Eternal Love: (The Cursed Series, Book 4)

by Kara Leigh Miller

  I dropped my arms to my sides, and my shoulders slumped. He was right about that. If I found out Ivy was lying and that I really was stuck with this bond for the rest of my life, I’d be crushed.

  “I’m sorry.” He tugged me into his arms and rested his chin on the top of my head. “Let me talk to Sean first, okay? Maybe he’ll have some ideas or know someone other than Macaih who might be able to help.”

  “He didn’t even know what this was,” I said, pulling away from Trent and putting distance between us. “Our only option right now is Ivy.”

  “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

  “No.” I shook my head. “And you shouldn’t want to, either. I know you don’t trust her, so we’ll bring reinforcements when we go talk to her. Whitney. Wyatt. Sean. Bring the whole town for all I care.”

  He chuckled, then approached, cradling my face in his hands. His expression turned serious. “What if we walk into a trap? Just because she knows about the bond doesn’t mean she knows that I can’t change you.”

  I hadn’t really thought about that, but Trent was right. If we went to see Ivy, she could easily capture both of us, and the moment she learned he couldn’t change me, she’d have no use for him, which meant she’d probably just kill him.

  “Please just let me talk to Sean and Macaih,” he said.

  “Fine, but if they don’t have any answers, will you then consider talking to Ivy?”

  “Yes, but she’s our last resort.” He caressed my cheeks with his thumbs, then lowered his mouth to mine in a tender kiss. “We’ll figure this out. I promise.”

  SITTING AROUND THE DINING room table with Trent and Isach was weird, and it was a situation I never thought I’d be in. But here I was.

  Trent was engrossed in a conversation with Uncle Dean about cars. I didn’t know Trent was such a gear head; then again, I didn’t know a lot about him. I kept swearing I’d rectify that, but I was always distracted by other things when I was with him.

  Aunt Beth asked Abby and Isach a million questions about the paper they were working on. Abby replied with one word answers, clearly annoyed by her mother’s interrogation, but Isach talked at length, as if he were truly enthralled by the conversation.

  Trent reached under the table and put his hand on my leg. “Would it be all right if I took Chloe out this weekend?” His question silenced the table. “I’d like to pick her up Saturday morning, if that’s okay. We’ll spend the day in town, and I’ll have her home in time for dinner.”

  Abby kicked my shin, her eyes bright. I winced and jerked my leg away, scowling at her. I could only imagine what she’d have to say about this later.

  “If that’s what Chloe wants, then I don’t have a problem with it,” Uncle Dean said.

  “I do,” I said, mentally rolling my eyes. “I mean, yeah, I’m cool with going on Saturday.”

  Trent gave my leg a gentle squeeze, but his attention was on Uncle Dean and Aunt Beth. “Thank you. I promise to take good care of her.”

  “But…” I cleared my throat. “Ellie asked me to sleepover at her house this weekend. Would it be all right if Trent dropped me off there after our date?”

  Abby narrowed her eyes.

  I shifted in my chair and kept my focus on Aunt Beth. The last thing I needed was for Abby to slip up and say something that would make her mom think I was lying. Or maybe Abby was upset because Ellie hadn’t invited her. I should’ve asked Aunt Beth in private.

  “Yeah, that’s fine.” Aunt Beth nodded. “But you have to call me as soon as you get there.”

  “Sure.” I smiled. “Thanks.”

  We finished dinner amidst conversations of school and the weather and our plans for the weekend. Trent was tight-lipped, refusing to say what he had planned, though he did offer to tell my aunt and uncle—as long as they promised not to tell me because it was a surprise.

  “The meal was delicious,” Isach said.

  “Thank you.” Aunt Beth smiled, then stood to clear the table.

  Abby and I stood automatically, too. Since I’d been living here, Abby and I had always helped clean the table after dinner. I usually put away the leftovers and wiped everything down while Abby washed the dishes.

  “Let me help,” Trent said, standing.

  Uncle Dean’s eyebrows shot up, as if he couldn’t believe a teenage guy had just offered to help with chores.

  “I’ll help, too,” Isach said.

  It hit me then that those two were competing, seeing which one of them could impress Aunt Beth and Uncle Dean more. I shook my head, fighting to hide my smile. My poor aunt and uncle; they had no idea what they’d gotten tangled up in.

  Uncle Dean excused himself upstairs—he still wasn’t feeling all that well, though he was better than he had been yesterday. Trent and Isach helped Aunt Beth, and while I couldn’t hear what any of them were saying, they were laughing quite a bit.

  Abby and I wandered into the living room. “That went better than I thought it would,” Abby whispered.

  I nodded. “Thank God they didn’t embarrass us again.”

  “Right?” Abby’s eyes widened, and she nodded. “I can’t believe my mom called Trent cute.”

  “Well, he is.”

  “Yeah, but it’s creepy my mom thinks that.”

  I laughed. Abby was right about that—to know my aunt thought my boyfriend was cute was a little creepy.

  “So, you’re seriously going to Ellie’s this weekend?” Abby asked, a hint of skepticism in her tone.

  “Yeah, we talked about it today.”

  “Right,” Abby said. She flopped down in her dad’s recliner.

  It was on the tip of my tongue to suggest that she come, too, but it wasn’t my place to invite her without Ellie’s permission. Not that I thought Ellie would mind, but I missed her and really wanted some time alone with her.

  “Thank you for having me over, Mrs. Benson,” Trent said as he walked out of the kitchen. “It was so nice meeting you and Mr. Benson.”

  “Oh, please. Call me Beth,” she said, and if I wasn’t mistaken, she sounded a little breathless.

  “I really should be going now, though,” Trent said.

  “Wait, you’re leaving? Already?” A sense of urgency spread through me. I didn’t want him to leave yet.

  Trent nodded. “My father is expecting me home.”

  He was lying. I narrowed my eyes but didn’t call him out in front of everyone. Though, he did need to talk to Sean about Ivy, so I couldn’t get too mad that he was leaving already.

  “Okay, I’ll walk you out,” I said.

  “Don’t be a stranger,” Aunt Beth said, waving as we headed toward the door. Well, at least she was willing to have him come over again. That was good.

  I walked outside with Trent.

  “I thought you were going to ask to stay with Whitney this weekend,” he said.

  “I was, but then Ellie and I talked about hanging out, and I feel kinda guilty that I haven’t spent much time with her lately.” I shrugged.

  “Well, I suppose I can live without you Saturday night knowing I get you all day.” He winked.

  Smiling, I stopped near the driver’s side door, but he guided me toward the tailgate, out of sight of any watchful eyes. He swept his hands alongside my neck and brought his mouth down on mine in a heated kiss.

  I leaned into him, moaning softly. He moved his hands from my neck, over my shoulders, and down my back, stopping midway to press me closer.

  “Are you sure you have to leave?” I asked.

  “Yes.” He rested his forehead to mine. “I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”

  I stuck out my bottom lip in a pout, and Trent growled, his eyes darkening with lust. “Want me to leave my window open?” I asked.

  “You’re killing me.” He groaned and straightened. “But no. I have to go home and talk to Dad. And deal with my brother.”

  My stomach sank hard and fast, making me queasy. “Please don’t fight.”

  “
I can’t make any promises.”

  “Trent.” I sighed and slipped out of his hold. “You know he’s going to say stuff just to make you mad, and then you’re going to lose it.” I shook my head, too easily imagining exactly how things would turn out between them. “Just stay here with me.”

  He crossed his arms. “Jax and I fight all the time, and we’re always fine.” He tilted his head. “But I have to wonder, who are you really worried about? Me or him?”

  “Are you kidding me?” I snapped.

  How could he ask me that? Okay, so maybe he had a valid reason with the eternal bond still tying me to Jax, but still. Trent’s question was unnecessary.

  “Do whatever you want. I don’t care.” I moved to go around him.

  “Chloe. Stop.” He caught my arm, and I stared at him, waiting. “I’m sorry.” He sighed, his thumb caressing my elbow, sending goose bumps scurrying up my arm. “I guess I’m still worried about what could happen.”

  “Which is exactly why we need to break this bond,” I said forcefully. “You’re constantly worrying about what will happen, and then you accuse me of doing things or caring more about Jax than I do you. I can’t deal with this for the rest of my life, Trent.”

  “I know. I’m sorry,” he said again.

  Tension eased from my shoulders. I was worried about what could happen, too, but admitting that to him would only make things worse.

  “Nothing’s going to happen, though. I won’t let it,” I said.

  Not that I had that much control over it, but if I avoided Jax, I could manage the bond. A little. Maybe I could get Isach to do whatever he’d done before and help lessen it even more.

  He gave me a sad smile, and it was obvious he was thinking the same thing I was. But Trent was stubborn, and he’d rather torture himself with all of this than admit we needed Ivy’s help.

  “I love you,” I whispered.

  “I love you, too.” He enveloped me in a hug that calmed me. “I won’t fight with Jax. I promise.”

  “Thank you.” I squeezed him a little tighter. I couldn’t wait for the day when we no longer had to say goodbye like this.

  CHAPTER TWELVE:

  Don’t Abandon Me

  I WAS LATE GETTING OUT OF Ms. Bettie’s class, which meant I’d be late to lunch, too. This was the one period during the day when I could just be with Trent, uninterrupted, and thanks to Ms. Bettie’s inability to read a clock, I was losing precious time with my boyfriend.

  I ran down the now mostly empty hall to my locker and shoved everything inside, slamming the door shut harder than necessary.

  A sudden chill snaked up my arms. Why was it always so cold in this school? I rubbed my hands up and down my arms, but it did nothing to calm the sudden unease swirling in my gut. I couldn’t shake the feeling I was being watched.

  I glanced around. The hallway was completely empty. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on edge. I picked up my pace, suddenly very eager to get back to the cafeteria. I rounded the corner and came to a skidding halt.

  My heart wedged itself in my throat, stealing my ability to speak or breathe. Jax leaned against a locker, his muscular arms crossed over his chest.

  “What’re you doing out here?” I narrowed my eyes, trying to appear angry while forcing myself not to stare at him.

  “I just want to talk to you,” Jax said. He pushed away from the locker and came to a stop a few feet away—but not a safe enough distance for me—and shoved his hands into his pockets.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I said, my voice shaky.

  “Because your boyfriend might get mad?” Jax made an angry huffing noise.

  “No, because I don’t trust—” I clamped my mouth shut before I said anything I’d regret, or anything Jax might misconstrue.

  “You don’t trust what?” he asked, head tilted, expression curious. “Me?”

  “No. I was going to say I don’t trust myself.” I didn’t really want him to know that, but lying to him was impossible. “I can’t be around you, Jax. I’m sorry.”

  “I know you’re happy with him, Chloe. I can see it.” He took a step toward me, and I took one backward. “You glow so brightly when you’re with him.”

  Why was he telling me this? If I knew anything about Jax, it was that he didn’t share information like that unless he was preparing to drop some sort of bomb. I held my breath, waiting.

  “I don’t want to ruin that for you,” he said.

  Yeah, right. I snorted.

  “I’ve done a lot of things I shouldn’t have, but I have never lied to you,” he said, his words forceful. “Well, except that one time in California, but that was for your own benefit.”

  “I know,” I said, unable to deny the truth.

  Jax was also never afraid to tell me how things were. He was blunt. That was just one of the things I loved and respected about him.

  “I miss you.” There was too much pain and longing in his voice, and I couldn’t stand it.

  “Don’t,” I warned, holding up my hand as if that could somehow stop him.

  My gaze darted around, looking for a way to escape, but even if I found a way out, he was faster. He could easily stop me if he wanted to, and I honestly wasn’t sure if he would or not. Or if I wanted him to try.

  “Why?” He narrowed his eyes, his expression turning hard. “In case you forgot, you’re not the only one affected by this bond we share. I’m drawn to you just as much as you are to me.”

  He closed the distance between us before I could react, and now he stood face to face with me. My heart thrashed violently in my chest, warning me to get as far away from him as possible. But I was frozen in place.

  I curled my hands into fists at my sides, fighting with everything I had in me not to give in to the desire to touch him. I thought about Trent and his smile, how he held me and kissed me and looked at me like I was the center of his universe.

  “I meant what I said. I’m not trying to ruin what you have with my brother,” Jax said. “I just want us to be friends, like we were before all of this happened.”

  Friends? Was he insane? I couldn’t be his friend.

  “Are you seriously considering asking Ivy to break the bond?” he asked.

  I shrugged. Trent and I still hadn’t agreed on what to do, but I wasn’t about to tell Jax that. “I have to do something. Neither of us can keep doing this, Jax,” I whispered.

  He momentarily hung his head, and everything inside of me wanted to reach out and comfort him. This was exactly why I needed to break the bond. Every piece of me belonged to Trent, yet I couldn’t stop wanting Jax. This wasn’t fair—to any of us.

  “Knowing you chose my brother is hard enough, but the thought of losing this, too…” He looked up, his eyes tormented. “I feel like this bond is the only thing stopping you from walking out of my life completely. Please don’t abandon me.”

  I swallowed the lump in my throat. How was I supposed to respond to that? Promise him I wouldn’t abandon him completely? Or tell him we could be friends? Those were promises I couldn’t make. Not now. Maybe not ever.

  “I have to go,” I said and raced past him.

  He didn’t try to stop me, and when I reached the cafeteria, I let out a heavy sigh of relief. But whatever reprieve I’d found away from Jax disappeared the moment I saw Wyatt at the end of the hall. I rushed toward him.

  “Wyatt,” I called. “Wait.”

  Stopping, he turned toward me. “Chloe,” he said, a certain wonder in his tone, almost like he couldn’t believe I was talking to him. “What’s going on? Everything okay?”

  I nodded because it was much simpler than telling him just how wrong everything really was. “I just wanted to say thanks,” I said.

  Wyatt cocked his head. “For what?”

  “For going with Jax after I…” I hung my head, unable to admit aloud what I’d done to him. “I’m glad he wasn’t alone.” I glanced up and smiled. “So, thanks for being there for him.”

&nbs
p; Wyatt shifted on his feet and crossed his arms. “Jax is like a brother to me. So is Trent. I’d do just about anything for them,” he said.

  “I know. They feel the same way about you.” I took a deep breath. “Anyway, that was all,” I said with a shrug, then turned to walk back to the cafeteria. I hesitated, then spun back to face him. “Is he okay?” My heart thudded as I waited for Wyatt’s answer.

  “Honestly?” Wyatt asked, brow raised. “No. He’s a wreck, Chloe.”

  I closed my eyes and focused on breathing so I wouldn’t be tempted to ask anymore questions. Deep down, I knew he wasn’t okay, but part of me had hoped Wyatt would lie to me so I could—selfishly—appease the guilt tearing through me.

  “He’s doing everything he can to not show it, though,” Wyatt said. “Because he knows that will only hurt you, and that’s the last thing he wants to do.”

  Tears stung my eyes, and I blinked my lids open.

  “He understands the choice you made.” He laughed without humor and shook his head. “He admitted to me that Trent was the better guy for you, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less.”

  “I know,” I whispered. “I never wanted to hurt Jax.”

  “He knows that,” Wyatt said. “We all do.”

  I gave him a grateful smile. “I’m trying not to make this harder for him, but we’re still bonded and—”

  “You don’t have to explain yourself to me, Chloe.” Wyatt set his hand on my shoulder. “Or anyone else for that matter. Every one of us knows what happened, and we all understand. And together, we’ll make it through this. Jax included.”

  I drew in a shaky breath and wiped the tears that managed to escape. “Thanks, Wyatt.”

  He nodded and dropped his hand from my shoulder.

  “You’re a good friend, and I’m glad you decided to stick around,” I said.

  Wyatt laughed. “I am rather hard to get rid of. Just ask my sister.”

  I laughed.

  “You’d better get in there.” Wyatt nodded toward the cafeteria. “Trent’s starting to worry.”

  I glanced over my shoulder toward the cafeteria. “You really need to stay out of people’s minds,” I said, but Wyatt was already gone.