Everwild (The Healer Series, #1) (28 page)

“My job was simple,” he began in a gruff
voice, “and I failed her.”

“Her?” Willow’s voice was shaky. She already
knew who “her” was before he even said it.

“Hekate,” Bane hissed the name. “I was
supposed to go with you through the portal to the Everwild. But we
were never supposed to find your talisman. I was supposed to take
you directly to her once I got you alone. But your insolent,
obstinate boyfriend stepped in the way!
He
took my place! I
couldn’t just go after you, not with Emerson and the rest of the
Circle breathing down my back.”

Willow’s breathing increased. She glanced
around him to the door, nearly five feet from her. Could she make a
break for it? Bane continued watching her with his dark eyes. “How
you managed to survive the Everwild
and
achieve your
talisman is beyond me. But brace yourself, Willow Rose, because
your luck has just run out. Here’s what’s going to happen. To
punish Declan for the son-of-a-bitch he is, I have convinced
Emerson to send him to Darkmeer Academy…tonight. It was only too
easy. Declan is a powerful warlock, but he knows nothing! His
spells are basic at best. He contributes nothing without knowledge,
plus, he’ll be out of the way and won’t ruin my plan again!”

“You’ve been working with Hekate this whole
time?” Willow declared, shell shocked and frozen in place. Her body
shuddered as fear penetrated through her veins, speeding her heart.
She wanted nothing more than to run into Declan’s arms and have
Emerson kill the man towering before her.

“You’re so naive, Healer. Do you really think
you can beat Hekate, Queen of Witches? She’s more powerful than any
magic caster that has ever lived, even Emerson himself! You can’t
even imagine the power she possesses. And now, my Queen desires her
prize: you. And once I deliver you to her, I shall take my place as
King among the magic casters!”

“You won’t get away with this, Bane!” Willow
said, “Declan--”

“Get it through your head, Willow! Declan
doesn’t matter! In fact, the only reason he’s dating you is because
of your newfound celebrity status. Think about it; Declan only
started liking you when he found out you were a Healer. The rarest
of powers lies with a girl his age. He couldn’t pass up the
opportunity to look good in front of his friends and the Circle!
You are no more than a pawn in his scheme to earn his daddy’s love
and respect.”

“You’re lying!” Willow yelled and stepped
back, but she couldn’t go any further, because she had backed up
right into the bedroom wall opposite of the door. There was no
escape.

“It doesn’t matter, anyway, because you’re
going to break whatever it is you have with him off. He’s going to
the Academy. And you’re going with me to see Hekate.”

“I’ll tell Emerson,” Willow threatened, “I’ll
tell--”

Willow gasped when Bane pressed his hard body
into her and wrapped his thick hand around her neck, cutting off
her air supply. His grip was just tight enough to allow some oxygen
through for her to remain coherent. “If you say one word about
this, I’ll kill Declan myself. Right here. Right now.” Bane spat in
her face. “Here’s what you’re going to do. You will go in Emerson’s
office, be the good little witch that you are, and send him off. If
you breathe a word to Emerson about this, his son is dead. Got
it?”

Willow inhaled and coughed when Bane finally
released her. Bane turned his back on her and started walking to
the door. “Why aren’t you taking me to Hekate now? Why do I even
have to go to Emerson’s office?” Willow’s voice was thick with
tears. She thought she was safe now. She thought the stronghold of
the Emerald Circle would protect her. But there were wolves among
the sheep and she was looking directly at one.

Bane stiffened at her question and then
turned around to face her. “Because the whole damn place is
surrounded by the Circle and protective spells! I take you off the
grounds now, it alerts everybody and I won’t make it to Hekate. I
don’t have an emerald to transport us, so I’ll be caught. No. We go
when I say we go. Now, come with me to Emerson’s office,” Bane said
and opened the door waiting for her.

Fighting back the tears that were on the
verge of spilling out of her eyes, Willow walked towards Bane. Bane
gripped her upper arm excruciatingly tight and Willow bit down on
her lips to keep from crying out in pain. “I’m your official body
guard, bitch,” Bane said in a deep, hateful voice as he pulled her
down the hallway towards Emerson’s office.

Getting closer, she heard raised voices and
what sounded like something breaking. Emerson must’ve told Declan
the news that he was leaving for the Academy. A nervous, sickening
feeling filled her gut when she realized what she was about to do.
She had to make Declan believe she didn’t want him, so that he
could go. But that was farthest from the truth. She wanted Declan
by her side, always. But the massive warlock beside her would kill
him if she spoke up! Would Declan understand that she had to break
up with him to save his life? She could only hope.

Just as Bane opened the door to Emerson’s
office, a vase flew over their heads and shattered on the wall
behind them. Willow winced and then stopped in her tracks to take
in the destruction surrounding her. Papers were scattered
everywhere on the floor, chairs were upturned and smoke was coming
from one of the charred cushions on the couch. Emerson’s desk was
sawed in half and the wood was splintered and jagged.

Emerson was standing with his arms crossed
and was frowning. Declan was plastered against the wall with his
arms forced down into visible binding rings. Each wrist and ankle
had a vibrant, pulsating orange ring around them, holding Declan in
place. It was clear who caused the damage and Willow had never
realized how intense Declan’s temper was until this moment. Sure,
they had their fair share of arguments and disagreements, but
destroying his father’s office was pushing the limits. Passionate
was an understatement when it came to him.

Declan turned to face Bane and Willow and his
eyes brightened instantly upon seeing her. When Willow saw his
expression, the only thing she wanted to do was curl up in his
arms, let him hold her, and forget about everything. But the truth
was she wasn’t safe and cold, heart stopping fear was the only
thing penetrating her body.

“Bane! How nice of you to join us,” Emerson
said not taking his eyes off Declan, “Thank you for escorting
Willow here.”

“I take it you told him the news, sir?” Bane
said and finally let go of Willow’s arm. She wanted to rub it, but
didn’t want to draw attention to her hurting arm since Declan’s
eyes were drilled on her. Any move she made and he would’ve seen.
She nearly sighed in relief when she felt tiny tingles and warmth
radiating from her arm as her body was healing itself. She could
really get use to this power. It seemed her body healed faster than
others since she was one with the power.

“I did,” Emerson said nodding. “He
refuses.”

“I’m not leaving her!” Declan declared from
his position on the wall. His cry was nearly hysterical.

Bane turned a heated gaze on Declan. “How can
you protect her with mediocre spells? How can you benefit the
Circle without the knowledge and skills you’ll learn at Darkmeer?
You’re not a soldier against Hekate, Declan. You’re not as powerful
as you think you are.”

“Now, Bane,” Emerson mocked scolded his
greatest ally, “that wasn’t nice.” Then he looked at Declan, “but
true all the same. Declan, you are going along with all the other
young warlocks of this Circle. We cannot delay your training any
more. I understand you just got back from your adventure in the
Everwild. But you must’ve realized during that time that it was
very difficult for you to perform spells when the time came for it.
Am I correct in this?” Declan didn’t respond to his father. In
fact, he couldn’t take his eyes off Willow. She squirmed
uncomfortably under his gaze. Did he want her to defend him?

“What will you do with Willow?” Declan
finally asked. It was in a calm, deadly voice, as if the rage was
just boiling under his skin and he could erupt at any moment.

“Bane has agreed to escort her to Carmela,”
Emerson sighed. “The Circle has not been idle while you two were
gone. We have discovered that Hekate not only hid the talisman from
Willow, but she also displaced the key that will unlock the box of
souls that she keeps with her. In order to free your sisters, we
have to find the key. And who knows more of finding magical objects
than our beloved Seeker Carmela.”

Willow whipped her head around to gawk at the
Head Warlock. “That doesn’t make any sense!” Willow argued. “Why is
Hekate doing this? Why didn’t she just keep the talisman and the
key with her? What does she gain by sending us on another wild
goose chase?”

Emerson shrugged. “We believe…and hope…that
Hekate is afraid we will overpower her. If she has all the cards,
so to speak, then it would be too easy to attack and claim them
all. If she hid the objects in dangerous places, such as the
Everwild with the Fey, then there’s a chance that we will not
recover them and therefore, she wins. It’s illogical at best…”

“Illogical?” Willow asked and took a step
towards Emerson, noticing that Bane stepped up with her. “It’s
madness!”

“Also, while you were gone,” Emerson
continued without acknowledging her outburst, “We have found out
that Hekate has been gathering an army to stand against us.” Willow
glanced sideways at Bane, who was still standing close to her.
Every time she moved, Bane moved. It was like he was making sure
she wouldn’t do anything to expose him or save herself; a constant
reminder of his threat and treachery. But she held her tongue. She
would not allow anyone to die if she could help it.

“So what is to be done?” Bane asked, still
playing the part of second in command to the Head Warlock. If
Emerson only knew of his deception…

“I’ve asked the Alphas of the surrounding
wolf packs to join me tonight to discuss a strategy. The Emerald
Circle is also recruiting not only magic casters, but other
creatures that will fight for our cause. As the Fey have joined
with Hekate, at least the Fey living in the Everwild have, the
wolves have agreed to align with us momentarily, as they have a
much stronger dislike of Fey than us. Hekate has grown to be a
bigger threat than we could have imagined. Her evil has spread and
it doesn’t just affect us anymore. The Alphas are arriving tonight,
Bane will take Willow to Carmela, and I hope to have our boys off
the grounds and flying to Darkmeer within the hour.” Emerson
glanced at Declan. “I have to lift the defenses of the perimeter to
allow the wolves in, which leaves us vulnerable during that time. I
do not want Willow here, then. Bane and Willow should be back by
the time I’m done with the meeting.”

Willow’s heart exponentially beat faster.
This was it. Bane was going to take her away, just the two of
them...and she wasn’t coming back. Emerson didn’t realize that as
soon as Hekate had her and extracted her power, all hell would
break loose. The war that they believed was coming would come
sooner than they realized.

“How can you do this all tonight?” Declan
shouted from his position on the wall. “It’s bullshit!”

“Declan!” Emerson scolded. “I am the Head
Warlock and leader of the Emerald Circle. You have no idea the
responsibility I have to my people. If I don’t act now, if I don’t
get things in motion immediately, it could be the difference
between life and death. I can’t take that chance.”

“And what if Willow wants me here? Why can’t
I escort her to Carmela’s? I have proven myself to her and to the
Circle by surviving the Everwild and helping her achieve her
talisman. I am your son and I deserve to have a place among the
people!”

Willow nearly gasped at Declan’s statements.
He didn’t mention his love for her or how much she means to him, or
anything of the sort. All he mentioned was the Circle and how he
“proved” his worth among his kind. It was just as Bane said. Did
Declan even care about her at all, or was he playing her to earn a
status among the magic casters? Willow waited for him to say
something more, perhaps about how he couldn’t live without her or
he would go to the Academy when they had defeated Hekate as a team;
together as it should be. But he said nothing! Willow was hurt, was
hurting
, but she would not allow it to show.

“Willow?” Emerson prompted.

Willow was lost in her thoughts and didn’t
realize that everyone had been staring at her. She took a few
moments to gather her thoughts and then turned her gaze on Declan.
Without conveying emotion, she said, “I want him to go.”

Declan’s mouth dropped open as a surprised
look crossed his face. His eyes narrowed on her. “Why?” he asked,
in that deadly tone again.

Willow looked at Bane for a second. He had
his arms crossed and a corner of his mouth was lifted in slight
amusement. He nodded his head slightly, as if telling her to go
ahead and break his heart. They were waiting. Hekate was
waiting….

Willow frowned. She felt defeated, but a
sense of determination was somehow keeping her stable as she
responded. “Because Bane was right; how can you possibly protect me
against Hekate? We barely made it out of the Everwild alive.
Putting my trust in you was a mistake. I’m in better hands now,
Declan. I think you should just go and try to be a better
warlock.”

It was like a slap in the face. Declan’s face
almost darkened in the room, and he was visibly shaking with rage.
“Barely made it out alive? I saved your ass multiple times! I
fought the damn Angont for you and all you have to say to me is go
and be a better warlock? I can’t believe you, Willow Tree! You know
how much you mean to me! You’re telling me that you think
everything we went through was a mistake?”