Page 68 of The 13th Daughter
Spirit, bind these Elements around him to prevent him from harming himself."
"CJ, no...what did you do?" He looked horrified.
"I won't let you die, Daddy."
"Do you know what you've done?" His voice shook with fear. He stared at me much the same way Jeff had when I called the Elements to hide us that day at the Hall. I scared him.
"It'll be fine, Dad." Fine? Who was I kidding? I was set to die tomorrow night.
"No, it won't. I will find a way to unbind this spell, Cassie Jayne. You can't stop me from trying to save you." He stood and left, a look of concentration on his face. This was not a fight he was going to give up, but he was my dad. It's what dad's were supposed to do. I just had to find a way to avoid him until this was over. He was a Coven Master. If anyone could find a way to unbind my spell, he could.
I tried not to panic. I couldn't forget his saying I was going to die. The curse would kill me? My death would bring vengeance for the thirteen men and women betrayed that night so long ago? How could that make sense? They were avenging their deaths. Why would I need to die for that to happen?
Blood promise. The curse was a blood promise. I remembered that much. Maybe spilling my blood would keep whatever promise they made to the gods? Oh, so not gonna happen.
Dammit, I needed Emily's Book of Shadows. She'd figured everything out. Why couldn't I find it? I didn't want to die.
My phone went off to the tune of Fall Out Boy's I Don't Care. I reached for it and glanced at the text.
Meet me n the park 5 mins – E
Ethan? Ethan was home? And all I got was a text? He hadn't even bothered to call me? Meet me in the park, my ass. He was gonna get a mouthful on boyfriend etiquette. I jerked on my UNC sweatshirt before running down the stairs and pulling on my coat. My mom was in the living room watching TV. Only the Fates knew where Dad was. I channeled my growing panic into the anger building inside. I'd much rather be mad than scared.
"Mom! I'm going out for a while. I'll be back later!"
I escaped before she could ask questions. I walked to the park which took me ten minutes instead of five. I needed the time to prepare myself. I knew when I saw him, I'd lose some of my anger. I always did, but I refused to let him treat me like this. I had deserved at least a text before now. He'd said he loved me. That's not how you treat someone you love.
I stopped when I saw him. He stood at the entrance to the park in front of an old Chevy pick-up. He was dressed in slacks and a red button down shirt. He seemed older somehow today, more mature. It was the clothes. They made him look more grown up. He looked like the man he would become. I forgot to breathe. I'd missed him so much. My heart swelled with love and all I wanted to do was wrap myself in his arms and feel how much we loved each other. Furious or not, I needed that right now.
His eyes watched me. I could feel the intensity of their stare even from here, a good ten feet away. It made me start to burn the way his kisses did and I took a deep breath. I never understood how he could make me feel like this. Damn, but I'd missed him.
He crooked his finger and beckoned me to come to him. I shook my head no. As much as I wanted to run to him, to feel his arms around me, I held onto the last vestiges of my anger.
After a minute, he shook his head and came to me. Gray eyes turned to molten silver and blazed with a heat that rivaled thememory of the flames on my skin as they stared into my own. I shivered in response and he grinned at the reaction, his dimples deepening. Curse the Fates, but he was making this hard. I clenched my hands into fists to keep them from going around his waist.
"You're mad at me again." His grin turned rueful.
"What makes you say that?" I asked, hating the tremor in my voice. Damned M&M.
"You look like you can't decide if you want to hit me or if you want to kiss me," he laughed and tried to kiss me.
I evaded him. "I do want to hit you."
"Why?"
"Why? Seriously?"
He nodded and had the nerve to look confused.
"Ethan, you've been gone almost an entire week and not once did you even bother to call me. Nor did you think to send me a text or an email."
"Oh."
"Oh?" That's all he had to say? Oh.
"I'm sorry?" he asked tentatively. "It's not my fault. I didn't have access to my phone or email while I was away."
"Where on this planet can you go without access to a wi-fi connection?" I demanded.
