Chapter 3

• Steven stood back shaking his head.
• “It’s so cute.” Kasey giggled.
• “It’s pink.” Dade stated loudly.
• “I think it was probably at one time more of a red tint.” Chris smiled at Dade. “Going to offend your manly nature to stay in a pink cottage?”
• Dade shook his head. “As long as I don’t see it in the sunlight, I’ll be fine.”
• Owen was still standing there with a smirk on his face when Leena pulled on his arm. “Let’s go have a look. Gwen said there were only four beds so they added a few cots.” She smiled up at him. “It should be interesting.”
• Steven was happy when he stepped inside to see the interior a normal white and not some faded, mutated shade. There was a little kitchen, and a table with chairs under one window.
• “We’re moving up in the world this time,” he said after peeking into the bathroom. “We have a bathroom and a kitchen.” He glanced around at the mismatched couch and single chair. “And almost a sitting area.”
• Kasey ran up the stairs. “Three rooms up here two with double beds one with two cots.” She called out as she flew back down the stairs, then looked in the two rooms on either side of the kitchen. “A double bed in each.”
• Steven went over and put his arm around Rachel. “Don’t suppose you’d feel sorry for my back and share one of those double beds with me?” She gave him an amused look. “The idea of me sharing with Dade and you ladies sharing doesn’t sound nearly as appealing.”
• Rachel smiled up at him. “I’d love to wander in and see you and Dade spooning.”
• “Which room has the cots, Kase?” Steven dropped his arm and put his hands in his pockets.
• “Let’s go get our stuff,” Dade mumbled.
• After the men left, Kasey paced around the sitting room. “If they find out we are going to be in so much trouble.”
• Leena leaned back in the chair. “Owen is going to flip. Well, actually we’ll be lucky if all of them don’t turn into the chest-beating…overbearing men we know and love.
• Cora leaned against the door watching out it. “I’m not looking forward to Dade’s reaction.”
• Rachel sat in the middle of the floor. She knew the others were just as nervous. “Just remember to bat those eyelashes and pout, it seems to work well.” She laughed, “I don’t think fainting will get us out of the trouble we’re going to be in.”
• Leena nodded. “Tomorrow night then?”
• “They’re back.” Cora straightened from the door and opened it.
• “Are you ladies planning on your cleansing ritual?” Chris asked as he walked in carrying bags.
• Steven held his breath, wondering if Chris had found a way to figure out what the women were planning.
• “Yes.” Kasey said excitedly. “I love to start a gathering that way.” She had an excited look on her face.
• “Mind if I add something this time?” Chris stopped in front of her.
• Kasey smiled. “No. Anything you add would be great.” She stretched up and kissed him.
• “Good.” He held her to him and looked over at Steven.
• Ha, Steven thought, he has a plan. We’ll find out one way or another.
• Dade set up the little table the women carried along with them and then stood back to watch.
• Owen stood beside him. He glanced at Steven the look on Owen’s face said he was hoping whatever Chris was up to it was would be obvious, otherwise someone would have to explain one more thing to him.
• Cora came over to the table, holding a bag to her forehead. She. “A bag of protection for us all.”, She said, before setting it on the table. She grinned at Kasey. “I won’t tell you the ingredients.”
• Kasey grimaced.
• Rachel set a large violet candle on the table and snapped her fingers to bring the flames. “For health and peace to us all.” She smirked at Kasey. Obviously little Kasey was teaching Rachel a few new tricks. That may be bad for me later on, Steven mused.
• “Impressive.” Kasey grinned at Rachel before stepping to the table. Opening empty hands over the table she closed her eyes while slowly closing her fingers. When she opened them, a stone sat in each. Setting them on the table, she whispered. “Sardonyx, to protect us all.” She took her place beside Dade.
• Chris grinned at her. “Amazing.” He walked over and held out his hands, a large stone hovered over them. “Okenite, for truth and love.” Lowering it to his palm he set it on the table before backing up to stand beside Kasey.
• Leena raised a brow at Chris. Walking to the table, she rubbed her palms together and smoke came from them to surround the table. “To cleanse and protect.” She opened empty palms and wiggled her fingers. The smoke swirled throughout the cottage, circling each person, before returning to hover over the table.
• Steven inhaled deeply and then moved to join the rest of them. He chanted inside his head and knew when the feeling of unity reached them. A few gasps confirmed they all felt the connection when they joined hands. “To the first harvest,” he said quietly.
• Dade shook his head walking over to the couch. “It’s like show and tell now around you guys.”
• Cora laughed. “Jealous, Dade Jones because you can’t do all of that?”
• He leaned towards her. “Go get my drum, honey. I’ll show you exactly what I can do.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I thought so.” He looked around. “I wasn’t saying it in a bad way, it’s actually getting cooler by the day with each of you outdoing others.”
• Kasey laughed. “I found so many cool spells in Chris’s room, I plan to try one new one a day.”
• Dade swung around to look at Chris. “Good luck with that.”
• Chris smirked, “it’s never dull.” He looked around and then shrugged, “I think the more we’re together the more our skills are merging and growing.”
• Kasey walked up and put her arms around him. “Why okenite Chris? With all your knowledge, you could have picked one stone and charmed it to make the killer walk to our door and give himself up.”
• Steven stood back and continued to observe, waiting for Chris’ response.
• Chris kissed the end of Kasey’s nose. “And do exactly what I told you I’d never do.” He shrugged again, “I thought truth and love were the strongest, pure emotions, so maybe it will do some good.” He rested his head on hers and sent Steven a knowing look.
• Dade leaned back. “I don’t need to have huge powers to know you ladies are up to something, so are you going to tell us about the plan you’re keeping from us?”
• Cora sat beside Dade and studied him for a moment. “We are not planning any sort of spell or ritual. Why would the four of us try that, when we could have your help and have the power of eight?”
• Dade looked at her for a moment and then gave Steven a defeated look. “Okay, I guess we were mistaken.”
• Leena hugged Owen and looked over at Dade. “You’re probably just picking up on nerves, Dade. The last two gatherings haven’t been the easiest.”
• Chris sighed. “That’s true and it’s possible that’s what we’ve been sensing. Oh, before I forget, are we sticking to the same rotation for the watches at night?” He was answered with shrugs and nods.
• Kasey stretched up and pulled his head down. Biting his bottom lip, she smiled. “Come help me unpack.”
• Chris looked down at her, nothing distracting his focus from her. “We’ll be down later.”
• Leena reached and took Owen’s hand. “Come help me.”
• “Anything you want baby.” Owen said with a grin, following her up the stairs.
• Steven groaned into his hands. “You couples need to give us poor single people a break —all this kissing and touching and suggestive looks…”
• Rachel walked over and bent down, leaning over him. His heart raced when her lips touched his. Opening her mouth, she made sure he felt the ring from her tongue rub over his.
• She pulled away and straightened up. “Better?”
• Steven nodded as she walked to the room she’d chosen. He shook his head to clear it, and then turned to Dade.
• Dade was looking over at Cora with puppy eyes. She laughed at him and walked to her room. Turning to Steven he groaned. “I need beer, lots of beer.”
• Steven nodded. “Yeah, well what I need just walked in there…” he pointed after Rachel, “But beer would work. Then dinner, opening circle and more beer before our watch.”
• Dade nodded as he went to the cooler and pulled out two. “I’ll be fitting a nap in there too. I was so tired after Solstice it took a week to feel rested.”
• Steven laughed as he accepted the bottle. “I live on broken sleep, so I’m one up on you there.”
• The time was finally here again.
• He had to make sure he didn’t fail again.
• He watched waiting to see if the same woman returned.
• She hadn’t.
• The tall lawyer that found her did return.
• But he knew not to interfere this time. He knew.