Then I saw it.
Sitting right there on the ocean floor, half buried by sand.
The pearl.
It glowed brighter red than the line and seemed to radiate energy. I reached down and grabbed it—then froze. I was expecting something else to happen, like something attacking me. But after a few seconds of nothing, I decided not to wait around to find out. I pushed off the ground and shot backward through the water like a torpedo. My lungs were starting to burn in protest. I needed air, so I flipped over to swim and choked on a scream. I threw my hand over my mouth, but it was too late. All of the air I had left in me was gone.
Six massive sharks with black stripes swam in front of me.
My body shook and my lungs screamed. I scrambled for the surface in a panic. The second my head broke through the surface, I gasped. A string of coughs ripped through me before my breathing regulated. I looked toward the shore and groaned. Land was at least seventy-five feet away. If not more. I hadn’t realized I’d swum that far, and I was not excited about the swim back.
With the sharks.
My pulse skipped beats.
Warner loved Shark Week. We watched it every year. And in that moment, I was hearing all of those people’s voices in my head. I looked down, but the water was too murky and dark to see anything under me. Stay calm. They can sense your panic. I sucked in as big a breath as my lungs would give me, then let myself drop under the water.
The six tiger sharks swam in a tight circle, like a massive tornado of teeth. My heart pounded against my rib cage, but I had to slow my pulse down. They could sense it—or was that just Great Whites? I treaded water, floating in place for a few seconds as I tried to get a game plan for getting past them without getting eaten.
I remembered watching episodes telling people not to thrash around because that drew the attention of sharks. However, I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to swim to land without making waves and before running out of air. I wasn’t Tennessee or Tegan. I couldn’t walk on water or control it. I was barely more than a human in this scenario.
Well, that’s not quite true, is it?
The stingrays had fled from my magic… Maybe the sharks would, too. Or they’d be even more aggressive. It was best not to chance that unless I absolutely had to. I floated back to the surface and sucked in a fresh round of oxygen, then dropped back under. But I stayed close to the surface in case I needed more air. I kicked my legs slowly and softly, just enough to move forward.
I made it about fifteen feet, and then something slammed into the back of my legs. The force rolled me over, and my control was lost. I thrashed and my foot kicked something slimy and dark. I looked down just as a shark lunged for me. Its jaw opened, and three rows of sharp teeth shimmering in the sunlight peeked through the surface. I cursed and dove out of the way.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something move, and when I looked, my heart sank in my chest. My stomach turned. The other sharks spotted me, and they were coming right for me. Panic surged inside me. I was in their territory, playing by their rules, and I wasn’t going to win. I summoned my magic to my hands and shot blue flames into the water. The sharks whipped their tails back and forth. They went into a frenzy, but they were coming closer.
The pearl warmed in my palm, and red light glowed. Henry’s crown radiated energy out around me. I put my hands together, called on every ounce of magic inside me, and then pushed.
The world exploded around me.
I was thrown through the water—and then air rushed over my face. I sucked in a breath and then slammed into something hard. My body flew into the air then rolled a few times before I landed face-first in the sand.
I pushed up on my hands and knees and coughed my brains out. Henry’s crown fell off my head and landed on the sand in front of me. I gasped and sat back on my heels, my chest burning. I glanced behind me and spotted shark fins popping out from the water, but I was out of their way now. How the bloody hell did that happen?
I frowned and opened my palm—and cursed. The pearl was gone. SHIT. I dove for the crown and put it back on my head, ready to go storming back in sharky waters to get it, but then red light flashed from my open palm. When I looked back down, I found the pearl sitting right where I’d thought it was. In my palm.
What? I slid the crown off, and the pearl vanished again. Then I put the crown back on, and the pearl was there. My eyes widened. Okay, this is weird. Note to self: ask Bentley what the hell just happened.
I sighed and shook my head. At least it was over for now. I jumped back to my feet then walked over to where I’d left my shoes and jeans. My phone and keys were still in my pockets, so that was another success. I started to put my pants back on only to realize that I was covered in sand now. I scanned the wooden dock area and spotted one of those public showers for rinsing off right at the start.
So I grabbed my stuff and hurried over. I hung my jeans on the wooden railing, then stepped under the showerhead. The water that came out of it was cold, ice-cold, but it was refreshing after that close encounter as shark dinner. I made quick work of scrubbing the sand off of my body and out of my hair. The last thing I wanted was showing up to find my soulmate looking like a homeless person who slept on the beach.
After I was done, I carried my stuff back to my truck so I’d have time to air dry. To my surprise, there still wasn’t anyone in sight. I opened the driver’s door and tossed Henry’s crown on the passenger seat. I was about to put my clothes on despite being soaking wet when I remembered seeing one of my sweatshirts on the back seat.
I threw the back door open and pulled the gray sweater out. It wasn’t a towel, but it would dry me. Except I couldn’t dry my boxers. The idea of putting dry clothes on over the wet cotton just sounded really awful. So, I glanced around again. But there was no one I could see nearby. Without another thought, I pulled my boxers off and slid my jeans back on. If there was someone in those buildings, then they just got a great view of my ass, but I didn’t care.
I laughed at myself then hopped into my truck. I pulled my phone out and opened up my GPS app. Then I found the address to Apalachicola and typed it in. As the app thought about how to guide me there, I threw my boots back on and my shirt.
“Starting route to One Bay Boulevard, Apalachicola…”
My heart skipped a beat, and warmth spread through my veins.
This is it. I’m going to find my soulmate.
Chapter Forty-Five
Bettina
“I just read the same paragraph six times.” I sighed and slammed my book shut. “And I still don’t know what it said.”
Emersyn rubbed her eyes. “I just read a whole article about monarchs only to discover at the end it was about butterflies and not royalty.”
Henley hung her head and laughed.
We were back in the Holy Land room, devouring books and grimoires for anything and everything. Again. All of my pride for my success earlier with the spell was squished out by this research we were doing. We just didn’t know what we were looking for. It was debilitating to our confidence.
Tegan yawned then tied her hair up in a messy bun.
“Maybe we had too big of a dinner? Maybe this is a food coma creeping in?” Em wrapped her arms around her stomach. “Because I’m still so full.”
“I feel like a computer that’s trying to do too many things at once, and I just need to hit control-alt-delete to force quit everything then start over.” I rolled my neck. “Like I can’t process anything else.”
“It’s not even fully dark yet,” Henley grumbled. “As a moon child, I hate that I’m so tired right now. This is my time—”
“If Joseph attacked right now, we’d be screwed.” Tegan shoved a pen into the crease of a book then shut it. “Why don’t y’all go get some sleep. We’re gonna have to do it in shifts anyways.”
I opened my mouth to offer to take the second shift, except a huge yawn slipped out and my jaw popped. I closed my eyes and scrubbed my face. When I looked
back up, Henley and Emersyn had already slipped through the door.
I pushed to my feet, and my legs screamed in protest. “Are you going to sleep now, too?”
Tegan shook her head. “Tenn needs to sleep, so I’m going to try and make that happen.”
I frowned. “We need you, too, T. You’ve got to rest up and store energy.”
Then she looked up at me and gave me that mischievous grin I knew so well. “I used a spell to give me energy to last a few days. I’ll be okay. But that’s between you and me, ‘kay?”
“Yeah, okay.” I smiled and shook my head. “But next time, you need to share with me.”
She chuckled and stretched her arms. “I thought about it, but with your new magic, you need to rest.”
I looked down at the XX on my arm and smiled. I still hadn’t gotten used to it. “All right, well, I’m gonna go up and check on Jackson before I lay down. I know he’s gutted over Trey, and he didn’t come down for dinner.”
Tegan’s eyes widened. She opened her mouth then shut it. “Did you not hear me earlier?” She frowned. “When I told you he left—”
“What?” My chest tightened. “No, I didn’t hear you— What do you mean he left? Where did he go? Why? This isn’t the time to lose anyone else—”
“Tenn sent him.” She grimaced and climbed to her feet. “I thought you weren’t listening. Sorry, I should’ve repeated it. Tenn has been really worried about our new Tower. That person is a potion master, and he’s afraid we’re going to need her—or him—in order to beat Joseph. So he sent Jackson down to check on that girl in the coma because Paulina was pretty certain it was her… Tenn had me portal him there…and um…”
“What aren’t you telling me?” A cold chill slid down my spine. “Spit it out, Tegan.”
She sighed and peeked out the doorway to make sure we were alone, and it sent my pulse flying. “Bentley tracked down his soulmate…so Tenn is letting Jackson follow that lead.”
“Oh.” My body turned to ice. My pulse felt like it was pumping through sludge. I swallowed through the lump in my throat and nodded. “Oh. Right. Okay.”
“Tina…”
“Okay. I’m…I’m okay.” I licked my lips and nodded again, though I wasn’t sure who I was trying to convince more. “I mean, that’s good. He— He deserves to finally…to finally…yeah. Good. Okay.”
I hurried out of the room, not waiting to hear whatever Tegan was saying. It didn’t matter. Jackson was probably with his soulmate right now. My stomach rolled. I turned the corner and raced up the stairs to the third floor. I needed to be alone. I didn’t need witnesses to my falling apart.
When I got to the third floor, Deacon and Royce were in the hallway, walking toward me. Oh no. Please just leave me alone. Tears burned the backs of my eyes. I was about to lose it.
Royce grinned. “Hey, Ice Queen—"
“Hold on, come here a sec,” Deacon said in a rush. He grabbed Royce’s arm and pushed him inside Henley’s room. He looked over his shoulder to me and gave me one nod, then slipped inside and closed the door behind him.
A strangled kind of cry escaped my lips. He knew. He’d felt what I needed, and he’d dragged Royce away before he was a witness to my destruction. Later, I would have to thank Deacon, but right now, I just needed to be alone.
I threw my door open and leapt through, then slammed it shut behind me. The mood lights Lennox hung from my ceiling all turned to a soft, pale blue. Sadness. My eyes burned. I scrubbed my face with my hands and tried to keep myself together. I knew this was coming. I’d prepared for this. Jackson had a soulmate, and it wasn’t me. I knew that. I thought I’d come to terms with it. Accepted it. But I was wrong. I was so very wrong.
I dropped my hands and sniffled. I walked over to my bed to bury myself in the blankets when I noticed a folded up piece of parchment on my pillow. It had my name written on it.
In Jackson’s handwriting.
My heart stopped.
I stared at it for a few long moments then reached down and picked it up. The parchment was soft under my fingertips and smelled like an old book. I ran my trembling fingers over his elegant handwriting. I took a deep breath as my heart climbed up my throat. Then I opened it up and read his note.
For what it’s worth, which isn’t much, I suppose, I love you with all of my heart. Knowing this glyph does not bind me to you kills me every moment of every day. I should have told you this before, but I was afraid it would hurt you even worse. Though I could not fathom you not knowing what’s in my heart, or that you are not alone in this pain. I hope you find someone to make you happy. And I wish that someone could be me.
I gasped and searing hot pain ripped down my throat and through my chest. It felt like I’d been staked. My knees hit the ground, and I collapsed against my bed. The tears I’d been barely holding in before exploded out of me. My sobs were ragged and raw. My whole body shook as I utterly and completely fell apart.
“Tina, listen—” Tegan gasped. “Oh no.”
My door closed, and then Tegan dropped down on the ground beside me.
A horrible, terrible sound came out of me as I leaned into her and held his note up. “Look.”
If it were anyone else who had come in here, I wouldn’t have let them see his private words to me, but this was Tegan. My best friend. My soul sister. She was my person, the one I could turn to for anything. And never in my life had I needed to more than right now.
She took the parchment from me and flipped it open. Then she gasped. She was silent as she read it, and then she cursed. “Oh, Tina.” She turned and pulled me into her lap, wrapping her arms around my shoulders as I sobbed uncontrollably.
The world crumbled to pieces right out from under me. It felt like I was being buried alive, suffocating on my own despair. I gasped for air, but my lungs seemed to have shut down. Nothing was getting in. Tears dripped onto my legs.
My door flew open and slammed against the wall. I jumped upright just as Tennessee leapt inside my room.
“Tegan, what’s wr—” He gasped and froze. His mismatched eyes widened. “Oh. Shit. Sorry. I thought— I’m sorry. Sorry.”
He gripped the door and pulled it closed…and then it was just Tegan and me again. I glanced up at her and found her eyes brimming with unshed tears, and her soulmate glyph was a bright emerald green. Which was what sent Tenn running in here.
“Goddess, we can’t both cry,” I said with a broken voice as I wiped tears off my face. “And it’s just unnatural for you.”
She laughed and wiped her eyes. “I know, I’m leaking.”
I smiled but it wobbled and turned into more sobs. I leaned back against the side of my bed and pulled my knees up to my chest. “I’ll be okay—”
“You’re allowed to hurt, Bettina,” she whispered.
I nodded. “I knew this was coming…just…just didn’t expect it tonight.”
Tegan sighed and shook her head. “I know. I didn’t either. But Bentley said he had to go now, and I’m not one to argue with our Hierophant on these things. Besides, Tenn told him to go, and he’s my Coven Leader, too. I have to abide by his rules.”
“I know. I understand. And that might be the worst part.” I picked up Jackson’s letter and let my gaze run over it. “Is it wrong and entirely selfish of me to be happy that this is killing him, too? Does that make me a bad person?”
“No. Bettina, of course not.” She wrapped her arm around mine and leaned into me. “When I first met Tenn…I was going out of my mind. It was literal torture not knowing if he felt what I did. And I didn’t even know at the beginning that he was my soulmate. He kept that secret from me. It was my mom who told me. I was a complete mess until I knew it was mutual, so I understand how hard this is.”
I sniffled and rubbed my nose on my sleeve. “It’s just nice to know…ya’ know…even though I can’t be with him…it’s nice to know that I could have, if he wasn’t destined to be with someone else. I mean, the Goddess blessed him with a soulmate. I can
’t fight that.”
“Bettina, listen…there’s something I need to tell you—”
There was a loud knock on the door. We both sat up straight.
I wiped my face. “Come in.”
The door opened, and then Tennessee stepped back inside. He grimaced. “I’m sorry. This is horrid timing…but…”
“What?” Tegan and I both said at the same time.
He sighed. “Bentley’s been trying to track Trey all day. He finally just found him. He’s on the move not too far from here. I just think if we could get our hands on Trey, then—”
“We can get some answers.” Tegan nodded and I saw the schemes flickering behind her pale eyes. “He’s our best shot right now.”
Tenn shrugged. “Yeah. That’s what I’m thinking. We can’t all go, but I thought I could send some of us out—"
“Let’s go get him,” I said in a rush. “I’ll go. I volunteer.”
Tenn’s eyes widened and his eyebrows rose. He glanced to Tegan then back to me. “You sure? I was wanting to send you, but—”
“No buts.” I jumped up and wiped my face again. “I can cry about this later, probably will anyway. So I might as well put myself to use.”
Tenn looked down to Tegan like he had absolutely no idea how to handle a crying girl who was determined to go into battle while actively sobbing. It was actually kind of adorable.
Tegan jumped up and stood beside me. She nodded. “No better way to work through your pain than to inflict it on someone else.”
Tenn frowned and shook his head. “Yeah, no. No, that’s not how that goes.”
I balled my fists, and ice covered my hands and forearms. “That’s how it goes for murderous traitors.”
Tenn smirked. “That I agree with. Let’s get you out there, then.”
Chapter Forty-Six
Jackson
“In three hundred feet, turn right, then you will arrive at your destination.”
I frowned and glanced down at my phone to make sure I’d heard that right. It’d only been about half an hour, but I did not understand where the hell I was. I was driving down a two-lane road—or at least I thought so. There weren’t actually any lines on the pavement. For all I knew, I was going the wrong way down a one-way. I shook my head and leaned forward, peering over the steering wheel as I crept down the road.
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