Witch Avenue Series (The Complete Set)

by Bolton, Karice

  “Fine,” I whispered, turning my head away to force the tears back. “Let me see my mom tonight to explain —”

  “We can’t let that happen,” Bakula interrupted, taking over to shield me from Dace’s harshness. “You won’t be able to say goodbye. We can’t risk it. We can’t risk you guys being seen.”

  “Does my aunt know?”

  Bakula nodded. “We spoke to her in the driveway.”

  “Well, I guess you have everything taken care of. But if you don’t mind I think the rest can wait until tomorrow. If this decision will get us one step closer to ending this once and for all then there’s nothing more to discuss tonight.”

  I stood up from the sofa table and began walking toward the stairs in a haze. If my family needed to go into hiding, what made Logan safe? What was I doing to him, his future, by having him stay here with me?

  ***

  “They’re gonna be here soon,” he replied, pulling a shirt over his head. His wounds had done a miraculous job of healing, if I did say so myself. Getting to spend most of the night exploring just how well his body healed was pretty fabulous. Merely thinking about last night was enough to send me over the edge, but something had changed between falling asleep in his arms and now.

  Logan grabbed his sweatshirt and went to the door. He had something on his mind, and he wasn’t giving me any clues, especially since he hadn’t made much eye contact with me since we’d gotten up.

  “All right. I’ll take a shower and be down in a few.”

  He nodded and turned back toward the hallway. At this point, I hoped whatever was bothering him didn’t have to do with my mom, or any family member for that matter — his or mine.

  I was freezing and the idea of a hot shower thrilled me. I grabbed a navy sweater and jeans out of my closet and tossed them on the bathroom counter. I turned on the shower water and glancing in the mirror, I startled myself seeing my own reflection. Something had changed. I had changed. I leaned into the mirror, slowly tracing the pale skin around my eyes, down to my chin. My flesh, lips — everything — had a silver tint to it. Did Logan see this? Was this what worried him? I took a step back from the mirror as the steam began rolling through the air.

  Stripping off my flannel pajamas, I examined my arms and legs seeing the same color emerging. What was going on with me? Was this like the fire thing or the water thing? But I wasn’t angry. No emotions were running rampant through me to cause something like this. Right? Exhaustion hit me next or maybe it was sadness. I wanted off this mystery ride. It all felt like too much.

  I began shivering nonstop and stepped into the shower to warm up. I felt the hot water pelt my scalp, tracing a path down my spine. Taking a deep breath in, I let the moist air fill my lungs as I thought about what this could possibly mean. The coloring was far subtler than some of the things that had happened to me recently, but it would still be noticeable to just about anyone.

  I felt my muscles begin to relax as the hot water rolled over me, but unfortunately it didn’t warm me up. Keeping my eyes closed, I thought hard about what could possibly have caused this reaction. I was basically sleeping, cuddled into Logan all morning. What could have provoked this — a dream?

  I turned off the water, dried myself off and glanced in the mirror once more to see if I was lucky enough to have the silver cast go away. I wasn’t. I was still grey and I was still cold. Hearing Logan downstairs in the kitchen made me nervous. Had he already seen me like this and was just being kind or was this a new development? Only time would tell. After quickly dressing, I hopped down the stairs. Once I reached the bottom of the stairs, I suddenly didn’t feel so confident. I moved slowly along the hall and heard him sigh from the kitchen.

  “Everything okay?” I asked, glancing at my reflection in the window. Eek!

  He spun around to greet me. His eyes still shielding something from me, he grabbed me and pulled me into his arms.

  “I’m guessing not?” The strength of his embrace reminded me of a safer world, and I didn’t want to leave the fantasy that it provided. “Does it have anything to do with me turning this lovely shade of silver?”

  “It may,” he whispered into my hair. “Do you remember anything from when you were sleeping?”

  I didn’t like where this was going.

  “No. I don’t.”

  “Do you think it has to do with another inicio power? I don’t get what would have caused it.”

  He released me from his embrace, but his eyes were locked on mine. He grabbed the cup of coffee from the counter without looking away and pointed toward the table. Okay, this was getting weird. What could I possibly have done in my sleep?

  I sat in the chair and he sat next to me, placing the cup of coffee in front of me.

  “Don’t you need some?”

  “Trust me. I’m good. I’ve had like five cups while you were in the shower.”

  “Seriously? So what do you think’s up?”

  “I think I know.” He shifted uncomfortably in the chair.

  “Well?” I asked impatiently.

  He took a deep breath in, and he let it out very slowly as he stared at the table. I touched his chin gently, and he looked up at me. His eyes were so striking, it was hard to look past them even during moments like these.

  “You were yelling Trevor’s name over and over while you were sleeping.”

  My stomach dropped to my knees. I wasn’t prepared for this at all. His gaze dipped back down to the table, and I grabbed his hand. My word! We hadn’t even seen Trevor since everything went down after the visit to the covenstead. This couldn’t possibly mean what Logan thought it did. We were stronger than that. He knew that. I knew that.

  “It’s not that—” he stopped himself.

  “What? It’s not what?” I asked, waiting for him to look at me again.

  “You sounded like you were in pain, emotionally. Like what I’d imagine if you lost…”

  “You?” I finished for him.

  He nodded.

  “I thought we established who I was in love with,” I whispered.

  “No. We did. I didn’t mean it like that. I’m not a punk.” His lip twisted up slightly. “I know you love me.”

  I couldn’t help but smile. “Well then?”

  “You started yelling Caitlin’s name after. What has me concerned is what you were dreaming about. Who all was in danger and what emotion caused this? And those are two really random names. One of them, I’m pretty sure you aren’t a fan of.” He pointed to my silver arm, which I sheepishly pulled back to my side.

  “No, baby. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” he murmured softly, grabbing my hand. “We’ve just gotta figure it out so you find your release. If you don’t…”

  “I know. I know.” Now it was my time to shift uncomfortably in my seat. “I don’t remember what I was dreaming about, but if I mentioned Caitlin’s name, I’d imagine jealousy was part of it.”

  I felt the flush travel up my body.

  “That’s the only emotion I can think of that would involve her,” I mumbled.

  “There’s nothing to be jealous of,” he began.

  “I know, but that’s the only thing I can imagine.”

  “I honestly thought this type of power was bogus. If you have something like this that can be harnessed I don’t even know—”

  “Like what?” I interrupted, standing up. “Even if it turns out I don’t have it, I’d like to know what it is that you’re referring to.” I crossed my arms and waited for him to continue.

  “The Caneo witch goes back to the dark ages. Supposedly they can turn anything into metal objects with just a touch of a finger or…”

  “Or?”

  “I don’t know firsthand, but in the drawings I’ve seen you or I mean the Caneo witch can cast from a distance. The range and power are extraordinary.” He let out a sigh. “And combining this with the water and the fire abilities? I think it’s safe to say you might be a Trifecta.” The more he spoke, the wide
r his grin became. “I think there’ve only been two ever documented and that was centuries ago. Dace and Bakula are going to flip if you’re the third.”

  “A Trifecta witch? I feel like I’ve seen something about this.” I was wracking my brain and then it hit me. For once, my memory didn’t fail me. “I got it. It was in our family spell book.”

  “You’re kidding…from the library?” he asked.

  I shook my head. “No. The one from the cottage.”

  The look in Logan’s blue eyes changed from hidden worry to possessiveness. Okay, it wasn’t possessiveness. It was more primal than that. The charge that was running between us was unbearable. But we had company coming any minute. Not to mention I was silver! I had to maintain control!

  “Thinking about something?” he teased, moving toward me so quickly I had nowhere to go.

  “You really think this silver could be part of the Can whatever you called it?” I asked, trying to act nonchalant.

  He nodded. “If it backs up in your system, it acts like a poison.”

  “Well that sounds like great fun. Are you serious?”

  He cocked his head to one side, before bringing his lips dangerously close to mine. God he was irresistible.

  “Deadly,” he whispered.

  My heart started racing uncontrollably.

  “I have to find the release before it’s too late,” I replied panicking, starting to back away.

  “You’ve already found it,” he murmured.

  “What do you mean?” My eyes narrowed on him. He wouldn’t do anything to hurt me so what was he doing?

  “Jealousy was one of the factors that brought it on…” his voice trailed off.

  I let his fingers free my ponytail, letting my hair fall to my shoulders.

  “We can’t. Not right now.”

  “You’re not pushing me away. I don’t think you really mean it,” he whispered, his eyes dancing with amusement.

  “What’s actually the release for this?” I asked again.

  His lips parted slowly, casting an uncontrollable spell over me.

  “Kiss me,” he muttered, his breath chasing over my chin.

  “Will it fix me?”

  His eyes flickered with dangerous desire but he didn’t answer. He didn’t need to answer. His eyes fed me everything I needed to know.

  I drank in his beauty as the jealous nightmares from the night before fell from my mind, crumbling into a million pieces. I stepped into him, feeling his hands slide up my spine. The length of his body pressed against mine as I lost myself in the space that was no longer between us, tasting the deliciousness of his lips with every kiss we shared.

  “Do you believe me now?” he breathed, moving his lips down my jaw.

  He brought my hand up slowly and placed it against his neck. It was no longer discolored.

  The doorbell rang, startling me out of my intoxication.

  “Feeling better?” he asked bemused, breaking away from me.

  “Tremendously. How do you know so much about this?” I breathed, trying to gain composure.

  “Because this is one power that most black sorcerers wish they could master, but it’s inherited — not learned. I know your father attempted it many times, but his level was the same as mine. It’s safe to say you didn’t inherit it from him. Sorcerers can get close but the end result is never as powerful as someone who was born with it. At least that’s how the story goes. Add this to the other two powers and —”

  “I’m perfecta!”

  His smile deepened. “Yeah. Pretty much.”

  “Sorry. I just had to throw that in there.” I smiled, beginning to feel stiffness in my joints return. “I’m not sure we should let anyone know about this new development, except for Dace and Bakula.”

  “Agreed.”

  “It’s starting to return though.”

  “That’s because we got interrupted…” His grin was devilish.

  I smiled.

  “I’ll let them in, but go try turning a rose bush or something.”

  I stood up and let myself outside. Our rose garden hadn’t been pruned for the spring yet, and they looked a little sickly. A touch of silver might add something to them.

  My fingertips touched a dark green leaf, and I thought back to when Caitlin came to Logan’s door. Her perfectly manicured self, strutting her stuff and staking claim… but nothing happened. It remained a healthy, green leaf.

  I forced myself to think about the possibilities of them as a couple, and my index finger began to feel slippery against the leaf. I then thought of Logan’s soft lips nipping at mine and watched the silver fall over the leaf. An excitement stirred within.

  “Oh, dear.” Bakula fluttered over, with her hands clasped together. She began flying all around me, lifting up my hair, and finally she hovered over my shoulder. “You’re looking quite silver. Are you stiff?”

  “Now that you mention it. My fingers feel really stiff.”

  “I started on the rosebush…” I pointed to the silver tips.

  “You were able to do that without any help?” She placed her hand on her waist.

  “Uh.” I began to blush and looked over at Logan.

  “Well, that’s one of the ways.” Bakula couldn’t hide her laughter. “But there are some others as well.”

  “It just seemed the most logical.” Logan shrugged his shoulders, his blue eyes connecting with mine. “Desperate times call for desperate measures.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Young love,” Bakula hummed. “But we must get to work. This development means far more than well… just about anything.”

  “So it’s true about being a Caneo witch?” I asked.

  “It’s true about being a Trifecta, honey. You zoomed right past a Caneo.” Bakula motioned for Dace to come outside. I wasn’t sure why he was lingering in the kitchen, but I was sure I’d find out soon enough.

  “So Troni wasn’t able to fill you in on the latest developments this morning,” Dace queried, clearly agitated.

  “We were a little preoccupied,” Logan interjected.

  “I’m sure you were.” Dace flew directly in front of me, ignoring Bakula’s chuckle.

  “You understand the emotions that control this talent of yours comes from a very dark place, don’t you?” He eyed me suspiciously.

  “I’d say all three have that potential, yes.” I glanced nervously at Logan who took a protective stance.

  “Why are you faulting her for these developments?” Logan asked, coming up behind Dace.

  Dace quickly turned to face Logan. “Because part of her family hasn’t had the best track record keeping their own emotions or desires in check, especially when it comes to obtaining power.”

  “She never asked for this,” Logan’s voice hummed with anger. “She never wanted to touch what I’ve touched. You can’t fault her for something she inherited.”

  I shook my head at him, hoping to calm him down. I didn’t know where this anger would lead him, but I didn’t want to chance anything with the fairies at the moment, especially since they were the only ones who knew where they would be hiding our families.

  “Logan’s right,” Bakula replied, flying past Dace toward me. “Now let’s get you trained on this.”

  She grabbed my hand and pulled me to the far corner of the yard, leaving Logan and Dace alone to hash out their differences. I glanced behind me and locked eyes with Logan. He wasn’t letting me out of his sight, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t appreciate it.

  “What’s bothering you, dear?” Bakula’s voice was low.

  “Besides having my family taken away from me? Nothing,” I lied.

  “We are perceptive little creatures. How do you think we’ve survived so long? Now tell me what’s bothering you. We can’t afford to have you distracted.”

  Feeling like she was the closest thing I had to a mother at the moment, I looked at her quickly and then back over at Logan.

  “Oh, I see.” She nodded her head. �
��Well, you two are all each other has, and if you do anything foolish I doubt it will be repairable.”

  “He’s lost so much because of me, and I feel like the longer he’s around me the more dangerous for him it will become.”

  “Do you really think you could stop him?” she chuckled quietly and shook her head. “You can’t actually think that you telling him to stay away would work, do you?”

  “I don’t know. I feel like more of a hindrance to him than a benefit.”

  “You’re wrong about that. He’s gained much more because of you, but it’s just like you not to see it.” She shook her head and clasped her hands together. “You’ve got to get over this. Now, look at this juniper and without touching it, throw your cast.”

  I concentrated on the green, needle-like leaves and pointed my fingers, feeling the emotional rollercoaster begin once more.

  “Now say Mercurius Mergunt,” Bakula interrupted.

  “What? I haven’t done that for the flame or water.”

  “I wasn’t sure you were ready for it, but there are some for those as well that make your powers even stronger. Just like with this. Now say it and feel it.” She gestured with her arms.

  “Mercurius Mergunt,” I shouted, feeling the liquid metal pour from my fingertips. The hot metal began dripping from the tips of the juniper, hardening within seconds.

  “Whoa,” Logan replied, coming up behind me. “Careful with that finger.”

  “You better watch out,” I teased.

  “There’s no coming back from that throw.” Bakula clapped her hands together. “Sensational!”

  “We think it’s best if you stay off the grid for a few days. Plus it will give you time to practice all three powers. We’ve got a place set up for you in the mountains. We know it’s not ideal, but with the space you need to practice and the activity humming along with the black sorcerers…”

  “I thought they thought I was dead? Why would they still be coming here?” I interrupted.

  “They were already on their way,” Dace responded. “Eben had a finding they wanted to announce to their members.”

  “What was it?” I asked.

  “Well, they hit a snafu there too. What they were searching for went missing, and it was part of their announcement so I’m not sure what they’ll be doing instead.”