Star Crossed: an Adult Dystopian Paranormal Romance: Sector 11 (The Othala Witch Collection)

by J. E. Taylor

  If I recalled correctly, a shark used to be one of the world’s greatest predators.

  That is, until the ravagers came into existence.

  Chapter 14

  “I knew your mother when we were younger,” Gypsy said.

  I looked up from my warm soup. Ever since I got the invitation to the wedding, I hadn’t been a great conversationalist. Especially since all she could talk about was the pending nuptials, which was the last thing on earth I wanted to discuss.

  My skin prickled. “You knew my mother?”

  “Yes. She was such a sweet thing. Smart and beautiful, and destined to lose her soulmate one way or another.” She sighed and slurped the last of the soup from her bowl.

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Because once a man has the Regent’s attention, it’s like the kiss of death. Samantha Mallory targeted your father the minute my love passed away.”

  I knew enough of what happened as soon as the Regent decided she wanted my father. I didn’t need to hear it again from the mouth of a virtual stranger. While Gypsy had given me safe haven for the last couple of days, I wasn’t ready to call her a friend or spill my secrets to her just because she made me feel safe. The hostility she harbored against Jaden gave me pause, and I wondered if I would ever be able to let my guard down. The thought was sobering and exhausting at the same time.

  “I don’t want to be rude, but I really don’t want to discuss what happened to my father. It still burns,” I said, opening up enough to not feel like a complete freeloader.

  Gypsy gave me a nod as if she understood. “Well, then, I am very excited for tomorrow. I have procured the perfect dress for you to wear, and I cannot wait to see it on you.”

  I gave her the same weary look. Except this time, she ignored me and continued to rattle on about all sorts of wedding related news, including undertones of hostility the staff at the estate had witnessed between Jaden and Eleanor. She seemed to thrive off the thought of his lifelong misery.

  The more she talked, the more uneasy I became. What if my spell didn’t work? Jaden would be harnessed to that royal bitch for the rest of his life. I couldn’t stomach that thought either.

  I forced a yawn. I had scrubbed Gypsy’s little efficiency from top to bottom this morning while she worked in the shop. She had been pleased, but the exertion of cleaning sucked the energy from my bones. All I wanted to do was go to sleep and forget what tomorrow held.

  She paused and gave my head a pat as if I was a small child before she stood and cleared the dishes. “Why don’t you get some rest? Tomorrow is going to be a big day.”

  “I think that’s an excellent idea,” I said and cleared the rest of the table. The mat and sleeping bag she let me borrow were near the closet, and I rolled them out where I wasn’t in her way. With a tired nod, I headed into the bathroom for my nightly routine of cleaning my teeth and brushing the knots out of my hair.

  I settled inside the warm sleeping bag and thought about my mother’s comforter. I needed to get that one of these days, especially if this arrangement with Gypsy continued on after the wedding.

  “I wanted to thank you for your kindness,” I said and gave Gypsy a tired smile.

  “It’s the least I can do,” she said and stepped into the bathroom to begin her usual bedtime custom. I closed my eyes, hoping she would buy the ruse when she came out and hush up for the night.

  Darkness engulfed me, and I never even heard Gypsy come out.

  “Starlight...” A soft voice invaded my mind, and I opened my eyes to the same mist I remembered from the alley.

  My mother smiled down at me and crouched so she could reach out and touch my cheek. The warmth in her fingertips soothed my form.

  “Star bright...”

  She gave me such a sad smile that my heart hurt.

  “Baby, you need to heed my warnings. The Regent has plans for you. Dark plans. Horrific plans,” she whispered before her voice trailed to nothing, and her form started to fade.

  “Mamma?”

  Her fading form seemed to solidify at my acknowledgement. “It wasn’t a breach,” she said and stood, her hands in fists as she tried desperately to cling to this realm. “Monsters lay within...”

  “Within what?” I asked, but she was already flowing in the wind.

  “Stay away from him...”

  The last whisper sent chills through me.

  “Who?”

  But she was already gone.

  I stared into the darkness, now wide awake with every cell pounding with unease. I already knew who she meant. Jaden. She wanted me to stay away from Jaden like she always had. I didn’t understand why she would come with the same tired warnings, so I rolled onto my side, away from where she had drifted off.

  But sleep didn’t come for some time, and when it did, it was filled with the most heinous dreams of blood and pain and despair.

  Chapter 15

  Jaden’s getting married today.

  The thought kept circling in my head as Gypsy did her magic with my hair and makeup once again. I tried not to fidget, but I couldn’t help it. I was as nervous as if this was my wedding day.

  I wondered if the spell I cast would work. I wondered if the spark of anger I had seen in Jaden’s eyes on the palace steps was aimed at me or my stupidity for tempting fate. I wondered if he still cared at all.

  My gaze dropped to the ring on my hand and I sighed. The diamond on my finger meant I had his heart, but it certainly didn’t feel that way. I closed my eyes under Gypsy’s primping, and the vision of his sparkling gaze filled my mind. I could almost feel the caress of his fingers across my skin.

  “There,” Gypsy said.

  I nearly ran to the mirror in the bathroom to see if I looked half as impressive as I had the other day. Amber Briar looked back with that same flawless skin as before, but instead of a chic up-do, my hair cascaded down my back in a rainbow of waves.

  Gypsy walked in with a royal blue chiffon and satin gown with a silver-beaded, crisscross shoulder strap. The beaded accent continued to the waistline where it ended in a beautiful floral pattern. The skirt had a deep slit that would help show off the silver beaded heels she handed me. The dress was gorgeous.

  “Seriously?”

  “Try it on,” she said and left me to slip on the silky gown.

  It hugged my curves and showed more skin than I was comfortable with, but I had to admit the combination was stunning. I strapped on the shoes and stood back with a critical eye. Even with the amazing makeup job, I still thought my nose was a tad too big and my eyes were set too close.

  With a sigh, I opened the door.

  Gypsy looked up from the table, and a slow, evil smirk appeared. “I have a feeling you just might cause a scene.”

  I flashed an uneasy smile as she grabbed a coat for each of us. I glanced at the less than flashy clothing she wore and raised my eyebrow.

  “I’m your guest, your great aunt Gypsy Rose.”

  “Is Amber really your niece?”

  Her grin widened. “Yes. Otherwise, you would not have made it into the estate.”

  “Ah. And Amber is a struggling wedding planner?”

  She nodded. “The girl would have loved to come to see the wedding, but she can’t leave the eastern shore. For some reason, the city gives her hives.”

  I laughed under my breath. “Exactly how long have you planned this elaborate scheme?”

  “The minute I heard of your mother’s death.”

  My arms turned into a relief map of bumps. The shock of her words left me wondering whether I was a pawn in her game, or if she was truly trying to help me. I quickly shrugged my arms into the coat she had handed me.

  “Does the Regent know that Amber is your niece?”

  “The Regent has a complete list of my relatives.”

  I stopped at the door. “Are you setting me up?” The question tumbled from my lips before I could catch it, but I had to know. I glanced over my shoulder, willing Gypsy to be honest with
me.

  “No, child. I’m trying to help you see what a curse the Mallorys are. The only one that seemed to have a decent heart was killed at the same time as your mother, and I’m not sure it was an accident.”

  “A ravager attacked them.” My mother had said it wasn’t a breach, and at some point, I had to look into that, but right now I was worried about Jaden.

  She hooked her arm around mine and led me out the door. “So I hear, but if a ravager breached the barrier, I would think there would be a trail of dead bodies between the breach and the Regent’s mansion.”

  Gypsy had a point. I digested her words as we walked. The closer to the estate we got, the more my heart clanged in my chest. The chill in the air barely registered on my exposed skin. The minute we crossed through the gate, we were stopped. I flashed the invitation from my clutch, and the guard, who I had never seen before, studied the piece of paper and then handed it back without a word, waving me inside.

  I honestly didn’t think it would be that easy. We followed the crowd to the grand garden where the weather had been manipulated to a warm spring day. One of the butlers was taking guest coats, so I added mine to the pile with a polite thank you.

  Jaden stood to the side talking with a couple of his friends, but the minute his gaze traveled by me, it snapped back. That spark of recognition lit in his eyes. After all, I was wearing the same glamour I wore the other day. His blatant stare made his friends turn and look in my direction as well. I had never felt so exposed with three sets of eyes mentally undressing me.

  Heat filled my cheeks. I acknowledged Jaden with barely a nod, and he blinked and resumed whatever conversation they had been engaged in. I glanced at Gypsy, who studied me with a deep crease between her eyes.

  I shrugged. “I guess maybe I am sort of a distraction dressed like this,” I whispered in her ear.

  She snorted a laugh. “If you look around, those boys aren’t the only ones staring, deary.”

  A quick scan of the crowd confirmed what she said. I took my seat, trying to disappear into the crowd, but Gypsy had made that impossible with this dress and the hair and makeup job. Unfortunately, I stuck out like a diamond in the center of a pile of coal.

  The whistle sounded, and everyone settled in their seats. Jaden and his groomsmen stepped to the altar. When they turned to look at the procession, all eyes turned to the back, except mine. Our gazes met, and for a moment I saw a flash of the pain mirrored in my heart. It should be me walking down the aisle, not that bitch Eleanor.

  I wanted to tell him not to worry, that this would be very short lived. Instead, I gave him a small smile of commiseration. When the music shifted, I turned away and watched the bride appear.

  She looked almost transparent all dressed in white. Whoever had done her makeup had made her look like a truly deranged fairy. I had to look down at the ground to stifle a laugh. Brides are supposed to be beautiful, but somehow Eleanor missed the mark. The dress was stunning, but it probably looked better on the store display than on her.

  I glanced at Jaden. The flash of disdain was brief, but I caught it when his gaze jumped away from Eleanor to me. I pressed my lips together against an amused smile. His dimples appeared for a moment at the shared inside joke, but with it came deep despair. He looked away, focusing on his wife-to-be as she finished her walk up the aisle.

  The words didn’t compute as I watched the exchange of vows and rings. My hands fidgeted, and I found myself twirling the ring on my finger, feeling the metal under my fingertips, assuring myself that his heart was indeed mine despite this farce.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the high priest announced. “You may kiss your bride,” he added as everyone started clapping.

  They leaned in, pressing their lips together in an awkward kiss. It held no passion or any sort of affection. They parted and looked out at the crowd with equally awkward smiles. The music started, and Jaden went to take her hand and lead her down the aisle towards the reception hall.

  Eleanor’s eyes bulged, and her hand flew to her throat. It started at the point of contact. Her lips turned grey, crumbling in the soft breeze. No sound escaped, but someone in the audience screamed. Jaden took a horrified step away as her fingers turned to dust.

  My curse was potent and deadly far beyond my expectations. Enough so that I wondered just how badly the backlash would be. Within moments, Eleanor was nothing but ash swirling in a small cyclone of air.

  Most of the front rows dispersed, but Samantha stood staring at the death of her replacement. The horror in her profile matched that of most of the audience.

  Her gaze snapped to Jaden’s, and her face transformed into a mask of fury to the point I swear daggers were going to literally shoot from her eyes and impale him to the nearest tree. Her rage was as palpable as a coming storm.

  “What have you done?” she snarled.

  He shrugged and shook his head, unable to answer her because he had no idea what just happened. I was the only one in sector eleven who knew.

  “What. Have. You. Done?” Her shrill voice blanketed the crowd and everyone watched as the Regent began to shake with the anger coursing through her.

  Dread filled ever fiber of my being. I didn’t think trying to save Jaden from a life of servitude would put him in Samantha’s crosshairs. But I was clearly shortsighted from the looks of the wrath pulsing from inside her, filling her face with an unnatural red hue.

  “Warlock!” she shrieked and pointed at him.

  The accusation hung on the air, freezing everyone in place. With that word came a litany of horrors. I had seen the beaten, broken men led to their deaths. I had seen the results of being labeled a warlock. Trial and exile were the civilized parts. I cringed when the guards grabbed him.

  Samantha Mallory had just sentenced her only remaining son to death with that one word.

  His gaze widened and he shook his head, but before he could speak, the guards hauled him away.

  “I didn’t do anything!” he cried just before he disappeared into the mansion.

  This was not what I expected. I knew what came next. My entire form shook. I caught his gaze just before he disappeared. He didn’t reveal me in the crowd, but from the sadness in his eyes, he had to know I was the one to cast the spell.

  I was the one to damn him.

  Gypsy laughed under her breath. I glanced at the utter joy painted on her face, then turned and walked out of the area, weaving through the crowd until I was standing out in the middle of the street. My breath pulled in harsh pants. This was the backlash to my spell. This was karma in action. My protection spell cursed Jaden. I walked him right into a death sentence.

  Panic filtered into my cells. I turned towards the estate. Gypsy grabbed me by the arm with the biggest grin on her lips and guided me back towards her shop. I let her lead me while she cackled and rejoiced at the end of Samantha’s bloodline.

  Chapter 16

  By the time Gypsy led me into the thrift shop, I was numb from both the cold and the events of the last week. Everything I did had backfired. My potion may have saved him from a life of slavery, but it also sentenced the man I loved to death.

  “I can’t wait to see that witch’s face when her son is torn to pieces by the ravagers.”

  Gypsy’s words finally penetrated my mind. “You really believe that is a just punishment?” I snapped.

  Her gaze narrowed. “He violated the law.”

  I let out a high-pitched laugh. “You know as well as I do what a farce the male witch law is.”

  Gypsy pressed her lips together in a thin line. “He used magic to kill.”

  My laugh died in my throat as I realized the mistake I had made. “And what if it wasn’t him that cast the spell? What if it was a protection spell gone awry?”

  “It doesn’t matter. Intent matters. If the spell was cast to protect, that is one thing. If it was cast specifically to kill, then it was dark. As dark as Samantha.”

  I shifted and shivered. “I forgot yo
ur coat.” I turned to go retrieve it. I needed time alone with my thoughts.

  “I’ll go with you,” she said.

  I put my hand up. “I need some time to really digest what happened today. I guess I just never knew he had any abilities. I lived under their roof for years...” Up to a week ago, that was an accurate statement, but with how much Gypsy hated the Regent, and Jaden by default, I didn’t think lying was out of line. After all, if I spilled the truth, I might find myself marched right into Samantha’s clutches. Prudence outweighed the need for honesty in this new and fragile friendship. “I shouldn’t be long.”

  I let the cold air penetrate my bare shoulders as I headed back. Halfway there, my feet were screaming. For someone so new to high heels, the least I should have done was change my shoes before making this trek.

  The pain in my feet and the cold accosting me seemed like the perfect brew to study my underlying reasons for casting the spell. I loved the man, and as much as I hated to admit it, the thought of him being with another woman like he had been with me the other night really crawled under my skin. But I had no inkling of how making love to him felt when I’d spun the spell.

  I just wanted my best friend to be happy. I didn’t want him to become a slave to his new wife or worse. If she ever found out about his abilities, unless she loved him, he would be exiled.

  My intentions were pure when I mixed the spell. If it had been after I had the run in with Eleanor, my intentions wouldn’t have been so pure. I sighed as I approached the estate and the crowd that hadn’t dispersed yet.

  I slipped around pockets of people, hearing snippets of conversation, most of which centered around the shock of the entire wedding events. Instead of eavesdropping, I slipped through the gate.

  “I forgot my coat,” I said and pointed towards the garden.

  “The coats are in the atrium of the mansion,” the guard said and pointed up the stairwell.