Scornful Sadie (Dark Sorceress Trilogy Book 1) (25 page)

Grandma always seemed to know what I’d do, how my mind worked, before I told her. “Ok,” I sighed. “I’ll try.”

She pulled back, gripping my face in her palms. “No, Sadie, you will not try. You will succeed. You have to be positive and decide this now. Do you understand?”

I nodded. “Ok. I will succeed.”

“You have to. You contained Bram, you killed Wolfe. You’re so strong and so powerful, Sadie. I want you to believe in yourself,” she said. Smoothing my hair back, she then caressed my cheek. “Do you know when you’re doing this?”

I shook my head. “I haven’t figured out what my deep secret is, yet.”

She looked between Aiden and me, then her eyes twinkled. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

“Eventually,” I chuckled. “I’m gonna try.”

“Relax tonight, Sadie. Enjoy time with Aiden, with your friends. You can do this tomorrow.”

“Ok,” I agreed. “Grandma…if I don’t get to see you before I unlock this place, I want to thank you. You taught me everything I know about sorcery. You’ve always been there for me, and I really appreciate it. You believed in me when no one else did. I promise I’ll do everything I can to destroy these sorcerers so no one else has to deal with this.”

Her eyes welled with tears and she nodded. Placing a kiss on my forehead, she walked away, stopping to hug Aiden. I knew this was the last time I’d see her before this journey. Once I unlocked Clorva, I had no idea what would happen, but the sinking in my gut told me I wouldn’t have time to say goodbye.

As I watched her go, I wrapped my arms around my stomach and let the tears fall as soon as she was gone. Aiden rushed to my side, catching me before I fell, and held me while I cried. I cried for Tarann, I cried for the innocents who were gone downstairs, I cried for Sebastian, I cried for the journey I knew would change me forever.

I cried for Aiden. He wasn’t mine, and I’d known that for so long, yet I wanted him. I wanted him so very badly, and my feelings for him were embedded in my soul. If this was what it felt like when he wasn’t my heart mate, what would a heart mate love feel like?

Once the tears subsided, I laid my head on his chest, allowing his heartbeat to soothe me.

“Sade,” he whispered.

“Yeah?”

“I have to tell you something.”

Tensing, I pulled away to look at him. “Ok.”

“I,” he stared, but was interrupted by a knock.

Mel yelled from the other side. “Sadie! Let us in!” She continued to pound on the door.

I held one finger up. “Hold that thought.”

Jumping to my feet, I dashed to the door and opened it. Mel and Tessi stood there, waiting impatiently.

“Finally,” Mel groaned. She let herself in, dragging Tessi behind her. “Anna just told us you’re up here saying goodbyes.”

“No,” I said. “Not really.”

“Listen, Sadie,” Mel started in her scolding voice. “You can go do your Dark Sorceress stuff and you can go save the world, but you are not allowed to die. You didn’t say that was an option when you revealed your plans, and we’re here to tell you it’s not. You aren’t allowed. You just aren’t. You’re one of my best friends, and I won’t lose you.” Mel had a tough shell, but deep down she was loyal and a great friend. She wouldn’t cry, but I saw the emotions playing on her face.

“Mel,” I said. Taking her hand, I guided her to sit down. “I won’t lie, I did originally think I was going to die. And let’s be honest, it’s a possibility. But it was a possibility all those times I fought evil all over the US, too. Danger doesn’t come without consequences, but I promise you I will watch my back. I’ll do what I have to do and find a way back.”

“You don’t know how to come back?” Tessi asked. She sat on the other side of me.

Taking her hand, I shook my head. “No. I know how to unlock it, and I suspect that I won’t find out more until I’m there. I’ve read up on it. We know about the Sorcerer Wars, and we know all of the Six were resurrected. I don’t think I’ll be able to find out more information until I visit Clorva.”

“Can I go with you?” Mel asked.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. The prophecy doesn’t say anything about others.”

Tessi squeezed my hand in hers. “Sadie. I’ve seen you destroy vampires, fae, and unbound beings like it was nothing. You killed Wolfe without even really thinking about it. This will be a piece of cake.”

They leaned in, their heads resting on my shoulders. We didn’t speak. I didn’t say goodbye. Even if I did die in this new realm, I wouldn’t say goodbye. Going into a battle with the mindset of death wasn’t a good strategy.

Negativity and all those bad vibes aren’t good for a winning attitude.

They left soon after, Tessi fighting back tears and Mel looking unsure about leaving me. I shooed them away because I wanted time with Aiden before I figured out what my deep secret was.

Bram said I had to accept it, reveal it, but to who? How did I accept a secret? Wasn’t it a secret for a reason? His words replayed through my mind, but I still didn’t understand.

“What is it?” Aiden asked. He sat beside me, studying me intently.

“How do I accept my deepest secret?”

“What do you mean?”

“Bram said I have to reveal and accept it,” I mused. “I don’t know what that means.”

He rested his hand on my knee, massaging gently. “Maybe it’s something you don’t want to admit and that would be how you’d accept it.”

Why didn’t I think of that? “You’re smart,” I said playfully.

He grinned. “Good looks and intelligence. You lucked out,” he winked.

Swatting at his chest, I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.”

“Wanna whip us up some food?” he asked.

Waving my hand over my shoulder, I created a pizza and sides, sodas, and even some dessert. “There.”

His eyes widened and I heard his stomach growl. “I love pizza!”

Giggling, I reached across the bed and grabbed the box. “Who doesn’t?”

He opened it quickly and stuffed half a piece in his mouth. “True,” he mumbled with a full mouth.

“Ew,” I chuckled.

He made a kissy face at me, pizza sauce lining his lips, and I couldn’t control my laughter. Once it subsided, we at in mostly silence. He’d throw a napkin at me, then I’d poke a hole in his pizza. He would rest a hand on my leg, then I’d reach over and wipe his face.

Aiden was a messy eater when it came to pizza. He didn’t play around.

Our dinner was enjoyable, lighthearted, and everything I needed after today. Aiden made me smile like no other, his kind words and actions filling my heart to the brim. I’d return from Clorva if only to see his smile again.

Once I’d sent the mess away, I stood and stretched. “Oh, hey, what were you gonna tell me earlier?” I asked.

He paled and gulped. “Sade,” he said. He stood, also, and came closer. Resting his hand on my cheek, he looked deeply into my eyes. “I don’t want to scare you, but I have to tell you.”

My heart thrummed faster. “Tell me what?”

He grinned, a little dimple showing up in his cheek, and blinked. “I love you, Sadie Tabors. I think I have since the first time I met you, I just didn’t know it.”

Swallowing hard, I studied his bright blue eyes peering into mine so intently. “You love me?”

He nodded. “I do. And I’ve wanted to tell you for the past few days, but I couldn’t do it. I was too chicken.”

Snaking my hands up his chest, I locked them around his neck. “Really?”

He nodded. “Really.”

I knew in that moment I wanted to share myself with him. Aiden had always been the one I wanted in my mind, the person who knew me so well, the one who could make me smile through my tears. Breaking our embrace, I slowly undid my shirt, stripping down to my bra.

His eyes widened as he watched me. “Sade?”

“Take a shower with me,” I cooed seductively. Popping the button on my pants, I wiggled free and stood before him in my underwear.

He ran his hand through his hair and I saw his neck move as he swallowed hard several times. “Are you sure, Sade?”

I nodded. “I’m sure, but I haven’t…before,” I confessed.

He trailed his fingers from my shoulder and down my arm. “Me neither.”

My head snapped up. “What? You haven’t?”

He shook his head. “No. I always wondered why, but a small voice in the back of my mind talked me out of it. I was waiting for you to find me, Sade. To make me remember.”

Grabbing my dagger from the floor, I sliced his shirt open and peeled it from his body. “You always know the right thing to say, Aiden.”

He was breathing heavier by now. “That was sexy as hell, Sade,” he said huskily.

Tossing the dagger away, I fumbled with the button on his pants before he took over and stripped to his boxers. Awkwardly, we stood mostly naked in front of each other, studying one another.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered. He pulled me close, his hand getting lost in my hair as he kissed me deeply.

Our tongues danced as our mouths moved in sync. We kissed passionately, the heat growing with each movement. He snapped my bra open, slowly pulled it away, and threw it to the side. Hooking my fingers inside his boxers, I tugged and pulled until they dropped to his feet.

I still hadn’t opened my eyes, scared of seeing him ready for me. Instead I turned away, wiggled out of my panties, and walked to the bathroom, calling for him to follow.

As I bent over to start the water, I felt him press against my backside. Warmth flooded my body and I turned the shower on. Climbing in, I breathed deeply and fought to control my fear. He joined me in all his naked glory, looking more beautiful than ever before.

“We don’t have to,” he said gently.

“I want to,” I said. “I’m just scared. I don’t know what to do.”

He shrugged. “Me neither…we’ll figure it out together.”

Standing under the water, I nodded and let my hair get wet. He watched me, a fire heating his eyes I’d never seen before. Then I pressed myself to him and leaned my head in.

His mouth devoured mine. The water flowed over us as he pushed me against the shower wall and his mouth assaulted mine in the best way possible. His hands roamed over my skin, his thumbs caressing and massaging my breasts.

Who knew that his touch would feel so good?

I ventured lower, allowing my own hands to explore his body. He groaned in my mouth, moving his lips to trail up and down my neck and across my collarbone. He lowered his head, taking my nipple in his mouth, and I gasped in pleasure.

That was the last straw for us both, and he shut the water off before lifting me around his hips. “Let’s go to the bed,” he growled.

I giggled and nodded. He carried me carefully, as we hadn’t bothered to dry off, and tossed me on the bed. Climbing slowly up the bed, water dripped from his hair as he made his way to my face, where he continued to kiss and tease me with his tongue and hands.

Pleasure took over and my mind became mush. Each touch sent shivers through me, until he was moving his hands in ways that made me crazy. I thrashed my head from side to side as he moved his fingers within me, crying out his name, begging him for more.