by R L Medina
The warmth enveloped me as I stepped out. I marched down the sand, not bothering to take time to take off my boots. Blinking back tears, I wrapped my arms around myself and steadied my breathing.
A brilliant blue sky stretched before me, the sun peeking through wispy white clouds. Waves crashed along the shore. I breathed in the salty sea air and sighed. Already, I felt better. As good as I could feel given the current situation.
“I’m sorry, Papi.” My voice was hoarse.
I stared out at the gorgeous ocean. In the distance, surfers shouted as they made it past the first break. Hollowness filled me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught someone walking toward me. At first, I thought Michael, but the dark curly hair didn’t belong to him.
Rafael.
My stomach fluttered with nerves. The realization of our relation still stung along with the guilt that I knew the truth about his father’s death, and I hadn’t told him.
“Rose.” His voice was laced with warning.
I waited for him to get closer. My heart hammered against my ribs. I should tell him. He should know, but what would happen afterwards? I didn’t expect him to welcome me into the family, but maybe he wouldn’t be so harsh.
“Come back inside, please. I am not in the mood to chase after you and rescue you again.”
“Rafael, I have to tell you something.”
“Fine. Tell me inside.”
“I know how your father died.”
He stilled. His eyes locked onto mine. “And how do you know this?”
“I found out when I was with the coven. One of the witches, she told me the truth.”
He scoffed. “How do you know it was the truth?”
Really? I was trying to give him the information he’d been searching for, and all he could do was get defensive?
“My mom didn’t kill him. It was the supreme. Jimena.”
“It doesn’t matter whose hand was on the blade. His heart was cut from his body and your mother was the one who led him to the witches. So, I’d say she was still at fault.”
Stubborn ass.
“No, she never led him there. He came after her. They were in love. She was trying to protect him by going into hiding.”
Rafael’s eyes flashed. “Protect him? Protect him from what?”
I took a deep breath. “The GRIMMs. My mom and your father… they were in love. They had a baby.”
Rafael’s hand shot out, his grip digging into my arm. “Enough. Whatever the witches told you is a lie. My father was cursed by your mother. It wasn’t love. She used him. Made him betray my mother, his pack.”
Pain bit into me from his iron hold. “No. You’re wrong. They were in love. I didn’t want to hear it any more than you do, believe me.”
His eyes searched mine, furious and unforgiving. “There was no child.”
I winced. “There was. It’s me.”
He released me, shoving me away from him. “No.”
“Don’t believe it if you want, but it’s true. I wasn’t exactly thrilled about it either.”
We stood, locked in a silent stare. The waves crashed behind us and somewhere a seagull called, but we didn’t move. I couldn’t tell if the revelation angered him or surprised him more.
“But you… you aren’t a werewolf. We would have sensed it on you.”
I blinked, cringing at the image. “No. I didn’t get the gene.”
He smiled, a cruel smile. “How lucky for you.”
“Did you think telling me this would mean anything to me? You may be my father’s blood, but you are not mine. Go.”
“What?”
His hands turned to claw, his anger unraveling. “Go.”
Fire lit in my belly. “I just wanted you to know the truth. About your dad. I’m not asking anything from you. You think I want anything to do with Los Reyes?”
He lunged at me, his face morphing into a wolf. “GO.”
I ran.
Fear sparked inside me as I stumbled against the sand, heading for the house. I didn’t dare a glance back at Rafael. Not until I made it to the sliding glass door.
He was gone. I stared at the spot we’d been standing, my body still thrumming with nerves. The wolf was obviously not ready for the truth. I scoffed. And I thought I had handled it badly.
“Rose. Are you okay?” Michael’s voice startled me.
I turned to him and plastered a reassuring smile on my face. “I’m fine.”
His brow furrowed, but he didn’t question me. He pushed the door open further to let me inside. Cool air conditioned air hit me, making me shiver. All the sweat on my skin felt clammy.
Ignoring Michael’s concerned gaze, I brushed sand from my clothes. “Can you take me back to my tío’s now?”
He gaped at me. “Sure. If that’s what you want.”
I nodded.
“Where’s Rafael? He went out to get you.”
My stomach turned. “I think he wanted some air. Went for a walk on the beach.”
Michael frowned. “A walk on the beach? Is that what he said?”
I shrugged.
There was no way I was going to be the one to tell the wolves about our relation. Who knew what Rafael would do? I watched Michael out of the corner of my eye. Why couldn’t he have been my stepbrother instead of Rafael, the psycho?
“I’ll tell Lucian I’m taking you back… he can tell Rafael.” Michael headed for the kitchen.
I stood by the glass door and stared out at the beach. No sign of Rafael. Was he okay? Psycho or not, I still felt guilty for freaking him out, but it was the right thing to do. He needed to know the truth. What he did with it after that was up to him.
Dread built inside me. What if he didn’t want me to see the others again? If he refused to let me come back? Wrapping my arms around myself, I shook my head at myself.
You should have listened to Grayson.
My shoulders slumped. Grayson’s face flashed in my mind, racking my guilt up another notch. Was he still alive? Dismissing the dark thoughts before they could grow, I turned to catch up to Michael.
29
“Where were you?” Javi was in my face as soon as I stepped inside.
“Calm down. I’m fine.”
His brow furrowed. “Calm down? You disappeared without a word, Rose. Where the hell were you?”
“I texted you.”
He snorted. “Yeah. With Michael. Be back later. What the hell, Rose?”
I sighed. The past events had taken their toll on me and I didn’t have the strength to get into a fight with my cousin.
“Rose? What happened?”
That’s when the tears came.
Javi swore and wrapped me in his arms. I clung to him, letting it all out. I sniffed and tried to tell him what happened, but I couldn’t get the words out without choking up.
“It’s okay. It’s okay.” He squeezed me tight.
After a minute of crying my eyes out, I was able to get myself back under control. I pulled away from Javi and cringed at the mess I’d left on his white shirt.
“Sorry,” I murmured.
He shrugged it off. “It’s just a shirt.”
“I saw Manny today.”
His eyes widened. “What? Where? At the school? Why didn’t you call me?”
“The wolves found him. I was at their house.”
“Alone?”
My lips flattened. “Lucian caught him. He was hiding in the city all this time.”
Javi frowned. “LA? What was he doing there?”
“The witches caught him and gave him an assignment there. Before Lucian took him.”
“Is he still at their house?”
I nodded.
“Well, let’s go then. We’ll make the arrest.”
“No, Javi. You can’t tell anyone.”
He huffed. “What? Don’t tell me you’re going to let him get away with what he did.”
“Of course not. But I don’t want the GRIMMs to take him. He can giv
e us answers. About the witches. About the mole maybe?”
Javi bit his lip. “Okay. If that’s what you really want, but Rose, there are other shifters we can grab for answers. We don’t have to keep him alive. Not after what he did.”
“I know. I wanted to kill him, Javi. I think I was going to, but… Michael stopped me.”
“Why?”
“Said I would regret it for the rest of my life.”
Javi snorted. “And you believe him? That son of a bitch killed your father.”
“I know. I just… I’ll do it when I’m ready.”
He opened his mouth to argue, but snapped it shut. “Okay. But how are we going to keep this from the GRIMM?”
“The wolves will hide him.”
Javi’s face scrunched in skepticism. “Yeah… but they’re kind of on the GRIMMs radar even more than usual. How are they going to hide this?”
“I don’t know, maybe we can help them set up an extra ward or something?”
“You’re going to need more than an extra ward,” Tío’s voice made me jump.
Javi flinched. We turned to find his dad striding toward us. Fantastic.
His dark eyes swept over us. “You’re going to need me. I’ll do it.”
My mouth dropped. He was going to… help us? Javi looked just as surprised.
He frowned at his father. “You’re not going to report it to the GRIMMs?”
Tío’s jaw clenched. “I think I’ve proven that I know how to keep a secret from the others.”
Javi and I shared a look. It was true, if anyone could keep the GRIMMs from finding out the truth, he could.
“But… what about your trial? You’re already in trouble with the GRIMM.”
He grunted. “So, this shouldn’t matter. Take me to the shifter.”
I bristled at his order. Even without the compulsion ring, he was shouting commands and expecting obedience.
His face softened. “Please.”
Woah. Maybe he was trying to change. It was obvious adding the simple word was hard for him, but he’d done it.
“Okay, but maybe I should check with Michael first. I’m not sure the wolves will let us just show up.”
Tío sighed. “Do it then. The sooner the better.”
They looked at me expectantly. I pulled out my phone to send the wolves a message.
“Michael says to come tomorrow. Rafael is going out and we should come by then.”
I fought the urge to shudder as I remembered my conversation with him on the beach. Tío’s annoyed sigh snapped me to attention.
“First thing in the morning, we leave.”
With that he stormed away, leaving me and Javi alone.
“Are you okay?”
I turned at Javi’s worried tone. My heart twisted. I wanted to tell him about Rafael, but my promise to Grayson came back to me. Would my cousin still look at me the same if he knew the truth? It hurt that I couldn’t tell him. Couldn’t trust him with my secret.
“I’m fine.”
His eyes narrowed at me. “Rose.”
I tried to turn away, but his arm shot out and stopped me. With a huff, I turned back to him and frowned.
“I’m fine, Javi.”
Rafael was the first to greet us. His eyes flicked to me and the others. My heart raced, hands reaching for my sword. At first, I didn’t think he was going to let us in. That I’d ruined any chance of being allowed back after telling him the truth.
He sniffed and moved, motioning us in. I blinked in surprise as I followed the others. I paused by his side, waiting for him to say something. He glanced at me gave me a nod of his head. What did that mean? That he wasn’t going to kill me? That I was off his kill list and back to being in his good graces?
“Rose.” His smile was tight and didn’t quite reach his eyes, but at least he wasn’t snarling at me.
“Hi.” I waved, watching him carefully. Was that it? His way of saying he accepted our relation, but wasn’t going to tell the others?
I stopped myself from snorting. Talk about emotionally unstable.
“Where is he? The shifter?” Tío interrupted.
Rafael strode up next to him. “He’s my captive. You will not take him.”
Tío frowned. “If I wanted to take him, I would, and I wouldn’t need your permission.”
I bit back a groan. Really? He promised to help and here he was already causing trouble with the wolves?
Rafael flashed him a smile. “You wouldn’t last 30 minutes against my pack.”
Javi and I looked at each other.
The door to the basement flew open. Lucian’s eyes darted between us and landed on his Alpha.
“He’s dead.” Lucian’s words were a punch to the gut.
Rafael whipped toward him. “What? How?”
Not waiting for an answer, he bowled past Lucian. I followed after. Javi and Tío right behind.
My ears rang and my head pound. Dead? How could he be dead?
We tumbled down the stairs and stood beside the table.
I stared at the body.
Numbness spread inside me. Manny was dead, but it didn’t matter. There was still a gaping hole inside of me, a hole that I had thought would be healed once the monster was punished.
It wasn’t.
“There was a note left. Along with this.” Michael held something up to me.
My eyes flicked up to the necklace. An icy rush of fear filled me. It was the rose medallion. The one I’d lost in the prison to the fairy. A fairy who was now dead. Killed by the same person that killed Manny?
“What does the note say?” Tío demanded, swiping the necklace from the wolf.
He responded in a strange language, I didn’t know. I looked to Javi.
His face paled.
“What does that mean?” I nudged him.
He met my eyes, fear shining in his. “A promise made in blood cannot be undone.”
Anger filled me. The blood oath again. I hated hearing it over and over, each time felt like another nail in my coffin.
“The coven. They’re coming for you.”
A shudder ran down my spine as I remembered being trapped against the altar. I inched closer to Javi, glancing around the room as if something were going to jump out from the shadows.
His words rang in my ears. A promise made in blood cannot be undone.
Grayson’s face flashed in my mind, making my chest tighten. In my dream, he’d warned me they were still coming after me. After us all. The only way out of the blood promise was to destroy them before they could destroy us. Without the wizard or any clues to his whereabouts, there was no other choice left.
I gripped the air where my sword normally was. “We’ll find them. And we’ll deal with them.”
Javi stared at me. His eyebrows rose in surprise and though he didn’t say anything, I knew I had his support. I wasn’t doing this alone. I glanced around at the others. For a girl who’d lost so much, I’d gained more than I ever imagined possible. An ache spread inside me. I still missed Papi, and I knew I always would, but these were my friends—my family now—and I would not let the witches take anyone else from me.
I would be ready.
That night, I tossed and turned, trying to sleep. It was Manny’s face I saw in my dreams and not Grayson’s. Ash, Jesse, Cleo, and Papi. All dead because of me. Because of the coven. I tried to will the images out of my head, desperate to see Grayson. To know if he was okay.
“Rose.”
I shot up at the sound of his voice. His form wavered before me, his brow furrowed.
“Grayson.” I ran to him.
He smiled. “I think I’m healing. Wherever my body is. It’s healing.”
“Good. I promise we’re still looking for it. We’ll find you.”
He nodded. “I know. There’s something else.”
My heart stilled. I was too scared to ask.
His blue-gray eyes stared into mine. “I think I found the wizard.”
To be continue
d…
Acknowledgments
Once again, I have to thank my editor at Cate Edits for her help and my family for their never ending support. I also want to thank all the readers who have inspired me with their kind words and continue to take this journey with Rose. If you enjoyed the story, please consider leaving a review and if you didn’t enjoy it, I’d still love to know your thoughts. Thank you!
Also by R. L. Medina
The Inner World Series
Book 1: Princess of the Elves
Book 2: Goblin King
Book 3: Fae War
Prequel: Feylin (Or download FREE from my website)
GRIMM Academy Series
Book 1: Shifters and Secrets
Book 2: Vampires and Werewolves
Book 3: Witches and Wizards COMING SOON!
Jailbreak: A Limited Edition Paranormal Prison Escape Collection
Short Story: Vampire in Solitary
Moon Blood Covenant Series
Book 1: Order
Coming soon….
Book 2: Allegiance
Book 3: Betrayal
About the Author
R. L. Medina was born in the Amazon, adopted and raised by two upstate New Yorkers. At age six, she vowed to hate reading forever. That hate quickly turned to love (or obsession) and by age eight she was filling every notebook with story after story. Now a mother herself, she juggles her time between a busy four year old and the stubborn characters that demand her time. When she's not exploring all the Sci-fi/Fantasy worlds in her head, she enjoys life with her family in Florida.
Check out her website at www.rlmedina.com to sign up for freebies and updates!
