Hannah (The Coven's Grove Chronicles #2) (18 page)

Hannah put her dark hair into a ponytail as she crossed the room to stand by her patron, or whatever Miranda was. Her friend, Rhea, went to stand next to them while Nathan, Monica and Nancy clustered by Dominic near the hearth. Alix plopped down on the sofa between the two groups like she was about to watch the main event of a heavyweight boxing match.

Dominic was about to start the Q&A when Troy came in from the kitchen with a huge tray of veggies and a smile. “You guys hungry?”

An uncomfortable silence dragged out as everyone slowly turned to look at the stocky ginger.

Troy’s brows rose sheepishly. “I guess not.” He quickly shuffled around the couch, and took a seat by Alix. “Sorry.”

Dominic would have laughed, but his sense of humor was pretty much tapped out from all the stress. Instead, he walked over, grabbed a slice of cucumber and popped it into his mouth. He gave Troy a nod. “Thanks.”

“Sure.”

“So, the police were satisfied?” Dominic asked the trio of witches. He wasn’t sure how to begin a conversation about mystical forces, so the mundane seemed a good alternative to break the ice.

Rhea and Hannah glanced at Miranda. Their leader nodded. “Yes, for now.”

Dominic was relieved about that, at least. His crew would be able to get out of here, if this woman allowed them to do so. As far as himself, well, he had other plans. He wanted to be with Hannah; he just hadn’t figured out how that was going to happen.
Problems for later,
he thought. “This isn’t the easiest situation, I know, but I feel there are some things we need to talk about.” He walked back over to his crew. “I’d like to know if we’re safe.”

Miranda narrowed her eyes slightly. “From us, you mean?”

“Yeah,” Dominic replied. “The things you guys can do... It’s obviously not normal. I’m just reaching here, but I assume you want to keep that quiet.”

“Your assumption would be correct,” Miranda answered.

“Is there any way we can prove to you that we can do that?” Dominic had been thinking about how to approach this subject since everyone had turned invisible in the basement. Every angle seemed like a no-win scenario. There was no way to guarantee that everyone would be silent about what had happened. His hope was that this Miranda woman would be willing to accept the fact that no one in their right mind would believe anything he and his group might say about magic being real, and, also, that she possessed a lot more of the compassion she’d already shown them.

“That’s the question, isn’t it?” Miranda walked around the sofa and took a seat. “Can you keep our secret?”

“I could say yes, but I’m not sure you’d believe me.”

“Again, you are correct.” Miranda crossed her hands over a knee.

Hannah shifted, a look of agitation on her face. Rhea stood impassive, her feet shoulder-width apart and hands behind her back like a soldier.

“I only have one thing to offer that could possibly give you assurance,” Dominic said. Of all the reasons that had gone through his mind for Miranda to trust him, nothing would provide the proof she needed. Nothing would stand up against the argument for her to force silence upon them. Nothing, but perhaps his innermost feelings.

The room charged with even more tension as Dominic debated with himself about what to say. Miranda sat patiently, while everyone else could have been sitting on a bed of needles with all their fidgeting.

Dominic didn’t look at Miranda when he finally spoke. He focused on the dark-haired beauty standing behind her. “I love Hannah. And I’ll do everything in my power to keep her safe.”

“I knew it!” Alix blurted, then slapped a hand over her mouth.

Hannah gawked at Dominic. “You just said that out loud, in front of everybody.”

He smiled. “Do you believe me now?” He certainly hoped she did. “Because I don’t know what else to say…” He glanced at the well dressed woman on the sofa. “To either of you.”

Miranda remained silent, studying him. What she thought of his feelings for Hannah, Dominic couldn’t say, but the woman’s measured scrutiny was a bit unnerving.

“I believe you,” Hannah said, coming to his rescue. She looked at Miranda. “I believe him. They won’t betray us. Not willingly, at least.”

Miranda sighed. “I need time to think on this mess.”

“What is there to think about?” Nancy asked. She bristled up, ready for a fight.

“Easy, Nancy,” Dominic said. “I’m sure there are options.”

“On how to kill us?!”

“No,” Miranda said. “That was never an option. Let me make it clear that you will not be harmed.”

It felt as if a two-ton brick fell off of Dominic’s shoulders. He had no idea what these witches could do to make he and his crew not say anything, but he knew for damn sure they could kill, which had seemed to be the most likely solution.

“And we’re just supposed to take your word on that?” Nancy scoffed.

Dominic rubbed his eyes. It was like a complete role reversal between Nancy and Monica.

“Chill, Nancy,” Nathan said. “They hid us from the police, remember?”

“Why?” Nancy retorted as she rounded on Nathan. “Why would they do that? Jesus, a nice pair of tits and some lipstick, and you’re all on board, no questions asked. Did it ever occur to you that they may want us for themselves? To eat or something?”

“Gross!” Alix glared at Miranda. “You guys don’t do that, do you?”

Miranda slowly shook her head. “No, we don’t eat people.”

“Nancy,” Hannah said, as she came around the couch. She had a “I’m approaching a wild animal” stance. “We’ve had a lot happen to us today. I think a good night’s sleep would do us all some good.”

Nancy eyed her skeptically, and then looked at Dominic. It was a cold look, truly detached.

“I think it will be okay.” Dominic reached out and took her by the shoulder. “I think Hannah is right. We all need some rest.” He hadn’t thought that Nancy’s expression could become any more lifeless, but, at hearing his words, she appeared utterly defeated.

“Fine,” Nancy replied, pulling away from him. “You might as well get the rest of us killed.”

That stung
. Dominic frowned, but he let it go. She needed someone to blame for Kevin’s death, and she wasn’t far off the mark to be honest. He never should have let them stay.

“I can show you guys to some really nice rooms,” Alix chimed in. “This place is pretty posh.” The tattooed girl hopped off the sofa, and pulled Troy to his feet. She headed toward the grand staircase at the entrance. “C’mon. They’re upstairs.”

Nathan and Monica leaned on each other as the followed Alix. Nancy trailed behind them without a word.

Dominic moved to follow, but Hannah caught his arm.

“Let’s talk,” she whispered.

He didn’t resist as she led him from the great room. He did, however, spare a glance at the two women left behind. Miranda held no malice in her expression as she watched them go, though Rhea appeared a bit put out. He wasn’t sure what that was about, but, at this point, it didn’t matter. He needed to focus on getting things straight with Hannah.

They walked through the sunroom at the back of the house, and out into the warm night air. It must have been about midnight, even though it felt like three in the morning. To say it had been a long day would be an understatement.

“I’m sorry about Kevin,” Hannah said as they walked.

“Me too,” Dominic said. “If only I could go back in time.” A thought occurred to him suddenly. “Can you do that?”

Hannah chuckled. “Turn back time?”

“Yeah.”

“Not that I know of,” she answered. “That would be pretty dangerous if we could, though.”

Dominic sighed. “Yeah, I suppose so.”

“Try not to blame yourself,” Hannah started. “Ugh, I’m such a hypocrite. I’m feeling serious guilt for killing those men that were chasing us. I’m the last person to be giving advice.”

“It’s not a bad thing that you’re feeling some regret. It proves you’re still human.” Dominic had seen several of his friends spiral out of control from the loss of their humanity, and currently feared that Nancy was next. The thought of something similar happening to Hannah made him feel sick inside. “You saved us all. I’m sorry you had to take lives to do it, but I’m grateful nonetheless.”

They walked in silence after that. The smooth carpet of grass gave way to the forest that surrounded the estate. Tall shadows played along the trunks of massive trees as the pair continued down the low-lit trail.

“So, why didn’t you tell me what you do from the start?” Hannah finally asked.

Dominic gently kicked at some pebbles, and said, “I was afraid you’d walk away without giving me a chance.”

“Me too,” Hannah replied, then quickly added, “With the whole witch thing, I mean.”

Dominic laughed. “I guess we have a few insecurities in common.”

“And good reasons for those insecurities.”

“Yep.” Dominic definitely couldn’t argue with that.

Hannah was on the verge of saying something more but hesitated. She lapsed into silence again, and continued to walk along the path.

“I want to be with you, Hannah,” he said, stopping her.

She turned to face him. “Even though I’m a witch?”

“Even though I’m a thief.”

Hannah smiled, unshed tears in her eyes. “Smooth,” she whispered.

Dominic took her into his arms and kissed her.

All self-doubt banished with the hungry touch of her soft lips. His hands moved of their own accord, sliding under her shirt and down the back of her pants. Skin, warm and smooth, pimpled at the brush of his fingertips as if exposed to a cool breeze.

Her nails dug into his back, and she moaned as she pressed her lips, hard, against his. She pushed away suddenly and breathed, “Take me.” She pulled off her shirt, exposing her sexy stomach and heaving breasts. “In the forest.” With the flick of her wrist, she flung the shirt over Dominic’s head. “If you can!”

The chase was on.

Hannah had professed that she wasn’t a dedicated runner, but the woman could move, no doubt about it. By the time Dominic had pulled the shirt from his face, she was already off the path and into the tree line. He darted after her, stripping clothes as he went. She wasn’t so far ahead that he couldn’t see her, but she was pulling away, melding into the shadows of the forest. His arousal had grown to such intensity that chasing her was becoming a problem, but he was determined.

Dominic ripped off the last of his clothes, releasing his hardness. He sprinted through the trees, free of restraint, desperate to catch the nymph of a woman. Her laughter and the littered pieces of clothing she left in her wake provided an easy enough trail for him to follow. He started gaining on her, dodging trees and underbrush like a wild animal pursuing a female that had just gone into heat.

Closer and closer, he came. Her naked hips swayed in the shadows as she ran from him playfully. Where she was leading him, he hadn’t a clue, or a care, just as long as he caught her. That was all that mattered.

He reached out to take hold of her arm, and his hand passed right through it.

Shock rattled Dominic to the core, and he came to a juddering halt. What the hell? he thought, spinning in place. There was no sign of Hannah, only dark shadows and the rhythmic sway of woodland leaves. He stood in the middle of a small, moss-covered glade, exposed to the moon’s light. The ground felt like plush carpet against his bare feet as he continued to search for the elusive woman he so urgently needed to find.

Dominic chuckled uneasily. Naked in the woods, by himself and totally aroused, didn’t really fit the evening he had pictured. He was about to call out for Hannah when something touched him. It was soft and billowy, and traced it’s way up from his calf to the rounded muscles of his ass.

He turned, expecting to find Hannah, but, instead, found a tree that had bent down, the very tip of one of its limbs tickling his skin.

“Holy shit!” Dominic leaped away from the probing branch. More tendrils snaked out from the forest and wrapped themselves around his wrists, chest, and ankles. He struggled against the entangling vines to no avail. For a moment during their chase, he had foolishly believed himself to be the hunter. Now, with sudden clarity, he knew he had been the prey from the very start.

Fear gripped his heart as the disturbing posture of the gnarled trees summoned terrible images of the events from earlier that evening—gunmen torn limb from limb by Hannah’s will.

He went flaccid.

“Oh, no,” Hannah’s voice echoed through the clearing with a musical giggle. “That’s not what I wanted.” She stepped from the darkened shadows of the forest, her skin glowing in the pale moonlight. Full breasts and lascivious hips beckoned as she drew near.

Dominic couldn’t control the blood that rushed downward, thickening his desire. Fear and lust fought for command of his body, tearing his rational mind to shreds.

“How I love to watch you run,” Hannah purred in his ear once she was next to him. Her delicate fingers glided across his now pimpled skin, lingering on his flexed ass. She touched her warm tongue to his neck and licked up to his jawline.