“Can I see it?” Landon asked.
Avery almost jerked the crystal away from her, but she managed to restrain herself from doing so. She nodded, but Landon still had to ease it from Avery’s fist. The crystal remained normal in Landon’s grasp, but when she moved it toward Avery, it sparked and swung toward her again.
“Your crystal has found you,” Landon told her.
Feeling like a chipmunk hoarding all its nuts, Avery reclaimed her crystal and hunched over it as she cradled it in her palms. It pulsed in her hands as its power oozed from her palms, down her arms, and out through her chest. She finally understood the draw of crystals as her heartbeat fell into rhythm with the pulsing stone.
“I want to give it to Lila,” she whispered. She’d prefer never to let it go again, but she would do anything to help her friend.
“But it’s the only one in existence, and it’s yours,” Landon protested. “All of us have our favorite crystals to work with, but if they’re lost we can replace them; you can never replace that.”
“Lila could use it,” Avery insisted.
Landon looked longingly at Reid, but when he didn’t say anything, her shoulders slumped in resignation. “Okay, but you will need it back; your crystal is a part of you. We’ll charge it before you take it to her.”
Landon led her back to the mixture. Following Landon’s instructions, Avery dipped the crystal into the bowl and allowed it to sit in the sunshine. The heat flaring up her hand grew until it permeated the marrow of her bones. The intensity of it startled her, but it wasn’t an unpleasant sensation.
When the heat lessened, she removed the crystal and whispered the incantation Landon told her to say. The crystal glowed brighter than before and more vividly than the amethyst Landon had worked on.
“It’s very powerful,” Landon murmured. “Make sure she keeps it safe.”
“She will,” Avery said before turning to Reid. “It’s only a twenty-minute walk. Would you like to go back to the hospital with me?”
“Yes. I’ll be back soon,” he said to Landon.
“Okay. I’ve already called Rosie and Sandra to let them know about Avery; I told them to pass the news of her awakening and birthmarks on to the others.”
“Good,” Reid said.
“What did Sandra say?” Avery asked.
Landon smiled at her. “Not much. For the first time in all the years I’ve known her, Sandra was almost speechless.”
Avery grinned back at her before saying goodbye and turning to leave. Reid’s calluses rubbed against her palm when he took her hand as they walked outside and down the street. She’d never held hands with a boy before, but her fingers fit seamlessly in between his strong ones.
• • •
“It’s beautiful,” Lila said as she gazed at the crystal of rarity. “It’s the same color as your eyes.”
“Hmm,” Avery murmured as she finished clasping the chain around Lila’s neck. She took a step back and slid onto the chair next to the bed. Lila glanced at Reid when he moved to stand behind Avery.
“I thought you might be a witch,” Lila whispered as she clasped the crystal and lifted it off her chest.
Avery bolted upright in the chair. “What? How?”
Lila smiled shyly and lowered the crystal. “When I was little, my mom told me stories about witches living on Cape Cod. I knew your dad had lived there and your mother still did. From the second I met him, it was impossible not to notice the vitality your dad radiated. I didn’t want to sound like an idiot, and I really believed it was a story, so I never said anything to you about it.
“When we were eleven, your mother came for a visit, and it was impossible not to notice the way she seemed to glow too. I’d always thought my mom made up the witch stories to put me to sleep, but after I met your parents, I wondered if they were true. Then the years passed, and I forgot about it, but after seeing you and Reid today, and now this crystal, I’m convinced the stories were true.”
Lila’s eyes filled with tears. “Are you going to leave us now?”
At first, Avery was too astonished by Lila’s revelation to respond. She merely stared at her before finally touching her shoulder. “I’ll never leave you,” she promised.
Lila smiled weakly, but her eyes were filled with doubt when they traveled to Reid. “I suppose you want to take her from us.”
Reid stepped around the chair and clasped Lila’s hand. “Not at all,” he assured her. “You accept this; you accept us?”
“What choice do I have?” Lila asked.
“You could reject us, hate us, or fear us. It’s happened in the past,” he said. “Or you could tell people about us. Many wouldn’t believe you, but some would, and there are those who would love to get their hands on us so they could use us for their own means.”
Avery’s skin crawled at his words; she couldn’t lose Lila, and she didn’t want to end up in some laboratory. Besides, she doubted she could do anything that would be worthwhile for anyone else, but she wasn’t willing to take the chance someone might disagree with her. She believed most people were good, but there were enough bad ones out there to make what Reid said a possibility.
Lila paled as she gazed at Reid. “I could never do any of those things to Avery!” she protested. “She’s my best friend; I would never hurt her.”
Avery’s shoulders sagged as tension seeped out of her, and her hand tightened on Lila’s shoulder.
“Then I think we’ll be good friends too,” Reid said.
“Me too,” Lila whispered.
“But you can’t ever tell anyone about us.”
Lila folded her thumb and pinky together and held up her other three fingers. “Girl Scout promise,” she said solemnly.
“That’s very serious,” Avery said to Reid. “We went through three years of Girl Scouts together and have never broken a vow.”
Reid looked doubtful as he gazed between the two of them; it probably didn’t help they were both trying not to laugh. “And I thought Girl Scouts were all about the cookies,” he said.
Avery and Lila laughed. “Those cookies are amazing,” Avery said.
“Yeah, they are,” he agreed.
Lila stifled a yawn before turning to Avery. “Tina thinks you bought contacts.”
“No contacts.”
“Why are your eyes so different?” Lila asked.
“Her powers have been awakened,” Reid said.
This time, Lila couldn’t stop herself from yawning loudly. “Amazing.”
“We had better go; you should rest,” Avery said when Lila yawned again. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”
CHAPTER 14
Avery let the sand run through her fingers as she half-heartedly listened to Landon talking about her impending induction ceremony. She should pay more attention, it did concern her after all, but the tiny bits of crystal and rock in the sand fascinated her. She’d never truly noticed how many there were before.
Beside her, Reid’s hand brushed against the one she’d planted on the beach. His touch was comforting and exhilarating; without thinking, she slid her hand over until their fingers entwined.
After returning from the hospital, Avery agreed to come back to Cape Cod with them to be inducted into their coven. Landon had informed her that if they didn’t have the ceremony during the full moon tonight, she would have to wait another month. Avery still wasn’t entirely sure what it all meant, but she figured the best way to learn was to plunge in.
And so, for the first time in her life, she was plunging into the unknown without thinking it through first. Usually, the idea of doing such a thing would have panicked her, but this decision felt right, and she decided to trust her new witchy instincts.
“Well,” Sandra said from where she sat on a large group of boulders. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m bored. I say we induct our new member now.”
“We have to wait until the moon is up,” Landon replied impatiently.
Sitting next to Sandra, Shawn yaw
ned loudly. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m also tired of all this talk,” he said.
Avery frowned as she glanced at the group sitting on the boulders. Mario and Eric were flipping through the pages of a magazine; they pointed at pictures as they snickered to each other. Phones were barred from the ceremony; otherwise, Avery was sure they’d be on those instead. Isla sat on the other side of Sandra with her knees against her chest.
Landon threw up her hands before walking over to sit next to Alex. “Forget it,” she said.
Avery turned to look at Reid. His eyes were darker than usual as he stared at his sister with disapproval. Smiling smugly, Sandra buffed her nails on her shirt before inspecting them.
Leaning closer to Reid, Avery whispered, “What’s going on?”
His mouth almost touched her ear when he replied. “Sandra doesn’t think Landon should be in charge of the coven, but a leader won’t officially be elected until we’re all eighteen, and no one else wants to do it.”
“And what do you think?” Avery asked.
“Landon takes the rituals, history, and rites far more seriously than Sandra or any of us. Sandra doesn’t want to oversee all that stuff; she just doesn’t want anyone else telling her what to do, especially Landon. They love each other, but they’re exact opposites and have always butted heads.”
Avery sat back to examine her cousin on the boulders. No, Sandra definitely wouldn’t want anyone else in charge of her.
“Do you think Sandra will try to be the leader when the time comes?” Avery asked.
“No, but I think she’ll try to make Landon’s life as difficult as possible.”
And she could see Sandra doing that too.
When the setting sun sent an array of brilliant colors across the twilight sky, Reid laid down and propped his hands behind his head while he gazed at the sky. Avery stared at him before steadying herself with a fortifying breath and rising.
She hesitated before walking over to the group gathered on the rocks. They eyed her warily as she approached. Then Mario shifted over and smiled as she settled between him and Eric. Avery ignored Landon and Reid’s questioning stares. If she were going to be a member of this coven, she would be friends with everyone, no matter how much she didn’t trust or like some of the ones sitting on the boulders.
“Do you like dirt bikes?” Eric asked.
“I’ve never really thought about them before,” she admitted.
“They’re so much fun,” Mario said enthusiastically. “I want this bad boy.”
He pointed to a picture of a dirt bike in the magazine he held. Avery forgot all about the battle lines between Sandra and Landon as Mario and Eric regaled her with stories about their bikes and the death-defying rides they’d taken on them.
They both offered to take her out for a ride, but after listening to them, Avery thought she might be safer jumping out of a plane without a parachute. She couldn’t help but smile and laugh with them as they were both easygoing, and their enthusiasm was contagious.
“All right,” Sandra drawled when the full moon rose to hang over the white-capped sea. “Let’s get this initiation over with so we can party.”
As Landon rose, her blue-green eyes fixed on Avery. Avery smiled at her as she hopped off the rocks. Reid glided across the sand to her and clasped her arm; his reassuring touch helped calm her anxiety over what was to come. Her feet slipped in the sand as he led her forward before squeezing her arm, releasing her, and striding away.
Avery stood in the center of a circle, surrounded by people who suddenly appeared as cold as ice. She realized she still didn’t know them well and glanced at the beach as she considered fleeing. However, Avery remained where she was, mostly from the look of concern in Reid’s eyes. He was the only one who didn’t look distant while he gazed at her, and she concentrated on him to help her get through this.
“Begin,” Landon said.
When Sandra stepped forward and tossed something at her, Avery started and almost fell over until she saw the red dust glittering in the moonlight while it floated around her. After Sandra, each member of the coven took a turn at tossing different colored dust at her. Impossibly, the dust remained floating on air in a circle around her.
Orange, green, yellow, pink, white, silvery black, purple, and gold combined with the red dust to float around her in the night. The dust tickled her skin; she almost laughed and tried to catch it, but the severe faces surrounding her stopped her from doing so. The dust wafted on the air for another minute before settling into a perfect circle around her feet.
“Do you vow to keep everything you learn about the coven a secret, including its members and what we are?” Landon asked.
Avery lifted her head from the sparkling dust to study Landon’s inscrutable countenance. They’d all been informed Lila already knew of their existence and how she’d figured it out; none of them had been happy about it, especially not Sandra, but there was nothing any of them could do about it. The idea of keeping secrets from Tina and Karen didn’t sit well with Avery. However, she had little choice if she was going to see this through.
“Yes,” she managed to say.
“Do you vow to be loyal to this coven, even if it means giving your life for it?” Sandra asked.
Avery gulped. My life? Why would I have to risk my life?
With a shrug, Avery decided she wouldn’t, and it was just part of the vows they all recited when inducted into the coven. Vows their ancestors had recited for centuries because, at one point in time, witches were hunted and the vows were more practical then.
“Yes,” Avery said.
“Do you vow to respect our spells and the powers we possess?” Alex asked.
“Yes.”
“Do you vow never to use your powers to harm anyone, especially a member of this coven?” Isla inquired.
“Yes.”
Landon pulled an ornate, black-handled knife from the leather holster at her side. Before they came to the beach, she’d told Avery it was called an athame and was a ceremonial knife used in many of their rituals. Avery watched in amazement as Landon slid the double-edged blade unflinchingly across her palm before handing the knife to Reid, who deftly repeated the action.
As the knife made its way around the circle, none of the others flinched or made a sound when they sliced their palms. Avery hoped she could handle it as stalwartly as they all did. However, she worried she might start cursing and jumping around like when she stubbed her toe.
Landon reclaimed the athame from Alex and stepped toward her. Avery eyed the knife like it might come to life and bite her when Landon offered it to her. When she claimed it, the blood of the others glistened on the knife, and she was glad she wasn’t a germaphobe as she brought the blade to her palm.
Biting her lip, Avery braced herself for the pain. Before she could chicken out, she drew the blade across her palm. She barely felt the slice as blood welled up and slid over her skin.
When Landon clasped Avery’s hand, Avery couldn’t stop herself from gasping when their blood mingled together. She felt every beat of Landon’s heart against her hand as Landon’s power streamed between them.
“The joining of our blood is the joining of us,” Landon said solemnly. “We are connected forever.”
Avery experienced a strange void when Landon released her to rejoin the circle. Reid stepped forward next, clasped her hand, and repeated Landon’s words. Her hand tingled as his power raced up her arm. He smiled at her, squeezed her hand, and stepped away.
Avery turned as each member of the coven came forward, took her hand, and repeated the words. Their blood mingled with hers, slipped into her body, and connected with her soul. Sandra came last; a small smile curved the corners of her mouth as she clasped Avery’s hand.
The same blood already flowed through their veins, but Avery couldn’t fully believe it as Sandra’s eyes glittered with devilish amusement. Would Sandra uphold these vows if push came to shove, or would she abandon the coven to sav
e her ass? Avery didn’t know the answer to that question, and she didn’t want to test Sandra’s loyalty to find out.
Despite her obvious amusement, Sandra faithfully repeated the words and stepped away without incident. Avery’s gaze traveled back to Landon; was it over? Relief flowed through her when she found the coldness in Landon’s face was gone and the familiar warmth was back in place.
“You’re one of us now,” Landon said.
Avery had to suppress a chill as the words reminded her of some B horror movie about pod people. She’d taken this step willingly, but she had a life beyond this island and this coven that she was not going to give up.
Each member of the coven smiled at her as they came forward to embrace her.
“Welcome to the group, little cousin,” Sandra whispered in her ear when she hugged her.
“Thanks,” Avery muttered as stepped from her embrace.
“I’m so glad you decided to join us,” Landon said as she hugged her next. “This is where you belong.” Avery smiled, grateful for the easy friendship Landon gave.
Rosie bounded forward next and threw her arms around Avery. “I knew you were special!” she bubbled before letting her go.
Reid’s eyes shone in the moonlight as he hugged her last and she melted into his comforting embrace. Against her ear, his heart raced in his chest while his hands ran over her back. Stepping back, he continued to hold her when they turned to face the group. Wood was brought from behind the boulders, and a bonfire was started as the party began.
CHAPTER 15
Avery pushed herself up on the bed and gazed at the cream-colored walls and ocean paintings. At first, her strange surroundings confused her, and it took a few moments to recall she was in the guest room of Reid and Landon’s house. Then the events of last night rushed back to her, and she smiled as she hopped out of bed to stretch her back.
She dug clothes and her travel kit out of the backpack she’d brought with her, entered the small bathroom, and took a shower before dressing. When she finished, she poked her head out of the guest room and smiled when she spotted Reid exiting the room across from hers. Even with eyes still swollen from sleep, he was breathtakingly handsome.
Nightmares (The Coven, Book 1) Page 8