Chapter Eighteen
I wasn’t surprised by anything. Kellan’s talisman, which was obviously not present when he was pretending to be Malakai, was concealed using a dark spell. The dream cast that caused near hysterics was of Lucy and Kellan. I was relieved but plagued with a new set of worries. I wasn’t sure Kai would be able to escape the Patrol. There was also the fact that I needed to confess to other indiscretions—the big one that happened after Kellan broke up with me. I told Malakai about the dream cast and the Griftors. He said Jade was willing to do anything to keep Cadiza safe and running smoothly in light of the threatening takeover. He trusted her, even though she was the very person who set a price on his head. The magic she accepted from the ancient, hooded creatures was poison to her body and could only be used twice. A third time would kill her. I stored the information in my bag of tricks in case I ever needed to get rid of her. Our relationship would never be a trusting one.
Blythe was still planning to hold the masquerade ball and was expecting me to join her in the dark realm to celebrate. I wanted to go, if only to get away from the Patrol. Kai agreed to join me. I wanted to kill Kellan for what he did to me and how his manipulating ways forced extreme measures on all fronts. I made Kai explain the Law of Two, because I wasn’t sure what Blythe would ask of me and why it took her so long to do so.
I wasn’t powerful enough in magic or developed in my skills to assist her until recently. I was her blood relative—her daughter—and my powers had peaked. She told me she wanted me to help her set free the Bruxas of Cadiza. What she really wanted was for me to accept a dark talisman and rule beside her. The Law of Two meant that if I were to accept the blood-red crescent moon tattoo, she would regain her Bruxa magic, and we’d have access to both magic reserves, not just one.
He spoke with precision, like a professor giving a lecture. He didn’t belie his feelings in the matter, which only confused me more. Kellan obviously tried to get me to side with Blythe by requesting that I accept dark magic to break the match with Xander, but what did Kai think?
I sat in the dusty motel room that smelled of unwashed sheets and musty cigarette smoke, and I listened to Kai talk. It was hard to comprehend a lot of what he said, just because I never thought it possible. According to his story, I’d be able to keep my Bruxa magic and embrace my dark side as well. Would it be a fair trade? Could I handle all the power? How did I make a decision so large? I was grateful I knew exactly what Blythe wanted before heading to the dark realm, but something nagged me about all of it.
“Why didn’t you accept a dark talisman?” I asked. He looked at me and shrugged his shoulders.
“It was always Kellan who was a better fit. I wanted something different from life.” His answer was vague, but I accepted it. I interlaced my fingers around a tissue and began fidgeting. I knew what I needed to tell him. He sensed my apprehension. He folded his arms behind his head and leaned against the headboard, like he didn’t have a care in the world. Kai was a man hunted by a deadly force. One look at him told me I was more important than anything else. I was more important than his own life. I started to cry.
“You broke up with me,” I said in between sobs. He bit his bottom lip and let out a deep breath as he shook his head.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to forgive Kellan for this. He told me he would try to avoid you at all costs, not abandon you in the middle of a mess.” I sat at the foot of the bed and faced away from him. I turned around slowly and looked at him.
“Xander was there for me,” I said in a way I hoped he’d understand what I really meant―that I had passionate, wild sex with my match. “Not that it really matters, anymore.” Just the mere mention of his name sent painful shock waves through my body. Malakai closed his elbows together and raked his hands through his hair.
“I can’t hold that against you. How can I? It’s Kellan’s fault that you turned to him in the first place. It’s my fault for leaving. I should have stayed.” I couldn’t believe he was turning this around on himself. It wasn’t his fault. I was the one to blame. I wanted it. Kai didn’t get to take the fall for that one.
“No. Don’t do that. I wanted to. No one forced my hand. I finally gave in to the feelings that were always there. You left because you had to,” I said. My tears burned my face as they poured out. My guilt was intense. I stood up and walked over to the door. I threw it open and breathed in a huge gulp of the dusty air. It was dark, and the magic presence seemed stronger. It was suffocating. The Bruxa Patrol was closer. We had less than an hour, and I told him so. I heard him rise off the bed and come stand behind me. I kept my shaking shoulders at bay when he leaned down and kissed my exposed neck. He kissed my neck, not hers. I didn’t deserve Malakai for many reasons, but there was always one thing that kept me hopeful. We always found our way back to each other. I leaned my head in the opposite direction to accept his grazing lips. I shut the door, again. He locked it with one hand and brought his lips up to my ear.
“Well, what do you want, now?” he whispered. I inhaled sharply, and my insides turned to jelly. Sadness turned to desire, and pain turned into lust. Somewhere deep inside, I felt the shards of my heart recovering, because it recognized love.
“I want you,” I breathed as I turned around and brought my mouth up to meet his. I shut my eyes and melted into the kiss. Kai deftly lifted my sweater over my head and unclasped my bra with one hand. He reclaimed my lips and crushed my body to his.
“Say it, again,” he ordered as he lifted me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist. I hastily unbuttoned his shirt and threw it to the ground.
“I’ve always wanted you,” I said. There wasn’t magic—just free will. He was my choice, over and over.
“I love you,” I said as he shimmied my jeans off and ran his palms lightly over my exposed legs. He gently eased me down over the bed but didn’t follow. He stood over me and gazed at me like I was the most magnificent creature on the planet. I wasn’t sure anyone deserved to be revered as such. His perfectly sculptured chest and abs were rapidly moving up and down with his harried breath, and his lips slightly parted in preparation. He leaned down and put his hands on each side of my body.
“You’re my choice,” I whispered. I watched wonder transfix his face. He stared in my eyes so deeply that I felt our souls connect.
“I want to replace every memory he ever gave you,” he said in a guttural tone. I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist our naked, entwined bodies for long. I nodded in agreement. All I could do was hope our love was enough to heal my jagged heart. I ran both of my hands down his chest and trailed them down his abs, then lower to grab him with both my hands. He hissed and sighed in relief as I guided him slowly into me. As he entered me, he held his breath and stilled for a moment before continuing. He captured both my hands over my head in one of his without breaking his gaze then slanted his mouth over mine and began to sink into me deeper. With every penetrating inch, I felt more and more complete. He reclaimed me. When he was in as far as he could go, he stopped and watched my reaction to his body. I tried to rock my hips to encourage thrusting, but he stilled, wanting to be connected in every possible way.
“Me, not him,” he growled as he finally pumped in and out at a rapid pace. I came immediately in waves of pleasure that seized every muscle below my waist. A few more forceful, blissful thrusts later, he found his release and collapsed on top of me, sweaty and sated.
“I love you so much,” he said in between catching his breath. It was then I knew I would do anything to save Malakai from the fate Jade dealt him. I would do whatever it took. With that thought, I fell blissfully asleep, clutching the only thing I knew to be solid in my world turned upside down. His unconditional love had to be enough to bring me through to the other side. I would make my decision based on it. It was the only way. Unfortunately, a dream cast interrupted the soundest sleep I experienced in a long time.
* * * *
It was a meeting hall that looked like it was used as a courthouse, filled with witches. They were obviously dark-magic users. Blythe sat at the head of the room behind a high desk with a line of witches stretching in front of her. They were all unbranded. I recognized Kellan and Malakai right away. They were toward the middle of the line and stood side-by-side. I was good at pushing the limits of my dream casts, so I zoomed in and focused on the twins; neither had a tattoo. I heard Blythe telling a story about the origins of dark magic and their duties as a wearer of the crescent moon. It was their initiation ceremony. They were to be branded on that day. Each witch was called up to the podium to give their word to uphold the law, one-by-one. Kellan rose and took his turn to accept dark magic. I watched in awe as Malakai strode up to the podium and refused the mark. Blythe wasn’t surprised.
“Are you sure, Malakai Griffin? You know if you decline to practice dark magic, you must give a reason why.” It was an order, not a question. She smiled as she looked at Kai and then returned her gaze to Kellan. It was the haunting smile she wore when she knew something everyone else didn’t. It was taunting and menacing. I wanted to save Kai from her. I wanted to yank him away and tell her he made his decision and didn’t owe anyone an explanation. Then, I realized I wanted to know, I needed to know. It would help me make my decision. Kai’s voice was gruff and held no emotion. I now knew why he used it so frequently. It was a way to hide true feelings.
“I refuse the mark. I’ve fallen in love with a Bruxa. As I wouldn’t accept her with a dark talisman, I wouldn’t expect her to do so for me, either.” Blythe let out a loud, tinkling laugh. He refused the talisman, because he was in love with me. I tried to place when exactly Kellan received his mark and realized it was when I first met Malakai, before a serious relationship even started. I was floored he made a decision about me so early.
“All in the name of love then, is it?” she asked, amusement flickering over her features.
“No. Don’t do this, Malakai. You will regret it, and you know it. She isn’t worth it. Think about it,” Kellan yelled out from the other side of the podium. Kai avoided Kellan’s gaze. Blythe slammed a gavel down on the wooden panel in front of her, but her smile didn’t waiver. She was pleased.
“Now, now, Kellan. Malakai has a choice, and it’s obvious he’s made it. You don’t have to approve of it. Just deal with it. Next,” she shouted as Kai shuffled past her desk, head high, and took his place next to his fuming brother. The animosity the brothers harbored for each other made perfect sense.
The dream cast ended.
* * * *
I startled awake only to realize I was alone in the motel room. The door was ajar, and Malakai was nowhere around. Magic was swirling in droves, and I knew he was gone. As quickly as he appeared, he was taken from me. It was the only fair logic. It was karma coming back to deliver as promised. My tattoo was tingling, but not just from the dark magic that I sensed, because I also sensed light Bruxa magic as well. My senses were flooded. Through my foggy, sleepy haze, I began to wonder why I was left untouched. Either I was still under Blythe’s protection, or someone was using Malakai as bait. I wish they knew that I made my decision. It was just a matter of putting my plans into action.
If I was going to get Malakai back, I needed help, and the only person who could help me was my mother, Blythe. I was also sure that wherever Malakai was, he was safe. Even if the Bruxa Patrol found him, they would surely tempt me with his rescue before punishing him for treason. I formulated a plan as I dressed. I used the rest of the dark magic lent to me to summon a guide back to the dark realm. It worked quickly. When Lucy appeared, I could tell she was apprehensive. The last time I saw her, I thought she was moving in on the man I loved. Of course, I knew differently, so I greeted her with a hug and a sincere apology, which she accepted. We set off for the dark realm and stepped through the portal.
“Just so you know, I may have to kill Kellan,” I said. Her eyes widened for a brief second before I started laughing. Then, we fell.