The Keepers: Archer

The Keepers: Archer

Rae Rivers

A division of HarperCollinsPublishers

www.harpercollins.co.uk

Contents

Dedication

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Rae Rivers: About the Author

About HarperImpulse

Copyright

About the Publisher

To Ryan, who is the hero in my own real-life story, and my beautiful children who were all very tolerant of all the hours I’ve spent writing this book. Thank you, my angels.

To my dearest friend, Lisa. Running through ideas for this series with you was as much fun as writing it! Thank you for all the laughter, encouragement and input.

Lastly, thank you to the team at Harper Impulse for saying yes and for believing in my series – and me.

CHAPTER ONE

CENTRAL PARK, NEW YORK

She was under a microscope.

A silly notion, one she’d never admit to anyone. Her logical mind challenged the thought but Sienna Beckham knew – just knew – that she was being watched.

Sitting on the grass, she scanned the busy park. A casual, fleeting glance, nothing too obvious.

Nope. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Just the normal crowd – different faces than the day before, but normal nonetheless. Joggers, strollers, a few picnics, several ball games – all the same. The warm weather and sunshine had drawn out the nature lovers who appeared reluctant to leave despite the setting sun. The park, once lush and green, had turned a magical shade of orange, yellow, and red, a sign that fall had arrived with fervour.

Her instincts bristled; her gut clenched.

Paranoid? Crazy?

She pushed herself off the grass, drained the last of her water, and tossed the bottle in a nearby bin.

The sun hovered above the horizon, illuminating the tall buildings around the park in a gentle orange glow. The lake had turned a soft shade of pink. One last lap around the park and she’d make her way home to shower and change before heading out to Terroirs for drinks with two of her colleagues from the bookshop. She hadn’t wanted to go out tonight but it was Saturday, a day they were determined to celebrate.

She pulled her fiery red hair into a ponytail and set off at a gentle pace. Within moments, she was flying across the park with a feeling of lightness. Jogging always did that to her, but today she felt … different.

Hell, she’d always felt different, but today she felt strange.

Her parents?

The anniversary of her parents’ deaths loomed dangerously around the corner, threatening to jolt her back into a time she’d rather not remember.

But her uneasiness hinted at something more, something she hadn’t been able to identify all week.

With a shake of the head, she scolded herself for being so serious, for thinking too much, and concentrated on running with a clear mind.

She soon lost herself to the fresh air, the warm glow of the fading sunlight, the wind in her face, and the thoughtless running.

It wasn’t until she’d neared the end of the lake and rounded a bend marked with several large, overgrown bushes that he pounced.

Strong, powerful, and terrifying.

His hands grabbed her and in a fluid motion, she was absorbed into a clearing in the bushes, into him.

She tried to scream but the heavy hand covered her mouth, smothering her cries. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t see.

The more she struggled, the more force he used. His aggression pressed against her back like hot lead, evil and angry, and terror took a powerful grip.

Oh, God.

She lashed out, her elbow connecting to his ribs. He grunted, and she broke free. Before she could move, he charged, and for the first time, she saw his eyes.

Black, cold, evil.

She’d seen those eyes before, and they smacked of the life she’d once shunned.

“What do you want with me?” she cried as he lunged for her. They tumbled to the ground, her arms beating, pushing, shoving.

But he was stronger and he hit back.

“Stop!” she cried. “You’re hurting me!”

“Be still, witch,” he snapped in a tone so cold that she felt the chill wash over her.

The result was instant. She froze and gaped at him. “Witch?”

“Surprised?” He grinned, without humour. “Surely you knew it was only a matter of time before we came for you.”

“I don’t know what you mean.” She blinked, trying to clear the fog in her mind.

He shook her, not caring as her head connected with the ground. “Feigning ignorance won’t help you.”

“Why are you here? What do you want?”

“We’ve come for you. For the book.”

And just like that, in a blink of an eye, the life she’d once fled came crashing down around her.

A life as a powerful Beckham witch, fiercely protected by three Keepers. She’d always known it would catch up with her. Now that it had, fear and a crippling sense of pain and loss threatened to choke her all over again.

“Let me go!” she yelled.

A slap to the face left her dizzy and confused and when she fought back, he continued with the punches until she stopped struggling.

Silent, she closed her eyes as fury washed over her, and began to tremble.

Her body quivered from the inside out as the trembling intensified… stronger, stranger, bolder.

With a soft cry, she flung out her arms, drawing on an inner strength that had been silenced for too long. Air whooshed past her ears with a force that made her wince. A moment later, without touching him, her attacker hurled through the air like a limp puppy.

Oh, God. Her powers. It had been so long since she’d used them and they almost terrified her more than the attack itself.

He flew backward, hitting the tree behind him, and stared at her, seemingly unsurprised. With a soft growl, he jumped up and began to circle her.

“Are you insane?” she snapped, struggling to her feet, her entire body shaking. Although shock still riddled her from the surprise attack, anger had wedged itself deep inside, enough to clear the murkiness that lurked. “This is a public park. There are people here. You know the rules.”

“We’ve taken care of that. No one will hear you cry.”

“Clearly, whoever sent you failed to warn you about messing with a Beckham witch.”

“Ah, but the witch walks without her mighty Keepers. A fact that has had many tongues wagging.”

An image of her Keepers came to mind. Three powerful warrior brothers who’d been her protectors, friends, and allies fending off anything dark and evil that had upset the balance of nature. Despite having run from them, from that life, she couldn’t deny the sense of longing that came whenever she remembered.

Dismissing all thoughts of her Keepers, she straightened her shoulders and summoned up a confidence she didn’t quite feel. “And yet it’s taken this long for someone to come for me. That makes you either super courageous or incredibly stupid.”

His eyes narrowed at the taunt. “You don’t scare me, witch.”

“We’ll see how you feel when I turn you into a toad,” she said, keeping her tone light. His eyes widened, and she almost smiled at the brief flash of apprehension. Almost. It wouldn’t help to tell him that toad turning wasn’t her style. Instead, she swallowed her own unease, her mind racing for an escape route.

A rustling in the bushes had her whirling around and her heart sank when two more men stepped forward. Like her first attacker, they were both dressed in black and wore expressions of evil.

“Who are you?” she cried, her voice quivering at the realization that this was one fight she might not win. Not without some help. Two years ago, she had sworn off her powers for good and hadn’t tapped into them since. But the three men outnumbered her in more ways than she cared to admit, and no amount of traditional self-defence would save her.

They circled her like a pride of lions, and she swore she could hear them growling.

Insane. Maybe she was crazy after all.

She shook her head, choking on fear, but refusing to back down. She wouldn’t go down without a fight. And just like that, they attacked.

****

Archer Bennett had known an attack on Sienna was imminent. The darker world had been quiet for far too long and he’d been biding time until the moment hit.

But now that it had, fear curled in his gut like an unwelcome visitor. Adrenaline soared through him, triggering every protective Keeper instinct he possessed.

From his perch in the trees above them, Archer watched as the three men circled Sienna, rage bubbling inside him. They’d set up the perfect ambush – at the edge of the lake, void of spectators, overgrown with a wall of trees and bushes – and she’d run straight into their trap.

Her screech pierced the air and tore through him, and he readied himself to jump. Sienna fought on, kicking and punching, reaching for half-forgotten spells – determined not to back down.

Typical of a Beckham witch.

It was no good – the men were closing in. Archer pushed forward, flew through the air with the rapid speed of a Keeper, and landed on the ground below with a soft thud.

Not waiting to determine if they’d sensed his presence, he launched himself toward them.

The fight was uneven, but he drew on his heightened strength, power, and hatred for the men preying on the frightened woman.

Bodies entwined, fists connected with flesh, and blood-curdling growls filled the air. A cloud of dust surrounded them, muffling the visual impact of the fight.

With a swift movement and a possessive roar, he lunged for Sienna and placed himself in front of her as – exhausted and unseeing – she crumpled to the ground. The three men growled and snarled while he swiftly scanned the lake behind them. With a sense of calm that always came when he tapped into a sacred part of himself, a sacred part of her, he slowly raised his arms toward the lake.

Controlled and deliberate. He had a message to deliver, a witch to protect, and three men needing a lesson on the consequences of messing with a Beckham witch and her Keepers.

A soft trickle of water had all three men glancing behind them as understanding dawned. Clearly, from the horror that quickly twisted their expressions, they knew all about the Keeper with the power to manipulate water. Before they were able to react, the trickle quickly turned into a loud rumble of waves as the water rose up to form a solid wall. Archer moved his hands in circular motions and the water instantly split into three separate balls, each one tightly compacted together to form a lethal weapon.

Sienna’s first attacker jerked toward her, hoping to use her as leverage against the inevitable attack, but Archer was too quick for him.

A ball of water bulleted through the air and hit him on the back with a force that sent him reeling against the tree with a rumble of filthy curses. In swift succession, two more water missiles flew toward his accomplices, knocking them off their feet with ease.

With another swift motion of the arms, Archer readied the water with a fresh supply of lethal missiles and hovered, hoping the dark forces had had their fill of chilly lake water.

Drenched, panting, knowing when to admit defeat, the men fell silent and glared at him, their bodies heaving breathlessly with unleashed adrenaline. There was a pregnant pause as they sized him up, weighed their options.

“You can’t protect her forever,” said the first attacker.

“I will always protect her,” Archer told them, his voice level and unyielding.

“Then you will both die.”

Sensing defeat, and without waiting for a response, they rushed for the bushes and vanished.

Archer dropped his arms, the water crashing into the lake with a loud splutter, and immediately lurched forward. He sank to his knees beside Sienna, silently scanning her body to check for injuries – an action that came as naturally to him as breathing. She seemed confused, disorientated from the vicious slaps she’d received, and her tiny body trembled from the shock of the surprise attack. Seeing her like this fuelled his anger and hatred for the men responsible and something cold and steely wrapped itself around his heart.

They’d be back. He knew that with every instinct he possessed. Defeating them wouldn’t be a problem – the challenge would be convincing Sienna to accept his help.

“Are you okay?” he asked, fighting against the urge to pull her into his arms.

“Don’t touch me!” she shrieked, scrambling away from him.

Her right hand shot out at the same time the excruciating pain shot through his head – a pain so powerful it threatened to cripple him. His head pounded from the vicious onslaught of heat channelled through her central power – fire. She’d done this before, damn her, and the pain had almost killed him.

A Beckham witch’s ultimate defence.

Eyes shut to ward off the pain and holding his head in agony, he sank to his knees with a guttural groan.

“Sienna,” he said between gritted teeth. “It’s me. It’s Archer.”

The mental violation and pain stopped the instant he said his name.

She gaped at him, shock unhinging her jaw. “Archer?”

“It’s me,” he repeated and struggled to his feet, still holding his head. Damn, she still had the power to fry his brain. He blinked, trying to clear the haze, and looked at her with a harsh frown. “Damn it, Sienna. What the hell was that for?”

“I thought you were trying to hurt me.” She rushed to him and cupped her hands over each of his. “I thought you were one of them.”

“Do I look like a bloody warlock’s minion?”

“I’m sorry. They rattled me, caught me off guard.” She fell silent and inhaled softly. “Archer, you’re here. You found me.”

“I’m your Keeper and I vowed the day you left that I’d find you.”

She didn’t reply and frowned when he grimaced. “Are you okay?”

Worry lined her features and her green eyes flashed with concern. She looked a mess, a complete contrast to her usual poised self. Her hair hung in a dull, dusty, tangled mess around her shoulders. Her right cheek, glowing and swollen, showed early signs of a bruise.

God, how he’d missed her. It had been so damn long.

Fire sparked deep in his gut as fresh anger washed over him. The two years he’d spent searching for her had almost driven him to the brink of madness. The constant worry, the daily longing, and the permanent reminders of her back home had been torture. Torn between the urge to hug her and throttle her, a quick nod was all he could manage.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly, tugging his hands away from his head.

“Promise me you’ll never try that voodoo mind fry on me ever again.”

“It’s the quickest defence I have against you, Archer.”

“You don’t need any damn defences against me, Sienna.”

“I’m still not agreeing.”

Stubborn minx. Nothing had changed. He ran his thumb across her swollen cheek and tried to ignore the rush of emotions that flooded him. He’d found her. After two long torturous and empty years, he’d finally tracked her down. The relief was immense and he had to resist everything inside him that ached to wrench her against him and never let her go. “Does it hurt?”

“He knew how to pack a punch but I’ll live.” Her shoulders fell, and she met his gaze. “They weren’t human, were they?”

“Not entirely, no.”

“Did anyone see us?”

“No. Our secret is safe.”

As it should be. And when it wasn’t, a little magic would usually rectify even the soundest memory, but only as a last resort. Surrounded by a world of ordinary humans where only a few selected people knew of their supernatural existence, they’d been bound to keep their presence a secret without harming anyone in exchange for being left alone.

It wasn’t always that simple but that was the agreement, the rule, and breaking it would initiate consequences Archer would rather avoid.

“It’s been quiet for so long. Why now?” Sienna asked.

“You’re a Beckham witch,” he replied, annoyed with the question. ‘It’s no surprise they’ve come for you.”

“That’s not who I am anymore.”

“You’ll always be a witch, Sienna, and they’ll be back for you.” The image of Sienna surrounded by the three men flashed through his mind, and he frowned. “They surprised you,” he noted quietly. “And you held back from using your powers.”

“You won’t understand.”

“Damn right I won’t. You come from a family of powerful witches. Those men were no match for your powers. Why would you hesitate to use them?”

Her age-old defences fell into place as the wall returned. He’d seen how her emotions had changed from relief to surprise, then horror as she’d realized that he’d finally found her, despite all her efforts at keeping him away.

Her eyes flashed with disbelief, and she stepped back.

“Sienna, don’t.”

“I have to go,” she said, pushing past him, heading for the opening in the trees.

He caught her wrist in one quick movement. When she lifted her eyes to meet his, he raised an eyebrow. “Seriously? You really think I’m going to let you leave?”

CHAPTER TWO

Sienna looked at the man she’d once considered a friend, trying to make sense of what had just happened. One moment she’d been running in the park, the next moment her life had been thrown back into the turmoil she’d tried so hard to get away from.

And Archer Bennett stood for everything she’d run from.

A world she was bound by duty and honour to defend, where grief and guilt were constant companions, and an intense, forbidden attraction that had almost destroyed them.

It was hard to determine which surprised her more – the sudden attack by complete strangers or Archer’s reappearance in her life.

Her heart slammed against her chest and she knew it had nothing to do with the attack and everything to do with the man. Physically, outwardly, he hadn’t changed at all. Tall, broad shoulders, short brown hair, and a face so handsome that it hinted at perfection. And he still wreaked havoc with her senses. But the way he clenched his jaw and the tortured look in his brooding green eyes gave her a glimpse of the anguish that lay beneath the layers, catching her off guard. He’d always had an intensity about him, but the darkness had intensified since she’d last seen him. It shouldn’t surprise her. He’d lost, suffered, mourned.

Like they all had.

In their world danger often lurked in a way that ordinary humans wouldn’t understand and often resulted in pain and suffering that came with the loss of losing one of their own.

Sarah. Their parents.

She sighed, refusing to think about the loss. The anguish that came with their memories always left her raw. “Why are you here, Archer?”

He shot her a look that questioned if she really needed an answer to that.

After all, he was a Bennett brother and destined to protect a Beckham witch at all costs. He still wore his ring – the ring of a Keeper. The heavy, antique silver ring symbolized everything he stood for, everything he was. Her Keeper, her Guardian. She’d never seen him without it and seeing it again now tugged at a part of her that she’d buried a long time ago – a part of her that was in complete contrast to the life she’d run to.

Sienna wasn’t just any witch. She was a Beckham witch with a powerful lineage. Her grandmother, Rose, had been one of the most greatest witches on earth. Scattered across the world in a combined effort to maintain the balance of nature were three orders: ordinary witches, who dabbled in spells and potions; elemental witches, who drew their energy from the elements of nature – and witches like Rose. Whereas most elemental witches were able draw their power from one element of nature, Rose was able to channel all four. Herself being the fifth - the spirit that bound fire, water, earth, air. In the witch world, the ability to draw energy from all the elements of nature was a rarity and any witch able to master such power was honoured, respected, and fiercely protected.

For the longest time, Sienna had embraced her heritage, her destiny, and her simple powers as an elemental witch. Until the day Rose had passed on her full powers to her and she’d run from it.

But now it had all come crashing around her like an unwanted curse.

“So you finally found me,” she said, closing her fingers around the chunky pendant hanging around her neck.

“It took a while.”

She glanced toward the lake, dark pink from the reflection of the sunset. “So why now?”

“You needed me.”

“Ah, ever the White Knight.”

He ignored the jab, never one for jesting about his duties. “They would’ve taken you, Sienna. Don’t you see that?”

“They surprised me, but I can take care of myself.”

“And yet you hesitated.”

“I was fine, Archer.”

“Then explain this,” he said and touched her swollen cheek. “Any other woman would be no match for their brutal strength and aggression, Sienna. You, on the other hand, have the advantage other women don’t. Why would you even let them near you? Why did you wait before using your powers to defend yourself?”

“Let it go, Archer,” she said and pulled away.

It didn’t take long for him to figure it out. His hand shot out to grab her arm, and he tugged her round so she was facing him again. “You haven’t used your powers since you left Rapid Falls, have you?”

No. For two years she hadn’t cast a single spell, she’d started fires with a match and not her mind, and she’d opened doors with her hands and not her thoughts. Protection consisted of a security company and a mace spray, not three burly Keepers and magic.

Her silence seemed to confirm his suspicion, and his eyes narrowed.

“Why?” His voice softened, and she heard the confusion that lingered. “Inheriting Rose’s powers made you one of the most powerful witches in the world. Why aren’t you taking advantage of that?”

“Because Rose’s powers scare the hell out of me!” Sienna yanked her wrist free and took a step back, needing the distance between them – and the masculine sexiness that still wreaked havoc with her body. Her pulse was on a runaway mission and parts of her tingled that had hadn’t tingled in a very long time.

Damn him.

“Sienna, they’re not Rose’s powers anymore,” he said softly. “They’re yours.”

She glanced away, knowing that he was right, and hating it. How could he know the fear that came with her powers, the anger toward her grandmother for passing them onto her without an explanation, or the guilt that gnawed at her for what she’d done the first time she’d tapped into her newfound powers?

Her gaze fell to his scarred hand, and she dragged in a deep breath.

“I have to go, Archer,” she said, knowing he’d never allow it.

“Like hell.”

No surprise. “You’re not a part of my life anymore, and I can’t go back. For the first time in years, I’ve known peace.” Liar, liar.

He studied her, adding a touch of frost to his gaze. “I’m one of your Keepers, Sienna, and that makes me a part of you until the day you die.”

“How did you find me?”

“Rose sensed you were in danger. Clearly, she was right.”

“My grandmother sent you?” Sienna had always known the older witch would one day give her away. Her hand returned to her necklace, and she frowned. “How …?”

He shrugged, and she tried not to concentrate on all that muscle beneath the ripped black shirt. “Emotions fuel her remaining powers and when she sensed you were in danger, there was enough anger and worry to frighten even me. A simple locator spell led us here.”

“That easy, huh?”

Something dark and angry clouded his features. “No, Sienna. Finding you has been anything but easy.” In two strides, he closed the gap between them. “Do you have any idea what it’s been like for us to lose you?”

“So you and your brothers lost your witch. Big deal. Find a new one.”

“It’s not that simple and you know it,” he said, tightening his grip.

She knew. They were all bound together by destiny and a magical connection that could only be broken by death. It wasn’t something she could easily forget, no matter how hard she’d tried. It was a life neither of them had asked for but had accepted as part of their duty and family legacy, as had their parents and generations of grandparents before them. And when it had become too much for her, she’d run.

Coward.

“Two years, Sienna. Two bloody years I’ve been searching for you. How the hell did you keep me away?” His eyes fell on her necklace and his jaw clenched. Before she could stop him, he reached out and closed his fingers around the bulky pendant. “It’s the necklace, isn’t it? That’s why I’ve been unable to sense you.” He looked up, dark eyes burning into hers. “That’s why it’s taken me so long to track you down.”

“I cast a spell on the necklace. It was the only way you’d stay away.”

Anger oozed off him in waves and his fingers tightened around the pendant. For a brief moment, she feared he would rip it from her neck.

She placed her hands around his, willing him not to. “Don’t.”

He fingered the pendant, glaring at it with a harsh frown. A pentagram with five points that symbolized the five elements of nature, that symbolized them. It was the perfect illustration of what they stood for. Four Keepers who each had the power to manipulate an element of nature. Earth, fire, air, and water. And she was the fifth element that bound them all together. Without her, their elemental powers were useless. Interlinked in a way few people could ever understand, they shared the same destiny and a mutual purpose of maintaining the balance of nature.

His gaze lifted to meet hers and the raw emotion she saw in his dark green eyes rattled her. “This necklace depicts everything we stand for. Everything we are. How could you use it to keep us apart?”

“I left that life behind. I can’t go back, Archer.”

“Sienna” he said softly, forcefully. “You’re a Beckham witch. That’s not something you can hide from.”

“I’m not that person anymore, Archer. I have a life here, one that doesn’t involve magic, evil warlocks, or powers so potent that I can’t control them. Or death,” she added, her voice quietening as memories of their last encounter resurfaced. Memories she’d run from. “I can’t be a part of all that anymore.”

She saw the moment it all fell into place for him. His expression softened, and they stared at each other in silence.

“My sister’s death wasn’t your fault,” he said softly, releasing the pendant.

Sienna took a step back, not wanting the discussion that would follow such a statement.

“You can’t hide from who you are.”

“It worked for the last two years.”

“Only because the balance in the paranormal world has been in our favour. That’s changed and you’re in danger.”

Ah, so he’d found her because his duty as her Keeper had him wanting to protect her. And what about the man finding a woman he’d almost made his?

“You have to come home, Sienna. We’ll help you, protect you.”

Something cold and determined washed over her, and she lifted her chin defiantly. “You’re crazy if you think I’m going to let another one of my Keepers die protecting me.”

“Sarah’s death was not your fault.”

Unable to stop herself, her gaze fell to his scarred hand. “But I hurt you. I hurt you all, and there’s no guarantee that I won’t do it again. I refuse to put you or your brothers at risk again.”

“And you’re crazy if you think I’m going to let you go off alone on this stupid Kamikaze mission. The fact that they’ve targeted you and tracked you down means they need a Beckham witch. They also know that you haven’t mastered your powers yet so they will come for you, repeatedly, until they have you.”

He was right. Few people ever messed with Rose because of the power she could wield. It was one of the reasons that she needed less protection than Sienna. But since passing on her powers, Rose was an ordinary witch like all others. Still in high regard because of her Beckham status, but her powers had lessened. Archer was right. To them Sienna, her full powers still untouched, was the inexperienced witch needed to unleash their own evil. They would be wary of her, perhaps a bit fearful because of her Beckham name, but it wouldn’t stop them.

Of course, that would all change once she learned how to channel all her powers simultaneously.

Never.

She stepped back, the familiar fear slamming home at the thought of ever using her full powers again.

Archer narrowed his eyes, and he reached for her. “You know I’m right. You have no choice, Sienna, I’m taking you home.”

She raised an eyebrow, refusing to be forced back to a life that frightened her. “You said it yourself, Archer. I’m a powerful witch. You might want to keep that in mind when you threaten to caveman me home.”