A Touch of Summer: Spellbound Series Book 2 (The Spellbound Series)
Page 11
Finally, two men in a pickup truck stopped. Jane approached them cautiously, afraid of what she might be getting herself into. They had a few construction supplies in the back and told her she could sit on top of it if it suited her.
“Oh thank you!” she said, “Just one little thing. Do you have any water?”
The man in the passenger seat reached down below the dashboard and tossed her an ice-cold water bottle. She felt tears sting the back of her eyes, but ran to the back and jumped in as best she could, not wanting to embarrass the men.
It was a hot ride, but she was terrified to think what would have happened had they not stopped for her.
After reaching town and thanking them profusely, Jane wandered into the first restaurant she saw and ordered a cold drink and some French fries. That should keep her going until she made it home.
Where was home? She considered the question, but shook her head. The first step was to find her way to Fort Lauderdale. She called Andrew (the only phone number she remembered by heart) and had him wire her some money and book her a plane ticket.
The cab she took to the airport smelled old and musty, but her relief at being freed and on her way back to Axel was so much greater.
Axel. That was her home. He was the one she thought of at all times, dreamt of every night, and needed by her side. She couldn’t wait to tell him. Every minute that passed during the flight made her anxious over what he’d say. After all, he’d spent the last couple of months trying to get rid of her. But that day in the basement… she got chills just thinking about it.
Andrew picked Jane up and drove her to Leah’s. He gave her her phone, which she’d left in the rental car, and wished her luck.
“Thanks,” she said. “I’ll need it.” She was glad they could remain friends, even after all that happened.
Leah hugged her tightly before scolding her. Jane took it all, and then said, “I think I’m going to move in with mystery man.” Leah’s eyes widened and a huge smile spread over her face.
“And I’m moving in with Mark,” she said.
Jane expressed her horror. “What?!”
“I was afraid to tell you. I thought you might be mad at me after you guys went out.”
“Are you kidding me? He’s a nice guy, but he wasn’t for me. Leah, I don’t understand. You literally hated him.” Jane looked at her dubiously.
Leah shrugged. “I love him.”
Jane took a moment to laugh and then hugged her friend. The next person Jane would tell would not be so encouraging. Calling her mom and telling her she was moving far away was like telling her the world was ending. It was a long and difficult phone call, but she never got around to telling her family she was leaving the human world. Her mother couldn’t get past the fact that Jane had disappeared on them again.
Jane’s story was that she had no story. She didn’t know what to tell her mother about where she’d been and why she couldn’t speak to them on the phone or through Skype. Without any details or explanations, her mother’s imagination was going wild. She asked Jane if she’d joined a cult, if she was being blackmailed, if she had joined the witness protection program. All Jane could say was that she loved her, and she’d call again in a few days.
She had a good night’s sleep and called for an Uber to take her to the intersection near the portal. Walking onto the dirt path through the trees, Jane felt her heart expanding. Every second she drew nearer she knew this was what she’d been destined for.
Genevieve, who had a gun at her side and a face full of confusion, blocked her first step into fairyland.
“I think I just started a civil war in the witch realm,” Jane blurted out.
“Shit,” Genevieve said, but her face lit up. “He’s in the square with Darick, planning how they’re going to find the oracle.”
“But I’m out. They don’t need to find it.”
“It’s a very important piece of magic, Jane. If it’s out there in the wrong hands, it could be very dangerous.”
Jane nodded. She walked over to the village square where she finally laid eyes on Axel. She watched him a few seconds, his muscular arms and chest bronzed by the sun. He’d be elated to see her, and she watched as he turned his head slowly toward her, and recognition registered in his eyes. Then she saw something else there. It was love.
He ignored whatever Darick was telling him and removed himself from the crowd. Jane had never run into a man’s arms before, but she felt it was fitting in this situation.
He embraced her in such a way that she thought he’d never let go. “Jane,” he repeated a few times. Axel released her long enough to hold her face gently between his hands. He kissed her forehead, and said, “Tell me what happened.”
She gave him a quick rundown of her weeks-long ordeal in the witch realm and how she left it in the brink of rebellion.
“But tell me,” she said, sliding her hands into his, “Have you made any progress in finding the oracle? Genevieve tells me you’ve been searching for it.”
“We believe it was one of our people that left here long ago, but it’s been nearly impossible to track him down. But Jane, just yesterday we found someone that may be able to help us. She’s resting in my rooms.”
Jane’s smile receded slightly, “Who is in your room?”
“The daughter of the three realms.”
Sabrina’s Note to the Reader
If you’ve come along this far then I think you’ll like this! I’ve written a short story titled Daughter of the Realms which fits nicely after this book and before the next one in the series. I’ll be sending out a complimentary copy in my newsletter in the following weeks, so watch out for it!
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XOXO,
Sabrina