Eternal Promise: (The Cursed Series, Book 5)

by Kara Leigh Miller

  That familiar twinkle was in his eye, which meant napping would be the last thing we’d end up doing today, which sounded like heaven, but I didn’t need the school to call Aunt Beth.

  “No, I’ll be fine.” I smiled and patted his chest. “So, did Colt decide to enroll in school, too?”

  Trent laughed. “No, he adamantly refused, and Dad didn’t push him. In a few months, none of us will even have to worry about it anyway.”

  “True.” I yawned again.

  “You sure you don’t want to go take a nap?” he asked, his tone seductive as we headed toward our first class.

  “Yes, I’m positive,” I said, even though I wasn’t.

  “Okay,” he said like he didn’t believe me.

  SCHOOL DRAGGED, AND I barely kept my eyes open during my classes, but when the final bell of the day rang, I was suddenly wide awake. I rushed toward my locker.

  “Ready for this?” Trent asked. His shoulders were tense, his posture stiff.

  “Yup. Are you?”

  His only answer was to take my hand and lead me out to his truck. Last night, Abby had begged me to let her come with us to meet with Ivy, but I’d refused. She didn’t need to be any more involved in this than she already was. Not to mention, Isach would kill me if I said yes. He was as protective of Abby as Trent was of me.

  When we arrived at Ivy’s, Isach was already there. My stomach knotted as we walked inside.

  Isach greeted us with a weary smile. “Ivy and I worked on the wording for the blood oath,” Isach said. “It’s safe. I promise.” His gaze lingered on me before slicing toward Trent, who gave a small nod.

  “Good to see you both,” Ivy said as she emerged from the back room. “I assume you both remember how this works?”

  I nodded.

  “Good, then let’s get to work.” Ivy motioned me forward, and I followed her into the back room. Trent was right behind me.

  Ivy positioned herself behind the long table, then crooked her finger at me. My stomach twisted with fresh doubt as I stepped up to her. What if this didn’t work? What if we swore our alliance to her, and then I didn’t get pregnant? What if she did something sneaky to trick us? What if we couldn’t defeat the Zoya?

  Like before, Ivy took my left hand and held a knife above my finger. My hand trembled.

  Isach’s gaze met mine, questioning and indecisive. I glanced away quickly, not wanting him to think I wasn’t fully committed to doing this. We both had too much invested to back out now.

  “In exchange for a potion to allow you to conceive a child with a vampire, do you agree to break the curse within two months of birthing said child?”

  Two months? We hadn’t ever discussed any time limit on when I needed to change after having a baby. I glanced up in a panic, and Isach answered with a tight smile.

  “Wait a minute,” Trent said, stepping up beside me. “We already swore a blood oath for Chloe to break the curse. This has nothing to do with what we’re swearing now.”

  Isach sighed. “She insisted there be a limit on how long Chloe could remain human. There’s nothing like that in your other blood oath.”

  “It’s an added bit of security for me,” Ivy said.

  I knew this was all too good to be true. But did I really have a choice at this point? I took a deep breath. “Yes, I agree,” I said.

  It wasn’t like I planned not to change, and the sooner I became a vampire, the better I could protect myself and my family.

  Ivy smiled. “Do you agree that once the curse is broken, you will align yourself with the Rose Coven so that together, we may defeat the Zoya?”

  “Yes.”

  “And do you agree to pledge these loyalties with your blood?”

  “Yes,” I whispered.

  “Chole Madison, you are hereby bound by this blood oath,” Ivy said.

  And just like that, my fate was sealed.

  Trent swore his oath next, followed by Isach, but I tuned it all out. Equal parts excitement and numbness filled me. I couldn’t believe we’d just aligned ourselves with Ivy and the Rose Coven. What if things went horribly wrong?

  “You two don’t need to be here for this next part,” Ivy said. “Isach and I will make the potion.”

  Trent took my hand, and we walked out of the room. I flopped down onto the couch, and Trent settled next to me. He’d been unusually quiet during all of this. Was he having regrets?

  “This wasn’t nearly as scary as the first time,” I said with a nervous laugh.

  He gave me a small smile.

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  “Yeah.”

  I frowned. “That wasn’t very convincing.”

  Trent hauled me over onto his lap, his lips finding mine in a scorching kiss. He speared his fingers in my hair, holding me to him as if he were afraid I was going to get up and run away. Someone cleared their throat, and I pulled away from Trent.

  Isach and Ivy emerged from the back room. I stood and so did Trent.

  “That was quick,” I said.

  “Yes, it was rather easy with such a powerful magical boost.” Ivy’s tone wasn’t the least bit grateful, though. If anything, she sounded bitter and sarcastic. She held out two vials filled with a reddish colored liquid. “Here’s the potion. They’re labeled with your names.”

  Trent took both vials. “Thank you, Ivy.”

  She nodded. “When you’re ready to conceive, you both need to drink the entire vial. You might feel a little dizzy at first, but that’s normal. It shouldn’t last more than a couple minutes. The effects of the potion will wear off after seventy-two hours, so I suggest you two make the most of that time.”

  My face heated with embarrassment, but I nodded along, absorbing her instructions.

  “Isach adamantly refused to include any sort of time limit for conception in the blood oath, but I assume you won’t be taking too long?” She clasped her hands in front of her and raised a perfectly arched brow.

  “No,” I said.

  Trent and I hadn’t talked about when, but we’d have to now. I didn’t want to wait too long, but I didn’t want to rush into it, either.

  “Very well.” She nodded. “I don’t plan to go anywhere. I gave you my word I’d stick around to help keep an eye on you.” She looked directly at me. “But nevertheless, Isach has agreed to keep me updated on your progress.”

  I sliced a look at Isach. His face was pale, and his eyelids were droopy. Had Ivy done something to him while Trent and I weren’t in the room?

  I rushed to Isach’s side. “Are you all right?”

  “Yeah. Using that kind of magic drains me. I’ll be fine.” Isach smiled, but I had a sinking feeling he was lying to me.

  “Are we done here?” Trent asked, and the ever-present calmness that had been in his tone since we arrived was gone.

  “Yes. I’ll be seeing all of you soon, I hope.” She smiled sweetly, then disappeared into the back room.

  “Let’s get out of here,” Trent said. He helped Isach outside, and by the time we reached his car, there was more color in Isach’s complexion, and his steps were steadier.

  “Thank you. For everything.” I flung my arms around Isach. “Just give Abby a bit more time. She’ll come around.”

  He hugged me back briefly. “Thanks. I’m going to go see her now.”

  I climbed into Trent’s truck, and he handed me the two vials. I cradled them carefully in my hands and stared down at them. Extreme joy rose up in me, and a smile stretched across my face. I literally held my greatest dream in my hand, and my future sat beside me.

  CHAPTER SIX:

  It’s My Life

  “GIRLS! DINNER,” AUNT BETH SHOUTED.

  As if on cue, my stomach rumbled. I closed my laptop, rubbed my eyes, then left my room. Abby was in the hall waiting for me.

  “Hey,” I said, surprised to see her.

  Last I knew, she’d been with Isach. When had she gotten home? Her eyes were red, and her hair was a frizzy mess. She looked exhauste
d.

  “Everything okay?” I asked.

  “Isach said there’s still stuff I don’t know.” She heaved a sigh. “What else could he possibly have to tell me? That Santa Claus is a werewolf? Or maybe the Tooth Fairy is really the boogeyman.”

  I laughed, though there was nothing funny about any of this. I had to assume Isach was preparing to tell her the truth about their past relationship.

  “Do you know what he has to tell me?” she asked.

  Averting my gaze, I headed downstairs. No way was I going to tell her what I knew. I couldn’t. Isach needed to be the one to tell her, and then I’d talk to her, answer whatever questions she had.

  Abby caught up to me at the bottom of the stairs and clutched my arm. “If you know, you have to tell me,” she said insistently.

  “I can’t,” I said, my tone sympathetic. “This is something Isach has to tell you.”

  “Is it bad?” she asked, her bottom lip trembling. “Like, he’s not going to break up with me, is he? I mean, I still have no idea how I feel about everything, but how can I figure it out if he dumps me?”

  “He’s not going to break up with you,” I said, careful to avoid answering her other question. My phone buzzed, and I pulled it from my back pocket.

  Isach: I’M TELLING HER TOMORROW AFTER SCHOOL. TRENT WILL BE THERE TO GIVE BACK HER MEMORIES. CAN YOU COME, TOO?

  I took a deep breath, my stomach knotting. Suddenly, I was no longer hungry. I’d assumed this was what he was going to tell her, but now I knew for sure, and I hated that Abby was going to have to deal with this on top of everything else.

  Me: YES.

  Slipping my phone back into my pocket, I looped my arm through Abby’s. “It’s going to be okay. I promise,” I said.

  We walked into the dining room. Aunt Beth and Uncle Dean were putting dinner on the table. Grilled steak and baked potatoes with mixed vegetables was on tonight’s menu.

  Uncle Dean whispered something in Aunt Beth’s ear, and she giggled. He kissed her cheek, and in that small moment, their love was on full display. I hoped Trent and I would have a happy marriage like they did. I pulled out my chair and sat, and Abby did the same.

  “Are you getting sick?” Aunt Beth asked, staring at Abby with concern.

  Abby shook her head. “I’m fine.”

  “How was school today?” Uncle Dean asked as he set a slab of steak on his plate and cut into it.

  “Good,” I said. “We’re getting assigned all our final projects, which means we’ll be buried in homework for the next couple of months.”

  “I can’t believe you two are so close to graduating.” Aunt Beth shook her head, and I half expected her to start crying. Thankfully, she didn’t.

  “Speaking of…” Uncle Dean cleared his throat. “How are those college applications coming along?” His gaze lingered on Abby, then shifted to me.

  Abby sliced me a knowing look—she’d been lying to them about applying to colleges, and I simply hadn’t done it. Neither of us had had the courage to tell them that, but we couldn’t exactly avoid it any longer.

  “I’m waiting to hear back about my applications,” Abby said. She plopped a glob of butter on her potato. “Emails should be coming out soon, hopefully.”

  “Chloe?” Aunt Beth asked.

  I shifted in my chair. “I haven’t applied anywhere yet.”

  Uncomfortable silence descended, and I kept my head down, not wanting to see the looks of disappointment on their faces.

  “Chloe,” Aunt Beth said with a sad sigh. “This is because you’re getting married, isn’t it? You’re giving up college to—”

  “No,” I said, jerking my head up to look at her. “This has nothing to do with getting married. I just don’t know if I want to go to college. That’s not a crime.”

  “Is this really what your mother would want?” Uncle Dean asked.

  I glared at him, astounded that he’d throw my mother in my face like that. “Mom would want me to be happy, and I am.” I pushed vegetables around on my plate, appetite gone, but I highly doubted either of them would let me leave the table.

  “She’d want you to go to college,” Aunt Beth said. Her tone was softer, but the underlying disappointment was still present.

  “I didn’t say I was never going to go. I just don’t know if I want to go right after high school,” I said, hoping they’d back off if they thought I was simply delaying college as opposed to not going at all. “And right now, I’m focusing on finishing high school and planning the wedding.”

  “How is the planning going?” Uncle Dean asked.

  His question shocked me into momentary silence. “Oh, um, it’s going good.” I glanced over at Abby, but she was too engrossed in her food. “We’ve decided on August eighth of this year,” I said.

  Aunt Beth nearly choked on her food. She coughed and took a drink of her soda. “This August? That’s kind of soon, isn’t it? I thought you were going to wait.”

  “We are waiting—until after graduation.” I swirled pieces of my steak in the butter that had melted off my potato, trying to avoid her judgmental gaze. “Please don’t make a big deal about this.” I dropped my hands into my lap and glanced up.

  “We’re not,” Uncle Dean said, covering Aunt Beth’s hand with his. “Trent’s a good guy. But we don’t want you to give up your future because of him.”

  “He is my future,” I said harsher than necessary. “And if I decide to go to college, I’m sure he’ll go with me.”

  “I’m only applying to the local community college,” Abby said suddenly.

  My body sagged with relief. I could’ve kissed her right then for jumping in and saving me from her parents’ barrage of questions.

  Abby sat up straight. “At least Chloe knows what she wants to do after high school. I have absolutely no idea,” she said. “So, don’t be too hard on her.”

  I gave her a grateful smile, and she returned the gesture.

  “Well, I suppose community college is better than nothing,” Aunt Beth said.

  “Really, Mom?” Abby dropped her fork to her plate with a loud clang. “Who are you to lecture us about college when you never even went?”

  “Abigail Jean,” Uncle Dean scolded, his brusque voice making me cringe.

  “Well, it’s the truth,” Abby said. She stood and gathered her plate. “I’m done.” Then she left the dining room.

  I grabbed my plate and followed. We were silent as we scraped our uneaten food into the trash and as we walked upstairs. Abby stormed into her room, slamming the door. I walked in behind her.

  “What was that down there?” I asked. I’d never heard her speak to her parents like that before.

  “I’m just so annoyed. I mean, there is so much going on, and they’re worried about friggin’ college. It’s stupid.” She flopped down on her bed with a groan.

  “Because they have no idea about the stuff we know, and it’s not like we can tell them,” I said, sitting on the edge of her bed.

  “I have no idea how you kept all of this a secret for so long.” Abby sighed and draped her arm over her face.

  “It wasn’t easy,” I said. “But I’m glad you know now. I finally have someone other than Whitney to talk to about everything.” I laughed.

  Abby’s phone rang. She rolled over and snatched it off her nightstand. “It’s Isach,” she said, swiping her thumb across the screen.

  That was my cue to leave. I gave her a thumbs up as I walked out of her room, and she rolled her eyes, but she was smiling, so that was a good sign. I wandered into my room, my head pounding.

  After changing into pajamas, I climbed into bed and called Trent. Normally, he answered on the first or second ring. This time, he didn’t answer at all. That was strange. Was he out hunting? He normally told me when he was.

  A second later, my phone rang, and Trent’s name appeared on my screen. Smiling, I accepted the call. “Hey,” I said.

  Raucous laughter greeted me followed by Trent threatening to ki
ll someone. “Hey, Chloe, sorry,” he said.

  “Uh, what’s going on?” I asked.

  “Colt and Jax,” he said, his annoyance evident in his tone. “They thought it would be funny to hide my phone.” He paused. “Please tell me you didn’t get any weird messages from me.”

  I laughed. “Nope.”

  “Thank God,” he said. “I swear, I’m gonna kill both of them in their sleep.”

  “No you’re not,” I said, knowing full well that despite being annoyed, Trent loved having both of his brothers in his life again.

  “So, what’s up?” he asked.

  “I told my aunt and uncle that I wasn’t applying to college because I wasn’t sure I even wanted to go, and they freaked out. Then I told them we settled on August eighth for the wedding, and Aunt Beth was not happy,” I said. “She thinks we’re rushing things.”

  “Do you think we’re rushing things?” he asked.

  “No. I think we’re taking entirely too long.”

  Trent laughed, the sound bringing a smile to my face. “I agree. I’m sure they’re still adjusting to the idea of you getting married so young. Give them time.”

  I eased out of bed and wandered toward the window, secretly hoping Trent might be out there. He wasn’t. “I hope you’re right,” I said.

  “So, the college thing… you’ve decided you don’t want to go?” His tone was hesitant, as if he were worried I might overreact.

  “I’m not sure. I mean, I know I don’t want to go to college straight after high school. Maybe in a few years,” I said.

  Though, with any luck, in a few years I’d be raising a child, which would certainly complicate attending college. If I did enroll in classes, what would I take? I still had no idea what I wanted to do. Nothing excited me. But if I didn’t get a degree, what would I do with my life? I sure as hell wasn’t going to go back to high school ever again.

  “You’ll have plenty of time to figure it out,” he said, snapping me from my thoughts.

  “Yeah, I know.” I sighed. “So, Isach texted me. Tomorrow’s the big day, huh? You’re going to give Abby back her memories.”

  “That’s the plan. I only hope it works as well with her as it did with you,” he said.