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CALLIE

Three days before the Summer Solstice

The summer heat trickles down my back as a bead of sweat. I guess technically I can use my magic to stop it, but in a way, I welcome the oppressive humidity. I always imagined that this close to the ocean it could never feel this warm and moist, but tonight, the wind is strangely absent.

I push the rocking chair on the front porch with my toe, losing track of how many times I've done it now. The floorboards creak in protest, but I ignore them. They've lasted years as part of the house. They can manage a little longer.

I stare out at the street in front of me, but nothing is happening, not at this time of the night. Everyone is asleep, dreaming of a more peaceful time. I should be, too.

I left the guys asleep in my room. We've been sleeping in shifts, so I've been sandwiched between Will and Hank. The air conditioner in the old house has been struggling to keep up with all the people living inside. Maybe we have too much body heat for it, or the extra warm summer overwhelms it, but even with fans we've snuck in, sleeping between the two guys is warm. Too warm.

If I can get a breeze out on the porch, it'll be perfect. Oh, well. Closing my eyes, I settle my head against the chair and sigh as I rock. The gentle movement soothes me for a moment, though it doesn't last long. It never does. There are too many people around and too much to do all the time. At the moment, it's virtually impossible for me to keep up with it all.

My eyes drift closed, teasing me with the idea of sleep coming. With the wards around the property line, it's safe enough to drift off here. Perhaps I should. I'll need all the rest I can get once people start waking up again.

Something brushes the edge of my consciousness, and my eyes snap open, my instincts screaming to life. Sometimes, it's hard to believe I don't have my cat anymore. I certainly act like it at times.

I jump to my feet as I search the yard for what's caught my attention. The soft glow from the streetlights and the bright moon help to illuminate the night. And yet, I see nothing as I let my gaze skim everything in sight.

The spooked sensation transitions into one of safety and protection, and the change washes over me like the comforting hug of a dear friend. Whatever is out there isn't going to hurt me. I can feel it in my soul. And yet, I feel that I need to know what it is.

I make my way down the steps and onto the walkway, searching for whatever has caught my attention. Whatever is calling to me or my magic.

Breathing deeply, I ignore the smell of honeysuckle and salt to focus on the feeling. It's a purely good power, like white magic, if such a thing exists. As far as I know, magic is neutral, though that doesn't explain how I know the earth wants me to lead the coven. But maybe that has nothing to do with what's good or bad and is about something more.

Or, even worse, about the lesser of two evils. I'm sure I can't be anywhere near as bad as my uncle for everything that's going on in the town. Maybe that's why the magic wants me. Not because I'm better but because I'm not worse.

My bare feet sink into the cool, damp grass, and I walk around the house. I'm not sure why I go in that direction, except every step gets me closer to the feeling of pure happiness. Of home.

I take a moment to determine I'm not in a trance; with everything going on, it's better to be sure of those kinds of things. But I know exactly what I'm doing and where I'm going. To the very depths of my soul, I know that whoever calls out to me means no harm and wants to help us.

"Callie!" James's voice startles me as it cuts through the night air.

An involuntary squeak escapes me, and I jump and then whirl around so I can see him.

I press a hand to my chest, trying to still the fast beating of my heart. "You scared me to death," I scold. "What are you doing back here?"

"It's my turn to keep watch," he says. "I let Theresa go lie down with her men." He walks off the back porch with his eyes raking up and down my body. There isn't enough light to see them in detail, but my body tingled with the weight of his gaze. He's probably only doing it to check I'm okay, but it doesn't stop me thinking about him doing it in a completely different way.

"What are you doing out here with nothing but that little nightgown on?" He steps forward, closing the gap between us, and puts his hands on my waist. The heat of his palms seers my skin, even through the material between us. And I don't think it has anything to do with his fire magic.

This is all James. All the effect he has on me and nothing more than that.

It's only then I notice that he’s not wearing much himself. Just jogging shorts with bare feet and a thin t-shirt clinging to his muscles in the moonlight. And he must have been lying down at some point because his blond hair isn’t neat, like usual, but sticking out in every direction in an absolutely sexy way. Unable to help myself, I lick my lips. And only partially because I can feel his dick against my thigh.

"You distracted me." I push away the irritation from losing that sense of power. "I was after something."

"You looked like you were about to walk into the woods, past the ward, barefoot and barely dressed." He pulls back, but not far enough that our bodies stop touching, thankfully. I want him close. Always.

Even though I'm mildly irritated at him, I don't want him to let me go. It's not like I can feel the magic anymore. It disappeared when I was suddenly distracted, and I doubt it'll come back. Perhaps when he's gone? But knowing James, that isn't going to be for a long while.

"Well, maybe I was going to search the woods. But I felt something." I do my best to describe the sensations I experienced to him, though I don't think I've managed to do it justice. Nothing can compare to the rush of magic through me.

Despite the inadequacy of my description, he looks sufficiently impressed. "I see why you were pulled toward it, but remember, there are still so many things in this world that we haven't had time to teach you about. You should always tell one of us, even if the feeling is good like that."

I frown, trying to work out if he's being protective or condescending. Perhaps a bit of both? It's almost impossible to tell with the three of them sometimes. But even if I don’t like his tone, I know deep down he's trying to help.

That doesn’t mean I have to like that raised brow of his or his damned tone.

Frustration rises inside of me.

It doesn’t help my irritation that a part of me knows he's right. The magic came so suddenly, and I gave over to it as soon as it arrived. Now that its influence has faded, I'm starting to see things a little more clearly, and perhaps going with the magic wasn't the best choice I could have made, given the circumstances.

Which also doesn't mean I have to let him know he's right, not a chance, even if he is pulling me close again. And he looks hot as sin. He presses a kiss to my temple, and my eyes flutter closed despite my internal protests.

I snap them open, determined not to fall for his charms. At least, not yet. I can save that for later.

"I'm not a child, James."

“I didn’t say–”

“You didn’t have to. Your tone said it for you.”

Despite my guys’ claims that they have faith in me, they all see me as so inept in the magical department that I swear they all think of me like I’m a baby in all things. The thing they don’t understand is that I've been on my own for a long time. I survived some tough situations in foster care and some even tougher situations investigating the supernatural for my blog. So, I didn't need three infuriating men treating me like I was helpless, new to magic or not.

"I know you're not," he promises. "You're the most capable person I've ever met. But you're also one of the most reckless. And I worry about you. Not because I have to. Or because I think you'll hurt yourself, but because I want to, Callie. I..." he trails off.

But I can hear the words he wants to say.

I love you .

Well, I love you too, James. Hank and Will, as well. Though I don't say it out loud. I'm certain it's too soon, or it'll complicate things, and that's the last thing I want.

Instead, I do the only thing I can and press my body against his. Our lips crash against one another, and he moans, the sound vibrating through me and filling every part of me with a feeling I can't describe. My body softens despite my aggravation, and I melt into his strong body with nothing but our clothes between us. Not that they stop me from feeling the hardness of his dick against me. Warmth and desire spread through me at the thought of what he can do with it.

I break the kiss and hold his gaze. "You know, unlike you, I go after what I want."

He growls low in his throat and grabs my ass, hoisting me up. Wrapping my legs around his waist, I cling to his shoulders as he reaches under me and yanks his jogging shorts down, then shoves my panties to the side.

James sinks into me with one thrust, his cock filling me in a way I've only ever felt with two other people. And both of them are upstairs in the bed, waiting for me. He moves into me with ease, both of us far too turned on to have to worry about whether or not I'm going to hurt in the morning.

He doesn't need any help holding me upright, which has nothing to do with magic and all to do with the hard ropes of muscle that make up his body. But I'm glad when he pushes me back against a tree. It gives us better leverage to move against one another. I'm lost in the movement of our bodies and the sound of his ragged breathing in my ear.

"You're definitely a fully grown woman," he says in his alluring accent, then crushes his lips to mine again as we move together. Pleasure uncoils within me, intensifying with every move he makes.

The thrill of knowing we're standing in the backyard and that anyone could look out any of the back windows only adds to the desire coursing through me. This is probably the wildest thing I've ever done out here in the open. Other than all the other things I've done with the three of them. They've definitely broadened my horizons when it comes to intimacy.

Moaning, I snag James's lip between my teeth and tug lightly as he groans, and I can tell he's not going to last much longer. The satisfaction runs through me at that, only adding to the well inside me. It isn't going to be long until it rips through me. And hopefully, through him, too.

I lose myself in the motions until it's impossible to hold back any longer. My entire body begins to shake as the pleasure of my orgasm rips through me. My vision blurs and my other senses fade away. I'm dimly aware of James' rhythm changing as he reaches his peak, too, and then I feel him come, too.

For a moment, I swear I black out from the intensity I'm feeling. I slump against James' chest, the tree supporting both of our weights.

As everything begins to settle back to normal, I blink a few times and assess how my body is feeling. When I'm ready, I unhook my legs, slide down James's body, and straighten my thin lace panties, so they'll catch the evidence of our naughty rendezvous in the backyard.

"I'm sorry I responded like that," he whispers, and I know he isn't referring to the sex. "You just scared me. I thought you were possessed or something."

Damn it. He looks so freaking cute and sorry, staring down at the grass, his blond hair wild. Does he really think after that orgasm I’m still mad at him? Men...

With a sigh and a squeeze, I forgive him. "It's okay. I was in my right mind, but you're right. I should've yelled for one of you or at least warned someone."

"Or put on shoes." His chuckle rumbles in my ear, and I can't help but laugh with him.

"Right."

The back door opens not a full minute after we finished fucking, and Theresa sticks her head out. "Hey! Get in here!"

Her voice breaks through the moment with James, and we share a panicked look.

We rush into the kitchen and find Theresa standing in the middle of the tile, wringing her hands. But what's even more unsettling than her unease is that her dark hair has been braided into a neat braid, and she wears her form-fitting leather clothes. A gleam of silver comes from the hilts of the daggers at her belt. All in all, she doesn’t look the least bit like something a person who was just sleeping should be wearing.

What’s she prepared for?

"My husbands are out front. We feel something coming. It's battering at the wards."

Excitement and fear well up within me at the same time. It's impossible to know which is the most predominant. Or which is how I should be feeling. I've wanted something to happen for a while, but at the same time, I don't want anyone to get hurt.

Sometimes, I'm not sure I'm ready to be queen. Though I'm well aware I have no real choice in that.

James rushes through the house toward the front yard, only stopping to slip his feet into some slippers by the bottom of the stairs. I'm not even sure if they're his, but it's better that he wears something better than nothing.

Fear freezes me for a moment as I try to work out what's waiting for us out there. The sounds of the others thundering down the stairs and getting out of bed on the upper floor snap me out of my stupor.

Theresa heads outside in an instant, and I'm about to follow when I remember what I'm wearing. Whatever we might face, I have a feeling it’d be better to take it on in more than just a slip of fabric. Bounding upstairs, I'm almost bowled over by Hank and Will. Both of them are dressed in what they were wearing the night before, wrinkled from time on the floor of our bedroom. We've gotten into the habit of always making sure there are clothes within easy reach. I just didn't consider it before going outside earlier.

"Front yard," I say before they can question me. "I'm getting changed."

They nod but don't say anything. Good. I know that if they're out there with James, nothing will happen to the three of them. They care about one another almost as much as they do about me. Sometimes, I feel like the odd one out. But then, one of them will smile at me, or we'll share a kiss, and I know the truth of it. I'm theirs. They're mine, and between us all, there's something truly special.

I move as fast as I can, terrified of what the guys could already be facing. I can't hear anything, but that doesn't mean nothing is happening. Theresa's scream still echoes around my mind. That wasn't the reaction of a woman with nothing to be scared of.

I grab my clothes from the heap I left them in yesterday. Black leggings, a big white t-shirt, and my sneakers. I'm not going to win any fashion awards, but that hardly matters.

I almost slip as I thunder down the stairs. Fuck. Not good. Without my cat, I don't have as good a sense of balance. It’s like she’s left pieces of herself behind, but nothing is as good as just having her still with me. Pain radiates from my chest at the thought of that missing part of myself, but I ignore it and keep going.

As I burst out the front door, I felt more than saw the wards come down around the house. It's almost as if the magic explodes. There isn't a bubble anymore, just an empty void with nothing to fill it.

I look around in an attempt to try and work out what the problem is. I don't see anyone attacking, but fear fills the air like thick smoke. Something is about to happen. Any second now. I'm not sure what's going on, but it's definitely something.

Everyone stands in the front yard, at the ready, when the image of a path through the woods and a cavern near the beach fills my mind. I gasp and lean over, putting my hands on my knees. It's Fran. She's telling me where she's got the others hiding. She had to abandon their last spot. This must be the new location.

Fran's voice fills my mind. You've been betrayed by someone within the house. Run. Now.

"We have to go," I hiss to Will, the closest one to me. " Now. We have to run."

I won't ignore Fran's message. Not when it can save lives. And the sensation in the pit of my stomach suggests she's right. We're in danger.

He turns and looks at me in confusion, but it's too late.

I'm too late.

All the blood drains from my face as I see men, witches appear out of the woods across the street. My uncle's men. They've come to kill me.