Hexed by Fire Page 13

  Since she was still recovering, Drake had taken on his role of overprotective uncle and assigned her mundane office tasks, which left her bored and really missing Mason.

  For the last few days, he’d spent most of his time assisting the high council. Drake told her the demon fire couldn’t be destroyed, and even though their last spell hadn’t been successful, the artifacts could still be used to manipulate demon magic.

  The council had taken extra measures to hide each cylinder in a separate and secret location. Locations that were magically enchanted to protect the artifacts and keep anyone from finding them. Mason and Aidan went along as security to make sure no other witches, warlocks, or otherworldly beings tried to steal the pieces before they were hidden.

  She hadn’t seen much of him, not since her trip to the hospital. He’d held her throughout the entire drive, continually reassuring her that everything would be all right.

  Except everything wasn’t all right.

  Ever since her experience in the museum basement, she’d felt closer to Mason. They had a connection, a link. Something magical had happened and bound them together. She could feel its subtle pull.

  It also enabled her to sense his emotions and know that something was bothering him. Whenever she asked him what it was, he’d give her an excuse or change the subject. During their last conversation, which hadn’t lasted more than ten minutes, he’d made a point of telling her they needed to talk.

  That was three long days ago. Three days without a phone call or even a text message.

  In her experience, when a guy said “we need to talk,” then made himself scarce, it usually meant the relationship was over. She wasn’t sure if the two days they’d spent together before the incident even qualified as a relationship.

  With too much time on her hands, she began to wonder if the reason Mason was staying away had to do with their newly acquired connection. Since Aidan was an expert with spells, she’d told him about the bond and asked him what might have caused it.

  His reaction was even more covert than Mason’s, making her wonder if he was somehow involved. It wouldn’t take much coaxing to wrench the truth out of her brother, except after their conversation, he’d been avoiding her too.

  What upset her the most was feeling like an idiot. She’d broken her own no-involvement rule and let herself care. And fallen in love with the handsome shifter.

  Sitting around the office with nothing to do only made thinking about the inevitable. Knowing Drake wouldn’t mind if she left work early, she turned off her computer and reached under her desk for her backpack.

  She’d just finished sliding her chair up to the desk when the front door swung open. Francesca walked inside with an elderly man dressed in an expensive navy-blue suit following behind her. Her dark hair was pulled away from face with light blue combs that matched the floral print on her long-sleeved dress. “Hey, Alex,” she said with a bright smile, then stepped aside to make room for the man to enter.

  She hadn’t seen Francesca since they’d been released from the hospital, but she’d heard she was doing a lot better than Megan. Alex felt bad for the other woman who’d been so traumatized by what Trevor had done to her that it would take years for her to recover. And that was if she recovered at all.

  Glad to see the other woman doing so well, she walked around the desk to give her a hug. “It’s great to see you.”

  “You too,” Francesca said and turned to the older man standing next to her. “This is my father, Elder Anderson.”

  Alex held out her hand, not surprised to feel strong magical energy radiating from the man. Only the most powerful witches living in Wicks Hollow ever became elders on the coven’s high council. “Elder Anderson, it’s nice to meet you.”

  He gave her hand a tight squeeze. “The pleasure is all mine.”

  She assumed their visit had something to do with Drake. “Are you here to see my uncle?”

  Before the elder could answer, Drake’s office door opened, his tall frame filling the doorway. Though she could never get him to admit it, Alex often suspected her uncle might possess some low-level psychic abilities.

  “Actually, they’re here to see you.” Drake crossed his arms and leaned against the frame.

  She cast her uncle a questioning look, worried that their visit had something to do with the files she’d downloaded from the coven database. “Me, why?”

  The elder smiled. “You aren’t in any trouble. I wanted to personally thank you for saving my daughter’s life.” He reached inside his suit and retrieved a white envelope bearing the coven’s gold filigree crest. “And to give you this.”

  She almost asked him if he was sure about the trouble part as she reached for the envelope with a trembling hand.

  Francesca placed a comforting hand on her arm. “Go ahead, open it.” She sounded eager, like an excited child.

  Alex flexed her nervous fingers, then slid her thumb under the seal, and pulled out a sheet of crisp parchment. After slowly unfolding it, she scanned the finely printed words. Words declaring her an honorary member of the Wicks Hollow coven. She swallowed hard, then raised her gaze, searching for confirmation from the elder that what she’d just read was actually true.

  With a smile and a glance in Drake’s direction, the elder said, “Professor Reynard was tied up with classes and sends his regrets for not being able to deliver this to you personally.” He withdrew another envelope and handed it to her. “I’m afraid I have another appointment and must be leaving.” He nodded a farewell to Drake, then held the door open for his daughter.

  Francesca gave Alex another tight hug. “I can’t thank you enough for all you did. If you ever need anything…” Her dark eyes glistened, and she quickly turned away and hurried out the door before any tears trickled down her face.

  Alex was too afraid to open the envelope, to see the class failure notice and ruin her moment of elation. With a depressed sigh, she slumped her shoulders and perched on the edge of her desk.

  Drake cleared his throat. “Would you like me to open it?”

  She’d forgotten he was still standing there and knew he wasn’t going to leave until she’d opened the letter. “No. I can do it.”

  She ripped along the envelope’s seam and withdrew its contents. She unfolded the beige stationary and read the words “private investigator’s license” printed at the top of the page in bold black print.

  Alex might have a temper and sometimes react emotionally, but crying was something she refused to do. But after seeing her name printed at the bottom of the certificate, she couldn’t stop the tears from reaching her cheeks.

  Without saying a word, she launched herself at Drake and wrapped her arms around his neck.

  He gathered her in his strong arms and held her tight against his chest. “You earned it.”

  “Earned what?” Aidan asked as he sauntered into the reception area. . His mischievous grin shifted into a concerned frown. “What’s up with the tears?”

  “Nothing.” After swiping the end of her sleeve across each cheek, Alex noticed Mason standing behind her brother and glaring at her with furrowed brows.

  #

  Mason had stared out the passenger window during the entire drive back to the office, preoccupied with what he needed to do. He was thankful Aidan had chosen today to crank up the radio instead of engaging him in conversation.

  He’d spent the last week hoping the binding spell would wear off. Not because he didn’t want Alex as a mate. He did, more than anything he’d ever wanted in his life. No, he wanted the spell to wear off so she could choose whether or not she wanted to be his mate.

  As the days passed, the bond grew stronger. He knew it every time his wolf released a mournful howl to be with his mate, which lately was a lot because Mason had gone out of his way to avoid her.

  How could he tell her the spell they’d used—without her permission—had mated them for life? Would she feel deceived, feel trapped, and hate him forever? Knowing he could los
e her after he told her had left a gaping hole in his heart.

  He convinced himself that giving her space, giving her time to heal after her ordeal, would somehow make things better. He’d even used the assignment with the high council as an excuse to stay away from her. To avoid dealing with her anger and the inevitable rejection he knew was coming. She deserved to know the truth, and now that the assignment was over, it was time to face her.

  When Mason walked into the office and watched her smile fade, his heart felt as if it had been pierced with a thick spear.

  He caught the flicker of sympathy in Drake’s eyes before Drake said, “Aidan, let’s go into my office. I have a case I need to discuss with you.”

  “Can’t it wait?” Aidan seemed oblivious to the tension building between him and Alex. “I wanted to hear about—”

  “Now.” Drake stepped aside and waited for Aidan to enter his office ahead of him.

  Once the two men left the room and the door closed behind them, Alex ignored him and walked behind her desk. She placed the papers she was holding inside a drawer, then reached for her backpack.

  Unease swept over him as he moved closer. “Can we talk?”

  “There’s really nothing more to talk about.” She clutched the strap tighter, her green gaze darkening. “I get it. I was an assignment, and the assignment is over.” She tugged the bag over her shoulder. “I can keep our relationship professional. You don’t need to keep avoiding me or the office.” She slid around him and raced out the door.

  Mason was too shocked to move. Had he missed something? Did she think he wanted to end their relationship? A small nugget of hope burst inside his heart. He grinned and chased after her. She made it as far as her car before he caught her.

  “Wait. Please.” He pressed his hand against the door to keep her from opening it.

  When she wouldn’t turn around, he leaned closer and pressed his cheek against the side of her face. He spoke softly into her ear. “You were never just an assignment.”

  Some of the tension went out of her shoulders. She let her bag slide to the ground and turned around, anger and hurt still evident in her eyes. She crossed her arms and leaned back against the car. “Then why have you been avoiding me?”

  He stepped forward and braced his hands on either side of her body, ensuring she couldn’t escape. “The night you disappeared, I was determined to find you. To keep you safe. It was all I could think about. If there’d been any other way…” His throat constricted. This was harder than he’d imagined. He was rambling and not making any sense. “I didn’t want to lose you.”

  She bit her lip, her eyes sparkling with amusement. It didn’t take a detective, or maybe it did, to figure out she already knew what had happened and was doing her best to torture him with the information. “How long have you known?”

  “You mean about the binding spell?” She smiled. “I may be challenged when it comes to my powers, but I can tell when I’ve been spelled with magic. I’ve had my suspicions for a few days now.”

  Her gaze flickered with desire. She pressed her hands against his chest, and an electric charge seared through his shirt and shimmered across his skin.

  “Why didn’t you say anything?” Mason asked.

  “You stayed away from the office and acted so strange. I thought you regretted your decision.”

  “What? No.” He reached for her hips and pulled her closer. “I forced you into a mating, a lifetime commitment.” He tucked a curl behind her ear. “No matter how much I care about you, or how much my wolf and I want you, the choice should have been yours.”

  She narrowed her eyes and poked him in the chest. “I may not be part wolf, but I know what it feels like to find my mate. And choice or not, I care about you too, so you’re stuck with me no matter what. Is that understood?”

  “Definitely”—he nipped her chin—“understood.” He slipped his hand to the back of her neck, then captured her lips with his mouth. He took pleasure in her soft moan and ran his tongue across her lower lip, teasing her mouth open. He deepened the kiss, reveling in the knowledge the beautiful and stubborn witch who’d magically stolen his heart had officially agreed to be his mate.

  <<<<>>>>

  A Note from the Author

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  Also by Nola Robertson

  The Tarron Hunter Series

  Hunter Bound

  Hunter Enslaved

  Hunter Unchained

  Hunter Forbidden

  Hunter Scorned

  Hunter Avenged

  City Light Shifters (Stand Alone)

  Stolen Surrender

  A Cumberpatchcove Mystery

  Death and Doubloons

  St. Claire Witches

  Hexed by Fire

  Spelled With Charms (Coming Soon)

  About the Author

  Nola Robertson is an author of paranormal and sci-fi romance, who has recently ventured into writing cozy mysteries. When she’s not busy writing, she spends her time reading, gardening, and working on various DIY projects.

  Raised in the Midwest, she now resides in the enchanting Southwest with her husband and three adorable cats.