Page 29 of My Haven (Bewitched and Bewildered #16)

Genevieve thought back to the way the mens’ expressions changed when they learned of the children’s plight. “Because they are good men. I thought it was just because squires liked to feed people, but a few of the warriors volunteered too.”

Nan gasped. “Squires are cooking for the children?” The woman got down on her knees and clasped her hands in front of her. “Thank you, Goddess, for hearing my prayers.”

Genevieve stared, unsure of what to do. If this was a religious thing she didn’t want to interrupt.

It only took Nan a few more moments of kneeling and giving thanks before she stood again. “Do I seem strange to you?”

“No,” Genevieve said quickly.

Nan laughed. “If you’re going to lie, you might want to let your face know to go along with it.”

Genevieve chuckled ruefully. “Got me.”

Nan rested a hand on her chest. “All witches worship the Triple Goddess, just like all witches develop some sort of elemental talent. Then, there are those of us that feel closer to the Goddess than most, it’s sort of a calling. You will find us serving others, in order to serve her.”

“I think that’s beautiful,” Genevieve admitted.

“And I think that She has plans for you,” Nan said.

“Hopefully those plans include my torturing my best friend for fun this afternoon,” she said. “He’s recently mated too.”

Nan laughed. “Between the two of us, there were reports of flooding around the Water Temple last night,” she said, from behind her hand.

Laughing, Genevieve picked up her backpack. “Now I know my afternoon will be fun.”

Nan shook a finger at her. “Be nice.”

“I’m always nice,” Genevieve called back. She lifted the gate and closed it behind her.

“Will you be back tomorrow with more food?” a small boy asked her, watching from behind the iron gate.

“You bet. I may even throw some cookies in for a treat,” she whispered, placing a finger over her lips.

The boy covered his mouth with his hands, then removed them quickly. “I won’t tell.”

“See you tomorrow,” she said, then headed down the street.

She had only made it half a street down when she heard an angry male voice.

“You there! Stop!”

Genevieve looked around, four large, uniformed men were heading toward her. She unslung her backpack and tried to get her phone.

The first man that reached her, took her bag, as the second secured her arm behind her. She gasped in pain. “What’s the meaning of this!”

“Humans aren’t allowed in the city, unless they are escorted,” the one in charge snarled.

“My mate lives here, Caiden Ironwood, just call him.”

“We do not take orders from you. No announcement was made, so we are taking you in for questioning,” he said, backhanding her.

Pain radiated from her jaw to her ear.

“Bring her to the station,” he ordered.

In a daze, she felt herself be half-carried down the street.

They took her down streets she hadn’t seen the day before, until they hauled her up a set of stone stairs to a large building.

One of the goons opened the door and the others walked her inside, to what looked like a cross between a dungeon and holding cells.

They threw her inside and slammed the cell shut.

“I demand you let me make a phone call!” she yelled.

“Right. We’ll get to that, after you get your free lawyer,” one of them said sarcastically.

She felt dread swirl in her stomach. They were right, she wasn’t in the human world right now. She didn’t even know what her rights were. She tried a different approach. “There has been a mistake somewhere. I am mated to Caiden Ironwood. If you call him, he can clear this up immediately.”

She watched as the one in charge sneered at Caiden’s name. “We haven’t heard anything about Caiden Ironwood mating.” He rifled through her bag, pulling out her camera. “Thought you had a scoop huh? Were going to expose us?” he demanded.

“No! That’s my vlogging camera for when I record myself eating, not any kind of expose.”

“We’ll see.” He motioned for the other guards to follow him. He was the last one to leave. He turned back to her, his eyes filled with hate. “You can’t expose us if your memory is wiped.”

“No! Please!” she begged.

He closed the door, leaving her alone in the dark, dank cell. There was a small window, it seemed like these places always had a tiny window to let in enough light to remind the prisoners that they weren’t free.

The breeze from outside smelled of sunshine, grass and earth. “Caiden,” she whispered. “Help.”

*****

“I’m telling you, no one minded a bit of water,” Arlo said, reassuring his new mate.

Troy gave him a flat look, the corner of his mouth upturned slightly. “I can almost guarantee you they did.”

They walked arm in arm, through the Lower City.

Arlo talked Troy into leaving the temple to visit Genevieve at the Nu house.

He missed his best friend, and he was starving.

His man was many things, but being a cook, wasn’t one of them.

Plus, he wanted something different to wear, not that he had had his clothes on much.

An older woman stopped Troy, a frail hand on his arm. “I heard you just got yourself mated,” she said, eyeing Arlo.

Troy patted Arlo’s hand that was on his arm. “This is Arlo, my mate.”

The older woman surprised him by smiling. “Lord Primrose, you better announce it quick. I heard one of them new enforcers telling a poor woman that because her mate hadn’t announced their mating, she was being taken in for questioning.”

Troy scowled. “Since when do we have to announce our matings?”

The woman clucked her tongue. “What has the city come to?”

Troy ground his teeth. “I’d like to see them try and take my Arlo,” he growled.

Arlo nearly swooned. “God, you are a sexy beast,” he said, fanning himself.

Troy blushed, as the old woman laughed. “Announce it, just to be on the safe side. He’s human, isn’t he? The woman that was taken was human too.”

Arlo froze. “What?”

Troy pulled him close. “There’s no way Caiden would let something happen to Genevieve.”

Arlo turned to the old woman. “Can you describe her?”

The old woman nodded. “Pretty, young thing. Dark hair. Had one of them backpacks.”

Arlo waited impatiently. “Anything else?”

“She had just come from the orphanage. She said she’ll be cooking for them now.”

Arlo grabbed his chest. “Where did they take her?”

“That new enforcer building,” the woman said, pointing away from them.

“Arlo! You can’t go after her.” Troy wrapped his arms around Arlo’s chest to keep him from running.

“Like hell I can’t! I’m going to shove my Italian loafer so far up their asses, they’ll be chewing on leather for a week!” he screamed.

“We’re outnumbered and they have the support of the Witches’ Council,” Troy said, holding tight.

“She’s my family!”

“We have to get Caiden!” Troy yelled back.

Arlo stilled.

Troy continued. “He has the political clout, muscle, and magic to get her back. The sooner we get to him, the faster we can get her back.”

“Did you say Caiden, as in Caiden Ironwood?” an older man asked, walking toward them, his arm wrapped around a small boy.

“We did,” Troy confirmed.

“You heading his way?” the man asked.

“Yes, why?”

The man knelt and looked the boy in the eye. “I will tell Caiden about Genevieve, you run back to Nan now.”

The little boy held out a pinky. “Promise? She said she’d bring back cookies tomorrow.”

The older man wrapped his pinky around the smaller one. “I promise. Now, go straight home.”

“Yes, sir.” The boy ran back the way they came.

The older man straightened. “Heard some things on the air. Lead me to the orphanage where I saw that one fighting with Nan to help Ms. Genevieve. The enforcers took her.”

Troy nodded. “We know, we’re about to head to Nu estate now.”

Arlo growled as he scrolled through his phone. “I didn’t get anyone’s number yesterday and Meryn emailed Genevieve directly, I don’t have access to that account.” He looked at the older man. “Do you have his number?”

The man shook his head. “I don’t even own a phone.”

“Fuck!”

The old man pointed down toward the outer wall. “The unit warriors leave ATVs here in case someone needs a ride. Take one and head straight to Caiden.” He took a deep breath. “Tell him, Mr. Compton heard on the breezes, that they’re planning a mind wipe.”

Troy’s hand gripped Arlo’s to the point of pain. “Arlo, run!” he yelled.

Arlo didn’t have to be told twice. No matter what book or movie he had read or seen, a mind wipe was possibly the worst thing that could happen to someone. He could lose his only family, even if she lived.

*****

Caiden whistled to himself, as he ducked out of the way of Zev’s attack. He probably could have done this without the goggles, using his air magic to map the area, but it would have been difficult. The goggles easily let him move and attack back with little effort.

Caiden, help.

A soft feminine voice called to him.

He froze and Zev’s kick landed against his head, causing him to get flung to the ground.

“Fuck Caiden! I’m sorry,” Zev said, kneeling beside him.

Caiden pulled off his goggles and rubbed his temple.

Zev along with the rest of his unit removed their goggles and jogged over to check on him.

“You okay?” Thane called, from the back patio where he had been reading.

“Yeah, just my pride,” he answered.

Kyran and Tristan both offered hands to help him stand.

Tristan was frowning. “The last time one of us got the drop on you, you had that premonition about Amelia getting lost in darkness.” He pulled out his phone and looked down. “Is she okay?”

Caiden nodded. “I didn’t get anything about Amelia, she’s fine.”

Kyran watched him closely. “But, you did see something?”

Caiden went to shake his head, then nodded slowly. “I thought I heard someone calling my name, calling for help.”

Kendrick walked over from where he had been talking to Aiden and grabbed his arm. “Was it faint, as if it were an echo from a dream?”

Caiden nodded. “That’s exactly what it was like.”

Kendrick turned. “Aiden!”

Around him, Aiden and the rest of the units fell in to surround him.

“Kendrick what was it?” Caiden asked.

Kendrick placed hands on both of his shoulders. “Zev, try calling Genevieve,” he ordered.

Caiden felt his magic flare as panic set in. No. Not his Genevieve. Not his mate.

He felt Kendrick’s earth magic holding him in place, keeping his air magic in check.

Zev shook his head. “It’s going to voicemail.”

Behind him, arms like iron bands bound him as Thane held him close. “We’re here baby brother.”

Kendrick seeing Caiden was secure, turned to the men. “Can anyone reach her?”

The sound of a revving engine had them all turning to the side of the house, where two men on an ATV took the corner at breakneck speed.

The second Caiden saw Arlo’s panicked expression he knew. And, for the first time in his life, he was able to shake off his brother.

He felt hands on him, to keep him from taking to the air.

Blue lightning danced on his skin. “Let me go!” he screamed.

“Where are you going?” Kendrick demanded, his even, sensible tone was like nails on chalkboard to him.

“To her!” he yelled, not able to think of anything but his mate.

It took all five of his brothers using air magic to keep his feet on the ground.

“For fucks sake!” Troy waved a hand, and suddenly Caiden was engulfed in water.

It was an element he had yet to master. Fire, his secondary element couldn’t burn hot enough to evaporate it and his air magic slid across the water’s surface.

When he stopped thrashing about, Troy dropped his magic and Caiden fell to his knees.

“Caiden, you with us?” Kyran asked.

“Yeah, I’m here.” The water, in truth helped calm him faster than anything else could have. “What do we know?”

“She was taken by enforcers after leaving the orphanage. She was approached because she was human. When she informed them, she was mated to you, they said that no mating had been announced, and she was to be taken to the enforcer main building for questioning.”

“We don’t announce our matings!” Kyran exclaimed.

“They set up new laws last night,” Meryn called from the porch, holding her laptop to her chest. “I just got pinged by my peeps.”

“What laws?” Aiden asked.

“Gaspacho laws!” she said, looking angry.

Every man stared. “Baby, did you mean Gestapo?” Aiden asked.

“Yeah, that’s what I said. According to my message board peeps, those living in Storm Keep, now have to carry around their credentials assigned by the Witch Academy, or be detained.

Any matings to races other than witches need to be announced to prevent outsiders from coming into the city,” she explained.

“The Witches’ Council knows we’re mated, they fucking had her over for tea yesterday!” Caiden shouted.

“Maybe the enforcer guys don’t know that,” Meryn suggested. She met his eyes. “This is probably the best time to go in swinging a big dick. Make a lasting impression, because you’ll be excused nearly everything due to your mate being taken.”

“Caiden, you have to hurry. Mr. Compton said he heard on the wind that they are planning on doing a mind wipe,” Troy said.

Thane spun him around, both hands on his shoulders.

“You answer to no one. You stop for no one. You have us behind you,” Thane said, his magic crackling around him.

Meryn crossed her arms over her chest. “Hurry up and bring her back, she owes me cookies.”

Caiden saw the worry in her eyes and nodded. Letting every bit of his magic loose, he took to the sky.