“Even though Ben had masterminded the whole plot?”
“Well, the congressman might not have been the guilty party, but his campaign manager and right hand man was. I guess it throws doubt on his judgment.”
Aline sighed, dropping her notebook on the table and stretching. “So Tasmyn, where does that leave you? Ready for your next assignment with Carruthers?”
I shook my head. “No. I’ve decided—well, Michael and I decided—that I’ve had enough for a while. I want to concentrate on my schoolwork. I want to plan for the future.” I smiled. The future was bright and shiny, and at times it took my breath away.
“Are you sorry you worked for them at all?”
“Not a bit. What Zoe taught me and the other things I learned made it all worthwhile. And I’m leaving on good terms. Cathryn and Harley have agreed that I can work on a consultancy basis from time to time, if there’s a case that could use my talents. The good thing is that I trust them now.” I grinned. “Well, I mostly trust them. I did ask that they consider not hiring any more manipulators. Neither of them will admit it, but I’m fairly certain Emma used her power to have me put on the Massler case.”
Aline nodded. “What’s next then?”
I smiled as the peace and love tingled through me again. “The rest of my life.”
I parked the Mustang at my dorm after I left Aline, grabbed a few things from my room and then walked over to Michael’s suite. As I crossed the green in the dwindling light, I was not at all surprised to see Seth sitting beneath a tree, legs crossed and face up to what was left of the sun.
I made my way over to him and stood, careful not to block the light.
“Hey, Tasmyn,” he said without opening his eyes.
I laughed. “How do you do that?”
He smiled. “We all have our gifts.”
I dropped next to him, and he turned to look at me. “How are you, Tasmyn?”
I sensed that he was looking for more than a small-talk answer. “I’m good, Seth. Actually, I’m better than good.”
He nodded. “You made it through. You prevailed. You should feel wonderful.”
I cocked my head. Aline was a stickler about patient confidentiality, and I had only just left her. I didn’t see her calling Seth as I walked out the door.
“How do you know?”
Seth raised one shoulder. “ ‘There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.’ ”
I laughed. “Touché.” We sat for a few moments before he spoke again.
“What they said, Tasmyn. . .some of it was true and some of it was not. That’s the thing about the darkness. It can twist truth to its own purpose. It was your time to make a decision, and you can rest assured, if you don’t know it already, that Emma’s fate was sealed regardless of your choice.”
I nodded. “I thought so. I realized, standing there with Ben, that I’ve justified so many things in my life by thinking I was helping others. And sometimes I was. But it was clear at that point that I couldn’t do it anymore. I have to make the right choice, as far as I can see it, and trust that in the big picture, it’s all going to come out all right.”
Seth grinned and squeezed my hand. “By Jove, I think she’s got it.” He had so much joy in his eyes that I couldn’t help but grin in return.
“And speaking of the big picture, that was the biggest lie they told you. Emma said that you were a little piece that didn’t matter. Untrue. We all play a part in the larger story, Tasmyn, and no matter how small you might think your part is, it’s vital. Each choice, each action, has consequences far beyond our own understanding. Never forget that.”
I gazed across the green, as a shiver ran down my spine. I had the uncanny sense that this too was a pivotal moment in my life, something I would never forget.
“Seth, who are you?” I turned to face him.
He smiled broadly again. “I’m your friend, Tasmyn. I’ve always been your friend, and I always will be. Do you need more information than that?”
I thought about it for a minute and then shook my head. “No. I guess I don’t. I want to know, but I don’t need it in order to believe you. To trust you.”
Seth nodded. “Someday, maybe, we’ll chat about this again. But for now, a little faith never hurt anyone.”
I rose to my feet. “Michael is going to think I’ve gotten lost. I better go before he calls out the cavalry.”
Seth stood, too, and handed me my backpack. I felt a quivering in the back of my throat, almost as though I were about to cry.
“I know this sounds ridiculous, Seth, but I feel like I should be asking you if I’m ever going to see you again.”
He laughed, and several people sitting near us turned to look. I noticed that they all smiled, too.
“Of course you will, Tasmyn. After all, I have a job here.” He winked at me. “But our paths might not cross that often. You have a very bright future ahead of you. Enjoy it.”
He patted my shoulder and loped off across the green. I watched him go until he disappeared over the rise that led to the chapel.
Michael was waiting on a bench outside his dormitory.
“Hey, beautiful! I was getting worried. Everything okay?”
I thought about Aline’s words and the benediction that Seth had just laid upon me. I smiled as I tiptoed up to kiss his lips.
“Everything’s wonderful.”
Michael wrapped me in his arms and then turned me around. “Look at that sky. Isn’t it gorgeous? I was sitting here thinking about how many sunsets we’ve watched together. Remember that first one at the lake? The first time I kissed you?”
I nodded, my head rubbing against Michael’s shoulder. “How could I ever forget? But I’d rather think about all the sunsets we’re going to share. For the rest of our lives.” I craned my head to look up into his eyes, and Michael lowered his lips to mine again.
“Want to take a little walk before dinner?” he asked. “Enjoy the last bit of light?”
I took his hand. “I’ll always walk into the sunset with you.”
“Always and forever?” Michael asked, pulling against him again.
“And far, far beyond.
It had been a long night, and I was exhausted.
We usually took turns getting up in the middle of the night with the baby, but when Michael had to work the next day, I tried to cover more shifts. He had to be at the nursery by 4 AM, and I knew I had the luxury of napping when she napped.
The sun was just peeking over the top of the drawn curtains in my bedroom when I sank into bed. She was quiet, finally, and I let the glory of sleep slip over me.
I was nearly under when I heard her crying. Again.
Moaning, I dragged myself from the bed and down the hallway to her nursery. Limbs flailing, she was screaming at top pitch. I picked her up without much thought and dropped into the rocking chair.
But she wouldn’t settle. As my sleep-deprived frustration grew, she only wailed more loudly.
I drew in a deep breath and focused on calm. On light and love and peace. I pictured my little daughter resting in my arms. Closing my eyes, I thought, I love you little one. Mommy loves you.
When I looked down, she was staring up at me, focused on my face. Almost as though. . .she had heard me.
She looked deeply into my eyes, and she smiled.
Photo: Marilyn Bellinger
Tawdra Thompson Kandle lives in central Florida with her husband, children, cats and dog. She loves homeschooling, cooking, traveling and reading, not necessarily in that order. And yes, she has purple hair.
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And now for a special preview of the soon-to-be-released paranormal novel
DREAM JUMPER
By Mandie Stevens
Coming from Hayson Publishing
Elsie Ponce has lost her magic.
Being the former king of the fae’s granddaughter comes with expectations. She's supposed to be a leader in society, wielding a power that leaves lesser fae in awe. Instead, she's become a disgrace to her bloodline, and no one quite knows what to do with her.
But in her dreams, she finds sanctuary. She can do as she pleases, and it's there she meets with a human boy who helps her find happiness and confidence. She even discovers that she has a rare talent for dream jumping. But she can't live in her dreamworld forever.
A dark presence threatens her existence, and she must face reality before she loses everything. Elsie isn't just a dream jumper,-she's much more.
Chapter 1
“Dang it, I said NO. It’s dangerous and you know it. Stop acting like a two year old.”
Derek stared down at me. With his arms crossed, his biceps bulged out of his too-tight black shirt. I thought about challenging him, but I knew in his current mood, it wouldn’t do me any good.
My official guard and pain-in-the-butt cousin was even worse when the moon was full. He had to change, so he couldn’t do his job.
I sank into the seat next to Kris. “It isn’t fair. You can run, and Kris can go to college. I can’t do anything until something happens, and it isn’t. “ My voice caught. “I feel like I’m stuck in between two worlds, and can’t really be part of either. I may as well be human.” My whining annoyed even me, so I laid my head on the kitchen table.
Derek rested his hand on my shoulder. I knew he wanted to be sympathetic, but chaotic energy radiated off him. I lifted my head to look at him. He had to leave and didn’t need to deal with me. He gave my shoulder a little squeeze and looked to Kris.
“All right, I’m out. Don’t let her leave.”
Kris smirked. “I never do.” Derek nodded and headed out the back door.
My eyes narrowed at Kris. As if he could really stop me if I wanted to leave. Okay, maybe he could; my magic was so weak. But still. .
Kris looked up from his book. “Are you ready?”
“Do we have to? I’m still feeling off.” I fumbled with my teacup, not making eye contact. The truth was, I hadn’t had the desire to even try anything lately.
“All the more reason for you to practice. We’ll start with something simple.” I winced. Kris had to report my progress to my grandfather, the former King of Fae, the self-proclaimed ruler of my life. And lately there hadn’t been anything good to share
He held out his hand. A tiny orange spark appeared, slowly growing into a ball of fire. The ball rose above the table, waiting for me.
“Okay, grab it and move it to you,” Kris commanded.
I nodded and focused on the floating light that hovered over the kitchen table. I attempted to move it with my mind. It should have been easy; it was something every Faerie could do, something I had always been able to do until now.
Depressed, I turned away, set my teacup in the sink, and stared out the window. The moon was full, and it pulled at me, calling for me to run under its light. It was just my body that wouldn’t cooperate.
“No.” Kris interrupted my thoughts. “Elsie, you need to try again.”
I rubbed the back of my neck as I turned toward him. His blue eyes met mine, and he pushed his glasses up onto the bridge of his nose. It was yet another reminder of my failings. Every month when we had our lessons, I would spell his eyes to make his vision better. He couldn’t do it himself, and his pride wouldn’t allow him to ask anyone other than me. Now I couldn’t even do that to help him.
Kris took after his human mother, but my grandfather, Oberon, the former King of Summerland, considered him valuable. The very idea of my grandfather viewing my friend as a commodity to be used made me cringe.
Kris was an elf, meaning his race were once Faeries who had interbred with humans. Their bloodlines weakened, and they became a new race. Faeries and Elves didn’t socialize in Summerland, but things were different here. Kris and I were the only two Fae born since the cross over thousands of years ago had changed social norms. The funny thing was that neither of us were full Fae.
A wolf howled in the background. My mind paralyzed, I stepped around Kris and made my way toward the back door. Kris grabbed hold of my arm.
“Where are you going?”
I blinked; I didn’t know. All I knew was that I wanted to run.
“To the gardens?”
I shrugged and looked over my shoulder into the night. Kris dropped my arm and shook his head.
“You can’t, and you know that.”
“Yeah, yeah, the Fae think I’m going to wolf out.” Every full moon, the Fae met in the gardens to dance and celebrate. I hadn’t been welcomed since I’d turned fifteen, for fear that I might turn. Kris stayed with me, just in case.
On the other hand, I had never shown any signs of changing, so I was never invited to run with the pack, either.
Kris hesitated. “Well, I was going to wait until your birthday but I-”
“So you’re going to bribe me to come back?” I smiled.
“Maybe.” Kris turned and walked back into the kitchen. I could have made my break for it, but I shrugged and followed him back inside.
This would be interesting. Kris always had the most unique gifts. Last year, he had brought me plants from the gardens to place around my bedroom so I wouldn’t feel left out. He and Derek switched them after every full moon with plants that had been magically charged.
We sat on the couch, and he placed a small box into my hands, keeping his palm over it. Kris’ closeness made the box even heavier.
I’d had a crush on Kris for as long as I could remember. My grandfather wanted us betrothed, but my parents wouldn’t hear of it. When you live forever, marriage isn’t a priority. Kris was sweet and kind to me, but I was always his best friend’s cousin, and he always had a girlfriend. Even now there was someone else, but those girls never lasted long.
“Come on, come on, open it.” He rustled the top open, exposing the wrapping paper. I folded it back, revealing a gold chain attached to a small purple stone pendant.
“It’s amethyst. It’ll help you focus your energy.” He pulled the chain out, moved my hair to the side, and placed the necklace around my neck.
“Do you really think it will work?” I asked, hope seeping into my voice.
“It won’t hurt. Besides, we need to do something before Oberon finds out.” He winked at me.
I shot him a thankful glance, grateful that he hadn’t shared the fact that the last princess of Summerland was a disgrace to her entire bloodline.
Endless Page 20
