Two for the Guard (Old Mission Coven #4)

CHAPTER ONE

"I don't want to go, Kyle." Casey Cork sat on his bed and looked up at his twin, Kyle, hoping the guy might have a suggestion as to how they could get themselves out of this god-awful trip that their stepfather, Brad, had planned.

Kyle dropped down to sit beside him, looking somewhat defeated. "I tried, and mother insists that if we don’t go, it will hurt his feelings. She wants us to do it for her.” Casey moaned painfully and rolled his head back on his shoulders.

“I just wanted a relaxing weekend." He said, and Kyle laughed.

“So, I take it that you’re not looking forward to hunting in the northern Michigan woods with a man who has never once shown any interest in either of us.” Kyle’s tone held a bite that Casey completely agreed with.

"Why? Why, why, why?" Casey asked, his voice growing louder with each repeat.

“He never does anything that doesn’t benefit him personally.

It has nothing to do with bonding or relationships; that's just a lot of bullshit that mother is trying to peddle.

He must look like the good dad or family man for some reason, and he's using us to achieve that end.

" Kyle, always the pragmatic one, came up with the likely explanation.

“True and mother would support that effort." Casey fell back onto his bed and closed his eyes. "This is going to be absolute hell. I hate the woods, and I hate hunting, and I hate bugs. I hate it all."

“Two days and then let’s seriously think about that move to Chicago that we've been talking about." Kyle reminded him of their on-again, off-again desire to leave the state and leave their dysfunctional family behind.

"We can work from anywhere, so come Monday, let's start packing." They shook on it and smiled. Things started to feel resolved now that they had a plan and an end date.

“I've been assigned to the west border," Bram answered when his friend Rainey, a fellow Coven guard, asked where he was going. “I’m scheduled there for the weekend. It runs along the state property line.” He added. "Should be quiet, nothing but forest and wildlife in that area.”

“It might get a bit crowded," Rainey spoke up. “Hunting season begins tomorrow, and the state land is very popular with hunters.”

“Oh, shit, that’s right.” Bram shook his head. “Our land is clearly posted; they should know enough not to veer off the state land.” Bram was hopeful but skeptical.

"The opening days are the worst," Rainey interjected, and Bram raised an eyebrow.

“I thought I was going to have an easy weekend.” He said. “Thanks for killing all hope of that happening.” Rainey laughed at Bram’s sarcasm.

“I'm here for you, man, always here for you." He patted Bram’s shoulder and continued to chuckle.

Bram Ferdinand had spent the last couple of decades guarding the Coven House.

The massive Chateau and the immediate grounds had been his responsibility.

Before that, he had been a soldier patrolling the vineyards.

Now he was being moved and trained as a border guard.

It was a post that required extensive and specialized training and skill development.

He’d spent the last six months training under Commander Judah Helm, an expert in weapons, warfare, and surveillance.

Eastport and the land adjacent to Old Mission Peninsula were building up with many newcomers and new ideas moving in, which helped everyone thrive. But with the newcomers also came varying levels of trouble, and that trouble was pressing against the boundaries of the Old Mission Coven.

Patrols and surveillance were essential to maintain privacy, anonymity, and safety. The Coven utilized Mage magic for a good share of its security, but according to Master Cabot, nothing would ever replace the hands-on protection of physical patrols, and Bram agreed with him.

The hunters might be troublesome, but nothing a little intimidation wouldn't fix.

Humans tended to avoid the paranormal because they could sense its power and danger.

It was the reason they didn't blindly walk into wolf packs or vampire covens, even though they looked okay; their senses told them to step back.

He took one of the off-road vehicles and headed out. The day was sunny and warm, quite pleasant for November, and it looked like the rest of the weekend would be the same.

“Fuck I hate this.” Casey continued his bitter tirade at having to go hunting with Brad and Brad’s friend Hank. Apparently, Hank was the expert hunter and knew all the tricks to bagging a big buck. He sounded more like a blowhard and less like an expert, but Casey and Kyle just smiled and nodded.

"This is getting worse by the minute," Kyle commented as they carried their gear to the SUV. “Brad said we’re getting two rooms at a local hotel, so we have that at least.”

“Thank God, I thought we were going to have to camp in the woods. . . all of us. . . together.” Casey bitterly tossed his thing into the back and walked around to the side with Kyle close behind.

"This just seems off to me. He's never wanted us around before, so why now, why this trip?

We've never shown an interest in hunting. "

“Brad never showed an interest either. Maybe it’s Hank that’s getting the whole thing going. They haven't been partners long, so maybe Brad's trying to show off." Kyle gave his theory, and Casey nodded.

“They like golfing. Brad’s on a course every other day, so why the sudden obsession with hunting? They should just go golfing." Casey didn't want to be there, and if it weren't for their mother's tearful insistence, he wouldn't be.

"They should go golfing," Kyle stated emphatically, agreeing with Casey. Just then, Brad exited the house, looking pleased to see that Casey and Kyle were already there.

Casey and Kyle shared an apartment downtown, where they worked as freelance software developers.

They came home rarely and only when invited.

This house, where they grew up, was not a warm or welcoming environment, although their mother and Brad pretended to make it so when with friends and colleagues.

Their father had died in an accident at work when they were just five years old, and Brad came on the scene very soon after. He'd been in their lives a long time, but there was no relationship between them other than that Brad was their mother's husband. He liked it that way, and so did they.

Brad exited the house looking excited for the trip ahead, but he was a good actor.

"Everybody ready for a wonderful weekend?

" He yelled with a big smile. Their mother stepped out onto the front porch, arms crossed, watching them with an intense stare.

She didn't say anything or wave; she just stared.

"Come on, let's go, boys." Brad faked the enthusiasm.

Casey and Kyle got into the back seat, leaving the front seat for Hank.

They were picking up Hank from his home in Chelsea, about a 20-minute drive from their place in Ann Arbor.

It was then a four-hour drive to their destination in Eastport. It was going to be pure hell.

"Never again," Kyle whispered and glanced pointedly at his twin, who nodded in agreement.

Brad and Hank entertained themselves throughout the drive with stories about work, women, and other war stories. Thankfully, they ignored the twins, who ignored them right back.

Kyle spent his time working on a series he’d begun earlier in the week.

It would play off a previous game they had written together.

They were gaming software developers who worked freelance for other developers and also ran their own projects.

They found the downtime on the road trip ideal for work.

They weren’t far from Eastport when Brad finally spoke to them. “We have three rooms at the Jack Pine Lodge, not far from town, although it's in a more rural area. We thought you two would enjoy the quiet peacefulness of the place.”

"Sounds great." Casey lied, but with a smile and a nod.

When did they ever give the impression they loved quiet rural places?

Walking in nature wasn't their vibe, but Brad had no idea who they were.

Kyle's phone vibrated, and when he looked, it was a text from their mother.

He read it and then showed it to Casey, who mirrored his confused expression.

“Try to be nice and do as Brad tells you. I know how impertinent the two of you can be. He's the expert here, not you two. Do not go off on your own. The woods are dangerous, and it's easy to get lost. He's trying to be a good stepfather, please let him."

"That makes no sense at all," Casey whispered. “We're never rude to his... face. We have better manners than that, and she knows it, and since when would we go walking off in the woods? I hate the woods.” Kyle wrote back very briefly, saying basically, 'no problem,' and left it there.

“That’s her preemptively blaming any poor outcomes on us and our inability to get along with our stepfather.”

“I don’t care.” Casey rolled his eyes. “I just want this weekend over.”

Bram relieved the guard on duty in the west and took over. The sun was setting, and it was getting dark, so he wouldn't have to deal with hunters until morning. The air was fresh, and the atmosphere was peaceful... for now, anyway.

He received a notice from Truce, who worked in the cyber-surveillance department, a very specialized area of IT. Truce let him know that the Jack Pine Lodge, a favorite hangout for hunters, was full, indicating there would be many hunters in the woods starting early.

“As a rule, they stay away from our borders. No one wants their hunting trip complicated by cops or our muscled guards or other legalities.” He chuckled. “You probably won't see them, but you will hear them and watch out for stray bullets. They really sting.” He chuckled again.

"You are just a laugh a minute, aren't you?" Bram shot back sarcastically.

Truce continued to laugh. “My entertainment comes so rarely that I have to enjoy every morsel." He said, then added. "Are you wearing orange? They're not supposed to shoot you if you're wearing orange."

“No orange, just standard black and gray.”

"Seriously, be careful, those people can get out of hand if they mix too much partying with their hunting." He became thoughtful. Truce was a good friend; they’d trained together as soldiers early in their careers and had become friends, but it quickly became clear that Truce’s expertise was more aligned with technology.

He was quickly moved into the appropriate department where his skills would benefit. He moved up fast and became the leader of his own department. The man was a genius on many fronts, and Bram never took his assistance or friendship for granted.

"I'll be careful, Truce.” He laughed.

“I’m going to do background checks on the clients at the Lodge.” He stated. “I’ll let you know if there are any psychopaths among them.”

“Good to know, thanks.” Bram knew better than to question. When Truce was focused on something, there was no stopping him.

“Let’s get together for dinner Sunday, there's a new place in Eastport I'd like to try." Truce suggested.

“Sounds good. See you then.” He closed the call and continued his patrol.