Possessed (Book One of the Hollow City Coven Series): A Witch and Warlock Romance Novel by Hazel Hunter Page B

cliff.”
    Despite the dire words, Shayne’s soldier mind took over. The first step was to find the enemy.
    “But if you saw her, and saw it, there must be something we can do.”
    The woman grinned.
    “That’s where I come in. I’m someone who…fixes problems.”
    Shayne’s eyes narrowed on her. This Raina had wandered out of the woods, in the middle of nowhere, and claimed to ‘fix problems.’ Though his every nerve was on alert, her easy stance and ready smile seemed just what they appeared. And she had known about him and Gillian.
    “And how is it that you fix problems?”
    Raina’s only answer was to settle on the ground next to Gillian’s prone body. As Shayne watched, she ran her hands lightly along Gillian’s limbs, stopping to check her pulse at the wrists and throat. She made a faint disapproving sound. She waved at the air, as if she was pushing away something he couldn’t see.
    “All right,” Raina said, getting to her feet. “That thing has been riding her hard. It looks to me that it’s got a death grudge against her.”
    “What? Why her? I’m the one that killed him.”
    Raina shrugged.
    “Maybe she was the last thing it saw before it died. But really, who knows how those things think? Better not to know, as far as I’m concerned.” She paused, crossing her arms over her chest. “Gillian said she trusted you, Shayne. But now I’m wondering if that’s the right thing to do.”
    Every nerve still on end, Shayne’s hands balled into fists. They were wasting time.
    “What the hell does that mean? Are you here to help or not?”
    Unperturbed, Raina stared him right in the eye.
    “If Gillian was wrong, or you’ve just been lying to her, or letting her believe a pretty story, now’s the time to say it. If you say you have a bond and you don’t, it could kill her.”
    Shayne jerked his head back. Though he’d been ready to protest, he hesitated. He looked down at Gillian’s still form. In reality, he had only known her for a few days. They’d been thrown together under dire circumstances. Slowly, he crouched down next to her. Was bond the right word? It was only natural to be attracted to a gorgeous woman. But was that all it was? His eyes traced the gentle curve of her lips, her full mouth, and trailed down her perfect body. Carefully, he picked up a gloved hand. That she was beautiful there was no denying, but the way his chest tightened to think of her suffering, the sickness that settled in his stomach when he thought of losing her, the urge to move heaven and earth to protect her––it was more than a pretty story. In fact, if he was brutally honest with himself, he’d felt something the moment he’d seen her. He lightly held Gillian’s hand between both of his.
    “We have a bond,” he whispered to her, though she was unconscious. “Of that I’m sure.”
    “Good, then it’s our best hope.” Raina knelt opposite him. “Put your hands on either side of her face.”
    Shayne settled Gillian’s hand down and did as Raina instructed.
    “She’s so warm,” he whispered.
    Gillian’s cheeks glowed a faint pink.
    “She is,” Raina agreed. “That thing I saw wants nothing more than to see her burn.”
    Shayne’s own heat boiled at the thought. Given half the chance, he would show that Templar what it meant to burn. Raina must have seen the look on his face.
    “Believe me, if I could send you after him, I’d do it in a heartbeat.” She smirked as though she were picturing it.   “But that’s not how it works. You’ve got to draw them here.”
    “And how do I do that?”
    “With your bond.”
    Shayne frowned and looked down at Gillian’s face.
    “Imagine it as a tether,” Raina said. “It’s beautiful against the dark, and it is strong, because it needs to be. Imagine a silvery cord, swirling across the darkness of space.” Her voice took on a soft and lilting tone. Shayne closed his eyes. “It glitters, but is unbreakable. It shines, but can’t be