Enchanter: The Flawed Series Book Four

by Becca J. Campbell

  Graham cursed again. “I’m taking you to the hospital. Just hold on.”

  Violet’s brows scrunched. “No! Home—”

  He started the ignition and frowned at her. “You don’t want to go to the hospital? Violet, you’re not well.”

  “Pain meds…the condo.”

  He arched a brow. “But don’t you think—”

  “No hospital,” she spat. Her face contorted with pain again.

  “Okay, okay. I’ll take you home.” He took a shaky breath. “But I’m not leaving until you’re better.”

  When they arrived several minutes later, Graham used the key Bruce had given him to get into the condo. He opened the door and came back to retrieve her. The false sense of courtship he felt carrying her over the threshold seemed to knit her body to him everywhere her warmth touched his skin. Her long, lavender-scented hair draped over his shoulder, tickling his arm.

  Graham pushed aside these sensations, but his recent dreams flooded back. He could do without all these confusing feelings from his teen years. A few lines from a sonnet he’d written about her years ago toyed with him.

  Her passion is as her hair,

  Carmine and warm,

  Full and rich,

  And fortunate is he who falls in her graces.

  Graham shoved the silly lines away. He draped Violet’s body across the sofa, and as soon as she was down, her arm grappled toward the coffee table. She flailed for the small, orange bottle, slapping and missing. Graham scooped up the bottle, opened it, and held it toward her. “How many do you—”

  Violet swiped the bottle from him, dumped several pills into her palm, and tipped her head back, choking them down.

  “I’ll get you some water.” He went to the kitchen and found a glass. When he returned with the water, she had sprawled across the sofa and her eyes were closed. He set the water on the table near her. After a second thought, he scooted the table within her reach.

  Perching on the edge of the nearby lounge chair, he watched her. Violet’s face twisted, then relaxed several times. In her expressions he saw something beyond the beautiful, pain-wracked young woman. He saw hints of the girl he’d been best friends with for so many years. Would something about her always be intertwined with him in this way? Yes, his mom had been her nanny once, but it wasn’t his fault that her dad had taken advantage of that. Sadly, not even Violet’s snubbing him for years was enough to extricate his convoluted feelings. Despite the mile-wide chasm between them, he still felt connected to her. It made him ache.

  He hadn’t realized until now how much he’d missed her as his friend.

  Graham sank into the chair and watched her, not because Bruce had asked him to, but because he cared for her, down in a place where nothing could shake it. After a while, the tremors stopped and her breathing evened out. Eventually, her lids fluttered, and she opened her eyes.

  Blinking a few times, she sat, glanced at Graham, and looked down at her palm. She seemed to be intently studying something there. Graham remembered his dreams. Surely not…

  Her lips parted slightly, then softened into an odd expression he couldn’t quite read.

  He shook off the strange coincidence. “Violet? You okay?”

  Her attention traveled to him.

  “Feeling better?”

  She nodded. “Yeah. Thanks.” Noticing the glass of water for the first time, she grabbed at it and took a few swigs.

  Graham’s shoulders relaxed, and he shook his head. “Wow. All that just because you missed a dose?”

  “Yeah.”

  He frowned. “Why were you at the college anyway? I thought your dad said you weren’t supposed to drive.”

  Violet flipped her hair over her shoulder and sighed, leaning back against the sofa. “I’m tired of being stuck here all alone.”

  “Well, maybe grab a ride from someone else next time? I mean, if I hadn’t been free….” He pictured her waiting for hours for a stray summer school student or campus security to find her.

  “I don’t need anybody’s help.”

  “Violet. You just woke up from a life-threatening coma—you’re not back to normal yet. Yes, I get that you’re very independent and empowered, and all that, but give yourself some time to heal, okay?”

  “It’s just such a hassle.”

  “I get that. But I’m just…trying to look out for you. Like when you saved me from total and utter humiliation in the ninth grade.” He quirked his mouth into a grin.

  “When did I do that?”

  “When you rescued my writing journal from Brooke Tuttle’s big brother.”

  Violet’s frown relaxed. “Oh, right.”

  Graham had hoped to lighten the mood, but Violet didn’t so much as smile, and her focus was elsewhere. Maybe the pain meds were affecting her focus. She kept looking at her hand, slowly flicking her fingers in and out and watching them move.

  “Why do you keep staring at your hand?” Maybe she was just tripping on the pills. She’d taken more than he would have thought necessary.

  “I—” she looked up and let her hand drop to her lap. “No reason.”

  “Okay. You need anything else?”

  She shook her head.

  He stood. “In that case, I’m going to head out now. Just…” He surveyed her for a minute. “Be careful, okay? Keep your medicine with you—and don’t drive. Get Holly or someone to help if you want to leave.” He took a few steps, then stopped. “I got a job, so I’ll be busier than normal. I might not be able to drop everything at a moment’s notice. I mean, not that I can’t….” He sighed. “Feel free to call me if you need something.”

  She scowled at him. “I don’t need your help, anyway. I can take care of myself.”

  “Right. Sorry,” he muttered under his breath. He bit back a retort and turned toward the door.

  “Graham?” Violet’s voice had changed, losing its harsh tone and softening to a delicately sweet timbre.

  He turned to look at her.

  “Where did you get the job?”

  “Mountains of Books.”

  “What’s that?”

  “That bookstore near campus.”

  “Oh, that’s nice,” she said. Her smile—the first he’d received in four years—disarmed him. “That’s perfect for you.”

  “Yeah, I think it’ll be a good fit. Plus, this girl I know from school works there.”

  “What’s her name?” Violet asked.

  “Jade…um, Edwards, I think,” Graham said.

  Something flashed over Violet’s face for an instant. It was so quick Graham thought maybe he’d imagined it. But before he could consider what it meant, she was smiling again. “I’m sure she’s a really nice girl.”

  ~

  A transformation had taken place. Violet didn’t concern herself with why or how. All she knew was that she had changed. Maybe what she could do was magic, maybe it was science, or maybe it was just fate rewarding her, giving her the step above everyone else that she so rightly deserved.

  Now she knew her new sense relied on her prescription, and that more than ever, she needed that medicine. The idea of losing her advantage had been almost worse than the pain wracking her body that afternoon on the campus lawn.

  But Violet had to know more about her gift, whatever it was. First, she needed to test its limits, then figure out how to use it on Logan. She didn’t have Ras’s phone number, but she scanned the social media apps on her phone and easily found him through Holly. As an experiment, she sent him a simple message.

  Can you come over? I need to see you.

  The response was immediate.

  Be there in five minutes.

  Triumph flooded her. Leaping off the couch, Violet buzzed around her apartment, brushing her teeth, combing her hair, and changing into a new outfit. It wasn’t as if she needed to impress him—she didn’t think her appearance impeded her power, but the fact was, she didn’t want to be seen looking less than her best.

  She’d unlocked the fro
nt door and was lounging with her long legs draped over the side of a chair when he knocked at her front door. Through her threads, she could sense his energy.

  “Come in,” she called.

  The door opened, and Ras’s tall form entered. Surrounding his head was a soft glow. Like before. The sight of him here in her apartment, all muscles and chiseled features and dark, roguish manliness sent a thrill through her. “Hey, Ras.” She gave him her most sultry smile.

  He closed the door behind him and crossed the entry to meet her. Like before, the chip on his shoulder was gone. Instead, his dark brows arched in question, and his deep eyes sought…what? A need for reassurance? A shy smile tugged at his lips, but he grew self-conscious, clearing his throat and wiping his palms on his jeans. “Hey, Violet.”

  Something about the way he looked at her energized her. He was all shy and awkward as if he’d forgotten he was this handsome specimen of manhood. A comfortable cloak of power settled over her shoulders. She stood from the chair and closed the gap between them, never breaking eye contact. Could that be the key to her ability? Maybe control lay in the eyes….

  She needed to test her theory further. An idea popped into her head, and she gave him a silent command. Kiss me. She locked on to his dark eyes. Ras held her gaze a moment, but then gave an uncomfortable shrug and looked away as if her stare was too intense for him.

  She frowned, realizing her mental commands weren’t having an effect. The other day he’d moved her entire living room set piece by piece without a flinch or a protest. What was different today?

  Violet reached out and touched Ras’s bare arm, enjoying the feel of her fingers against his smooth, tight bicep. His head snapped up, his eyes widened in surprise, and she imagined she could hear his pulse accelerate. She was close enough now that she could kiss him—and she knew he wouldn’t resist, knew he was already wrapped around her fingers. Literally. But that wasn’t enough. She wanted to make him do it.

  A thought struck her suddenly. Yesterday she’d spoken aloud. She’d assumed he’d read her intentions, but maybe he required a more direct approach.

  “Kiss me.”

  Ras’s lips were on hers in an instant. He didn’t hesitate, and he wasn’t timid. His arms tightened around her, and their bodies pressed together. Violet’s breath caught at the deepness of his passion, the need in his kiss. It was as if he’d wanted to do this for ages and had only now acted. She enjoyed the kiss until a thought occurred to her. Could she turn him off as easily as she’d turned him on? Would he need another verbal command?

  She pulled back, breaking apart and watching him closely. The intensity hadn’t left his eyes, but he didn’t step in, either. He seemed to just go with the flow of her intentions, waiting to see what would happen next.

  She weighed her options, glancing down at her hand. Mentally, she released the strands like she’d done several times before. The colored strings pulled away from Ras and retracted into her hand. After a moment they were gone.

  Ras’s expression morphed. His brows pulled down. His eyes narrowed at her. He took a step back and clenched his fists. “What the hell was that?” His angry voice thundered at her, and a momentary peal of fear echoed inside Violet.

  “What?” She blinked innocently and prepared for denial.

  “You—you did something to me. Messed with my head. I didn’t want to kiss you.”

  “That’s funny. You seemed willing enough.”

  His fingers went up to his head as if probing for physical abnormalities. He rubbed at his temples. “You’re a freak—you know that? Something about you is seriously whacked.”

  He took another step back, and Violet took two forward. “You know you wanted it. Who wouldn’t want to kiss me? You’re welcome, by the way.”

  “Welcome?” His voice rose, and his eyes lit with fury. “Who the hell do you think you are, you little—”

  With a sharp tug, Violet procured the strands again. They rushed up from her palm and encompassed his head, clinging to the glowing halo that hovered there.

  Ras’s expression flipped. His anger vanished. Placid fondness returned to his eyes. His mouth even smoothed into an upward-curving line. Just like that, her control was back. And she had him right where she wanted him.

  Oh, the possibilities.

  Jade drove home from the hospital with fingers gripping the steering wheel, her knuckles white. She gasped breaths as the reality of her mom’s situation grabbed her. Helplessness tore through her, shredding any sense of calm and making her shoulders tremble. There was a hurt down deep, too. Why hadn’t her dad told her that her mom was having these symptoms in the first place? They were a family, and families weren’t supposed to keep secrets.

  When her emotions had gone haywire in the hospital and made everything worse, it only proved his decision had been right. That stung even more.

  After pulling into the parking spot in front of her apartment, she opened a browser on her phone and did a quick search to find out more about Lupus. When it pulled up a page describing the autoimmune disease, she searched for causes. The site said it could be genetic or caused by the environment. Jade scanned the list of environmental factors that were possible causes: medications, UV rays, viruses, and physical or emotional stress. Jade stared at the last one. Emotional stress? Could she have been the cause of her mother’s condition?

  Maybe that was a stretch. It was just as likely her mom developed this condition from contracting a virus, wasn’t it? But she couldn’t help wondering if her mom’s condition had been exacerbated by her empath daughter.

  Jade scanned further down the medical site and found herself staring at a list of possible long-term complications related to Lupus. Blood clots. Kidney problems. Strokes. Seizures. Heart attacks.

  Her throat constricted. What if her mom didn’t get better? And what if Jade’s presence made things worse?

  She’d been trying to overcome her handicap for the last year, and she thought she’d made progress. She’d gotten more controlled in public. But now, with what her mom was going through, Jade was being dragged backward in great leaps.

  Her forehead dropped onto the steering wheel. She rested with her eyes closed for a few minutes, pulling in air and releasing it. Searching for the calm. But her sense of peace had vanished, and she couldn’t find her way back to her mental ocean scene.

  After one final, shaky breath, she left the car. Inside her apartment, she stepped around Chloe’s stash of fabrics and collapsed onto the sofa, her tears flowing freely. Sobs wracked her body as she thought of her mom and her dad and her predicament.

  She heard her front door open and Chloe’s boisterous voice begin. “Hey, Ja—” But her words crumpled into a pained choking sound. When Jade glanced up, wiping her eyes, she stared into a white-faced Chloe.

  Chloe’s handbag slipped to the floor, and she clutched at her chest with a hand. Tears welled up and spilled. A sob escaped.

  Jade leapt off the couch and hurried to her friend. “Chloe? What’s wrong?”

  “I…don’t know.” Chloe bit her lip to suppress another sob, and her brows tugged together in confusion. “Everything was fine, but when I walked in here….” She shook her head as if unable to even finish her thought.

  Realization flashed. “Oh no!” Jade swallowed and took several steps back from Chloe, trying to reign in her emotions. “It’s me,” she whispered. “This is my fault.”

  Chloe sniffled. Her tears streamed down her cheeks, melting her mascara into long, black streaks. “What do you mean?”

  “My mom’s in the hospital…and my…I can’t get control of my…glitch.”

  “I don’t understand. You’re making me feel like this? But I thought you did the opposite….”

  “I’ll explain later,” Jade said, wiping her own tears. “Right now, I think you need to go to Cam’s. I’m so sorry. I’ll get out of here so you can pack up.”

  “Wait—”

  “I have to leave. I’ll talk later, okay? I just ha
ve to…I have to get away.”

  Jade grabbed her keys before Chloe could say another word and headed out to her car. She ached to be alone. She thought of driving into the mountains where she usually escaped for solitude but remembered her book bag at school. That had to be taken care of before she could go running away into the woods. The drive offered her a brief reprieve, but it was over too quickly.

  She retrieved her book bag and headed back to the parking lot, noting that the campus was pretty empty for a Monday, even if it was summer break. A gentle breeze caressed her arms, chasing away some of the sun’s heat. In the large, grassy courtyard she sank onto a bench. She could feel faint traces of people tucked away somewhere, but none caused more than a background din in her mind. Maybe for just a minute she could let her mind relax.

  Part of her was done trying to restrain herself. The emotions that had slipped out when Chloe walked in on her were only the beginning. There was so much more deep within her. Now, she let the hurt, fear, and anxiety wash over her. The intensity of it all filled her mind and shut out all her surroundings. Usually being alone was cathartic, but this time, relief was elusive.

  Gradually the negative vibes diminished. The fervor of her emotions lessened, but a residual melancholy lingered over her like a cloud, darkening the corners of her mind. She tried to picture a vast expanse, to empty her mind, but still her peaceful place was unobtainable.

  A touch on her shoulder startled her, and she spun around.

  “I didn’t mean to scare you,” Logan said, watching her with his hazel eyes. “I was just wrapping up for the day, and I saw you sitting out here.” He frowned. “Were we meeting today? I don’t remember a text.”