Witch – A human who is highly sensitive to magic, and can cast a limited amount of magic. Abilities vary from clairvoyance, empathy, telekinesis, various other psychic abilities. Most are adept at potions that combine natural ingredients with magic.
Falling Into Place
Others of Edenton: Book 3
Chapter 1
This is the current version,it’s still rough and subject to change
Her eyes never left Tremaine’s hard body as he rose up on his toes to place a book on the top shelf. There was a time when Liz felt guilty for lusting after him, but as years went on her reasons for avoiding a relationship with the only man she trusted had faded away.
Sure, he was more than old enough to be her father… or even her grandfather, but mages didn’t age. Then there was the way he’d found her when she was barely twelve, but she held those memories firmly locked up in the darkest part of her mind where she never visited.
The one she couldn’t get over was the way he constantly told her to suck it up and fix things with Robert, her first love. That relationship had been shattered 21 years before and it was far too late to salvage her heart.
Tremaine had the warmest brown eyes that could burn with desire. She longed to kiss his full mouth, to run her hands down his ribbed abdomen and grasp his heavy cock. Twice in the last few years she had come home at the wrong time and found Tremaine banging some random woman.
She couldn’t remember Tremaine ever having more than a one night stand. So, she could hardly avoid voyeurism when he was giving someone else exactly what she wanted. He was just so primal in those moments as he wrung raw pleasure from the woman.
Yup, she was jealous. They may only have had one taste, but she was still convinced she would never have that pleasure.
She sighed heavily when the bells rang, and she dragged her gaze to the young nymph with the cheeky smile and sparkling lavender eyes. Amethyst swept her purple hair behind her ears as she climbed onto a stool and waved.
“I take it Hayden just came to see you?” Liz asked with a raised brow.
Amethyst swallowed hard, a blush coloring her face as she nodded slightly. “By the way, thanks for the spell in my room. At least the sound stays in, even if we shake the walls.”
Liz shook her head, trying not to imagine Hayden taking Amethyst against the wall.
Tremaine strode to the counter with a chuckle, “Soundproofing with a spell is doable, warding walls from an Earth Fae, not so much.”
Fallon hurried inside, shaking her head. “Seriously Ame, if you’re going to go at it like bunnies, don’t do it against the wall in the shop. I had to explain to Erik why the walls were shaking but there was no sound.”
Amethyst pouted. “It’s not like I can resist him.”
“Resist him?” Fallon balked. “You grabbed him by the belt and dragged him into your room, and I saw you slam the door shut. That was all you, sweetheart.”
She crossed her arms over her chest, and looked up at Liz with pleading eyes as she changed the subject. “Can I please have a cherry orange smoothie.”
“Sure thing.”
“Should I make myself scarce so the ladies can have some girl talk?” Tremaine waggled his brows.
“No,” Amethyst squeaked. “I’m quite happy to change the topic.”
Liz met Tremaine’s gaze, silently begging him to stay.
He wet his lips, and there was a devilish gleam in his eyes. He asked, “You all know about Christian’s party tomorrow night?”
Amethyst perked up. “Party? Oh yeah, he’s turning twenty-one tomorrow. Right?”
Fallon nodded. “We’ll be there. Jess wrangled me into helping decorate.” She shot a glance to Amethyst. “You too, so you better warn Hayden your naked fun time is limited tomorrow afternoon.”
Amethyst spun in her seat to glare at Fallon. “Please, it’s not like you and Brody aren’t constantly going at it. You called me over yesterday, and I walked in on him bending you over the dining room table while he gave it to you good and hard.”
“Shit, is that why you didn’t show up?”
“Uh, I um… may have watched a moment before I hustled my butt out of there and found Hayden.” Amethyst looked up at the ceiling innocently.
Fallon laughed out loud. “At least we weren’t trying to bring Inktastic down around us.”
“Yeah, I’ll just be in the back, working on inventory.” Tremaine dipped his head before walking down the hall.
Liz watched him go, wishing he wouldn’t leave her with the two happiest women she knew. Oh, she was thrilled for them, but it was depressing when she couldn’t have what she wanted.
She went to work on making drinks.
Fallon changed the subject. “How are you holding up, Liz?”
Half a laugh escaped, but it was a bitter sound. “It’s that time of year.” She could remember the tears in Robert’s dusky blue eyes as he watched her walk away.
“Elizandra, don’t leave. I’m not afraid of you. I love you more than words can express. You’re the only one I need. I don’t care about the rest.” Robert pleaded.
“I nearly killed you.” Tears slid down her cheeks.
Robert closed the distance, his fingers threading into her hair as he brought her gaze to his. “Tell me what I have to do. I’ll do anything for you. Anything at all.”
She shoved his shirt up and ran her fingers over the new shiny white scar over his heart. “Have Emily heal these.” Her voice broke. “I couldn’t tell you apart after James….” She couldn’t tell him all of it. She didn’t want to think about that monster and what he stole from her.
“Fuck Emily. I’m not playing games with my sister. She can hate me until the end of time. I’m done with her and her bullshit.”
Liz shook her head. Emily was the only family Robert had left. She wouldn’t take her from him, too. James, she couldn’t feel bad about killing James. But Emily loved Robert, and she couldn’t cut all of his ties to his family. She traced the scar and made her decision.
He was just worried about Liz. He wasn’t thinking this through. She needed to walk away and let him think. If he truly loved her he would come for her, no matter what she said. So she had to make it real.
“Robert,” she whispered, staring deep into his tormented eyes. “You have to let me walk away. I can’t be with you now. I….”
He pulled her tight against him, crushing his mouth over hers, but she pulled back and shook her head.
“Damn it, Robert. I can’t be enough for you. Let me go. I need to go. Don’t follow me. I’m as good as dead.” And wasn’t that the truth? She didn’t think she could live without him, but she would in order to protect him.
She tore herself away from Robert and walked out of his life. Then she faked her own death, knowing he would know she was alive, but in her case, death was the only way to leave the council.
Robert was her partner for two reasons. One, they worked well together. Two, the council assigned him to keep an eye on her, and keep her out of trouble. Liz fully believed corruption was spreading through the Council’s ranks, but Robert still believed in the archaic society.
Robert never came for her. After a week she left him a letter apologizing, even explaining. He still never came for her. It broke her. Shattered her into a million pieces she barely glued back together.
“What is it, Liz?” Amethyst asked softly, concern clearly etching her face.
“Just the past haunting me. Don’t worry about it.” She slid the smoothie to Amethyst and went to work on the rest of the drinks.
* * * *
Rough needy hands pushed their way under her nightgown. All those nights of hell came back to her. Emily bolted upright screaming as she looked around her empty room. There was no one there, and yet she was soaked in a cold sweat and shivering as she stared at the clock.
Already ten. What happened to my alarm?
Shaking off the memories, she made her way to the bathroom and caught her reflection in the
mirror. These last few months had not been kind. She’d lost weight, there were dark circles under her eyes, and she feared she was being watched.
You are, James’ voice echoed in her head. You’ll pay for keeping me from taking Elizandra’s power.
“She’s long since dead,” Emily whimpered as she turned on the water. Maybe it would have been better to let her twin die. At the time, she thought she could save him, even after the hell he’d put her through.
The dreams, oh God, the dreams. He hadn’t just ruined her. He’d ruined Liz as well as their brother. She remembered watching Robert fall apart after Liz drove off the cliff. There was a burnt out car, and nothing left but ashes.
She’s still alive, Emily. She didn’t die.
“She’s gone. Robert still mourns her death,” she whispered back at her twin’s voice in her head.
I promise you, Em, she’s alive. Just wait until I break free and tear her power from her writhing body. I’ll make sure your darling Robert has front row seats as I finally ruin her for good.
If James was right, and he always was, she needed a way to warn Robert. One James couldn’t prevent.
She skipped the shower and rushed into her clothes as she grabbed her journal detailing everything she had done for her twin over the last 21 years.
She just needed to get the message to Robert first.
* * * *
Robert sat at his desk, staring at his favorite picture of Elizandra. Her multicolored hair was fanned out over the pillow, and she stared up at him with desire drunk hazel eyes, her plump bottom lip caught between her teeth.
It was one of the very few pictures she had allowed him to take, but she was still too blissed out to move, let alone form an argument. He brushed his thumb over her cheek and sighed.
The door opened and Magister Draecyn slipped inside and took a seat across from him. Robert ran his hand over the picture, and it was replaced with a family picture just before Liz and Robert left for the Enforcer’s training program.
“I fear time is running out,” Draecyn said. “Jarvis is plotting something, and I think your sister may be involved.”
Robert’s eyes closed as he sighed. “What is it now? Her appearance?”
“You have seen her, haven’t you?” Draecyn shook his head. “She’s gaunt, her normally vibrant hair is dull, her sparkling eyes look dead and there are deep bruises underneath. Emily has lost too much weight.”
These were all things Robert knew. He just didn’t know how to help since Emily wouldn’t talk about whatever was plaguing her. “Look, as much as I would love to help her, I can’t do anything if she won’t talk to me.”
“Jarvis has been visiting her. Regularly.”
“Unfortunately, I haven’t found evidence of his wrongdoing. No matter how many rumors there are, I have found no one willing to step up and testify, or any hard evidence. I’m still digging, I will find it.” Robert sat back in his seat.
“All right. I trust you will.” Draecyn stepped out of the office as Preston rushed in.
“Draecyn,” Preston said, tipping his head as he fell into the seat the Magister had just left.
The door shut and Robert asked. “Everything okay?”
Preston leaned forward with arched brows. “Emily was driving up your driveway this morning. I know she hates that place because she’s convinced it’s tainted by Liz’s presence.”
“It’s her house too.” Robert shrugged, not knowing what else to say. Of course, it was weird. She hadn’t set foot in the house in 22 years. “Look, if you want to complain about her health, I don’t know what to tell you. She won’t talk to me.”
“I could talk to her,” Preston sneered, “even if I can’t stand her snotty attitude.”
“No. She’ll talk when she’s ready.”
Preston changed the subject. “So, no leads?”
“Unfortunately not. Why? You have something? I know you want Jarvis to pay.”
“I’m going to bust his ass, and I’m going to laugh when that slimebag answers for his crimes. I may be a womanizer at times, but I respect women. I don’t abuse them.”
Robert nodded. “I know. I never said you did. I need lunch. You want to come along? I have something I want to check, but I can’t call it a lead yet.
“Yeah, let’s go.”
* * * *
Feeling had slowly trickled back into James’ withered limbs. He heard the chanting and his lids snapped open to find Jarvis standing over him.
Jarvis looked older, much older than he remembered. The bastard never did have the power most of the mages did, and yet James knew he was still climbing ranks. What he lacked in power, he made up for in persuasion and manipulation.
James sat up with a glare. “Took you long enough.”
“I assumed the great James McCallister would wake up without any outside help. Though, I suppose 21 years in a forced coma would weaken anyone.” Jarvis shook his head, an evil smirk twisting his features. “Does that mean you’ll want help dealing with Emily?”
“I’ll need help dropping her off at Robert’s, but you will not defile her.”
Jarvis sighed, but kept his mouth shut. That was wise on his part. Emily belonged to James, and no one else.
He heard someone upstairs. James whispered, “Make yourself scarce.” He pushed to a stand and stepped into the hall. As he shut the door, he warded it from being opened until he was ready for that scumbag.
James made his way to the door next to the bottom of the stairs that took them further into the basement. He waited only a few minutes before Emily opened the door and reached inside to flip on the light. James caught her wrist and channeled her magic into himself to fuel his waning energy. Before she could break his hold, he pushed a dark spell into her, forcing her to remember all of her worst memories.
They would eat at her until she finally withered or died, or he found a way to make her compliant. Until then, he had no use for her, but he refused to let anyone else have her either.
* * * *
Tremaine took a seat at the end of the bar and watched Liz flirting back at Clint. She was already slurring, and weaving, and he knew she would use Clint before going home to drink another bottle of Voodoo. If it wasn’t Clint, it would be some other man. At least the werewolf was a safe choice, and might have a chance at helping her heal from all the pain she carried.
Then again, nothing was likely to ease her. Mystra knew he had tried time and time again over the years.
Victoria slid onto the seat next to him with a wicked little smile. “Trem, love, please tell me you are in need of a little affection?”
His eyes closed and he shook his head. “Not tonight. I need to be around for a friend.”
Her gaze slid over to Liz and back to him. “You know, you should just tell her the truth.”
“I do, every single day.” He sighed, and looked back down at his beer. “Don’t tell me about my feelings. You don’t know the hell she’s been through. You don’t know what she could have if she just went and righted her one wrong. They are both so fucking stubborn it hurts.”
Victoria leaned in and whispered against his ear. “Trust me, Trem. That woman loves you. She’s only playing with Clint because he likes it when she ties him up. Did you know she never undresses for him? That she only ever pulls up her skirt?”
“You know, I know you love to watch, but I don’t need to hear about her habits when she’s in another man’s bed,” he growled.
She sat back and looked at him for a long time. “Liz watched us last time you brought me home. She stood there in the shadows diddling herself until she came. I could smell her desire stronger than your own. She stayed and watched until you came. She slipped into her room before you ever noticed, and probably drank an extra bottle because it wasn’t her you were fucking.”
“Fuck, Vic. Just stop. You don’t know the many reasons why I can’t tell her how I feel.”
“You love her. That’s the only thing that matters,” Victor
ia murmured before she stood and walked out of the bar.
Love? It was so much more than that. He never wanted Liz to think he felt sorry for her or pitied her. He never had, but she would assume he did.
She never cried. Not once in front of Tremaine, not even when she had all the reasons in the world to fall apart, she put herself back together and pushed on. If she felt even an inkling of what he felt, she would come to him. She didn’t. It wasn’t in their cards.
* * * *
Clint had passed out after the orgasm of his life. Liz had left deep scratches down his chest. His wrists were raw from the silver cuffs he insisted on, and bloody from where he pulled at the restraints. He was a mess.
Liz unlocked the cuffs. Climbed from the bed and shifted her thong back into place and righted her skirt before walking out the door.
She felt hollow. He loved every second, and she hadn’t even gotten off. She managed to walk down the driveway and across the street. It wouldn’t bother her if a truck came out of nowhere and took her from the well of pain she existed in.
Blinking back tears and memories, she made it inside and into the front closet where she had a hidey hole made from magic that only she could get into. She stashed her Voodoo there. Tremaine was in the habit of getting rid of it if he found it.
She wasn’t always like this, but for about a month every year she fell apart until she could put herself back together again. With a fresh bottle in her hand, she made it up the stairs and locked the door, before stripping off her clothes and burrowing under the covers to drink away the nightmares that were pushing at the edges of her subconscious.
Falling Into Place should be available sometime in February 2014
Shadows of the Past Page 24
