Wicked Love

by Lisa Manifold

  “Why?” Delphine asked again.

  “Because standing with them is the right thing to do, regardless of the outcome,” Jasper looked at me, his eyes pleading.

  “Your request has been noted,” Delphine said. “We thank you for your honesty. But I must ask that you allow the Cormiers to leave, as we have much more to discuss.”

  Jasper held my eyes with his, seeking a sign, wanting something I couldn’t give.

  “Thank you,” I said to Delphine. Then I took my mother’s hand, turned away from Jasper Thibodeaux and walked out of the door. It closed behind me without another word from Jasper.

  I did not look back.

  Chapter Twelve

  Jasper

  Watching Melasina and her mother and the talking skull walk away from me was the hardest thing that I’d ever done. I wanted to run after her, to beg for her forgiveness.

  But that wasn’t why I’d said what I said. I knew when I shared my part in her mother’s exile that she might never want anything to do with me again.

  I had to be honest. I had to stand up for me, for what I wanted, and what I knew was right.

  And it looked like I had gambled, and lost.

  Over the next week, I practically lived at Magnolia House. Two days after my confession in the meeting room, my magic righted itself. So I’d been right, facing my fears of rejection, of being nothing, of being cast out for doing the right thing. I did as Lavinia had instructed me weeks earlier, and I spent the day casting spells for everything. By the end of the day, I knew my magic was back, and the way it should be. I knew that I’d broken the curse.

  It was too bad I might have broken my own heart in the process.

  I sighed, and kept on with the meetings, and the discussions, and the questioning of Talia, and all the things that had to happen. As all this was going on, witches from the coven were asking to meet with Delphine and the elders to confess their fears.

  We were healing, slowly.

  After that first week, I went by the house on Saint Ann’s. Sariah was walking out the front door. She saw me, and her face lit up in a smile.

  At least one of the Cormiers was glad to see me.

  “Is Mel here?” I asked.

  “Yes, and she’s got her magic back, so go in at your own peril,” Sariah said. “I’ve explained to her that if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here. But she’s mad still.”

  “She’s allowed to be,” I said.

  “Wise man,” Sariah patted my arm. “Go on in. Just be ready for things to fly.”

  I nodded, and watched her walk down the street. She seemed so… normal. Which was not what I expected from a woman who’d been under a spell for fourteen years.

  Guilt washed over me.

  “It’s nice to see her back home, isn’t it?” Mel was at the door, her arms crossed.

  “It is. It’s why I went to get her,” I said.

  “You wouldn’t have had to do that if you hadn’t been part of sending her away,” Mel said, her face expressionless.

  “I know,” I said. “May I please come in and talk to you?”

  “No,” she said. “You can say your piece right here.”

  “Out in public?” I asked.

  “Take it or leave it,” Mel’s face was stone.

  I sighed, and then straightened my shoulders. “All right. I’m sorry. I believed Talia. I was only seventeen when she worked on this case, and I had no reason to doubt her. She rescued me from my own hell,” I said. “And I’ll be happy to tell you all about it, in great detail, if you’d like. The point is, she rescued me. She gave me a life when I was looking at a pretty bleak one. I had a home, and food, and clothing, and a chance at being something.” I tried to keep my voice steady. “She was like my mom,” I finished. “If you think I enjoyed what I did, I didn’t. I lost the only mom I’ve known for nearly fifteen years. She spits when she sees me now. I lost a chance with you. But I still did the right thing, because I knew it was about more than looking like I was doing the right thing, or making the right moves. I had to do the right thing. For you, for your mom, and even for me.” My head dropped. I looked back up.

  “So that’s it. I’m sorry. I screwed up. I was more concerned with appearances than doing the right thing for years. I want to try again. I’m just asking for a chance.” I looked into her eyes.

  “Please.”

  Then I shut up. I wanted to go on, to keep telling her why giving me another shot was the best idea, but I didn’t say a word.

  This was Mel’s decision. It couldn’t be anything else.

  Her lips twisted, and she looked away. “Fine. Come in,” Mel said, and disappeared from the doorway.

  A wide grin spread across my face as I raced up the small porch to the door. I had a chance.

  That was all I needed.

  Epilogue

  Melasina

  Six Months Later

  I smiled, listening to my mom and Jasper talk. We’d had dinner out in the courtyard. It was dark, but the light strings overhead gave us enough light. There were also candles flickering on the table. My mom laughed at something Jasper said.

  “Not bad,” I murmured toward where Zelda’s reliquary sat on its stand.

  I’d gotten her a stand that fit the box, and we moved the stand around the house. She liked to be where we were, to be in the middle of what was going on. I counted her as a friend, one that meant a great deal. Along with my mom and Jasper.

  I wished my dad could be here, but my parents were not able to mend their fences as Jasper and I had. I knew Mom was having lunch with him occasionally but other than that, I wasn’t aware of their having much of a relationship. It made me sad, but I understood. There were some bridges that took longer to cross.

  “Maybe he’s not a magic stealer,” Zelda said grudgingly.

  While I’d forgiven Jasper, and given him a chance, Zelda held onto grudges longer than I did. She didn’t trust him, even after my magic came back.

  It had taken a few days after the meeting at Magnolia House for my ability to do any sort of magic to return. I’d been in bed and my alarm went off. I reached out, and I was too far away to hit the snooze button.

  “Snooze,” I said.

  The alarm went off.

  I sat up.

  The next hour was spent casting magic all over the house. After an hour and at least fifty spells, I was pretty sure my magic was back.

  Thank Goddess.

  “I don’t think that’s what he stole,” I said to Zelda.

  I heard the wheezing sound that was her laugh.

  Jasper turned to look at me. “What’s so funny?”

  “Girl talk, boy. Girl talk,” Zelda said.

  That made Mom and me laugh.

  Jasper’s face turned serious. “I’m glad we’re all here,” he said. “I wanted to talk with you, Mel.”

  “Why don’t we go inside, Z?” Mom said, getting up and reaching for the reliquary stand.

  Jasper held out a hand. “No, I’d really like you to stay.”

  Mom sat back into her seat slowly.

  Jasper looked back to me, and leaned forward, taking my hands. “I’m so glad you gave me another chance, Mel. I would have understood if you hadn’t—”

  “Lucky doesn’t cover it,” Zelda muttered.

  I waved at her.

  “But I’m so glad you did. This past six months has been the best of my life. And I want that for the rest of my life.”

  The entire garden was silent, almost as though it was holding its breath.

  Jasper slid down out of his chair onto one knee and pulled something sparkling from his pocked in one swift movement. “Will you marry me? I love you, I love everything about you. There is no one for me but you, and if you’ll have me, I’m yours for the rest of your life.” He held out the sparkly thing, which turned out to be a large solitaire diamond ring.

  I could see that my had her hands clasped in front of her.

  Leaning down, I held out my hand. �
��Yes,” I said.

  Jasper slid the ring on, pulling me to him and into his lap as he did.

  “How do you move like that?” I whispered into his ear.

  “How about I show you later?” he growled into mine, taking a nip of my earlobe.

  I felt my body thrill at his touch, a touch that would be mine for the rest our lives.

  Dyan Chick

  Wicked Creatures

  I swore off relationships when I was thirteen. And now, as I wait for coffee in the world’s worst bridesmaid dress, I meet the first man who’s ever made me question my choice.

  He’s the physical manifestation of every male fantasy I’ve ever had. Which was why I bolted before the sparks could turn into flames. He was dangerous. I could sense it. Everything about him would not only destroy my commitment to be single forever, it would destroy everything else I’d been working for.

  When a dark curse by a rogue witch forces us together, I know I’m screwed. I have to get away from him before the curse binds together us forever. Or worse, before I fall in love.

  You’ve just read a bit of Dyan Chick’s Wicked Creatures. Pick it up today here:

  WICKED CREATURES

  The Coven thanks you for reading WICKED LOVE. You won’t believe what we have coming next. Want a sneak peek? Check out our website at midnightcoven.com.

  There are thirteen different books in the Cursed Coven series, each penned by one of today’s hottest paranormal romance authors. While each story stands on its own with a happily ever after, characters do tend to wander from book to book, and you don’t want to miss a cameo by one of your favorites.You can read the novellas in any order.

  The Coven will return soon with a twisted collaboration that will keep you reading all night long. Until then, enjoy the snippet from WICKED CREATURES, found at the end of WICKED LOVE.

  The magic continues with each witch who falls under our curse. Find your favorite now!

  Wicked Thorne by K. Loraine

  Wicked Warlock by Marina Simcoe

  Wicked Love by Lisa Manifold

  Wicked Creatures by Dyan Chick

  Wicked Omens by Patricia D. Eddy

  Wicked Devotion by Renea Mason

  Wicked Desires by K.L. Bone

  Wicked Hunt by Alice K. Wayne

  Wicked Truth by Corinne O’Flynn

  Wicked Witch by Jessie Lane

  Wicked Shadows by Ariel Marie

  Wicked Hexes by Amelia Hutchins

  Wicked Charm by Knox & Miers

  Do you want to keep up to date with all of our releases? Join our Facebook Group. We’d love to see you there!

  About the Author

  Lisa Manifold is a USA Today Bestselling Author of fantasy, paranormal, and romance stories. She moved to Colorado as an adult and has no plans of living anywhere else. She is a consummate reader, often running late because "Just one more page!" She is a fan of all things Con, and has an entire room devoted to the costumes created for Cons.

  Lisa is the author of many flavors of paranormal series, including The Realm, Djinn Everlasting, Dragon Thief, The Aumahnee Prophecy, Tales from the Veil, Sisters of the Curse, the books from The Midnight Coven collective, the Deadwood Sisters and The Mostly Open Paranormal Investigative Agency.

  She lives as close to the mountains as possible with her husband, children, and four red rescue dogs.

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  Xoxo

  Lisa

  Also by Lisa Manifold

  The Midnight Coven Stories

  (books written with a collective of authors)

  Cursed Coven Series

  Wicked Love

  Vampire Mates Series

  Immortal Darkness

  Vampire Brides Series

  Forever Blood

  The Mostly Open Paranormal

  Investigative Agency

  Dark Pact

  Dark Night (Nov 2019)

  Deadwood Sisters

  Hellborn: The Unlucky Book 1

  Hellfire: The Unlucky Book 2

  Hellfury: The Unlucky Book 3 (Dec 2019)

  Dragon Thief

  Dragon Lost

  Dragon Found

  The Realm Series

  Heart of the Goblin King

  To Wed the Goblin King

  Realms of the Goblin King

  Rise of the Dragon King

  The Companion Tales, Volume I

  The Companion Tales, Volume II

  The Aumahnee Prophecy

  with Corinne O’Flynn

  Eamonn’s Tale

  Marigold’s Tale

  Watchers of the Veil

  Defenders of the Realm

  Tales From The Veil

  with Corinne O’Flynn

  The Portal Keepers

  The Gimcrackers

  Djinn Everlasting

  Three Wishes

  Forgotten Wishes

  Hidden Wishes

  Sisters of the Curse

  Thea’s Tale

  One Night at the Ball

  Casimir’s Journey

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  Want to see more of Lisa’s books?

  Visit www.Lisamanifold.com