Rescued (Book One of the Silver Wood Coven Series): A Witch and Warlock Romance Novel by Hazel Hunter Page B

ago.” His steel-blue eyes softened with visible affection. “I was growing concerned, my son.”
    Michael went down on one knee before his master and mentor, bowing his head as he pressed his fist over his heart in the proper salutation.  
    “Forgive me, Master Harper. I was hunting a rogue warlock whom I discovered has been assaulting and raping human females in Central Park.”
    “This is news to me.” Nathaniel gestured for him to rise and waved over his shift supervisor. “Bring me all the data you have on women who have recently been raped or assaulted in Central Park.” Once the supervisor hurried off he smiled briefly at Michael. “Sit down, my boy.”
    Michael lowered himself onto the small chair beside Nathaniel’s desk and shook his head when one of the humans stopped and offered to fetch him coffee.  
    “It seems rather busy for a morning shift,” he mentioned to his master. “Has something come up?”
    “Something will, in due time.” Nathaniel checked his watch. “I have summoned all our brethren in the field to attend me this noon, and I will want you at my side.”  
    “All of them?” Michael frowned. “May I ask for what purpose, Master?”
    “That can wait. You and I have a far more troubling problem to discuss.” Nathaniel removed a file from his desk and handed it to Michael. “This conniving witch presents a very grave threat to our mission.”
    “Indeed.” Michael barely controlled his shock when he opened the file and saw a picture of a blood-soaked, terrified Summer staring back at him. “Who is she?”
    “We do not know her name, although she was brought into the country from Canada. We managed to turn the human transporting her to our cause, but before we could secure the exchange she attacked. Before she escaped she murdered our sympathizer and five of our best mortal guards.” Nathaniel sighed heavily. “I have just received a report from Gideon that she was spotted last night in Central Park. It is now your sole priority to locate and capture this woman, and deliver her to me.”
    Michael quickly skimmed through the report, which stated only that a woman matching Summer’s description had been spotted bespelling humans in the Conservatory gardens.
    “Why was she brought into this country? Was she running from our brothers to the north?”
    Nathaniel abruptly rose. “Walk with me, my son.”
    The Temple Master led Michael through the data center and out into the sparring chamber where off-duty warriors often came to work off their various frustrations by practicing their fighting skills. Today the room was empty, except for the weapons waiting to be wielded. Nathaniel took down an ancient shield that long ago had nearly been cut in two.
    “This was carried by Grand Master de Sonnac into his final battle.” Nathaniel’s diamond ring glittered as he traced the battered surface with his thick fingers. “I remember how fiercely he fought that day. Exhausted, half-blinded, and yet he refused to let another take his place at the head of the charge.”
    Michael hung his head. “He was an inspiration to us all, Master.”
    “I think he would still be with us, had his men not failed to protect him.” Nathaniel hung the shield gently back in its place. “Michael, this witch we seek is no ordinary Wiccan. She knows how to find The Emerald Tablet. Do you know what that is?”
    Michael frowned. “From what I recall, it was an ancient grimoire destroyed by the pagans after the Crusades.”
    “Not destroyed––hidden by the heretics. The Emerald Tablet isn’t simply an old spell book, my son. It is the oldest and most powerful grimoire ever written. Within its pages are the secrets to controlling all forms of magic, nature and the elements, and perhaps even time itself.” The Temple Master gazed up at him. “Whoever possesses the Tablet will wield unimaginable power. There would be no stopping them, you see.”
    Michael felt sick. “You believe we should have such