“Too late for that, you’ve forced me to go rogue, just like Mavis.”
Sadie left the room. She’d show them all. And now she could do anything she wanted. She’d deal with Mavis White, and boy, she’d better look out because Sadie was angry and pissed as hell.
****
Amber unloaded the last of the boxes from their truck.
“Everything okay?” she asked Gabriel as he sat on the chair and held his chest.
“It’s going to happen soon. I sense it. My body’s on edge. I can hear and smell things tenfold today.”
She rushed to him and held his hand.
“It’s today, Amber,” he said, fighting back tears, trying to be strong not for himself but for her. No matter what brave front she put on, Gabriel knew she was going to fall apart when they were no longer together as man and wife. He hoped it wouldn’t make her sick, wouldn’t make her do something stupid like not check her blood sugar levels or take her insulin. He’d left a note for her parents telling them, no, demanding, that they take good care of her and insist she stay with them for a bit while she got used to their new situation. Then she’d come back to the sanctuary and he’d be waiting. He’d be her service-wolf.
Amber held his face between her hands. “No, Sadie told me she’s tracking Mavis and she’s going to find her.”
He lifted her hand and kissed it. It was shaking but then his was, too. Sadie had to come through for them, because she’d brought them together as man and woman, and that’s the way it was supposed to be.
****
“I heard you’ve been looking for me. And a little birdie tells me you’ve gone rogue. I never thought I’d see the day that Sadie Sutton would tell the Board where to go. Always Miss Goodie Witch, even in the Academy.”
Sadie was about to ring the doorbell at Lucy and Brad’s house to give Presley one of her lessons when she heard the familiar voice directly behind her. Presley was at the window waving.
“Ah, so that’s the human child. So pretty. I’d love to meet her in person, see what you’ve taught her, and if you’ve taught her well. Nothing like a battle of wills to see how a student is progressing. Of course, if you haven’t done your job properly, she could get hurt.”
“Don’t you even think about it,” said Sadie turning around.
“You really do love all these humans, don’t you?”
“Of course I do, they’re like my family. They are my family now.”
“And just what would you sacrifice to keep them safe?”
Sadie didn’t even have to think about that answer.
“Anything.”
“Even your own life?”
Something else she didn’t have to ponder upon. She loved them like her own flesh and blood, all of them, and their children, too. She’d protect them with her life if the situation arose.
“How about I take the curse off of Gabriel? Not the part about him being a shifter…he made his deal, but about him changing into a wolf forever and ever. After all, that was your doing, not his. And, oh look, that happens in just about five minutes,” she said pointing to her watch. “The curse lifted in exchange for your life.”
“Do it.”
She didn’t give it a second thought. Mavis was right about one thing—the re-curse was her fault, her stupidity. Always listen to the fine print. A witch should know better.
“My, my, Sadie, I’m so shocked at your loyalty. I’m almost impressed by you. “You’re sure you want to forfeit your life for this young, mortal man?”
“I’m very sure.”
“Okay, then.”
She waved her hands in the air. “Curse all gone and now good-bye Sadie. It’s been so nice knowing you.”
Sadie knew she had to draw upon every witch’s spell she’d learned throughout her life. Sadie didn’t mind dying for her Perfect Pairing couples, but she sure as hell wasn’t going to let an evil bitch like Mavis be the one to bring her life to an end.
Sadie struck first and sent a fireball hurdling toward Mavis.
Presley banged on the window. “Aunt Sadie, Aunt Sadie.”
“Never did play fair, did you, Sutton? Not even in school.”
Mavis sent a bolt of fire toward Sadie, who wasn’t quick enough, and it hit her in the stomach, knocking her back. She skidded on the ground until she came to an abrupt stop against the large oak tree in Brad and Lucy’s front yard.
“Help, the lady’s hurting Aunt Sadie.” Presley banged on the window so hard that Sadie was afraid she’d break it and cut her hands.
Mavis raised her hands. Sadie knew she was going to hit the tree with a bolt of lightning and it would fall on her and probably kill her before falling through the roof of Brad and Lucy’s house. It might kill all three of them, or even injure the pregnant Lucy.
Sadie recited over and over again what she’d been taught to protect herself, but another bolt hit her leg and smoke streamed from it. The pain made her cry. That was it, she’d had enough. Don’t mess with Sadie Sutton.
“Say good-bye, Mavis.”
Sadie whirled her hands around, but then she heard a shot being fired and saw Mavis slump onto the driveway. Mavis had obviously not seen that coming and was taken by surprise. Sadie got up, wincing at the pain in her leg and stomach. She crawled across the front lawn and saw Brad standing on the doorstep with his gun raised. He’d shot Mavis.
He rushed over to Sadie and knelt beside her.“Hang in there because Lucy’s called for an ambulance.”
“Aunt Sadie,” said Presley. Her young protégée wrapped her arms around her and kissed her cheek.
“Honey, you go back inside with your mom and I’ll take care of Aunt Sadie.”
Presley shook her head and clung to Sadie.
“Presley, don’t make Daddy angry. You do as I say.”
Brad had to finally pry Presley’s hand away from Sadie’s neck. She walked toward the house and turned just before she got to the front door. She blew a kiss to Sadie. Despite the pain, Sadie blew one back to her.
“It’s bad, isn’t it?” asked Sadie, knowing that all her energy was gone and her body was racked with pain.
“Don’t you worry, we’ll get you to the hospital and you’ll be just like new.”
“Will you get in any trouble? I mean, the sheriff shooting a woman like that.”
“She was threatening you. And the paperwork’s the biggest headache for you, so don’t you go worrying about me.”
Brad held her hand and Sadie thought back to the first time she’d seen him. Carrying the then-baby Presley, a new dad who didn’t know what to do, a working sheriff, and now he was…
Sadie faded out, feeling her body being lifted high into the air, a sure sign that as a witch she was passing over to the other side.
Chapter Fifteen
“She’s coming out of it, I’m sure she is. I’m sure she just moved.”
Sadie knew it was Gabriel’s voice.
“Amber, go and see if there’s a doctor around, or at least a nurse.”
“Sadie, can you hear me? If you can, squeeze my hand.” Sadie put pressure on the hand she felt slip into her own.
“I knew it. I knew it.”
Sadie opened her eyes to see a man in a white lab coat standing over her.
“Welcome back to the world,” he said, shining a light in her eyes.
“How long have I been asleep, or whatever it is I’ve been doing?”
“Oh Sadie, you’ve been in a coma for twelve days, we were all so worried.” It was Amber speaking. She and Gabriel stood at the foot of her bed with their arms wrapped around one another.
“All?” asked Sadie, pushing the doctor’s hand away.
“Now, Ms. Sutton, let me check you out.”
“I’m fine, really I am. Who’s all?”
“All the Perfect Pairing couples.”
“All of them?” asked Sadie.
“Even Kyle and Evie from Los Angeles. Why didn’t you tell me you knew them?” asked Amber.
&nb
sp; “I think my wife has a crush on Kyle,” said Gabriel, winking.
“Everyone’s been taking turns sitting with you. Jake and Gen just left the room and Luc and Katey just went to get something to eat.”
A tear ran down her face.
“Doctor, can they all come in to see me? I mean, all of them at once?”
“I don’t think they’d all fit in here, and you need some rest.”
“It’s just what I need to speed my recovery.”
“Okay, but only five minutes.”
“We’ll just go round everyone up and tell them the good news,” said Amber.
Sadie winced a little as she tried to sit up on the pillow. She didn’t want to give the game away that a witch could do a little self-healing, so she’d play along for a bit and then mix a potion to heal all her injuries.
Everyone started pouring in—Mitchell and Rachel, Gen and Jake, Luc and Katey, Evie and Kyle, Hayley and Cole, Lucy and Brad, and of course Amber and Gabriel.
She burst into tears. This was her family.
“Sadie, don’t cry,” said Evie, rushing to her side.
“I love all of you.”
“And we love you, too.”
They all looked at each other and laughed. “Did we all say that in perfect timing or what?” asked Brad.
“It’s Sadie’s influence on us,” said Luc.
“You shouldn’t have traveled all this way just to be with me,” said Sadie.
“You’re our fairy Godmother,” said Hayley.
Sadie smiled. If they only knew…
“Five minutes is almost up,” said a nurse, peeking into the room.
“I’d like to visit with each of you if that’s okay. And could I speak with Amber and Gabriel first?” asked Sadie.
“Sure, and get some rest,” said Jake.
Everyone filed out of the room and Amber and Gabriel pulled up two chairs and sat by her bed.
“We know what you did, that you saved Gabriel,” said Amber.
“Well, a witch has to do whatever. I’m just sorry I couldn’t get the whole curse reversed.”
Amber shrugged her shoulders. “I sort of like having a husband whose part wolf.”
Gabriel winked at his wife.
“And if you’re wondering, we’re still planning to open a wolf sanctuary. Well, a shifter safe haven too. So if you ever get another witch turn rogue who makes someone a shifter, you know where to send them,” said Gabriel.
“I hope we don’t have any more Mavis White’s for a very long time, but I’ll certainly keep that in mind.”
“Oh, and you might be interested to know that we’re having a baby,” said Amber. “Fingers crossed that it arrives before my sight deteriorates.”
Sadie put out her hand and squeezed both of theirs.
“It wouldn’t have happened without you bringing us together,” said Gabriel.
Sadie’s eyelids fluttered. She was feeling just a little sleepy.
“We’ll let you go, but Luc wanted to see you.”
Sadie was dosing off to sleep when she felt a paw touch her hand and saw Willow by the bed and Luc standing over her.
“I’ll make this quick so you can rest. I have another client for you.”
“Luc, I resigned from Perfect Pairing.”
“Oh, no, you didn’t.”
Sadie smiled. He was right. It was like an addiction now. She couldn’t give up her business even if she tried.
“It’s Conrad’s mom. She needs to find herself the perfect man and find Conrad a stepdad.”
The little boy in the wheelchair she’d seen at Luc and Katey’s place…
“Okay, someone go ask the doctor when can I get out of this hospital bed and get back to work, because I have a new couple to pair.”
The End
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Other Books by Vanessa Devereaux:
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Falling for an Alpha Page 9