Page 25 of The 13th Daughter
"Yours?" I pulled away and looked up into his eyes. They glowed with warmth.
"Mine," he nodded. "If you want to be."
My brain screamed too soon, too soon, but my heart blocked out the words. Nothing made sense when it came to Ethan. Just the sound of his voice could stir a multitude of emotions withinme. I'd only known him about a week, but I'd spent most of every minute of that time either with him or talking to him on the phone. He made me feel things that I'd never experienced and the thought of us being apart caused a physical pain within me.
He was also very good at dodging questions, and I knew he was keeping something from me. I had to wonder what he was hiding and sometimes, thinking about that scared me more than anything else did. But none of that mattered to me as I stared into eyes that gazed down at me with so much warmth.
Did I want to be his? I might be afraid. He was probably lying to me. But I wanted him.
"I do."
His smile lit up his face. "Good to hear, Miss Bishop. Now, we'd best get going. We're already late as it is."
He turned us into the park and started walking.
"Shouldn't we be going to the hall?" I asked, confused.
He laughed and pulled me into his side. "Not tonight, sweetheart."
I frowned and let him lead me deeper into the woods behind the park.
Where the hell were we going?
Chapter Nine
The trees became thickerthe farther in we walked, knitting overhead to block off any light from the moon. It should have been dark, but it wasn't. I could see the path clearly in front of me. A soft light permeated the entire area, but I couldn't find its source.
"What's with the light?" I asked Ethan. "Where's it coming from?"
He smiled. "Magic."
I rolled my eyes. The ground around me yielded no clues. I couldn't so much as detect a wire anywhere. It was just a soft glow that covered the forest floor. The harder I looked, the more confused I became. Where was the stupid light coming from?
"We're here," Ethan whispered.
My head jerked up. I'd been so busy looking for the source of the light, I'd failed to notice we had come upon a large clearing. I knew this place. Emily and I had come here often growing up, more so after she'd joined the Coven. She'd always said she got her best ideas here, that it was her special place. She would usually let me tag along with her and I'd enjoyed it as much as she had. This place had a hushed, quiet feel to it that managed to soothe and calm a person. I loved it here. I still came hereto think. It had become my own private thinking place after she died.
But not tonight. There was nothing hushed or quiet about it. Practically the whole town mingled in and around the circular clearing. Our entire town was a part of the Coven and the only people not in attendance were those who were too young to be here and their unfortunate babysitters. I smiled, my hand reaching up to touch Emily's locket as I remembered again my agitation at being left at home the night of Emily's induction.
I recognized everyone. They were laughing and talking with each other, some in heated debates. Everyone had dressed in their best. Ball gowns, tuxedos, expensive shoes, and pricey jewelry were mixed in with Target and JC Penny dress clothes and evening wear. All I could think was...WOW.
I glanced up at Ethan. He grinned down at me. "Not what you were expecting?"
I shook my head. Definitely not what I was expecting. In truth, I had expected people to be wearing long, hooded robes and to be standing all quiet and hushed while they waited for the Coven Master to begin the ceremony. This, however, was bright and airy, full of smiles and laughter. The atmosphere gave off a sense of home, of belonging. It felt familiar to me, like I was coming home after a long trip. Was this what Emily had meant when she'd said I'd understand when I was older? Was this what she'd felt? Was this why she had loved the Coven so much? There was just so much I didn't understand.
"Are we going to stand here all day or are we going in?" Ethan whispered against my ear. It caused a shiver to run down my spine. He chuckled.
"We enter the circle one at a time," he told me as we walked closer.
"But I thought you couldn't cross a circle once it had been cast."
"This one isn't closed yet," he explained. "Kay will close it when she begins the ceremony."
Oh, well, I guess that made sense. He pushed me forward. I dragged my feet. I'd come, but a part of me wanted to turn tail and run. An insane feeling gripped me. If I entered that clearing, I would never be the same. The sane part of my brain told me I was being ridiculous, but the deeper part of my brain that still pulsed with primitive instincts, it said to run as far and as fast as I could away from this place.
I needed answers, though. If these people had played any part in Emily's death, I would find out. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself forward and crossed into the circle.
Time stopped.
