Unforgiven (Wanderers #3)

by Jessica Miller

  “But I’m not. I’m helping you.”

  “You would be helping me more if you didn’t try to heal me.” I looked at her confused. “Ella, I’m past the time of magical healing. If Death sees fit for it to be my time to go then it’s my time to go. No amount of magic is going to keep me here. Maybe for a little while, but it would just prolong the inevitable. Do you understand sweetie?”

  I nodded. “But Gran you’re talking as if you’ll be gone tomorrow or like I’m about to heal a terminal illness. I just want to make you feel a little better not cure cancer.”

  “I know honey, but I promise I’ll be fine. Nothing a stiff drink can’t fix,” she said, smacking my hand.

  “Gran, you say that about everything.” I rolled my eyes as I helped her up.

  “Well it’s the truth. Now let’s hurry up before Dean finishes off the good scotch.”

  No wonder this family has a drinking problem. She pinched my side and I squealed. “Ow, what was that for,” I whined, trying not to cry. That really hurt.

  “I heard that,” she said, narrowing her eyes at me. I just shook my head and walked her back into the party.

  I spent the rest of the night listening to stories about Gran’s adventures and entertaining guests by telling them about the prestigious college I was accepted to in January. Well that’s what my dad was telling everyone. I just went along with it to please him. Before the night was up my mom insisted on getting a group picture of the family. She had already snapped a million pictures during the night. I was exhausted and no longer in the mood to smile. My face was hurting from the fake smile I had plastered on my face the whole night. I didn’t think I had the strength left to keep it up. “Just a little bit longer,” my mom said, sensing my unease.

  She then asked me to go find Dean for the photos. I sighed and walked back to the table where Cameron was sitting and asked her if she had seen him. She told me last she checked he was at the bar. I knew I should have checked there first.

  Dean wasn’t at the bar like we thought, so I decided the next best place would be the bathroom. I figured might as well check and use the facilities while I was there.

  The ladies room door was locked, which I thought was odd. I was about to search for another bathroom when I overheard someone inside. Being the nosy person I was, I pressed my ear to the door and tried to listen carefully. “You said you would take care of it,” the person said. There was a pause, indicating they were talking on the phone. “Well obviously you aren’t doing a good job.” I couldn’t tell who the voice belonged to. It was too muffled by the thick wooden door, but still clear enough that I could understand what they were saying.

  “I’m tired of waiting,” they continued. “I guess if you want things done right you have to do them yourself.” I heard the clicking of heels and I jumped back into the shadows so I wouldn’t be seen. I took the risk of being caught by popping my head out to see who it was when I saw Dean come out of the guy’s bathroom. I quickly buried my head back into the darkness.

  “Dean,” Jasa said startled. “I was just looking for you. We’re about to start pictures.” He put out his arm to escort her back into the dining area. That was weird and who was Jasa talking to? My thoughts were cut short when my dad called for me. “Ella, we’re waiting on you,” he projected.

  I rolled my eyes and walked back to join everyone else. Dean grabbed me and pulled me close to him, I think more so for balance. “Don’t forget to smile,” he said. He shot me a look that said he wasn’t enjoying this anymore than I was. “God, who is Jenks fooling with that hairpiece. It looks like something he scraped off the side of the road.” I tried to muffle my laugh, but my dad shot a glare in my direction making me straighten up. “Uh oh, look out Ella. Dad has his stern face on. Now wait, watch, soon the vein will start to pulse, and then, there on the side of the head a small trickle of sweat will start to drip down.” Dean was so on point it was hard not to smile. Dad eyed us suspiciously, no doubt thinking we were drunk – well Dean was. Thankfully he was distracted by one of his colleagues.

  I had a hard time keeping a straight face while we waited for everyone to gather for the pictures. Dean kept projecting in my head. He would imitate the conversation Dad was having with all the guests by mocking him. He would make up something, imitating dad’s voice, and then do the same with whoever he was talking to. I snickered and dad turned to glare at us over his shoulder. “Take cover!” Dean yelled in my head like we were under attack. He yanked me down behind the people in front of us and I let out a tiny yelp.

  “What are you doing?” I laughed. He pressed his hands to his lips for me to be quiet. I didn’t know what he was up to, but I felt like an idiot crouched down on the floor. “You know he can probably hear us.”

  “Yes I can,” Dad said, making us both jump. I pulled Dean up off the floor and he gripped on to me to keep himself from falling over. Dad narrowed his eyes at both of us not happy about our behavior.

  “Look, there it is, the vein, the sweat,” Dean projected. I lost it. No longer able to hold in my laughter. I let it all go and if felt so good. My dad looked at us like we had completely lost our minds.

  “Did you two take something?” he spat accusingly.

  “God dad, no.” He gripped our arms and stared right at us. I stopped laughing instantly. He looked at me and then Dean and let go. “Knock it off,” he said. He took the handkerchief from his pocket and wiped away the bit of sweat, then cleared his throat when he looked at us. I couldn’t help but laugh. Dad, embarrassed, walked away. He joined mom in the front and whispered a few things in her ear. She peeked over her shoulder and then back at dad letting out a small laugh. He frowned and she slapped his shoulder playfully. Dean and I started to snicker again until dad projected at us to knock it off.

  “Thanks Dean. I needed that,” I said softly.

  He bumped me with his shoulder. “I know,” he winked and then threw his arm over me and kissed my hair.

  After the pictures were finally over, I unscrewed my smile by moving my jaw around. My face hurt so bad from laughing with Dean and being forced to smile for these pictures. Before I had the chance to hit the bar with Dean, Jasa grabbed me and pulled me aside. “I am so happy you were able to make it tonight,” she said, embracing me in a hug. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you all night, but Xander had me meeting so many friends and colleagues I haven’t had the chance.”

  “It’s okay,” I said. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

  “Well, I was wondering if you would be my maid of honor?”

  “Seriously?” I said shocked.

  “Well as you know, I don’t have any family and not many friends and what better person to stand at my side then my future sister-in-law,” she smiled, hopeful.

  “I don’t know what to say?” Actually I really wanted to say no way. I think my brother should be marrying Danni instead of you, but that wasn’t fair. I didn’t know Jasa well enough and should give her a chance.

  Her eyes pleaded with me to say yes. “She’d loved to,” Dean said, speaking up for me and giving me a slight nudge.

  “Yes,” I said.

  “Great,” she cheered, hugging me again. “I’m going to tell Xander the great news.”

  I turned to Dean. “Since when you were on team Jasa?” I asked.

  “I’m not, I just…something is off about this whole thing. This isn’t like Xander and she is not his type. He should have never let Danni go.”

  I looked at him wide eyed. “You know?” I said softly.

  “Please, Ella, the only idiot who doesn’t is Xander. He’s too blinded by stupidity to see what’s right in front of him.” We both looked to the table where Danni was sitting.

  I sighed and turned back to Dean. “If you know, then why do you keep hitting on her?” I narrowed my eyes at him.

  “Because I’m a dick,” he shrugged, giving me a half smile.

  “Shouldn’t we do something?”

  Dean took a step clos
er. “Nah li’l sis,” he threw his arm over me. “It’s too late for Xander. Something dark and sinister is at work here.”

  I looked at him a little frightened. “What are you talking about? You think Jasa is evil?”

  “Just in the sack,” he smiled.

  “God you are such a pig!” I yelled, pushing him away from me. He laughed all the way over to the bar.

  Jasa returned, telling me they wanted me for more pictures. I stifled an eye roll as she grabbed my wrist. She flinched and pulled her hand back clenching it tight to her chest. I swear I even heard her hiss. When I looked up into her eyes I instantly took a step back. I shook my head and closed my eyes. No, I was just imagining it. It couldn’t be real.

  I looked back up and knew my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me. Jasa’s eyes were glowing gold. It was like everything was happening in slow motion as realization hit me on what I was seeing. “Jasa,” Xander called. As quickly as they glowed they returned to normal and she turned around to join Xander as if nothing happened.

  Still in shock I looked down at my arm that was still suspended in the air – the one that wore my grandmother’s bracelet. Jasa flinched when she touched it. It shocked her, which was normal, but her reaction wasn’t. “The burn,” I said. I pushed through the sea of people to where she was standing with Xander. I reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling it behind her, and I was right.

  There it was.

  A burn mark in the shape of an X on Jasa’s lower wrist.

  My eyes widened in surprise. She tried to tear her arm away but I held on tight. “Ella, what are you doing?” Xander glared, ready to ream me out, but was cut short when he saw the bracelet start to glow. He threw his hand over my wrist. “Excuse us,” he said, yanking me out of the room, forcing me to drop Jasa’s arm.

  “Xander, what the hell?”

  He pointed to the bracelet. “You tell me.”

  The bracelet started to jingle and the glow slowly started to get brighter. “Get Gran. Get her now!” I said panicked. Before he could retreat back into the dining area Gran was by my side.

  “What’s going on?” she asked. I held up the bracelet.

  “Oh?”

  “Jasa touched it,” I said, looking at Gran not able to meet Xander’s eyes. I didn’t know how to break it to him that his fiancé was evil. “Xander I’m sorry but Jasa is –” standing right behind him. Gran pulled my arm behind my back to hide the bracelet that was glowing even brighter now.

  “Ella I’m sorry. I don’t know why I acted that way.”

  “Look at her hands!” I shouted. Not the best way to break it to Xander but it was the only opportunity I had to prove it to them.

  Xander narrowed his eyes at me, not happy with my behavior, and then turned to Jasa worried. “It’s okay, I’m fine,” she said. “The air is very dry in there so when I touched Ella it was just a shock from static. No big deal,” she smiled, turning over her hands. I leaned over to look at her wrists which revealed nothing but smooth, milk white skin. There was no mark, no burn, nothing.

  “Xander dear, would you go get Cameron and Dean and let them know we’re ready to leave.”

  “Of course Gran.” He nodded to her but then glared at me one more time before he wrapped his arm around Jasa and walked back into the party.

  She let go of my arm and I looked at her confused. “Gran, I’m not crazy. She had a mark. I saw it.”

  Before she could say anything Dean and Cameron were by our side. “Xander said you were ready to go?” His eyes darted down to my bracelet. “Well that’s new.”

  “Dean, I’m going to need your help. I have to –”

  “Gran wait –”

  “I believe you Ella, I do.”

  “You do?” I asked, feeling a small sense of relief.

  “Yes, but I need you to relax because it’s not just the bracelet, it’s you that’s doing this.” I looked at her with a big question mark on my head. “The power inside of you is what is adding to the power of the protection bracelet.” She turned to Dean. “You ready?” He nodded.

  “Ready for what?” I asked a little panicked. Dean stood behind me and Gran took a step forward grabbing my wrist with the bracelet and then put her hand on my forehead.

  “I’m sorry bumble bee, but this is the only way.” My eyes darted all around the room, scared of what was going on. Gran closed her eyes and whispered a few words in Gaelic and before I knew it I was very, very tired. So tired I could barely stand.

  Dean caught me before I hit the floor. “Well, that worked faster than I thought. I guess this old girl still got some tricks up her sleeve,” Gran smiled. Dean and Cameron helped carry me to the car. That was the last thing I remembered before I passed out.

  Chapter Fifteen

  *

  Dean

  Dean was a little irritated when they got back to the house. He was actually starting to have a good time at the party before the drama with Ella. There always seemed to be drama with Ella, which was putting a damper on his social life. Why couldn’t he have a normal sister?

  Dean sighed and kicked off his shoes. His thoughts went back to the party where he was having the night of his life. There were tons of women there from his dad’s office and they were more than willing to offer him a ride home, but there was only one girl there he wanted to go home with. One girl he couldn’t have. He thought if he drank enough he could handle it. He threw himself into the sea of women that were giving him the eye all night, including some of the wait staff, and it helped for a little while at least. He was distracted by the different pecks on the cheeks, the brightly colored nails dragging down his chest seductively, and the subtle grabs of his rear end and some not subtle of his package. Women everywhere were trying to get their hooks into him, but he still couldn’t manage to take his eyes off of the caramel skinned beauty sitting by herself at the table.

  Cameron looked like she was having a miserable time. That was until Zach, one of Xander’s high school buddies decided to keep her company. Dean liked most of Xander’s friends and if it was anyone else he would have been encouraging Cameron to go for it, but not with Zach. He was the biggest douche of all. Dean watched as Cameron laughed and flirted with Zach. He tried not to let his anger show, but it was hard with the way he was touching her. He watched as he put his hand on Cameron’s knee, and would whisper in her ear, making her blush.

  Cameron looked up and caught Dean staring. He raised his glass to her and she did the same. Zach turned to see who Cameron was looking at. When he saw Dean, he winked, and then leaned in closer to Cameron. He stood up and then offered her a hand. Dean was ready to put a stop to this, but then he relaxed when he saw he was only leading her to the dance floor. Determined to not let this ruin his night, he extended his hand to the blonde who had her hand in his pocket half the night. She gladly accepted and he walked her out to the dance floor. Dean made sure they danced close to Cameron and Zach, but when Zach’s hands started to roam in places he shouldn’t Dean couldn’t take it anymore. He told the blonde to go get him another drink and then quickly turned to Zach and Cameron. “May I cut in?” he knew Zach wanted to protest but Cameron stepped away clearly indicating it was okay. Zach smiled and bowed to Cameron. Dean stepped in front of him wrapping his arms tight around her. The moment his arm slipped around her back and slid into her hand, he knew he was home. Their bodies molded perfectly together as they swayed to the music. He tried his best to impress her with his moves. Growing up, his mom always made Xander and him take dance lessons and he hated every moment of it. He also swore he would never tell a living soul, but today was the first time ever he was happy to have the experience.

  He twirled Cameron around the floor. He dipped her making her laugh and then shuffled around the floor with her tucked safely in his arms. He knew she was impressed. He could see it in her eyes. Dean looked deep into those steel gray eyes and for a moment he thought he saw something. Something that told him she felt the same way. This was it he thought. Thi
s was his moment to see if he was right. Dean was just about to make his move when the blonde with the grab hands cleared her throat. Dean sighed and pulled away taking the drink she offered him. Cameron shrugged her shoulders and walked off the dance floor where Zach was waiting. He extended an arm and she took it graciously as he escorted her back to the table.

  Dean ran his hands through his hair and sat on the edge of his bed. He guessed he shouldn’t really be mad at Ella. For once her drama actually worked to his benefit. It gave him an excuse to get Zach away from Cameron. The look on Zach’s face was enough to bring Dean joy. But now back at the house, Cameron was down the hall in the guest room, and Dean was in his room. Not how he planned for the end of his night to go. Dean looked at the clock on the wall. It was just past eleven, still early. He still had a chance.

  Dean stood up and emptied all the numbers and room keys that were slipped into his pocket throughout the night. He didn’t really have a plan, but he knew if he waited too long it would be too late. Dean crept quietly down the hall to the guest room where Cameron was staying and hopefully not sleeping. He contemplated about just barging in in hopes of catching her undressing, but he knew she was too wise to let that happen and would lock the door.

  He stood just outside the door, thinking of the right thing to say. The perfect excuse to see her, but nothing came to mind. “Usually, I think better when I’m drunk,” he thought to himself. “Why can’t I?” He heard her footsteps near the door. In a panic he ran back to his room and closed the door behind him. In the safety of his room, he pressed his back against the door and tried to catch his breath. Normally he could move with great speed and grace, but all the scotch he had tonight was weaning down his powers and he needed to be on his game. He was going to find out if Cameron liked him the way he liked her.

  He never would have thought it possible but at the party he started to pick up on the subtle things she would do. He knew all the signs of when a girl was flirting. He’d been studying them for years and had plenty of practice.