used to be. A long, long time ago.

      Shaking her head to ward off the sadness that always came when she thought of her family, Jenna walked into the kitchen. The room still smelt of their dinner, a chicken dish Sienna had prepared to perfection.

      Flames burning in the fireplace against the living room wall masked the spacious room in a flicker of orange. It was almost too warm for it as the harsh winter cold had finally relented, but needed for the black cauldron boiling steadily in the centre of the hearth.

      Sienna and Kate sat on the floor in front of the pot, surrounded by cushions from the leather couches, empty wine glasses in hand. Bottles of herbs littered the coffee table, their ingredients for tonight’s potion.

      With her long red hair, pale skin and green eyes, Sienna appeared gentle and feminine, but beneath her beauty was a power that could be lethal if not controlled. Where most elemental witches could channel one element of magic, Sienna could channel four. Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.

      Next to her, Kate sat relaxed and happy despite the fact that, like Sienna, she was one of the most hunted witches on earth. Her long dark hair had been stuffed into a messy knot above her head; her bare feet revealing toes painted in bright blue nail polish.

      This was the hybrid witch Jenna had sworn to defend. It was her calling, her destiny, something ingrained within her that couldn’t be explained. Only the Bennett brothers got it and for that their bond had been instant – despite the challenges she faced with Declan.

      The two women broke out in a cheer when Jenna sauntered toward them, opening the wine.

      “Have I ever told you how much I love living with wine farmers?” Sienna asked, her voice tinged with laughter as Jenna refilled her glass.

      Kate grinned, holding up hers, and hiccupped. “Yip, it certainly has its advantages.”

      “Farmers?” Jenna echoed, pleased her voice held no trace of her previous unease. She laughed and tipped the bottle in their direction. “Suddenly I’m having flashes of red-checked shirts and pitchforks. I think wine makers are the words best suited to your guys.”

      Sienna laughed. “I can so not see Declan in a red-checked shirt waving a pitchfork.”

      “Don’t forget the gum boots and tractor!” Kate added, erupting into a fit of giggles that gave way to another hiccup.

      Jenna laughed at the image they’d created. The brothers owned the estate that supplied the grapes for their infamous Ice Wine, a delectable dessert wine their town was renowned for. But in truth, it was their estate manager, Tara, and loyal staff who ran the winery.

      They were at the restaurant for the evening, a newly renovated project of Ethan’s that would be opening its doors the following day. The three women had opted for a girls’ night in. Needing to eat, they’d made dinner. Needing to forget they were facing an inevitable war, they’d brought out the wine. The rest had gone downhill from there.

      But it’d been a fun night.

      The lights flickered on a buzz of electricity as a loud hiccup escaped Kate. Eyes widening, she slammed her hand across her mouth.

      Sienna discarded her glass and settled in front of the cauldron. Smiling, she raised a brow, her hand poised over the bubbling liquid. “Ready?”

      “Are you sure about this, Sienna?” Jenna frowned as Sienna scooped the liquid into a bottle the size of Tinker Bell. “Tell me again why we’re doing this?”

      “Because we’re teaching Kate how to make potions. Being a witch without potion knowledge is like a Keeper without speed. Not cool.”

      Kate hiccupped. “And because it’ll cure my hiccups.”

      Jenna