Love Spell: Book 2 of The Grimm Laws (14 page)

“I understand,” he said, letting go of her wrist. “I suppose this is goodbye then.”

She searched his eyes, but any trace of his feelings was closed from her. Dark pools, impossible to read. He backed away. A sob tore from her throat. All of her love, everything that mattered was dying right here and now. What did it matter if Seraphina kept the manor and lands? Was she supposed to spend a life pretending that she loved Edward? Was she supposed to forget the one person that mattered? “I will not do it,” she cried. “I will not stand by and let you die without me.”

Rushton’s eyes met hers. “What are you saying?”

She gave him a sad smile. “I am saying that I love you. I am saying it out loud for everyone to hear. I have loved you since I was a child. My every thought and hope is for thee, my love.” She gave him a tender look. “I am only sorry that I did not possess the strength to say it earlier. If I had gone with thee immediately, we would be out of the kingdom and living together happily.”

“Well, I thank ye much for clarifying that,” Jack quipped.

Both Rushton and Cinderella ignored him. A single tear rolled down Rushton’s face, and he gave her a slight smile. “‘Tis all I needed to hear.”

A feeling of warmth went through her, and she knew in that moment that regardless of what happened, she had been true to her heart. She had been true to Rushton and nothing else mattered.

He stepped up to the opening and took her face in his hands. His lips came down on hers, hard and passionate, as if he were trying to roll a lifetime into one kiss. Everything seemed to slow, and she marveled at the taste of him, his tongue caressing hers, the feel of his rough hands on her face and neck. She caught a glimpse of the meadow where they had shared their first kiss. Saw the sun setting fiery and red in the afternoon sky. Perhaps the moments they had already shared together were enough to make up for the lifetime of ones they would not have. Reluctantly, he pulled away. “You must go.”

“Nay! I told thee, I will stand by thy side—no matter what the consequences.”

He gave her an odd smile. “My mother’s spell was better than I thought.”

“What?”

“I did not realize it would last this long.”

She was hearing the words, but her mind refused to process the meaning. “Nay.” She shook her head. “Nay! I do not believe thee.”

He shrugged. “You said it yourself in the forest, that I have this unexplainable pull over you. I compelled you to meet me that evening.”

Doubt clouded over her. “Why are you doing this?”

“Maybe I never thought it would go this far. When I returned and found that you were engaged, I lost all reason. I resented that you would rush off to get engaged to my closest friend.” His expression became calculating. “When you received the letter, did you not feel an irresistible urge to comply with my request—despite the consequences?”

“Aye, but—”

“You were powerless to resist. I was angry, Cinderella. I wanted thee for myself, and I was using every means at my disposal to win thee back.”

Bewilderment covered her. “Are you saying that everything I am feeling—this confusion, this heartache—is because of a spell?”

“I am sorry, I never meant for it to go this far.”

Her hands began to shake, and she clasped them together to make them stop. “Why are you saying such cruel things? I opened my heart to thee! I am willing to die with thee!” Tears began streaming down her face. She looked at him, willing him to tell her the truth. “Tell me you love me!”

His expression was hard as flint. “I am sorry.”

She thought of when they had first met, all of the time they spent together. It was real—more real than anything else she had known. She jutted out her chin. “Nay! You are lying! You never cast a spell on me! What we have is real! I know it as surely as I know that I am standing before thee.”

His head shot up, and she thought she caught a glimpse of something—anguish, despair? It was gone in a flash, replaced by a hard exterior that she could never break through. “I demand that you leave. Now!”

“Nay!”

“I said, get out of my sight!” he yelled through gritted teeth.

She rocked back, not sure what to do.

His eyes met hers, and she was shocked at the hatred burning in them. “Do you actually believe that I would want you after you chose Edward? I am the one that helped you first get to the castle. ‘Twas me to whom you owed thine allegiance. ‘Twas my heart you held in thy hand. And the moment you caught Edward’s eye, you tossed me to the side like a heap of smelly refuse. You are an opportunist, just as my mother said. She warned me, but I would not hearken unto her words. I was a fool! A silly naïve fool who fell in love with the wrong maiden. When I think of the two of you together, hands interlocked, his lips on yours. It makes me ill! You disgust me!”

She put a shaky hand to her mouth to stay the gasp. “Rushton, I prithee. Cease this false talk. Do not do this, Rushton. Do not do this to us! Thy mother tricked me into getting engaged to Edward. You admitted as much in the forest. Why are you denying it now?”

He picked up a wooden bowl from the ground and threw it against the wall where it splintered in two. “GET OUT! Get out, or so help me, I’ll wrap these chains around thy treacherous neck! I hope to never lay eyes on thy foul face again!”

Without another word, she turned and fled.

T
he fight gone
out of him, Rushton sat down and leaned against the wall. He stared into nothingness before pulling his knees into his chest and burying his head in his hands. His shoulders shook as he wept in long, ragged gulps. He didn’t stop until he heard the clapping. Cautiously, he stood and walked to the opening, eyeing Jack suspiciously.

When Jack realized that he had Rushton’s attention, he stopped clapping and smiled. “Now that performance was quite impressive, if I do say so myself.”

Rushton was in no mood for antics. “Speak thy words and be done, coward.”

Something akin to resentment flickered in Jack’s eyes. Rushton felt a smirk of satisfaction. It felt good to quiet the fool.

“I am going to pretend that ye did not just call me that,” Jack said in a quiet, measured voice. “That thy state of mind has impaired thy judgment.”

Rushton waved the comment away. “Pretend what you wish,” he said turning away. He stopped when he heard the laughing. “What?” he roared, jerking around. “Speak thy words or be silent!”

“The chain part was a bit much, but I think ye managed to convince her that the spell was legitimate.”

Rushton shook his head. “You know not of which you speak!”

“I know true love when I see it. I know that ye cannot fathom the thought of having her down here …” he motioned “… in this filth. Ye would rather see her live … even if it means she will marry the prince.”

A hard look came into Rushton’s eyes.

Jack chuckled. “A spell, my eye! ‘Twas love, my friend.” He faked a tear and sniffed. “True love.”

“What it is that you want?” Rushton said flatly.

Jack held up a pouch and shook it, causing the coins within to jingle.

Rushton would have come through the opening were it not for the chains, holding him back. “You took her coins! You low-down, filthy scoundrel! When I get my hands on thee I’ll—”

“Now, now. No need to use words ye do not mean.”

“Oh, I mean them.”

“Do not waste thine energy on me.” Jack offered a fleeting smile. “Use it for something more promising.”

Rushton raised an eyebrow.

“These gold coins are our way out of here. We are going to escape.”

“
A
nswer the phone
,” Rush said, his jaw taut.

Elle looked down, her heart pumping so fast she might’ve been running a marathon. Edward was calling her back. There was no escaping this one. Irritation tromped up her spine as she shot Rush a hateful look. He wasn’t playing fair. Then again, he never did. She answered the call, leaving it on speaker.

“Elle.”

“Hey, Edward.” Her heart squeezed a little when she heard the warmth in his tone. This was going to be brutal.

“What’s up?”

She licked her dry lips. “Um … there’s something we need to talk about.”

“Yeah … I’ve been meaning to call you. Look, about what happened the other night …”

Elle’s shoulders went tense when she saw the furious expression on Rush’s face. His eyes were boring into hers and freezing her solid like ice-blue lasers. This is where it would get tricky. “Which part are you referring to?” she asked, hoping that he wasn’t referring to the part where they kissed and he told her that he would give her all of the time she needed to figure things out. Too bad she couldn’t say the same for Rush,
the jerk!
She snuffed out the irritation and forced herself to focus on the conversation at hand.

“I keep thinking about what happened. One minute we were sitting there, and the next, that thing … err blackness or whatever it was slithered around us.”

“Shadow crawler,” she inserted, looking at Rush. She watched the hesitancy creep into his eyes and couldn’t help but feel vindicated. She’d like to see him to try and explain this away.

“What?” Edward said.

“Shadow crawler,” she repeated and then remembered that Adele had been the one to call it that.

“Yeah … that shadow crawler or whatever the heck that thing was … I just can’t shake that dark feeling. It has me rattled. I know we agreed not to tell anyone about it …” She watched for and saw the look of surprise that came over Rush’s face because she’d told him about it even though she promised Edward she wouldn’t. “Maybe we should tell someone, you know what I mean? What if it comes back?” She caught the fear behind his words as a shiver ran down her spine. She’d not thought about that—what if it did come back? “I mean, do you think it just happened to be there where we were in the canyon … or do you think it was targeting us?”

Even as he asked the question, her heart began to race, and she felt clammy. For a split second, she had the awful feeling of being trapped in the jaws of the faceless monster—a monster that fed on her darkest fears. “I—I’m not sure.” But she was sure. Too many strange things were happening, and Adele was trying to warn her in her quirky way. It had targeted them specifically. There was no doubt about that.

She glanced at Rush, who had a look of concern. He put a comforting hand on Elle’s arm. “I want you to start at the beginning and tell me exactly what happened in the canyon.”

Elle was so caught up in the conversation that it took her a moment to realize that Rush had spoken out loud. Worse than that! He was talking directly to Edward!

She heard Edward’s swift intake of breath, even through the phone. “Elle! What the heck! Who is that?”

The blood drained from her face. “Um …”

But she couldn’t finish the sentence, so Rush did it for her. “It’s Rush.” He reached for Elle’s hand.

Edward began swearing.

“Rush and I are working on the essay,” Elle clarified and then saw the blistering look that Rush gave her. He removed his hand. “No, that’s not exactly correct,” she amended. “What I mean is that I need to talk to you about us.”

“And you put me on speaker phone?” Edward’s voice was incredulous.

Rush began talking into the phone. “Calm down, man.”

“Don’t you tell me to calm down! You low-down, scum-bucket. When I get my hands on you, I’ll—”

“Save it,” Rush said dryly, rolling his eyes. “You already tried that, remember?”

“Yeah, I remember you doing some weird hocus-pocus crap!”

Rush let out a humorless laugh. “Me? No, it was all you man … all you.”

Elle scrunched her eyebrows together as she looked at Rush. “What’s he talking about?”

He only shook his head.

“Put Elle on the phone!” Edward demanded.

“I’m here,” she piped in.

“Oh, yeah. I forgot. I’m on speakerphone,” he said bitterly. He paused long enough to make Elle wonder if he’d ended the call.

She leaned forward. “Are you there?”

“I’m here. Look, Elle, after what happened the other night, I thought we might have a fighting chance, but now … I don’t know what kind of sick joke you’re playing, but I don’t appreciate being the butt of it! You and me … we’re through! Do you get that?”

“Yeah.” She swallowed as her eyes grew moist. “Edward, I’m so sorry—”

A click sounded, letting her know that Edward had ended the call.

Elle shoved her hair out of her face and gave Rush a death glare. “Are you happy now!”

He held up his hands. “What?”

“I was handling things, but you had to step in and make it worse! You humiliated him!”

He laughed. “Is that what happened?”

“Yes! I was going to tell him about us, but I was going to do it in a kind way! Edward didn’t deserve that.”

He shook his head. “It’s all about Edward, isn’t it? You were going to dump him, Elle. No matter how kindly you spoke the words, the end result would’ve been the same. It hurts! Believe me, I know!” His face grew hard. “I’m usually on the receiving end of that while golden boy comes out on top.”

“Moron!” she muttered under her breath.

He glared back at her. They sat there, eyeing one another, neither of them willing to speak first.

The door opened, and Josselyn stuck her head in. “Mom sent me to tell you that dinner’s ready. And she said to come right away! She doesn’t like to be kept waiting!” She looked at the two of them. “Trouble in paradise?” She chuckled. “You guys really are too predictable. You’re either sucking face or ripping each other’s heads off.” She puckered her lips, giving Rush a once-over. “Judging by the sour expression on your pretty-boy face, I’d say it’s the latter.” She cut her eyes at Elle. “Don’t worry, doll. She has that effect on most people.” Her voice went sickly sweet. “Rush, would you like to stay for dinner?”

He stood and raked a hand through his hair. “No, I need to take care of some things at home before band practice tonight.”

Elle stood and looked directly at Rush. “Is that all you have to say?”

He lifted an eyebrow in a challenge.

Josselyn let out a grating laugh. “My, my, this is fun.”

“Tell Sera, I’ll be right down. I’d hate for her to have to wait a second for me.” Her eyes narrowed. “That was your cue. You can leave now.”

She scowled. “Fine.”

In jerky movements, Rush gathered his things and shoved them into his backpack. Then he slung it over his shoulder. Before he reached the door, Elle caught his arm. “I did what you asked. Are we good now?”

His jaw tightened.

“Rush.” Time seemed to stand still as she waited for him to answer.

Finally, he gave her a curt nod. “We’re good.”

She could tell from his body language that they were anything but good. “Okay, I’ll see you at practice in a bit.”

“Yeah.”

She wanted to scream! He was so infuriating! This tough guy attitude was starting to tromp on her last nerve!

Before he went out the door, he turned. “Thanks for going over the essay with me …” his eyes moved over her in that leisurely way that caused her to go warm all over … “and everything else.” When her face went red, a quirky smile stole across his face. This instantly flew all over her. She just stood there, glaring back at him. He chuckled and turned to leave. “Oh, and don’t even think about riding that silly excuse of a bicycle with the basket on the front, I’ll take you on my bike.” He paused. “I don’t know what’s up with that shadow crawler thing, but until we know what’s going on, it’s safer for you not to be alone.”

“Does this mean we’re together now?” The words left her mouth before she could call them back, but she needed to know. After all, she’d ended things with Edward because of him, the least he could do was to reciprocate.

His eyes met hers for one long moment, and she felt a tingle go over her. He was all passion and fire, and it took every bit of intestinal fortitude she could muster to go head to head with him, but she felt so alive when she was with him. As annoying as he was, she couldn’t imagine life without him. She was in it now, and there was no turning back.

“I’ll pick you up in about forty-five minutes.”

She crossed her arms tightly over her chest. “Fine!”

W
isteria glanced
at the kitchen timer that let her know the pasta was almost done. Her gaze took in the granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and sparkling tile backsplash. That she could feel so comfortable in this modern world boggled her mind. From the moment she recovered her memory, her two worlds had been colliding in a never-ending ball of confusion. Memories of the primitive hut where she raised Rushton flooded through her, and then she had to reconcile those memories with the three-bedroom, two-bath ranch home where she’d raised him in this world. She massaged her temples and filled a glass of water from the dispenser on the door of the refrigerator and then sat down on a counter stool. She raised the glass to her lips and took a drink, remembering how laborious it was in the old world to transport a single bucket of water from the stream. Here, it was as easy as turning on a faucet or pressing the dispenser. The timer buzzed, and she got up and removed the pasta. As she took it over to the sink and drained it, her mind flittered to other memories—painful memories of how it felt to lose Norman in a random car accident. The uncertainty and fear she felt over raising Rush alone. She smirked. Well, that memory wasn’t so different from the other world. She’d raised him alone there too because of the dastardly act that Alexander had committed against Norman. Anger rose in her breast, and if Alexander had been in front of her in that moment, she would’ve been tempted to pummel him and then claw his eyes out. She thought about the tyrant king he’d become, consumed with the desperate need to control her at all costs, including outlawing magic. Then other memories flashed before her eyes. Alexander’s kindness to her in this world. How he’d given her a job when she so desperately needed it. How he’d patiently courted her, making her fall in love with him all over again. And he had tried to tell her the truth. She could only guess what that must’ve cost him, knowing how terrible things had gotten between them in the old world. She rubbed her neck. Well, one thing was clear—she was as conflicted about her feelings for Alexander in this world as she’d been in the old world. That was one thing that would never change, despite time and place.

On the eve of coming to this new world, Merek gave Alexander and her a brief explanation of how it would work. He explained that while they would live full lives in the new world that when they eventually returned to the old world, it would be as if they’d only been gone for a moment. At the time, she’d been so angry with Alexander for forcing her hand that she hardly paid attention to Merek’s babbling. Even if she had paid attention, it was doubtful that she could fully comprehend what it would mean for a person to live two lives in two very different worlds.

It was all so dang frustrating! She narrowed her eyes as her lips turned down in a frown. A tingle went through her veins. Almost by reflex, she extended her fingers to release it, but nothing happened. In the other world, half of the things in the room would have been shattered. Her magic was gone now, and she longed for it the way bones longed to be inside the skin. How she could’ve lived her entire life in this world and not missed the magic was a mystery to her. It was as much a part of her as breathing. She certainly missed it now!

She retrieved a jar of spaghetti sauce and poured it into the pasta. She had to figure out the best way to handle Alexander. She’d been doing everything she could to avoid him at school. He’d left her over a dozen texts and calls, but she’d ignored them. As she was leaving school today, he met her at her car, demanding that she talk to him. He was still furious with her for not telling him about Rush. He told her that they could either approach Rush together and tell him, or he was going to tell him by himself. She tried to talk some sense into him, but the man was an imbecile and as stubborn in this world as he’d been in the last. The conversation ended with him giving her twenty-four hours to make a decision. This whole thing had disaster written all over it. She’d tried to explain to Alexander that Rush had no memory whatsoever of the other world. As far as he was concerned, his father was Norman Porter, and he’d died in a car accident. Even if they told him the truth, he wouldn’t believe it. He would think they’d completely lost their minds! She placed the pasta on a plate. As much as she hated it, there was only one solution. She was going to have to go and visit Alexander face to face before he did something they would both regret.

The doorbell rang. She took a quick bite of the pasta before going to answer it. Her face turned a shade darker when she opened the door. “Ruben!” She tried to shut the door on him, but he wedged a foot in.

“Get off of my porch, or I’ll call the police!” Oh, how she wished for her magic at that moment! She’d turn him into a pile of ashes faster than he could blink!

He let out a throaty chuckle that had no humor. “Take it easy, I’m not here to hurt you. I just want to talk.”

“Yeah! Like I believe that! You made your intentions quite clear the night of the Castle High Formal.”

He pushed his way into the house and closed the door behind him. A wave of panic rolled over Wisteria as she frantically looked around the room, searching for something she could use as a weapon. She’d left her phone on the kitchen counter and Rush wasn’t home.

“Sit down,” Ruben ordered in a booming voice.

Her blazing eyes met his as her feet stayed planted on the floor.

His black eyes seemed to shrink into his deep sockets as he glowered at her. “I said sit down!” he growled. The very walls seemed to shake from the fear of him. He was thicker than a slab of meat and all brute force.