‘You don’t understand.’ Skye stopped pacing to stare at Jason. He’d just finished telling her his side of the story and it was … insane yet she believed every word. Which is why she said, ‘I can’t be your Pack Witch.’
‘No, you don’t understand.’ He gazed steadily at her, hurt and worry shadowing his beautiful eyes. ‘You are our Pack Witch as your father was before you. And we don’t just need you to share your magic with us to help break the Curse, we need you to be a part of the pack.’
‘But can’t you find another witch or warlock to help you?’ She glanced at Bron and Shelley who were sitting there listening avidly.
‘No.’ He sat forward, pulling her attention back to him. ‘Each pack was tied to certain covens, made up of half-a-dozen old families, so their power could be distributed evenly through the pack without the burden being on one or two individuals. But Bridgette Collier was so powerful, as were her children, that there was no need to tie any other witches or warlocks to our pack. Her children married humans already aware of our secret, as did their children’s children, the power in their bloodline never fading, so there were no blood ties to other covens.’
‘But didn’t anyone see the danger in tying yourself to only one bloodline?’ Shelley asked.
‘The Colliere coven was always so strong, its numbers only dwindled in the last few generations. But even then we didn’t think to worry until the Curse came into effect when Skye’s father was killed and she was stolen from us.’
‘This is the curse that stopped you from being able to access your wolves before the Pact was created.’
‘No. I’ve confused you. I shouldn’t have called that a curse per say. It was more a … block. Something dark and evil that meant we could only be in our wolf form at the full moon and cutting us off from them at any other time. It was a horror that turned our wolves rabid. The Pact did away with it and allowed us to have harmony inside once more.’
‘So what is this curse? And why does it affect you if I am not your Pack Witch?’
‘This curse—the Curse—was canted by a witch who was betrayed by members of her pack. She cursed them to dwindle and die but also put a curse on all Were-kind to ensure that what happened to her and her coven never happened to any witch again. It ensured that Were would protect their witches and warlocks or suffer the consequences of her curse.’
‘Which is?’
‘To die. Slowly and painfully as we are cut off from our wolves and driven insane.’
‘Oh.’ She sat with a plop on the couch behind her.
‘So, you see, you are our only hope.’
Skye’s mind spun. ‘But I can’t stay. I’m not safe.’
‘That’s because you don’t know how to use your powers,’ Bron interrupted.
Skye glared at her. ‘Explain to me why you’re here again?’
Bron flashed her a suck-it-up grin. ‘Because we were with Adam when Jason called to tell him where you were going and what you were doing, and I’m a big sticky beak who can’t keep her nose out of someone else’s business.’
Skye’s lips twitched despite herself. ‘I wish you’d go. It’s not safe—’
‘Blah, blah, blah, rogue coven, blah, blah, blah, dangerous. You’ve told us already but it doesn’t matter. We’re not going anywhere, are we, Shells?’
Shelley shook her head. ‘Adam said your father was training you to take over from him before he was killed. So, there’s knowledge in there somewhere. You just have to remember.’
Skye rubbed at her aching head. ‘But I don’t remember. I’ve never been able to remember anything before the accident. Morrigan said it was post-traumatic stress. I—’
She was interrupted by a growl. Surprised, she turned to stare at Adam. His usual cocky smile was missing. In its place was a look so vicious it made her take a step back.
‘Adam? What’s wrong?’
‘Post-traumatic stress? Are we supposed to believe that?’
‘It’s what they told me.’
‘But why should we believe them?’ he sneered.
‘Do you think I would have kept knowledge from my granddaughter that might have helped her control her magic? If she’d remembered any of her training, we might never have needed to bind her magic like we did.’
Adam stiffened, as did Jason and Bron, as they all heard Harrison’s words.
‘Shelley, are you doing that?’ Bron asked.
‘Doing what?’ Adam asked.
‘She’s being a conduit between Harrison’s spirit and us, so we can hear him.’
Shelley nodded, her face drawn, lips white. ‘I can’t do it for long. Especially with Skye here. She keeps pushing him away and it’s draining to keep him tethered to me.’
‘It’s hurting you,’ Adam protested, reaching to touch her hand.
She jerked away from him. ‘I’m fine. Besides, this isn’t about me. We were talking about Skye and why Harrison and Morrigan bound her magic.’
‘Her power is supposed to be shared. That’s the way it’s been ever since the Pact was made.’ Adam turned, speaking to the air. ‘Perhaps her magic is so wild because she hasn’t had anyone to channel it to. Have you thought of that?’
‘I didn’t know about this side of it. Morrigan didn’t speak about her family very often. And when you failed to protect my son, I’m afraid I didn’t trust you to protect Skye and her brother as well.’
‘What about the Curse? She had to know taking Skye would set it off.’
‘She didn’t tell me about that at the time, but from what she said tonight, she didn’t think it would as long as Skye was safe.’
‘But it has come on, slowly, but inexorably,’ Jason said, arms crossed, face grim. ‘Could that be because Skye wasn’t safe?’
‘But that’s the very point I’m making,’ Skye said.
‘We’ll take care of the rogue coven,’ Jason said, his jaw firm. ‘There’s no need to leave because of that. We’ll keep you safe.’
Skye threw her hands up in the air. ‘You’re not listening to me. I’m not safe. I’m a danger to all of you. Even if the rogue coven wasn’t after me, I’m still a danger because I’ve got the power of two inside me—a killing amount of power—and I don’t know how to control it. The only solution is to find you another Pack Witch to bind to you, and then I have to go.’
‘No. Don’t you know what that will do to m— To us?’ Jason’s voice was husky with tension.
Tears burned Skye’s eyes as she looked at him. He was so beautiful, and yet that wasn’t why she was drawn to him beyond all reason. That he had turned into a wolf didn’t seem to matter anymore. But she couldn’t give in to her need for him. He didn’t understand.
Pain thumped sickeningly in her head and she gripped the back of the lounge to steady herself as she met his gaze. ‘I don’t want to hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you. I’m so sorry. But we have to find some other way around the Curse.’
‘There is no other way.’ Jason stood, came around the lounge and took her hand, coaxing her from behind it, pulling her down beside him, but she resisted. ‘Please, let me explain.’
She sat then pulled her hand from his. ‘I think I understand everything you’ve told me.’
‘I don’t think you do. As I said, the reason for the Curse was to make certain no pack ever takes their coven for granted. Your health and happiness is tied into ours. If you’re on the run, in danger, it wouldn’t matter if you found some way to give us power, the Curse would still be in place because the rogue coven is truly a danger to you. That’s why the Curse activated when your grandparents took you from us—because we had not kept you under our protection. If you don’t let us protect you now, then it will hit us in truth and we will all die. River will die.’
‘River? But why? Surely he gets some of my power through the twin bond? And he’s been with me all this time.’
His gaze grabbed hers, eyes burning, intense. ‘He’s Were. If he’s not actively looking after your wellbeing, then the Curse will get him too, no matter how much power you funnel into him. And given he’s not changed in all these years, he’s in more immediate danger of falling prey to it than any of us. Do you understand why you can’t leave now?’
She rubbed at her aching head. ‘I don’t know … I can’t think.’
‘He’s right, Skye. I thought that having Alfrere bind you again and then running from the rogue coven was the only solution, but I had no idea about any of this. The fact the power swapping between the Were and their Pack Witches is so symbiotic might make all the difference in making your powers more stable.’
Hope fluttered in her chest. ‘What do you mean?’ she breathed.
‘I think the Were are a channel for you. Jason in particular. Your power settles around him, becomes more fluid and malleable. That could make a difference even against the rogue coven.’
Jason nodded, hands clenched before him. ‘Cordy said something similar. She told me I was Skye’s channel. She flamed out at the snow only because the Alpha–Pack Witch bond came into effect so suddenly.’
‘I lashed out at you this morning with my magic. I wasn’t stable then.’
‘No. But I frightened you. It was a reflex. Your hind brain at work, so to speak. You didn’t try to fry me when you saw me at your grandmother’s house.’
Jason’s blue gaze didn’t waver. She realised with a thump of her heart that he was sending her a message. He would never let her go. He would find a way that meant she didn’t have to leave. He was the Alpha. It was his responsibility to look after his pack.
And his Pack Witch.
The thought tore her in two even though she knew she should be grateful he felt nothing more for her than he did for any of his pack. Turning her mind away from the futile thoughts, she tried to concentrate on what her grandpa was saying.
‘The problem is, something has changed in the spell I wove into her magic to lock it. I’m not sure how or why, but it’s resisting Alfrere’s spell—which it shouldn’t have done.’
‘Are you saying you can’t undo the spell you wove?’
‘Yes. I just don’t know enough. I wish I knew more; wish I knew how to help, but I don’t. I’m too far removed. I wish—I’m so sorry, love. I never meant for any of this to happen.’
‘Then why did you do it?’ she snapped, fury flaring through her. It all came down to the fact she had no idea how to use her magic. They said she was more powerful than any witch who came before, but she wasn’t.
They’d made her powerless. And dangerous.
A red haze formed in front of her eyes as she pushed off the couch to pace again. ‘I thought you loved me! How could you do this to me? How could you leave me so vulnerable? Why didn’t you train me?’
‘We didn’t know how. You have the power of two people inside you, Skye. We had no idea how to deal with that. To help you to control it. Your grandmother didn’t know anywhere near enough about your power. She couldn’t even truly teach me. I learned what I learned from Alfrere and the rogue coven before we left it and even that wasn’t enough. Then we were on our own, with no links to those who might know how to help you. And we were afraid, so terribly afraid, that the rogue coven would track us down through your power. We did what we could; what we thought was right.’
She laughed, the sound choking in her throat. ‘How does that help me now?’ She waved her hand towards Jason and Adam. ‘They need me to stay. Morrigan and Alfrere want me to run. And River … who knows if I’m a help or a hindrance to him? They say one thing; Morrigan and Alfrere say something else. And now you’re telling me to stay here with Jason and trust him. To use my powers when you’ve told me all my life not to. I mean, what am I supposed to think? How am I supposed to act?’
Her voice was rising as she took in great hiccoughing breaths that hurt her chest. ‘They want this. You want that. Everyone wants something but has anyone bothered to stop and ask me what I want? And you know what is really pissing me off about all your wants? You now tell me the spell you wove to protect me and those I love from my dangerous magic has changed and you can’t undo it to release my powers! How the fucking hell am I supposed to control my magics if I can’t even tap into them?’
Anger filled her chest, radiating out until her fingertips burned. Horrified she’d let anger get the better of her again, she turned away from them all, desperately grasping at her control. But the burn in her fingertips got worse, not better, as the knot of anger in her chest kept growing. Behind her, voices rose and fell as the others argued about what she’d said and about what was best to do with her. For her.
She clenched her hands under her armpits but it didn’t seem to help. The burn began to run up her arms as they spoke about her, not to her.
‘Stop talking about me like I’m not here,’ Skye said through clenched teeth. She was now almost bent over double, sweat pouring off her brow as the burn took over.
‘Skye. Are you all right?’
‘What’s going on?’
She ignored Bron and Shelley and looked with burning eyes at Jason. ‘I need to go.’
‘We can’t let you go,’ Adam said, stepping in front of her as she stood up.
‘Please. Don’t stop me,’ she gasped. ‘I can’t … control …’
‘But we need you.’ Adam reached for her.
‘Don’t touch me!’ Her vision flared, her fingers heating. Blue flame rippled up her arms. ‘You don’t own me. I am my own person. Nobody can tell me what to do.’
‘Fucking hell!’ Adam gasped as Shelley shouted, ‘Get back!’
A hot wind blew through the room as lightning rippled from Skye’s hands, lashing out at Adam. He dived to the side and the lightning struck the lamp behind him.
Horrified by what she’d done, Skye sobbed, ‘Help me. I can’t stop it.’
‘Harrison. Can you help her?’ Jason shouted as he raced forward. But he couldn’t get near her; none of them could get near her. Lightning rippled around her, wind whipped her hair away from her face. It lifted her off her feet until she hung in the air, a golden nimbus of light surrounding her as fire arced between her hands.
‘I’m trying to calm her aura, but she’s pushing me away. Shelley, I need a medium. I have to go through you.’
Shelley paled but nodded. A second later she shuddered, and her eyes glowed golden amber. Purple fire raced from her fingers towards Skye as she walked slowly forward.
‘No! You’re going to get hurt,’ Adam said, grabbing at Shelley.
She turned golden eyes on him and spoke, her voice echoing and strange. ‘Let go. We know what we are doing.’ He shook his head.
‘Let her try.’ Jason put his hand on Adam’s shoulder. ‘We have to help Skye. For the pack. That’s more important than anything else. You should know. You reminded me of that.’
Adam swallowed hard, then let go of Shelley. ‘Don’t get hurt, kitten.’
She didn’t respond, just continued to walk towards Skye.
Skye shuddered as Shelley’s fire ran over her, covering the blue flames that lapped at her skin, shrouding her like a blanket. She cried out—the icy cold of it a shock.
Jason stepped forward, but Bron’s hand on his arm stopped him.
‘She’s fine. Let her do this.’
‘Skye?’ he asked, his gaze catching hers through the flame.
She nodded.
Then Shelley’s strange echoing voice wrapped around her:
‘By the Goddess and by the flame,
By the Moon and by the rain,
Breathe in the wind, quench the fire
Let calm be your heart’s desire
Three times three times three times three,
We give you our will, so mote it be.’
She began to shake as the spell was invoked. The flame flared brighter and the wind keened, rising in pitch until Jason, Adam and Bron all clapped their hands over their ears.
Then with a clap of thunderous sound, the blue flame fluttered and was gone.
The wind died.
Skye fell to the floor.
Jason rushed forward to pull her into his arms. ‘Skye? Skye, are you all right?’
She looked up at him. ‘I’m fine,’ she croaked.
Bron let out a shuddering breath. ‘Mother Goddess. Shelley, that was amazing.’
Shelley staggered. ‘It didn’t feel that amazing.’ Her eyes returned to their normal blue as she spoke to the air. ‘Please, don’t do that again, Harrison. It hurt.’
‘I’m sorry. But she trusts you. You were my only way in. And if we’re to help her, we might need to do it again.’
Shelley teetered on her feet. Adam caught her but she shrugged off his helping hands. ‘I think I just need to go to bed.’
‘I’m so sorry, Shelley.’ Skye moved out of the comfort of Jason’s arms and pushed to her feet. Unable to face them after what she’d done, she turned away. ‘Don’t you see? This proves I have to go. I can’t control it. What if I hurt one of you next time? I mean, look what it did to Shelley to stop me. I can’t—I won’t be responsible for hurting anyone.’
‘You will learn.’ Jason gripped her shoulders, turning her to face him. She knew she should pull away, but for the life of her, she couldn’t.
His touch … it felt too good.
So she simply looked up at him and asked him, ‘How?’ How will I learn?’
‘We will find you help. There’s the Pack Witch Diaries and Cordelia. She can’t come here yet, but you can video chat with her, and she’s working on sending one of her coven to help you. Not to mention your grandpa and Wiccan friends. Surely, together, we can find a way.’
‘But I have the power of two. What just happened—’
‘All that you did then was show us what an astonishing Pack Witch you will be. You will help the McVales become stronger than we have ever been, and then nobody will dare to touch us again.’
He gripped her chin and tipped her face up until she couldn’t help but stare into the incredible, mesmerising blue of his eyes. ‘Give me a chance to find a way. I can’t lose you. We can’t lose you. Not to mention I can’t … I won’t let you go.’ He brushed his thumb down her cheek. ‘I promise you, we will find a way.’
‘I still think you need to find another witch to bind to the pack.’
‘If we could have done that, we would have, long ago when the Collins became so few. It’s not as easy as all that. The only way at this point is for a witch or warlock to mate with one of us and that’s not something you can force.’
‘But couldn’t you bind a witch or warlock to your pack with the spell that Bridgette Colliere used?’
Adam snorted. ‘There’s no witch or warlock alive who could handle a spell of that magnitude and survive. And even if there were, it’s not like there’s spare witches or warlocks just lying around waiting for us to call.’
‘Adam’s right.’ Jason firmed his lips. ‘You staying is the only way we will survive. For us to survive, you must survive. So, we have no choice but to find an answer to the problem of the spell that binds you. And to find a way to train you.’
‘But my power—’
‘Your power will help; it won’t be a danger. I promise. And seeing I’ve promised, it will happen, because a Were cannot break a vow.’
It was hard to deny such certainty and Skye found herself nodding despite the fear gnawing at her insides. She knew she should argue with him but couldn’t find the energy to do so. Not to mention her head was throbbing from the backlash of using her magic.
‘You’re in pain.’
How could he have such an uncanny knack of knowing what was going on inside her? She didn’t want him making a thing of it though, so she broke from his grip and stepped away, staring out the window, trying to pull calm from looking out at the view of Westerfolds Park. But she couldn’t see anything through the deep violet dark of night cloaking the garden.
‘It’s dark.’
‘It’s past midnight.’
‘But we’ve only been talking for a few hours.’
‘You were at your grandmother’s for most of the day.’
‘No. It was only a few hours.’
‘It was dark when you left. Didn’t you notice?’
Skye shook her head. ‘I’ve lost the whole day?’
‘A lot happened to you today,’ Jason said coming to stand behind her, his warmth reaching out to her. ‘It’s no wonder you’re tired and strung out and missing hours.’ He began to massage her shoulders. His earthy, masculine scent surrounded her, a balm to her senses, and she couldn’t find it inside herself to flinch away. She melted under his touch as his deep voice vibrated through her, holding her in place. ‘Nobody expects you to give more than you wish.’ He turned her, his hands sliding up to cup her face. ‘We will take it as slowly or as fast as you need. You are in control of what happens next. You have my word on that.’
‘Really?’
‘I promise.’
She relaxed. ‘I want to see the diaries.’
‘I want to read them too,’ Shelley said. ‘And speak to Cordy; if that’s at all possible.’
‘Count me in,’ Bron added.
Jason’s hands dropped from Skye’s face and he turned back to the others. ‘Good.’
Adam shook his head. ‘It will have to wait until morning. You,’ he said, looking at Shelley, ‘look like death warmed up and Skye doesn’t look much better. You need to rest.’
‘I’m happy with that.’ Shelley sighed and rubbed her head. ‘I could do with some sleep.’
‘Adam will show you up to your rooms—I gather you want to stay here?’ Shelley and Bron nodded. ‘Good. Adam, can you call in reinforcements to stand guard and hold the perimeter?’
‘Can do, Jase.’
‘I’ll draw up a roster and a line of defence. Then, in the morning, after everyone’s recharged, we’ll get to the task at hand: training Skye.’
Skye looked up at Jason. ‘But what if—’
He shook his head. ‘You’re not going anywhere. I’ve vowed to keep you safe and help you control your powers and that’s what we’re going to do.’
Skye’s jaw firmed. ‘I don’t like it when people try to control my life.’
‘I kind of got that impression before when you tried to turn Adam into wolfie barbecue.’ He chuckled and stroked her cheek.
‘You don’t understand.’
‘I understand better than you could ever know.’
‘Skye? Are you coming?’
Shelley and Bron stood at the door to the hallway, waiting for her. Not taking her eyes from Jason, she said, ‘No. You go to bed. I’ll be up in a minute.’
‘Are you sure that’s a good idea?’
‘Yes. I just need to talk to Jason first.’ She tore her gaze away from his when her friends didn’t budge. ‘Really. I’m fine now, thanks to you and Grandpa. Go and get some sleep. Adam’s right—you look like death.’
Bron put her hand on Shelley’s shoulder, stopping her from arguing. ‘Don’t be long, Skye. You need to get some sleep too.’
‘Goodnight.’
Bron blew her a kiss. Shelley sent her an unconvinced look, but said, ‘Goodnight,’ and walked out with Bron, Adam showing them the way.
Skye’s skin tingled as she realised she was now alone with Jason, remembering what happened the last time they found themselves alone.
He smiled, his mouth twisting at the corner in the way that made her internal muscles clench.
She rubbed at her stomach and moved away from his warmth, frowning. ‘What did you mean when you said you understood more than I could know?’
There was silence behind her and she didn’t think he was going to answer.
‘You’re worried it will be like a jail; that you’d be controlled,’ Jason whispered finally. ‘But when you speak to Cordy and her coven, you will see that’s not how it is. The Pact frees those with power in a way you can’t understand. Yet. But even if it didn’t, I wouldn’t tie you down like that. I wouldn’t do that to anyone, let alone you.’
She turned around to face him, wondering how he understood her fear so quickly. ‘Is that what you feel? Tied down?’
His laugh was bitter chocolate, warming as it sank into her but with a slight tang that wasn’t wholly pleasant. ‘I did. A long time ago. My parents understood my reluctance. I wanted to roam, but I was Alpha marked.’ He pointed at his eyes.
She raised an eyebrow.
‘The colour. Only an Alpha has eyes this colour. Some Alphas become. Some are born. It was apparent what I was going to be from birth.’ He smiled, the expression so full of sadness, Skye’s heart ached.
‘Even so, they let me go. They let me roam and follow my own interests.’ He looked away, regret marking his handsome face with a shadow she wanted to kiss away.
‘Didn’t it make you happy?’
‘Yes. For a while. But there was the slowly creeping poison of the Curse. Even though my father was strong and he held the pack together with his indomitable will, I couldn’t be truly free. I knew it would come down to me, even though I didn’t want it to. But I was certain I’d have decades before I would have to take over the reins.’
He stopped, his voice choked off.
‘Jason?’ Skye said, giving in to the need to touch his face.
He turned back to look at her, leaning into her touch. ‘I was overseas when my parents and brothers were killed and I could deny who I was no longer. The pull of the Calling was inescapable.’
He smiled with such calm assurance; it touched her soul.
‘I am Alpha. I can’t do anything to change it. And now that I am Alpha, I don’t want to change it. It’s who I am. Who I was always meant to be. I can’t believe I spent so many years fighting the inevitable.’
‘Jason … I-I’m glad for you, that you found yourself. But it isn’t the same for me.’
‘You misunderstand me.’ He took both her hands in his. ‘A part of me wants to take you to Packland and hold you there safe and never let you go. But the other part, the stronger part, the part that was succoured by my parents’ understanding of my needs, would never do that to you if you didn’t wish it. I would never dishonour the memory of my parents in such a way. They knew that strength is built in many ways. It is a lesson I won’t forget now.’
The last was said through gritted teeth, as if he argued with himself over something.
‘Jason …’ she began again, but he shook his head, his gaze piercing her with understanding.
‘It’s okay, Skye. You don’t need to explain. I get it.’ He ran the back of his fingers down her cheek, a gesture that made her feel treasured. ‘You don’t have to live on Packland. Not everyone does. You can live wherever you want. Go about your life in any way you wish, as long as you allow us to protect you.’ His lips firmed. ‘Although until this rogue coven is taken care of, I can’t let you out of my sight. Do you understand?’
She nodded even though she was still so uncertain about everything, as if this was nothing but a dream she’d wake from at any moment. ‘I understand. You can’t ever truly let me go because it will bring on the Curse again. You protect me to protect the pack.’
He frowned. ‘No.’ He ran his thumb over her lips. ‘I will always protect you—and it has nothing to do with keeping the Curse at bay. You are important to me—to us—not because of who you are. Because of what you are.’
‘And what am I?’
‘You are pack.’
A family. A true family. That’s what he was giving her, whether she chose to stay with them or not.
He leaned forward, as if to kiss her—probably a pack-bonding thing. She’d seen how touchy-feely Adam was with Bron and Shelley—but she couldn’t be so free and easy. Not with him.
She pulled back. His expression was puzzled, his gaze trying to capture hers again, but she looked away.
‘I’m tired. Can you show me to my bedroom?’
‘Of course.’
He took her hand, leading her upstairs to a room painted spring green, the floor covered with thick cream carpet. A canopied bed faced the French doors that led out onto a balcony overlooking the park. Fresh roses stood on the dresser in the corner, scenting the air with their delicate perfume. She took a deep breath in, knowing that from now on the scent of roses would remind her of Jason, not her grandparents.
‘I hope you’ll be comfortable here.’
‘It’s lovely,’ she said, taking a few steps inside, noting someone had placed a pair of flannelette Betty Boop pyjamas on the cream doona. They weren’t her pyjamas. She turned, raising her eyebrow.
‘Suzie, Tom’s nanny, lives here with us. She’s about your size and seeing I know how fond you are of cartoon character pyjamas, I asked her if you could borrow some. I assumed you would be staying here and neither Bron nor Shelley brought any of your things with them when they arrived.’
She managed a wobbly smile, touched more than she should be by his thoughtfulness. ‘Thank her for me.’
‘You can do that yourself when you see her tomorrow. Aside from being Tom’s nanny, she’s kind of a housekeeper and PA. So she’ll be around after dropping Tom off at 4us2.’
She bit her lip and turned away. ‘Tom is here? Don’t you think you should keep him away from me until I can control my powers?’
His hands were gentle on her shoulders as he turned her to face him. ‘You won’t hurt him.’
‘How can you be so certain of that?’
‘Because I know how much you treasure children. I saw how much you tried not to lash out tonight, and if not for Adam trying to grab you, I think you would have succeeded. You are stronger than you give yourself credit for being.’
‘I don’t think you see me clearly at all.’
‘I see you just fine.’ Jason smiled, that little twist of his lips she so loved. Loved?
Oh God.
He leaned forward and kissed her brow. The soft, warm press of his lips on her skin made something crack inside her. She bit her lip to stop crying out in pain.
‘Sleep well, Skylar Collins. I’ll be in the room next door. If you need me for anything, just call. I’ll hear you.’
She couldn’t trust herself to say anything, so she just nodded. He smiled one more time, brushed his fingers over her jaw and then left, closing the door behind him.
Skye sank onto the bed and lay down on her side, legs curled up, arms wrapped around her chest as if she could hold the pain in. She stared blindly out the French doors.
She loved Jason.
How could that have happened? She didn’t believe in love at first sight. She’d been so certain it was just lust she felt for him—an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime lust. But it wasn’t. It was so much more.
She curled into a tighter ball.
‘What am I going to do?’
‘You will bear what you must, love. There are reasons behind everything that happens in the world, we just need to be brave enough to look.’
The words were not a comfort. They reminded her too much of what Jason had just said. ‘I don’t think I am brave enough,’ she whispered.
Her grandpa didn’t respond. After all, what was there to say?
She closed her eyes and tried to sleep, but sleep was a long time in coming.
When it did come, rather than the darkness of oblivion, eyes of lightning-struck blue blazed in her mind, filling her with both warmth and despair. In her sleep she dreamed of a life she could never have.
In her sleep, she wept—but they weren’t tears of joy.