by Lia Davis
Then she was gone.
Ophelia crumbed, placed her forehead on the bed and cried. Anatoli rubbed circles on her back, comforting the way he had when he was in spirit form.
Her heart warmed and she reached out for him. He instantly took her hand and knelt beside her. “Take your time. I have nowhere else I’d want to be.”
She heard nurses rushing down the hall to the room.
His Ophelia was beautiful and he hated to see her sadness. But she had strength of a hundred souls. Pure and bright, her magickal light shone so strongly now, no one would be able to take it away.
They left the hospital a little after the sun rose. Neither were tired like they should have been. Then again, he was content here on the sofa, holding her.
“She never let me play with this when I was little. Who knew it held her magick?” Ophelia gave a soft chuckle, holding the pendant in her hand.
Anatoli kissed her temple. “The amethyst doesn’t hold the power, it helps balance it. She used it to transfer her power to you.”
“But why? I mean if I had my own, why did she give me hers? Won’t she need it?”
“An old witch tradition. Mothers passed their magick onto their eldest daughter when it was time to pass from one life to another.” He ran his fingers up her arm, loving the feel of her soft skin. “Where she’s going, we can only guess. But her heart is pure like yours and she will have all the magick she needs.”
Every sensation was new to him. The breeze kissing his skin. The smells of fall in the air and the pumpkin and cinnamon candle Ophelia lit moments ago, saying it was her gramma’s favorite.
“I can’t go back to my life now. I had my dream career in a big city. Running from the talk of magick and witches.” She laughed as if she told a joke. “I can’t believe how things have changed in the short time I’ve been here. It’s almost like it was fated.”
“It was. Of that, I am sure. I waited for you, and sure enough, you came.”
“Oh, Anatoli, if only it were that simple. What should I do? I can’t bear the thought of being without you. And honestly, Savannah seems to call to me. It’s like the river is speaking to me—begging me to come closer. Let it wash away all the evils and bring growth and purity to Hemlock Grove.”
“Well, you could stay here. We could stay here. Together. Restore the old house to what it was. Visit the coven and let them help you mature as a witch.” Please say yes. He liked the house, and Savannah was a pretty city with history. And he had a lot of catching up to do.
Ophelia sat up on the sofa and faced him. Her green eyes narrowed slightly. Then the corners of her mouth lifted. “I don’t understand how I could feel the things I do for you and not really know you.”
He leaned forward until their lips were inches apart. “Soul mates.”
“Well, I might as well believe in them then.” She closed the gap, pressing her lips to his.
Desire bloomed within him, making his blood run hot in his veins. He groaned and drew her closer, yet it wasn’t closer enough.
She broke the kiss much too soon. “Okay. Let’s do it. We’ll fix up the house and I’ll teach you all about the twenty first century. I know it’s what Gramma would want, and though it scares me a little to change my life so much, I’m not the same person who works in an office and lives in the city where it snows five months of the year.” She laughed.
“Anything you want, my love.” He kissed her. “And if it snows in Savannah, I’ll be right here to keep you warm.”
Epilogue
One year later
Ophelia lit the pumpkin and cinnamon candles and sighed as she touched the framed picture on the mantle of her and Gramma. “Love you, Gramma.”
It was hard to believe it’d been a year since she passed and transferred the family magick onto Ophelia. The months had flown by, filled with witch training with the coven, sight-seeing with Anatoli, and other things with her not-so-ghostly lover.
As if knowing she was thinking of him, Anatoli came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. He rested his hands on her very round belly. Another gift the man and the Universe blessed her with.
They were having twins in another month. Maybe sooner. She was starting to feel more and more tired and her ankles swelled and everything seemed to hurt at one time or another.
Threading her fingers into Anatoli’s long hair, she smiled. A year ago, she would’ve laughed at anyone who told her she’d be pregnant and married to an almost two-hundred-year-old who looked thirty-five. Many of those years were spent as a ghost locked inside a glass bottle. It sounded crazy, and yet it was true.
“Are you all right, love? What’s on your mind?”
She nodded. “Yes. I’m okay. Just thinking about all the changes in the last year.” She turned in his arms and kissed him. He always worried about her. If she was too tired or not feeling well, he was hovering and trying to make everything better. “Have I told you I love yet today?”
A crooked, sensual smile formed on his handsome face. “Yes, but I never grow tired of hearing it. I love you, always.” He rubbed her belly. “And soon, we’ll bring two more witches into this world and our journey will be even more crazy and exciting.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
He took her into his arms and as he bent to kiss her, she could’ve sworn she heard her gramma’s voice.
I knew you could do it. Never doubt yourself for you are a strong witch.
About the Authors
Kerry Adrienne
Repped by Marisa Corvisiero, Kerry writes in many genres including science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, m/m, erotic romance, and more. In her spare time, she homeschools, is a part-time college instructor, editor, and dabbler in most things creative. You can usually find her posting cat pictures on Facebook and Twitter when she’s not working.
Follow Kerry on Social Media
Website: http://kerryadrienne.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/KerryAdrienne/216668511686869
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kerryadrienne
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Lia Davis
In 2008, Lia Davis ventured into the world of writing and publishing and never looked back. She has published more than twenty books, including the bestselling A Tiger’s Claim, book one in her fan favorite Ashwood Falls series. Her novels feature compassionate yet strong alpha heroes who know how to please their women and her leading ladies are each strong in their own way. No matter what obstacle she throws at them, they come out better in the end.
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Follow Lia on Social Media:
Website: http://www.authorliadavis.com/
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/LiaDavisNewsletter
Facebook author fan page: https://www.facebook.com/novelsbylia/
Facebook Fan Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LiaDavisFanClub/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/novelsbylia
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