Eliza Gayle Witch Bundle (paranormal romance) by Eliza Gayle (free children's online books TXT) 📗

give yourself too much credit, brother. Not everything I do has something to do with you.” As usual Cash knew just what he thought.

“Damnit, Cash. If you're this close to losing control you shouldn't be here and you damn well know it.” He strode across the room to his desk, putting some distance between himself and his brother. He hated this. His gut clenched. Hated that he had to keep this distance between his family. But together the seductive call of the magick was twice as strong, nearly impossible to resist. The agony ripping through him was proof of that.

“It's a good thing I am. What the hell do you think you're doing? Fucking the one woman who holds the key to our destruction.”

Anger lit up Graelen's body in an instant as he struggled to tamp down the darkness. “Cash, you have to trust me. Don't you think I know why she's here? What we've all known was coming for years.” Graelen braced his hands on his desk as the fire of rage burned through his blood. His Rena was smack dab in the middle of all this—

Wait, his Rena? What the hell? No. He slammed his fist down on the desk and energy flew straight at Cash.

Cash flung his hands up in defense, just catching the plasma ball before it slammed into his chest. “What the fuck is wrong with you? Are you trying to kill me?” He flung the energy into the fire and the flames leapt at the extra fuel. “Graelen, you've got to get her out of here now. Before it's too late. This isn't going to end well for anyone.”

“Cash, you don't understand. Something's not quite right here. Last night someone tried to hurt her. I don't think they wanted to kill her, though. They could have done that if they wanted to before I showed up.”

“Jeez, Grae, are you that blind? Her hot little pussy got you twisted up already? She's the bait.”

“Shut the fuck up!” Graelen stalked around the desk, his anger propelling him closer to his brother. “You should have stayed away. I have everything under control.”

Cash's eyes blackened as the darkness rose.

“You call this control? Give me a break.”

Graelen was so focused on hurting his brother he barely noticed the office door slam open.

“Graelen, what's wrong?” Rena ran toward him, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Stop. The anger. The pain.” Her words were incoherent as she ran blindly into his arms. He thought to simply comfort her by wrapping his arms around her waist, but the energy immediately fused them together as his anger and frustration flooded her body. She shook under the onslaught and even he felt weakened, unsure he could withstand the transfer.

“What the hell is going on? You two are lit up like a Christmas tree.” His voice was heavy with sarcasm, yet Cash moved forward as if to help them, touching Rena on the shoulder.

“Wait. Just give us a minute and I'll be able to explain.” Graelen staggered over to the couch, half carrying, half dragging Rena with him.

“Grae, what can I do?” There was a slight tremor in Cash's voice as though some emotion had finally touched him. Graelen didn't even turn around. His focus was Rena and her well being. Have to protect her at all costs.

The force of energy that had just swamped her body was more than enough to take down two men her size. Her face had paled yet her heart beat strong against his chest.

“You okay, baby? That was a foolish thing to do running in here like that. You can't keep doing this.” He stroked his hand soothingly along her arms, marveling at the tremors he got just from touching her silky skin. “I don't imagine it's very safe for you to keep this up.”

“Graelen, the cards. The story. This missing explanation. I think this is exactly what I was born to do. You need an empath to save you.” Her voice died away and her lids fluttered closed.

“No, Rena, you can't be right this time. Someone would have told us. Someone in our family would know about this if it was even a remote possibility.” She shook her head but didn't open her eyes. She obviously needed rest to recover.

“What is she talking about?” Cash's contemptuous tone threatened to ignite Graelen's anger once again.

“This wouldn’t have happened if you’d stayed away like you were supposed to.” Rena flinched under his hand but remained still. Taking a few slow, steady breaths, he reluctantly let go of Rena to deal with Cash.

“You, little brother, need to get that temper under control.” He stared into the still blackened eyes of his brother, hoping to reach past his anger and find some reason there. Slowly, his brother’s eyes lightened to their normal vivid green.

“Such a demanding big brother you’ve become.”

There was an edge to his voice Graelen didn't recognize. He raked his hands through his hair as he guided Cash back over near the fireplace.

“She's an empath. Our anger causes her physical pain.” His brother opened his mouth to say something but Graelen waved him off. “Just shut up, there's more. She not only feels it but when I touch her she actually absorbs it. Taking it away. Taking the darkness away.” Graelen proceeded to tell Cash the entire story behind her visit. The Tarot cards, her mysterious benefactor, the attack, as well as her empathic theories.

“What a load of horseshit. Please tell me you aren't buying this crap. She is so setting you up.” Cash paced around, waving his hands during his little tirade. “Setting all of us up.”

“No, Cash, I think I know our family history better than anyone. Apparently someone has filled her head with fantasy and sent her here to distract us. The question is who?”

Cash stood frozen in mid-stride.

“You definitely think someone else is behind this? Are you kidding me? Why can't you see what is right in front of your face?” Cash waved and pointed to the