Jasik helps me up, and I lean against him, burying my head against his chest as he wraps his arms around me. I relish in his scent, in his embrace, knowing nothing will ever be the same between us.
When I look up at him, he kisses my forehead softly. When he pulls back, I still feel the cool press of his lips against my skin. He stares at me, his crimson irises burning brightly, and I know, even though I am fully aware that I will never be the same girl he once treasured, he somehow still sees me as that strong, confident girl he saved so many moons ago. He still sees me as the vampire, and I will cherish that until I take my final breath.
Because I am not that vampire. Not anymore. Even though I yearn to be her once again. Things are different now, and life will never be the same.
I slide my palm against Jasik’s. He threads his fingers between mine, and a tingling sensation hurls up my arm. I feel like I have not been close to him in months, even though I know that is not true. I glance over my shoulder, turning to face her.
My mother is on the ground, and she stares up at me in disbelief. I am not sure what surprises her more—the fact that I was smart enough to think of this spell, or the fact that I was able to harness that much power and use it against them. She always assumed me to be weak, so I will guess it is the former that shocks her. Really, I should thank her. Without the black magic she used to cast her own dark spell, I would never have thought to create one of my very own making.
“How?” she whispers.
Already, the feeling of emptiness should be washing over her, and I cannot help but smile. I wonder how she will survive that void, the dark pit in her gut that threatens to consume her.
“You have always doubted me, Mamá,” I say. “You never believed I was strong enough or smart enough to best you, but I proved that I am.”
Jasik squeezes my hand, his silent signal that we must return home. He believes the witches will recover, and violence will erupt once again, breaking the peace. But it will not. For now, the feud is over.
“I committed the very same act against you, Mamá, that you did to me. I used your spell and harnessed good energy from the moon and from the vampire to strengthen it,” I explain without divulging too much information. I would not want their purgatory to end too quickly.
“But…” She trails off, her gaze darting between me and the other witches who cower behind me. I do not even worry about them. Finally, I am not afraid.
“You see, you had to tap into darkness to become strong enough to curse me, but I did not. Don’t you understand? I am not, nor have I ever been, evil, Mamá. You are. And now you must live the rest of your life knowing the atrocities you committed against your very own people.”
“Do not do this, Ava,” my grandmother hisses, and I glance at her.
No longer by the sliding doors, Abuela is lying on the ground, crawling toward me. She digs her hands into the frozen snow, trying to pull herself upright. I do not aid her.
Her skin is still blanketed in fine, black veins, and I know the darkness still consumes her soul. When I tapped into their magic, I did not grasp on to the evil that resides there.
I know my grandmother is too far gone to save, but I do not know how much time she has left. I hope she will find peace in her final moments, because I want her to pass with clarity. I want her to recognize her downfall was her doing.
“Don’t do what?” I ask. “Don’t force you to live as an empty shell? It is too late for begging, Abuela. The spell has been cast, and I will never tell you how to reverse it.”
“¡Por favor!” Mamá screams, but her pain only infuriates me more. How dare she ask for mercy after all she has done?
“It did not have to be this way, Mamá,” I remind her. “I wanted peace, and now I have it. You see, I can live with what I have done. But can you?”
I turn, ignoring her pleas. I do not listen to the witches who cry, and I do not look back to offer a final glance at my fallen friend. I simply walk away, hand in hand, allies surrounding me as we fade into the shadows.
And I never look back.
Acknowledgments
With each new book, I confess my admiration for the team behind my career. From my amazing publisher to my readers to my family, so many have played a role in my publishing journey. I would be nowhere without these people, and I worry they will never truly know how much I appreciate their support.
To Heather — Our friendship means so much to me. You are the kindest person I have ever met, and that alone makes me want to be a better person. But then you went and made me a better writer by offering unwavering support and untold wisdom. From pondering plot lines to creating entirely new stories, we always seem to be in sync—like the boy band, but better. I hope you know how much I appreciate you.
To Shawna, Francie, and Robin — You ladies are my cohort. You’re there when I need to vent or ask for help or work through writer’s block. I love you.
To my family and my readers — You have changed my life. A writer is nothing without a support system, and I couldn’t do this job without you all by my side. From questioning early drafts to eagerly devouring advance editions, you are always there to cheer me on. Thank you.
To Waterhouse Press — You are an incredible bunch of people, and I am so honored to be part of the family. Thank you so much for giving me a chance.
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Also by Danielle Rose
Darkhaven Saga:
Dark Secret
Dark Magic
Dark Promise
Dark Spell
Dark Curse
* * *
Pieces of Me Duet:
Lies We Keep
Truth We Bear
* * *
For a full list of Danielle’s other titles,
visit her at
DRoseAuthor.com
About Danielle Rose
Dubbed a “triple threat” by readers, Danielle Rose dabbles in many genres, including urban fantasy, suspense, and romance. The USA Today bestselling author holds a master of fine arts in creative writing from the University of Southern Maine.
Danielle is a self-professed sufferer of ’philes and an Oxford comma enthusiast. She prefers solitude to crowds, animals to people, four seasons to hellfire, nature to cities, and traveling as often as she breathes.
For more information, please follow Danielle Rose at:
DRoseAuthor.com
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