“Here, let me get you untangled.”
Jane looked down and saw the cords from the sleep study equipment tangled about her. She sat still as Galen slowly moved toward her. She hated the look in his eyes. There was pity in that look and she was never one to want pity. There was no question now. She’d find out what she was dreaming about and then she’d disappear. She could reinvent herself in a blink of an eye . . . or the wiggle of a finger.
“What did you find out?” Jane asked as she tried to ignore the brush of Galen’s fingers over her skin as he removed the equipment.
“The reason you’re so tired is that you never get restful sleep. It takes you much longer to fall into REM sleep than it should. Then when you do, you’re gripped with night terrors. I’m going to write up the report, and then I’d like to discuss it with you. I think it might help you figure out what you’re dreaming about.”
Jane took a deep breath and shoved her hair from her face. “Okay. When do you want to meet?”
“Tomorrow is the soonest I can finish it. I can call you when I get it completed.”
Jane nodded. The feeling to run was almost completely overwhelming.
“There’s one more thing.”
“What?” Jane asked. She could hear the foreboding in his voice. Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.
“Jud broke into your house last night and tried to kidnap you.”
Jane blinked. She processed the words, but they didn’t make sense. “Jud from town?”
“Yes. It was bizarre. But he said he had to get you.”
“Me? What would he want with—?” Jane snapped her mouth shut as a shiver ran down her spine. Could it be Ian? “What happened to him?”
“I knocked him out and then the sheriff and his deputy took him to jail.”
Thank goodness the sheriff and the deputy were witches. Surely they read Jud’s mind and could tell her what was going on. They probably made sure Galen had his story straight too. But just in case . . .
Jane focused her magic on Galen’s brain. She’d just make sure Slade wiped all that he needed to. Only when she tried to enter his thoughts she was met with a brick wall. No matter how she tried to get in, she couldn’t.
Jane might not use her powers much, but she had them. Lots of them. It was why Ian was after her. But no matter what she did, she couldn’t get into Galen’s mind. That didn’t make sense. He was human.
The doorbell rang and Galen spun as if to put himself between her and whoever might come in. Darned if that didn’t make her heart beat faster even though it was more likely she’d need to protect him.
“I’ll just see who that is while you get dressed.”
“Thank you, Dr. Sinclair.”
He looked back at her and smiled. “Anything for you.”
Then her heart did more than beat faster. It fell completely in love with Galen Sinclair. And then it broke when she realized she was going to have to leave him behind when she ran from Ian. If Ian had sent Jud after her, everyone in Moonshine Hollow was in danger.
Jane quickly dressed and rushed from her bedroom when she heard the front door close. Galen was gone, but her house wasn’t empty. Zoey sat on the couch waiting for her.
“What you are doing here?” Jane asked, but then realized how rude that sounded. “Shouldn’t you be at your store?”
“Sold out within two hours. Come sit down. I’ll get coffee and breakfast.”
As Jane sat down, Zoey wiggled her fingers and two cups of coffee and two extra large double chocolate cupcakes appeared before her.
“I must admit it, I miss my magic,” Jane said.
“So, use it,” Zoey encouraged with a shrug.
Jane took a deep breath. Was it really that easy? “I’ve been hiding for so long and using magic can draw a hunter’s attention.”
“But you’re not alone now and most of the hunters are dead or captured.”
“Except one.”
Zoey set her cupcake down. “We need to talk about Ian.”
“You read me. You know I was engaged to him. That’s it.”
“Jane,” Zoey said, reaching out and taking Jane’s hand in hers. Jane was forced to turn and look at her then. “I’m not reading you. I won’t do that without your permission. I know that’s not it. I also know you’re not in league with him in anyway. But I also know you haven’t been honest with me about your past.”
“What do you mean?” Jane tried to keep her cool, but even as she spoke calmly, she was gathering her power to poof away as soon as Zoey let go of her hand.
“I mean the fact that Ian is using magic to send humans to kidnap you. I mean the fact that no one on the council knows a Jane Farrow. I mean the fact that you might as well tell us since Raiden Ilmarinen and Fern Langley, the top Tenebris and Claritase genealogists, are researching who you really are. You know it won’t take Fern and Raiden long to find the truth. Jane, let me help you. You ran here for safety. Now let me keep you safe.” Zoey didn’t drop her hand and then she frowned. “You’re going to run, aren’t you?”
“You said you wouldn’t read me!” Jane shouted as she tried to pull her hand from Zoey’s.
Suddenly warmth spread in her hand and coursed up her arm until Jane’s whole body was cocooned in warmth. Then Zoey dropped her hand. Jane tried to transport, but she couldn’t. “What did you do?”
“I’m keeping you safe, even if it means from yourself. Call me when you’re ready to talk.”
“What is this?” Jane yelled as she tried to leave her house, but wasn’t able to get past the door to follow Zoey outside.
“I’m grounding you, Jane.” Zoey turned around and Jane’s anger fell when she saw the tears in Zoey’s eyes. “Do you think I want to do this? I felt your magic. It reached out and touched me. It told me you were going to run, and while your mind thinks it’s the best thing to do, your magic told me otherwise. It’s crying out for help, Jane. Let me help you.”
“I can’t put you in danger!” Jane shouted back.
“Keeping me in the dark is putting me at greater risk than confiding in me. Jane, your nightmares are getting worse. You were yelling Ian’s name last night in your sleep. While you’re directly affected by it, you have to see that Ian is a threat to not just you, but to all of us.”
Jane crossed her arms over her chest. Zoey was right, but she couldn’t get the words to come out.
“I’ll stop by tomorrow to see if you’ve changed your mind. If you need Slade or me for any reason, all you have to do is think our names and we’ll know it and be there. I’m sorry, Jane. I wish it were different.”
Jane watched Zoey walk down the street. Jane was so angry, she could barely see straight. She was angry at Zoey. She was angry at Ian. She was angry at the council. She was angry at herself. Jane slammed the front door and dropped down onto her couch. On the table, there were now over a dozen cupcakes and even lunch and dinner. Zoey was looking out for her even when Jane didn’t let herself trust anyone.
Jane took a deep breath and turned her attention inward. Her mind and magic were at war inside of her. Her mind told her to run. Her magic told her to stand her ground. The question was which should she listen to.
10
Galen took a long nap before he began working on Jane’s report. It would take time going through all the audio and visual materials. He turned them on to play, knowing she wouldn’t be talking for most of the eight hours she slept. As they played silently in the background, Galen began to go over the data he had collected.
Hours later, Galen was done with his data report and was about to heat up some leftovers when the tapes played the moment Jane shot straight up in bed and screamed, “Ian!”
For the next four hours, Galen sat in silence and watched the torment of whatever it was that went on in Jane’s mind. His heart broke for her but his determination to get to the bottom of her night terrors only increased.
It was close to midnight when he was done with the report. Galen wanted to call Jane,
but instead closed his laptop and went to bed. He’d see her in the morning and do everything in his power to get these terrors to stop.
As he fell asleep, his mind and heart were on Jane. He didn’t have a word for it because it seemed so irrational, but it was as if fate were pulling them together. Never deter the hand of fate, boy. She’s even more fickle than a Selkie.
Galen fell asleep with a smile on his face at the memory of his Nan. Well, if fate wanted them together, who was he to say no?
Jane crossed her arms over her chest and stared with anger at her quickly filling living room. There had been no knocking. They’d just shown up. It wasn’t even eight in the morning when the first person arrived in her living room.
Fortunately, Grand Mistress Lauren was the one behind the gathering, because after spending yesterday “grounded,” Jane was ready to let Zoey have it.
Knock, knock.
Jane spun around and opened the door to find Zoey, Slade, and Magnus standing there. “Thank you for knocking. The rest of the council didn’t bother with it.”
Zoey rolled her eyes. “Ugh. I know! It’s so rude.”
Jane opened the door wide as Slade and his father-in-law to be walked into to join the rest of those already gathered. Zoey reached out and clasped Jane’s hand. “I’m so sorry. I hate being heavy-handed, but I couldn’t let you leave. Everything depends on—” Zoey’s eyes went blank. Her hand tightened and a tear rolled down her cheek.
“Zoey?” Slade shoved past Jane and wrapped his arms around his true love. Zoey didn’t move. It was if she were in a trance—a trance that started when she touched Jane.
“Should I yank my hand away?” Jane whispered as suddenly she felt the entire council behind her.
“No!” Grand Mistress Lauren called out. “She’s having a vision. Let it happen.”
The distress on Zoey’s face told Jane everything she needed to know about this vision. It was horrible, and it had to do with her. It felt like an eternity but finally Zoey dropped her hand and blinked her eyes. Tears rolled down both cheeks now as terror replaced the blank stare of her eyes.
Slade lifted her into his arms and hurried her inside. Jane shut the door as he took a seat with Zoey on his lap. Her face was buried his neck as she wept openly. Jane looked around and saw the concern on the council’s faces. Jane had told herself they were uncaring but that wasn’t true at all. They were the complete opposite. The pain in Grand Mistress Lauren’s face and Grand Master Linus’s stance told her that they cared deeply for Zoey and what she was feeling. Polly had tears in her own eyes. Even Neferu, the coldest witch Jane had ever met, looked upset.
“I’m so sorry,” Zoey finally said. “Jane, you have to stay in Moonshine Hollow. If not, Moonshine will be burned to the ground when it’s discovered you’re not here. There was so much screaming. So much death. Oh Goddess, the screams.”
“Why me?” Jane managed to finally say.
“I don’t know. My vision showed me first what would happen if you left. The screaming, the ash, the death of every human here . . . then it showed me something else. You were there, Jane. All of us were there together. And then the blood came. But because we were together we survived. We have to tackle whatever is coming together.”
Jane looked around the room as she was struck by a sudden realization that had her taking a step back as if to steady herself. She wasn’t alone. She wasn’t the only witch who had been hiding and running for four hundred years. Everyone in the room had been too. “No more running.”
Polly was the first to reach her and pull her into a hug. “No more running,” she whispered to Jane. “We’re all here for you.”
“Do you want to tell them, or do you want us to?” A cute little woman with green eyes and light brown hair asked sympathetically.
“Are you Fern?” Jane asked her.
“Yes, it’s nice to meet you.” She held out her hand and the two earth witches shared a moment together as they shook. Their powers recognized each other and Fern smiled at Jane’s shocked expression. “I’m your cousin on your mother’s side.”
“I didn’t know I had family on my mom’s side.”
“Your father insisted on separating from everyone in his life. He sensed that you were valuable to the wrong type of people.”
“Too bad he handed me over to the wrong type of person.”
Fern nodded understandingly. “You’re not alone anymore. You have family. My parents are still living and they’ll be thrilled to meet you.”
Jane didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t alone in this world after all. She had thought her mother’s family was dead. She’d never met them and it had always just been her parents and her father’s sister.
“I can tell everyone what we found,” Fern whispered with a nod of her head to the Viking standing near her. That must be Raiden. “If it’s too hard for you to do so.”
Jane shook her head. “No. It’s time for me to tell my story. You’re right,” Jane said a little louder now as she looked around the room. “I’m not alone anymore.”
Galen packed up his things and looked at his watch. It was just after eight in the morning. He would stop by and pick up breakfast and then head over to Jane’s. Maybe he’d catch her before work.
When Galen opened the door to Zoey’s Sweet Treats, he was surprised to see the long line. There was usually a line but normally it moved. This one seemed to be going slow as molasses.
“What’s going on?” Galen asked Peach, who was standing in front of him in line. She’d been happy to make an appointment with Galen, but her husband had refused and wanted to see Dr. Thurman.
“Zoey had a meeting she couldn’t miss, so Maribelle and Dale are filling in for her. But bless their hearts, they’re mixing up orders left and right. I’d take a seat if I were you, this is going to take a bit.”
Galen smiled kindly and pulled out one of the nearby bistro chairs for Peach. Peach made sure to point out his manners to her husband who just rolled his eyes as he talked to other members of the Opossums.
“So, did you see the aliens the other night?” Peach asked as soon as Galen took the chair opposite her.
“Aliens?” Galen asked with surprise. That wasn’t what he was expecting from Peach. Gossip, sure. But aliens?
Peach leaned in closer and dropped her voice. “I think the sheriff is in on it.”
“You think Sheriff Slade is an alien?” Galen asked slowly as he reevaluated the physical he’d given Peach. Maybe he should send her for a CT head scan.
Peach nodded and looked around to make sure no one was listening. “He told me there’s no such things as aliens, but then told us not to go into the woods for the next week while he investigates.”
The bell over the door tinkled and Galen looked up to see Jud walking in the door. Galen acted on instinct and before he knew it, he had handfuls of Jud’s shirt in his fists as he shoved him out the door he just walked into. Galen heard everyone stop talking and knew they were watching, but he didn’t care. This man had tried to hurt Jane. Why was he just waltzing about?
“Doc?” Jud gasped in surprise as Galen shoved him against the door to keep it closed so the people inside couldn’t come out and break them up. “Thanks for fixin’ up my broken nose. I promise I’ll pay you.”
“Pay me? You tried to hurt someone I care about,” Galen growled.
“Hurt someone? I wouldn’t hurt anyone.” Jud looked so surprised that Galen had to stop and think. No, there was the broken nose he had given him. But he didn’t reset it, so who did?
“You tried to hurt Jane.”
“Jane who?” Jud asked.
“Jane Farrow.”
“The nice lady at the forest station? Why would I want to hurt her?”
Galen believed the complete innocence in his eyes. But still . . . “Two nights ago, where were you?”
“I went huntin’ for the weekend with some friends. It was dark out and then there was this light. I tripped and smashed my face into a tre
e. My buddies brought me to you and you put my nose back into place. Then I went home. Why?”
Galen dropped his hands and took a step back. What the heck was going on? He looked into the bakery and saw Peach’s face pressed against the glass. “Aliens,” she mouthed. Maybe she was right.
Selkie.
His Nan’s voice was clear as day and he snapped his head to see if she were standing next to him. Instead, there were just curious stares of people waiting to get into the bakery.
“Sorry. I’m glad your nose is feeling better. Excuse me.”
He needed to see Jane. He needed to find out what the heck was happening.
11
Jane took a deep breath. Her hands were clasped tightly as she stood in front of a living room full of powerful witches. Jane was petrified that as soon as she revealed her secrets they would turn against her. She was supposed to have been Ian’s wife—Ian, one of the most hated Tenebris witches there ever was. However, it was time to place her trust in someone, and while she didn’t necessarily trust everyone on the council, she did trust Zoey.
“I was to marry Ian on the night of the great treachery. I was his intended.” Jane tried to say it loudly and clearly, but her voice broke. No one said a word. They all stared at her and Jane thought about bolting, but knew she couldn’t run again. No more running.
“I didn’t know about the treason. I lost both my parents and my aunt that night.” Jane took a deep breath as her mind left the safety of the living room and transported back to that horrible night. “‘Go to Ian. He will keep you safe,’ my father ordered before dying. Little did I know at that time that it was Ian who’d killed him. My father’s sister grabbed me and took me to Ian’s rooms after we grabbed some supplies to flee with. I found out then that Ian didn’t want to marry me because he loved he. He didn’t even care if I lived. He had to marry me first and then I could choose . . . die or join him and rule over the Claritase as he ruled over the Tenebris.”
Moonshine & Mischief: Moonshine Hollow #4 Page 6