“Why are we going up north?” My house was the safest place to be. I should be locked up there.
“To a place where Samir cannot get to you.”
But he can’t get me in the house. And why would it matter? I put him in the bottle. “I don’t understand.”
His jaw clenched, and he gripped the steering wheel.
“I’m going to bring you somewhere safe, and then I’ll go back and help Gabe.”
“You still haven’t told me where we are going,” I said, grinding my teeth. He was being far too cryptic for Gabe to be involved.
“I have to tell you something. I can’t believe Gabe didn’t tell you this, but you’re special. Samir didn’t know what you were before, but he does now, and he’ll stop at nothing to kill you. Gabe doesn’t understand how much danger you are really in. I’m taking you somewhere safe. Samir knows about Dylan too, so your house won’t be safe anymore.”
I blinked. “Dylan?” I asked in a whisper.
Ali gave me a look. “Didn’t Gabe tell you anything?”
“No, now tell me what you are talking about.”
“He’s the witch that put the spell on your house to protect you.”
I paused for a minute. Dylan, a witch? Geesh, what next. Maybe he’d tell me Gran was a mermaid, and that’s why she lost her voice.
My mind raced through all the things Ali had just told me. It was a lot to take in. “Wait, I’m special? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Liv, you’re a goddess.”
“No way.” He was spouting nonsense. Maybe this ordeal with Samir made him go loopy.
“Yes. I noticed it on your birthday. Your grandma is one too.”
“What do you mean?” This was beyond impossible. A goddess? I wondered what on earth else I hadn’t been told. Did Gabe know? Did Gran? Why did no one tell me anything? Gabe had told me the stories. He hated the goddesses.
“Gabe had you command Samir back into that vessel. Only goddesses can do that.”
“Why did it almost kill me with Jasper?”
“Because you were making wishes. You were using Gabe’s power, which drains yours. This time, you used your own. The goddesses can lock us up anytime they want, but Samir is not an ordinary Jinn. He could hurt you. I’m taking you to a goddess sanctuary in the upper peninsula. You’ll be safe there.”
“But aren’t goddesses and genies enemies?”
“Yes, but I’ve been working with them for years.”
“I still don’t believe this.” I was suddenly nervous. I was about to be dropped off at a goddess sanctuary. They’d take one look at me and kick me out. I was no goddess. This was impossible.
“I know. You will.”
I took a few deep breaths. “How long will I be there?”
“Until Samir is dead. They’ll teach you how to defend yourself.”
I stared out the window and watched trees whip by, lost in my own thoughts. Ali turned on the radio and neither of us said anything as the time flew by. Pine trees passed on both sides and signs with strange city names I’d never seen before—Grayling, Oak Grove, and Wolverine. I’d never been to northern Michigan.
Everything I’d ever known was wrong. Was I even human? Was my mother a goddess? Was Ali a nutcase? So many questions.
And zero answers.
Chapter 35
Gabe
The vessel was gone. It was all I could do not to punch the brick wall. I searched the entire alley. Samir must be working with someone. If that was the case, then he was already out of that vessel, and he had the sickle. He’d kill me.
Then he’d kill Liv.
I rushed back to Liv’s house. She wasn’t in her room. I ran down the stairs and searched the living room and kitchen. Where would she have gone? A light shone from her workshop.
I threw the door open, but her grandmother stood there instead of Liv.
“Where’s Liv?” I asked, panic setting in. If Samir got to her, I’d spend the rest of my days hunting him down.
“Not here.” The woman didn’t even look up from her glasswork.
“Shit.”
“What happened?” She dropped her glass and jerked her head around.
“Samir escaped.” I still didn’t understand how it happened. Liv dropped the bottle before I pulled her back to her place, but when I returned, it was gone. Where did it go?
Bea’s face paled. “Samir is here?”
“Yes, and he’s after Liv.”
I listened hard for Liv’s voice, prepared to find her and go to her.
“Wait,” Bea said, clearly understanding what I was about to do. “Take me with you.”
I scowled at her. She was a goddess. There was no way I was working with her, even if she was Liv’s grandmother. “Don’t you have your own powers?”
“Yes, but you are the only one who can find her.”
Her bony fingers gripped mine. I sighed, and we appeared on the edge of the forest. A car idled not far away. Aside from roads that went on for miles, there wasn’t anything in sight. Just trees. I let go of Bea, stormed to the car, and wrenched the door open.
“What the hell is the meaning of this?” I growled at Ali. He would pay for taking her away. If he’d been working with Samir this whole time, I would rip him limb from limb.
He gulped. “There is no other way to keep her safe. The goddesses are the only way. There is a sanctuary not far from here. I…I…work with them sometimes.” I looked around, but there was nothing but a bunch of trees. Rage swelled. Ali worked with the goddesses? Was there no one who hadn’t betrayed me?
My eyes met Liv’s in the car. Terror crawled across her features. I understood now what Ali was doing. It wasn’t something I would’ve ever thought of, because that meant letting her go.
“She’ll hate me.” I was talking to Ali, but I kept my eyes on Liv. The goddesses would teach her that I was an enemy.
Ali’s face softened. “I know. But this is the only way. As soon as you told me that she locked Samir up, I knew we had to bring her here. She has no clue of her powers or what she can do. She’d be defenseless against him.”
Liv watched me with wide, frightened eyes. I ran my hand through my hair. I didn’t want to admit it, but he was right. I let out a breath. “Okay.”
Ali nodded. “I need to get back to Melissa. No one is safe now.”
“Go,” I said.
Bea still stood there, her eyes calculating.
I stepped in between her and Liv. “I need two minutes alone with her. Can I have that?” I asked.
She huffed. “Make it quick. I don’t have all day.”
I slipped into the car and slammed the door.
Chapter 36
Liv
Gabe held out his hand. “Do you have my vessel? We don’t have much time.”
Two minutes alone with me, and he asked for his vessel? I had questions for him.
I pulled out the charm on my keychain.
“Can I change it?” Gabe asked, fiddling with it.
“Why?”
“So you can keep it on you.”
He closed his hand around the black cat charm.
When he opened his fist, a silver ring sat in his palm. I took it from him and examined it. The band wove around itself and a raised purple-blue stone sparkled in the faint light of the car.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Will you wear it?”
I slid it on my right ring finger. “I’ll never take it off.” I was so confused. I wanted answers, but everyone was acting like if I didn’t get into that stinking sanctuary right now, Samir would show up and kill me.
He moved closer to me and placed his hand on my cheek. “You cannot let anyone know you are attached to me. It will be dangerous for both of us. If anyone finds out, they will hurt me.”
I nodded, not sure what to say. He leaned forward and placed a sweet kiss on my lips. I held his face close to mine. He was leaving, and I didn’t know when I’d see him again. In spite of all m
y questions, I didn’t want to leave him behind. I loved him.
“How long?”
I had asked Ali the same question, but I wanted to see if Gabe would give me a better answer.
“Just until Samir is dead. I’ll come back for you. Promise me that no matter what you learn, you won’t hate me.” I didn’t want to go, but if it meant Gabe would feel better about where I was, then it was worth it.
“I promise.” What could I possibly learn that would make me hate him? I already knew he’d killed countless girls and took a little of my life force every time I made a wish. It couldn’t get worse. I could never hate him. He made it seem like we might never speak again.
Gran knocked on the window. “Let’s go.”
I gave him one last quick kiss and stepped out of the car. I slammed the door.
“Gran,” I said, my brain racing through the reasons why she could possibly be here. My hands began to sweat, and my blood pounded in my ears.
“Hello, dear. I’m afraid we don’t have much time.”
Gabe opened his door and stepped around the car. Gran glowered at him.
“You’ve been trouble from day one. Time for you to go.” She snapped her fingers, and Gabe disappeared. I let out a scream and backed away from Gran. My vision blurred as I looked for a way out. Gran had powers I couldn’t even begin to understand, and I didn’t know if she was on my side or not.
“Where did he go?” Anxiety rose in my chest. Why the hell couldn't I have just stayed in my room? If I had, Samir would be dead, and Gabe and Gran wouldn’t be acting like lunatics.
“You need to calm down. I’m simply sent him back to his vessel. He’s still alive and well, but I will hide him so he doesn’t come out for a very long time. Where is his vessel anyway?”
I hid my hand behind my back. “Why would I tell you?” I wanted to trust Gran, but the only one I trusted now was Gabe.
“Because it’s in your best interest. I’ll search your room when I get home and find it. Now, back to the business at hand. You will still be in danger here. Not as much danger as you are out there. Samir is lethal and will not rest until you are dead, so this is the best place for you, but we need to take a few precautions. I’m going to take your memories.”
I backed away from her. “What? Why?”
“Because the goddesses cannot know you belong to a genie.”
Sheer panic set in. Who was Gran, and what was she about to do to me? “I won’t tell anyone.”
“It’s not that easy.”
“Gran. Please.” What would I remember? What wouldn’t I? I didn’t want to forget Gabe. I looked around for a place to run, but I wouldn’t get very far.
“I’m sorry, dear.”
She uttered a few words in a language I didn’t understand and snapped her fingers.
The End
Thank you so much for going on this journey with me. This series might be my favorite. The next book is coming fast, I promise. You can pre-order here: www.kimberlyloth.com/glowing.
If you liked the book (or even if you didn’t), please consider leaving a review. All reviews help. Thanks so much! www.kimberlyloth.com/glowing.
About the Author
Kimberly Loth can’t decide where she wants to settle down. She’s lived in Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Utah, California, Oregon, and South Carolina. She finally decided to make the leap and leave the U.S. behind for a few years. She spent two wild years in Cairo, Egypt. Currently, she lives in Shenzhen, China with her husband and two kids as a full time author. She loves romantic movies, chocolate, roses, and crazy adventures. She’s the author of Amazon bestselling series The Dragon Kings.
Also by Kimberly Loth
The Thorn Chronicles
Kissed: www.kimberlyloth.com/kissed
Destroyed: www.kimberlyloth.com/destroyed
Secrets: www.kimberlyloth.com/secrets
Lies: www.kimberlyloth.com/lies
The Dragon Kings
Obsidian: www.kimberlyloth.com/obsidian
Aspen: www.kimberlyloth.com/aspen
Valentine: www.kimberlyloth.com/valentine
Skye www.kimberlyloth.com/skye
The Kings www.kimberlyloth.com/kings
Omega Mu Alpha Brothers
Snowfall and Secrets: www.kimberlyloth.com/snowfall
Pyramids and Promises: www.kimberlyloth.com/pyramids
Folly and Forever: www.kimberlyloth.com/folly
Monkeys and Mayhem: www.kimberlyloth.com/monkeys
Roadtrips and Romance: www.kimberlyloth.com/roadtrips
Stella and Sol
God of the Sun: www.kimberlyloth.com/sun
Prince of the Moon: www.kimberlyloth.com/moon
King of the Stars: www.kimberlyloth.com/stars
Queen of the Dawn: www.kimberlyloth.com/dawn
Sons of the Sand
The Smoking Lamp: www.kimberlyloth.com/smoking
The Blazing Glass: www.kimberlyloth.com/blazing
The Glowing Sands: www.kimberlyloth.com/glowing
Acknowledgements
Huge, huge shout-out to my awesome editors. Kelley and Suzi, I don’t know what I’d do without you. Thanks for helping me with my babies.
Jenny, you’ve outdone yourself on the covers. Truly. They are gorgeous.
Brittany, thanks for waiting for me. You make and awesome proofreader, and I’m not going to replace you.
Tiffany, you know, I don’t think I thank you enough. Thanks for spotting typos and giving me advice on how to make the books better. Love you!!!
Thanks to all the staff at Redcoat, thank you for taking a chance on my books. You rock.
Jaye, thank you for all your hard work. You make the books look pretty.
Virginia, a hundred, thousand, million thanks. Seriously. The work you do is invaluable. Thank you!!!!
Xandi, gosh, I miss you girl. Thanks for supporting me even from thousands of miles away. Spread your wings and soar. Love you.
AJ, Thanks for helping me with everything and helping me see things I can’t. You’ve helped me more than you know.
Will. Man, I love you. You are my everything. Thank you.
Oh my lovely superfans. You make my world go round. Thank you for everything. Alicia Arana, Alie Morgan, Amanda Showalter, Andrea Hubler, Andrea McKay, Anne Loshuk, Ashley Martinez, Belinda Tran, Beverly Laude, Brandi Williams, Brandie Gillian, Brenda Hodges, Brianna Snowball, Catherine Trieu, Catilin Simmons, Chris Radentz, Cortnee Hancock, Darcy Whitaker, Dawn Foster, Denise Austin, Donna Wolz, Faydra Fuller, Gina Marie Stanish, Hanife Omerod, Heather Price, Isis Ray-Sisco, Jai Henson, Jennifer Jeray, Jennifer McIntosh, Jessica Brown, Julianne Hainsworth, Kay LaLone, Kaydrielle Pickett, Kaylee Truax, Kristen Rummerfield, Ksandra Unangst, Laurie Murray, Linda Longo, Linda Levine, Linda Lutchka, Mary Cline, Mary Martin, Michelle Gong, Ola Adamska, Pansy Mesimer, Patti Hays, Samantha Murphy, Sandra, Singleton, Seraphia Sparks, Shannon Childress, Sharon Abrams, Shelby White, Shelly Ash, Sophie Koufes, Stephanie Pittser, Tera Comer, Tessie Dempsey, and Zoe Cannon.
Want more from Kimberly Loth?
Check out this excerpt from her bestselling series, The Thorn Chronicles.
Birthdays are supposed to be special like my Kaiser Wilhelm rosebushes. They bloom once a year, huge violet and crimson cups full to bursting with petals. When I part the petals with my nose and inhale, I go weak in the knees from the fruity perfume. But my birthdays are more like the daisies that grow alongside the roses. Ignored.
The sink looked odd next to our front door. My mother had it installed after I kept tracking in dirt and fertilizer from my greenhouse. I washed the soil off my hands with the warm water and used a file to clear the dirt out from under my nails. Then I exchanged one dirty pair of ugly tennis shoes for a pair of clean ugly tennis shoes and made my way into the kitchen. Mother didn’t allow a speck of soil from my greenhouse to dirty her home.
Paint on the cabinets peeled away in white curls. A single light bulb gave enough light to cook but not enough to read
a recipe. My mother stood by the tiny window, her bottle blond hair twisted in a bun on the back of her head. She wiped her hands on her apron then smoothed a stray hair from my braid. I knelt down to tie my shoes, anything to avoid her touch. Physical touch burned, even something as little as a finger brushing my forehead.
“Wash your face. We have guests for dinner.” My stomach knotted. I tied and untied my shoes three times, wondering how to respond. Years ago, my father had closed our home to visitors. No one crossed our threshold. I was allowed to leave only to go to school and to church. Well, if you want to call it that. I’ve watched movies in school and I went to the Baptist church until I was eight. Our new church, Crusaders of God, was a bigger shock than no more pants. But Mother and Father called it church.
“Why?” I asked. My curiosity overrode my memory of the last question I asked when Grandma died and I wanted to know why I couldn’t go to the funeral. I stood and waited for the slap and a lecture.
Instead, she smiled like she was hiding something important.
“For your birthday. They’re friends of your father’s from church. We have a big surprise for you.”
Of course. Friends of my father. Nothing ever happened in our house unless he was the center of attention. Even on my birthday. At least they remembered. The surprise concerned me though, as the last surprise they announced turned out to be a drastic lifestyle change complete with long denim skirts and strict obedience. Oh, and no more birthdays. Until now, apparently. Maybe the surprise would be that my father finally found his sanity. That would be an amazing birthday present. I doubted I’d get that lucky.
Dinner took place in the dining room. The cheap chandelier struggled to fill the room with light as two of the bulbs were out and nobody bothered to replace them. Our mysterious dinner guest turned out to be familiar. And not the good kind of familiar either.
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