by Liz Schulte
“The simplest solution is not necessarily the correct one in this case. The person who cursed me is holding back whatever power I could have. The person who took Devin and Michael obviously wants something from me.”
“Have you heard anything else?” Jessica asked.
“We had another note delivered today,” Cheney said.
“May I see it?” I asked.
“I don’t have it. It must’ve been enchanted because it disintegrated after I read it.”
“What did it say?”
“Pretty much the same thing as all the others.”
I chewed my thumbnail. “I was a rebel. Give him me.”
Cheney shook his head. “Not going to happen.”
“Not for real. We could fake it. Do the public execution. Then, once everyone thinks I’m dead, no one will be in danger anymore.”
“But then you can never come back,” Sebastian said. I looked at him. “You do this and you can never return. The elves already aren’t sure about you. They won’t give you a third chance.”
Cheney wore an expression I couldn’t read. Finally he blinked and shook his head. “No.”
“I’m not going to hide in here and let Devin be killed if I can stop it. If being exiled is the only way, fine. I became a changeling so I could fix things, not make them worse.”
“We’ll find another way,” Cheney said.
“He’s right, Selene. You have to at least look for another solution. Devin wouldn’t want you to destroy your life,” Katrina said.
I wasn’t sure that I would be destroying it. If I could claim my elf half, surely I could do the opposite and reclaim my human side once I broke the bond with Cheney. Everything would go back to how it had been. It wasn’t ideal, but I could do it. I could live with that solution. “I’m not hearing any other suggestions.”
“Let’s give them Jaron,” Jessica said. “He would be just as good as you.”
Cheney lifted an eyebrow and I looked down. I didn’t like the idea of trading one life for another. How was it fair to save Devin by killing Jaron? It was different with me; it was my choice. “Do you mean fake his death?”
“Sure, if that’s what you want.” Jessica shrugged and Leslie slapped her arm. “What? I don’t even know him,” she said.
“I don’t think he’d do it,” I said. “But I can ask.”
“Fine,” Cheney said. “How about the curse?”
He was acting strange, but given everything we’d dumped on him, it was amazing he could stand being in the room with any of us right now.
“Yes, I finally have an idea about that,” I said.
Cheney’s eyes showed the first real spark of interest they’d had in a bit. “What’s that?”
“If my grandmother thought I was a killer, how far would she go to keep me from hurting someone else? Doesn’t this seem like something she would do to protect the world from me?”
Cheney rested his ankle on his knee. “Edith is definitely a thought. Why don’t you girls go to see her in the morning? Sebastian and I will work on finding Devin. But, for tonight, everyone needs to rest. Don’t talk about what we discussed. The less people who know the better.” He looked around. “It’s been a long day.”
The girls went back to their rooms and Sebastian followed them out, leaving me and Cheney alone. “You considered it,” I said.
He poured himself a drink. “Considered what?”
“Letting me fake my death and leave.”
He tiredly raised a hand. “You volunteered.”
“I know.” I sat on his lap. “You’ve been taking care of all of us. I don’t think I’ve asked you if you’re okay.”
“I’ll be fine,” he said, trailing his hand down my cheek. “Why are you so caught up with the past? The only feelings that really matter are the ones you have right now.”
“That’s what everyone keeps telling me.”
“And right now, what do you feel?”
What did I feel? That was a good question. “Like I’m finally starting to put pieces together—and that I used to be focused on all the wrong things.”
“What are the right things?”
“You and Sy and my friends. None of the rest of it matters. You guys are all I need to be happy.”
“Do you mean it?” His fingers kneaded the muscles in my neck.
“Of course.”
“You aren’t going to change your mind tomorrow morning?”
I smiled. “I deserve that.” I looked into his liquid gold eyes and I knew it deep in the part of me that was only at peace when I was with him. “I love you.” The words came out in barely a whisper and I had the urge to look away. I felt bare and exposed as he gazed at me.
He cradled my face in his hands, smiling. “It only took a few decades.”
“Maybe after a few more I’ll get better at saying it.”
“Practice makes perfect.” His lips crushed into mine and I matched his force. His tongue flicked out and traced my bottom lip. His hand ran up and down my spine. “I’ve missed you,” I said and slid my tongue over his ear.
His breath hissed out as he lifted my shirt over my head and tossed it to the side. We kissed again, unable to bear the lack of contact for long as I impatiently undid the buttons on his shirt. Once the pesky garment was out of the way, I splayed my hands over his hard chest and pushed back. He looked up at me with hooded eyes. “I’m sorry I told you to go.”
“I’m sorry I kept things from you.”
“It doesn’t matter.” His mouth left a hot trail down my neck. My head lulled back, and he slipped the straps of my bra over my shoulders. His tongue dipped into hollow of my neck and traced the sharp edges of my collarbone. I ran my fingernails across his shoulders, taking the tip of his ear in my mouth.
He groaned and stood up. I tightened my legs around him to keep from slipping. He sat me on the desk and feathered kisses across my cheeks, nose, eyelids, and jaw line. The loving tenderness in his touch made my heart swell. “I love you and I wouldn’t change a thing that has happened between us. You are perfect, flaws and all,” he whispered.
“I love you too.” It was easier to say this time. Less frightening, less like it was trapping me, and more like I was finally being set free. I kissed his chest over his heart and drew his flat nipple into my mouth. Cheney’s hands went to my pants. Moments later I was bare, and my entire body was throbbing and aching. He left me for a second though—picked up my shirt from where it had landed on the desk.
“You aren’t attached to this, are you?”
“What?”
There was a tearing sound.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Trust me.” He tied the strip of shirt over my eyes, leaving me blind, and laid me back on the desk. “You think too much.” A velvet caress started just below my ear and traveled down the length of my body. “Sometimes you just have to feel.” His fingers laced with mine and he moved my arms above my head. Then he touched, tasted, and stimulated my body to the point that my skin sizzled with need. He pulled my hips nearer to the edge of the table, and I bit my lip in anticipation. His fingers, one by one, pressed into the flesh of my thighs and I moaned in sweet, sweet agony. “Cheney, please.”
He entered me just as slowly, making me feel every inch until we were completely joined. He continued at this excruciating pace, not letting me touch him, making me only feel. Finally, he pulled the blindfold from my eyes. “Hold on to me.”
My arms and legs were around him before he even finished his sentence. We moved in harmony, our eyes locked to one another until my vision blurred and I dug my fingernails into his skin. Cheney moved faster and harder, pushing both of us over the edge. He crushed me to his chest and kissed my hair over and over again. “We should probably go to our room,” he said.
“Mmmhmm.”
Cheney let me go and collected the clothes strewn about the study.
“What am I supposed to wear back to the room?” I said with a laugh, looking at my ruined sh
irt.
Cheney gave me his shirt and another lingering kiss—and my stomach growled. He grinned. “When’s the last time you ate?”
“Who has time for eating?”
He shook his head. “I’ll get you something and meet you back in our room.”
I pulled him in for another kiss before I let him go. I strolled back to our room and texted Sy that I wasn’t coming back to the bar tonight and entered the hash tag “team Cheney.” Our room looked completely untouched since the last time I’d been in it. I curled up on the bed to wait for him, but as soon as my head hit the pillow, sleep claimed me. It was good to be home.
I awoke with Cheney’s arms around me. The past wasn’t going to stand in our way anymore. I was done worrying about it. We would find Devin, break the curse, then get rid of the bond and start fresh.
“You awake?” Cheney said softly, his breath tickling my neck.
“Good morning.” I wiggled back closer to him.
He pressed a kiss to the tender spot just behind my ear. I turned and wrapped my arms behind his neck, kissing him slow and deep.
I pulled away a little. “What time is it?”
“Nearly 9:00 a.m.”
“Holy smokes, we slept late.” I snuck in one more kiss. “We need to get ready. Lots to do.” I started to get up and he pulled me back down.
“Just a few more minutes,” he said, holding me to him.
I laughed. “You don’t even sleep. I’m surprised you’re still here.”
“I wanted to wake up with you.” There was something off in his voice. Something I couldn’t quite place.
I twisted so I could see him. “What’s wrong?”
He gave me a faint smile. “Nothing. I just missed you.”
I snuggled back down. I could get used to this. “I’ll call Femi and see if she has any leads.”
“I have some things I need to do tonight, so I might be a bit late getting back. Don’t worry about me.” Again his voice was flat. I rolled over to face him, tucking my hands between my cheek and the pillow.
“Like what?”
“Some last minute details on getting the council off the ground. All the invitations are out and every sub-race has appointed a representative. The council will convene soon. I want to make sure everything goes smoothly.”
“What are you going to do about the rebels?” I caught my lower lip between my teeth as I waited for his reply.
He sighed. “We’re going to let it go. If you talk to them and they agree to disburse, there is no need to pursue it. I want all of this behind us.” He brushed his thumb over the line of worry between my eyebrows. “Did I tell you, your cousin agreed to be on the council, representing the half-elves?”
“Really?” I smiled. Sy getting involved in politics. I’d never thought I’d see the day.
“I hope I’m able to get to know him better.”
“Why wouldn’t you?”
His eyes drifted to the side. “As an elf you get this feeling of immortality. It is hard to think there might not be time for everything we want to do in this life, but I’m not taking anything for granted anymore. We never know what instant may arise that will change everything we thought we understood.”
Was he still brooding over yesterday? I knew finding out about Sebastian would be a betrayal, but I hoped he would also see that it was a betrayal of his father, not him. But perhaps I was splitting hairs. Or maybe he was worried I wouldn’t be able to break the curse. “You know that Sebastian is and has always been loyal to you, right? And we will break the curse.”
“Not as loyal as he is to you.” Cheney’s eyes sparkled at me as a real smile spread across his face. “But I don’t mind. I’m glad I can trust him to protect you.”
“He never said a word to me about my past because you told him not to.”
“In retrospect, getting everything out in the open sooner probably would have been better.”
“So you’re saying you were wrong . . .”
He kissed me. “Yes.”
“And we won’t have any more secrets from each other.”
The smile melted from his face and seriousness hijacked his eyes. “Not after today.” I frowned and was about to ask him to clarify when he climbed out of bed. “No more talk. We have to get dressed. Let’s hit the showers.”
I wore black leggings and Cheney’s button down shirt with a belt. I wanted to keep something of him close to me so I wouldn’t forget my resolve once I was away from him. I got the burlap pouch the priestess gave me and attached it to my belt. Not the height of fashion, but at least I wouldn’t lose it. The girls and I went to my grandmother’s house. I wasn’t quite sure how to ask her if she’d cursed me to protect the world, but I had to find out. My friends all looked less emotional and more stable today. Their faces were serious and they were quiet. We walked side by side up the porch, and I knocked on the door before opening it.
“Hello,” I called.
Grandma came out of the kitchen with a wooden spoon in her hand. “Did you find the book?” she asked.
I nodded. “But not Devin.”
“And you tried a tracking spell?”
“It was blocked,” Leslie said. “Everything we have tried has been blocked. We tried to release Selene’s memories and failed. We tried to find Devin and failed.”
“You know, before we came here and met you, I don’t remember a spell of ours ever failing,” Katrina said.
“Maybe you’re just not strong enough.” Grandma turned back to the kitchen.
“Or maybe you’ve been meddling with our powers,” Jessica told her.
I looked at them. “Did you guys plan this?”
“We talked about it last night. It’s the only thing that makes sense,” Katrina whispered.
I led the way into the kitchen, but Grandma was gone. “Where is sh—” A surge of energy hit my back, knocking me into the stove.
“You’ve fooled them, but you don’t fool me,” she said behind me. “I should’ve taken care of this before we got to this point. I thought maybe you could be saved.” Crackling energy formed in her palms and sparks shot out.
“I didn’t kill anyone, you crazy old woman.”
“You did. I know it. He told me.”
“Who told you?”
“Cheney.” Sparks cascaded around her hand. “He came back to the house the night I picked you up, after you went to bed. He told me everything that happened.”
“No.” I shook my head. “He spoke with you, but Cheney told me I didn’t do it.”
“He was clear enough at the time. He is protecting your feelings now.”
Was this what he was talking about? Was this the last secret?
Jessica moved toward Grandma. “If you attack one of us, you attack all of us.”
Grandma released her collected energy. Jessica flew back, cracking the wall. Then she landed in a smoldering heap on the floor.
“No!” I shouted, envisioning lifting her by the throat. Grandma rose from the ground, hands clawing at her neck but finding nothing but her own skin. Fury and rage tightened their grip on me, and I felt myself slipping away, giving into my anger.
“Selene?” Katrina said, her eyes wide and a little scared.
“Check on Jess,” I told her, not easing my grip on Grandma for a moment but managing to keep it from tightening.
“Selene, you’re killing her,” Leslie said, placing her hand on my arm. “This isn’t you.”
Good, a voice in my mind said. I was so startled I released everything. Grandma fell to the floor, gasping for air. “Put her in the chair.”
Leslie went to her, and I could see her hands shaking as she helped Grandma up. I had almost crossed a line. Almost become what my grandmother was convinced I was. I looked over at Katrina and Jessica.
“She’s breathing,” Katrina said. “But we should probably take her to the hospital.”
I nodded. “Take Grandma’s car. Leslie can help you. My grandmother and I have a lot to talk
about.”
Neither of them said anything, though I felt their eyes on me. I used my will to keep Grandma immobile in her kitchen chair while they got out of the house. I sat down next to her and folded my hands. “Did you curse me?”
Her eyes met mine, but she didn’t speak.
“Please. I’m asking for your help.”
“I am helping you, child. I’m keeping you human.”
“You’re killing me.”
She shook her head. “You’re killing yourself.” Her eyes met mine. “I told you to take the book and run. Not to let them find you, but you went with them. You went back to the Abyss, and now the evil you is coming through and tearing you in two.”
“I’m not evil. Look at me. I am me. I have always been me. I swear to you I didn’t kill my parents. I talked to Cheney about it. He said it wasn’t my magic.”
“’Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies,” she quoted the Bible at me.
I laughed. “You’re a witch. Don’t you think Bible quotes are a bit hypocritical?” Anger fought its way back to the surface. “After all, according to the Bible, I should suffer you to live.” I rubbed on the sleeve of Cheney’s shirt to remind myself to be calm.
She glared.
I crossed my arms over my chest and felt something in the shirt pocket. “Did you cast the curse? Do you know where Devin is?”
She looked away.
I rolled my eyes, sure she was guilty. I took the pouch the hoodoo priestess gave me off of my belt and laid it on the table. Grandma looked at it with a wary expression. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way.” When she didn’t respond, I said, “Fine. Hard it is.”
I got a bowl and a knife and placed them on the table. I put the pouch in the bowl and mentally forced Grandma’s hand over it. I ignored the fact that I felt nothing about what I was doing, and I raised an eyebrow at her.
Her glower didn’t give me a moment’s pause. I ran the knife over her palm and she hissed in pain. I watched the blood dribble into the bowl, keeping her arm suspended until the little sachet was soaked. Then I grabbed her injured hand and did as I had seen Cheney do before. I pushed my energy into her, making her heal faster. When the cut was no more than a faint pink line, I got up. A wave of dizziness washed over me and I gripped the table to steady myself, losing my magical hold on Grandma. I heard her push back from the kitchen table, and the next instant I was hit with a force that rivaled a freight train. I smashed against the brick wall, my head snapped back, and the lights went out.
