Keaton had never witnessed anything like the two formidable warlocks, essentially clones from different worlds, casually talking about a three-headed monster as if they were discussing tie colors.
Inching forward, he gripped Autumn’s hand and drew her farther back, behind the others. Her fingers tightened over his in understanding, but her gaze remained locked on the giant canine.
With no concern for his own welfare, Alastair tugged up his pants legs and squatted, then held out a hand. The beast’s wicked jaws clamped shut, and she tentatively stretched forward to sniff. Lowering her head, she lifted solemn eyes to his as if she feared to trust.
“I won’t hurt you, lovely lady,” Alastair said in a soothing, seductive voice.
As if she understood, the mutant canine inched closer.
“Knox, please be ready to stop the saliva as it drops. This is my favorite suit, and I wouldn’t care to have it ruined.”
Keaton’s mouth dropped open even as his wife snorted her amusement.
“He’s crazy,” he muttered beneath his breath.
“Not at all, my boy,” Alastair answered in Autumn’s stead. “I merely don’t take life as seriously as you do. No one gets out of it alive.”
LJ grinned. “I like you more and more, tight-ass.”
“I’ll go to my grave with a smile on my face, knowing I have your admiration,” Alastair deadpanned.
“Darling, I don’t mean to hurry you along, but my grandchildren are wandering without supervision.” Aurora placed a hand on her husband’s shoulder. “You know what Thornes are like when left unattended.”
“Indeed I do, my love. The evidence is staring us right in the face.”
“Yes, well, work your—well, for lack of a better word—magic on the thing and be done with it.”
The dog-like creature inched forward until her massive center head was only a foot from Alastair. The other two heads were pointed outward, as if to keep guard should anyone else move toward her.
The one facing LJ whimpered as it gazed up at him, and frowning, he squatted beside Alastair, fearlessly extending his hand to stroke between her eyes. Those same eyes closed in bliss as her jowly mouth turned upward and her tongue lolled out, spilling more sizzling saliva onto the floor.
“I think someone’s in love,” Autumn quipped. “Why am I not surprised you could charm the wild out of a Cerberus?”
“It’s one of my many talents,” Alastair and LJ replied at the same time. They paused to exchange a highly amused glance, then concentrated on the monstrous acid-dripping dog.
“You must be confused, girl,” LJ said softly. “Everything’s different than you’re used to, huh? I feel the same. How ’bout we take care of your little droolin’ issues and get you back home?”
The three-headed canine promptly sat on her haunches.
“We’re going to do a nifty little spell, and then you’ll get all the lovin’ your big ol’ heart desires.”
Her tail, the size of a battleship’s towline, swished back and forth in her agreement.
Spring moved through their awestruck crowd and handed Alastair a piece of paper. “This spell should do what you need it to,” she told him.
He took a moment to study it, then nodded. “Thank you, child. I agree. This should work nicely.”
“You don’t need to cast a circle, Uncle, unless your new friend is protected by magic.”
“I hadn’t thought about that.” Alastair gave the beast a considering look. “I believe you understand me well enough, lovely lady,” he told the dog. “I’m going to send a light current your way. Don’t be frightened.”
It was the damnedest thing, but the Cerberus cocked her heads, and hers was an expression of understanding. She stood perfectly still as Alastair stretched his fingertips to shoot a test wave her way. A blue crackling light appeared between them and was gone an instant later.
“She’s got magic of her own, but she’s not protected. We’ll be able to neutralize her saliva.”
Keaton sighed his relief. “Great. Let’s get on with this, please. My anxiety is at an all-time high.”
Within minutes, the Cerberus’s drool was as harmless as any old pup, and she tried her best to become a three-hundred-pound lapdog, with all her affection directed toward the two Alastairs.
“This feels like a bizarre dream,” Keaton murmured to his wife. “What is happening right now?”
“I don’t know, but I’m heading to the clearing. The pull is strong.”
Autumn faced Alastair. “Bring your new bestie, and let’s go.”
Other than a lifted brow for her commanding tone, he didn’t react.
“Sorry,” she muttered. “This is taking too long.”
“Agreed. Lead the way.”
The kindness in his eyes eased her fear that she’d offended him, and she spared a second to hug him, offering her thanks. His answer was a kiss on her temple.
When their small group arrived at the clearing, two things struck Autumn at once. The first was that there was no movement. No wind, no forest sounds, and no smell associated with the trees. The second was the presence of a stronger magical creature than any of their group.
“Something’s here,” Preston said, lifting his arms and conjuring fireballs. With the flames dancing in both palms, he turned in a slow circle as he studied the tree line. “There’s an ‘off’ feel to the place. Anyone else sense it?”
“Yes. I believe we all do, brother,” Alastair replied. Removing his suit jacket, he placed it on the altar, then followed with the removal of his tie.
“You know it’s serious when Alastair Thorne removes his tie,” Knox said lightly. But he, too, was on high alert, and although he held his arms low, he quickly drew molecules from the air to compress them into the electrical weapon he was creating to protect their group.
“Stand ready, fellas,” LJ said. “This is what I felt before getting shoved through the portal.”
“Are you saying one is about to—”
The entire clearing turned dark, and it was as if someone had shut off the lights in a small closet with no windows. Pitch black, and Autumn could see nothing. Hear no one. She reached for Keaton’s hand and came up empty.
“Babe?”
Her call was lost in the void, as if the sound never left her throat.
Panic clawed at her insides, and her heart throbbed loudly in her ears, making her deaf to anything but the pounding.
“Keaton?” she shouted. “Dad? Anyone?”
Again, nothing.