Easy Bake Coven (40 page)
Authors: Liz Schulte
“She’s over there harassing Adan,” Katrina said. “And holy crap, I’m going to start calling you Buffy, slayer.”
I knew she was joking, but I didn’t know how I felt about it. I had taken lives and felt nothing. I would have never thought that was possible.
“How are you, sweetie?” Devin asked, hugging me. “This was a traumatic day in more ways than one.”
I hugged her back, wanting to cry, but the tears refused to fall. Devin stiffened, squeezing me hard like she felt something. But before she could say anything there was a tap on my shoulder. I let go of her and looked back. Sy stood behind me. “Can we talk for a moment?”
I went with him to the back of the room behind the crowd. He took me to a shadowed corner. Femi stepped out with the familiar man I saw earlier.
Something about the slight smile on his full lips was just out of my grasp. I knew him but couldn’t quite place how. He was really tall and his shoulders were broad and thick. His dark hair moved back from his face in curling waves and a well-kept beard shaded his jaw. The gray eyes smiled at me though his face was serious.
“It’s been a long time,” was all he said.
I shook my head helplessly, biting my lip.
He glanced toward Cheney. “Now is not a good time, I know. Femi insisted I come with her. Everything is going as planned. We’ll talk soon.”
I looked back at him, my heart thudding. “As planned?” I asked weakly.
He smiled and my hand reached toward him until I stopped myself. “I always knew you would pull it off.”
“Pull it off?”
“Oh, I forgot you don’t remember.
We
started the revolution. Everything has gone exactly as you said it would.”
“No. It started before me.” That was what Cheney said. He said I
joined
them. How did this guy know I couldn’t remember? What had I done?
“It started
with
you, Selene, not before you.”
“You’re lying—and you’ve been trying to kill me.” I clung to what Cheney had told me—what I needed to be true.
Jaron gave me a half smile. “Why would I want to kill you? You’ve done everything we discussed. You’re wonderful.”
“No,” I said louder than I meant to. I covered my mouth and glanced around, hoping I hadn’t drawn attention. “The old Selene may have been on your side, but I’m with Cheney. You people need to leave me alone.”
“That’s just it. I didn’t know phase two had started until Femi found me. We were never after you. We’ve been waiting for you to initiate the next phase.”
“It was just the king from the start?” Sy said, crossing his arms over his chest. “What’s the next phase?”
“The prince taking the crown. I’ll explain everything soon.” He reached for me, but I backed away.
Sy caught his arm. “We’ll be in touch.”
“Selene?” Cheney called from the front of the room.
“You have to go.” I shook my head and went toward the sound of Cheney’s voice, my thoughts shocked into silence. Worry and doubt filled me. Had I made a horrible mistake? Sy was right. I should have waited until I remembered.
Cheney held out his hand. I hesitated, then took it, trusting the feeling of comfort that came with my skin touching his, even though it was a product of the bond. I let Cheney lead me to the front and I stood by his side.
“We have won the battle, but the trials before us are still great. My wife and I will work to mend the bridges that have been destroyed by prejudice,” Cheney’s voice rang out.
My eyes met Jaron’s before Femi pulled him back into the shadows. He touched his fingers to his forehead in a salute before he disappeared. Suddenly a memory of kissing him in the soft morning light came to life behind my eyes.
I couldn’t hear any more of the words Cheney spoke. My ears roared with the sound of my own blood. Cheney squeezed my hand and my heart stilled. I looked into his beautiful, wild eyes and a smile touched my mouth. Cheney smiled back and kissed the back of my hand. I had to trust someone. Jaron was a stranger. I wouldn’t let him come between us. We would figure everything out. Cheney didn’t need to know until I understood everything better.
There was a new day before us and I refused to allow the sins of the past to destroy the future.
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I always worry I will forget someone on the acknowledgements so bear with me as I try to remember everyone.
First, there are the people who helped me get the book publishing ready; my editors, Ev Bishop and Michelle Reed at I’m A Book Shark, my fantastic formatter, Julie Titus, and my fellow authors and beta readers, Mandie Stevens, Olivia Hardin, Tawdra Kandle and Amanda Long. I would like to give a special thanks to Stephanie Nelson to creating this beautiful cover and for also being a fantastic beta reader.
Next I have to thank Promotional Book Tours for always hosting the best release day blasts and contests for my readers. You guys are the best!
I want to thank my friends and family for all their love and support. Especially my mom, Kim Lammers, and my besties from the third floor, you know who you are.
Above all, I want to thank you the readers for making this job so much fun. I really do love hearing from you!
