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

and Noah nowhere in sight. She looked at the screens to see if they would tell her anything. Screen after screen and still nothing until the second to the last. A clear and crisp view of the back deck and beyond showed Noah standing at the railing looking out over the water. She hurried from the room, determined to tell him before it was too late.

She pushed open the back door, “Noah, I have something I have to tell you.”

“Well, hurry up, you have about thirty seconds before they hit the dirt.” He motioned to the water behind him, and she stretched and looked past the railing to see two airboats coming through the cove, headed for the dock. Her heart sank, it was already too late.  She couldn’t drop that on him with just seconds before a reunion with his family.

“It’ll keep.” She smiled at him despite the sense of doom settling over her. Whatever opportunity she might have had just disappeared with two airboats and a huge group of people walking up the dock to the cabin.  Her head pounded and her palms sweated, already the energy in the air thick with magick. When she spied Jake at the back of the pack she took off running down the dock. Everyone quickly sidestepped them as she ran into his arms, grateful beyond belief for the security of his strength and presence.

“Oh, Jake.” Tears flooded her eyes that no amount of blinking would hold back. She’d feared for both their lives for so long.

“Jessie, are you all right? What did he do to you? Did he hurt you?”

She nodded her head against his chest, she didn’t want to let him go.

“That part’s over now, I’m just glad that you’re here,” she whispered.

“What about your power, have you gotten in back? I still can’t believe the bastard branded you?”

She shook in his arms, all her emotions flooding through her, spilling out. Her quiet tears turned to hard racking sobs that she couldn’t control. She heard people shuffling around, but didn’t look.

“Come on, let’s go inside. I’d feel more secure not being out in the open like this. We have to be on guard at all times.”

She struggled to compose herself and wiped away her tears as best she could. She twisted and looked up to see all had gone up to the house except a dark haired woman—she assumed was Raven—and Noah’s twin. Despite knowing in advance they were identical twins, seeing him standing there still took her back. Except for the look in his eyes and the various tiny scars that Noah had that Denn didn’t, you wouldn’t be able to tell them apart.

Jake introduced them all and Jessie couldn’t help but understand why Jake was so enthralled. Between Denn’s gorgeous bad boy look and the beauty of Raven with the dark spark in her eye, Jake had found his perfect balance. Magick or no, she could feel it all around her. The connection between the three of them was palpable.

Jake put his arms around Jessie’s shoulder and led her up the dock, back to where the others waited, and Noah watched her. He probably thought he was being subtle, but she felt his gaze slide over her every time he turned her way. Knowing he kept an eye out for her gave her a warm secure feeling despite the turmoil they were all about to face.

She took in the other two men she knew by name but not sight. Graelen and Cash. Another set of beautiful men, one with a more serious look from his cropped hair to his slacks and pullover, the other total bad boy all the way. Black t-shirt, tight jeans, combat boots and leather jacket.

“So, how did you all manage to get here at the same time? I thought those of you coming in from the north would take at least a day.”

“It’s amazing what you can do with a private jet and an offer of a cash bonus,” said Cash.

Of course, how could she have forgotten? The Scott family was one of the wealthiest in the country with holdings and dealings in more industries than she could keep track of.

They’d barely made it into the house before she was approached by one of the women.

“I’m Rena, Graelen’s mate, and this is Selene, who is with Cash.” She pointed to the red headed woman standing near her as she shook Jessie’s hand.

“It’s good to meet you both, I’ve heard a lot about you.” Jessie did her best to control her nerves. Under normal circumstances she didn’t like to be around groups of people, and this certainly wasn’t a normal situation. When you never know what might trigger your inner demon, you tended to stay away from innocent people at all costs.

“I have been studying what Noah told me about what happened to you and I have some theories. If we all want to get comfortable and let me lay out these documents I brought with me, we can all discuss it.”

“In case no one told you, our Rena here is the brains of the operation, her being our resident Tarot historian and all,” Selene offered.

Jessie nodded and led them to the large living room where there were couches and chairs along with a large oak coffee table that Rena could use as a table for the things she wanted to share with the group. As much as she wanted to hear what Rena had to say, her skin itched to leave the room, to get out of the house and back into the open space. She felt like a ticking time bomb. Noah must have sensed her distress as he crossed to her with concern in his gaze.

“What’s wrong?” He kept his voice low so that only Jessie could hear him.

“Nothing, I’m fine.”

“Uh huh. Fine is never a good sign.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “I know it’s a lot of people with a lot going on, but it’s for your protection, for all of us. We need a plan of action for whatever comes our way.” His hands stroked her hair as