Bitten (The Wiccan Way Book 7)

by Nicole Coverdale

  Jasmine smiled, staring around the table at the people she loved most. The people she had just met, and looked at Sky, with tears in her eyes. “Of course I’ll marry you,” she whispered, cupping his face in her hands. “There’s no one else I would rather marry.”

  “Oh, thank God!” Sky blew out a breath, sliding the ring on her finger. “I don’t know what I would have done if you’d said no to me in front of all of these people.”

  “I think I would have been murdered by all of them, if I had said no,” Jasmine said, leaning close. She brushed a kiss across his lips. “I love you.”

  “And I love you.”

  “Let’s eat!”

  She laughed at the kids' shout, waving her hand at them. “Okay. Okay. We’ll eat!”

  “You know that you’re going to have quite the decision to make, right, Jasmine?” Josslyn asked around a mouthful of food.

  “Oh? What decision is that?”

  “Who your maid of honor is!” Jorja cried. “I mean, you have so many people to choose from!”

  “I mean, she’s obviously going to choose me,” Jade said, pointing to herself. “Who’s the most responsible?”

  “Yeah, but you’re way too bossy,” Julie told her. “She should choose me. I’m the sweet one.”

  “You are not as sweet as you think you are, love,” Elijah said, winking at her.

  Julie stuck her tongue out at him.

  “What about you, Sky? Had any thoughts to your best man?” Connor asked, looking at his brother.

  “The verdict’s still out,” Sky said, as he finished up his meal and sat back. He raised his glass, taking a sip. “I mean, Connor, you’re a bit…”

  “Brilliant?”

  “I was going to say pushy,” Sky said, chuckling. “And Winston, you’re just a comedian. But Ashwin…” He paused, glancing over at the man sitting next to Jade. “I’ve never gotten a chance to say this, but I really appreciate all you have done for me. You saved my life, months ago. You were there, for the girls when I couldn’t be, and you’ve accomplished something I never thought possible.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You make Jade happy,” Sky said, grinning. “Which I know can’t be an easy thing to do.”

  “Hey!”

  “Hey, you’ve been through your own share of heartache and tragedy.”

  “I guess that is true.”

  “I think I’m getting the hint that he’s already chosen his best man,” Winston whispered to Connor.

  “After that speech? I think you’re right, little brother,” Connor said. He smiled at Ashwin. “You’ll make an amazing best man, Ashwin. Thank you for being such a good friend to my brother.”

  “He makes it easy,” Ashwin said, taking a sip from his wine glass. “He’s a special guy. You raised him right, Mrs. Sherilyn.”

  “I’ll drink to that,” Dillon said, raising his glass.

  “Cheers!”

  “Well, these dishes are not going to clean themselves,” Sherilyn said, blushing and shoving back from the chair. “Jami? Jessi? You wanna help me clear the table?”

  “But I’m not done eating!” Jami cried.

  “Plus there’s desert,” Ashwin told them. “Homemade apple pie. Apparently, it’s Matthew’s specialty.”

  “And don’t forget about the French silk pie I brought,” Caleb put in. “I know it’s someone’s favorite.” He winked at Josi.

  “Hey! No telling my secrets!”

  “Your favorite pie his hardly a secret,” Jordyn said, rolling her eyes. “But I am so full, but, I am in the mood for another round of foosball. Who wants to challenge the champion?”

  “I do!”

  The kids raced off.

  “Hey! I thought…” Sherilyn sighed, shaking her head. “Kids will be kids.”

  “Yes. They surely will,” Jax said. She glanced over at her sisters. “Can I talk to all of you for a moment?”

  “Sure.”

  They got up from the table, walking toward the living room.

  “What is it, Jax?”

  “Well, to rip the band-aid off, I’m leaving,” Jax said, wringing her hands together, and glancing over at her sisters.

  “What?”

  “Why?”

  “When?”

  “Very soon,” Jax said. She sighed, glancing at her sisters. “These last few days have been amazing, you guys. Spending time with you. Getting to know you, but I just need to get away.” She sighed, her gaze trailing to the kitchen, where Matthew was helping Sherilyn with the dishes. “I’ve spent my whole life, under the thumb of Talia, that I don’t even know who I am anymore,” she whispered. “I need a chance to figure that out. I need to go out and travel. I need to experience new things. I need to become a woman, who is worthy of a man like Matthew.”

  “You know that he loves you, right?” Josslyn asked.

  Jax nodded. “Yes, I do. But I don’t even know what love is, anymore, Joss. At least not right now.” She turned, embracing Jasmine in a tight hug. “Jasmine, I am so happy for you. For what you and Sky have found in one another, and I promise I’ll be back for the wedding.” She turned to Josslyn. “And you. You had better go on that date with Caleb.”

  “I don’t think I have a choice not to,” Josslyn muttered, sighing. “I’m so scared, guys.”

  “Scared of what?”

  “Falling in love. Opening my heart again. What if he turns out to be gay like Tyler!”

  “Oh, Josslyn, that man is anything but gay,” Julie said, elbowing her. “He’s been undressing you with his eyes all night.”

  “Julie!”

  “Sorry. I have no filter.”

  “And Jade.” Jax turned to her. “You’re going to do amazing things with that restaurant of yours.”

  “Oh, I know. Especially since Matthew’s agreed to become my full-time chef,” Jade said, her eyes gleaming brightly. “Now that he’s decided to put that whole bounty hunter thing behind him.”

  “And Jorja,” Jax turned to her. “You…”

  “Am leaving too.”

  “What?” All eyes turned to her.

  “Micah needs my help in London,” Jorja said. “He needs help overthrowing his father, and I told him I’d help him do it.”

  “Ahh. You’re so nice to him, Jorja,” Julie said, wagging her eyebrows suggestively. “ But in all honesty, Micah really is a great guy. You could do a hell of a lot worse.”

  “Julie! It’s not even like that!” Jorja cried, rolling her eyes. “I’m just being a good friend, that’s all.” She glanced at her sisters. “But that does mean you’ll have to watch Jordyn for me.”

  “Oh, she’s easy to watch,” Josslyn said, waving her hand. “Plus, I love her. Have you talked to her about everything?”

  Jorja nodded. “Yes, and she’s thrilled that I’m going. She told me I’m not living my life, and that I need to get out more.”

  “Kids.” Jade laughed, rolling her eyes. She leaned forward, hugging Jorja, then Jax. “Be careful you two, and make sure you call!”

  “Oh, we will.”

  Jorja and Jax returned to the kitchen, saying goodbye to everyone.

  “I get why you have to leave,” Matthew said, pulling Jax close and laying his chin on her head. “But I’m going to miss you. So will Jezebel.”

  “I’ll call you every day,” Jax told him. “And I’ll come back to you. I swear.”

  “I’ll hold you to that.” He smiled down at her. “I’ll be seeing you, Jax.”

  Jax nodded, brushing a kiss across his lips, before turning away. She sniffed, wiping a tear from her cheek, waving a final goodbye to everyone before joining Jorja in the car.

  “So where are you headed?” Jorja asked as she got behind the wheel.

  “I think a trip to Hawaii sounds good for my first destination,” Jax said, as she leaned back in the seat. “After that, I think I’ll just wing it.” She glanced over at Jorja. “You really don’t think anything’s going to happen between you and Micah? You
two are going to be awfully close.”

  Jorja shrugged. “I might just wing it.”

  Jax laughed, punching her in the shoulder. “You’re a nut!”

  “It runs in the family.”

  “And there they go,” Jade said, leaning back against Ashwin, as she watched the car drive off. “It’s going to be so weird, not having them here. I know we’ve only known Jax a few days, but she’s one of us. And Jorja!”

  “They’ll both be just fine. Plus, they’re just a call away if you need anything,” Ashwin told her, pressing a kiss to her temple.

  “Yeah, Jade, stop worrying so much,” Julie said, rolling her eyes, laughing as Elijah whispered something in her ear. “Yeah. That’s true.”

  “What? What did he say?”

  “Nothing for you to worry about.”

  “Oh, just you wait until I get my full strength back. You’ll be wishing you told me.”

  “You know, this kind of feels like old times,” Josslyn said, as Caleb walked up to her, and put an arm around her shoulders. “Just the four of us together.”

  “Plus the kids,” Jasmine put in, as she walked up, hand in hand with Sky. “Don’t forget about the kids.”

  “How could we forget?” Julie asked, rolling her eyes, as she laid a hand on her belly. “After all, two more are going to be joining the family very soon.”

  “Can we make a pact?” Jade asked, looking at her sisters.

  “What kind of pact?” Jasmine asked.

  “To never have, what happened to Mom, happen to any of us. That our children will never be separated from us or each other.”

  “I like that pact,” Josslyn said, nodding.

  “Me too,” Julie said, sticking her hand out. “Morgans forever?”

  “Morgans forever.”

  They clapped their hands together, and Julie smiled. “I…” She trailed off, her eyes suddenly widening. “Uh oh.”

  “What is it?” Jade asked, glancing her way.

  “My water just broke.”