“I thought you’d approve. I thought you liked her,” he replied.
My heart sank. Jerica didn’t want me with either of her sons. I almost ran home, but my pain held me in place.
“I love Alisa like a daughter. I couldn’t wish for a better mate for you. But it’s too soon. Once you say the words, there’s no turning back—not for you,” she said.
“Don’t tell Dad,” he pleaded.
“Honey, I can’t promise anything. You know why that is…” The sound of her voice trailed off, presumably because they’d moved further into the kitchen.
I strained to hear them, but could not. Something told me Bryce’s murmured, foreign-sounding words he’d whispered in my ear earlier, led to this discussion between them, but I couldn’t be sure. I tried to latch on to the one thing that gave me comfort—Jerica loved me.
“Just tell me one thing,” Bryce said as their voices moved closer to the doorway. “Will it work between a Spellbringer and a human?”
A long pause ensued. Even though I had no idea what they were talking about, I held my breath and waited for Jerica’s response. Her voice was so filled with emotion, I closed my eyes against the anguish I heard.
“Oh, honey. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. It already has.”
Seconds later, Bryce came back outside and the light of victory was in his eyes. Whatever it was that worried his mother so, brought him indescribable joy. There were so many questions I wanted to ask, but I couldn’t figure out a way to do so without admitting I’d been eavesdropping.
“Ready?” he asked, jangling his keys.
I concentrated on retaining my composure and followed him to the front yard. He helped me into his truck and leaned down to kiss me before he closed the door.
Climbing into the driver’s seat, he turned to me and asked, “Are you okay? You’re really quiet all of a sudden.”
“I’m fine. I just don’t want to get in trouble for coming home after curfew,” I said.
When we arrived at my house, Bryce put the truck in park and walked me to my front door. He kissed me until I had to lean against my front door for support. I sincerely hoped my dad wasn’t on the other side of the door wondering why I was taking so long to come inside.
“I’ll see you early tomorrow morning,” Bryce whispered in my ear.
“Yeah, unless I’m grounded,” I said, remembering it was past my curfew.
“Don’t worry about that. If your parents give you any trouble, just let me know. I’ll persuade them to back off,” he promised. I suspected he spoke of the magical form of Persuasion, rather than the human variety. He lowered his lips within an inch of mine and whispered, “We can’t be apart. Not anymore.”
My soul reached out to his, and in my imagination, I could see the ties Jerica had spoken of. Ties that bound us together. Ties that stretched and grew thinner as Bryce walked away. I could hear his Claiming Words as a whisper in my heart. My soul reached out to his, and I knew Jerica was right. Whatever Bryce had done had obviously worked. There was no turning back—for either of us.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Rachel
With the new Protection spells protecting my home, I was able to fall asleep easier, but true restful slumber remained elusive. Sometimes when I fell asleep, I could still see the forest. I could still hear the Demon’s call. I worried Re’Vel would try to contact me, and I worried about my desire for him to do so. But most of all, I worried my questionable lineage meant evil lurked within my veins. Maybe that’s why Re’Vel wanted me so badly. Maybe that’s why the Cold One wanted me as well. I wondered if the Cold One—the man Re’Vel called Nevare—was a Demon too. If two Demons were fighting over me, what did that say about me?
So much had happened lately, it was hard to come to terms with my own identity. I constantly thought about my father’s secret past and his side of the family whom I knew nothing about. I felt an overwhelming curiosity about Mordecai, the cousin I’d never even met, and I had a burning desire to know more about him. I’d asked Alisa and Jace for details. After all, they’d met him at New Year’s. But they didn’t know him very well. I could tell from Alisa’s demeanor that she didn’t like him at all. All Jace could tell me was that he was sarcastically quiet. That didn’t tell me much.
Bryce was the person I really needed to talk to. He knew Mordecai best. I thought about asking him for information, but was nervous about approaching him. I didn’t really know Jace’s older brother, but from what I’d seen of him at Christmastime, he was pretty abrasive and intimidating. It had been a week since Bryce’s return and I still hadn’t bolstered up the courage to talk to him.
Both Alisa and Jace offered to talk to Bryce for me, but it wasn’t the same. I needed to talk to him myself. Or better yet—talk to Mordecai. Maybe Bryce could give me an email address or a phone number so I could contact him. It was worth a try. I wasn’t sure how to explain to Mordecai that we were related, but I figured I’d worry about that once I had the means to talk to him.
I decided to talk to Bryce at the next available opportunity, but getting away from my house was more difficult than I expected. Even though it was summer break, I still didn’t have total freedom. My movements were restricted by the safety measures imposed upon me by the Alexanders. My movements were also restricted by my mother. I still had to ask permission before going anywhere and it was frustrating when I had to forgo fun in favor of chores and church work. Since I didn’t have a summer job, my mother expected me to help out at church, cleaning, doing paperwork, helping the Sunday school teachers prepare for Vacation Bible Camp.
It was irritating to be stuck in church while Jace, Bryce, and Alisa were enjoying their summers, especially when I felt like I was wasting valuable time I could be talking to Bryce about my cousin.
At last, I’d earned a reprieve. My mother decided I deserved a day away from church. She even gave me a little bit of spending money and told me to use it wisely.
“Before you go off with your friends, make sure you finish your chores.”
“Yes ma’am,” I agreed, anxious for her to leave. I couldn’t wait to call Jace and tell him I was a free woman. As soon as she bustled out the door, I contacted Jace across our link and told him the good news.
“I can’t wait to see you,” he said. “Only problem is, I already agreed to play tennis with Alisa and Bryce. I don’t have to go, though. They’d probably like some time alone anyway.”
Thinking quickly, I said, “It’s fine. We’ll go to the tennis courts for a couple of hours and then hang out alone later.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah.” With any luck, I might find some time to talk to Bryce. The Alexanders were tennis fiends, and although they hadn’t managed to convert me, they usually dragged me along for the ride. If there were only three playing tennis, chances were, there would be a few moments Bryce would sit out while Jace and Alisa competed. And when that happened, I’d have Bryce all to myself.
I sat against the fence, watching from the sidelines, wishing we were anywhere else but here. What was I thinking when I agreed to watch them play tennis? It was ninety degrees in the shade, and at this particular park, there wasn’t a lot of shade to be found. It was a run-down, seldom-maintained park with only a rickety, rusty set of swings, a basketball hoop with no net, and a tennis court with grass growing between the cracks in the blacktop. Since they opened the new park across town with the state-of-the-art playground, beautifully manicured baseball fields, and scenic walking trails, no one ever came here. Jace and Alisa favored it because there was never a wait to use the tennis courts like there was at the new park.
Waves of heat radiated off the tennis court and I used some of the water from my water bottle to cool off my neck and shoulders. Jace and Alisa faced off and I rolled my eyes. Those two wouldn’t quit until there was a clear winner and loser, so it could be hours before we could pack up and go home. I sighed in resignation.
Bryce jogged over to where I was
sitting and grabbed a water bottle, drinking most of it in one gulp. “I’m gonna go refill at the water fountain. Do you need more?” he asked.
“I’ll go with you,” I offered, hoisting myself off the ground. I brushed off the small bits of gravel that stuck to the back of my thighs.
I followed Bryce to the small, deserted playground and tried to think of a casual way to bring up the subject of my first cousin, however, Bryce beat me to it.
“My mom told me about your dad. That sucks.” He reached for my water bottle and dipped it under the fountain. “I trained with your cousin, Mordecai. He was my training partner last year.”
“What’s he like?” I asked.
“Powerful,” Bryce replied.
That was a strange answer. I’d expected funny, or smart, or troublesome. I’d heard a little about him from Alisa. She said he was creepy, but that was about all. Of course she’d only known him a day and Alisa was notoriously shy.
“He’s an Nkaribo,” Bryce said. “What can I say?”
I took the water bottle from him and followed him toward the tennis court, hoping he would say something else. I was an Nkaribo, apparently, and that didn’t mean anything to me. I struggled to speak, but there was something intimidating about Bryce.
At last, I blurted, “What did you mean when you said he’s an Nkaribo? You said that like it should mean something to me.”
“I didn’t mean anything against your family, Rachel. The Nkaribos are notoriously powerful, and not all of them have used their power for good. As you already know, your father was rumored to have worked for the Demon Re’Vel, but some say he worked for Nevare as well,” he said, frowning.
My heart beat rapidly in my chest, and I felt lightheaded, like I was having a heatstroke. I swayed on my feet and staggered, missing a step. Bryce reached out to grab my arm before I fell.
“You don’t look too good. Let’s sit in the shade.” He guided me toward a picnic bench underneath a tall oak tree. We could see the tennis court from where we sat, and I wondered if Jace and Alisa had noticed our extended absence. I hoped they didn’t come looking for us. I had some questions for Bryce, and once Alisa came anywhere near him, he wouldn’t be able to pay attention to anyone but her.
“So he’s real too,” I mumbled.
“What?” Bryce asked. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“Who’s real?” he pressed.
“Nevare. I’ve seen him in my dreams. He was arguing with Re’Vel about claiming me. What does that mean? Jerica said my brother had Re’Vel’s Claiming Words in his tattoo, but I don’t understand how either of the Demons can claim me. I don’t have a tattoo.”
“You’d better tell me more about that dream,” Bryce said.
I suddenly felt very nervous about being with Bryce. I’d always thought Jace and Bryce looked quite a bit alike, but at that moment, Bryce seemed inhuman. His body was tense with cold, barely suppressed rage, his jaw rigid, his dark eyes menacing.
I quickly explained my recurring nightmare about the castle. When I told Bryce about Re’Vel’s insistence that his claim superseded Nevare’s vendetta, his face contorted. “My father killed Nevare’s brother, and in turn, Nevare killed mine. If it wasn’t for the Claiming Words, I’d hunt him down right now.”
His voice shook with fury, and the water bottle he held turned to crushed, cracked plastic in his fist. Bryce didn’t seem to notice the water trickling from this clenched fist onto the pine needles strewn under the bench.
“Nevare’s claim on me prevents you from pursuing him?” I asked.
Bryce glanced over at the tennis court and his face relaxed. “No. It’s my claim that prevents me from pursuing Nevare. But I don’t regret it. One day, the Demon will come for us, and when he does, I’ll be waiting.”
Bryce’s claim? What did that mean?
I watched Jace chasing Alisa with his tennis racket raised over his head. I snickered. I was used to their antics, but Bryce didn’t seem amused. Not in the least. Surely, he wasn’t jealous. I mean, how could he be jealous of his own brother? They were just messing around. Like they always did.
Bryce advanced toward the tennis courts and I mumbled something about going to the ladies room. I trudged toward the pavilion at the other end of the park. The sun beat down on me and I slowed my steps. Kicking at gravel scattered across the pavement, I considered the implications of what Bryce told me. The Demon responsible for killing Jace’s brother had claimed me. My father gave my brother to Re’Vel—that was certain. But did he give me to both Re’Vel and Nevare? And why? If the claiming spell was in the necklace—a necklace I no longer wore—was the claim now void?
If only I could ask Re’Vel. But that was impossible. I’d cut him from my dreams. He was dangerous. Nothing good could come from seeking out the Demon. Besides I had little control over my dreams. What if I went in search of Re’Vel and found Nevare instead?
The relative shade under the pavilion provided some relief, but the humidity in the ladies room was stifling. Streaks of sunlight filtered in through filthy windows set high above the stalls. My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I pulled it out, glancing at the text message. My mother was wondering what time I’d be home. Soon, I hoped. I sent a quick reply and put my phone down on the sink.
I splashed some lukewarm water on my face and neck, but it did little to cool me off. I swatted at a fly, turned off the water, and dried my face with a stiff brown paper towel. Exiting the ladies room, I remembered my cell phone. Just as I turned back to retrieve it, a strong arm snaked out and grabbed my wrist, pulling me backwards. My body collided against a rock hard obstruction. A deep voice whispered in my ear.
“Rachel. At last, we meet.”
Oh, my God. I knew that voice. I’d know it anywhere. Re’Vel. The Demon from my dreams. But I wasn’t asleep. It was broad daylight and he was here. For real.
Re’Vel continued speaking seductively. With my back pressed against his marble-like chest and his arms wrapped around my waist, I couldn’t move. His voice caressed me, lulling me into a dreamlike state, and I wasn’t sure I really wanted to escape.
“I don’t know if I should be happy your guardians finally left you alone, or angry that they had such utter disregard for your well-being. How many times must you be attacked before they grant you real protection?”
“It’s not their fault,” I replied, barely thinking about what I was saying. “I didn’t want a Protector.”
“I’m pleased by your decision, Rachel. Because here you are, and here I am after days of following you, and you’re in my arms at last.”
His lips traveled the length of my neck and I melted into him, my limbs weak with desire. Re’Vel turned my body around until I was facing him. His gaze mesmerized me. Onyx eyes with hidden secrets, swirling colors in their depths. Beautiful eyes. Eyes I could stare at forever.
“Come with me, Rachel. You belong to me, and I belong to you. Our fates are intertwined. It’s destiny.”
“I don’t know,” I murmured, suddenly feeling unsure. I wanted Re’Vel. I craved him. But wasn’t there another? Someone else who shared my destiny? I couldn’t form his name on my lips, but I could see his face in the back of my mind. He was the one who showed me real magic. Jace.
“Of course, you’re coming with me, my love. Perhaps you misunderstood me. It was not a request. Hold on tight, Rachel.” Re’Vel pulled my body flush up against him. From deep inside, from the core of my being, an insistent force pulled at my magic. It was similar to the time the Hunter grabbed me in the woods, yet different. There was resistance. A resistance that was not my own.
“That lying, cheating thief,” Re’Vel thundered, shaking me from my apathy. “Nevare was right. Your father—your weak-minded, sniveling fool of a father—double-crossed me. How many had the chance to claim you? How many Demons was your father working for?” He grabbed my upper arms, shaking me until the fog of confusion lifted, and dreamy desire faded to terror.”
&nbs
p; “Jace,” I screamed across our link. “He’s here. Re’Vel. At the pavilion.”
“Rachel, I’m coming,” Jace shouted back, his thoughts a jumble of panic in my mind.
Re’Vel must have seen horror and disgust in my expression, because he softened his tone and relaxed his grip. “But it’s no matter, Rachel. We don’t need to use Transport, do we, my love? We’ll travel in style. A private jet. The finest hotels. Comfort and luxury you’ve only imagined in your wildest fantasies. Doesn’t that sound lovely?”
“Yes,” I replied against my will. I knew I should recoil from Re’Vel, that I should twist from his grasp and escape. But part of me wanted to go with him before the Other came to save me. I’d summoned someone, but who? I couldn’t remember. Everything was so confusing.
“And it seems we are not alone after all,” Re’Vel mumbled, snatching my wrist tightly and spinning around so fast, he almost flung me to the ground. The ferocity of his movement caused the smoky haze to dissipate once again, but this time terror was tinged with relief. Jace appeared at the other side of the pavilion.
Spellbound (Spellbringers Book 1) Page 27
