Chapter 2

The list didn’t provide any big clues. Twenty names were the same, not counting themselves and the organizers. Twenty names of the people who had all been at events for years.

The revel fire was more of a social gathering than ritual, as everyone knew the early morning and long day that would follow. The eight wandered through the attendants looking for something out of place or disturbing, but hadn’t picked up on anything. Finally, everyone agreed to go back to the cabin and try to rest before their watch shifts began.

Leena and Owen took the first watch, and no one complained, knowing they were still so newly engaged they should be able to lounge in bed longer than the others.

Steven and Rachel took the midnight shift while the others tried to get a bit of rest before their turn.

Kasey wandered out to the sitting area to find Chris there. “Are they still out?” she whispered, not wanting to wake the others. He nodded. “Do we go out right after them, or is it Justin’s turn? I keep forgetting.”

Chris patted the cushion beside him, waving the puff of dust away that flew out. “We’re out after them. Then at two it’s Justin. It’s either Charlie or Kevin at three. I’m not sure which order they’re in. Dade and Cora will be out until we light the fires.”

She nodded and then sighed. “I couldn’t sleep. Maybe the nap was a bad idea.”

Chris picked up her hand. “It’s going to be okay, Kasey.” His voice was soft and reassuring. “We’re doing all we can do.”

She nodded again and went to speak when Doc and Rachel stepped in quietly, grinning.

“It’s all yours,” Rachel whispered with a grin on her face.

Steven smiled at them too. “You might want to avoid the little ring of trees behind the dining hall. Another couple is busy there right now.”

Kasey blushed but noticed that Chris grinned.

“We’ll check there last.” He turned to her. “Ready?” She nodded and grabbed her sweater.

They walked in silence. Kasey was happy to hold his hand, she felt less nervous about what they were watching and listening for. The only sounds they heard were the crickets, and their own footsteps.

She glanced up at him. At nearly a foot taller, he always made her feel smaller and more feminine. He looked so sexy in the almost-full moonlight. It cast a light that made him look stronger, almost invincible, she thought with a girlish grin. “Leena said there was a creek down that way. Do we look there too?” She kept her voice hushed.

Chris smiled down at her. “Sure. And I’d like to say, despite the reason we’re out here, I’m enjoying walking with you in the moonlight. Kase. You look like a fairy in this light.”

Kasey felt more relaxed. “It is beautiful out here tonight, isn’t it?”

Lifting their entwined hands to his mouth, he kissed hers. “I think the woman beside me outshines the moon every night.”

She felt her cheeks flush. “You say the nicest things, Chris.”

“I mean them, or I wouldn’t say them.”

They both looked over as they heard the water trickling. Spotting a large rock, he headed over to lean against it, turning her to stand in front of him. They were face to face now. “I still feel guilt over how I behaved a few weeks ago, Kasey.”

She was silent for a minute. “It’s okay. You were right, in a way. I should work harder so I can stay focused during a ritual. I’ve been practicing ever since.”

His hand moved up to caress her face. It was big enough to cover the whole side of it. “I could have told you in a friendlier way. I have no excuse for my behavior that night. It was just a bit of a shock, to be honest.” His thumb moved slowly over her cheekbone.

“I’d like to explain what happened, Chris.”

“There’s no need...”

Kasey put her hand up to stop his caress. “There is, I need to.”

He nodded silently and dropped both hands to her waist, resting them there. Could he sit here and listen to her explain about the lover he had seen with her in the vision? He wasn’t sure he could, but he owed it to her to at least try, after being so rude to her over it.

“During the ritual, when we were all touching the edge of the dish, the currents flowing were very strong. The stones I used were doing their part really well, too. I guess you leaned up to look closer, I’m not sure. I was pretty deep in the vision at that point. I remember feeling your hand brush mine, an accident, of course.” She paused and lowered her lashes, hiding her eyes from him.

Letting out a shaky breath, she looked back at his eyes. “When your hand brushed mine, it changed my focus to you, Chris. That was you I projected in the vision of... It was you.”

She finished so quietly he almost didn’t hear her. He stood there looking into her eyes. Her fantasy lover had been him? How had he missed that? As he thought of the dark-haired man’s reflection in the bowl, he felt ridiculous. How was he supposed to know what he looked like from behind? Him.

Chris searched her eyes for a moment, then looked at her mouth. She bit her bottom lip gently with her teeth waiting for him to say something. No words could be found to express how happy he was. Relief flooded through him. It hadn’t been another man’s mouth moving over her with frenzied passion. It had been his. A rush of heat went through him as he thought of the images.

“I’ve embarrassed you now,” she said quietly.

“No, I’m not embarrassed to know that.” He did wonder if everyone else had realized who the man had been. “Kasey...” He didn’t know what words to use. His eyes moved over her face and he felt he had no choice but slowly lean closer, watching her eyes as he did. When his lips brushed against hers, she moved her hands to his shoulders.

Turning his head, he deepened the kiss and pulled her closer. Her mouth opened, allowing his tongue to brush against hers.

Struggling with whether he should pull her tight or release her, he groaned against her mouth and broke the kiss. “Kase,” he whispered against her lips, “we’ll have to continue this when we’re not on duty.”

“Oh!” She put her hands up to her cheeks and looked at him with wide eyes. “I forgot! You distracted me, and I forgot why we’re out here.”

He kissed her mouth gently. “That makes me feel better than you could ever know, sweetheart.” Straightening up, he took her hand. “Let’s head to check the other end of the camp.”

Chris fought his impulses for most of the way touring the camp. He wanted to pick her up to lay her gently in the long grass, to play out the visions of the fantasy now running rapidly through his mind with new vigor. If he didn’t let her know how he felt, soon, he was going to lose his sanity.

After they finished their hour, they saw Justin and Gwen step out of their cabin. Nodding wordlessly to the other couple, they turned and headed back to the own.

As Kasey reached for the door, Chris pulled her away from the door, to the side of the small deck. “We’ll go in shortly.” He picked her up quickly, seating her on the rail before she could react. “We’re not on duty now,” he whispered against her ear. “I want the rest of that kiss, sweetheart.” Kasey ran her hands through his hair, pulling his head down.

Kasey held her hands in his hair as she pulled his mouth to hers. She didn’t know if she’d get another chance to kiss him like this, when he’d asked, so she threw herself into the kiss and swallowed any hesitance.

With her tongue, she explored the inside of his mouth and stroked along his. He gripped her waist and stepped closer so his body was up against hers. She felt his hips push between her thighs, and gasped against his mouth.

Dropping her hands, she ran them down over his chest, loving the feel of his hard muscles.

When she touched him, he pulled his mouth away to run his lips across her throat. His hand cupped the back of her head as she leaned back to give him access to her entire neck.

Lifting her with one hand, he pulled her tightly against his hard chest and devoured her throat. She moaned softly, and he felt need jolt through him like a bolt of lightning. “Come inside with me, little Kasey.” He groaned against her throat, and then felt her tense in his arms.

“I can’t...the others...I’d…” She bit her bottom lip.

“It’s okay,” he said, pulling her to rest against his chest as he tried to regain his own breathing.

“It’s not that I don’t want to. I do. I just...if they found out...” Kasey stopped.

Chris leaned back and looked down at her flushed face. Her eyes were glazed with passion, and he wanted to carry her inside all over again. “I understand, sweetheart. It’s okay, really.”

He brushed his thumb over her swollen lips, almost dropped to his knees to beg when her mouth opened and her eyes drifted shut at his touch. She was the sexiest thing he had ever laid eyes on.

Dropping his hand, he pulled her into his arms again and held her. “Just let me hold you for a second while I settle down.” Her little arms wound around his waist, and she nuzzled right into him.

Taking a deep breath, he straightened and picked her up from the rail and lowered her slowly to the deck. “Go get some rest, Kasey. I’ll be in shortly.” She looked up at him for a moment, then nodded and opened the door.

He watched her close the door, and then let out a long breath. This was going to be a very long, restless weekend.

As he turned to follow her someone stepped out of the trees on the other side of their cabin. His whole body tensed as he watched the man walk towards him.

He was a tall man, with short, dark hair with a bit of gray showing, and several years older than himself, he thought. Maybe it was that rough “seen it all” attitude.

“Mr. Larkin, isn’t it?” the man asked with a slight Irish brogue.

Chris nodded, sizing up the other man.

When he put his hand out to shake his, he winked at Chris. “I’m Patrick Blaine, a special friend of Justin’s.”

Chris relaxed and shook his hand. Well, at least he didn’t look like a cop, far from it, actually. To describe him, Chris would have used the word “dangerous.”

“Just wanted to stop by and introduce myself. Saw the group of you at dinner last night and decided with all your men I’d better make sure you knew me.” He winked again. “Appreciate the help you’re all lending.” He looked around the area for a moment, then pulled a dark stone of his pocket.

Chris grinned at the man as the stone hovered a few inches above his palm. Snapping his fingers, the stone fell into Patrick’s hand. “Good thing you did at that, Mr. Blaine.”

Patrick leaned against the rail for a moment and grinned. “It was thought I’d be best to handle this situation. I’ve been keeping an eye on the woman you all saw. She’s been tucked in all night.” He straightened up. “I need to talk to the lot of you before the fire-lighting about a few ideas I have, well, now that Justin has explained a bit about some gifts you all have”

Chris nodded.

“I’m off for a nap before everyone’s all aflutter over the fire-lighting. I’ll see you later on.”

“Absolutely,” Chris said as he watched the man walk away. Well, well, they had a magical cop. Things were definitely looking up.

As they stood in a circle with dawn only a few moments away, the silence prevailed. No one spoke or moved. Chris noticed Patrick looking silently at each face.

Justin asked Cora to give each person in the gathering a small token. With her moving slowly and Owen one step behind her, carrying a basket holding the tiny wrapped bundles, they moved around the circle handing them out.

They reasoned it would allow them to see if Cora, or even Owen, picked up on any vibe to point them in the right direction. Her hands would be close enough to the one accepting the gift to get a reading, of sorts, and with Owen being close, they hoped he would sense something also, or even amp up her abilities.

Chris glanced at Dade, who was very unimpressed with this plan. He stood rigid and waiting. At the slightest sign Cora needed him, he’d be there, Chris knew. Of course, it surprised him when the plan was being discussed that Dade hadn’t just slung Cora up in his arms to march away with her. He smirked. Someday she would put him in his place once and for all, and that day wasn’t far off.

He glanced down at Kasey. She was looking around the circle at each person when he felt his hair ruffle in the breezeless air. He glanced at her again, and she smirked. Looking at the ground, he concentrated and sent a brush of fingers against her neck without ever moving a hand. She smiled up at him.

When he lifted his head again, he saw Cora turn her head and glare at them both. Then she quickly handed Charlie and Kevin their gift bundles before taking her place back between Justin and Dade.

Patrick turned toward them as well and raised an eyebrow at Chris. So using magic when so many witches were seeking hadn’t been the best idea, he realized. Just what was it about the sexy little witch beside him that turned his usual logical, analytical mind to useless mush?

Shaking his head, Chris moved over to take his place with the drummers as the single women moved to the center of the circle. The sun finally crested the horizon, and as the first beat played, the women lit their torches and circled the fire pit slowly.

Dade had clipped on the waist strap of his drum and stood up without ever missing a beat. He moved slowly through the other drummers and out into the circle. Each woman walked past him as he went to stand in front of the wood that was to be lit.

As the last one passed by him, they began to throw their torches into the pit and walk slowly around the fire.

To someone without the knowledge of real magic, Chris mused, it would appear that Dade was drumming in the day as the lead drummer, with the others as a background. To many at this gathering who knew magic was a very real thing, they knew he was calling the sun spirits to keep this fire ablaze through the long day. They would feel the magic and know.

Cora passed Dade and ran her hand lightly from one shoulder across his back to the other. She would feel the spirits as they arrived and would feel the pull of the magic echoing from his drum on this bright early morning.

The women continued to circle the four-foot blaze, always moving more slowly by Dade, making sure they didn’t step between him and the flames.

When he finally slowed the beat and finished, he was slick with sweat and out of breath. Chris watched Dade turn to Cora and give her a knowing glance. He stood for several moments by the fire letting the energy flow around him.

No one made a sound as they watched the Solstice fire burn as brightly as the newly risen sun.

Chris looked over to see Owen sitting with the other drummers and watching everything. One of the women walked to Cora and handed her a towel. Cora took it, smiling her thanks, and walked over to Dade to wipe the sweat from his face and chest, then slowly moving around to wipe his back. She whispered something to him, and he nodded. Then they both turned, and he walked out of the circle with the women following.

The Solstice morning had arrived.

Steven leaned over to Owen and spoke quietly. “The single men, that wouldn’t be you, take turns keeping this fire going all day. At noon, we’ll meet back here as a group and give offerings or thanks. We place them in the fire. Many will bring their Yule wreath to burn. Then we’re back again tonight.” He grinned at him. “The women will want to do the gift exchanges now, so you best cuddle up to your lady and see what she has for you to give out.” Chuckling, he got up and walked over to Dade.

Chris watched Kasey go to Cassidy and speak for a few moments. With a smile, she handed Cassidy a small bundle. The other woman hugged her, and then Kasey turned to walk back to them.

Beside him Dade was guzzling a bottle of water. He stopped and smiled. “It was nice to see Cora giving someone else the look for a change.” He grinned and walked towards the cabin, following after the others.

He dried the sweat from his body and reached into his bag to touch the box.

He didn’t take it out yet. It was too early for that.

Tonight he thought they would reveal themselves to him.

Tonight he would cleanse their souls from all their sins.

He lay back and closed his eyes.

He needed to rest to prevent the pain from coming again.

He had to be well enough to do as was expected of him.

He couldn’t fail.