Hecate's Own: Heart's Desire, Book 2 (5 page)

And she
would
get a male nurse.

“What happened?” He shut the door and leaned against it,
crossing his arms over his chest.

“Beckett locked his front door.”

Ro blinked. “Most people do.”

“No, I mean he
locked it.
He cast something on it
that would respond to an attempt to enter by magic. It knocked me on my ass and
gave me a damn concussion.” She’d begged the doctors to release her but they’d
refused to do so until someone came who was willing to watch over her. She’d
hoped Roland would do so, but he had that look on his face, the one that said
he hoped she’d learned her lesson.

She was going to have to call Ari to come and pick her up,
she just knew it.

Ro frowned. “Why were you trying to break into his place?”

She bit her lip and tried to explain her bad feelings about
Zach’s disappearing act. “Something tells me our little protégé is heading into
trouble, but I don’t know why or what.”

He nodded. “Did you check with his family?”

She opened her mouth, but realized she had nothing to say.
Her first thought had been to get to Zach as quickly as possible.

“You didn’t, did you?”

She clamped her lips shut. She’d had good reasons for trying
to get inside Zach’s house. Besides, dealing with one Beckett male was bad
enough, but
four
of them?

Weren’t the four horsemen of the apocalypse supposed to be
brothers?

“Jo. Zachary Beckett is considered a member of the Evans
clan. Even if you didn’t feel right calling his family directly you should have
called Mrs. Evans.” He glared at her, suddenly every inch the Prince. “
Not
attempted a B&E.”

She flopped back against her pillow. Something told her that
no matter what she did there was no way she could win this argument.

“What would you tell the children if they tried something so
harebrained? You’re lucky the only thing that happened was a really bad
headache, Jo.”

She grabbed hold of the flat white pillow and shoved it over
her face. It wouldn’t do to have Roland hear her scream.

They were on the road before Zach was done swallowing the
last of the milk. Before he knew it they were pulling up in front of Chris’s
house, his brothers’ cars sitting on the lawn. He escorted Annabelle up to the
front door and rang the bell.

The door swung open so quickly he was surprised the brunette
opening it didn’t land right on her ass. “Zach!” He stepped into Chris and
Lana’s house and right into an armful of curvy female. He hugged her back,
delighted with the warm welcome. “Hey, Lana.”

A low, canine growl sounded from behind his soon-to-be
sister-in-law.

He lifted his hands from Lana’s hips and held them up in the
air, but didn’t bother trying to dislodge her. “Hey, Chris.”

Lana turned around and smacked Chris right in the chest. “Be
nice.”

“As long as he keeps his hands to himself it won’t be a
problem.”

Zach grinned at his older brother over Lana’s shoulders.
Chris’s golden eyes twinkled at him.
Well hell. He actually looks happy to
see me.
Chris’s dark hair was immaculate, unlike Zach’s unruly mop. His
broad shoulders were encased in a shirt two shades darker than his eyes. He
stood with an unconscious arrogance that probably drove Lana nuts. He was a
powerful wizard, a werewolf, and the mate of a witch who could kick serious
ass. Chris was the epitome of the Beckett male.

Again, unlike Zach.

Zach ran his fingers through his hair and gave his brother
his best puppy-dog grin. Fuck, he was tired. Between the flight, the drive to
Philly and then the drive out to his brother’s house, situated between Philly
and Pittsburgh, he was even more exhausted than he had been when he’d first
arrived at Annabelle’s. “Miss me?”

“C’mere.” Chris yanked him out of Lana’s arms and into his
own, pounding his back with bruising force. “Yeah, I missed you.”

Zach blinked away the sudden wetness in his eyes. Thank God
someone
was glad he was around. He pounded Chris right back awkwardly, the motion
making his damaged hand throb viciously.
It’s worth it.
Any pain was
worth knowing his brother was alive. “Missed you too.”

He let Chris hook an arm around his neck and drag him into
the great room, which, thank the Goddess, was no longer purple. The
contemporary armchairs were back to warm gold, the sofa once again pale cream.
The cobalt blue was back on the walls, the color framing that incredible
stainless steel and glass tile fireplace. The floors were once more dark
cherry, the wooden coffee table and end tables a lighter cherry. He wasn’t
certain how his brother had managed to remove the deep amethyst color from
almost everything, but the room looked just like he remembered it. The only
difference was the glass tile around the fireplace. It was the only thing in
the room that remained purple. “Looks good.” He pointed toward the tile. “Why
did you leave that, though?” The original tile had been more neutral in color,
more Chris’s style.

Chris shrugged. “Just a reminder of what’s really
important.” He motioned Zach toward the sofa with a grin, ignoring Zach’s frown
of confusion.
A reminder of what?
His screw-up baby brother?
“It
took us a while, but Lana figured out part, I figured out part and Grammy
helped with the rest.”

He flopped down on the sofa with a wince. Damn he was tired.
“I’m really sorry, bro.”

“No harm done.” Chris flopped down next to him. “Although if
I
had turned purple we would have had words.”

“You would look stunning with amethyst eyes.” Lana curled up
on one of the armchairs, her bare feet tucked under her. She looked very much
at home now, unlike when she’d first become Chris’s mate. She’d fought their
mate bond with everything in her, only giving in when it appeared Chris’s life
was in danger. “Sort of like a male Elizabeth Taylor.”

Chris rolled his eyes. “Mom would have a fit. And when Mom
has a fit, I hide under the bed and pray for the apocalypse. That I have a
chance of surviving.”

Zach tried to hide his yawn. “Where’s Daniel?”

“He had to run home to take care of something work related,
but he’ll be back in a few hours.” Lana frowned at him. “You want to take a nap
until the rest of the pack gets here?”

Zach blinked at her, grateful beyond belief for the
suggestion and the concern behind it. His brother had truly lucked out in the
mate department. “Please?” It felt like all the pressure he’d been under since
Annabelle Evans had banished him to Cleveland was suddenly lifted from his
shoulders.

Fuck, it
was
good to be home.

“I think we need to discuss what happened.” Chris had his
big-brother hat on, and Zach wasn’t sure he was going to leave. “I want to know
exactly what happened.”

Lana smiled at Zach, holding up her hand and stilling the
protest he’d been about to utter. “I’ve got this.” Lana got to her feet. “Chris?
I’m going to be in our bedroom, naked, in the next ten seconds.” She darted out
of the room and ran for the stairs, her laughter tinkling in her wake.

Zach’s jaw dropped open.

“Hell. Bye, bro!” Chris dashed off after his mate, her giggles
suddenly cutting off.

Zach pulled one of the soft decorative pillows over his head
and hoped their antics didn’t keep him awake. When he heard Lana squeal he
started to laugh.

When it cut off abruptly, he held the pillow even tighter
over his face.

He could understand the sudden loneliness that hit him, but
it wouldn’t do for anyone to find him crying.

Chapter Four

Darkness would be a blessing. Too bad they’d chosen to
light a fire.

Zach could barely see. His eyes were swollen shut. He’d
howl, except he was muzzled. His paws were bloody from trying to scrabble free
of the cage the men had put him in. A chain had been locked around his neck
with a silver collar, enchanted to be unbreakable even by magic, hobbling him
in place. He’d tried to turn back into his human form, but it was magically
sealed to keep him wolf until they were ready for him.

He was helpless to save her.

A dark altar had been placed right where Zach could watch
the horror unfold. A hooded man stood over a naked woman, bound to the altar
with silver, enchanted chains. Blood stained that silver, a mark of the
sacrifices that had gone before. He could see the woman straining at her bonds,
her wrists chafed raw from the cuffs.

A knife flashed into the air. The chanting increased in
intensity. The foul language seared his ears. Below the girl, the runes on the
altar glowed a vicious green. They were going to sacrifice her to the dark
powers, and there was nothing he could do about it.

The girl turned her head and pleaded with her eyes for Zach
to save her. Zach increased his struggles against his bonds as he realized just
who
was strapped down on the altar. He renewed his struggle to get free
of his bonds, ignoring the blood that littered the grass beneath his feet.

He couldn’t let those bastards kill Jo.

“Shhh.”

The dream faded, leaving Zach feeling somewhat queasy.
What
the fuck?

“Is he asleep?”

Zach kept his eyes closed and his limbs loose. He didn’t
want to give away that he knew his brother Daniel was close.

Payback time, asshole.
Daniel tortured him
incessantly. Zach had his own way of getting some of his own back.

“I don’t know. He’s been through a lot and looks like hell.
Maybe we should just let him rest.” Gareth’s worried voice came closer.

“Why the hell would we want to do that?”

Thanks a lot, Daniel.

“Fine. You wake him up then.”

And that’s why Gareth’s going to be King someday.
He
waited until he felt Daniel’s breath, lifted his hand, and smacked his brother
right in the forehead without even opening his eyes.

“Ow!”

Gareth’s laughter rang out through the room.

Because he’s the
smart
brother.

“Goddamn it, Zach. You’re such a buttmunch.”

He opened his eyes to see Daniel rubbing his forehead and
scowling. “Good to see you too, asswipe.” Gareth was hunched over behind him,
still howling. “We got any food around here? I’m starving.”

“You’re always starving,” Daniel grumbled. He threw himself
into one of the armchairs. “What’s up?”

And just like that the solidarity that was the Becketts
swirled around him. Gareth stopped laughing and Daniel stopped scowling long
enough to look concerned.

Unfortunately Zach was still starving. His stomach rumbled
loud enough to be heard. “Talk over pizza?”

“Ugh.” Daniel grunted and slumped into his chair. “You never
change, do you?”

Zach lowered his head so the others couldn’t see his face.

Nah. Looked like he never really changed.

“Daniel? Shut the fuck up and go get Chris and Lana.”

“But—”

“Now.”

“Fine.” Daniel got out of his chair and stomped toward the
door. “But you’d better order me pepperoni, damn it.”

Gareth waited until Daniel was out of the room before taking
a seat on the sofa near Zach’s feet. “How’s the hand?”

Zach cradled it to his chest without even thinking. “Fine.”

Gareth’s eyes narrowed, their amber color a touch darker
than Chris’s, a hint lighter than Daniel’s. Only Zach had the blue eyes of their
mother, further setting him apart from his brothers. “Take off the glove.”

Zach glared right back. “Fuck you.”

“Zachary David Elijah Beckett! Language!” Annabelle Evans
swept into the room. She took a swipe at the back of his head and he let her
connect. By now he was so used to hurting that the blow felt no more painful
than a puff of air. “Shoo.” She waved Gareth off the sofa and took his place.
“Take off the glove.”

He glared at her.

She glared back, daring him to disobey.

Zach had seen that look before. With a sigh he pulled off
the glove, unwrapped the bandage and held out his hand for inspection.

“Holy fuck.”

Zach looked over his shoulder and met the horrified eyes of
his brother Chris. “Hey.” He tried to pull his hand back but Annabelle had a
good grip on his wrist and wasn’t about to let go.

Damn it. He hadn’t wanted Chris to see this, not now,
possibly not ever.

“Shit, Zach.” Chris crouched down next to him, his gaze
glued to the wreck of Zach’s hand. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Why didn’t you tell
us
?” Daniel pushed past Chris,
his gaze as horrified as Chris’s.

Zach curled his fingers and hid the agony as best he could.
“It’s no big deal.”

“You’re still hurting. That makes it a huge deal.” Annabelle
gently unfurled his fingers. The hiss escaped his lips before he could stop it.
Annabelle tsked. “It’s worse, isn’t it?”

“Goddess, Zach.” Chris ran his hand through his black hair.
“Does Mom know about this?”

Zach was appalled. “No, and if you tell her about it I’ll
tell her the truth about the snakes.”

It was Chris’s turn to look dismayed. “You wouldn’t!”

Zach leaned forward and pasted his sternest expression on
his face. “Try me.”

Chris nodded. “Consider my lips sealed.”

Zach took his hand back and pulled the black leather glove
back on. The brand on his palm burned white hot. He saw the look Chris shot
Gareth at the sight of the Hecate’s wheel permanently branded onto his skin. He
ran his finger over the leather that covered the symbol. He knew what it looked
like, and why the brothers were so concerned. Three hammer-like arms were drawn
equidistant from one another in an unbroken, triskelion-like design. In the
center of the symbol was a wheeling sun, the six rays bent back. The symbol was
surrounded by a perfect circle. There were those who considered Hecate, the
goddess of magic, to be on the dark side. Others might whisper to Athena when
seeking wisdom, or call out to Danu while stirring the cauldron, but Zach had
always been drawn to Hecate more than any other aspect of the Goddess.

“How’s Lana’s hand?” He knew the other side of the
protection amulet he’d used to save Chris had branded a wolf into
her
palm. He also knew it was one of the reasons Chris was so pissed at him. Lana
would forever carry the mark of Zach’s ineptitude. He could have—no,
should
have—protected her better.

The brothers exchanged glances. He narrowed his eyes,
concern for his sister-in-law overriding every other issue. “What?”

Lana came around the end of the sofa and held up her hand.
There on her palm was the shadow of a wolf, complete with… “Lana?”

“Hmm?”

“Why does your wolf have blue eyes?”

She glared down at him. “I don’t know. Why don’t you tell
me?”

He felt his jaw drop. “What?”

“You’re in more trouble than I thought, aren’t you?” Her
hands went to her hips and her foot started to tap.

He looked around the room. “I guess?” What was wrong now?
Was Roland actually casting the spell to still him?

Gareth pinched the bridge of his nose. “Zach.”

Oh my God. He
does
sound just like Mom.
Zach
grinned up at him hoping to divert him. “When did you say the pizza will be
here?”

Jo picked up the phone. She needed to find out if Zach was
all right. The urge to check in on him was overwhelming. She punched in one of
the numbers Roland had given her and listened to the woman’s cell phone ring.
This time she hoped to get something better than the answering machine. She
only hoped Annabelle Evans had her cell turned on.

“Hello?”

Yes.
“Hello? Is this Annabelle Evans?”

“Speaking.”

Jo had to force her jaw to unclench. “Is Zachary Beckett
there?”

“Who’s asking?”

“Johra Yashodhar.”

Silence for a moment. “The teacher of the court’s novices?”

The stunned amusement in the other witch’s voice had Jo’s
temper rising to the surface once again. She was stuck in this damn hospital
bed with foul
needles
stuck in her arm and a headache that would knock a
mixed martial arts fighter onto his ass, and Annabelle Evans was laughing at
her? “That would be me.”

“Why would you be calling for—hmm. Are you two dating?”

“No!” Jo whimpered. She really shouldn’t yell for, oh, the
next decade or so. Maybe by then her skull would have stopped trying to split
itself open. “I’m his teacher.”

“His
teacher?
” And Annabelle started to laugh. “Oh
dear Lord and Lady, who in the world thought
that
was a good idea?
Roland?”

“Every other teacher who refused to train him.” She knew she
was growling, but she
hated
being laughed at with a passion.

“What do you mean by that?” Danger suddenly laced Mrs.
Evan’s voice, and power.

But Jo knew she could match that power, possibly even exceed
it. She was second in line to run the Yashodhar Coven and was no mere novice
like Beckett.

For the first time she let her frustration out. “Oh come on.
He’s the worst witch I’ve ever met. None of the advanced teachers could do a
damn thing with him, so Roland saddled me with him. Now put him on the phone. I
have a few things to say to him about leaving court without permission.” Not to
mention the hospital bill she planned on slapping him with.

She heard Mrs. Evans draw a deep breath. “You moron
.
You
idiot!
Do you have any clue what you may have done?”

Jo’s brows rose. “Excuse me?” The woman sounded seriously
pissed off. “What the hell are you talking about?” The only thing Jo had done
was hunker down and try to survive Hurricane Zach.

“If he’s damaged in any way you will answer to me.”

Jo’s eyes narrowed at the threat. “That boy is a menace!”
How could such a powerful woman be so blind?

“That
man
is more than you and your narrow world
views could possibly imagine.”

Jo pulled the phone away from her ear and stared at it for a
moment. “We
are
talking about Zachary Beckett, right?”

“Johra Yashodhar.” Power rippled down the line. “I bind you
from—”

Jo slammed the phone shut. “Lord and Lady hear my plea!
Protect me from adversity.” She repeated the mantra three times, ending with,
“As I will so mote it be!”

She breathed deep, and waited to see if she felt the binding
magic Annabelle Evans had almost slammed her with.

Nothing. She felt exactly the same.

She collapsed against the back of her hospital bed with a
sigh of relief. The phone fell from her hand onto the hard mattress.

“What the
hell is going on?
”

She needed to get out of this place, track Beckett down, and
find out why the matriarch of the Evans Coven was willing to bind another witch
just to keep him safe.

First things first. Something was seriously screwed up, and
no way was she going up against the Evans and the Beckett families blind. She
needed to check out the Beckett family, and the best way to do that was to look
them up in The Registry. Maybe something would show up there that would give
her some insight into Zach and his issues. She picked up her phone and dialed a
number she knew by heart.

“Hello?”

“Arianna, could you do me a favor before you come here?”

“Pick you up some Valium?” The Princess chuckled.

“No, dork. Bring The Registry with you.”

“Do I want to know why?”

“I’m not sure. Remember what you said about Zach being
precious?”

“Yeah?”

“Annabelle Evans just tried to bind me from doing him harm.”

“Holy shit. Give me an extra five minutes to grab it and
I’ll be on my way.”

“Thanks, hon. I appreciate it.” Jo hung up and collapsed
against the bed. Her hands were shaking and her head pounding.

Zach had earned the protection of a very powerful witch.
Maybe Jo needed to stop bitching about his learning disabilities and figure out
how…and why.

“Okay, Zach.” Gareth dropped the last crust onto his plate
and sat back with a sigh. “You’ve stuffed yourself with more pizza than a bunch
of six-year-olds at Chuck E. Cheese.
Now
will you tell us what the fuck
is going on?”

He wiped his hands off onto a napkin and went for the three-point
shot into the trash can, startling Alasdair, Chris’s dainty black cat and
familiar. “Score!”

“Dweeb.”

Zach shot Daniel the finger.

“Zachary.”

He hunched his shoulders. “Sorry, Annabelle.”

Annabelle began picking up the plates. It might be Lana’s
home now, but Annabelle clearly considered it her domain. He wondered what his
mother thought of that. “Be polite, young man.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Zach stuck his tongue out at his brother when
he thought Annabelle wasn’t looking.

“Zachary.”

“Busted,” Gareth chuckled. He stood and began helping
Annabelle with the plates. “Come on, Zach. You can tell us.”

“Yup. Tell us how you screwed up this time, little bro.”
Daniel put his hands behind his head and smirked at him.

Zach dropped his head onto the table with a bang. “I turned
the seal of the Witch Prince into a green M&M.”

Silence. Oh joy.

“At the same time the mosaic in the front of the Lodge also
got turned into M&Ms.”

Someone snickered. He wasn’t certain who.