His Witch To Keep (Keepers of the Veil) by Zoe Forward Read Free Book Online Page B

is in your phone.”
    She arched an eyebrow. “Dangerous Guy?”
    His lips quirked upward. “You will call. I only hope it won’t be too late.”
    He walked away.
    She watched his tall form stroll up the snowy sidewalk until he disappeared into the blistering wind and swirling snow.

    “W here the bloody hell have you been?” Eli Morgan hurled at Serenity in his crisp British accent as she stepped into her house. “Gone for over a day. Alone? What were you thinking…oh, wait, you weren’t thinking.” He shook his head and cursed under his breath.
    The hot indoor air blanketed and warmed her skin. But most of her attention remained out there in the cold, on the gaze searing into her back. Alexi had followed her here, even if a few shoulder glances behind her yielded nothing. She refused to analyze why she was thrilled that he’d tailed her despite her request. What would he think about Eli greeting her at the door? Would he be jealous? Ooh…she liked that.
    Just to torture him, she jumped at Eli, hugging him tight, and kicked the door shut. Take that.
    “What the fuck?” Eli said as she hopped away from him the second the door slammed.
    She shrugged. “Always a pleasure to see you?”
    His gaze narrowed. “Who’s watching you out there that you wanted to make jealous?”
    She shook her head. “We’ve known each other far too long.”
    “Damned right we have. Don’t forget I followed your wild ass all through your university days and into MI6. I know your games. So, I repeat, what is going on and who’s out there?”
    “Why are you here? In my house? Did you get assigned as my bodyguard after the last two gave up?”
    He shot her an agitated glare that made clear he knew she was deflecting. “You make all of us Sentry druids look bad. It’s our job to protect you.” He shook his head and broke into a smile. “Hell, Serenity. You Mickeyed your last guard and disappeared.”
    “The asshole tried to contain me. He called me something I didn’t like. I got pissed.”
    “They got desperate and called me in. It’ll be like the old days with me on your ass.”
    Her phone dinged with an incoming text. Her heart jumped and stomach squeezed. She riffled through the backpack to grab her iPhone.
    The text from Dangerous Guy read: Don’t.
    Excitement raced through her blood. She texted back: You don’t own me.
    Behind her, Eli asked, “Who’s that?”
    Seconds later, her phone rang. Caller ID: Dangerous Guy.
    She held up her hand at Eli and walked into the downstairs bathroom, closing the door behind her. She answered softly to avoid Eli overhearing. “What?”
    In a low, deadly tone, Alexi said, “Do not complicate matters by playing with that druid.”
    “Complicate what matters? Us? There is no us, as you very clearly communicated. Maybe he’s the one for me. I’ve done a lot of thinking since our chat the other night. You did make me wonder.”
    A low, dark chuckle came through the phone. “If you were interested in Eli Morgan, then you would’ve fucked him in college when he was your bodyguard.”
    Damn it. She wanted to smack Alexi. But he had called. He was far from apathetic about her and the potential of her sleeping with Eli. She smiled to herself. “You’ve been stalking me a long time, it seems.”
    “I made a promise.”
    Her mind rewound to their first meeting. He’d provided her with security and a gentleness so at odds with his external harshness. As she’d dozed off, injured and weak from blood loss, he’d whispered, “ Aš apsaugosiu tave. Visada. ” I will protect you. Always. And he had. This, now, could not be about protection only. But she couldn’t have the everything she desperately wanted with this annoying man. He wasn’t druid.
    She snapped, “So all of this…a few months ago…all of the past ten or so years is just about some promise? Consider your promise met. We’re done. I will be with whomever I want. And that is not you.”
    “I respect Eli, but I will