Chapter 5: Magic's Mate

She knew he was outside long before she heard the knock on her door. Right after Mr. Welcome Party left, Adira decided against using magic to clean the small cabin, choosing rather to do it the ordinary, mundane way. She needed the monotony to keep her mind off Jensen and Draven Falls. Besides, with the way her magic had been acting since she slammed Jensen into the wall, she wasn’t sure her magic would do what she wanted or would, instead, blow her cabin to pieces. The first thing she did, however, before cleaning up the place was set wards all around her property, protection spells, which would warn her the moment someone stepped onto her property. Fortunately, her magic lasted long enough for that, and it was a safe spell to work. The man who greeted her earlier on her porch seemed to be expecting trouble, which seemed faster than she was led to believe. Of course, Agatha Rochester sent her here—okay, suggested she come here—so that she would get involved in the drama of the small community and out of the drama that would happen in Draven Falls if she stayed. Agatha expected Adira to assist this Dimitri guy in his quest to protect humans from shifters. Adira only agreed to do it, because Agatha threw in the cabin, and Adira needed to escape Draven Falls. She didn’t really want to fight coyotes, but it was a better option than fighting Jensen’s Cynthia.

Adira took a deep breath, as her senses felt the man in front of her cabin moving closer. She worried that her power would fail her. Again. She hadn’t exactly been at full strength since the sting of being rejected by the wolf who toyed with her heart for the past few months. The crushing blow of his rejection broke more than just her heart. She understood the mating rituals of the wolf packs, but thought, as long as Jensen kept her around, she was his, and he was hers. When it all ended, when she was told she wasn’t his mate and then told about the female wolf who was, Adira felt her power shatter into shards of magic with no cohesiveness. Agatha suggested getting away to regain her strength, and what a coincidence that she even had a place in mind that needed a witch’s skills. Adira shook her head as she sighed. Nothing with Agatha Rochester was ever a coincidence.

It didn’t really matter, Adira knew. She needed to escape if she was to regain any semblance of her magic back. She needed to heal. As it turned out, the further away she drove from Draven Falls, the more she felt her power returning, as if putting the past behind her forged her a new future. She felt the man step onto the first porch step. Not that I’m ready for that future to contain a man yet. Agatha’s matchmaking plans are wasted.

“One, two, three…” She pointed to the front door of her cabin just as he knocked. She smiled. Yes, she was definitely getting stronger. “Come in.”

He opened the door, his brows furrowed over the bridge of his nose. “You know, it’s not safe to tell someone to enter if you don’t know who it is.”

She arched an eyebrow at him. “Who says I didn’t know it was you?”

He turned, scanning the area around the door, stepping back outside, looking for cameras, more than likely. Adira just stood there, arms across her chest, as she watched him investigate the front of her cabin. He wouldn’t find anything, of course, but it was fun watching him search, especially when he turned around and bent over, his jeans pulling taut over his ass. It was definitely a sight that made her smile, even though she needed to strengthen her resolve about no men in her future.

“Are you looking for something?” she asked, a smirk in her tone.

He shook his head, turning back around to face her. “You’re a witch?”

She felt her right eyebrow pop up. “How did you know I’m a witch?” There was more to this guy than a firm ass, it seemed. All right, so maybe a romp in the tall grass would be worth changing her mind. After all, sex wasn’t mating.

He shrugged, slipping his hands into his back pockets, which, to her delight, made the fabric tighter over his cock. Even flaccid, his manhood left an impression. “Magic around the perimeter,” he said. “I could smell it. Faint traces, but it’s there.” He gestured around the door. “With no cameras or peephole in the door, I decided to take a sniff.”

Damn shifters and their noses. “I guess you know then, that I don’t really need a baseball bat.”

He laughed, as he nodded. “Yeah, I guess that makes sense.” He took a couple of steps toward her. “Still, it’s my job to protect the residents of Bull Creek, so you might as well get used to me being around.”

She smiled, not saying anything. However, in her mind, she thought, I can definitely get used to that. “You’re more than welcome to stay around all you want, but just remember, I can take care of myself. Always have, always will.”

He just grinned. “Of that, I have no doubt.” He leaned back on the doorframe. “Ready to go to the bonfire?”

She glanced around the cabin. While she still had unpacking to do, she could use a break. She turned back to the man at her door. “And would the protector of Bull Creek have a name? Or is this one of those secret identity things? Like a superhero or something?” She kept her smile on her face as she spoke, making sure he knew she teased him. “I mean, you wouldn’t want me wandering off with a stranger, right?”

He nodded, that sparkling grin spreading across his face. “No, definitely not. You must be protected by someone you know well.” He pushed himself off the doorframe, taking a couple of steps toward her, as he held out his hand. “Dimitri Everest. Pleased to make your acquaintance. Welcome to Bull Creek.”

So this is the man Agatha sent me to help. Yet, it didn’t seem as if Agatha, or anyone else from the Paranormal Council for that matter, had told Dimitri that a witch was coming.

Taking his hand, she gave it a shake, sending a shard of power into the grip, assuring him that she meant what she said about being able to protect herself. She returned his smile. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Adira Brennan. Now that the introductions are over, I think that bonfire sounds great.” She waited for him to open the door.

Without reacting to her little power display, he smiled, dipping his head, as he opened the door. “After you,” he said, his cocky grin back on his face. Okay, this could definitely be a fun distraction. I’m going to have to rethink my anti-male stance.

She stepped past him and out into the sweltering Florida humidity. “And just what made you decide a bonfire was the best way to celebrate in this heat?” she asked. “I mean, in the mountains, or even during winter, I can see it, but what is it outside? In the high nineties? How many people will actually show up in order to just melt?”

He grinned, as he followed her off the porch, and then joined her, as they walked down her dirt drive. “Oh, I’m sure there will be a few. It’s a Bull Creek tradition. We do this every Friday night unless it’s raining, which in Florida means we only do it twenty-six weeks out of the year.”

Few was an understatement. When the two of them reached the clearing, Adira was surprised at how many people gathered around a giant bonfire in the middle of an open field, the night air, warm and sticky. Men and women stood around, talking and drinking, while small children ran around playing tag, chasing each other without a care in the world. The bonfire’s flames licked up into the darkening sky, the crackling of the fire as it ate the thick logs, snapping in the background. Tables were set up around the fire, loaded down with finger foods and other snacks, while coolers full of sodas and beer sat on the ground. The gray of dusk left enough light for Adira to get a glimpse of the surrounding area. Giant trees—pine, oaks, and fir—surrounded them with palm frond bushes and shrubs overrunning the underdeveloped area. The field where they held the bonfire, which she was told resided in the middle of Bull Creek, sort of like a town center, had been mowed, but that was about all that was done to the area. Everywhere else, the grass grew wild and free. Off in the distance, she could hear the mooing of cattle, realizing a dairy farm or something like it resided nearby.

Dimitri introduced her to people as they passed, like Eve Hartlow, one of the humans Dimitri was protecting and the coyotes were trying to drive out, and Doc Henderson, who specialized in shifter medicine. Each one welcomed her as the newest member of their small community with hugs and smiles. Dimitri then led her over to a man with light brown hair and the brightest yellow eyes she ever saw, who was talking to a tall, robust woman with light red hair and full lips curved up into a smile. “Adira, this scoundrel is my longtime friend and partner in this little venture, Josh Rayburn. He left Draven Falls with me to begin this adventure. The lovely lady next to him is Alanna Bradbury, a wolf without a pack.”

Now, that’s unusual. Most female wolves stayed close to their pack, never venturing away too far or for too long. Agatha had said Bull Creek was a safe haven of sorts, a sanctuary for those who were tired of dealing with things beyond their control. Perhaps Alanna was one of those escapees, but if so, why was she running and from what? While Adira was curious about the other woman’s story, she thought it should be a conversation for another time. “Pleased to meet you both,” Adira said, shaking each one’s hand. She glanced up at the clear, dark sky. “Great night for a fire, although I would not have believed it.”

Josh chuckled. “I tried to tell Dimitri it was too damn hot, but he never listens to me. Of course, that just means we’ll have to consume a lot of beer to stay cool.”

Alanna shook her head. “Like you ever need an excuse to drink.”

Josh shrugged. “Well, no, but the excuse helps make the drinking sound better.” He gave Adira a wink, which brightened his smile.

She felt the blush heat her cheeks, as she turned to Dimitri, who gave Josh a dirty look. She hid the grin that wanted to crease her cheeks. Well, he became possessive pretty quick. That thought made her honey drip, causing her sex to quiver. She couldn’t deny that she enjoyed this side of Dimitri. She smiled at him, about to say something to tease him, when suddenly the air filled with the baying of coyotes. She jerked her head to the perimeter of the clearing, trying to fixate on where the cry originated, when another howl filled the air on the opposite side of them. She turned her gaze in that direction, taking a cautious step toward it, when in even another area, another coyote called out. They were surrounded, but why?

Then she felt Dimitri’s hand on her arm, holding her in place, keeping her close to him. His gaze, however, was not on her, but searching the darkness around the fire, his eyes narrow slits.

Josh stood next to Alanna, both looking in different directions. Parents called their children to them, their arms surrounding them protectively, as they hid their children behind them. Eve Hartlow, the small blond Dimitri introduced Adira to when they first arrived, stood straight, one hand on a knife hilt at her waist Adira missed seeing before, causing Adira to arch an eyebrow. Seems there’s a story there as well. Adira turned back to the darkness, waiting to see what the coyotes planned. “I take it they weren’t invited to the party?”

“They’re not even welcome in the area,” Dimitri said, his voice almost a growl.