by Muse, M. W.
He chuckled. “I might need the pointers,” he said innocently.
Pointers? She didn’t think so. She glanced around him and looked at Calli who was talking to Adin. “Doesn’t Calli look pretty?” she said casually.
River moved his head to block her view, eyes on her. “Yes. Now don’t stare, or she’ll think we’re talking about her.”
“We are talking about her.” She smiled. “I mean, we are talking about her if you want me to tell you what I found out,” she said, shrugging her shoulders playfully.
He gasped and grabbed her arm. “What did she say?”
“Well…she…” She hesitated. She couldn’t really lie to him because he’d know it from her energy. Calli was too tickled to specifically come out and ask Legacy to keep quiet about her feelings, so she wasn’t sure if she should tell him outright. She told Calli she’d talk to him at the picnic, but they really hadn’t ironed out what details would be revealed.
She was so lost in thought that she didn’t notice how antsy River was getting, waiting to hear the verdict. “Spit it the hell out!”
She chuckled. “Okay, fine.” She smiled. Calli would thank her for this—one day. “She really likes you too,” she softly said.
“No way! What’d she say?” His eyes sparkled.
“I told her you’d probably be dating again now that we weren’t bonded and suggested if she was still interested she should make a move. She played coy for a bit, but when I told her you’d talked to me about a girl you liked, she got sad. That is, until I told her it was her.”
“You told her I like her?” he screeched, and then glanced around to make sure no one had heard.
“Yes, and I told you she likes you. You both know how the other feels.” She smiled at him. “Now why are you wasting precious time talking to me when you could be flirting with your future girlfriend?” She wagged her eyebrows.
He chuckled, but shook off his laughter. He smiled softly at her and said, “I love you, baby.”
She hugged him. “I love you too. Now let’s join the others.”
River guided them to the picnic spot. They all made sandwiches while they talked. When Seth offered River some tea that wasn’t sweetened, Legacy couldn’t resist. She knew it was in poor taste, but she couldn’t help it. With an even expression on her face, she looked over at River and said, “Why don’t you borrow Calli’s sugar?”
He shot her a look, but didn’t have time to respond. Calli dug in her bag and pulled out some sugar. “Here you go,” she said, totally clueless.
He gave one short laugh. “You really have sugar?” he asked, taking it from her.
“Of course. I like my tea sweetened too.”
“Of course,” he mumbled to himself through a smile, not looking at Legacy.
While they ate, Legacy sat between Adin’s legs, her back against his chest. He kept an arm snug around her at all times. They laughed and talked and kissed. They did try to talk to their company, but each couple was mesmerized in their own individual conversations and activities. At one point, Thad and Ellen got up to go for a walk, and then a little while later, so did Seth and Kate.
When they left, it made it a little easier to spy on River and Calli. They were the only couple not acting like a couple, but they looked adorable! They sat as close as they could without actually touching. She could see the side of River’s face, but she could see most of Calli’s. They were both smiling and leaning toward each other while they talked, and at least one time, she saw River brush her hair out of her face. When Calli turned around to get something out of her bag, Legacy saw River lean closer, smelling her hair.
It was a quick move. He retreated before she could notice what he was doing, but as he moved away, it looked as if he were fighting a smile, and it almost looked as if he murmured, “Apples.”
Legacy pressed her lips together to keep from smiling and then turned her attention back to where she wanted it. She leaned to the side and kissed Adin on his neck. When she pulled back, he stroked her face, gazing into her eyes. He kissed her softly, but she moved her lips back to his neck, kissing him up to his ear. Adin moaned quietly as he tangled his hand into her hair, holding her face, her lips against him.
“Are you ready?” she whispered into his ear. “I’d like to finish something I didn’t get to finish in the shower.”
She kissed it again, and he panted, “Let’s go.”
She remembered her wavering theory about Adin enjoying it more when she paid special attention to his ear or to his chest. In the summer, she assumed it was the ear that stirred the intended reaction, but in the fall, she remembered thinking she needed to rethink that theory when she was caressing his chest. Even though she was now kissing on his ear, she realized it really wasn’t just his ear or his chest. It was the attention. He enjoyed it no matter where she directed it, as long as she was the one doing it.
“Definitely. Let’s get out of here.” She traced her lips back to his. “I have plans for you,” she whispered against his lips. And boy, did she ever.
He groaned as he kissed her. She wasn’t sure how long Lissa and Olive would be gone, but she was thrilled the house would still be empty. She pulled away and started to stand. He helped her up.
“We’re leaving,” she announced to Calli and River.
Adin reached for their ice chest, and River stood. “I’ll load up our stuff too,” he said.
She figured River was giving her a free moment with Calli. Once the guys left, she quickly told Calli what she’d told River, and Calli paled slightly. Legacy reassured Calli she’d be fine, and then she proceeded to tell her what had happened between her and Adin. The news distracted Calli from her immediate nerves and she squealed. As they rushed though their girlie conversation, Legacy heard a noise by the tree nearby. She looked around Calli, but didn’t see anything. Calli started folding the blanket.
“I’ll be right back,” Legacy said to her. She didn’t know why she wanted to check it out, but she felt she needed to.
“Where are you going?”
“Just right there,” she said, pointing to the tree.
She walked over and noticed how bright the sky looked and got the strangest feeling of déjà vu. She walked around the tree and recognized the field. The vibrant sky, the field, these were elements of her dream. Her heart raced. What should she do? She made a split-second decision to sit down like she had in her dream. She wasn’t sure if she should try to mediate or if she even knew how, but she shut her eyes and felt the wind pick up. She opened her eyes and saw that clouds were rolling in—just like in her dream.
She shut her eyes again and began to concentrate. She thought about her mother and opened her eyes. She was standing before her. “Be careful. He’s not dead,” she said.
She heard a rustling noise on the ground behind her, but tried to ignore it. She stayed focused straight ahead, so she could speak to her mother. She needed her to explain this puzzle once and for all.
“There you are. I’ve wondered where you’ve been,” a chilling voice said, coming from behind her.
Her eyes popped as she whirled, and she stared at him. “Casey,” she said gravely. She jumped to her feet. “How?” She shook her head, trying not to cry, shock overtaking her senses.
“I didn’t die.”
Legacy looked to where her mother’s image still stood. “You were right about him,” she said. Legacy looked at Casey again. He didn’t seem to see or hear her mother.
He pulled out a phone and dialed quickly. “I’ve got her,” he mumbled, staring at Legacy. He hung up and said, “Hades is coming for you.”
She glanced at her mother. “He’s setting you up, and you’re falling for it,” she said.
Legacy started to run, but he jumped in front of her, grabbing her arms and waist. She screamed and shocked him, but he refused to let go. She saw Seth and Kate run up. She figured Calli took the blanket to the car, and Adin and River were with her in the parking lot. If she could just fight Case
y off until they got here, she’d be okay. Seth ordered Kate to stay back, and he charged Casey. Seth grabbed him in a chokehold, but Casey refused to let go of her. Seth grunted, not letting let of Casey, and Casey’s arms didn’t loosen until he finally passed out from the lack of air supply. He dropped to the ground, and she fell into Seth’s arms, sobbing. Oh gods, Casey wasn’t dead! Why was he after her? Why had he attacked her before? He had to be somebody linked to Hades, but who?
“Shhh. It’s okay,” Seth murmured as he started walking her toward Kate.
She glanced to the side and saw her mother’s image still standing in the field. She frowned, momentarily forgetting about Casey. Why had her mother not left? Was Casey going to wake up?
“Watch out for he lies. Evil lies inside Seth Goode,” she said softly.
Legacy stifled a gasp as she looked away, but her mind was racing! What did Seth have to do with this? Then she felt the possibilities slam into her. Had it been Seth all along? Seth had saved her from Casey the first time. To set her up? Gain his trust? If so, Casey probably wasn’t even evil. That was why River couldn’t get a good read on his aura. If Casey really was evil, River should have been able to tell. But then he should have been able to read Seth too. What the hell was going on here and what was she supposed to do now? She couldn’t freak out right now. Seth was holding her. The fact that he hadn’t seen her mother was her only saving grace. She needed to get away so she could think. But Casey’s final words sank in, “Hades is coming for you.” Then Seth had come running up. Could Seth be…? No way. No freaking way!
She stiffened in Seth’s arms and glanced to the side from the corner of her eye. If she made a run for it, he’d know she’d made the connection. She needed to act like nothing was wrong until she got away from him. She saw her mother’s panicked face once more and turned to face Kate as they approached, her skin itching to get away from him.
Seth suddenly stopped and turned her around to face him.
“What were you looking at?” he asked, concerned.
Crap! She frowned as she scrambled for words. “Er, nothing. I’m just freaking out about Casey.”
He seemed slightly pleased by this response and started to take another step.
But he hesitated and sighed dramatically. Looking back at her, he said, “Don’t lie to me, Persephone.” His eyes were cold, no life in his expression. “It’s bad enough you’ve cheated on me with that gallant jackass.” Curling his nose, he said, “I can smell him on you.”
Oh no. “Help!” She screamed, shocking him as she tried to get away.
“Legacy?” Kate asked, puzzled, taking a step toward them.
Seth shot her a look, and Kate slumped to the ground. Legacy couldn’t understand what just happened to her. Kate just lay there, as if she’d just passed out, unmoving. Had he killed her with just a look?
Adin and River both ran at godly speed to Legacy, and she felt hope surge inside her. They’d get her away from him and deal with him. They were both in her life to protect her. Adin and River both tried to grab Seth, but as soon as they reached him, Seth slumped to the ground as Kate just had.
As Legacy apparently did as well.
But they were still standing here. How could that be? Then she realized it was just their bodies lying on the ground. Their souls, ripped from their fleshy selves, still stood beside the bodies on the ground.
Kate looked at Legacy with pure terror. She was scared to death.
Legacy was sure she looked quite the same.
“Oh, gods! Legacy!” Adin yelled frantically as he clung to her body. Then his head shot up, looking around. “I’ll kill you for this, Hades!” he roared.
Legacy felt paralyzed as Seth grabbed her arm. She couldn’t command her body to run, even if she knew where to go. Seth turned and took Kate’s arm too.
As they faded away into nothingness, the last thing Legacy heard was Adin screaming her name.
The End
Author’s Note
Thanks for reading this book! If you enjoyed it, I would be very grateful for a review on Amazon. As an independent author without the backing of a large publishing house, attracting new readers is difficult and marketing is expensive. Customer reviews are extremely important on Amazon to help better position a book within search results and to help other readers select what they’re going to read next.
Thanks again for reading this book, and I hope you enjoy reading about Legacy’s journey as much as I did writing about it.
About the Author
M.W. Muse is an award-winning, bestselling author…under a different name. Her alter-ego writes in adult genres for multiple publishers, but her love of young adult stories geared for the upper end of that spectrum made her seek a new outlet for those young adult characters swimming around in her head. She still spends most of her time living in her other reality, but is looking forward to spending more time focusing on the younger side of love.
www.mwmuse.com