Magick (The Unwanted Series Book 1) (15 page)

“A blooded vow. You can feel my emotions?” I say aloud. Rhydian doesn’t move, but affirms my question.

I wave my hand and put everything back as it should be in the foyer of the house. The round table is centered under the hanging chandler with a vase full of flowers. The chalk is removed from the floor, replaced by an oriental rug under the table. The dirt and marks on the wall vanish.

Duke bounds in from the office, wagging his tail, and heads straight to me. I can’t help but smile and waggle his ears. His dark fur is warm and soft as I hug him around his neck. He licks my face, and I laugh. In the kitchen I feed Duke and catch a glimpse of my reflection in the stainless steel refrigerator. My hair is dark brown like my father’s. I pull it forward on my shoulder and examine the ends.

“It changed when you accepted his magick,” Rhydian says. He’s back in clothes now, jeans and a dark gray long-sleeved cotton shirt.

“What else changed?” I ask, looking down at my body, which is still covered in the white gown and dark purple cloak.

“Come.”

Rhydian grins and takes my hand, leading me to the half-bathroom down the hall. He places me in front of the mirror.

I look the same, except that my dark blonde hair is now a chestnut brown resembling my father’s. I touch it and think about him briefly. I lean forward and see that my eyes are still a dark ocean blue, similar to my mother’s.

“Conjure your magick, Willow,” Rhydian says.

I look down at my fingertips, and the design lights up and swirls around my fingers, my hands and up my arms. Rhydian gently tilts my chin up toward the mirror.

“Oh!” I gulp.

On my forehead there glows a design. It pulses with the familiar blue light. It’s an interwoven band that resembles a crown. I tentatively touch my forehead, but only feel my smooth skin. I angle my palm, and the light shines into it. I look at Rhydian, watching me in the mirror.

“Is this common?”

Rhydian grins. “No, but Willow Sola Warrington, nothing about you is typical. You’re very special. The Goddess crowned you directly today, and that has never been done, to my knowledge.”

As I let go of my magick, the hum and the blue designs fade on my body, including my crown. The moment feels intimate, with Rhydian behind me, in the closeness of the bathroom. I’m afraid to turn around, but his eyes are watching me in the mirror.

A voice calls out: “Wills?”

Rhydian closes his eyes and backs out of the bathroom. It’s Emily and Cross. They walk into the kitchen, and Emily is hugging me before I can even see her.

“Wills, I’m sorry about your father.”

I hug her back. Cross is talking in a hushed voice to Rhydian.

“Willow, Sabine and the remaining members of the High Coven have been sequestered in Hallowed Hall and are under Guardian watch. Edayri is buzzing about the Goddess crowning you, your magick and power. That you marked a demon general, Thaxam, to your council. You have all the realm on your side. Everyone is waiting for you!” Her smile is infectious, reaching to her eyes.

She shakes my shoulders. “Wills did you hear me?” She hugs me again. “I knew it!”

I pull back from her and ask, “Lucy?”

Her voice drops in enthusiasm, “She’ll be okay. She’s home. I had her leg healed before I took her home.”

“She isn’t part of this world, is she?” I bite the inside of my cheek, waiting for Emily to respond.

Her bright eyes darken. “She doesn’t know she is, Willow. She’s…”

Cross interrupts, “Another Valkyrie?”

“And human. It’s a dangerous combination. I’ve been with her for most of her life, protecting and watching her grow.”

“You can’t keep this from her,” I say.

“I know,” Emily answers.

Rhydian’s head moves to the side, as if he’s listening to something. Cross does the same. I shrug my shoulders when Emily tilts her head at them.

“Cross?” Emily asks.

“It’s Evan. The Guardians are reporting that he and others crossed into the rift here.”

“Here? In Chepstow?” I wring my hands.

Rhydian shakes his head no.

“Where?”

“He’s here on this plane, Willow. They say he was hurt in a bad way, by whatever magick you pushed at him. They must be looking for a healer. Tullen thinks Cross and I might be able to track him.”

“Don’t.” With that one simple word I’ve changed the mood of the room. “It’s enough, Rhydian. If he comes for me, he comes.”

Rhydian takes a step toward me. “That’s not acceptable.”

“He’s my family, my uncle. Rhydian, he had plenty of chances to hurt me before now.”

“You’re not invincible, Willow. He could…”

I hold my hand up. “Stop. It’s enough for now.”

Rhydian tenses his jaw. The muscle ticks, and he turns away from me. Cross doesn’t reveal much, but his eyes glint toward me in approval.

I ask Emily to stay with me. Rhydian and Cross transport away, to report to the Guardians.

Chapter Twenty-One

Several Months Later…

L
ucy pulls her car into my driveway. Snow flurries are in the air. I run outside bundled in my coat and school uniform.

“Hey. Looking a bit gloomy today,” she says. “Need some pep up music?”

I shake my head. “Depends on the tunes. If I have to listen one more time to Lukas Graham’s ‘7 Years,’ I may blast this car apart.”

“Haha. Don’t hurt my car. You know she doesn’t control the tunage.”

We get to the school parking lot, and Emily slides in next to us in her Camry. Getting out of Lucy’s car, I pull my scarf around my neck a little tighter, breathing in the crisp, clean air. Spring will be here soon. Of course, in Chepstow that doesn’t mean the snow stops.

“So, Lucy, did you tell her?”

“Tell me what?”

Lucy bites her bottom lip and keeps walking toward the school entrance. Emily is smiling and fluffing up her unruly short hair into a new current mess. We get to our lockers, and I stand next to Lucy tapping my foot, hands on hips.

“I got a scholarship.”

“What?” I’m not surprised, but I pretend for Lucy. “What kind, exactly?” I scrutinize her.

Her grin is huge. It stretches from ear to ear. “Stanford — full ride!”

I hug her and jump up and down with joy. Emily shakes her booty with us. Lucy is all smiles, from ear to ear.

Coral and her cronies are passing by as we celebrate. “Oh, look, the village idiots,” she says.

Being snubbed by Coral just makes me more joyous, especially when she trips over her own feet — but recovers.

Lucy pushes me. “Wills, don’t.”

Emily laughs. “Oh, come on. You can’t prove it.” Winking at me, she hooks her arm through mine, and we walk down the familiar hallway toward homeroom.

I’ve told Lucy about my Wiccan heritage, following the funerals for my father and Mrs. Scott. She took it in stride. I still haven’t revealed the other part, though — the part about being crowned Queen. I made a pact with Rhydian and the Guardians to finish high school in as normal a way as I can. Having Eoin, the leader of the Guardians’, move into my home doesn’t feel real normal, though. It helps to pass him off as my guardian, so that I can stay put. But it’s tough to truly be normal when I have to go back to Edayri so much.

In homeroom, Daniel is seated at his desk. He grins at me and leans over to say something just as Mr. Brandt shuts the door and starts class. We’re heading to an assembly during homeroom period. We all shuffle down the hallways to the auditorium. Daniel sits next to me. Headmaster Chin starts with spring semester changes in schedule, and announces the dates and theme for prom, then dismisses us with good wishes for spring break. Today is a short day at school. Student enthusiasm to get to the next class is non-existent as they linger in the auditorium and hallways.

I follow Lucy out the auditorium. Daniel taps me on the shoulder to get my attention, and I turn around just as Coral is walking by.

“So, I know we aren’t together, but would you want to do the prom thing with me?” he asks.

Coral purses her lips together in a tight smile and stares me down as she passes us.

“I’m guessing Coral was hoping for that invite,” I say, pointing with my thumb at her. Daniel keeps his hopeful eyes on me. It’s hard being around him and not being together, thanks to all my family madness.

His hand brushes his wavy dark blonde hair back from his face. “Yeah, maybe. It’s just, I can’t remember why exactly we broke up, most days.”

That hits me right in the heart. “Well, with going in different directions for college, I think it’s best. You should ask Coral.”

“Huh?”

“What?” I hug myself with my book in my arms.

“Who are you? You can’t stand Coral, but you’re pushing me off on her?” Daniel smiles his easy way and asks, “Will you be around here at all for spring break?”

“No, I’ll be with my grandmother in Europe, I leave in two days.”

He nods as Marco strides over.

“Hey, Daniel, Stuart is getting a pickup game together. What do you say?”

They walk off together, and I feel his disappointment. I’m upset with myself, too. I’m pathetic; I should do something or act awful so that he hates me. I still care about him, and trying to put distance between us when we’re around each other is hard, especially when we share friends.

I head to Advanced English, which drones on forever. Like all students, I’m waiting for the half-day bell when we’ll all be free for a week. Usually, spring break is equated with warmth, but living up the north, we’re happy just for the sun to shine on our frozen faces. It’s possible it will snow this evening, according to the news.

I’ve been visiting with Sabine in the Ember region of Edayri, at the manor, and learned that she experiences similar weather, as her location isn’t that different than living in Ireland — where our Celtic heritage comes from. Edayri has the same coordinates in different planes, so the landscape is the same here on Earth.

My visits with Sabine have been good. We’re trying to build a relationship. Our last conversation is ringing in my head: “The more entanglements you have there, the harder it will be for you here.” I can’t help but think of Daniel. I had planned to go to homecoming, prom — all of it. That’s all just a memory now.

The half-day bell sounds before my lunch period. I meet up with Emily and Lucy as we walk to the parking lot.

“So, we’re still on for girls night?” Emily smiles.

I beam. “Yes! I’ve got a movie line-up and all kinds of junk food for us.”

“As long as Ryan Reynolds is in one of those movies, I’m a happy girl.” Emily says. “See you in a few.”

Lucy and I get into her car and make the trip to my house. She parks in my driveway, and she says, “Will, would you be okay with… Oh, never mind.” She turns off the car. She looks nervous and scared.

“What? Just ask.”

“Daniel asked me to prom. I kinda said yes. Are you okay with that?” Her face is scrunched up. She’s prepared for me to be angry. I have no right to Daniel. All I can do is shake my head affirmatively and make her feel okay. I hug her. She’s my best friend, and she deserves happiness, and someone great like Daniel.

“It’s fine, Lucy,” I mutter. I get out of the car, happy she’ll return later. I need to get my head on straight about her and Daniel. It’s just a dance. It doesn’t mean they’re “together.”

Duke greets me, wagging his tail at the back door. I waggle his ears, but then I smell something strange coming from the kitchen — smoke. I drop my backpack and run to the kitchen to find a fire.

“Eoin!” I yell.

The fire grows from the stove. I wave the smoke away and call my magick; I thrust my hands forward, just as someone behind me pulls me backward. The fire extinguishes. A black bag comes down over my head, and I’m dragged back by my armpits. Bracelets are clamped onto each of my wrists. My magick stops. I can’t do anything, and the hum is silent.

I kick and yell. I mentally reach out for Rhydian, then Ax. Duke is barking. There’s more than one person in the kitchen with us. I connect my foot with someone in front of me, and they cuss. I’m being transported. I hear Rhydian’s voice in an echo, calling my name. I’m pushed pulled and twisted in the transport. I feel like I might be sick to my stomach when I finally fall to the ground.

I try to push myself up, but feel the heal of a boot on my back, pushing me back onto the hard dirt ground.

“Stay down,” a young female voice says.

“She’s not going to help us. She hates him,” a male voice says. “They’ll locate her.”

“I got this,” another young female says, and I feel a sharp pain as the boot connects with my head-lights out.

Coming Early 2017

REIGN

The Unwanted Series, Book 2

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Acknowledgments

A huge thank you to one of my biggest fans and supporters, my bestie Bonnie Kiger. We’re just two fangirls who love to read and gossip about our fictional characters.

To my children, Allison and Danielle who are eager to help ol’ Mom out when she’s stuck, or ready to eat left overs or delivery anytime I’m in the writing groove. You girls are my greatest achievement, I love you to the moon and back.

To Steve Windsor, author and writing coach, I crossed the finish line. Thanks for calling me out on excuses and helping me toward my goals.

Thank you to my beta readers: Ashley Marie, Cristal, Amy Kozenski, Yuli Atta, Lauren Shawcross, and Vickie Newell. Your feedback and input helped me a great deal in providing the best story possible.

To Laura Roberts, author and editor, thank you for your helpful critique and keen eye.

Last but not least, a special thank you to the Tampa Writers Alliance Critique Group, I’m truly thankful for all the support and friendships I’ve made.

About Author Mira Monroe