"The lunar eclipse didn't cause this," she said. "This was created by magick."

"Yeah, but whose?"

"I didn't exactly finish the course on all the alternate magicks."

"Whoa, snappish much?"

Stasi winced. "Just feeling unsettled."

"Aren't we all." Blair stared at the rock as they finished the walk and ended up where they began.

Stasi walked slowly toward the barrier again, but this time licks of fire appeared along the bottom edge, slowly sliding upward until a wall of flame covered the barrier. She couldn't feel any heat coming from it, but she knew it could hurt her as easily as real fire could and probably even worse, since it was created by magick.

"That's not good." Blair tugged on her arm, pulling her backwards.

"No kidding." Stasi gulped. "I think we need some help with this."

"What in h.e.l.l is that?"

Both spun around as the dog lowered his head and growled.

Trev stood at the edge of the trees, dressed warmly even if his hair was unruly. He looked as though he had thrown on his clothes, not caring that pillow creases marred his cheek, his face was slightly puffy from sleep, and his hair was going in all directions. He stood there staring at the flame-covered wall.

"What do you see?" Stasi asked, not bothering to wonder why he was there.

He didn't reply right away, but looked intently at the barrier. "A barrier created by magick to keep certain types of magick out. Namely you. The flames are a warning. Normally you can't see anything."

"Which is why we literally ran into it," Blair said. "So, Counselor, any reason why you're out here in the middle of the night on our property?"

He grinned at her. "You know the drill. Magick calls to magick. Any idea what it is?"

"None," Stasi replied, determined to ignore the red hearts over his head even as she noted with dismay they seemed to have grown larger and bolder in color since the last time she saw him. "What about you? Do you have any thoughts on it?"

Trev walked forward, his hands held up high, palms out. He ignored the Border collie, who appeared to consider him an interloper and was staying on the wizard's heels as if to keep a close eye on him.

"Don't get too close," Stasi warned him. "Blair tried finding out what it was and it practically threw her against a tree."

"Someone put a lot of power into this," he murmured, studying it as if it was a complicated problem. "First to erect the obstacle, then to protect it from intruders. It's nothing I'm familiar with, but there are many forms of magick out there that I've never had to deal with before. A spell this strong could only have been done with blood to bind it."

The witches shivered in fear. Spells requiring blood were dangerous and powerful. Ones they wouldn't even consider.

"You never answered Blair's question. Why are you out here?" Stasi asked, noting that his eyes seemed to have a glow of their own in the dark, along with the hearts' glimmer.

"I woke up and felt something odd floating through the air. I felt drawn to here, and when I saw strange lights over this way I thought I'd investigate."

"Why don't you run along, Counselor," Blair suggested with a bite in her voice. "I'm sure you wouldn't want Carrie to see you with us. Don't worry. We witches are used to cleaning up messes and we'll do just fine here." She looked down at the dog, who'd grabbed hold of her sleeve with his teeth and was gently pulling on it. "Hey! I'm talking here."

The dog whined and pulled again.

"What's his name?" Trev asked, grinning at the dog's persistence and silently thanking him for his aid. He was hoping to have a chance to be alone with Stasi.

"Pain in the a.s.s," Blair snapped.

The dog snorted on her sleeve.

"He doesn't have a name?" He realized she was joking ... sort of.

"He's not my dog."

"He's been a lucky stray in that he looks well groomed and well fed and ..." Trev looked downward, "hasn't been neutered."

This time the dog's growls were more canine snarky.

"It seems that's a medical procedure he intends to avoid," Blair said, trying to get the dog to release her sleeve, but he only tightened his hold.

"I think he wants you to go with him," Stasi said, wanting the same. She was curious about why Trev was here, and she didn't want an audience when she got her answers.

Blair looked from the dog to Stasi to Trev. "Okay, but if he tries anything, zap him a good one," she told Stasi before she allowed the dog to lead her back through the trees toward home. "Fine, I'm coming! If you tear this jacket, I'll use your fur to make myself a new one."

Trev chuckled. "You'd think she doesn't like him."

"He isn't hers," Stasi said. "He shows up on our doorstep every so often for food. I think Blair considers him occasional entertainment."

"You mean she doesn't-?"

"Doesn't what?"

Trev chuckled. "Nothing. I'm sure it will all work out."

Stasi studied him, liking this more vulnerable side of him. She could see his shirt half tucked into his jeans under his jacket and b.u.t.tons in the wrong order. "Why do I think you know something we don't?"

"I think the two of you do know, but for some reason you prefer to keep it tucked away." He glanced back at the barrier. The flames were gone with no sign they'd ever been there. With the barrier invisible, no one could tell the lake was protected. The question was, why did someone or something feel that need? And who or what was that someone? The lights over the water flickered in and out until one by one they winked out of sight.

"I can tell you that no wizard created this."

"And no witch had his or her hand in it either," Stasi said. "This couldn't be caused by Mercury retrograde or the lunar eclipse. This is all pure magick. We just don't know what kind."

Trev took her arm to steer her back to the house. "It has to be someone who lives locally. They'd have to be able to return to feed the power on a regular basis."

Stasi pulled back. "There's no sense of an avoidance spell here. We can't allow just anyone to stumble out here. We can provide some sort of protection for ourselves, but a mortal could be in danger." She stared at the lake, racking her brain for just the right spell.

"I think I have something that would work," Trev offered. "If you don't mind?"

"You'd help?"

"Of course." He rubbed his palms together. "I'm a little out of practice, but this should do it."

Stasi stood back and watched as Trev drew closer to the unseen barrier, but remained far enough back to be out of harm's way in case the barrier fought back. Multi-colored sparks of light danced off the wall as he held his hands up and chanted under his breath. The wind picked up, sending the few remaining leaves scattering, and the air grew so cold, Stasi saw her breath frost the air. She widened her stance as the wind grew even stronger, almost pushing her off her feet. The air grew so heavy and dense with power it felt like a living thing wrapped around her. If she hadn't been watching closely, she would have missed the flare of intense cobalt blue that whooshed from Trev's eyes like a serpent winding its way around the lake's boundary until it met back where they stood, the serpent's mouth grabbing hold of its tail as it froze into a ring that she could tell held a lot of magickal muscle. She looked out over the water, again seeing the strange green lights dancing off the water's edge, but floating further away from them than before.

"I sensed you had a great gift, but I had no idea it was this strong," she whispered, awed by the immense control she felt still coming from Trev. She stared at the ring circling the bottom of the barrier. She knew it would deter a mortal from coming out this way, but not harm any human or animal that might come close.

Trev blew out a breath and a sharp laugh. "I haven't done anything like this in a long time. I guess they're right. It is like riding a bicycle. You never lose your touch, but it sure takes a lot out of you." He blew on the tip of his forefinger as if it was a gun barrel. He turned back and grinned at Stasi, looking more like a boy proud of his accomplishments than a powerful wizard.

Stasi fell in step with him as they retraced the path back to the house.

"Thank you."

"You and Blair have a big job here." He nodded when she looked at him with surprise. "It wasn't difficult to figure out, Stasi. The two of you have done your best to protect the town from developers without interfering so much you'd end up in trouble with the Witches' Council. You walked a fine line and succeeded."

Stasi stopped when they reached the back stairs. She could hear Bogie's frantic barking inside, then the Border collie's echoing barks and Blair ordering them both to be quiet. She guessed they realized they were on Blair's last nerve, because they quieted down immediately.

She stopped on the bottom step, which allowed her to be closer to eye level with Trev.

"We've lived here on and off since the town first sprang up during the Gold Rush," she said. "Something about the lake gave us this sense of completion, and we vowed we'd never allow anyone to harm this area. We set up wards throughout the woods to protect the wildlife and to keep the town safe. They're nothing major, just a bit of a safety zone."

Trev reached out, tentatively at first, and then stroked her hair, threading strands between his fingers. Her first thought was to step out of his reach; the second was to stay where she was. She opted for Door Number Two. And didn't move a muscle when Trev moved that all-important extra step that brought him right up to her.

"Few work so hard to protect an entire town," he murmured, keeping his gaze centered on her face.

"It's our town," she whispered, as if speaking too loudly would break the spell that sprang up between them. A spell that had nothing to do with magick, but with what arced between the opposite s.e.xes. She tipped her face up, silently inviting what she knew would happen. She was curious whether this was a good idea.

She reminded herself that she was determined to do what she normally wouldn't, and that thought kept her still on the step.

Trev lowered his head until his mouth rested a breath above hers.

"You're a tempting woman, Anastasia Romanov," he whispered.

She smiled.

"You found what I said funny?"

She shook her head. "You didn't call me a witch."

"Magick may in your blood, but it's your femininity that calls to me." His mouth covered hers in a kiss that sent pure fire racing through her veins. She was amazed the steps didn't go up in flames as she first rested her hands on his shoulders then slid them up around his neck. His mouth slid across hers, stroking and seeking until she opened her mouth. He was a man kissing a woman, showing her his attraction, and she couldn't help but respond with all she had.

Trev quickly unzipped his jacket and Stasi's, pulling both open before bringing her fully against him. The warmth of his body kept the night's chill at bay as they stood there, tasting each other and feeling the urgency build. She tasted pure male and the power that was in his blood. For a moment, Stasi was tempted to climb up on him and have her way with him. In all her years, she hadn't felt the intensity she felt now with Trev, or wanted a man as badly as she wanted him.

"Stasi," he murmured, cupping her face with his hands, turning his head to another angle as he feasted on her mouth.

"Trevor," she whispered back, feeling joy deep within. The sensation was so strong she felt overwhelmed.

"So beautiful. So caring. Why would you do what you did to Carrie?" he muttered, lost in the moment and not realizing he had just said the absolutely worst thing he could say. Stasi broke away from him so fast he rocked back on his heels, almost falling backwards.

"What's wrong?" His eyes were still a filmy, unfocused blue.

She blinked back her tears. "You b.a.s.t.a.r.d." To make matters worse, she hiccupped and an iridescent bubble escaped her lips. A second quickly followed. She wanted to conjure up one of Jazz's fireb.a.l.l.s to throw at him for making her hiccup. "You son of a b.i.t.c.h!"

Before Trev could backpedal to figure out what went wrong, Stasi pulled back her hand and punched him in the gut. He exhaled a painful whoosh of air and covered his stomach with his arms.

"What was that for?" he wheezed.

"You think about it. You think good and hard about it!" she spat at him as she lifted her hands. "Snowman, come to me. Snowman let me see. Snowman do your job, if you please!" She spun on her heel and stomped upstairs.

"Stasi!" Trev's advance toward her was halted by what felt like a ton of snow falling on top of him. He cursed and sputtered as he tried to brush the snow away from his head and body. "d.a.m.n it, Stasi!" Her reply was the back door slamming and the light by the door winking off. Trev muttered as he walked off, replaying the moment in his mind. He uttered a variety of curses as his last line echoed inside his head. He headed for his car, planning how he was going to get himself out of this mess without Stasi deciding to do some serious damage to him. Because at the moment he wouldn't have blamed her for wanting to turn him into a warthog. "Carrie, I'd love to throttle you for getting me into this mess." He scuffed the ground with his boots as he walked. "But if you hadn't come into my office and made my life miserable I wouldn't have met Stasi-who seems to be determined to make my life another kind of miserable."

Chapter Seven.

"He's horrible! Hic!" Stasi batted away the bubble and zapped the one that followed. She told Blair about Trev's spell to keep people from harming themselves at the barrier and then his kiss, along with how he had ruined it. "He deserves warts!"

The dog whined and nosed his way into her lap while Bogie floated up around her shoulders like a furry neck roll.

"Drink this," Blair urged, pushing a cup of tea into her hands. "And don't stop until it's all gone."

"Thanks-hic!" She did as ordered then waited. She smiled then groaned as another hiccup ballooned in her chest and bubbles filled the air.

Blair shook her head. "This is more than nerves." She took the cup from Stasi's fingers before she could drop it and refilled it. "Drink again."

"I'm drowning in tea!" Stasi wailed after the third cup. "Hic!" By then, the kitchen was rapidly filling up with the bubbles. Bogie reached out and batted at them, while the Border collie was happy b.u.mping them with his nose and snapping at them.

Blair dropped into one of the chairs and took Stasi's hands. "It's the hearts. They're going to mess you up big time."

"I'm going to smack Cupid back to his creator ... hic!" She covered her face with her hands. "I'm going to borrow Fluff and Puff and tell them to eat all his enchanted arrows. That'll fix him! He'll be out of business, that lowlife matchmaker who thinks he has the market on romance."

"Uh, ladies." Fergus stood uncertainly among all the bubbles that floated through him. "Did you figure out what's going wrong?"

"Not exactly, Fergus," Blair said. "But we're working on it. Just be careful when any of you come over here, okay, and let us know if anyone else disappears?"

"Okay." He nodded and vanished.

Blair turned to the dog next. "Don't you have a home to go to?" He sat back on his haunches and lifted a paw, bobbing it up and down while he c.o.c.ked his head to one side. "Oh no, you can't stay here." But the dog had already taken off down the hall. She ran after him. "Bad dog! You cannot sleep in my bed!"

"She'll lose the battle and let him stay and he'll take all the covers as he has before," Stasi said, pulling Bogie around to sit in her lap. She stroked the dog behind his ears. He looked so blissful, if he'd been a cat he would have purred. "Closest she's had to a man in her bed for some time."

She tidied up the kitchen and returned to bed, noting that by now it was well after four. She felt so tired she was ready to drop where she stood. But once she was undressed and under the covers, with Bogie curled up on the pillow by her head, she lay wide-awake.

"He does a nice thing at the lake, then he kisses me," she murmured. "How am I supposed to face him in Wizards' Court after this? Forget that, how am I supposed to face him in this town?"

To make matters worse, when she fell asleep she wasn't counting sheep but hearts dancing in a conga line.

"That dog hogs the bed," Blair grumbled as she and Stasi ate breakfast. Both dogs had their heads in bowls of kibble. "And he snores."