Hecate's Own: Heart's Desire, Book 2 (16 page)

“Hmm? Oh. Yes. Make sure she’s conscious. I want her to
watch what will soon happen to her.”

Other one?
Jo struggled against Arthur, pulling as
hard as she could. She shouldn’t have been surprised when Arthur punched her in
the stomach.

Arthur shouldn’t have been surprised when she hurled all
over his shoes, either.

“Hugh! Damn it! Give me a hand with this bitch.”

Another blond, blue-eyed man stepped out of the woods. “I
was just checking on the prisoner.” He eyed her up and down, and Jo’s skin
crawled. “Zachary’s mate.” His hand reached out and pinched her nipple with
vicious intent. “Very nice.”

“She goes on the altar first.”

Hugh sighed. “Damn. I guess I’ll just have to play with the
other one, then.” Hugh picked her up with startling strength and dropped her
down onto a hard stone surface. The impact stunned her. “Get ready to die,
pretty.”

Jo spit in his face. “Fuck you, ugly.”

He wiped the spit away while Arthur tied her down. “If
you’re lucky, I will.”

Hugh stepped back and headed into the woods.

“Hugh? Dad said to tie her up where she can see the
sacrifice.”

Hugh nodded and continued on his way as Arthur began tying
her down spread-eagle on the dark altar.

Jo wanted to scream, but bit it back.
Zach! Where the
fuck are you?

Jo heard a gasp and turned. A woman with matted blonde hair
was thrust to the ground in front of Hugh. Her knees were scrapped raw, her
fingers bled and one of her eyes was swollen shut. She too wore nothing but
panties and a T-shirt, much to Hugh Godwin’s obvious delight.

If looks could kill Hugh Godwin would be dead.

“Who are you?”

Hugh kicked the blonde in the side, eliciting a muffled
groan. “Silence.”

The woman snarled but kept her mouth shut. Hugh tied her to
the closest tree before leaning down and practically raping her mouth. “Be a
good girl and we might let you live another day.”

Jo could tell the woman was trying to hold herself together,
but Hugh’s kiss had robbed her of some of her fire. She was helpless against
him and she knew it.

And so did Jo. She closed her eyes and did the only thing
she could think of.

Jo prayed.

Zach? Dear Goddess, where are you?

Chapter Sixteen

A wolf was howling.

Zach doubled over, his hands clasped to his ears. “Go
faster.”

Daniel turned to stare at him, but the sense of urgency only
grew. They were approaching the Girard Point Bridge and everything within Zach
was vibrating with the need to
go go go
.

Something was horribly wrong.

“What’s going on?”

Zach shook his head and clenched his hands. He barely felt
the pain in his palm. The wolf’s cries were becoming urgent. “I don’t know, but
it’s
bad.
”

Daniel whipped around. “Right. Faster.”

“I’m going as fast as I can.” Chris whizzed past a couple
doing the speed limit. “We’ll need to take the first exit, try and get a boat
rental. Anyone know where we can get one?”

“We won’t need it.” Zach knew he was glowing, but he
couldn’t help it.

“How do you propose crossing a river without one?”

Zach turned his gaze away from the river to stare at Gareth.

Gareth matched him look for look, not the least intimidated by
him. “Well?”

Zach’s lip twitched. “I’ll ask nicely.”

Gareth’s eyes went wide. “Don’t tell me, I might have a
fit.”

“I’m not sure I want to know either.” Daniel closed his
eyes. “Tell me when it’s over.”

“Zach?” Chris turned toward the Broad Street exit, the first
one off the bridge. “Where to?”

“As close to the water as you can get me.” And then it would
be up to him to get them to the island.

“Would this work better if we took the Walt Whitman into
Jersey?”

“No.” If they did that it would be too late.

But too late for what?

Chris’s cell phone rang. “Lana?”

Zach’s head whipped around. He knew,
knew
what Lana
was going to say.

“Fuck. When?” Chris’s eyes met his in the rearview mirror,
and Zach knew his hunch was right. “We’ll get her back.”

“Where was Annabelle?” If Zach had to fight the Evans clan
patriarch over his mate, he’d do it, but he doubted Annabelle would allow
someone like Davis Godwin to take a butterfly let alone a woman.

“Lana says her grandmother was knocked out somehow. We’re
not sure how they got to either of them. She’s not sure why she was left alone,
either.”

“They want you to suffer the most.” The brothers turned to
Gen. She too was glowing, but with that serene green light Zach was beginning
to believe characterized a warlock Own. “My father hates you for killing his
son. He’ll take each of your brothers’ mates one by one until all of them are
dead. Then, when you despair, he’ll steal
your
mate and his revenge will
be complete.”

“Shit.” Chris turned up Delaware Avenue and headed north. “That
would work too. If our mates die, we die.”

“Where the hell are you going?” Gareth looked behind them.
“The water’s that way.”

“Do
you
want to try and explain to the Navy what the
fuck we’re doing?”

Gareth grimaced. “Good point.”

“I’ll take us up Delaware Ave until I hit a place where we
can… What the fuck are we doing?”

“Driving.” Zach sat back and began composing his spell.
Wisps of white power danced along his skin.

“Driving. Right.” Chris rolled his eyes and kept going. “If
you mess up my car I’m telling Mom.”

Zach ignored Chris. His best hope for saving all of them was
to get to the water.

After that, it was up to the Goddess.

“Keep an eye out. I doubt the Becketts will get here before
we’re done, but you never know.” Davis waved his hand. “Arthur, you patrol the
shore. Hugh, keep watch in case they slip past Arthur.”

“And the girl?” Hugh buried his hand in the blonde’s curls,
tugging her head until her back was arched.

“She’s tied firmly?” Hugh nodded. “Then she’s fine.”

Arthur slunk off into the woods, anticipation highlighting
his features. Jo could tell he was looking forward to a fight.

She hoped Zach didn’t give him one. She hoped Zach snuck up
behind his ass and took him out before he knew what hit him.

“Do you know what this is?”

Jo turned her attention back to the scary-ass man holding
what looked to be a long, reddish-silver knife. She bit her lip and refused to
answer.

Davis Godwin slid one finger down the blade. “This is the
source of my power.”

His
power? Didn’t he share with Tweedledum and
Tweedledumber?

“When I plunge it into your heart, all of your power will
belong to me.”

Joy.
Jo couldn’t help but strain against the ropes
tying her down.

“That’s it. Struggle.” He leaned in close enough that she
could smell peanuts on his breath. Those god-awful blue eyes smiled with eerie
cheer. “It makes the end that much sweeter as your power rises to the surface,
little witch.”

She had to get herself under control. The more emotional she
became, the more tempting she was. Her power would ratchet out of her control,
and then Davis Godwin would end her life.

She closed her eyes and began to chant a mantra, hoping to
stay as calm as she could. She had to hold on.

A flash of fire raced down her left arm. Jo opened her eyes
to find Davis scoring a line with the dagger from her shoulder to her wrist.
Her heart pounded in fear at the sickly feel of the dagger. Something was wrong
with it, something that had every instinct she owned screaming with fear.

“Do you know what I call it?”

She refused to answer, refused to give him the satisfaction.

“Witchbane.”

What a fucking stupid name.
She whimpered.
What a
fucking stupid way to die.
She held still as Davis moved to her leg. He
began drawing the dagger down her left thigh.

“I’ve always wondered whether or not I could flay someone
alive.”

He was doing his damndest to frighten her, and fuck if it
wasn’t beginning to work.
Zach is coming. Zach is coming.

He reached her foot, the dagger tracing underneath her
smallest toe. “You don’t really need this, do you?”

Jo’s breath stuttered.
Zach is coming.

She repeated it even as the pain burned.

“Fuck.” Chris let go of the death grip he had on the wheel
and opened his car door.

“That was
so
cool.” Gen bounced in her seat like a
twelve-year-old at an amusement park. “When can we do it again?”

“Dude. We are
not
doing that again.” Daniel got out
of the SUV with a grimace. Gareth had jumped out the minute they’d hit sand and
was doubled over behind the SUV. The sound of retching could be clearly heard
as Gareth emptied his stomach.

Zach’s hand shook as he opened the door to Chris’s black
Equinox and stepped out onto the sandy shore. “I thought that rocked.” Of
course, he’d need to replenish his energy if he hoped to be of any use in the
coming fight.

And there would be a fight. The island was once more
shrouded in darkness, a sign of the Godwin’s attempt at black magic.

“You skipped my SUV across the Delaware like it was a rock.
Dude. That’s just
wrong.
”

“You’re going to have to get it looked at for rust,
especially the undercarriage.” When Chris groaned Daniel patted his shoulder.
“Look on the bright side. His Highness waited until landfall to toss his
cookies.”

Gareth flicked Daniel the bird before spitting into the sand
one final time. “Asshole.” He wiped a shaking hand across his mouth. “I hate
boats.”

Gen bounced on her toes, looking remarkably child-like. “I
loved it.”

Gareth stalked over to them, unsteady and pale.

Gen held out a small container with a shaky smile. “Tic
Tac?”

Zach tensed as the shadow of a wolf slipped into the trees.

“Did you see that?” Gen pointed right where the wolf had
been, once more all business. The little girl who’d squealed with glee
disappeared behind Hecate’s Own.

Zach was almost sorry to see her go. “Your guardian?”

She nodded. “How they got Jo past it I don’t know, but it’s
still trying to protect her.”

Zach nodded. “They’re close.”

“And you’re exhausted.”

Zach shrugged. He’d do what he had to do and worry about the
rest later. “Any ideas on where they might be?”

Gen bit her lip, shading her eyes against the late-afternoon
sun. “That way.” She pointed without hesitation toward where the wolf had
disappeared.

“Thanks, brain surgeon.” Gareth sighed. “How difficult is it
to follow a shadow wolf through a dark forest?”

“If idiots land on my island and die, will anyone miss
them?”

Zach turned toward the sound of the voice just in time to
catch a shot of sickly green fire to the stomach.

In the distance, a woman screamed.

Jo!

Chapter
Seventeen

Jo screamed as the knife dug into her flesh. It was too much,
it hurt too damn bad to keep it inside.

“That’s better,” Davis crooned. “Let it all out for me.”

She sobbed in a breath as the knife lifted, blood gleaming
on the tip.
Zach is coming. Zach is coming.

The knife began a slow trail up her right leg. Jo clenched
her fists, unable to find the calm center she needed. He was going to kill her
before Zach got here.

The tip of the knife hit her knee. “Hmm. Should I?”

She was shaking her head no before she could stop herself.

“Wolves hamstring their prey. Wouldn’t that be appropriate?”

“Coward.”

Davis blinked. So did Jo. That was the first word she’d
heard the other woman, the other captive, speak. Her voice was shaky, but full
of defiance.

Davis turned to face the blonde. “Excuse me?”

“The only people you can deal with are tied up and helpless.
Coward.”

“Is this the point where you expect me to get upset?” Davis
wandered toward the woman, the dagger still in his hand.

Jo tugged as hard as she could on her bonds.

The one around her right wrist loosened. Jo slid her hand
free, keeping a close watch on Davis Godwin.

“Because your death means nothing to me. I’m not going to
untie you to prove my manhood. I’m not going to rape you, no matter how badly
Hugh would enjoy such a thing.”

Jo shuddered.

Her left wrist slipped free. She risked a glance toward the
rope and nearly gasped at the wisp of dark smoke that drifted down to her
ankles.

In the middle of that smoke were feral golden eyes.

She turned her attention back to Davis Godwin and the
battered girl, and silently slipped off the altar.

“I’m going to kill you and watch your mate writhe in eternal
torment.”

The girl looked confused. “Mate? What the fuck are you
talking about?”

The girl sounded like someone from Philly. Who was she?

Could this be Kerry, Daniel’s mate? But…how the
fuck
would they know Kerry was Daniel’s future mate? And why would they take her
before the mating was complete?

These people were seriously fucked-up.

Jo followed the golden-eyed shadow toward the woods. Each
step was misery, but she bit back her pain and moved. The only way to save not
only herself but the other woman was to get to Zach.

The shadow became a wolf, and Jo smiled. The relief was
almost overwhelming.

Zach is here.

“You haven’t been claimed yet, more’s the pity, but Zachary
and my prissy little daughter are becoming suspicious.” Jo heard a soft
chuckle. “Hell. You almost had me monologueing like a villain in a cartoon.”

She had a split second to slip into the shadows before Davis
Godwin shrieked in rage.

Jo was gone.

Genevieve Godwin stood in front of Gareth, a pale wand in
her hand. She glowed a brilliant green. Green fire danced around her eyes.
“Back off, Arthur.”

“So it’s true. You’re an Own.”

“I will not allow you to harm the Becketts.”

Zach noticed the only Beckett she seemed really intent on
protecting was Gareth, but he let it slide. “And she’s not the only Own on the
island.” He let his own power slip free, the light of the Goddess filling him,
infusing him with energy. Here, now, he understood what Gen had said when she
told him that he was acting as a true Hecate’s Own when he beat back the hex.

He would use the power Hecate gave him and break this nest
of evil once and for all. “Back the fuck off, warlock.” Zach flung his hand out
and Arthur Godwin went sailing right into the river. He landed with a splash
between the shore of the island and the Navy Yard. Zach wondered if he’d done
any damage to the warlock, but really? He didn’t give a fuck. Jo wasn’t with
him, which meant one of the other Godwins still had his mate.

“Nice.”

“I give it a ten.”

Zach pinched the bridge of his nose. He loved his family,
but seriously? “Guys? Shut up.” He turned toward his brothers. “We need to find
Jo.”

“Done.” Jo limped out of the trees, dirty, bleeding and so
beautiful his heart ached.

He raced toward her, scooping her up into his arms. “You
scared the fucking life out of me!”

“Me too.” She whimpered when his arms tightened. “Listen.
There’s someone else there.”

Zach’s eyes narrowed. “Another victim?”

Jo nodded. “And he said that she was one of your brothers’
mates.”

Zach’s head whipped around. “Daniel.”

“What?”

“I think Davis has your mate.”

At that, Chris’s head snapped up from where he was studying
the struggling form of Arthur Godwin. “Kerry?”

Daniel’s eyes rolled, but Zach could see the tension in his
jaw. “She’s not my mate. Besides, how do you know it isn’t his mate?” He
pointed toward Gareth, who got wide-eyed.

“Because it’s not.” Gen was safe, glaring out over the water
at her brother’s body.

Jo scowled at Daniel. “Then it’s okay with you if Davis
sacrifices her soul?”

Daniel quivered. His jaw clenched. “Fuck. I
hate
that
girl.”

Jo turned her attention back to Zach, where it belonged.
“He’s got this knife that he calls Witchbane. He says that when he plunges it
into a witch’s heart it sucks out her power and gives it to him like a demonic
sippy straw.”

“The source of his power?”

Jo frowned. “He did call it that.”

Zach exchanged a glance with Gen, who nodded. “We need to
get that knife.”

“And it goes in the concrete with the candle as soon as we
get back to Chris’s place.” Daniel stalked forward. “Where is she?”

Zach hid his grin.
Sure she’s not your mate.

Jo sighed. “Put me down. I’ll show you.” That last came out
as a gasp as Zach’s arms tightened around Jo.

“You can point.”

They glared at one another until Jo gave up, laying her head
against his shoulder. “Fine. That way.” She raised her hand and he saw the
long, bloody trail.

“Davis did that?” His arms began to tremble. He was going to
kill the fucker. Rip his throat out. He could feel his wolf howling to be set
free, to find the man who’d dared draw his mate’s blood and feast on his flesh.

“Zach?” He stared into Jo’s warm brown eyes. “Don’t let
anger rule you. Rule
it.
”

He took a deep breath, but that only brought the scent of
her blood to his nostrils.
Not helping.

“Let me hold her.”

He was snarling before Daniel’s hands ever touched his mate.

“I won’t hurt her, dickhead. She’s my
family
.”

Zach gritted his teeth. “My head knows that. Hell, my wolf
knows that. But she’s bleeding.” So his heart snarled at his brother despite
knowing Daniel would chew his own paw off rather than hurt her.

“And that needs to be seen to.” Chris took hold of Jo and
set her down on the ground. “Give me your shirt.”

Zach whipped his shirt over his head and handed it over. He
watched Chris begin cleaning Jo up and wondered why his wolf had backed down
when Chris touched Jo, but hadn’t allowed Daniel near her.

“Chris is mated and safe. Daniel isn’t.”

Zach turned to Gen. “How do you know so much about our
curse?”

Her eyes darted to Gareth, her cheeks flaming. “Research.”

Of course. She was the type to find out the facts, check her
instincts, and then act on them. She’d want to know everything she could about
the family she planned on marrying into. “Sorry, Daniel.”

Daniel smiled. For once it wasn’t full of anything but
genuine joy. “You’re mated, bro. You’re entitled.” His gaze was drawn to the
woods, the smile slowly fading away. “Do you think…?”

“I know.” If Kerry wasn’t Daniel’s mate Zach knew he
wouldn’t be the only one shocked.

“I won’t be positive until I do the spell.”

Of course not. You’re a wizard.

A muffled scream broke the quiet afternoon, cut off before
it could really begin.

Daniel stripped so fast his sock landed on Zach’s head. He
didn’t even have time to complain that his mate was getting an eyeful. “Let’s
go save the girl.”

“Wait.” He turned back to Jo. “She taunted him, kept his
attention off me so the shadow wolf could save me. He’s not going to be happy
about that, especially since she’s not mated yet.”

“And now he’ll have her blood and Lord knows what else.” The
brothers exchanged grim glances. “Let’s go.”

Daniel shifted and sprinted off through the woods, hot on
the scent of Davis Godwin’s other captive…and his mate.

Jo watched Daniel and Zach head into the woods. “I have to
be there.”

“Looks like Arthur is swimming for shore.”

She turned to Gareth, who was looking out over the river,
hand shading his eyes. She couldn’t see anything but the waves against the
shore. “Which one?”

“The Philly side.”

Meaning he’d abandoned his father and brother. That didn’t
surprise her in the least. He’d seemed way too cold to risk himself in a fight
where the odds were so against him. “Smart move.”

“I’d rather take care of all of them here and now, damn it.”
Gareth sighed and dropped his hand. “Chris, finish binding those wounds. We
have to go after Tweedles Dumb and Dumber.”

Jo couldn’t quite choke back her cry when Chris bound her
foot. “Sorry.”

“Not your fault.” Luckily that sick bastard hadn’t cut the
toe off, but the wound was deep. She’d need stitches. Zach’s shirt wasn’t going
to be enough to staunch the flow of blood. “If he’s got the girl’s blood, then
he’s more than got enough of mine.”

Chris picked her up and began following Gareth into the
trees. “Which means you’re still vulnerable to attack.”

“We’ll do what we can to negate whatever he’s taken.” Gen
brushed aside a branch, keeping easy pace with the brothers. “But let’s get
this taken care of first.”

Jo noticed the way Gen’s hands were shaking. “You okay?”

Gen started, her expression turning grim. “No matter what,
they’re still my family.”

And you’ve declared war on them.
Jo hoped that Davis
would just give up, spare his daughter the pain of facing him, but she didn’t
think they would be so lucky.

“They’re assholes who are trying to kill our mates. Sorry if
I don’t cry over them.”

Gen flinched.

Too bad Gareth didn’t see that.
He had his back to
them, so missed the effect his words had on the Own. If he had he might have
reconsidered them.

“There.” She recognized the twisted tree she’d walked past
to get to the shore, and her mate. “We’re pretty close.”

Chris knelt down and placed her carefully on the ground. He
tapped her nose. “Sit. Stay. Good witch.”

“Woof.” Jo moved until her back was against a tree, careful of
her wounds. “Bring me back my mate.”

Chris nodded. “Will do.” He gestured toward Gareth. “We’ll
be back.”

Gareth glared at Gen. “You’re staying here.”

Gen was toe-to-toe with Gareth. “I am not. This is as much
my fight as it is Zach’s. I will be there to see it through.”

Gareth’s jaw clenched. “No offense, but that’s your family
out there. I have no idea whether or not you’ll be able to fight when push
comes to shove.”

“I know you don’t trust me,
but I am an Own
. I will
go in there and stop what my father is trying to do and you will not stop me.”
Gen’s gentle green glow reappeared, a sure sign, to Jo at least, that Gareth
had lost this fight.

“Let it go, Gareth.” Jo ignored the low, almost continual
growl rumbling from Gareth’s throat. “She’s right and you know it.”

“Fine.” He pointed his finger at the Own. “But if your ass
goes down I’m not saving it.” He turned his back on her and began slowly
stalking through the trees. “Fucking Godwins.”

Only Jo saw the pain his words caused. She shot Gen a
glance, hoping it wasn’t as full of pity as she feared it was. Gareth was going
to give Gen one hell of a hard time before he accepted their mating. “Fucking
men.”

Gen’s lips twitched, but she didn’t respond. She followed
Gareth, her footfalls silent, wrapped in serenity.

“Freaky.” Jo watched Chris shake his head. “I don’t think
I’ll ever get over the glowing thing.”

“Chris? There’s more than just Davis out there. Hugh Godwin
is with him.”

“Fuck. Thanks for the heads-up. Keep your eyes open. If you
see a Godwin?”

She nodded. “Howl as loud as I can.”

“Be back soon.” And Chris disappeared in the footsteps of
Gareth and Gen, leaving Jo by herself. She leaned her head back against the
tree and bled.

“Well. This sucks rocks.”

Zach crouched behind the bush and glared at the man in the
hooded robe. Kerry—and it was definitely Kerry under the bruises, dirt and
blood—was barely conscious. How the fuck had they known Kerry was Daniel’s? And
why take her before they’d mated? It made no sense, but nothing these assholes
had done made much sense to sane people.

“You’re lucky I need you alive.” Davis Godwin stepped back
and glared around the clearing. “Hugh!”

“What?” A younger, carbon copy of Davis poked his head
around a tree to his father’s right.

“Strap her to the altar. I might not be able to use her soul
yet, but I have a few surprises I’d like to set up for when the Becketts
arrive.”

“Don’t you think that will be sooner rather than later now
that the bitch disappeared?”

“What is she going to do? Send up smoke signals?” Davis shook
his head. “No, she’s stranded here until they figure out where we are.”

Too late, asshole.

“You don’t think they’re already headed this way?”

“Why would they be? The crystal showed them putting the girl
to bed.”

“And them leaving.” Hugh was already looking around, almost
as if he sensed the presence of the Beckett brothers.