by Jen Talty
Darrell nodded as he walked slowly, his feet scuffing the dulled tile floor. He sat on the hard, wooden chair next to her, holding her hand, his thumb gently rubbing her skin.
“While I cast the spell, Prince Albert will try to contain the spell Regan hexed,” Merlin spoke in a monotone voice. “From the time my powers leave my body, we will have only a few minutes to snap the book back and cast the powers back to me.”
“How many minutes, exactly?” Avery asked.
“Maybe five,” her father answered.
“Here we go,” Merlin said. “The witch and this warlock are one. We are bonded together until the deed is done. Out of the cauldron and into wait, I cast the powers of fate.”
She gritted her teeth as a fire burned deep in the pit of her gut.
Darrell growled low and deep, squeezing her hand, turning her knuckles white.
“I shall regain my strength in my sister form, to pull back the book that fell into warn.”
As Merlin spoke, her body shivered as her pores opened up, allowing a gray cloud of smoke to settle into her bloodstream. A surge of energy, like the crackle of a lightning bolt, exploded from her toes to her head. Her aura shifted, pulling closer to her body. She shoved it away, mentally reaching out to Darrell, hoping he could somehow hear her thoughts.
Keep us connected.
“The magic rises in the west, setting where we need it best,” Merlin said. “Out of the caldron and into the past, find the Witches of the Willows Book of Shadows from the tree of the last.”
“Now,” her father commanded as he held a ball of white smoke between his hands, his body wrinkling like skin soaked in water for hours.
She closed her eyes, ignoring the sharp, stabbing pain in her temples as she stepped into the past, following the trail of fireflies leading the way. Visions of people she’d never met floated by.
“Hurry,” her father said in a voice so soft, she’d barely heard him.
“This way,” a man said, standing near a willow tree.
“Who are you?” she asked, following him down a path that led to a small cabin. She had to be sure this wasn’t some kind of trick in this weird place that didn’t really exist.
“I’m the keeper of secrets,” he said with an eerie smile. “I have what you seek.”
“Where?”
“Why don’t you visit with me for a while. It gets lonely in the dark world.”
“I can’t. Witches and werewolves are dying.” She wanted to add she was too, but she wasn’t sure that would help.
“We can talk a walk by the pond. It’s so pretty there. It’s right on the way,” the man said.
“I need to get to the book,” she said, taking a few steps forward, but she had no idea if the cabin in front of her was the cabin.
“I know,” the man said with a long sigh. “I can tell you have resolve for your quest.” He waved his finger at the building that seemed to move closer and closer. “Be sure you get the right one, or more unthinkable things will happen.”
She took off running until she stood at the door. She could no longer hear her father.
Or feel Darrell.
That had to be bad.
Pushing back the front door, she entered the cabin, shocked by the number of Shadow books on the shelves. She scanned the shelves, going from left to right, top to bottom. Tears welled in her eyes as she came to the last shelf and still hadn’t found the one she needed.
She was about to start scanning again, when she noticed a desk in the corner with an old, dusty book sitting on top, the Witches of the Willows crest embedded on its leather case. When she took the book in her hands, her skin prickled with fire.
“Out of the cauldron, out of the empty space, cast this mix of warlock and witch back to the right place. Keep this book safe through the passage of time and ease the locks that bind the rhyme.”
Her body shook as the cabin she stood in crumbled to the ground. The man she’d seen waved to her, but she ignored him, looking for the safe passage from this non-existent plane. Merlin said she would know it when she saw it. Turning in a full circle, she could see the school to the east. Running as fast as she could, she made her way to the front door. She raced through the corridors, clutching the book tight until she found the room that housed her body.
And the man she loved.
She busted through the door, but stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Darrell sprawled out on the floor, foaming at the mouth.
No!
She raced to her body.
“Out of the caldron and into the witch’s meme. Reverse the spell and return the warlock to his frame. Bring the Book of Shadows to the warlock of logic, giving him permission to seek the one who can break the cursed magic.”
The room spun around her as if she were the sun and the lab the earth. Her stomach twisted and knotted. Flames coated her skin as she snapped into her body.
“Avery,” her father said.
But she couldn’t answer. Nor could she see anything but blurred images. She blinked a few times, but nothing helped.
She licked her dry, cracked lips and tried to speak again. “Darrell,” she croaked out.
“He’s very weak.” Her father gave her a kiss on the cheek before helping her to the ground. “Lay next to him. Hold him.”
“Dad, did I do it?” She rested her head and hand on Darrell’s chest. His breathing was shallow and his heart beat so slow she could barely feel it.
“You did,” he said. “Now I need you to rest so I can do my part. Can you do that my little girl? Can you let yourself sleep?”
“Will it help Darrell?”
“Yes,” her father said.
She let her breathing fall in line with Darrell’s and pushed as much of her outer aura as she could over him, knowing that it was his inner aura that was killing him, and there was nothing she could do about that.
Her mind wondered back to when she’d been five years old.
“Avery, are you ready?” Miss Tammy asked.
“Yes.” Avery jumped from her seat and bounced to the center of the room.
Darrell took her hand and smiled.
The music began and he effortlessly led her through the routine. In his arms, it was as if she’d belonged there.
Glancing in the mirror, she gasped at the reflection of her and Darrell as adults, not children…
“I love you, Darrell,” she said.
“I love you, too.”
Chapter 10
“Daddy, do something.” Avery held Darrell’s head in her lap. His breaths were still shallow, and his heart rate reached a dangerous pace.
“I need to unlock the book first,” he said from across the room.
Merlin and his two men lay on the floor, near death, not far from where she cradled her soulmate in her arms.
“He’s fading fast,” she whispered, pressing her lips on his cold, clammy forehead. “What went wrong?”
“Nothing,” her father said as he poured some liquid into a beaker.
“He didn’t break our bond?”
“No, but his resolve to protect what is his is so strong that he was able to let you have all but the thinnest layer of your life aura.”
“How could he do that without being a witch?” She glanced in her father’s direction, who looked up from his potion for only a brief second. “You didn’t?”
“I did what I thought was best for everyone,” her father said with a dark tone. “And he begged me to make sure you had what was needed to complete the task.”
“I could have done it without you casting a—”
“He was starting to tap into your inner aura, and it ended up taking you twelve minutes,” her father said as he poured some liquid into a tiny cup. “If I hadn’t made it so he could let go of some, you’d both be dead.”
“But now he’s dying in my arms,” she said, holding back the tears. Darrell didn’t need her crying. He needed her to be strong.
Her father handed her the cup. “Give
this to him. It will help while I unlock the book, which will take a little while.”
“He doesn’t have much time.” She parted Darrell’s lips, letting the potion trickle into his mouth and down his throat. He didn’t move. Didn’t cough.
Nothing.
“They are dying too,” she said, pointing to Merlin and his fellow warlocks.
“I gave them the same potion before you snapped back. Now hush, child, and let me work.”
She ran her fingers through Darrell’s thick, dark hair, feeling every strand glide across her skin. She’d never been in love and in less than three days, she’d fallen head over heels.
Soulmates.
Deep down she knew Darrell would be the only man she’d ever love, but now she might not get the chance to really give him everything he deserved.
And she’d never get the chance to dance with him, much less choreograph a piece only their love could conjure.
“Stay with me,” she whispered.
Nothing.
The sound of lightening crackled as her father poured a potion over the book. “Out of the caldron I unlock the black magic by the Witches of the Willows protected in this book. Take the spells and let them look. The pages filling left and right, open this case and find the spite. Out of the caldron and into light, guide this warlock to the sight.”
The room filled with a dark-black smoke, making it impossible to see.
“I’m in,” her father said. “And there is a reversing spell.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks as a guttural sob escaped the pit of her stomach. “Please, Daddy, hurry.”
In seconds, her father was at her side. “Out of the caldron and into the hallows of a cave, take this death spell, cast it out to sea and heal the brave. Heal the soul that burned with black, taking the spell back. Put out the fire and fill with ice, giving this wolf, his kind, his mate, and all the other tormented by hell, might.” Her father splashed something over Darrell, and his body shook and his skin turned white.
“I don’t think it’s working,” she whispered as Darrell’s body temperature dropped drastically. She could see his breath like he was out in the freezing elements of the Great North.
“It’s working.” Her father sat down beside her, putting a tender hand over her shoulder. “He’s pushing out the spell with every exhale.”
“He’s so cold. Werewolves aren’t supposed to be cold.”
“I’ll get him a blanket, but trust me my little precious one, your soulmate is going to be fine.”
She held him tight, kissing his cold skin. “I love you,” she whispered.
***
Darrell gritted his teeth, doing all he could to hang on to the tiny piece of Avery that the spell cast by her father allowed. He should sacrifice himself to protect her. His pack would have another leader and if she was successful, then she’d be able to save both the Witches of the Willows and his pack.
But he promised her father, he’d fight for their union and that was the only way Albert would agree to cast the spell.
His vision blurred, and the room faded to black.
His body dropped to the floor, even though he tried to keep himself upright.
Scorching pain ripped through his veins. He could only hope that he was helping Avery.
Not hurting her.
He shivered as a cold wave flowed through his bloodstream. His heart slowed, and he could no longer hear anything. He tried opening his mouth, but he couldn’t move.
Panic gripped his heart.
Then the world went dark.
Damp.
Nothing.
***
“Darrell?” Avery’s voice echoed in his mind. It sounded like the purest music he’d ever heard. “Can you hear me?”
He blinked his eyes, but nothing snapped into focus. Everything around him was one big, gray blur.
“He needs more rest,” a man’s voice boomed. “Let him sleep.”
“It’s been two days,” Avery said.
Darrell cleared his throat, licking his dry, cracked lips. “Two days?” he asked in the faintest of whispers.
“You’ve been out for that long.” Warm lips touched his cheek and he let out a moan, enjoying the tender touch of his mate.
“What happened?” He tried to focus on the body he knew lay next to him on the… a soft bed? Sofa? Where the hell was he? He blinked a few times, squeezing his eyes tight, but still, he couldn’t make anything out. “Was the spell reversed?”
“Yes,” the male voice said.
Darrell knew that had to be Albert, which meant, he wasn’t dead.
That was good news.
“Avery?”
“I’m right here,” she said, her hand rubbing up and down his bare chest.
Bed.
With Avery.
Half-naked? With her father in the room.
That’s embarrassing.
He rubbed his eyes before trying to shift to a sitting position.
“You shouldn’t be moving,” Albert said.
Darrell didn’t listen as he pushed a pillow behind his head, pulling the covers halfway up his stomach. A wave of nausea hit his stomach. He swallowed as his colors and shapes formed.
Albert sat on the foot of the bed and Avery next to him.
“I feel like I got hit by a truck,” Darrell managed, taking the glass of water Avery offered. “I take it Avery succeeded?”
“I did,” she said, smiling. “No one in your pack has any more symptoms. Merlin is doing well, and his coven is slowly returning to normal.”
“And what about Regan and her family?” Darrell asked. He didn’t wish the worst for them, but he certainly wanted justice.
“The family was able to keep Regan alive until a few weeks before your father died, which sent the spell into action. My father said right before Regan passed, they harvested parts of the spell and cast them into her sister.”
“That’s fucked up. What kind of parent would do that to their kid?” Darrell asked.
“They thought if they could keep their family from dying from the adverse effects of using blocked black magic, it would give them time to find an antidote without coming to me,” Albert said.
“The rest of the family has been taken into custody,” Avery said.
“I need to call my mom.”
“She’s down with mine—”
“My mother is here?” he asked, trying to hide his mortification. God only knows what his mother might have told Avery.
Or her family.
“We had to call her, son.” Alfred stood. I’ll go let her know you’re awake.”
“Sir?”
“Yes,” Alfred said.
“Can you take your time telling my mom I’ve woken from the dead. I’d like a few—”
Alfred held up his hand. “Say no more. But I won’t be able to keep her at bay too long, and I feel I should warn you, you mom and my wife have already planned out the wedding.”
“Dad,” Avery said, but with a smile.
If a heart could grin, then Darrell’s filled his chest.
“I’ll be back, and I’m bringing the doctor, just to be safe.” Albert slipped from the room.
Darrell let his eyes adjust a bit more as he soaked in Avery’s beauty. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Saving my sorry ass.”
“You’re welcome.” She rested her head on his chest.
Even though it strained his muscles, he wrapped his arms around her body. “I think we should go away for a week, by ourselves.”
“I like the sound of that, and since they postponed the show for two months, we can do that.”
He kissed her temple. “I will enjoy telling you what to do while you’re on stage.”
“Don’t get used to it,” she said, glancing up at him with a glimmer of mischief in her eyes.
“Why not?”
“Because it will be my last performance before becoming a choreographer and teaming up with my soulmate.
”
Epilogue
Three months later…
Darrell sat at the bar at the posh country club and stared at his bride. He hadn’t expected to get married so quickly, but after their first week together, the idea of waiting to start their life together seemed ridiculous.
Avery handed her nephew back to her sister, and then smoothed down the front of her wedding dress. A simple strapless dress that made her look like the royal princess she was. She glided across the room, waving and smiling at everyone she passed. How the hell had he’d gotten so lucky?
“You can stop gawking now, son. She married you,” Albert said as he handed Darrell a glass of red wine.
“I like gawking.” Darrell raised his glass in a toast. “Besides, I catch you staring at your wife all the time.”
“I know.” Albert laughed. “To soulmates.”
Darrell clinked his glass, and then took a long swig, enjoying the rich cabernet flowing down his throat in a slow burn. “I want you to know that I will always do my best to protect her.”
“I know you will,” Albert said. “You’re a good man.”
“I can only hope I’m half the man you are and my father was.”
“Just be your own man and take good care of my little girl.”
“You can count on me for that.” While Darrell missed his father dearly, Albert would make the finest father-in-law a man could ask for.
“Now if only my other two would find their soulmates,” Albert said as Avery stepped closer.
“Two of my favorite men.” Avery looped her arm over Darrell’s shoulders, leaning her hip against the bar stool.
“You have more?”
“Well, Jason, Amanda’s son, has stolen my heart.” She waved her hand over her chest.
“He is adorable.” Darrell kissed her shoulder.
“You know, Jason could use a cousin,” Albert said. “Not that I’m putting any pressure on you two or anything.”
“No pressure, Dad. The cousin will be here in about seven months.”
The End
Coming soon NEON SASS, the next book in the Witches and Warlocks series…
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