Hecate's Own: Heart's Desire, Book 2 Read Free Page A

pinched the bridge of her nose and tried desperately to
remind herself why she hadn’t killed him yet. “Beckett, you can’t have those in
here with ten-year-olds.”
    “I was careful.”
    She pointed toward the desks. “Those children are under my
care, Zachary!” She shook her head, furious with both him and herself. She
should have noticed what he was doing, stopped it before it got to this point. This
was more her fault than his. She sat behind her desk, hoping it gave her more
of an authoritative air despite the eau de funk clinging to her. “From now on,
you use the herbs I tell you to use, understand?” He opened his mouth to
object, but she stopped him with an upraised hand. “ Understand? ”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    She hated when he got that hurt tone, but what could she do?
There was no way he was qualified to work with those herbs. How were they
supposed to open his inner eye? Through death? “Go home, Zachary. Try not to
blow anything up on the way.”
    She watched him walk out, leaving his jacket behind. Once
she was certain he wasn’t coming back for it she started slowly and
methodically banging her head on her desk.
    What was she going to do with him?
     
     
    Darkness would be a blessing. Too bad they’d chosen to
light a fire.
    Zach could barely see. His eyes were swollen shut. He’d
howl, except he was muzzled. His paws were bloody from trying to scrabble free
of the cage the men had put him in. A chain had been locked around his neck with
a silver collar, enchanted to be unbreakable even by magic, hobbling him in
place. He’d tried to turn back into his human form, but the silver collar was
magically sealed to keep him in his wolf form until they were ready for him.
    He was helpless to save her.
    A dark altar had been placed right where Zach could watch
the horror unfold. A hooded man stood over a naked woman, bound to the altar
with silver, enchanted chains. Blood stained that silver, a mark of the
sacrifices that had gone before. He could see the woman straining at her bonds,
her wrists chafed raw from the cuffs.
    A knife flashed into the air. The chanting increased in
intensity. The foul language seared his ears. Below the girl, the runes on the
altar glowed a vicious green. They were going to sacrifice her to the dark
powers, and there was nothing he could do about it.
    The girl turned her head and pleaded with her eyes for
Zach to save her. Zach increased his struggles against his bonds as he realized
just who was strapped down on the altar. He renewed his struggle to get
free of his bonds, ignoring the blood that littered the grass beneath his feet.
    He couldn’t let those bastards kill her!
    When the girl’s head turned and he saw her horrified
face, Zach almost died himself.
    Zach started awake as the knife flashed down, the echo of
Jo’s gurgling scream still echoing in his ears.
    He tossed the sweat-soaked sheet off his body and stared up
at the darkened ceiling. He clenched his teeth together, fighting off the
phantom pain that racked his whole body. His hand throbbed, an agony that never
quite went away, a reminder of everything he’d done to save his brother’s life.
    Annabelle had been wrong. The dreams weren’t getting better.
They were getting worse.
    He lifted his hands to his face, wincing at the feel of the
damaged one. The skin was still red and swollen, the brand in the center still
raw despite the passage of time. His good palm rasped against his whiskers, the
sound dry and loud in the quiet night.
    “Fuck a duck.” Zach sat up and glared at the clock. Three
a.m. Time for all little Becketts to go for a fucking run. He stepped naked
into the living room of his rented townhome, through to the kitchen, and opened
the back door. Just hope no one decides to take it as an invitation to come
on in and rob me blind.
    Then again, I’m in the mood to bite someone, so why not? He
called to his wolf, grateful when the great black beast answered the call. He
merged his soul