Dare (34 page)
“Stop just stop.” She shook her head. “You deserve this, Dare. You deserve to be happy. Stop worrying about the Nox for five minutes and focus on yourself. Go. Go get the guy. Ride off with him.” She laughed. “I’ll take over for a while.”
I pulled her into a hug. “You’re the best friend. Seriously. The best.”
“I know. Just don’t be gone too long. I might snag your tiara.”
I wiped my eyes. “You can have it while I’m gone. They’ll listen to you. They respect you.”
I saw how the others responded to Vix. She should have been royalty. She made a good leader.
“We promise to take care of Sullen’s Grove while you are away, and I’ll personally make sure the newbies get all the training they want. Hey, I bet we could use Zac’s garage while you two are shacked up on the beach somewhere.”
I smiled. “He keeps the key under the front mat. But don’t break anything.”
“We will be as stealthy as panthers.” She winked.
I sighed. “I’m going to miss graduation.”
“No big deal. I’ll send you pictures. It’s not like we’ll remember who the speaker was ten years from now. You already have your diploma. You survived econ. Just go. Be happy. Be selfish for once.”
Selfish. I had beaten myself up for those small slivers I had taken. I felt guilty when I was happy with Zac. This was going to feel so much better.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“Call me when you get to whatever romantic destination he takes you?”
“Maybe in the morning.” I giggled. I wasn’t a giggling girl, but my heart was light. My body felt light. Tonight we would be together.
“You have it so bad.” She purred.
“I do. And it’s amazing.” I turned in the doorway. “Will you tell the others for me? I don’t think I can go through a long goodbye ceremony tonight. I’ll be back. Just tell them that. After the summer, I think.”
That sounded good. A summer away with Zac. One summer off from being a queen. We could discover new places; maybe go to some of his favorite spots. Drink margaritas and have amazing, consuming, firework sex. Yes, an entire summer of that.
“Whatever you need, your majesty.” She bowed formally in front of me. It made me cry harder than all the tears of joy spilling over my lashes.
If I stayed any longer, I’d end up here the rest of the night. I had to go. He needed me now and nothing else mattered.
This was the time of night when Sullen’s Grove slept peacefully. I passed a few houses with a light or two on, but I knew from living here people mostly left a lamp on as a security measure.
The families I watched were tucked in bed, unaware that they came close to losing their protector tonight. Sure, I was going on vacation, but I was certain heroines were allowed a break once every few years.
I clutched at the steering wheel. I had almost said the words. Almost agreed to marry Case. My teeth gritted together. It would have been years before there would have been another Ghost. I would have had to raise and train a daughter to take my place. Case’s daughter. My stomach knotted until I took enough slow breaths to calm down.
There wasn’t going to be a wedding. I was leaving with Zac. We were going to be together this summer. I would come back to watch over Sullen’s Grove.
I pulled in the driveway and cut the ignition. This was it. My future with Zac started tonight.
I climbed the steps to the porch and bent to pick up the key when I saw the door.
“Zac?” The front door was cracked. I tapped on it and it swung open. All the lights were on.
“Zac? I didn’t have time to swing by my place to pack.” I walked down the hall toward his bedroom. “Can we stop by on our way out? I just want to get a few things. I really need my hairdryer.”
“Zac?”
His suitcase was on the bed. My stomach flipped. “Zac?”
I ran to the garage. Please, God, please let him be in here. The AC hummed, filling the silence of the empty room.
He was gone.
T.A. Foster is a Southern girl whose heart and spirit are connected to the beach. She grew up catching rays and chasing waves along the North Carolina Outer Banks and now resides in the state with her adventurous pilot husband, three children, and canine kiddo.
T.A. has an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a graduate degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University. When she’s not chasing her two-legged and four-legged children or trying to escape for date night, you can find her reading, writing, or planning her next beach trip.
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Thank you to my husband Shane, who when I first had the idea to write about a band of she-panthers, thought it was an amazing idea. You supported me through all the craziness that was writing this book.
To my own Nox, and there are many of you out there, Jennifer and Mary-Kathryn thank you for all the feedback and panther love.
Alyssa, you really cheered me through writing this book. Thanks for all the positive energy.
A special thank you to my beta readers, Ethan and Amanda. You all helped make this book better and stronger than it was when it first landed in your hands. Thank you!
To the team who helps me put all of this together: H. Danielle Crabtree for your tenacious editing; Sommer for your gorgeous covers; and Emily for such beautiful formatting, thank you!
Want to know more about Sullen’s Grove magical residents? Continue reading for a sneak peek at
Time Spell
, the first book in the
Ivy Grace Spell Series
.
Finn propped his shoulder on the hardy oak. Half his body was cloaked by the shadows. He shoved his hands in his jeans pockets. It only took me a second to find him. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t ignore the magnetic pull he had over me. I reminded myself to stay strong and to stay focused.
“Emergency, huh? What’s going on, Ivy?” he teased.
Clearly, he didn’t remember that I never threw around the word “emergency.” I wasn’t here to play games or get wrapped up in him again.
I chewed on my bottom lip, sorting through how I should approach my request. Before the words were passed my lips, he shifted from the tree and snaked his arms around my waist. All I could hear was my heart beating. I tried to steady the beats so Finn wouldn’t hear it too.
“Finn—” I pushed against his chest, trying to create some distance. He was too close, and in the space that affected my inner good girl.
“Aw, babe.” He brushed the side of my cheek.
I shook my head and took another step back. It was better if there was more air between us.
“Thanks for meeting me so fast. I know you might have plans that don’t involve helping me in the middle of the night.” I paused.
His lack of response suggested maybe I had interrupted his plans, but I rambled on and tried to ignore the jealous surges worming their way into my imagination.
“I do really need your help. I need a
Guardian Spell
.” My voice was strong and urgent. He needed to understand how critical the request was. I didn’t want Finn to start charming me with his charismatic smile, crystal eyes, and fiery hands. This was serious.
“Hmmm… Who needs protecting? I need a little something to go on.” His hands were back in his pockets, and he leaned into the sturdy trunk.
I didn’t have the kind of time Finn was going to soak up. “It’s a ridiculously long story, but can you just fly to Atlanta tonight and take care of this girl for me?” I shoved the crumpled piece of paper with Emily’s address on it into his palm. “It would really mean a lot to me. Can you help her?”
He opened the note and his eyes shot to mine. “Sure. Of course, babe, but first I want to know what it’s about.” He folded the paper in half and shoved it in his pocket. “I haven’t heard from you in months. I saw you were in New York. Ian’s keeping his distance from me at work, and now, in the middle of the night, you need
my
help. And I’m supposed to start doling out spells? You realize it’s a spell that happens to be my gift.” He was irritated, but it felt more like he was trying to see how far he could push me and if I’d push back to get the protection spell.
Maybe this was too much. It was unfair to ask him to do it, considering everything he said was true. The only reason I texted was because my magical life was unraveling in front of me, and he was the one person who might be able to weave it back together. I reread the awful letter in my mind, recounting each scratchy, evil word before responding. The letter dissuaded us from involving the authorities, but didn’t say anything about adding allies. If I ever needed an ally, it was now. Like it or not, Finn was the only Guardian I knew.
I sighed. “I need your help, for more than just the spell, but we don’t have enough time to get into the details now.” I smiled, trying to convince him to relent. “Can you please go help this girl, and then meet me back at my house? I’ll fill you in on everything there, I promise.”
I could tell from the gleam in his eye that I had won. “We’re going to talk, Ivy. But, yeah, I can take care of this for you. It’s nice to know you still need me.” Without warning, he fisted his hands through the back of my hair, tilting my chin upward, and crushed his mouth onto mine. I felt the rush of electricity pulse through my limbs and my knees wobbled as his lips broke free.
