Page 43 of Cursed Love
He narrowed his eyes. “A lot of babies are, but it doesn’t mean you aren’t loved.”
“No, I mean they didn’t want me at all before I existed.”
She needed to tell him the rest, but she did not know where to start. It was part of the reason she was hesitant to jump into the fairy tale portion of her life with him. He deserved to know before they had sex again. She had not been thinking before, but now she needed to make sure he knew it all.
“Bran—”
She placed her fingers on his lips. “I’m really tired. My brother’s on his way, and I know he’s going to grill us. Can I just take a nap?”
“That’s fine, sweetheart.” He adjusted them, anchoring her to him with an arm around her waist so she wouldn’t fall. Brandy was not lying when she said she was tired. After the warmth of his body seeped into her, she let out a small sigh and gave in to her exhaustion.
Chapter 16
Darkness swirled around her. A large vortex of almost-black water fought to close in on her. Brandy stood on a stone, wide enough for only her feet. A white cloud floated above, moving toward her. When it got closer, she made out a woman’s form.
“Brandy—”
“Mom?” she cried as the woman’s face became clearer. “What’s happening?” The woman’s face mirrored her own.
“Master all the elements, sweetheart. You’re a threat, and he’s coming for you. Ethan can guide your way.”
“In your letter, you said—”
“I didn’t know at the time, but it’s true. Ethan’s an oracle. Tell him everything you’ve learned and keep him safe.”
The wind picked up, and the whirlpool of despair spun faster. Her mother struggled against the force.
“What about Ryan?”
“You can’t escape fate, the same way I couldn’t escape my own. I must go now, before I lead them to you.”
“Mom!” Brandy screamed as she sat up. Sweat covered her, and three pairs of concerned eyes stared at her.
“Mom?” Ethan asked.
Brandy nodded as tears rolled down her cheeks. First the letter and then the dream—or whatever it had been. It was too much.
“Shh… it’s okay, sweetheart,” Ryan whispered against her damp hair as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
Peter brought her a glass of water and squeezed in on her other side. His warm hand rubbed her arm as Ryan encouraged her to drink. A few minutes of silence passed, allowing her to calm down from the dream.
“You better, babycakes?” Peter whispered.
Brandy looked from Ryan to Peter and nodded. When her eyes reached Ethan, she noticed he stared at the three of them with an odd expression.
“Hey, E. When’d you get here?”
“Twenty-five minutes ago or so,” he mumbled before his finger wagged back and forth. “Are you three…”
“No!” Brandy and Ryan yelled in horror while Peter chuckled.
“You were dreaming about Mom?”
Ryan squeezed her thigh.“Watch what you say to him,”he warned.
She shook her head at him and gave Ethan a sad smile. “I don’t think it was a dream.” Ethan stared at her, and when he did not respond, she continued. “I can still hear her voice. It was deeper than I imagined growing up. I look like her,” she said and offered Ethan another sad smile. “She wants me to tell you everything.” Tears cascaded down Brandy’s cheeks. The image of the woman she had never met in life, the woman she’d killed by the mere act of living and a woman who even in death protected her, would be forever etched in her mind.
Brandy sucked in a deep breath and calmed the tremors the experience had caused. She told him about the grimoire, the letter, and her powers. Peter and Ryan remained quiet, their cautious eyes wandering from one to the other.
