His heart raced as he listened to her lay everything he was feeling out in front of him, as she made sense of all the pain that had put him into a vice grip for the last two years. Everything could be made right.
“What do you want me to do?” he asked.
And there was nothing she could have said that he would have said no to.
7
Julia
As she entered the restaurant, Julia took a deep breath, trying not to let her nervousness show. The last week had been one of the strangest of her life, which said a lot given how odd her existence had been up to this point.
She had gone to a dress fitting, met with a wedding planner, an even been presented to the higher ranking members of the Louisiana coven. Thankfully, her duties had kept her away from Paris for the most part.
It wasn’t that he was a bad guy. He seemed sweet enough and, after all, he had saved her life. But that didn’t mean she was comfortable with the idea of marrying him.
Not when she barely knew him.
Not when he wasn’t Roman.
Julia waved at her betrothed from across the room. He had a wine glass in front of him—red. And one for her. He didn’t know her well enough to know that she only drank white, yet another reason they shouldn’t be getting married. Still, she plastered on her best smile and made her way to him, lest she upset her grandfather.
As she neared, Paris stood, shuffling around the table to pull her chair out for her. He was obviously on his best behavior, dressed in the Louisiana coven’s finest with his hair brushed out of his face.
She had to stifle a groan, and she knew why.
This reversal of fortune meant a number of things. It meant she would never get back to Iowa, back to the life she had built over the last eighteen months. It meant that her family finally had a use for her. And, more than that, it meant that her relationship was Roman was truly, irrevocably dead.
She had been a fool to think otherwise anyway. Given the way things ended with him last week, perhaps it was time for Julia to finally realize how hopeless a future with the Blackwood heir was.
“You’re looking better than mile high corn cobs,” Paris said as Julia sat down, circling to the other side of the table and sitting across from her.
He didn’t look so bad himself. She picked up the menu and pretended to leaf through it. His red hair was brushed out of his eyes, and he wore a black blazer that hugged his shoulders just right. He was more than cute. He was actually really attractive in the right light. But being attracted to the person your family told you to be attracted to was sort of like eating your vegetables and enjoying it—a nice surprise, but nothing you would ever admit to.
“Thanks,” Julia said, deciding on the fish and placing the menu on the table. She found him staring at her, light eyes flickering against the candlelight. “You-you look very nice yourself.”
“I appreciate it.” He smiled. “I’m mighty glad you noticed. Seeing as how I’m in my church clothes and all.”
Julia found herself laughing against her better judgement. It wasn’t that Paris was necessarily funny. But he was charming and so bright that it was hard not to get caught up in it.
“I’m happy to finally get to spend some time with you,” he continued, his tone settling a little. “I was starting to think we weren’t going to come face to face again until we hitched at the altar.” He shrugged. “That would have been awkward.”
Instinctively, Julia shuddered. She didn’t mean to, but there was no helping it.
The flash of hurt that passed through his eyes pained her.
“I’m sorry,” she answered, sighing. “It’s just—”
“No, I get it.” He pressed his lips together. “It’s not exactly a comfortable situation. I mean, I for one thought they stopped doing this sort of thing in the 19th century.”
“Right!” Julie exclaimed, leaning across the table. “It’s like, when did I wake up in colonial times?”
He chuckled again, which put her at ease.
“Not even colonial.” He grinned. “This is like something out of the dark ages.” He shook his head. “It’s like, where’s the guillotine and outdated medicine?”
Julia raised an eyebrow, and Paris’ hands went up and eyes went wide.
“Not that I’m comparing you to that stuff. I’m sure you’re finer than Grandma’s homemade wine,” he said. “It’s not the way I figured my life was gonna go, but there’s certainly worse things.”
He was leaning forward too now, so that they were almost meeting across the flame of the candle.
“I don’t want to give you the wrong idea. I never gave much thought to who I was going to marry. But if I had, if I was the type of guy who thought about that sort of thing a lot, I sure can’t imagine I’d have came up with anybody better than you.”
A blush crept up her cheeks, but she pushed it down. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“Maybe I like being ridiculous,” he said.
“You don’t even know me,” she said, eyeing the red wine.
“Then teach me.” He raised his eyebrows, as if to challenge her. “Tell me everything there is to know about you.” A smile spread across his face. “I promise I won’t lose interest.”
“I don’t think that’s a promise you can keep,” Julia said.
“Try me,” Paris said, the Deep South really shining in his voice. “Wait. You’re not one of those ‘tiny house’ people are you? Cause that might be a deal breaker.” He laughed. “There’s no way in God’s green earth that I could sleep with my face so close to the ceiling.”
Julia grinned, shaking her head. “I guess we’ll have to settle for high ceilings then.”
“Sounds like a dream,” he murmured.
The next two hours flew by, with Julia talking, Paris talking, and then Julia talking some more. He was a good listener, this guy. He nodded at all the right parts, shook his head when appropriate, and even added some color commentary to really seal the deal.
Before too long, Julia found herself at ease. So much so that she actually downed half a glass of that bitter red wine.
And she didn’t even mind it too much.
Still, in the back of her mind somewhere, something felt off. Maybe it was fact that things with Roman had been so difficult, but this all seemed so suspiciously easy.
Being with Roman had been an obstacle course. Everyday brought a new challenge, a new hoop to jump through. And here she was with Paris. He was kind and sweet. It was effortless and, to her absolute astonishment, there was actually some warmth between them. It wasn’t like with Roman—being with him was fire and ice. But there was some definite chemistry between Julia and Paris. Enough for warmth to bloom in her stomach and her cheeks. And that added an entirely new level to this.
What was wrong with her? Was Julia so messed up that smooth sailings came off as suspicious?
She shook her head and pushed that thought out of her mind, but it wouldn’t stay gone forever.
It turned out, Julia couldn’t have been more right. Later than night, long after Paris had taken her home, planting a chaste kiss on her cheek, Julia found herself unable to sleep.
This feeling kept gnawing at her gut and these doubts began to pool up inside of her mind. Not to mention the damn ancestors, who must have been having a hell of a party judging by the amount of whispering and mumbling they were doing in Julia’s ear.
She tried her best to lay there, hoping that a few breathing exercises might lull her into sleep. Thinking about the things she learned from her therapist last fall, she tried to make herself feel better. These thoughts, the way she felt insecure and uneasy, they were nothing more than self-sabotage, as far as Dr. Winters had told her.
Still, self-sabotaging or not, she couldn’t shake them. And, after a few more hours of stressing, Julia decided she couldn’t take it anymore.
Pulling herself out of bed, she did what she had always done when life got the better of her. She went to the one person who knew
everything about her, the one person in her family she could trust with anything.
“Cassandra?” Julia said quietly, knocking lightly on her cousin’s door.
When she didn’t answer, Julia decided to burst in anyhow. Is was late, after all. Cassandra was probably sleeping and, even if she wasn’t, there were no secrets between the two.
When she pushed through the door, Julia found her cousin sitting cross legged on her bed, her eyes closed and her hands splayed out in a way that Julia recognized.
Cassandra was projecting herself through the astral plane.
Julia was about to turn around and go, knowing that there was nothing worse than interrupting a witch or warlock mid-projection, but Cassandra’s eyes flipped open and her body relaxed.
Wherever she had come from, she was back.
“Jules,” she said, smiling. “Have you been watching me?”
“I just got here,” she said, plopping down on the bed beside Cassandra like they used to when they were little girls growing up beside each other. “Where are you coming back from?”
“Venice,” Cassandra said wistfully, throwing herself back on the bed. “It’s midday over there. I was in this little café, and the entire place smelled like fresh bread.”
“I’m jealous,” Julia admitted, picking at her freshly painted fingernails.
“That’s a first,” Cassandra said, looking up at Julia. “You being jealous of me.”
Julia narrowed her eyes. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“You know exactly what it means.” She sat up on the bed. “Perfect little Julia. Nobody could ever compete.”
“I wasn’t so perfect last year,” she said, staring back down at her hands, at the scars that ran vertically down her wrists.
“You weren’t yourself,” Cassandra said. “Besides, you could come with me anytime you want. How about next time we hop over to Switzerland or Ireland? I know how much you wanted to see those old castles.”
“You really have no idea how amazing you are, do you?” Julia asked, shaking her head. “I couldn’t do that even if I wanted to. The sheer amount of focus and concentration it takes is unheard of, let alone the finesse I’d need to hold myself in that state.” Julia let out an sigh. “I’m not the witch you are, Cassandra. That’s why you were the right choice to take over as coven leader.”
“Tell that to Grandfather.” She scoffed. “He was dying to hand the reigns over to you.”
“Grandfather just missed me. That’s all. He saw that I was back and got excited. I think he was just trying to come up with a reason for me to stick around honestly. You’re the one who put the work in. You’re the one who’s actually prepared for this. It should have never been a question.”
“That’s kind of you to say,” Cassandra said, her eyes flickering down to the bedspread.
“It’s the truth.” Julia took Cassandra’s hand in hers. “He means well, but Grandfather doesn’t understand. He wants me to be someone I’m not.”
Cassandra stared deep into Julia’s eyes. “That means more than you’re letting on.”
Damn. Her cousin knew her way too well.
“It’s this whole Paris thing,” Julia said, shuffling uncomfortably against the bed. “I just…I have a bad feeling about it, and I can’t shake it.”
Cassandra pulled away, her eyes darkening. “Don’t do this again, Julia.”
“Do what?” Julia asked.
Casandra shook her head. “This is the same garbage you pulled last time, the same thing that happened when Grandfather offered you an apprenticeship.”
“That was different.” Julia’s voice spiked upward.
“Really, Jules? Because it sounds really similar to me. Bad feelings, second thoughts; it’s like a watching a repeat from a year and a half ago. And I’m not about to watch history repeat itself.”
“It won’t,” Julia said. “I promise. You said it yourself. I wasn’t me back then.”
“Right.” Cassandra leaned forward again. “But I don’t want a take a chance of seeing that person rear her head again. You’re so strong, Julia. You’re so amazing, but here you are. For the first time in forever, the family needs you. I know it isn’t convenient, and I know it isn’t the way you ever thought your life would go. But I’ve researched these people, Jules. Paris especially. I know you might not want to hear it, but Paris Wheeler is a good man.”
“But my intuition is telling me—”
Cassandra placed her finger to Julia’s lips, silencing her. “No, Julia,” she said, looking at her sadly. “That’s not your intuition. That’s feelings for another man that you shouldn’t have. You have to let go.”
“I don’t think it’s that.”
“Of course not,” Cassandra said, rolling her eyes. “Listen, Jules. Paris stands to inherit the entire Louisiana territory when his father passes on. You might not think you’re capable of leading this coven, but that doesn’t mean you can’t help shape the future of that one. It’s purpose, Julia. It’s you helping people. Isn’t that what you always wanted?”
“You’re right,” Julia answered softly. “I know you’re right. I’m just nervous.”
“That’s normal. You just got back. You’re only now just starting to readjust to real life. Who could blame you for having cold feet? The important thing is not to let it overtake you, don’t forget who you are, and most importantly, don’t repeat the mistakes of the past.”
Julia blinked hard.
“You haven’t seen him, have you, Julia?” Cassandra asked, her tone free of levity. “Please tell that you haven’t seen Roman Blackwood.”
Julia shuddered. It all came crashing back to her. Roman’s touch, his hands against her skin, the way it felt when he was inside of her.
Still, she knew what happened when she was with him. She knew how utterly impossible the idea of a future with the heir of her family’s lifelong rival coven was.
It was an insane thought and, if there was anything Julia didn’t need to be classified as at this present moment, it was insane.
She had never lied to Cassandra before. Even when she was in the throes of her relationship with Roman the first time around, Cassandra had been an oasis of truth in a sea of misgivings.
But how could she be truthful now? So much had changed. Cassandra was about to become leader of this coven. Julia would answer to her. Not to mention she would be a married woman soon as well.
It all seemed so crazy.
“Answer me, Julia,” Cassandra commanded as though she was already in charge. And maybe, in some ways, she was.
So Julia swallowed hard, bit her lip, and answered.
“Of course not, Cassandra. Don’t be ridiculous.”
8
Roman
Clara stopped at the edge of the tree line.
“This is as far as I can take you,” she said.
She had been walking with Roman for what felt like forever and, now that they were finally back to civilization, it seemed she had reached the limits of her kindness.
“I never asked you to come,” Roman spit back, staring at the highway, more specifically at the spot where his car had done at least three backflips, leaving him just shy of paralyzed. The fact that he was up and walking now without even the hint of a scratch was a testament to the potency of Romani magic. Not that Roman was in much of a mood for gratitude.
“The woods can be treacherous and nearly impossible to traverse on your own,” Clara said. “People have died trying to escape it.”
Roman sneered. “And I’m sure you guys had absolutely nothing to do with that.”
“The same nothing that allowed your miraculous recovery, I’m sure,” Clara said. “Are you clear on your mission?”
“Crystal,” Roman answered, remembering the strange thing the old woman requested when he agreed to submit to her will.
“Good. I wouldn’t have been much help otherwise.”
“You’re not a great help now,” he said. “Though I imagine I�
�d be less than on top of things if I had an old woman living inside of me, too.”
“The Crawley lives in all of us, warlock. And if she came to you as an old woman, it’s because that’s what you needed to see. Let me guess, you were in these woods, too.”
Roman didn’t answer.
Clara rolled her eyes. “Typical. I pity you. If the Crawley has use of you, it means you’re in a hell of a situation.”
Julia flashed across Roman’s mind. The way she felt in his arms, the peace that settled over him as he listened to her breath beside of him, the way his heart felt as if it was time bomb ready to explode anytime she wasn’t around.
“That’s none of your business,” he mumbled.
“I guess you’re right about that.” Clara looked over at him with crossed arms and pursed lips. “The only thing that matters to me should be the only thing that matters to you right now—doing what the Crawley asked. After that, the rest will fall into place.”
“How will I find you afterward?” Roman asked, ready to leave this conversation behind.
“You won’t,” Clara said. “In fact, I’d be surprised if we ever laid eyes on each other again. But the Crawley will get ahold of you. After all, she has her ways.”
Roman turned to question the woman, but when he looked, she was gone. Nothing but leaves and branches stood where she had once been.
“I hate gypsies,” Roman muttered.
Then he walked away from those damned woods.
Roman nursed coffee for the rest of the day, waiting for the sun to set and resisting the urge to call his family. He had been missing for days now, and they were undoubtedly worried. But he had a mission to complete—one that would take up the entire night. To that end, he figured it was better to keep the family in the dark about what was going on…just for one more day.
Of course, his family weren’t the only people he wanted to call. There wasn’t an entire minute that went by that didn’t have a thought of Julia in it. In fact, he couldn’t remember the last waking moment that wasn’t at least tinted with her presence, with the pain associated with being apart from her. After tonight, if the Crawley could be trusted, all of that would change.
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