Enchanting Wilder (40 page)

“We’re sorry, honey,” Abigail says, tears welling in her eyes again. “We never got the go ahead from God, and we couldn’t bring ourselves to tell you about Elaine. It hurt too much, and we didn’t want to burden you. When Maker faked our deaths everything went to hell.”

“What are you going to do about that?” Wood asks. He places his elbows on his leg and laces his hands together. “You can’t just come back from the dead.”

Cole chews on his lip and his eyes search Abigail’s. “We’ll have to pick up and move on, unfortunately.”

“What?!” Candy screeches, standing up. “This is all too much.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart, but we can’t stay here. What will the mortals think if we just come traipsing back after our deaths were confirmed and our car was found at the bottom of Crane River? It’s just not possible,” Cole says with apologetic eyes.

Candy sits back down in a huff, crossing her arms over her stomach. I’ve learned the red in her cheeks and the blotchiness in her neck is a go-to sign she’s overwhelmed and on the brink of a meltdown. I wish there was something I could do for her, or at least something Wood could do for her. He should step in.

I shake my head.

Not your problem, Declan.

“Can you…” McKenna asks with a quiver in her voice. “Can you put my memories back? Can you put Candy’s memories back?”

Both Cole and Abigail nod. “Yes. If that’s what you want, we will put your memories back. We do have to be careful, The Leaders can’t know about any of this. If we do this, give your memories back, you can’t go looking for Elaine,” Abigail looks right at Candy.

Candy stammers. “O…okay.”

“I want them back,” McKenna says. “If I’m going to have to make this decision, I need to know all of it. I can’t just walk around with half of the information.”

Abigail stands up in a flash, tugging her shirt down over her faded blue jeans. “I’ll go set up.”

Cole gets up, his expression sad. “I’ll help you, honey.” He gives one more hopeful look to McKenna and Candy. McKenna returns a smile but Candy turns her head, clearly upset. He huffs and walks into the kitchen, leaving us alone.

“Are you ready, Mighty? Sure you want to do this?”

McKenna stands up, walks to Candy and grabs her hand, lacing their fingers together. “I’m sure.”

Mom and dad calmly walk back into the living room, holding all of the ingredients they need for the spell. Setting each element on the coffee table, they instruct us to lay on the ground side-by-side.

“You’re going to be okay,” dad insures me, his hand on my arm. A small tear drops for the lid of my eye and I nod.

He then kisses Candy on the forehead, whispering something into her ear. She licks her bottom lip and nods, her jaw twitching.

Mom blows us each a kiss, indignation in her eyes, but stays at the plethora of components at the coffee table. She continues to keep her hands busy, which is a sure sign she’s having internal conflicts. I’d say something, but honestly, I just want this done and over with.

Declan shuffles to my side, grabbing my hand. His callous palms rubbing harsh on my skin. I love the feeling so much. “No matter what,” he promises. “I’m always here.”

I sniffle, leaning into him as he leans down to place a small kiss on my lips. He lingers for just a second and then pulls away.

Focusing on a spot on the ceiling, I take slow, deep breaths, preparing myself for what’s to come. I’ve never done such a spell before, so I have no idea what to expect.

Is it going to hurt? Will I get sick with everything rushing back?

“We’re ready, girls,” mom utters over us. “Keep calm and everything will be okay.”

Candy stays silent and I gesture that I understand.

Soon, a sweltering ball of cobalt light shines bright above us as mom and dad chant over Candy and I. They rock back and forth, the force in their hands growing stronger with each incantation.

My eyes blink rapidly as the wind begins to howl, drying out my eyes. I take hold of Candy’s hand, moving as close to her as possible. She squeezes back with intensity, turning her head to me.

It’s okay,
I try to tell her.

In my peripheral, Declan stands to the side of us, his arms crossed tight over his chest. I look to him, trying desperately to see his eyes. His face. Anything that’ll bring me comfort. I don’t know if having my memories back will be a good thing or not, but Declan calms my nerves.

Sounding like the rumble of an airplane engine, the magic above us tosses high into the air and then down onto us with such force Candy and I are knocked apart, each of us sliding to opposite sides of the room.

My back hits lightly against the couch and Wood catches Candy.

Hair a mess, the pounding in my chest roars inside my ears.

“Are you okay?” Declan mouths as he bends down to check me out. I can’t hear his voice. “Are you okay?” he says again.

Everything around me blurs and I can’t seem to find my bearings.

I close my eyes and nod, taking hold of his taut arm. “I’m okay,” I attempt to say but it comes out as a rasp.

Mom rushes to me while dad eagerly moves to Candy.

As the deafening roll of magic inside me settles, images become clearer and sounds trickle their way into my ears.

I sit up, pushing hair away from my face. “Holy shit.”

Declan smiles and mom laughs her tiny, sweet little giggle.

“Mighty, you did so good.”

I wipe the moisture from my forehead and lean my head against the soft cushions of the couch. “Did I? Because I feel I’ve been run over by a truck…or four.”

Mom touches my head with the back of her hand, looking so motherly. I want to wrap my arms around her neck and cry. “You’ll be okay, honey. The memories will start filtering in soon.”

Pulling my legs to my chest, I nod. “Okay, mama. Thank you for doing this.”

She kisses the top of my head and walks over to Candy, checking her just as she did me.

“You think Candy is going to be okay?” I ask.

Declan turns and looks over his shoulder, a sly smile on his face. “I think she’ll be just fine.”

“They’re here!” Wood yells down the hall and Declan and I get up from the bed, him kissing me on my forehead before we make our way out of my room.

Taking my hand, he leads me outside to meet Sarah and Noah. Immediately, a radiant smile pulls at my lips when I see them. They don’t know it—but Noah and Sarah are my grandparents.

My grandparents…

God, this is so weird.

Wood greets them first, engulfing both of his parents in a massive bear hug. His mom squeals, slapping him on his chest when they pull away. When Wood walks back to the front porch of our house, Declan moves to them next, pulling me along. First, he kisses Sarah on the cheek and then gives his dad that bro-hug thing. They both smile at me as I stand awkwardly to the side, holding my left elbow with my right hand.

“Good to see you again, McKenna,” Noah greets, tipping his hat at me.

“Oh, honey!” Sarah wails in her adorable way. “I’m so happy to see you’re doing okay.” She pulls me into a hug, and I grunt at the impact. Though a little stunned, I willingly and wholeheartedly, wrap my arms around her, having a brand new outlook on our relationship.

She lets me go and smiles, taking hold of Noah’s arm.

My mom and dad step out of the front door, their smiles wide as they welcome the Wilders to their house.

“Glad to finally meet you, Wilders,” my dad says, chuckling when Noah shakes his hand. “Sorry it had to be under such circumstances.”

“Yes,” my mom agrees with a wink. “But, now we can interrogate the both of you and get the real scoop on Declan.”

We laugh together as mom and dad escort Noah and Sarah inside.

“Your house is just lovely,” Sarah appeases. “But I have to ask, how were we able to find it?”

“I can answer that,” Kai says, walking into the kitchen, waving to Declan’s parents. “I spelled it so only you can see it. To everyone else, it just looks vacant.”

“Kind of like you did before when you spelled us from the demons?” Candy asks. “But you just included the Wilders?”

Kai bounces on pads of his feet, his hands in his jeans pockets. “Yep.”

“Good thinking,” I say, high-fiving him.

He shakes off my compliment. “That’s why I’m here.”

I bump my shoulder up against him in a manner I hope siblings would do. He laughs and Declan smiles from across the room.

“Please, sit. Can I get you anything to drink?” mom offers.

Sarah speaks up first, setting her purse down on the table. “Water or tea if you have it, hon. That would be wonderful.”

Noah sits down next to Sarah, checking his watch. “I’m okay. Maybe we can have some beer after you tell us why we’re really here.”

Both mom and dad’s eyebrows furrow and I do the same, giving Declan a side-glance. Sarah coughs into her hand, throwing daggers at her husband.

“Why would you say that, dad?” Wood asks, his voice a little shaky.

Good cover up, dummy.

“We love you both, son, but we know when Declan asks us to go somewhere, I know it’s because there’s something that needs to be said. Or a monster that needs to be killed. But I see no monster.” He lifts his hands off the table. “Come on, out with it.”

Declan rubs his hands together and then brings them to his mouth. It almost looks like he’s praying. Hell—maybe he is.

“Mom and dad…Maker told us a lot while we were in Beneath,” Declan starts.

Noah half rolls his eyes and looks to Sarah. “Okay…”

Declan sighs. “We didn’t tell you the entire story. Hell, we didn’t even tell you half of the story.”

Sarah’s eyes narrow and she sits up, placing her hands in her lap. She nervously laughs. “You’re starting to scare me, son.” Her eyes look to Wood.

“Maker did confirm McKenna is a demon,” Declan says.

“Half,” I add. “Half-demon.”

Declan smiles, skating his eyes back to his parents. Instinctually, he grabs for his ring, spinning it. “Half-demon, yes, Mighty. But also half-angel.”

Noah’s mouth turns down. “I wondered. Do you know who your father is?”

I breathe, twisting my hair to one shoulder. “Mom and dad heard a name while they were down there, Anxo?”