He holds me like I’m his, soothing me with his hard body, as he strokes my back.
“I’m not the same guy I was all those years ago. You can trust me.”
Hearing him say that and mean it feels so unbelievably good.
He’s changed. He’s the man I’ve always wanted him to be.
He leans back just enough to look at me. “I’m not afraid of you, Danielle.”
“You should be,” I whisper. “I’m afraid of me.”
He brushes a tear from my cheek with his thumb.
“As long as you don’t isolate yourself,” he says. “You have nothing to be afraid of.”
***
“I’m going to the coven,” I say.
Ellis pops his head around the door. “Are you actually going to the coven, or are you really going to isolate yourself at our old special spot?”
I smile. Ever since he called me out for isolating, Ellis has been trying to make me laugh more than usual to distract me from my thoughts.
Just him being here is helpful, but today, I’ve been feeling awful. I’ve decided that what I need is Monroe.
Monroe knows more about me than anyone, namely, that I’m pregnant, although it seems like she doesn’t even care, which I still can’t understand. What could I have done that’s so bad to make her dismiss me like that?
I should tell Ellis about the pregnancy, but every time I go to, something stops me. And then my thoughts take an even darker turn as the guilt hits me like a tidal wave.
I need my sister. I haven’t spoken to her since that phone call, and I wonder whether she feels as though I’ve abandoned her.
I can’t bear the thought.
Once I arrive at the coven, I’m pointed in the direction of Monroe, who’s apparently by herself in the forest.
Even my coven sisters look concerned. I suppose this looming threat has everyone shaken—we all know that something’s coming, but it’s definitely taking its time to arrive.
I barely have the energy to research anymore.
“Monroe?” I call. “Girl, where the hell are you?”
Usually, it’s easier to find her due to our witchy twin bond, but it’s feeling a little more difficult today.
Eventually, I see her. She’s kneeling on the floor, chanting the words to a spell I can’t make out.
“There you are!” I say.
She stops. I’ve missed my sister, everything about her.
I’ve been so selfish these past few weeks—she’s the only family I have left.
“Are you casting?” I ask her. “Did your magic come through? Why didn’t you tell me?”
She gets up, turns slowly, and faces me. I recognize that pouty look. She’s definitely pissed off.
“No,” she says. “I’m trying to cast. But obviously, it’s not working.”
Okay. One hundred percent pissed off.