After a clipped chuckle that spread into a grin, Colby turned serious.
"No one will ever use my daughter for her gifts. Ever." The possessiveness already in place didn’t surprise them at all. Gracie so instantly brought that out in them.
"That's true, Daddy." Gracie spoke with such sweet certainty. "Daddy J, too. Both of you are the best dads ever. Except for when I start dating—" choke, cough, choke, cough, choke, cough…
"Um—how about we slow down—just a little," suggested Jae, sucking in some air with the hope it brought with it some much needed clarity.
Meghan cleared her own throat. "Let's give the new dads a little space." They made to pack into the carriages at the end of the driveway. "We'll see you guys tonight."
"I'm going to be the one in gold!" Gracie told them with a giant grin.
"You know, on second thought," started Colby, "we might need mom help for this. I can't pick out a nice party dress to save my life." Jae smirked, because neither could he.
"You don't need to," Gracie informed them. "I already know where you buy it. And we can get pizza on the way."
After another round of laughs and goodbyes, a nervous sort of excitement charged the air. The future was waiting for them. Unknown, except perhaps by Gracie. But wide open and full of possibilities. Colin and Catrina waved from one side of the carriage. Sebastien and Meghan, the other.
The new dads and Gracie waved and smiled back, the little girl's eyes growing distant. She cocked her head to the side in thoughtful contemplation.
"What is it, Gracie?" Jae asked her.
"A memory. From a future that didn't happen. Even though it did."
"How is that?" Colby didn't understand what she meant.
"It happened in this timeline, and in another of my own. But that future changed, for me."
"But you still remember it?"
"Perfectly."
Colby and Jae were a bewildered mess trying to wrap their minds around this little girl and her unique gift.
"What is the memory?" Jae urged her to share.
"I was talking to Jasper Thorndike. He looked like Meghan at the time, he was in disguise. But I knew."
"Of course you did." Jae couldn't help but laugh.
"And what did you talk about?" Colby asked her.
Gracie let her head rest on her father's shoulder and reached out for her other father's hand.
"I told him, before we can be brave, we must learn what it is to be afraid. Before we can appreciate unconditional love and unwavering loyalty, we must first understand what it is to be hated, exploited, and cast aside."
Both grown men's hearts corkscrewed, their blood both chilling and boiling at the same time, at the meaning of what she was saying. And it made them want to hold onto each other, and their new daughter, even tighter.
"And then I told him, before we can fight with the desire to win our freedom, we must experience what it means to lose it. Only then, can any of us ascend to greatness and truly appreciate what it means, to live."
Jae reached up with his free hand and swiped away a stray tear in Colby's eye. These were the only tears he shed now. Never because of fear, or shame. He sucked inward, and upon exhaling, released the last tendrils of his father's hold on him.
He gazed in loving awe of his perfect husband, and the two of them together at the unbelievably gifted little girl with the ancient soul. Then out to the carriages pulling away, filled with loved ones smiling back at them in a surreal moment that only reminded each of them of the journey they'd been on together.
It was over now, and a new journey still awaited. But it didn't take magic, or the gift of sight, to see that this happily ever after had been forever, Fated…
Magicante says…
A special note from the author…
Thank you so much for joining me on this journey—for many of you, right along with me since the summer of 2009 when I first published book one. Life has thrown me many ups and downs since I first began this series, and there were a few times I wasn't sure I'd ever get those final words written. So, thank you, again and again, for all your support over these years. I truly appreciate it more than you know.
I'd also like to thank the following Book 11 Beta Readers: Tonya Hanson, Sandra Monica, and a few others who wished to keep their privacy. Your efforts are much appreciated!
It's a bittersweet time for me. I love these characters as if they were real and dear friends to me. I've already been asked if I will ever revisit the world of the Fated Series again. While I have no exact plans right this moment, it is possible. I do have lots of other stories that could be told within this world. If you're interested, make sure you're on the VIP EMAIL LIST and you won't miss future news.
www.jackallanternbooks.com
If you haven't read it, I've also included a free preview of another series, We Witches Three. Enjoy~ Humphrey Quinn.
WE WITCHES THREE FREE PREVIEW
Welcome to The Demon Isle where the supernatural hide in plain sight….
Tourists want to believe the supernatural is real, and The Demon Isle delivers—from the moment they step off the ferry onto the nostalgia inducing lanterned streets straight off the pages of yesteryear, or wander down foggy cobblestone lane after lane lined with fortune tellers and magic shops, or take a haunted tour of the island in hopes of catching a glimpse of mythical creature belonging to a fantasy world.
Ghosts, vampires, werewolves, faeries, mermaids—the sightings are endless. And it's the perfect cover. Because while tourists bask in the safety and delight of the possibility, the supernatural community is not only real, but thriving. And hiding right under the noses of tourists immersing themselves in the fantasy.
The locals know the truth.
They know the dangers that lurk around dark alleys and foggy beaches.
But they also know who to turn to if they need help.
The Howard Witches.
They've been protecting The Demon Isle and its inhabitants for many generations.
For Melinda Howard, the youngest sibling, dreaming about how people will die is never fun on a good day…but it's her magical inheritance and one thing she cannot escape. Life and love, on the other hand, can wait, because she prefers the safety of her reclusive life and letting her brother's handle the hands-on witching work.
Something Charlie Howard thrives on as the eldest sibling and unspoken leader of their coven. His physical strength and pure daring alone can usually get the job done quick. A job middle sibling, Michael, would prefer to live without as he wants to leave the Island and go to school.
Partly because, today, after tragically losing their parents to the job, they are just three siblings doing the job that in previous generations was done by twenty or more. And even with Melinda's dreams, Charlie's strength, and Michael's wits, it's often no longer enough and they rely heavily on their mentor, William Wakefield—a four-hundred-year-old vampire who is also a dear family friend and long-time protector of the Howard Witches.
Is it time for the Howard legacy to end?
Hasn't their family sacrificed enough?
Is it time to let someone else take over?
But who would want the job? A Howard Witch living to a ripe old age is a rare thing…William would know as he's watched far too many die too young. And he fears this is not only the last days of the bloodline and the legacy, but his purpose in this life as well.
But when Michael has to give a death reading for the local sheriff to assist in a murder investigation, and Melinda has a prophetic dream about someone about to die, and the supernatural world threatens to consume them all and leave the island unprotected…a truth is revealed that will change everything.
The Howard Witches will have to make a choice.
Heed the call and find a way to fulfill their duty, or face a future in which they are no longer protectors of The Demon Isle and let the family legacy come to an end….
We Witches Three is an episodic supernatural suspense series about twenty-so
mething witches struggling to balance love, life, and duty. It's heavy on romance and action and should be read in order. These books are rated similar to a TV14 rating. There is mild language and behind closed doors adult situations. If you would rather have all the adulting stuff with the doors wide open, please see the sister series, Wicked Good Witches (same story but written for readers over 18).
From Book 1, Isle of Bones…
Melinda Howard poured a potion into a small glass vial. She used a funnel, not trusting her unsteady fingers. It was her first time making this particular potion and if the results were anything less than perfect, the consequences would be fatal to the vampire standing in her kitchen.
He was across the room. A good fifteen feet away. But she’d swear he was hovering just inches behind her, watching her every move. Movements that suddenly became heavy and awkward.
Pay attention! She chastised herself silently. Keep it together, you’re almost done.
She exhaled, letting out a surge of flustered breath, shuddering as an electrified pulse fired down her spine at the thought of him watching her. Her heart quickened, fingers quivering as she removed the funnel, the vial nearly filled. Just one final step to complete the potion. She shoved her chin-length chestnut bangs behind her ear, grabbing an already filled dropper and added the contents within to the vial.
The mixture sizzled, a small plume of steam erupting from the vial before the clear liquid inside turned to deep red. Melinda smiled, relieved by the outcome. She let the buildup of nervousness escape with her next breath, corked the vial, turned, and tossed it to the vampire.
It went high, threatening to fly over his head and crash into a wall. He deftly jumped into the air, caught it, and landed without a sound.
“Good catch, William,” Melinda said, winking playfully.
The vampire silently scolded Melinda with a stern gaze before drinking the contents of the vial.
“Like you’d miss,” she responded as innocently as possible while averting her gaze, unable to linger in his for long.
“I never miss,” William replied matter-of-factly. The vampire straightened his black pullover, the dark color only further accentuating the paleness of his neck and face.
“Did it work?” Melinda asked, venturing a fleeting look in his direction.
“It tastes correct.” He paused, savoring the warm sensation the potion gave him as it forced its way through his veins like the blood that no longer willingly pumped its way through his body. “I do believe you did perfect, Melinda. Well done.”
She curtsied, nodding in appreciation to her one vampire audience, hurriedly turning away again to avoid making eye contact.
His eyes narrowed in a questioning manner. “Are you okay this morning?”
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. He noticed. I so suck at acting. “Um, yes,” she answered too hesitantly. She cleared her throat. “I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
“You seem on edge.”
On edge? Really? You have no idea, her thoughts exclaimed loudly. She wished she could tell him the truth- that her edginess was completely his fault.
Melinda had dreamt about William the night before. A dream that while in the middle of, painted her the image of a goddess adored by a vampire. But once awakened from, left her restless with skin far too tight, and achy. And now, normal daily actions she’d never given a second thought to turned clunky and awkward, sitting at the forefront of her thoughts while in William’s presence.
Was he watching her, right now? What did she look like through his eyes?
She’d had a crush on him for years, but she’d never dreamt of him, not like this.
“There it is again,” the vampire noted, disrupting her wandering mind. “I’ve never heard your heart flutter like that before. Are you ill?” He stepped closer, concerned.
Stupid super vampire hearing! Melinda held her breath for a second, blood racing to keep up with her stammering heart. “I’m fine. Promise. I was just nervous about making the potion, and was recalling my dream from last night.” This was a partial truth. There had been a second dream. A much less pleasant dream, one she had shared with him. Her skin flushed and gaze lowered.
“Very well,” he conceded with a narrow stare. She was holding back on him, something she never did until recently. What had changed? What was she hiding? Why did she not feel at ease enough to confide in him, as always?
Melinda refused eye contact, keeping herself busy and her gaze downward. And if she chewed her bottom lip any harder she might draw blood… she shivered, though it was a warm summer day. That flutter returned, blood rushing through her veins in an attempt to keep up with her erratically beating heart. It got stronger the longer his eyes lingered on her movements.
What was she hiding from him?
He cast his gaze across the room looking at nothing in particular, focusing on the pulse of her blood, a sound he was familiar with. This flutter though… it was… different. Strangely enticing. Although he could not ascertain why. Somehow, each flutter called out to him, almost reaching out across the room to him, jolting him with electric sparks of… of what? And why did it matter?
Because all things Melinda Howard mattered. That’s why. And if she was ill, he needed to know. His ears tuned into her heart, his eyes closing, his mind sinking into each beat. Each pulse of blood.
Unconsciously, he licked his fangs.
What would she taste like?
He sucked in, eyes opening in disgust. A scowl etching his face.
This reaction displeased him immensely. It was not normal, appropriate, or acceptable behavior. Not for him.
It was too bad he needed to have a blood-empty stomach before drinking the potion. He’d have to wait thirty minutes before partaking of his typical breakfast of warmed, week-old animal blood. It hardly sounded appetizing compared to the lovely blood-filled creature standing just out of reach…
“William,” he barely heard Melinda call out. “Would you put this away for me? I can’t reach.” She outstretched her arm, holding a jar filled with herbs. She lifted her head when he did not reply, the jar slipping through fingers suddenly unable to maintain their grip.
William caught the jar with ease and spun around to put it away, too late to hide his mistake. He might have controlled his fangs and kept his distance, but his eyes had turned a ravenous black.
Normally, being around humans was tolerable. He’d had hundreds of years of practice. This morning, however, was particularly difficult. Melinda’s blood had always smelled appealing. But this morning it was practically calling out to him. “Please drink me. I belong only to you.”
His hungry black eyes were something Melinda had witnessed before. She didn’t understand why it startled her so badly this time. Perhaps it was that she’d never been alone with him before when it had happened. She’d never had steamy dreams about him before, either.
Embarrassed by her reaction, she grabbed a few potion supplies and busied herself putting them away. She took a glance and noticed William’s typical emerald greens had replaced the greedy black.
Man, I love his eyes. She let out an exasperated breath, wishing she could just forget every detail of last night’s William dream. It would never come true anyway.
William was a vampire. She was a human. A witch, but still human. And William had a strict no-dating-humans policy.
As she cleaned up the potion-making mess, a young man entered the kitchen, at the same time running his gel covered hands through his spiky hair. He quickly regretted that choice thinking instead that he needed to plug his nose. “Potion time again,” he realized, rinsing his fingers off in the sink.
“Good morning, Michael,” said the vampire to the young man, who was Melinda’s twenty-three-year-old brother. “The taste is as loathsome as the smell.” William made a face that said, be glad you’re not the one drinking it.
Michael was about to reply when a voice startled them from the hallway, behind them. “Good thing the potion’s worth the price
, then.”
“Charlie!” Melinda raced past Michael and jumped into her eldest brother’s flannel covered arms.
Charlie twirled his sister in a circle, hugging her fiercely. He was not just older than her and Michael, but much larger, too. A broad shouldered, rugged man of twenty-six.
“Hiya, Kiddo.”
“God, you reek!” she choked out sarcastically. “More so than the potion, and that’s not an easy feat!”
“That’s what happens when you take a three day fishing trip,” Charlie said, letting her slide back down to the floor. “I had to come home before the full moon.” His words really meaning, if it wasn’t rising soon, I’d still be gone.
“Yeah, of course you would. It’s just nice to have you back in the house again.”
“Which just proves my point that you’re still not getting out enough, Sis.”
“Don’t start with me again about that! I’m getting out plenty. Remember that date I went on, like, a month ago,” her voice trailed as she recalled the date had actually been over two months previous.
“My point exactly.” Charlie poked her side, affectionately.
Melinda had tried to forget that last date. It ended badly. Not that it had started all that great. But she’d given in and gone home with him. He’d proceeded to call her something along the lines of adorable. She was pretty sure when he said adorable, he meant chubby. Which she wasn’t. Not really.
Yeah, she’d eaten too much during their date, but that was mostly because he never shut the heck up and gave her a chance to speak. So yes, her pooch was a little bigger than it might have been normally. But it was the way he’d spoken his goodbye. Like he’d done her some charitable favor by going out with her.
She’d left that part out when telling her brothers how the date went. The guy was a total Jerkface. Her evening had been empty. Meaningless. And a complete waste of time.
But he’d gotten what he wanted.
The Queen, The Mirror, and The Creation (Fated Chronicles Book 5) Page 42
