Unforgiven (Wanderers #3) (27 page)

When we found my dad she pulled him aside to talk to
him in private. They snuck behind a curtain where they felt no one
could see or hear them. Curiosity piqued, I tried to slyly sneak
over and get close enough so I could eavesdrop. Unfortunately they
were speaking Gaelic and the little I knew was not enough to
decipher their conversation, but I still tried. I didn’t need to
know what they were saying to know this conversation was getting
very heated very quickly.

Gran was shaking her fist at dad, growing hot with
rage. I’d never seen her so angry before and the seriousness of her
tone was startling. Dad was not one to keep his temper which was
surprising to see how calm he was. His shoulders tensed and I knew
I spoke too soon. He grabbed Gran’s wrist, leaned down close to her
face and growled. I was about to interrupt, but then I would expose
myself and it was not wise to piss off my dad more than he already
was.

Gran ripped her hand away from dad and slapped him
across the face showing she did not appreciate him acting that way.
I gasped and quickly covered my mouth, hiding deeper inside the
curtain. I heard a slight shift in my dad’s feet. Silence fell and
I wondered what happened. A breeze blew the curtain and I froze in
place. I thought for sure I was busted. I counted to ten before I
peered back out from behind the curtain. My dad was gone, but Gran
was still there with her back to me. I waited a few minutes to see
if she would rejoin the party, but when she didn’t move I got a
little worried.

I bit my nails, waiting for the right moment to
approach her. She gripped the wall and clenched her heart with her
hand. “Grandma Bea!” I shouted, running to her. “What is it? What’s
wrong?”

“Nothing sweetheart,” she padded her chest. “Just my
old ticker,” she smiled. “Sometimes takes a bit to keep up with the
rest of me,” she winked.

“Gran, sit down,” I insisted.

“No need to make such a fuss.”

“Sit,” I said, moving a chair over to her with the
wiggle of my finger.

She smirked at me and had a seat. “I see you get your
stubbornness from your father.”

“Give me your hand,” I said, holding out mine. I
placed her hand over my heart and then mine over hers. I closed my
eyes and concentrated on healing her; all her aches and pains, her
ailments, and everything else that might be bothering her.

As soon as I felt it start to work she pulled away
from me. “Ella dear, no,” she said, shaking her head. “I appreciate
it, but this isn’t something you can fix with magic.”

“Sure it is, watch.” I put my hand back over her
heart.

She pulled my hand away and held it in hers. “Thank
you, but this is a part of life. You need to understand that. You
need to know your magic is a gift and is not to be used
recklessly.”

“But I’m not. I’m helping you.”

“You would be helping me more if you didn’t try to
heal me.” I looked at her confused. “Ella, I’m past the time of
magical healing. If Death sees fit for it to be my time to go then
it’s my time to go. No amount of magic is going to keep me here.
Maybe for a little while, but it would just prolong the inevitable.
Do you understand sweetie?”

I nodded. “But Gran you’re talking as if you’ll be
gone tomorrow or like I’m about to heal a terminal illness. I just
want to make you feel a little better not cure cancer.”

“I know honey, but I promise I’ll be fine. Nothing a
stiff drink can’t fix,” she said, smacking my hand.

“Gran, you say that about everything.” I rolled my
eyes as I helped her up.

“Well it’s the truth. Now let’s hurry up before Dean
finishes off the good scotch.”

No wonder this family has a drinking problem.
She pinched my side and I squealed. “Ow, what was that for,” I
whined, trying not to cry.
That really hurt.

“I heard that,” she said, narrowing her eyes at me. I
just shook my head and walked her back into the party.

I spent the rest of the night listening to stories
about Gran’s adventures and entertaining guests by telling them
about the prestigious college I was accepted to in January. Well
that’s what my dad was telling everyone. I just went along with it
to please him. Before the night was up my mom insisted on getting a
group picture of the family. She had already snapped a million
pictures during the night. I was exhausted and no longer in the
mood to smile. My face was hurting from the fake smile I had
plastered on my face the whole night. I didn’t think I had the
strength left to keep it up. “Just a little bit longer,” my mom
said, sensing my unease.

She then asked me to go find Dean for the photos. I
sighed and walked back to the table where Cameron was sitting and
asked her if she had seen him. She told me last she checked he was
at the bar. I knew I should have checked there first.

Dean wasn’t at the bar like we thought, so I decided
the next best place would be the bathroom. I figured might as well
check and use the facilities while I was there.

The ladies room door was locked, which I thought was
odd. I was about to search for another bathroom when I overheard
someone inside. Being the nosy person I was, I pressed my ear to
the door and tried to listen carefully. “You said you would take
care of it,” the person said. There was a pause, indicating they
were talking on the phone. “Well obviously you aren’t doing a good
job.” I couldn’t tell who the voice belonged to. It was too muffled
by the thick wooden door, but still clear enough that I could
understand what they were saying.

“I’m tired of waiting,” they continued. “I guess if
you want things done right you have to do them yourself.” I heard
the clicking of heels and I jumped back into the shadows so I
wouldn’t be seen. I took the risk of being caught by popping my
head out to see who it was when I saw Dean come out of the guy’s
bathroom. I quickly buried my head back into the darkness.

“Dean,” Jasa said startled. “I was just looking for
you. We’re about to start pictures.” He put out his arm to escort
her back into the dining area. That was weird and who was Jasa
talking to? My thoughts were cut short when my dad called for me.
“Ella, we’re waiting on you,”
he projected.

I rolled my eyes and walked back to join everyone
else. Dean grabbed me and pulled me close to him, I think more so
for balance. “Don’t forget to smile,” he said. He shot me a look
that said he wasn’t enjoying this anymore than I was.
“God, who
is Jenks fooling with that hairpiece. It looks like something he
scraped off the side of the road.”
I tried to muffle my laugh,
but my dad shot a glare in my direction making me straighten up.
“Uh oh, look out Ella. Dad has his stern face on. Now wait,
watch, soon the vein will start to pulse, and then, there on the
side of the head a small trickle of sweat will start to drip
down.”
Dean was so on point it was hard not to smile. Dad eyed
us suspiciously, no doubt thinking we were drunk – well Dean was.
Thankfully he was distracted by one of his colleagues.

I had a hard time keeping a straight face while we
waited for everyone to gather for the pictures. Dean kept
projecting in my head. He would imitate the conversation Dad was
having with all the guests by mocking him. He would make up
something, imitating dad’s voice, and then do the same with whoever
he was talking to. I snickered and dad turned to glare at us over
his shoulder.
“Take cover!”
Dean yelled in my head like we
were under attack. He yanked me down behind the people in front of
us and I let out a tiny yelp.

“What are you doing?” I laughed. He pressed his hands
to his lips for me to be quiet. I didn’t know what he was up to,
but I felt like an idiot crouched down on the floor. “You know he
can probably hear us.”

“Yes I can,” Dad said, making us both jump. I pulled
Dean up off the floor and he gripped on to me to keep himself from
falling over. Dad narrowed his eyes at both of us not happy about
our behavior.

“
Look, there it is, the vein, the sweat,”
Dean
projected. I lost it. No longer able to hold in my laughter. I let
it all go and if felt so good. My dad looked at us like we had
completely lost our minds.

“Did you two take something?” he spat accusingly.

“God dad, no.” He gripped our arms and stared right
at us. I stopped laughing instantly. He looked at me and then Dean
and let go. “Knock it off,” he said. He took the handkerchief from
his pocket and wiped away the bit of sweat, then cleared his throat
when he looked at us. I couldn’t help but laugh. Dad, embarrassed,
walked away. He joined mom in the front and whispered a few things
in her ear. She peeked over her shoulder and then back at dad
letting out a small laugh. He frowned and she slapped his shoulder
playfully. Dean and I started to snicker again until dad projected
at us to knock it off.

“Thanks Dean. I needed that,” I said softly.

He bumped me with his shoulder. “I know,” he winked
and then threw his arm over me and kissed my hair.

After the pictures were finally over, I unscrewed my
smile by moving my jaw around. My face hurt so bad from laughing
with Dean and being forced to smile for these pictures. Before I
had the chance to hit the bar with Dean, Jasa grabbed me and pulled
me aside. “I am so happy you were able to make it tonight,” she
said, embracing me in a hug. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you all
night, but Xander had me meeting so many friends and colleagues I
haven’t had the chance.”

“It’s okay,” I said. “What did you want to talk to me
about?”

“Well, I was wondering if you would be my maid of
honor?”

“Seriously?” I said shocked.

“Well as you know, I don’t have any family and not
many friends and what better person to stand at my side then my
future sister-in-law,” she smiled, hopeful.

“I don’t know what to say?” Actually I really wanted
to say no way. I think my brother should be marrying Danni instead
of you, but that wasn’t fair. I didn’t know Jasa well enough and
should give her a chance.

Her eyes pleaded with me to say yes. “She’d loved
to,” Dean said, speaking up for me and giving me a slight
nudge.

“Yes,” I said.

“Great,” she cheered, hugging me again. “I’m going to
tell Xander the great news.”

I turned to Dean. “Since when you were on team Jasa?”
I asked.

“I’m not, I just…something is off about this whole
thing. This isn’t like Xander and she
is not
his
type. He should have never let Danni go.”

I looked at him wide eyed. “You know?” I said
softly.

“Please, Ella, the only idiot who doesn’t is Xander.
He’s too blinded by stupidity to see what’s right in front of him.”
We both looked to the table where Danni was sitting.

I sighed and turned back to Dean. “If you know, then
why do you keep hitting on her?” I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Because I’m a dick,” he shrugged, giving me a half
smile.

“Shouldn’t we do something?”

Dean took a step closer. “Nah li’l sis,” he threw his
arm over me. “It’s too late for Xander. Something dark and sinister
is at work here.”

I looked at him a little frightened. “What are you
talking about? You think Jasa is evil?”

“Just in the sack,” he smiled.

“God you are such a pig!” I yelled, pushing him away
from me. He laughed all the way over to the bar.

Jasa returned, telling me they wanted me for more
pictures. I stifled an eye roll as she grabbed my wrist. She
flinched and pulled her hand back clenching it tight to her chest.
I swear I even heard her hiss. When I looked up into her eyes I
instantly took a step back. I shook my head and closed my eyes. No,
I was just imagining it. It couldn’t be real.

I looked back up and knew my eyes weren’t playing
tricks on me. Jasa’s eyes were glowing gold. It was like everything
was happening in slow motion as realization hit me on what I was
seeing. “Jasa,” Xander called. As quickly as they glowed they
returned to normal and she turned around to join Xander as if
nothing happened.

Still in shock I looked down at my arm that was still
suspended in the air – the one that wore my grandmother’s bracelet.
Jasa flinched when she touched it. It shocked her, which was
normal, but her reaction wasn’t. “The burn,” I said. I pushed
through the sea of people to where she was standing with Xander. I
reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling it behind her, and I was
right.

There it was.

A burn mark in the shape of an X on Jasa’s lower
wrist.

My eyes widened in surprise. She tried to tear her
arm away but I held on tight. “Ella, what are you doing?” Xander
glared, ready to ream me out, but was cut short when he saw the
bracelet start to glow. He threw his hand over my wrist. “Excuse
us,” he said, yanking me out of the room, forcing me to drop Jasa’s
arm.

“Xander, what the hell?”

He pointed to the bracelet. “You tell me.”

The bracelet started to jingle and the glow slowly
started to get brighter. “Get Gran. Get her now!” I said panicked.
Before he could retreat back into the dining area Gran was by my
side.

“What’s going on?” she asked. I held up the
bracelet.

“Oh?”

“Jasa touched it,” I said, looking at Gran not able
to meet Xander’s eyes. I didn’t know how to break it to him that
his fiancé was evil. “Xander I’m sorry but Jasa is –” standing
right behind him. Gran pulled my arm behind my back to hide the
bracelet that was glowing even brighter now.

“Ella I’m sorry. I don’t know why I acted that
way.”

“Look at her hands!” I shouted. Not the best way to
break it to Xander but it was the only opportunity I had to prove
it to them.

Xander narrowed his eyes at me, not happy with my
behavior, and then turned to Jasa worried. “It’s okay, I’m fine,”
she said. “The air is very dry in there so when I touched Ella it
was just a shock from static. No big deal,” she smiled, turning
over her hands. I leaned over to look at her wrists which revealed
nothing but smooth, milk white skin. There was no mark, no burn,
nothing.