Total pages in book: 9
Estimated words: 8323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 42(@200wpm)___ 33(@250wpm)___ 28(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 8323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 42(@200wpm)___ 33(@250wpm)___ 28(@300wpm)
I look around, unsure what to do. I know he can read my mind.
“You could use your magic and whip up something,” he says, and I hesitate. I don’t know why I oppose using my magic to help myself. I’d use it to help someone else in a heartbeat. “That’s why you can, baby. I could do it for you, but I really think you should do it. There’s nothing wrong with it. Do you plan on robbing a bank? Killing someone?”
“No. Goddess, of course not.”
“Then you can do it.”
Can I?
You can.
He’s right. I know he is. I’ve seen my mother use it to clean the kitchen, cook dinner, and get ready for charity functions. It never causes any harm. I don’t know how I got it into my head that it does.
I rub my hands together and call my light forward. With one whip of my hand, I clean and dry my body off, not allowing any more rain to touch me. I think of a light pink dress I once saw on a mannequin in a department store. My mom wanted me to buy in when I was in high school but, of course, I couldn’t be bothered with anything that wasn’t a shade of black. Like magic, because it is, the dress slides over my naked body, stopping below my knees. I whip my hands around, fix my hair, and add some makeup and a pair of black flats. He’s conjured up a large black umbrella and holds his hand to me. I walk toward him and take his hand.
“You look beautiful,” he says before kissing me. The outside noise of frogs and insects is suddenly quiet, and it’s like it’s just him and me in the moonlight and rain. We begin to walk toward the house.
We walk in the back door, right into the kitchen. It’s loud in the house.
“Mom?” I call.
“Jadis? Oh, goddess. You’re alright?” Mom asks, rushing into the kitchen and wrapping me up in her arms.
“I’m fine. Why?”
“We heard you screaming in the woods. Your brother, father, and Walter are out looking for you now.” How mortifying.
“Shit. Walter.” I totally forgot about Walter.
“Who the hell is Walter,” Halcyon asks, clenching my hand. I squeeze his back in reassurance.
“No one,” I say at the same time my mom says, “her date.”
“What?” Halcyon demands.
“Okay. Some things have changed,” I say calmly. “Well, everything has changed.”
Mom looks at me and then at Halcyon. The rapid way she looks between us, our necks, and our hands would be comical if not for the fact that people are out looking for me in the woods.
“You found your mate?”
“Yes. This is Halcyon Stregone.”
“Oh, dear. It’s nice to meet you.”
“I’ve called your father home.”
See! It’s not just us! I shout in my head.
Calm down, mate. His chuckle fills my head.
“Dinner is almost ready. Why don’t you give Halcyon a tour and I’ll send Walter on home.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Well, I can’t have my son in law uncomfortable in my home, now can I?”
“Thank you, Mrs. Bradbury.”
“None of that nonsense. I’m Mom or Andromeda.”
“Mom.” He leans down and kisses her on the cheek.
“By the way, you look lovely, Jadis. I haven’t seen you wear color since I stopped picking out your clothes.” I smile at her before I drag him up the stairs and show him my childhood, which looks exactly like when I was a little girl.
“Jadis Cassandra Bradbury!” an angry male shouts from downstairs.
“Shit. My dad.”
“Let’s go.” Halcyon takes my hand, and we walk down the stairs and into the living room together. My dad is standing in front of the fireplace. My brother pours him a drink and hands it to him.
“Before you say anything, Dad, I found my mate, and my carelessness was due to my mate fever. I think it’s abated but…”
“I understand all that. I’m just glad you’re dead, lass,” my dad’s thick Boston accent hits my ears. He opens his arms, and I step into them. “Those screams. My Goddess. It was really like you were being murdered.”
“Again. I’m sorry.”
“You must be the mate?” Dad asks, extending his hand to Halcyon. “Ayden Bradbury.”
“Halcyon Stregone.”
“This is my older brother, Gideon.”
“Nice to meet you.” They shake hands as well.
“Scotch?”
“Sure. Neat, please.”
Gideon pours Halcyon a scotch and me a vodka on the rocks. They chat for a few more minutes about New England football, of which, I know nothing so I check my social my social media.
“Dinner’s ready,” Mom shouts from the kitchen. We pile into the kitchen and sit around the table. The beef stroganoff is homemade and delicious. Mom truly is a kitchen witch. I’m not sure what kind of I am yet. I don’t think I’ve used my magic enough. I showed promise in many areas; I just never picked one.
“I’m sure Evanora, Hal’s mom, will want to talk to you. She wants our mating ceremony to be next week.”