Chapter 9: Road Tripping with a Witch

**Jax**

I listened as Abby explained the plan to head home with both Isach and Piper in tow, and I mentally ran through a list of reasons why this was the worst idea in history of bad ideas. The short amount of time I'd spent alone with Piper in my room was enough to last me a lifetime. Not to mention, I was not prepared to bring her home with us and have my brothers figure out she was my soulmate. They'd never let me live it down, and I was in no mood to deal with them, especially when we'd have to deal with Ivy and the Rose Coven. The less distractions and complications the better.

"No way." I shook my head, my gaze murderous.

"You said you'd be nice." Abby gave me an equally deadly glare.

"Being nice does not mean taking a road trip with Prickly the Witch." I stabbed my finger in Piper's direction.

"It's Piper." Her tone was sickeningly sweet.

I whipped around to glare at her. The muscles in my arms flexed with how hard I clenched my hands. Piper didn't so much as flinch, and a stare off ensued. I loathed how easily she unraveled me, but I couldn't deny how much I loved going head to head with her. The way she constantly referred me as "cranky" and "the vampire" and the ridiculous names I came up with for her. . . All of it felt an awful lot like a prolonged game of foreplay. Her gaze was daring, challenging.

"Think about this for a second, Jax. She can help us, and right now, we need all the help we can get. Not to mention, she's the only one who can keep Isach cloaked from Ivy." Abby glanced over her shoulder to where Isach stood near the window.

I hated to admit that Abby had a point. If everything Isach told us was true, then he did need to stay cloaked. But was his secrecy worth the risk?

"You need to think about this." I turned toward Abby. "You really want to bring a witch we know nothing about into Trent and Chloe's home?" I silently pleaded with her to understand.

Despite the decision looming in front of me, I was certain of a few facts. First, no way was Abby leaving here without Isach. Second, Isach wasn't leaving without his witchy bodyguard. And third, I absolutely could not leave here without Abby because then Chloe would demand answers, and what would I tell her? I'd promised to take care of Abby and to bring her home in one peace.

"You can trust Piper," Isach said.

Abby's gaze darted from Isach to me to Piper. She shifted on her feet. I'd quickly learned what that look on her face meant - she'd made up her mind about this.

"You cannot seriously be considering this." My tone went from angry to borderline panicky. "We need to talk. Alone." I clutched Abby's arm and started to drag her away from Isach and Piper.

"Let go of her." Isach straightened, and a tense moment of silence fell over the room.

"It's fine, Isach. Just give us a minute," Abby said.

I led her to the farthest corner near the bathroom. "We know nothing about these witches, Abby. You have to know this is too dangerous," I whispered harshly.

"I know it's a risk, but what other choice do we have?" She crossed her arms. "If you have a better idea, tell me. Because I am not leaving here without Isach, and he's apparently not going without her." Abby nodded in Piper's general direction. "So, what're we supposed to do?"

I blew out a breath. "Do you trust her?"

Soulmate or not, Piper was a witch who wouldn't even share which coven she belonged to, and in my book, that made her extremely untrustworthy. I'd gladly put my feelings aside and leave her here without a glance backward if doing so meant I'd keep my family safe. I no longer had to think of only my brothers and Chloe - there were two precious, defenseless girls to think about now, too.

"No." Abby turned her attention back to me. "But I do trust Isach, and if he says we can trust Piper, then I believe him."

I cursed under my breath. After everything Isach had done, she still blindly trusted him. I wanted to shake some sense into her, but it probably wouldn't do any good. I was outnumbered on this. "Fine, but I'm calling Chloe and warning her."

"You can't do that," Isach said.

"Why not? We can't just show up on her doorstep with a strange witch and expect Chloe to welcome her. No offense, Piper." Abby shrugged apologetically, and Piper simply smiled in return. "Sorry, Isach, but I'm with Jax on this. We have to let Chloe know what's going on."

"And we will. As soon as we get there." Isach strode toward us. "But I can't risk anyone else knowing I'm alive, not yet, and we have no idea if Ivy's got spies."

"Isn't that what your magical bodyguard is for?" I asked. If not, then why was she even here?

"I can protect Isach from detection, but I can't prevent Ivy or any other witch from using their magic against your friends, especially when they're thousands of miles away," Piper said.

"So, you're not as powerful as you want us to believe." I smirked.

"Jax." Abby sighed.

I threw my hands up in surrender. "I know. I'll be nice." Did no one have a sense of humor? Or the ability to listen to reason?

"Thank you," Abby said.

"Then it's settled. The four of us drive back to Keene Valley. We're not telling Chloe or anyone else, and we'll fill them in when we get there," Isach said.

Twenty minutes later, and after a quick phone call with Chloe to let her know our plans to drive home, the four of us were standing near the rental car. While I'd been packing, I called to extend the reservation and made arrangements to return the car in New York, so we were all set to go.

As soon as I had our suitcases in the trunk and the lid closed, I turned to Abby. "Got a minute?"

"I'll wait in the car." Isach gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Shotgun!" Piper climbed into the front seat.

I growled. As if making this trip with her wasn't bad enough, I now had to sit next to her the entire way, too? Why had I agreed to this?

"What's up?" Abby asked.

"Last chance to back out. You're absolutely certain this is what you want to do?"

"Yes. This is the only way to ensure Isach is safe and to get him back fully. We have to do this, Jax." She shifted on her feet. "Can I count on you to help us? Because I'm going to need you on our side when we get home."

Did I really have a choice? Saying no would hurt her, and I didn't want to do that. She'd been through enough. Besides, if I didn't help her, I'd be breaking my promise to Chloe, and I refused to let that happen. After a moment, I nodded. "Of course."

"Thank you." Abby climbed into the backseat.

Reluctantly, I slid into the driver's seat. My body was instantly on alert, hyper aware of Piper within touching distance. This was going to be the longest trip of my life. I started the car.