Drake Sisters 05 - Safe Harbor

moment and afraid the next. That's natural and we all expect it."
    "I don't—didn't. I'm ashamed that I can't stop hurting everyone."
    His hand slid over her hair, tangled in the silky strands.
    "Go to sleep, baby, and let me worry tonight. Your sisters are gathering to aid you. I can feel the surge of power in the house. When you wake up, your wounds won't be quite so raw and hopefully you'll feel a little more at peace."
    Hannah allowed her eyes to close as she inhaled, dragging Jonas's scent into her lungs.
    He felt, smelled and tasted so familiar to her. Safe. Strong. So Jonas—and he was right. She felt the rise of feminine power, strong and sure and loving, all directed toward her. Tears stung her eyes and wet her lashes. No matter how upset they were, her sisters reached out to her with love and healing.
    "I love being a Drake," she whispered.
    "I do, too," he answered and brushed another kiss along the nape of her neck.

Chapter Thirteen
    JONAS came awake, fully alert. It had taken hours for him to drift off, too aware of Hannah beside him. Her sleep was fitful, her body moving constantly and her arms flailing as if defending herself. She cried once, breaking his heart. He lay in the darkness, stroking her hair and murmuring softly to her until she calmed. Now, he lay in the dark with the butt of his gun snug in his palm, his finger on the trigger, listening to her soft moans of distress, his stomach in knots.

    Hannah, sweetheart, it's just a bad dream , he assured her, but he pulled his arm from around her warm, soft body and sat up with deliberate slowness, careful not to make a sound. His instincts were kicking in hard and maybe it wasn't a dream after all.
    He put his hand over her mouth and leaned close to her. Stay quiet. Tell me what you feel .
    Hannah's eye, so blue in the daytime, appeared dark and fathomless at night. She frowned beneath his palm and then he felt her reaching, her mind expanding, searching… A gasp escaped. They're here. We have to get downstairs now . There was urgency in her voice, in her mind, in the way she sat up and gripped his arm.
    The doors to the balcony snapped closed without a sound, curtains flying at the rash.
    Jonas scowled, annoyance rushing across his face. "That wasn't necessary, Hannah.
    You could have accidentally made noise and alerted them that we're aware of their presence. Besides, I'm going out anyway to see who's coming at us. You go downstairs and call 911."
    Hannah shook her head. "It wasn't me, Jonas, the house has gone into protection mode.
    We have to get downstairs right now." She was trembling.
    Jonas helped her out of bed. They were both still wearing clothes, so he simply wrapped her sweater around her and ushered her toward the door. "I'll take you down with your sisters, baby, but I have to get outside."
    Hannah slipped her hand into his. "No, you don't understand. You can't go outside."
    Jonas let her pull him out of the room and head down the hall in the dark. Below, in the living room as they came down the winding staircase, he could see candles flickering in a wide circle around the intricate mosaic on the floor in the entryway. A second circle enclosed the first, a wide pathway containing small dark smudges every so many inches.
    Sarah reached out and hugged Hannah, drawing her into the center of the circle.
    Hannah kept possession of his hand, tugging until he stepped inside. The moment he did, Joley and Elle closed the circle behind them.
    "Sit, Jonas," Sarah said, pointing to a spot at the top of the mosaic.
    "Sweetheart, I have to go outside where I'm going to be the most help." He looked around the circle at the faces of the Drake sisters. In the candlelight, their beauty struck him, all different, all exotic. He could well believe they were ancient souls from a time long past with their hair down and their cool assessing eyes. Mostly what struck him was their lack of fear. Like Hannah, they were trembling, but it wasn't because they were afraid of the men creeping toward their home through the trees and shrubbery.
    "The house will protect us now, Jonas," Sarah said. "You'll have to stay inside."

    He hated it when their beliefs and rituals clashed with his territory. "The house didn't protect you last year when the men after your fiancé broke in here and nearly killed you," he pointed out. "I'm not taking any chances. Call the sheriff and get me some backup."
    Hannah clung to him, refusing to let him go. "That was different,