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CopyrightHarperImpulse an imprint of
HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd
7785 Fulham Palace RoadHammersmith, London W6 8JB
www.harpercollins.co.uk
First published in Great Britain by HarperImpulse 2013
Copyright Rae Rivers 2013
Cover Photographs shutterstock.com
Rae Rivers asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents
portrayed in it are the work of the authors imagination. Any resemblance to actual
persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-
transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of
this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engi-
neered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval
system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known
or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.
Ebook Edition June 2013 ISBN: 9780007536023
Version 1
Digital eFirst: Automatically produced by Atomik ePublisher from Easypress.
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CHAPTER ONE
Central Park, New York
She was under a microscope.
A silly notion, one shed 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 despitethe 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 build-
ings around the park in a gentle orange glow. The lake had turned
a soft shade of pink. One last lap around the park and shed make
her way home to shower and change before heading out to Terroirs
for drinks with two of her colleagues from the bookshop. She
hadnt 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
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a feeling of lightness. Jogging always did that to her, but today
she felt different.
Hell, shed always felt different, but today she felt strange.
Her parents?
The anniversary of her parents deaths loomed dangerouslyaround the corner, threatening to jolt her back into a time shed
rather not remember.
But her uneasiness hinted at something more, something she
hadnt 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 wasnt until shed 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 couldnt breathe, couldnt 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.
Shed seen those eyes before, and they smacked of the life shed
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.
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But he was stronger and he hit back.
Stop! she cried. Youre 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 dont 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 wont help you.
Why are you here? What do you want?
Weve come for you. For the book.
And just like that, in a blink of an eye, the life shed once fled
came crashing down around her.
A life as a powerful Beckham witch, fiercely protected by three
Keepers. Shed always known it would catch up with her. Now
that it had, fear and a crippling sense of pain and loss threatenedto 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 intensi-
fied 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 shed used
them and they almost terrified her more than the attack itself.
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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 surpriseattack, 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.
Weve 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 whod 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 couldnt 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 didnt quite feel.
And yet its 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 dont scare me, witch.
Well see how you feel when I turn you into a toad, she said,
keeping her tone light. His eyes widened, and she almost smiledat the brief flash of apprehension. Almost. It wouldnt help to
tell him that toad turning wasnt 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 realizationthat this was one fight she might not win. Not without some help.
Two years ago, she had sworn off her powers for good and hadnt
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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 wouldnt 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 hed 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 thethree men circled Sienna, rage bubbling inside him. Theyd set
up the perfect ambush at the edge of the lake, void of spectators,
overgrown with a wall of trees and bushes and shed 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 theyd 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-curling
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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 growledand 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 circularmotions and the water instantly split into three separate balls,
each one tightly compacted together to form a lethal weapon.
Siennas 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 arumble 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 menfell silent and glared at him, their bodies heaving breathlessly with
unleashed adrenaline. There was a pregnant pause as they sized
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him up, weighed their options.
You cant 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 shed 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.
Theyd be back. He knew that with every instinct he possessed.
Defeating them wouldnt be a problem the challenge would beconvincing Sienna to accept his help.
Are you okay? he asked, fighting against the urge to pull her
into his arms.
Dont 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 chan-nelled through her central power fire. Shed done this before,
damn her, and the pain had almost killed him.
A Beckham witchs 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. Its me. Its Archer.
The mental violation and pain stopped the instant he said hisname.
She gaped at him, shock unhinging her jaw. Archer?
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Its 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 himand cupped her hands over each of his. I thought you were one
of them.
Do I look like a bloody warlocks minion?
Im sorry. They rattled me, caught me off guard. She fell
silent and inhaled softly. Archer, youre here. You found me.
Im your Keeper and I vowed the day you left that Id find
you.
She didnt 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 earlysigns of a bruise.
God, how hed missed her. It had been so damn long.
Fire sparked deep in his gut as fresh anger washed over him.
The two years hed 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 nodwas all he could manage.
Im sorry, she said softly, tugging his hands away from his
head.
Promise me youll never try that voodoo mind fry on me ever
again.
Its the quickest defence I have against you, Archer.
You dont need any damn defences against me, Sienna.Im still not agreeing.
Stubborn minx. Nothing had changed. He ran his thumb
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across her swollen cheek and tried to ignore the rush of emotions
that flooded him. Hed found her. After two long torturous and
empty years, hed 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 Ill live. Her shoulders
fell, and she met his gaze. They werent human, were they?
Not entirely, no.
Did anyone see us?
No. Our secret is safe.
As it should be. And when it wasnt, 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, theyd been
bound to keep their presence a secret without harming anyone in
exchange for being left alone.
It wasnt always that simple but that was the agreement, the
rule, and breaking it would initiate consequences Archer wouldrather avoid.
Its been quiet for so long. Why now? Sienna asked.
Youre a Beckham witch, he replied, annoyed with the ques-
tion. Its no surprise theyve come for you.
Thats not who I am anymore.
Youll always be a witch, Sienna, and theyll be back for you.
The image of Sienna surrounded by the three men flashed throughhis mind, and he frowned. They surprised you, he noted quietly.
And you held back from using your powers.
You wont understand.
Damn right I wont. 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. Hedseen how her emotions had changed from relief to surprise, then
horror as shed realized that hed finally found her, despite all her
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efforts at keeping him away.
Her eyes flashed with disbelief, and she stepped back.
Sienna, dont.
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 Im going to let you leave?
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