by J. L. Weil
I wanted to crawl into the nearest hole.
Wow. That was quite a greeting. I was taken aback. “Who told you that?”
“Are you saying it’s not true?” He dared me in a growl.
The ball in my stomach grew.
I wanted to lie, and it was on the tip of my tongue to confirm that it wasn’t true, but I knew that sooner or later I was going to have to make it clear that he was not my choice. Connection or not, my feelings for him were not as strong as what I felt for Gavin. I wanted to spare Lukas pain, and I had tried to warn him off, but he wouldn’t listen.
Yet, I felt trapped.
And my silence was confirmation enough.
“That’s what I thought,” he snapped.
Hurt. Anger. Pain. Sadness.
They were all behind Lukas’s emerald eyes. He made me feel like a piece of crap, and that got under my skin. “It’s really none of your business,” I snapped, and started to once again slam the door in his face.
He stuck his foot out, stopping the forward process and bulldozed his way into my house. “That’s such bullshit.” The door vibrated shut behind him, shaking the rafters of the house.
I am pretty sure I missed the episode in my life where I agreed to have Lukas approve of my every decision. “You are drunk,” I said, pushing at his chest. It was like trying to move a cement wall. Hurt, I understood, even anger, but there was such a strong jealousy growing in his green eyes. It started to frighten me. It seemed so alien of his personality. I half-expected to see a circular mother-ship land in my front yard.
Beam me up, Scotty.
“With good cause.” Sparks started to shoot off him.
Holy crap.
He looked like a ticking bomb ready to explode, and I was going to be hit by the shrapnel. Okay. Maybe this was the wrong approach, but he caught me off guard. I saw my lazy day drift right out the window. “Lukas. You need to calm down.”
Waves of anger rolled of his body as he towering over me. “How did you think I would feel? I’ve waited years to be with you, and you throw it in my face.”
That was a low blow, and I felt it right in the gut. “That’s not fair. I didn’t even know that you were real until a few months ago.”
Energy crackled in the air, bouncing off the walls, leaving behind black burnt marks on my aunt’s pretty paint. “But it doesn’t change all that we’ve shared. It might have been in our dreams, but it was real.”
I locked down my jaw. What he said was true. How did I tell him that I loved him, but I wasn’t in love with him? “It was for me, too.”
His hand latched onto my arm, and a severe shock jolted through me, stronger than I’d ever felt. The grip in his fingers was tight, to the point of painful. “Do you feel that?” he seethed. “It is our energies linking, responding to the other. They were meant for one other, just as you were meant to be mine.”
The possessiveness in his voice sent a shiver down my spine, and the magic fused to my bones. “We might be connected through magic, but that is where it stops for me. My heart belongs to another.” Then I held my breath.
Eyes glowing in electric-green seared mine. “For now,” he conceded, his voice strained.
Power rippled through the room. The paintings on the walls trembled, and one fell to the floor, shattering. The carpet quaked under my feet, and when Lukas finally let go of my arm, there were red imprints where his fingers had been, just like the ones I had given Rianne earlier in the school year. That suddenly felt like a lifetime ago.
Whirling around, he left the same way he had come, with sheer force, fiery temper, and uncontained magic. What the hell just happened? I felt like I had just taken a spin through the center of a tornado. Sinking against the wall, my whole body was shaking, and there was a ball of magic sitting in the center of my chest, waiting to be set free.
I rubbed my wrist and closed my eyes.
So much for peace and quiet. It looked like I was going to be spending the rest of the day cleaning up the destruction Lukas left behind. I despised cleaning.
Chapter 17
The next day at school, I sought out Tori. Unlike Austin, who thought my powers were the greatest thing since smartphones, Tori had been avoiding me since the night she found out I wasn’t human. It sucked. I missed her, and it had only been a few days. I had given her space, because that was what I thought she needed, but now I needed her.
“Tori!” I called.
As my best friend, I expected her to turn around and acknowledge me. That was not what happened. Pushing my way through the crowded hall, I tried to get to Tori, but after hearing me call her name, she sped up. Stunned, I stopped walking, causing a traffic jam that resulted in some name-calling and shoving. I was hurt. I couldn’t believe she had given me the cold shoulder.
It felt like the whole school was against me as I was bounced around like a basketball. When I could finally see past the hordes, Tori was gone. My stomach dropped. On the flip side, she couldn’t ignore me forever. Our class schedules didn’t allow it, and if I had to, I would tie her up in the locker room and make her listen to what I had to say.
Austin snuck up behind me and nudged me with his shoulder. “She’ll come around.”
I had thought so too, but now, I wasn’t so sure. “Maybe,” I muttered, a sinking feeling in my tummy.
He looped an arm through mine. “Babygirl, there is nothing you can ever do, say, or be that would end our friendship. You are stuck with me for life.”
I gave him a sideways glance. “I have yet to decide if that is good or bad.”
Smiling like a goofball, he looked adorable. “Please. My friendship is a bonafide blessing.”
I knew that was an attempt to make me smile, and I gave him A for effort, but it was going to take more than his dorky charm to break through my dark cloud. “I can’t believe she actually snubbed me,” I mumbled.
He gave my arm a squeeze. “Don’t sweat it. Come on. I’ll walk you to class.”
I snorted, moving my feet. “We have the same class.”
He grinned and ran a hand over his sleek hair. “Can’t a guy just be a gentleman?”
Not in this day and age.
Tori might be ignoring me, but I was doing some ignoring of my own. I refused to let myself dwell on what happened the other day with Lukas, when he decided to fly of the handle. My head was still spinning, and I had a hard time wrapping my mind around a side of Lukas I’d never seen.
I knew that I had wounded him by choosing Gavin, and pain makes people irrational. Though seriously, he had taken irrational to a whole new level. I had been afraid, a new feeling for me where Lukas was involved. And once again, I couldn’t help but compare Lukas to Gavin. Even when Gavin had been hurt by me and furious with me, I still felt safe. That was where the difference lay. I couldn’t help but think that Lukas hadn’t needed to be such a jerkface.
He’d left behind a mess that I had to clean up, and to my annoyance, it took me more than a twitch of my nose. Five hours of my life I could never get back, but for now I put Lukas at the back of my mind. I needed to find a way to get my best friend to stop treating me like a leper.
So I became a woman on a freaking mission. Nothing was going to stand in my way. True to my word, I cornered Tori in the girl’s locker room. I didn’t give her a chance to refuse or walk away. As the other girls were heading to the gym in their oh-so-flattering uniforms, I snagged Tori by the arm, tugging her behind a row of lockers. She didn’t precisely go with me gracefully.
Jerking out of my grasp, she kept her gaze averted, tawny hair curtaining her face. “What is your deal?”
“My deal!” I screeched. “You are the one who can’t even look at me now.” Helpless exasperation seeped into the air, settling over me like a murky cloud.
She sunk to the bench, resting her hands on her knees. “It’s not you or…what you can do.”
I put my hands on my hips. “Really? Because that is not what it feels like.”
“It
’s the world. I don’t know what kind of place we live in anymore. It scares me.”
Which was code for, she was scared. But I understood all too well how she felt. Not that long ago, when I had found out what Gavin was, I had the same uncertainty. “Me too,” I admitted, sitting down beside her.
When our eyes met, there was so much confusion in hers. “Why did you never tell me?”
I shrugged, running my hands over the mesh material covering my thighs. “I thought I was protecting you, and…” I owed her honesty, no matter how exposing. Swallowing the lump that suddenly formed in my throat, I barreled on. “I was afraid you would look at me differently.”
Tears welled in her chocolate eyes. “And that was exactly what I did. I’m sorry, B. I don’t know how you handled this by yourself.”
“I didn’t. I had Gavin. And you are right. I should have told you. It’s me who needs to apologize. I’ve been a crappy friend.”
She brushed aside the tears before they could roll down her cheeks. “You can never be a crappy friend. Can you forgive me for the way I reacted?”
I smiled. “Always. You’re my best friend, Tori.”
She threw her arms around me, nearly tumbling us off the bench. “I’ve missed you.”
I hugged her back just as tightly. It had only been a week, but I knew what she meant. “Me, too.” I let go, blinking back tears of my own.
She sniffed a very unflattering goop of snot, but hey, none of that mattered among friends. “We’re late.” The bell had rung a few minutes ago.
“Screw Ms. Jensen.”
She laughed. It was the greatest sound.
From that point on, my day no longer sucked.
My step was a little lighter as I walked onto my porch after school. The only thing this day was lacking was Gavin. I’d seen very little of him, and man could I use some one-on-one time with the big lug. He had been as preoccupied as I had been, which was odd. Usually Gavin was attuned with my emotions and the craziness that was knocking around in my brain. Today was Friday night, and I wanted to go out on a date with my boyfriend like a normal teenager.
I had forgotten what normal was.
Thinking of sending him a text when I got inside, I had a naughty image conjured in my head of Gavin as I passed a black bird perched on the white porch railing. “Hey, Jared,” I said mindlessly.
It squawked in return, and I paused.
Did I just talk to a bird? Had I just called it Jared?
Backing up a step, I turned toward the bird, staring into its beady eyes, and I swore it was laughing at me. Then I felt the distinctive tingles of magic and knew I was off my rocker. This bird was Jared. So my next question was, what was Jared doing at my house? In the form of a goddamn bird?
“What are you doing here?” I snuck a quick look around just to make sure none of my neighbors saw me talking to a bird.
Jared tilted his head to the side.
I guess I shouldn’t have expected him to talk back. That would have been extreme, even for me. I’d seen a lot of weird shit, but a talking bird? Even I had to draw a line somewhere.
Before I could digest what was happening, my feathered friend’s form began to swirl and shimmer. Jared was transforming. I closed my eyes. “Please God, let him be wearing clothes,” I mumbled to myself, pressing a hand over my closed eyes as added protection and to resist the temptation of sneaking a peek.
As soon as I heard Jared chuckle, I knew it was my sign that it was safe to open my eyes. Knowing Jared, though, I wouldn’t have put it past him to try and shock me. Peering between my fingers, I was relieved to find him mostly dressed.
He was shirtless, and I didn’t doubt he was that way on purpose. But I guess if I was a guy, and I had muscles like Jared, I might walk around shirtless all the time. However, for the sanity of womankind, Jared needed to keep his abs covered.
The bigger question…what was he doing here—incognito nonetheless?
Then it hit me.
It was time. We were going underground, so to speak.
“Gavin sent me to retrieve you for our little excursion.” He cracked a grin, completely at ease with his near-nakedness.
I, on the other hand, was starting to develop hot flashes, and it was becoming increasingly hard to keep my gaze focused on his face. “We’re going now?” I asked, my voice just one notch below shrill.
He leaned a jean-clad hip on the rail. “Well, once Sophie is finished with you.” Jared shook his head. “I don’t envy you. My sister is going to do a number on you. Gavin told her to make you look like completely different person, and I think you and I both know that Soph can be over the top.”
I let that sink in. Just great. “Wonderful. Lead the way.” Then I realized he hadn’t taken a car. “I guess I’ll drive.”
He gave me a wicked grin.
I sent a quick text to my aunt, telling her that I was going out with Gavin tonight and not to wait up; I was probably going to be home late. Then we climbed into my Mustang. During the short drive, the car felt cramped, with Jared’s bulky presence next to me. And there were waves of anticipated excitement rolling off his muscled form, which made me antsy.
Gavin was waiting at the door when I put the car in park, killing the engine. He arched a brow at his shirtless brother. “When I asked you to get Bri, I didn’t expect you to go Magic Mike.”
Jared’s eyes twinkled. “I couldn’t resist.”
Gavin faced me, leaning a shoulder on the door. “There’s still time to change your mind.”
I screwed up my face. “Not happening.”
“I was afraid you’d say that,” he grumbled, clearly displeased.
Sophie bounced out of nowhere, and grabbed my hand, dragging me upstairs. All I got from Gavin was a smirk. I didn’t know which was worse, letting Sophie have full control over my makeover or sneaking into an exclusive club of witches to ask questions that would probably get us killed. I was such a shitty girlfriend.
If I really loved Gavin, I should probably let him go, because being with me was hazardous to everyone’s life. But I was just too selfish and too chicken shit to face this alone. I needed and depended on him.
“I have been dying to wield my awesome skills on you since we met,” she said as we climbed the stairs.
Oh, boy. She reminded me of Austin and Tori, who took every opportunity to make me their living Barbie doll. “That seems to be a running theme from people in my life,” I mumbled, rounding the hall and following her into her room.
A wrought iron bed sat just under a wide window. I could hear the lapping of waves. A sheer teal canopy surrounded a bed decorated in deep purple and gold. There was a gypsy ambiance. In the corner was a dresser of rich wood, housing a display of brightly colored perfume bottles reflecting against a mirror. The room smelled distinctly female, a mix of floral and vanilla.
Sophie shut the door behind us. “That’s because you don’t see the potential the rest of us do.”
I snorted. “Or you all suffer from some kind of eye condition like beer goggles.”
She shook her head, sending her raven hair over her shoulder. “Well, when I’m done with you, you’ll be unrecognizable.”
“That’s the plan.”
“No one is going to be able to take their eyes off you.”
Gulp. I definitely didn’t like the sound of that. “Umm. I was hoping for something more subtle, you know, to blend in, not draw too much attention.”
She gave a musical laugh. “Oh Brianna, you are in for a treat. I wish I was going to be able to see your face.”
“Aren’t you coming with us?” I asked as she angled her head, studying me. Under her scrutiny I started to get nervous. What I was about do, where I was about to go, finally sunk in. This shit was real.
She bit her lip, picking up the ends of my hair. “I think I’ll start with whatever you call this. Hold on to your witch’s brew. You’re in for the shock of your life.”
That was debatable. Finding out I was a clàr si
lte was currently the blow of the decade.
“And sadly no,” she continued. “I won’t be going with you. I was overruled by muscles and testosterone. It sucks being the only girl. Of course if you talked to Gavin…”
“Oh, no. I am not getting in the middle. It’s probably best anyhoo. I would only blame myself if something happened to you.” And I would never forgive myself, I thought silently.
Just a flicker of emotion crossed her face before she snuffed it. “A girl can try. I just hate to miss out on all the excitement.”
She started to work her magic as we talked. I could feel the tingles vibrating in the air and dancing over my skin. I stood as still as possible. The last thing I wanted was to make a sudden move and end up with neon green skin or a third nipple. “Your family has a weird sense of excitement,” I mumbled.
Her perky little nose wrinkled. “I never really thought about it. So how are Austin and Tori handling your heritage?”
I gave a one-shoulder shrug. “They’re adjusting, one more than the other, but I think we reached a turning point today.”
“Good, because the darkness on your soul—it’s doubled,” she informed stonily.
Sophie—the bearer of bad news. My heart leaped into my throat. “Not entirely a surprise, after what I did.” All that wishful thinking flushed down the drain.
“Stop fidgeting,” she scolded.
I frowned. My mind was whirling, and she was worried about my posture? The only positive side I could see to this situation was that tonight I was going to do something about it. No more sitting on the couch with my head under the covers. I couldn’t spend the rest of my life shut up in my house, no matter how appealing that sounded right now.
“Smile,” Sophie instructed.
I gave her a dry look, not exactly in a cheery moody.
She put a hand on her hip, shifting her weight. “I can’t work with scowl lines.”
Softening my lips, I tipped the corners in a pathetic smile. “Happy?” I said between clenched teeth.
“Don’t stress. I know Gavin, and he will move heaven and earth to find a way to stop the darkness and he will remove every witch who stands in his way.”
