The Keepers: Archer (15 page)

“Rise and shine, brother,” Declan said, walking into Archer’s room the following morning. “We have a busy day ahead of us.”

“Declan!” Archer bellowed, bolting upright in bed. He turned, quickly tugging the sheet across Sienna’s body.

Declan skidded to a stop and gaped at them.

Unknowingly, Ethan followed directly behind Declan, tugging a white t-shirt over his head. He smelt of the shower, a smell that quickly permeated the room, and although his hair was still wet, he’d already combed it into his usual spiky style. “And just for the record, brother, Declan’s insisting on serving a dose of revenge and malice for breakfast.” He sidestepped Declan to avoid colliding into him, quickly realizing the reason behind Declan’s unhinged jaw – a rarity for his brother. Ethan’s expression quickly resembled his brother’s. “Sienna?”

Sienna closed her eyes, willing them to go away.

They didn’t.

Damn.

At least she’d pulled on a tank top and her panties at some point in the night. She may be in Archer’s bed, but at least she wasn’t naked. Now.

“Go away,” Sienna groaned, dragging the sheet over her head.

“Since when did you move into Archer’s bed?” Declan asked her, his tone edged with surprise and a tinge of laughter.

“Declan, get out of here,” Archer said, throwing a pillow at his brother.

Declan caught the pillow and tossed it aside. “No need for this to be awkward. We all knew it was coming.” He smiled. “And since we’re all here together, we can have a quick brainstorming session.”

“Now?” Archer and Sienna said in unison.

“Word is that Pam is sniffing all over Warrick’s ass and he’s on the move because of it.”

Archer frowned and cast a quick glance at Sienna before settling against the pillows with a sigh of resignation. “What do you mean? Where’s he going?”

“See?” Declan said with a half smile. “It’s about time you two untangled those sheets and got out of bed. Evil doesn’t wait for sleepy heads.”

“Declan.”

Ethan laughed and shoved a hand against Declan’s shoulder. “Let’s get out of here, brother. We can discuss this later. Besides, you have a guest of your own waiting for you.”

“She’s asleep, and hell no. I’ve been up for two hours waiting for you lot to surface.”

Sienna leaned up on her elbows and eyed Declan. His usually untidy hair had been finger combed into submission, and he wore dark jeans and a grey shirt that did very little to hide the bulging muscles across his chest and abdomen. Although his eyes were alive with amusement, his entire body bristled with energy. No wonder he wreaked havoc with the likes of Tara. “Seriously, Declan? Right now? Right here? I’m as eager as you are for a brainstorming session, but that’s not going to happen for at least another hour. I need coffee.”

Declan shrugged off her request and walked toward the window, the sound of his heavy boots clunking across the wooden floors as he moved. He whipped open the heavy curtains, blasting bright sunlight across the room, and ignored the protests coming from the bed. Turning, he folded his arms across his body in a guard-like stance. “We need to pay a visit to Mason.”

“What?” three voices echoed through the room.

Declan nodded, glancing at Sienna. “Since you spelled the tomb shut, we know he’s still in there. You can’t break the spell on Mason without the stones, the Grimoire, and … you. But you can open the tomb without breaking the spell, can’t you?”

“Yes. But why would we want to do that?”

“Warrick’s hell-bent on breaking the spell to wake his brother so they can take over the world,” Declan said, the last few words said in a mocking singsong voice. “He may be evil but he doesn’t have half the balls his brother does. It’s crucial that he never frees Mason and he can’t do that if he doesn’t know where his brother is.”

Sienna sat upright, her jaw dropping. “You want to move Mason?”

Declan grinned.

“That’s just creepy.”

“Warrick’s already surprised us once. Now it’s our turn.”

“Where the hell would you put a mummified dead body?”

“He’s not dead dead,” Ethan added, the brief notion of his head indicating his agreement with Declan. “If we move Mason, it’ll make it harder for Warrick to break the spell. He’d have to find the stones, the Grimoire, get you to agree to unspell them, and find his brother.”

“And hopefully, with his hands so full, he’ll forget about wanting to turn your Keepers into road kill,” Declan said with a fake smile.

Sienna sighed and glanced at each of her Keepers. So incredibly handsome, so powerful, and so utterly devoted to protecting her and avenging Sarah’s death.

The thought sent a warm trickle through her as it so often did, and she leaned back against the pillows with a soft sigh.

Declan had a point.

But it was still creepy.

Archer glanced at her. “If you open the tomb, who would go in?”

“That’s the tricky part,” Declan said with a grimace.

Because an elemental witch had sealed the tomb with a spell, the seal prevented anyone with elemental powers from entering or exiting – even once she’d lifted the spell.

That eliminated everyone in the room.

Declan waved a casual hand of dismissal. “We’ll figure that part out.”

“Warrick’s going to be furious when he discovers his brother’s missing,” Archer said.

A satisfied, evil look crossed Declan’s expression. “He pressed a few of our buttons last night. It’s sweet justice to push a few of his.”

Archer looked at Ethan. “Have you been in touch with the Keepers assigned to the four witches harbouring the stones?”

Ethan nodded. “I spoke to three of the four. The fourth one isn’t answering his phone and neither is the witch.”

Sienna tilted her head, her eyes narrowing. “Who’s the fourth witch?”

“Lexi.”

She frowned at the mention of her friend’s name. “Can you keep trying?”

“Of course.”

Archer waved a hand at his brothers. “Get out of here. We’ll meet you in the kitchen.” He grinned at Ethan. “Are you making breakfast?”

Ethan shrugged and headed to the door. “Yeah, yeah.” He pulled Declan toward the door. “Come, brother. You’re on coffee duty.”

Declan paused in the doorway and looked back over his shoulder, his expression sobering. “You two ready for the crap you’re going to get from The Circle?”

Neither Archer nor Sienna replied.

“Just asking,” he said with a quick shrug of his shoulders and left.

Ethan merely cast them a lingering glance before closing the door.

Exhaling loudly, Sienna fell back against the pillows and covered her face with her hands.

Oh, brother.

****

Archer threw back the sheet and went to lock the door. The mess in the room had him raising an eyebrow. Clothes, bedding, and pillows littered the room. Furniture had been shifted, the bed a mess of tangled sheets, and they were both half-naked.

Wow. They’d been busy.

He was surprised his brothers hadn’t had more to say about the state of his usually immaculate room.

His gaze settled on the woman in his bed. Images of their night together sprang to mind and he grinned.

“Stop looking at me like that,” Sienna groaned, throwing back the sheet and marching to the bathroom.

“Like what?”

“Like you’re about to devour me all over again,” she replied over her shoulder.

He laughed. “Is that an invitation or an objection?”

“Neither.”

The roar of the shower swept away his reply, but he followed her, pausing in the doorway to watch her strip and step under the water. A perfect vision of pale skin and wild red hair. Beautiful. He couldn’t resist the grin, and suddenly had a new appreciation for the double shower he’d had installed several years ago.

Without waiting for an invitation, he pushed off the long cotton pants he wore and slipped in behind her. He slid his arms around her waist, turned her around, and tangled his hands into her hair.

He saw the flash of unguarded hesitation, felt the slight withdrawal.

She was having doubts.

Dammit.

He tipped her chin upwards. “Sienna, don’t do that.”

A small smile relaxed her features. “I’m fine.”

“Then why the frown?”

“Reality, I guess.” Sensing his question, she slid her hands up his arms. Her gaze lingered on his scarred arm before meeting his. “Last night was wonderful, Archer, and I don’t regret it. At all.”

“You sure?”

She leaned up and touched her lips to his in a kiss so tender, sealing her promise. “Absolutely.”

“We have to contact The Circle.”

“Yes, but for now we have bigger fish to fry. Warrick’s not going to bide his time, and the only way we can beat him is to think faster and act before he does.”

“Like moving his brother?”

“It will buy us more time to figure out what to do about Warrick.”

“I say we fry his ass.”

She smiled. “And I second that.”

Archer kissed her forehead and reached for the shampoo beside her. Adding a generous dollop of soap into his palm, he began to wash her hair. An act so intimate, reserved for lovers. Lovers. He smiled, unable to shake off the euphoria summoned by that thought. Despite the challenges they faced because of it.

“It sucks that your brothers walked in on us,” she said.

“Rather this morning than last night.”

She laughed, the sound light and tinged with relief. Her expression cleared, and she looked up at him. “Isn’t there a small part of you that has any doubts?”

Images of their night together resurfaced and Archer’s body hardened in response, a reaction that immediately drew a grin from her as she peered down at him.

Her hand swept across his rippled abdomen, moving lower, until her fingers wrapped around his hard length. “Hm, I’m starting to think that perhaps using the word ‘small’ around you is way off base.”

“Oh, you’re good for my ego.” He laughed, slid his fingers into her hair, and pulled her back into the spray of water. Rinsed, he moved closer and kissed her.

“Really?” she asked. “Again?”

He didn’t reply and rolled his hips against hers as his arms came up around her, drawing her in.

“Wow, Bennett,” she said in a breathy sigh. “I’m not sure if I’ve had multiple orgasms or simply one long continuous one.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “More like a handful and you’re definitely good for my ego.”

Archer’s smile quickly disappeared when he pulled her in for another kiss, his tongue sweeping against hers in wave of flickering sensations that left them both gasping for air.

“Your brothers are waiting,” she panted, putting a hand to his chest.

“A few more minutes won’t kill.”

“But they’ll know what we’re doing.”

“Like I care.”

When Sienna sauntered into the kitchen a while later to find the three brothers seated at the breakfast table, an array of food sprawled in front of them, she was relieved that no one brought up her newest residence in Archer’s bed. She should’ve known they wouldn’t say anything. Archer would’ve issued a firm warning to keep their mouths shut.

But it would probably still come up. Later. For now, she needed the kick that only caffeine could give her.

Tara’s voice had Sienna glancing up from the coffee pot. “Tara,” she said, trying to keep the wariness out of her tone. She hadn’t heard their newest houseguest come in. Tara had changed out of the red cocktail dress from the night before and now wore a neat white work suit that added an angelic appeal to her. And yet, the look Tara had pinned on Sienna was anything but angelic. “I see you brought an overnight bag.”

“A girl can never be too prepared.”

Tara was sweet and friendly, with a bite, and somehow always managed to send Sienna’s instincts flaring. Although Tara had always been friendly with all three brothers, after all, they were her bosses, and she tolerated Sienna simply because she had to, she’d always had her sights on Declan. The obsession was eerie, even though Sienna seldom brought it up. Declan seemed to have fun with her and Tara made him laugh, despite the bitchy comments that rolled off her tongue as though they came with honey.

“I see you’re back in the Bennett mansion,” Tara said evenly.

“I live here.”

The simple statement brought a brief frown to Tara’s perfectly made up eyebrows. “And why is that again?”

Sienna almost balked at the rehashing of the familiar dialogue. Apparently, Tara’s fascination of Sienna’s relationship with the Bennett brothers was an ongoing one. Pouring herself a coffee, she joined them at the table, dropped a kiss on Archer’s lips, and sank into the vacant chair.

Tara’s eyes narrowed as understanding dawned, and she shifted her gaze to Declan. “As I don’t have the luxury of living off my family’s fortune like some of us in this room, I have to get to work. At some point, I need to pin you three into a boardroom so we can finalize the details for the upcoming harvest.”

“Later. You don’t want breakfast?” Declan asked.

Tara shook her head. “I’ll grab something at the office. I’ll see you tonight?”

Declan didn’t reply but stood to walk her out.

Once the kitchen door closed behind them, Ethan chuckled. “It’s as if nothing’s changed.”

Sienna smiled, shaking her head. Despite the underlying competitiveness between them, mostly instigated from Tara, they’d still managed to form a basic level of friendship.

Even if that level was a very basic one.

Declan returned, minus Tara, carrying a rolled up sheet of paper in his hand. He spread it across the kitchen counter in a quick movement, smoothing strong hands across the paper. The bulky ring he wore on his right hand caught the blaze of sunlight streaming through the window.

“Mixing business with pleasure again?” Sienna asked, grinning at Declan.

He shot her a fleeting glance, a cheeky smile breaking free. “Always.”

Smiling, Archer handed Sienna an empty plate, kissed her head, and joined his brother. The affection felt strange, new, the openness of the action bringing an odd sensation that was hard to decipher.

“What are you reading?” she asked, helping herself to a slice of toast. She was ravenous. Go figure.

“The blueprints to the Bennett Estate.” Archer jabbed a finger on the paper. “There it is.”

“There what is?” Sienna asked.

“One of the old underground storage buildings in the forest on the estate. I knew it was here. I often heard Rose and Mother talking about it.”

Sienna gaped at him. “You want to move Mason into our home?”

Archer glanced at her, a small smile hitching his lips. “He won’t exactly have guest privileges, Sienna. And I’d hardly call an abandoned storage building in the forest home.”

“But still, that’s just creepy.”

“He’ll be underground, locked away, all lonely, and desiccated.”

“Not to mention spitting daggers at us.” She shuddered. “That’s one warlock I’d rather not have sleeping anywhere near me.”

“Scared?” Declan asked, not bothering to hide his amusement.

“No, just wary. And although I was the one to desiccate and spell Mason, I still find him creepy. Ever seen what a desiccated man looks like? Ugh.”

All three brothers laughed and turned back to the drawings.

“So why here?” Sienna asked.

“Because it’s dark, underground, and hasn’t been used in decades.” Ethan traced a finger along the sketch, indicating the area of the underground rooms. “It consists of one room leading into a series of others but as they were never used when our family took over the estate, they became neglected and overgrown. The entrance was eventually destroyed years ago. Even if we knew where to find the entrance, it’s probably impossible to penetrate.”

“There’s a tunnel leading to the room.” Archer circled the buildings in a bright red pen and pointed to an underground tunnel. “We once stumbled upon it as kids but were forbidden to ever go inside. It leads from the old well at the river.” Archer jabbed a finger to a spot on the opposite side of the river. “This is the abandoned church tomb in the forest where Mason is. There’s a bit of distance between his current lodging and his new one, but once we figure out a way to access the tomb and haul Mason’s dead weight ass out of there, we can work our way through the forest along the river and into the tunnels.”

Declan nodded in agreement. “No one but our family has access to the forest and the river anymore so moving Mason without being seen should be easy.”

They’d put a stop to anyone entering their estate years ago. It had caused a few heated arguments, but the Bennett brothers had stood firm in their decision. After all, it was a decision made to protect their friends in town. With the supernatural elements that often lurked on the Bennett estate, they’d had no choice.

“Do either of you remember the tunnel’s location?” Sienna asked as a wave of unease washed over her.

“My memory is sketchy, but the well marks the closest spot so we’ll start from there. With any luck, the tunnel’s still clear and the rooms are still habitable.” Archer smiled at Sienna’s grimace. “Don’t worry, we’ll be with you.”

“Doesn’t ease the creepiness of the whole idea,” Sienna replied and bit into her toast. She flashed an appreciative smile at Ethan, the breakfast he’d made hitting the spot. “So now that we know where to put Mason, how are we going to get him out of the tomb?”

All three brothers turned to look at her, stooped for an answer.

Archer spoke first. “What do you need in order to break the seal on the tomb?”

“I’d need the Grimoire and the stones.”

Declan hitched a brow. “And you’re sure that breaking the seal on the tomb won’t affect the curse on Mason?”

“No,” Sienna replied, shaking her head. “We used a separate spell on Mason.”

“Both spells you used on Mason that night were powerful ones, Sienna.” Archer tossed the pen and straightened. His attempt to keep his expression even would have worked had it not been for the worry that lurked in his eyes. “Are you sure you’re strong enough for a spell that powerful?”

Had he asked her that question a week ago, maybe not. But a lot had changed in a week. Warrick’s sudden reappearance to Rapid Falls and the threat he stood for had sparked a renewed connection to the elements of nature and a determination to master her powers over them. She still had a lot to learn, but since her return to Rapid Falls, the intensity of her powers had lost the terrifying factor that had kept her from using them.

“I’ll be fine, Archer. Rose will be there to help me.” Sienna set her mug on the table and turned to face Archer. The mug rolled, unsteady, and toppled over. As it tipped off the table, Ethan was there in a flash that startled her, a hand in place to catch the mug before it shattered on the floor.

Sienna gave him an appreciative smile. In battle, their power of speed was a life saving essential. In day-to-day life, when it came to simple things like saving a coffee mug, it was a luxury she loved.

Ethan winked at her and handed her the empty mug. “You’re sure we wouldn’t be able to access the tomb once you and Rose break the seal on the door?”

“Not whilst Mason’s still inside,” Sienna replied. “It’ll still be sealed to us because of our magical connection.”

“So do your witchy crap and break the seal so that we can go in,” Declan said.

“I can’t, Declan. It was a difficult spell with a double seal designed so that it’s impenetrable to anyone with magical elements.”

Clearly unimpressed, Declan gave a brief shake of the head. “Witches. So fickle and full of nonsense.”

“The only one here that’s full of nonsense is you, brother,” Archer said, smacking Declan on the back of the head. He turned to face Sienna. “So who would be able to enter the tomb?”

“We’d need someone that has no link to the elements of nature. That eliminates all of us.”

“We can use Tara,” Declan said without emotion.

Sienna tilted her head and looked at Declan, a small smile playing on her lips. “Yes, Declan, I’m sure your lover will happily oblige to entering a creepy tomb to remove an even creepier semi-dead guy from a cement slab.”

“Tara’s usually quite happy to oblige anything I ask of her.”

“So I see by her quick return to your bed.”

“Jealous that you’re not the only one having fun?”

Sienna smiled. Fun seemed too simple a word to describe what she’d shared with Archer the night before, but she quickly dismissed the thought the moment she felt herself blush. “As fascinated Tara is with your manly charms, I still don’t think she’ll do this.”

“Have you got any other suggestions, witchy?” Declan asked.

Standing, Sienna considered. “Having the Grimoire and the stones together with Mason and Warrick around is very risky.” She headed to the coffee machine, her body bristling with a vengeful energy she hadn’t felt in years. “If Warrick catches onto what we’re up to he’ll come at us with guns blazing.”

“We’ll have to take the necessary precautions to ensure that doesn’t happen. Warrick will never suspect that we’d move his brother,” Ethan said with a confidence Sienna didn’t feel.

Having the Grimoire and the stones – and her – together made it so much easier for Warrick.

Declan slapped his hands together. “I can’t wait to see his expression.”

Sienna smiled. “Our plan has some flaws but we can make this work. Rose will need to summon the stones.”

“And you’d need to bring the old Grimoire out of hiding.”

Sienna’s stomach twisted at the idea. The book was so treasured, and so valuable to an evil warlock like Warrick. But they’d protect the book at all costs. As they always had.

“I’ll go talk to Rose this morning while you guys find out where Warrick’s headed,” she said, swiping a hand across her forehead. A sudden unease had swept over her, sending her instincts on high alert. Nerves? She reached for the coffee pot. “We need to be …” Sienna paused, swallowed, as heat seared through her body, starting from the centre and spreading its way out, threatening to suffocate her.

Archer rose. “Sienna?”

She shook her head. “We need to be sure that Warrick – Oh!” she gasped, dropping the coffee pot. It shattered on the kitchen tiles, hot liquid splashing across the floors and up the cupboards.

All three brothers were beside her before she sank to the floor. Archer scooped her off her feet and away from the glass.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, casting a quick glance across her writhing body.

While she gasped for air, she clutched her chest, blinking rapidly. “I can’t breathe.”

“Sienna!” he yelled, grabbing her chin and forcing her to focus on him. “What’s happening?”

Sienna groaned as a powerful heat washed through her in agonizing waves. She swatted him away, her breaths coming out in choppy gasps of air.

“Sienna!”

She drew in a ragged breath and looked up at the three brothers crowding around her. “It’s Lexi,” she gasped, fear joining the ranks of the heat already threatening to burn her. “She’s channelling me. She’s in trouble.”

****

Archer pointed at Ethan. “Get them on the phone. It has to be Warrick.”

Ethan was already dialling but was quick to curse. “The phone’s dead.” He dialled the number for Lexi’s Keeper and shook his head.

“I can help her,” Sienna said softly, drawing in several deep breaths. Her skin, clammy from the heat that still gripped her, was hot to touch.

Archer frowned and reached for the water Declan produced. “Here, drink this.”

She did, almost finishing the bottle. Handing it back to him, she grimaced but looked at them. “I can help Lexi. Now that I know it’s her, I can allow her to channel my energy. Our combined powers should help her.”

“Do you know where she is?”

Sienna didn’t answer. Instead, she’d already disappeared into a world created by a mystical magic that only she understood. She’d stopped writhing, although her body was still on fire. Droplets of sweat ran down the side of her face, and Archer grabbed a towel to swipe them away.

“Damn, she’s burning up,” he grumbled.

“She knows what she’s doing.”

Sienna closed her eyes, leaning back into the couch. For a brief moment, she relaxed, almost as though she was granting Lexi access, allowing the endangered witch entry into a very deep, very treasured part of her.

They felt the tension escalating, felt the connection. Sienna gripped the sides of the couch, her knuckles whitening with the unruly grip. Her body arched forward and she groaned, and everything inside Archer demanded that he put a stop to her personal torment.

He was all for helping those in need, but watching his woman in such pain was torturous.

“Archer, she’s fine,” Declan said softly, placing a hand on his brother’s shoulder.

He nodded and drew in a choppy breath that came out in a huge sigh of relief when Sienna’s eyes suddenly flew open.