Page 32

Story: Witch's Moon

“Okay, I’ll see you then.”

She cut off, and he sat staring at the cell phone. What happened after dark?

Catrin opened the big wooden door and ushered him inside. As soon as he was in, she crouched down and hugged the two hounds.

“Thank you,” she said.

Caleb peered past her down the dark hallway. “Is Regan back yet?”

Catrin straightened. “She’s still in London.”

A stab of unwelcome disappointment hit him. “When will she be back?”

“I don’t know.” She gave a little shrug. “She hasn’t been home in over three weeks.”

“And you didn’t think to mention this when I phoned?”

“I did, but I wanted you to come here. I want you to meet someone.”

He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t want to meet anyone.” Certainly not the type of person he was likely to meet in a house belonging to three witches.

“Please, Caleb.” She reached out and laid a hand on his arm.

A sense of peace washed over him, and he stared down at her with narrowed eyes. She was so different from Regan, almost delicate, with an air of sweetness totally lacking in her older sister. Still, he didn’t trust her. The same blood ran in their veins. “Are you using magic on me?”

She glanced down at the hand on his arm and smiled. “No, not magic. I have this calming effect—very boring. Now, please, come and meet my sister and her husband. They’re worried about Regan.”

“Jesus, another sister? Is she anything like Regan?”

“No, thank God.” A man’s voice spoke from behind him, and Caleb whirled round. A tall figure lounged in the kitchen doorway. The man was big, his arms folded across his chest. He appeared relaxed, almost indolent, but the air around him throbbed with tension. He was black haired, olive skinned, and when Caleb looked into his eyes, they were almost black and filled with menace.

Every instinct told Caleb to move away, as fast as he possibly could. Instead, he took a step forward until he stood only a foot from the other man. They were the same height and Caleb stared into those dark eyes without flinching.

The man raised an eyebrow, then he raised the corner of his upper lip revealing the tip of one sharp white fang.

“Holy shit,” Caleb muttered. Some primitive fear roiled in his gut, but he stood his ground. He swallowed, then let his eyes change so his wolf peered out, and a low growl trickled from his mouth. The man pushed himself off from the doorframe, and his whole body tensed as if ready to leap. Caleb stood poised on the balls of his feet, every cell in his body urging him to take the initiative and attack first.

“Darius, stop it!”

The words broke the tension. Caleb glanced past the man to see a tall woman, with shoulder length blond hair and Regan’s eyes, standing behind him. She put a hand on the man’s shoulder, and the tension seemed to ease from him. He turned to the woman, his lips curving into a smile.

“Hey, we were only kidding around. Guys need to do this sort of thing, work out who’s boss.”

“Hmm, and have you?” she asked.

He stared at Caleb, and a small frown played across his features. “No,” he said. “Not yet.”

“Well, you’ll have to find out some other way then.” She stepped forward and held out her hand. Caleb hesitated, he looked from one to the other, uncertain whether the threat had passed, but the danger had eased, and he reached out and took the hand offered.

“I’m Gina,” she said. “Regan’s sister. And this is my husband, Darius.”

“He’s a vampire?”

She smiled and nodded. “So am I.”

He stared at her and her smile widened revealing a pair of small, white fangs. Christ, witches and now vampires. So much for keeping away from that world. He needed to get out of here. “Okay, well, nice meeting you, but now I really have to go.”

“Not so fast,” Darius spoke, and Caleb’s gaze swung round. Darius stepped forward. “Let me shake your hand,” he said. “You’re a brave man.”