Love & Accusations

by Selena Page

  Jackson watched as she stood and pulled her clothes back on, preparing for war. He could still feel her touch, still feel her power. He closed his eyes and heard the bugs moving through the soil beneath them.

  Jackson rose slowly, grabbing his shirt and shrugging it on. They had a long night ahead of them.

  Jackson watched as Cari picked up the bowl of herbs and blood. The pull between them remained, but the passion had cooled in the face of moonrise. She stepped toward him, her face somber as she dipped two fingers into the concoction, carefully smearing it on his forehead.

  She surprised him when she followed it up with a soft kiss on his lips. He held the kiss for a moment before she stepped back, smearing the mixture on her own forehead.

  All gentleness and softness had left her voice. “When it breaks the tree line, we begin. Keep close to me—if our skin is touching, it will amplify the power there. Focus on me, don’t let him get into your mind.”

  Jackson nodded once. “And if it doesn’t work?”

  Cari hesitated. “Run. Run like hell. If we can’t banish him, I’ll hold him. Get to Saratoga Springs. Find Mia, Andrew, and my grandmother. Tell them everything that happened, and they will help you.”

  “I’m not going to leave you.”

  “No.” Her voice was sharp, her eyes hardening. “You will leave me, because we can’t let it get its hands on you.”

  Jackson sighed, but he knew this wasn’t a fight he was going to win. He had no intention of leaving her behind if things went south, but there was no point in arguing the fact. They both knew that if they failed, neither would escape.

  Jackson nodded. “Well then. I guess it’s time to go.”

  As soon as they left the cabin he felt it, and from the shudder that ran through Cari, he knew she did as well. It had gained strength while they were preparing. And the creature was certain it would win; it would force him to kill Cari.

  You seem to have made your choice. You may still change your mind. I would allow it.

  He reached out a hand to brush against Cari’s, and power swelled between them. Jackson focused and pushed the creature from his mind, and the voice was replaced by Cari’s.

  “Don’t let it in, Jackson. Focus on me. We can do this.”

  She sounded so sure of herself, so resolute. He could feel her determination, her staunch belief that they could win.

  Jackson watched as a dark shadow stepped into the clearing, outlined in the shimmering moonlight. Suddenly, he wasn’t so sure they could pull it off.

  Chapter 16

  The words flowed from Cari’s lips like water, her fingers entwined with Jackson’s. The power grew between the two of them, and her palm burned where their skin touched. All of the latent ability of her family, the magic that had been stolen by Marbok eons ago was bubbling to the surface.

  The witches stood before her in a perfect circle. The Matriarch of her family stood with six of her strongest ancestors, each dressed in flowing white robes and holding hands. Behind them were twenty more witches, their silver eyes glittering in the moonlight, each offering their own magic to the binding spell. The shared magic rang through the air. As the witches chanted in Latin, a figure appeared before them, massive and dark, a writhing creature of shadow and blue bands. Claws reached through the void, pulling the creature toward its intended victims. The air turned cold as the wind whipped around them. The chanting reached an apex, swelling, and the creature thrashed, tendrils surrounding one of the witches; her silver eyes flashing as it pulled her from formation, embracing her in the darkness.

  Without missing a beat, another witch stepped into her place. The air crackled as the spell came to its completion and the creature screamed. A fiery hole opened in the earth, sucking the creature in, and taking its victim along with it. The witches in the circle collapsed, the replacement bleeding from her eyes and ears.

  Cari saw it all, watched as her ancestors sacrificed themselves to bind the creature in the earth. She heard their words, felt their magic. She knew the incantations were just a means to an end; magic could be performed without the words, but they helped to focus your energy on the right target. And now she knew what she had to do. She had seen the ritual; she had heard the words. She may not have an army of Caprice at her back, but she had a hell of an Augmenter, and more power than most of her ancestors.

  She squeezed Jackson’s hand as Marbok moved closer. The creature was something straight from her nightmares, a miasma of swirling shadows held together by brilliant glowing purple bands. It held the faint shape of a man, though she knew that the creature was anything but human—any humanity that it might have once held had been long lost to the corruption of power. She could feel the creature's power, and his belief that he would win. He believed this was nothing more than a show, that their fear would make them weak.

  Marbok moved closer and Cari smiled as she began to chant. She could feel Jackson’s focus on her, their minds touching, melding together as one. His power bolstered her, grounding her as she let loose a torrent of chanting. Magic rushed through her body, lighting her nerves on fire. The world took on a hazy appearance as her eyes shifted from dark to glistening silver.

  The shadows howled, twisting and writhing as magic filled the clearing, white light bathing Cari and Jackson. She felt him take her other hand in his, holding her close to his warm chest. His heart beat against her as he bent his head to brush a kiss along her neck.

  Cari formed the spell in her mind, willing the creature into the earth, to return to slumber. Marbok howled as the magic swirled around him, slowing his forward momentum. She felt a swell of success in her soul—she was doing it. She was stopping him.

  A breeze passed through the clearing, and Cari felt her soul go cold. Black shadowy tendrils wrapped around her torso, and her power flailed. The creature dragged her from her circle, from Jackson.

  “Get away from her!” Jackson’s voice howled, ripped away by the wind as he grasped her hand. His desperation a knife in her heart.

  The shadows cut through her flak jacket and deep into her flesh. Blood dripped down her legs, soaking the hungry earth. Cari drew on the pain, on the power, and pushed with her mind, screaming the last of the incantation.

  Marbok stuttered, his actions slowing. His hold on her weakened, the spell beginning to take effect.

  Jackson pulled her back into his arms, wrapping them around her chest. Their shared power surged, and the shadowy creature let out a howl. Trees on the edge of the clearing shattered, the glass of the cabin windows blowing inward.

  The power snapped and the forest fell silent. Cari slumped against Jackson as her vision swam. The only thing keeping her upright was his body, firm against her.

  “We did it, Jackson. He’s gone. We did it…” Cold settled into her chest, but she couldn’t feel her legs anymore.

  As darkness threatened to overcome her, her only thought was that at least Jackson would be safe. He was free of Marbok.

  Chapter 17

  Cari’s body slumped against him, and Jackson felt her going cold. Blood soaked her clothing and the ground, and deep gashes marred her torso. Her life was drifting away.

  “Cari! Carmina, no! No, no, no.” Jackson lowered her to the ground carefully, his eyes darting over her body. He couldn’t, wouldn’t lose her now. They had won, they had banished the spirit; he wouldn’t see her die.

  Jackson cupped her face, shaking her with one hand. Her heart slowed. “Carmina, you need to look at me. We’ll get you to the doctor, I need you to stay with me.”

  Her eyes fluttered, a hand reaching up to grab his. Cari smiled at him, looking calm and relaxed even in the face of death. “I’m sorry, Jackson. I tried. But you’re safe.”

  Magic pulsed through his veins. The remnants of the power they had drawn from the earth, from their blood, from their sex. Her words echoed in his mind. Focus on the power, focus on what he wanted. Focus on her.

  Jackson watched as her wounds slowly knit together. Cari took a g
asping, rattling breath, and he felt a weight lift off his shoulders. She was alive. He continued to focus on her, watching as the skin smoothed beneath the puddles of blood.

  He smiled as he cupped her cheeks, leaning in to kiss her deeply. Cari’s arms came around him, murmuring against his lips. “We did it, Jackson.”

  She paced around the cabin, examining every inch of it. Her face was still pale from the blood loss, but she was alive. It was more than he could ask for, more than he hoped for. He felt useless, uneasy.

  “So what now?”

  Cari paused and looked at him. “Now? I make sure that he stays bound. I’ll call in some favors; I’ll do what I can to get your name cleared.”

  Jackson paused, leaning up against the wall. He heard it in her voice, the unwritten Dear John letter. “You’re leaving. Without me. Again.”

  “Yes.” Her voice was quiet and resolute. His stomach twisted at the thought of being away from her again, of her running from him. He wanted to grab her by the arms and hold her there, but he knew that it would only make her run faster.

  “Why, Cari? Did you see what we just did? I can help you.” He knew it was futile, but he wasn’t going to let her leave without a fight.

  “No, Jackson. You’ll just get hurt. It’s better if I deal with this. You go home, go back to your life.” She sighed softly, shaking her head. “Look, I...I just can’t, OK? You need to go home. I need to go to deal with this thing. I can’t do that if you’re here.”

  “Cari…” Jackson fell quiet. He would change her mind eventually, but not like this. Not with blood drying on her chest and the memories of the creature fresh in their minds. He nodded once and leaned over, grabbing his bag. “All right. Well. I guess, then, I’ll take off. Call if you need me?”

  “Yeah. Yeah, of course.” Cari smiled, but he heard the lie. He was connected to her, and he knew. She wouldn’t call. If she had it her way, she’d never see him again. “Take care of yourself, Jackson.”

  He watched her for a long moment and then nodded, turning to head out of the cabin. The thought of leaving her broke him inside. He wanted to turn the hands of time back, he wanted to be inside her on the floor of the cabin. He wanted to see her smile and laugh. But he knew he couldn’t force it. He couldn’t make her want to be with him.

  Chapter 18

  Six months since she’d seen Jackson. Six months since they'd bound Marbok in the earth in New Hampshire, and she still thought about him. About the way he looked at her when she pushed him away, the way his eyes begged for her to stay with him. And God, she wished that she could have done it. If she could go back, she never would have let him leave, no matter what the cost might be.

  Cari slammed the book shut with a sigh, rubbing at her eyes. She had spent the last six months deep in research, looking for every documented note on Marbok that she could find, anything that might give her some insight into keeping him locked away forever. While witches were notoriously good at documenting everything they did, too many years had passed. The information about him was sparse.

  She comforted herself with the knowledge that it hadn’t resurfaced yet. A group in the North East was watching her binding, and they knew the signs that would appear if he broke out of his makeshift prison. Until she found a better answer, it was the best she could hope to do. The only bright part of the entire fucking mess was the fact that Jax had been cleared of all charges, and he was free to live his life. Though she didn’t dare call him, she wasn’t about to forget what he had done for her.

  “Cari? You down here?” Her sister stepped to the top of the stairs leading into the labyrinthine library owned by her family.

  Cari sighed. “Yeah, I’m down here, Mia. Just doing some research.”

  Her sister came into view, carrying a plate of meat, cheese, and crackers. She set it down next to Cari with a smile. “You haven’t eaten, have you?”

  “No, not hungry.”

  “Cari, you have to eat.” Mia settled into the chair next to Cari, concern in her voice. “This is all you’ve been doing. I mean, have you seen how pale you are? When was the last time you were out in the sun? Or had a full night’s sleep, for that matter?”

  “I know, I know.” And she did. She knew that this lifestyle wasn’t sustainable, but Jackson wouldn’t be safe until she was certain the creature could never resurface. She owed him that much, at least.

  “Have you talked to him?”

  “What?” Cari looked at her sister, lifting a brow. In the six months since she’d been at the ranch, she’d never mentioned Jackson. At least not their relationship. She had conveniently glossed over the juicy details about the gorgeous teacher from her past.

  “Oh, come on! I might not have any abilities, but I know my big sister. I know that when you got here, there was something weighing on you. You had someone important on your mind. And in the last six months, you haven’t once had a hook-up, which I’m pretty sure is some kind of world record for you. Plus, I was listening in when you called to check up on his little legal situation. So why haven’t you called him?” An impish smirk spread across Mia’s face, a look that Carmina recognized from childhood—as the youngest, Mia was used to getting her way. And she had no qualms about doing whatever she had to do to make it happen.

  “It’s complicated, Mia.” Mia was right, but it wasn’t something Cari wanted to talk about. She’d pushed Jackson away, dumped him in the worst way—twice, now—and it wasn’t something she could undo. It’s not like he would take her back, not again.

  “Bullshit.” Mia was curt, leaning back in her chair and eyeing her sister. “You’re afraid of it. Of whatever happened between you two out there.”

  Cari rubbed at her face with a groan. “It’s complicated, seriously. I couldn’t...I can’t risk him.”

  “You need to talk to him, Carmina. Seriously. He deserves at least that much.”

  “And say what?”

  “Does it matter? Just talk to him.”

  Cari’s heart raced when she thought about Jackson, about seeing him again. Her stomach tightened, and there was fear there as well.

  “Mia…”

  Mia stood from the table, giving her sister a wide smile, her eyes dancing mischievously. “Tell you what. Why don’t you just talk to him right now?”

  “I don’t have his phone number…” Cari knew it was a lame excuse, but really, anything to get out of having to face up to her past.

  “Oh, don’t you worry. I took care of that for you.” Mia walked away and Cari turned to watch her sister.

  Her heart stopped when her eyes fell on his figure, standing at the bottom of the stairs.

  “Jackson.” Cari didn’t know what to say. She didn’t even know where to start. His eyes were wary, cautious, and she couldn’t blame him. His power, his soul called out to her.

  He moved slowly across the room, like a man in a dream. Cari stood as he reached her and a smile spread across his face. Brushing a hand against her cheek, he bent down to kiss her.

  Heat blossomed in her abdomen, and the breath left her lungs. That power, that connection between them flared to life. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, deepening the kiss between them hesitantly.

  Jackson pushed her up against the table, boosting her. She wrapped her legs around his waist, her heart pounding as that familiar feeling settled over her. The driving desire that she always felt when she thought about him.

  He pulled away slightly, his eyes dancing as he spoke. “I love you. Still.”

  Cari pulled back, but this time, he didn’t let her go. “Jackson…”

  “Hush.” He kissed her again, chasing away the sting of the word. “No more talking. I know you’re scared. I know you want to protect me. I know you think every person who gets close to you dies. But I don’t care.” He punctuated each word with a soft kiss, peppering her face until she was pliant in his arms. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m not leaving you, ever again.”

  “I’m scared.” In her
ears, her voice was tiny and terrified. She wanted to explain herself more. She wasn’t scared of him, or even of the power they could summon between them. She was scared of him getting hurt because of her. She couldn’t bear losing another man she loved.

  “Don’t be. I’m here. Right now, I’m safe. And if anything happens, we will deal with it. Together.” His hands tangled in her hair and he kissed her deeply. For a moment, she felt their bodies melding together, their hearts beating as one.

  I’m a part of you now, Cari. I can’t leave you. I won’t leave you. The voice in her head was comforting. It wasn’t an intrusion like last time, but rather, it felt like the piece of her that had always been missing had finally fallen into place.

  I love you, Jackson.

  She wasn’t ready to say the words, not out loud. But she didn’t have to. He smiled broadly as he kissed her again, wrapping her in his warm embrace.

  Up Next:

  Andrew Caprice gets his story in:

  Smoke & Longing

  Available July 2016

  Andrew Caprice is a warlock enjoying his rural life in Saratoga Springs. When a gorgeous woman starts digging into the disappearances of some locals, he wants to help her. What he doesn't bargain for is how deep his attraction to her becomes.

  Kara Powers is a small town journalist hunting a story she can't resist. Her investigation into the missing people leads her to legends of the supernatural and the arms of the only man who can save her from being trapped in a world of monsters.

  Together in the Saratoga woods, they find adventure, danger, and desires that neither of them had expected.

  About the Author

  Selena Page is the author of the Caprice Chronicles, a paranormal romance series centered around a family of cursed witches and warlocks. Her heroes are hot, her heroines are sassy, and the spellbinding chemistry that results will blow your mind.