Текст книги "Something Witchy This Way Comes "
Автор книги: Veronica Blade
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Текущая страница: 16 (всего у книги 19 страниц)
I released the breath I’d been holding and collapsed onto the couch, covering my face with my hands.
Poor Zoe, trapped for a decade in a sealed coffin, probably maimed and unable to move, much less escape. Had my sister slept the whole time or had she been aware of everything? I closed my eyes and imagined the terror that would’ve engulfed her if she realized she’d been buried alive and destined to be a prisoner for eternity.
Imagining it was almost too much to bear. I felt claustrophobic and my lungs struggled for air. With effort, I mentally pulled myself out of Zoe’s prison and concentrated on pushing the picture out of my head. But the horror of it lingered. She hadn’t deserved that.
“I know why Boris is so interested in me and why my family is different,” I said. Then I told Hayden and Chait everything I knew.
Chapter Thirty-four
Hayden
I snuck out of my room and quietly closed the door, so I wouldn’t wake Tessa. In the hallway, I stopped just before the living room.
Chait looked wide awake, standing near the window with a cup of coffee in his hand. “I went outside to scope the place out, see if anyone was around. Your mom came out and offered me coffee. After last night, I needed it. Tessa still sleeping?”
“Yeah.” I ran a hand through my hair, exhausted from so little sleep. The three of us had stayed up late while Tessa filled us in. Apparently, she hadn’t been able to shake off the ordeal – she’d tossed and turned all night. But even a bad night snuggling with Tessa was still a pretty good night, sleep deprived or not. “My mom must have been really confused when she saw you.” I’d give her an edited version of the truth later. “We have to go to school. If we do anything unusual, Boris might think something’s up.”
“Looks like I’ll be your bodyguard for a while.” Chait grinned. “Your worst nightmare, huh?”
“Nah. Actually, I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have on my side.” I shoved my hands in my pockets and looked down at my bare feet, only sneaking a peek at him to see the surprise on his face. “Honestly, it isn’t about competing for Tessa. None of that matters now. All I care about is keeping her alive.”
Chait didn’t miss a beat. “Okay. If we’re going to be working together, let’s get started.”
“Do you have a plan?” I hoped.
“Not really.” Chait shook his head. “But if only one of you misses school at a time, it’s unlikely anyone will suspect anything. But both of you… I don’t know. Frank will notice and maybe see it as a red flag. Take Tessa to school, if she’s up for it, and you and I can train all day. Tomorrow, I work with her and you go to school.”
I scratched my chin. “Yeah. Our time is better spent learning how to stay alive than studying calculus, for now.”
“It might be a good idea for me to go home later and grab some of my clothes,” Chait added.
The old me would’ve gone mad from the thought of him staying overnight anywhere near Tessa. But we needed Chait’s help every hour of the day. Even then, we might not be safe. “You think we should snag that book? There might be something else in there that could help us.”
“Hey, guys.” Tessa came up behind me and slid her hands around my waist to interlock under my ribs.
I turned around and brushed my hands down her arm. “How are you feeling? Better?”
“Much. Still a little freaked though.”
She wasn’t the only one.
* * * *
A stream of profanity spewed from my mouth as I ate my pride for the zillionth time. I rubbed my hip that had taken the brunt of my falls.
Chait mashed his lips together and looked away. As if I couldn’t figure out he was trying not to laugh.
Maybe I’d perform better if I wasn’t so distracted. I didn’t like Tessa being away from me where I couldn’t protect her. “You think she’s safe at school, right?” I asked.
His mouth dropped open, then closed. He shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know. But Boris has no reason to act. I think we’re okay.”
“Yeah.” Just a few more hours and we’d pick her up. She’d be fine.
“We should stop and eat. I’m starving,” Chait informed me. “Plus, you need to recharge.”
“I hurt all over. How fast do we heal?”
“Food. It does a body good. I think you’ll be almost like new by the time we finish lunch.” He slapped a hand on my shoulder. “Hey. It won’t always be like this. I’ve trained a lot of new guys and I’ve never had anyone keep up with me the way you have today.”
My brows scrunched together while I tried to make sense of his words. “I don’t get why I haven’t done better. I’ve been training for years.”
“We all start off weak. Mostly because we don’t know our powers or how to use them yet. Right now, you’re more skilled as a warrior, but I’m stronger and faster. In a few weeks, you’ll have caught up and, I’m sorry to say, you’ll be giving me a stomping.”
“I still have a few weeks before I’m worth anything?” I scowled.
Chait chuckled. “You’re hardly worthless now.”
But if Tessa were in danger, I wouldn’t be much help; not against more experienced witches. Even if I became much stronger in a few weeks, the strength would come after her eighteenth birthday and after she announced her choice. Until then, any sorcerer could pluck me off like a piece of lint. I knew Tessa too well by now – if we ran into trouble and something happened to me, she was the kind of person who wouldn’t run for safety. She wouldn’t leave a man behind. Tessa would stay and end up putting herself in danger – because of me.
Not only was I useless, but having me around was a huge liability to her.
“Suddenly, I’m not that hungry.” Thinking about what I had to do made me want to pound on something. “Let’s spar a little longer.”
* * * *
Since my car couldn’t accommodate Chait and Tessa, I parked it at home and settled on my mom’s SUV. The Mercedes had cost over a hundred grand and wasn’t exactly inconspicuous, but stood out less than mine. And since I’d never be caught dead in my mom’s car at school, no one would know I was behind the tinted glass. It wouldn’t look good to be seen at school when I hadn’t attended my classes.
“We should consider renting a car, something more generic.” I spotted Tessa exiting the double doors of the school and sent her a visual of the Mercedes. When she looked my way, I hit the horn for a split second. “Whatever we can do to throw off any followers might be nice.”
“You have to be twenty-five to rent a car,” Chait said. “They’ll figure out it’s us, no matter what we drive. Your mom still has like four other cars in the garage, right? So we’ll switch when we need to.”
Tessa jumped in the front seat and held her hand out for me. I took it, wanting to kiss her palm. But I couldn’t. Not when these were our last few moments together as a couple. I had to end it quick and clean.
I released her slowly and gripped the steering wheel. “We’ll stop by Chait’s so he can pick up a few things,” I said.
Tessa pivoted in her seat to see Chait. “You think you can sneak that book out?”
“I’ll try.”
“How did you guys do today?” she asked.
“I got my ass handed to me over and over,” I mumbled.
“Great,” Tessa said, making sure we knew by her tone that she didn’t think so at all. “Gives me something to look forward to tomorrow when he beats the crap out of me.”
“How did it go with Frank and Lila? Did you see either of them?” I asked.
“Yes. Both. They asked where you were and I told them that you were spending time with your mom while she and the pervert go through the divorce stuff. Then Frank kind of hovered like he wanted to ask me something. I figured it was because he knew we were hanging out with Chait a lot. I told them how disillusioned and betrayed Chait felt over the whole Rena thing. Now they think he’s considering switching sides.” She grinned. “Chait, if David talks to you, say that after the Rena fiasco, you’re worried we’ll choose wrong, so you’re investing a little extra time in us.”
“Tessa, you astound me.” Chait held up a palm for a high-five.
I was too caught up in my own inner turmoil to really appreciate her slyness.
A few minutes later, we parked about a block from the huge house where Chait and the rest of them lived. He jumped out of the SUV, leaving Tessa and I alone.
This was my moment.
“Tessa, I’ve never been this involved with a girl before.” I stared straight ahead, unable to face her. “I mean, I really care about you but—”
“Are you dumping me?” she asked sharply.
“It’s not like that.” I jiggled the keys hanging in the ignition.
“Then what is it like?” Her eyes narrowed in my peripheral. “Because what you said usually precedes a breakup. So you’re not breaking up with me?”
I sighed. She wasn’t going to make this easy, not that I thought she would. “It’s just that… we’re so different.”
“Oh my God, Hayden, you are dumping me. I can’t believe you. It was only Saturday night that you asked me to be your girlfriend – less than forty-eight hours ago.” She turned away and leaned her head against the seat. “What did I expect?”
“I’m not right for you. You need a guy who wants what you want.” I hesitated, hating myself, but knowing I had to go on. “I’ll never be the doting boyfriend who watches chick flicks and does baby talk and crap like that. A girl’s lucky if I call, much less text. I thought I could do that with you, but I can’t. Not without feeling suffocated.”
She made an odd little noise and I paused. I’d hurt her, but couldn’t stop now. I had to finish it.
“I don’t want to be told what to wear or who to hang out with. I’ll never ask before doing something – I’ll just do it. That’s me, Tessa, like it or not. You need a guy a little more accommodating, someone who sucks up to you and doesn’t mind getting his nose dirty. Someone who’ll play Daddy to Bree. That’ll never be me. Besides, I need someone a little more… relaxed.
“These last two days have been awesome but,” I paused then forced myself to continue, “no way can I keep that promise to not sleep with you for the next few weeks. It’s time to move on.” I glanced over at her, my voice lightening up. “Might not be such a bad thing. It frees you up for Chait. He’s probably more your type anyway.”
“Wow, Hayden, you have that little speech down perfectly. Wrote it a while ago, did ya? Probably before you ever met me.”
I ran my hand through my hair, knowing I deserved everything she threw at me.
“It’s impressive that you lasted almost two full days in a committed relationship. So the real reason you’re moving on is because you need sex? Did I get that right?” The bitterness in her words sliced through me.
I didn’t answer, telling myself that Tessa’s chance of survival increased without me.
Chait slipped into the back seat carrying a duffle bag. “I snuck out the window and jumped the fence when no one was looking, then sprinted down the block. I’m pretty sure no one knows I left.”
Without saying a word, I started the car. Tessa stared out the window.
“Uhm, is everything okay?” he asked.
“Everything’s peachy,” she said after a few moments of silence, then gave a sigh-moan combo. “I need to go home and see Bree. What are our plans tonight? Or am I assuming too much, Hayden, by thinking that we’re all still a team? Have you decided to go on alone?”
“We’re a team, Tessa. We’re sticking together, no matter what.”
“I’ve heard that before,” she muttered.
Chait poked his head between the two seats. “What the hell is going on?”
“Hayden dumped me. Cool, huh? I shouldn’t be surprised, but what can I say? I’m a girl. We tend to believe guys when they say they care – even users like Hayden. May as well write sucker on my forehead.” She glared at me.
“It wasn’t like that. I never meant to mislead you.”
“Maybe you guys should finish this when I’m not around,” Chait said mercifully.
If I had my way, the subject would go away and Tessa would forget about it completely. She was the most grounded and confident girl I’d ever met. Once she recovered from the sting of betrayal, she’d realize what a dog she’d fallen for and wonder what she ever saw in me. Unfortunately for me, that would come too soon. I hated the thought of Tessa getting over me. Realistically, there probably wouldn’t be much for her to get over. How much could she really care for someone like me anyway?
Until then, I would be eternally grateful that Chait would be stuck to us – he’d offer a much needed buffer. If she and I had been alone together, she’d make me talk and eventually, I might tell her the truth – how much breaking up with her ripped me up inside.
But if I had to watch her take up with him or anyone else, I couldn’t hang around. I’d pick sides in a hurry or take my chances with Boris.
* * * *
Bree did her homework at the dining room table at Tessa’s while we practiced moving objects in the living room. We huddled into a triangle and kept the lights dim, so Bree couldn’t easily see what we were doing.
“So you’re really going to stay, huh?” she asked me between turns. “You’re not obligated.”
I loved Tessa, more than anyone I’d ever loved my entire life. But her occasional barb made me want to pick a fight. I wanted to yell at her and tell her to get over it.
Then take her to bed.
“I said I would.”
“I thought with your commitment phobia, it might be a problem for you.”
“Tessa, can we stop this? I never lied to you and the last thing I want to do is hurt you.”
“That may or may not be true.” She nodded. “But that’s not what I mean. I’m talking about being honest with yourself. You knew from the beginning that I wouldn’t sleep with you anytime soon. You also knew how committed I was to my little sister and that she was part of the package. And you still went for it.”
“Can you guys do this later?” Chait asked.
Tessa plowed on as if he hadn’t spoken. “If, deep in a corner of your mind, it occurs to you that the next girl might not be right, maybe you should pay attention. You might try not asking her to be your girlfriend.” She stomped off and a moment later, a door slammed.
“Dude, what the hell are you doing?” Chait asked, voice low.
“We’re waiting for Tessa to get back. When Bree’s done with her homework—”
“You know that’s not what I’m asking.” Chait looked genuinely concerned.
I squeezed my eyes shut. “The door’s open for you and you’re questioning me? You like her. Here’s your chance.”
“Yeah, who wouldn’t mind hooking up with that? But she likes you, idiot. Besides, I don’t do rebound girls.” He shook his head. “No, thank you.”
Inwardly, I breathed a sigh of relief. Tessa shouldn’t be with me. She needed to move on.
But not while I watched.
Chapter Thirty-five
Tessa
Bree fell asleep during her bedtime story and I curled up on the floor at the foot of her bed. I cried. Not the kind of crying you do when you’re frustrated, hurt or a little angry. It was the cry that contorts your face and makes your nose run, your eyes bloodshot.
That bastard.
I’d known better, but had stupidly let my guard down. My instincts had screamed at me but I’d ignored them – because he’d looked at me and touched me like he cared. He’d been so convincing. Could anyone fake it that well? If he hadn’t learned to block his thoughts, I would’ve known.
When I’d cried myself dry, I tiptoed out of her room and crept close enough for the boys to hear me, while keeping some distance, so they wouldn’t see my splotchy face. “I’m jumping in the shower.”
In the bathroom, I called my grandmother. I knew I shouldn’t since it wasn’t an emergency. But I needed to hear her voice and see how Zoe was doing.
“Hi, sweetheart. We can’t talk long.”
“Okay.” I was elated she picked up the phone at all. “But I have to know how she’s doing.”
“We gave her blood and an IV with medicine and nutrients so she can begin healing. Plus I’ve worked on her personally, as a healer. She was in bad shape, honey, and she’s got a ways to go. But I think she’ll be waking soon. We’re seeing more movement.”
“When she’s up, will you tell her that Rena, the one who tried to kill her, is dead? After all she’s been through, I think she might like to know.”
“I will. Be safe, baby.”
After my shower, I took some extra time making myself presentable by blow drying my hair and putting on a tiny bit of makeup. I wouldn’t be leaving the house the rest of the night, but that didn’t mean I had to look frumpy. We would be up a while so no point in wearing pajamas. I threw on a tank top and short shorts, then left the safety of my room to face the boys.
I’d be nicer to Hayden. Being bitchy only stirred things up. He couldn’t help how he felt and I couldn’t force him to love me. I wouldn’t go out of my way to be friendly though.
“Hey.” I smiled at both of them. Hayden flinched and looked away. I sighed inwardly and focused on Chait. Thank goodness for him or I’d feel so alone. “What are you guys doing?”
“Working on Hayden’s mind reading skills. I’m showing him the difference between an image completely made up and something the person may have seen through someone else.”
“Oh, good. Yeah, I did that with Frank and Lila.”
“Tessa,” Hayden said, “if we go to school every other day and switch like that, it’s going to look weird by the end of the week. I was thinking it might be a good idea for you to go to school tomorrow. I’ll stay and train with Chait. At night, I can take care of Bree while you train.”
Why would he do such a thing, taking care of a little girl? He wasn’t my boyfriend anymore. “I—”
“I don’t mind. Bree’s a sweet girl. We have fun when we hang out. You and I are still a team, right? Neither of us can do it alone.”
“He’s right,” Chait said. “We might come up with a better plan up the road, but for now, it’s a start.”
“If I’m using Hayden, I may as well use the babysitter. Same difference. That makes me as bad as my mom.”
“No,” Hayden said. “Because you’ll still be close by and available if she needs anything.”
* * * *
I squeezed in with Bree and snuggled up to her little body. The boys slept in my room, one on the bed and the other on the floor. I’d heard my parents come home in the middle of the night, laughing. Together. Strange. They hadn’t looked in on their children before disappearing into their room right across from Bree’s. They never did.
It would be tricky dealing with the boys and ensuring they didn’t get caught in the morning. Dad would wake up soon and be long gone when we got up. Knowing he’d signed the papers so easily, and hadn’t even bothered to have a conversation with me first, left me without any inspiration to get up and say hello. I cuddled closer to Bree and dozed off.
* * * *
“Hey.” Hayden nudged my shoulder.
I forced my eyes open, but the glaring sun burned through Bree’s window.
Hayden loomed over me, bare-chested and looking like a lifeguard with his sun-kissed hair and the halo of bright light behind him. “Time to get up.”
I turned away to keep myself from reaching out to touch his magnificent six-pack. “Put on a shirt.”
He scurried off and I scoped the place out. My house was deserted and I didn’t sense my parents in their bedroom either.
Once the guys were dressed, they stayed. It would be easy to pretend they’d just arrived, if my mom returned. While Hayden started on Bree’s lunch, Chait scrambled eggs.
On my way to check on Bree, I paused to watch the boys in action. “Two gorgeous guys slaving in the kitchen. Doesn’t get any better than this.”
“You have low standards.” Chait grinned over his shoulder and dropped bread into the toaster. “If I had two hot girls in my kitchen, I’d want them naked.”
I stood immobile, seeing Chait and Hayden in my mind’s eye. Naked, cooking for me.
Hayden glanced my way and chuckled as I dashed away.
With the boys handling the food, I spent my time with Bree. A rare treat. And when we all piled in the SUV to drop off Bree, I didn’t feel rushed for a change.
“We have a test today.” Hayden stopped at the curb of Bree’s school. “I can’t afford to miss it. The makeup credits Frank arranged with the teacher won’t help me much if I get a zero.”
“Okay. Come for that class,” I said. “Then go.”
I walked Bree to the front of the building and saw her safely inside. On my way back to the car, my cell went off. I waited until I was in the car then flipped my phone open. It was my grandmother. She’s awake. And it was David, not Rena.
I dropped the phone and twisted in my seat to see Chait in the back. “David’s a spy for Boris. He’s the one who tried to kill Zoe.”
