Eternal Promise: (The Cursed Series, Book 5)

by Kara Leigh Miller

  “I know. I do, too.” He buried his face against my neck. “I’ll feel so much better when the curse is broken and the Zoya are gone and it’s just you, me, and our child.”

  My breath hitched, and tears burned my eyes at how he’d mentioned our child, too. “Maybe we should elope the day after graduation.”

  He laughed, the sound rumbling through his chest. “I’ll do whatever you want, but I’m pretty sure our families wouldn’t be too happy with us if we did that.”

  I sighed and loosened my hold on him, easing back far enough to see his face. “You’re probably right. And Whitney will kill me if I suggest moving up the date.”

  He cradled my face and peered into my eyes. “We’re not changing anything. We’ll stick to our plans, and everything will be fine.”

  I hoped he was right, but there was so much that could go wrong. Right now, I needed to focus on one thing at a time, and my top priorities were graduation and planning our wedding. Oh, and figuring out what was going on with Felicity. Thankfully, Isach seemed to be taking charge on that issue.

  “Can I come in?” Abby knocked.

  Trent released me and opened the door. He stepped aside, and Abby entered.

  Her eyes were red and puffy, her face tear stained. “I’m going with Isach for a little bit. We just kinda need to get away and be alone.” She rocked on her heels. “I’ll be back, though, so we can be home in time.”

  “Okay.” I nodded.

  “And, just so you know, I’m not mad at you.” She hesitantly met my gaze. “I’m still overwhelmed by… all of this… witches and vampires and…”

  “I know.” I offered her a sympathetic smile. “I’m still overwhelmed most of the time, too.”

  She smiled faintly. “I’ll be back soon.” And then she left.

  I wanted to hug her and tell her I was sorry and beg her to be careful. But I knew Isach would keep her safe, and that gave me enough comfort to let her leave.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:

  Everyone’s Lost Their Minds

  NERVES CLAWED AT MY STOMACH AS I walked into school Monday morning. Would Felicity be lurking in the hallways again? Would she attempt to do something more than just watch me? I hurried to my locker, constantly glancing over my shoulder.

  As usual, Trent was waiting for me. He stepped aside so I could get into my locker, and when I was finished, I turned to him. Normally, he’d say something or give me a kiss.

  I tilted my head. “You’re quiet this morning. Everything okay?”

  He nodded. “Had a small disagreement with Jax. It’s fine.”

  I groaned. “By small disagreement you mean…” I raised a brow, waiting for him to fill in the blanks. I hated when those two fought, especially when I was the reason.

  “I mean it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” His tone was sharp, and he barely looked at me. What was going on with him?

  “Okay.” I rose up on my tiptoes and gave him a kiss.

  Only then did he start to act like his normal self. He yanked me closer and deepened the kiss, one hand splayed on my back, the other twisting in my hair. My heart hammered, and butterflies filled my chest.

  “I love you,” he whispered, then released me.

  I fought to take a deep enough breath. “I love you, too.”

  He was acting weird, and that concerned me. Last time he’d been like this, he broke up with me. Not that I thought he was going to do that again, but there was definitely something going on, and I had a sinking feeling it had to do with whatever he and Jax “disagreed” about this morning.

  Before I could pry, the bell rang. Trent gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, and then he headed toward his class. I trudged into Mr. Gordon’s room and flopped down in my chair. Then I twisted around to face Jax.

  “What happened between you and Trent this morning?” I asked. If I couldn’t get information from Trent, I’d get it from Jax. “He said you two had a disagreement.”

  Jax laughed. “Something like that.”

  “Something like that?” I raised a brow. “What does that even mean?”

  Frustration built in my chest, threatening to erupt. I needed to calm myself, because if I had one more run-in with Mr. Gordon, I was going to fail this class.

  “He’s being an idiot. Like usual.” Jax drummed his fingers on the desk. “He’s putting all his faith in Isach to deal with Felicity. I simply suggested we deal with her ourselves. Trent disagreed.”

  My jaw dropped. “You want to kill her?” I whispered, eyes wide.

  “Yes.” Jax leaned forward, his face inches from mine.

  His eyes were a stormy shade of blue. I’d never get used to how his and Trent’s eyes were so similar, not just in color but in how they changed with their emotions.

  “If it means keeping you safe, I’d kill her right now,” he said.

  I eased back, needing some air that wasn’t tainted with the scent of him. “We don’t even know she’s bad.”

  “C’mon, Chloe. You’re not stupid.” His gaze searched mine. “She’s a Zoya.”

  Sighing, my shoulders sagged. He was right. Even though Felicity wasn’t currently part of the Zoya Coven, she was one of them, and that automatically made her dangerous. Though… Isach had changed. Who was I to say Felicity couldn’t do the same? Was that a chance I was willing to take?

  “So, who’s side are you on in this?” Jax asked, leaning back in his seat. “Mine or your future husband’s?” There was too much hurt in his tone.

  “Neither. I think we need to at least give Isach a chance to see what he can find out. If he doesn’t learn anything, or he learns something we don’t like, then we…” I swallowed hard, unable to say the words.

  “Dispose of her?” Jax smirked.

  “You don’t have to look so happy about that.”

  He gave a nonchalant one-shoulder shrug. “And for the record, that plan is exactly what Trent said this morning, too.” Jax swiped his books into his arms, stood, then strode out of class.

  Guilt stabbed at my gut as I watched Jax leave. My muscles tensed in preparation to run after him, but I battled the urge and forced myself to remain seated.

  I spent a majority of the class watching the door, hoping Jax would return, but he never did. What was up with everyone today? First, Trent was standoffish this morning, and now Jax was throwing a tantrum because I didn’t agree with him.

  When class ended, Whitney marched up to me. “What was that all about with Jax?” Accusation dripped from her tone.

  “I honestly don’t know.” I shoved my books into my backpack. “Trent said he and Jax had a fight this morning, but Trent wouldn’t tell me about what, so I asked Jax. He wants to kill Felicity, but Trent wants to wait to see what Isach can find out. I said I basically agreed with Trent. Jax got mad.” I shrugged and flung my backpack over my shoulder. “They’re both acting weird today.”

  “Hmm.” Whitney headed out of the room, and I followed.

  Unease nagged at my mind, and I grabbed her arm. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  She sighed and turned to face me. “You can be so naïve sometimes, Chloe.”

  I scowled.

  “That’s not a bad thing.” She chuckled. “Look, everyone knows you picked Trent, but what you don’t know is how hard that’s been for Jax. And I get it. Because of what happened between you two, you need to stay away from him, and I’m glad you are. But he’s struggling, too, and he doesn’t feel like Trent is taking this issue with the Zoya and Felicity seriously enough.”

  I crossed my arms, letting her words sink in. I didn’t like what she was saying—especially about how hurt Jax was—but I couldn’t not listen, either.

  “And what do you think? Should Trent be doing something more? Do you agree with Jax?” I asked.

  Whitney glanced away, and that was all the answer I needed. Anger ignited inside of me. I dropped my hands to my sides and curled my fingers into fists.

  “The answer to problems isn’t to go kill everyone. T
hat’s part of being human, and I don’t care if you and Jax don’t like it. I, for one, love that Trent is compassionate and rational about things like this.” I spun on my heel and marched toward my next class.

  “Chloe!” Abby’s choked sob stopped me cold. She flung her arms around my neck and squeezed the breath from me.

  “Abby? What’s wrong?”

  “Isach…” She sobbed. “Broke… up… with… me…” She inhaled a shaky breath, hiccupped, then sobbed even harder.

  Isach broke up with her? Shock rendered me motionless for several moments. Then, snapping out of it, I hugged her back, and her shoulders shook hard enough to shake both of us.

  “I’m so sorry.” I let her cry a moment longer, then I released her. “C’mon. We’re leaving.”

  She nodded and rubbed at her eyes, which were red and puffy and spilling non-stop tears down her face. As soon as Abby calmed down enough to tell me what was going on, I was going to find Isach and kill him.

  He’d promised he wouldn’t hurt her. He’d made a blood oath with Ivy just so he could have an eternity with Abby, and then he dumped her? Had everyone in this school lost their minds today?

  I ushered Abby out of school and straight to my SUV. Once we were in and buckled, I sped out of the parking lot, drove past Roaring Brook Falls, and just kept going. I didn’t have a destination in mind, but I kept driving in the hopes it would calm Abby and help me think clearer.

  Finally, Abby’s tears slowed. She took several stuttering breaths. “He met me after first period and told me,” she said, her head down, gaze trained on her lap.

  “Did he say why?” I asked, my tone gentle.

  Every feeling I’d had when Trent had broken up with me resurfaced, and I knew what Abby was going through. I wanted to take this pain away for her, but how could I do that?

  “He said it was too complicated being with me,” she said.

  “That makes no sense.” I couldn’t keep the anger from my tone. “Too complicated to be with you? He knew what he was getting into. He wanted this, Abby. He wanted you.” I slammed my palm against the steering wheel.

  Abby jumped, and a fresh wave of sobs wracked her body.

  “I’m sorry.” I frowned. Tears burned my eyes, and I blinked against them. “I’m just so mad right now. How could he do this after everything he’s done to be with you?”

  She shrugged.

  “There has to be a reason, something we don’t know. I mean, he was fine all weekend, right? You two were getting along?” I glanced at her.

  She nodded and sniffled. “Yeah. I even told him I forgave him for everything, and that I’d change.”

  “What?” I whipped my head toward her, and in the process, I jerked the steering wheel. My heart jackhammered, and I righted the wheel, my pulse pounding in my ears. “You told him you’d become a vampire?”

  “Yes,” she whispered. “Maybe that’s why he broke up with me.” Her voice wavered. “Maybe I scared him off.”

  “Abby, no.” I shook my head. “He wants you to change so you two can be together. I know he does. None of this makes sense.”

  My thoughts were racing a mile a minute, and I couldn’t concentrate on any one thing. I pulled into the next place I found—a small, rickety diner that didn’t have a name on the building and had plywood nailed across one of the front windows. Was this place even open? There were five cars in the lot, so it must be.

  I parked, killed the engine, and unhooked my seat belt. Then I gave Abby another hug, an awkward one because of the console between us, but she hugged me back regardless.

  “I just don’t understand,” she mumbled.

  “Me either.” Releasing her, I sat back.

  Nothing about today made any sense. I told her about what happened with Trent and Jax and Whitney and how they were all acting really weird.

  “I swear, everyone has lost their minds. What’re the chances all of them would…” I froze as an unexpected thought slammed into me.

  “What?” Abby asked.

  “It all makes perfect sense,” I said as if in a daze.

  “It does?”

  “It has to be the Zoya. They can mess with people’s minds, make them see things and feel things. Maybe the Zoya did something to them?” My heart raced faster as the idea took root in my mind. That was the only thing that made any sense.

  “But Isach? Why would the Zoya do something to him? As far as they know, he’s still loyal to them.” Abby fidgeted with her hands, her eyes downcast. “I just have to face it. He doesn’t love me like I love him.” Her voice cracked. “God, to think I was willing to become a vampire for him.” She laughed bitterly. “I am so dumb.”

  “You are not dumb, Abby. Don’t ever say that,” I said vehemently. “If anyone’s dumb, it’s Isach. He has no idea what he’s given up.”

  We fell silent.

  Abby continued to fidget with her hands, and I stared out the windshield, trying to make sense of the senseless. I needed to call Isach myself and find out what the heck was going on. He owed me an explanation, and I was going to get one.

  “I don’t know what this place is, but want to go eat our feelings?” I asked.

  Abby let out a small laugh. “Yeah, and hopefully, we won’t get food poisoning.”

  Laughing, I got out of the car. We headed inside, and I was greeted with the smell of bacon, fryer grease, and fresh apple pie. A strange combination, but it made my mouth water.

  “Sit wherever you’d like,” said a woman in an apron as she rushed past us, balancing several plates of food.

  Abby picked a table near the boarded-up window, and I wasn’t complaining. It offered a certain sense of privacy. We sat and pulled the menus from behind the napkin dispenser. The choices were pretty much the same as every other diner I’d been to—breakfast foods, burgers, fried fish, French fries, soups, and a rather impressive selection of desserts.

  “I’m skipping regular food and just getting pie,” I said.

  Abby glanced up, smiled, then nodded. “Me too.”

  When the waitress finally made it to our table, I ordered a glass of water and three different desserts: apple pie with ice cream, triple chocolate cake, and cheesecake.

  Abby ordered water, a slice of carrot cake, banana cream pie, and walnut fudge brownies. The waitress gave us a strange look but didn’t comment.

  “Figured we can share.” Abby shrugged.

  I grinned. “Good idea.”

  “Thanks for doing this.” Abby unrolled her silverware. “There was no way I could stay at school today and have to see him.”

  I reached across the table and stilled her fidgeting hand. “I know. I remember what it was like when Trent broke up with me. Just thinking his name hurt.” I frowned. “I have no idea why any of this happened, but I know it’s not because he doesn’t love you. He does. I know he does,” I said emphatically. “There’s something else going on, and we’re going to figure it out. I promise.”

  She gave me a genuine smile. “I hope you’re right.”

  “I am,” I said with a lot more confidence than I actually felt.

  What if Isach switched sides again? What if he decided he didn’t want to betray his coven? But why break up with Abby? She literally had nothing to do with the feud between the Zoya and the Halsteads. If anything, Isach should’ve come after me. I really needed to talk to him. And Trent—he’d know what to do; he always did.

  I pushed the thoughts from my mind. Right now, I was going to focus on Abby and helping her mend her broken heart. The rest could wait a few hours.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN:

  Frantic

  BY THE TIME WE WALKED OUT of the no-name diner, Abby was smiling and laughing. Even though I knew she was still upset, at least she wasn’t crying anymore. I was more determined than ever to find out what was going on with Isach, because I knew he loved Abby.

  I climbed into my SUV and hesitated. A muffled ringing noise sounded from the backseat. I’d left my cell phone in my backpack
. I twisted around and finagled my cell phone from my bag.

  I had twelve missed calls from Trent, six from Jax, and ten from Whitney—and that wasn’t counting the two dozen messages I had from them. My heart stopped. What was going on? With a trembling hand, I called Trent back.

  “Chloe? Where are you? Are you all right? Where’s Abby? What’s going on?” He fired the questions at me so fast I could barely understand him, but his voice was downright frantic.

  “Yeah, I’m fine, and Abby’s with me. What’s going on?” I started the car.

  He sighed heavily. “Where are you?”

  “Um…” I glanced around. “I’m not sure. Abby and I just sort of started driving, and we ended up at some dive diner off Route 73.”

  With my free hand, I yanked my seat belt across me and hooked it. Abby gave me a questioning look, and I shrugged.

  “You just started driving?” Disbelief mixed with a hint of anger laced his words.

  “Yeah,” I said slowly, drawing out the word. “Abby was upset. Isach broke up with her. Can you believe that? I’m going to kill him.” I put the phone on speaker, set in the console, then backed out of the parking spot.

  “Chloe,” he said, his voice controlled. “With everything going on… I had no idea where you were or what happened. I thought Felicity had gotten to you.”

  All the air rushed from my lungs, and whatever joy I’d had when I walked out of the diner vanished, replaced with stark fear. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think…” I said.

  My stomach sank. I never meant to make him worry. I’d been so focused on helping Abby that I hadn’t bothered to text Trent to let him know what I was doing. Not that I needed to tell him every time I went somewhere, but with a coven of witches after me, it was probably a good idea to tell someone where I was.

  “Where are you now?” he asked.

  “Headed back to town. We should be there in an hour or so.”

  Silence.

  “Trent?” I picked up my phone, worried the call had been dropped.