Eternal Choice: (The Cursed Series, Book 2)

by Kara Leigh Miller

  “An answer about what?” Whitney asked.

  “About changing into a vampire or joining her coven and becoming a witch,” I said.

  Just saying that out loud sounded crazy. How had this become my life? I couldn’t decide if I wanted to laugh or scream—maybe I needed to do both.

  “I know a place we can go,” Wyatt said.

  The sound of his voice surprised me. I’d forgotten he was here—he was always so quiet.

  “Where?” Trent asked.

  “You mean a place we can hide?” I shook my head. “Ivy warned me not to run. Said if I did, they’d find me, and they wouldn’t be as accommodating.” I scrunched up my face at the memory of how menacing she’d sounded when she said that word. “She threatened all of you.” I crossed my arms. “I’m staying here.”

  Trent grumbled something incoherent.

  “Fascinating,” Sean said. He stood from the table and rubbed his hands over his face. “No wonder I was never able to find any information about this. The child born to Annmarie… Jim… The way he covered his tracks and hid his true identity. The lengths your father went to…” Sean shook his head with awe and walked toward me. “You really are the cure.”

  I held my breath and shrank against the back of the couch, waiting to see what he’d do next.

  “How long have you known?” he asked.

  “Not long. I only found out shortly before I left with Trent to come here.” My voice was small and terrified.

  Sean studied me like I was some creature he’d just discovered, an unknown species he wanted to poke and prod.

  Trent moved to my side and wrapped his arm around me. “She’s telling the truth.”

  “Oh, I have no doubts.” Sean smiled. “So, the question is, what do we do now?”

  I cowered against Trent, and he tightened his hold on me. “We do whatever Chloe wants to do. This is her choice.”

  “Yes, of course.” Sean waved his hand dismissively, but something in his expression had unease spreading through me.

  I needed to get out of this room and away from everyone so I could think. “I know all of this is probably a shock, and I’m sorry I lied to everyone.” I cleared my throat, willing my voice to stay strong. “It’s been a very long day, and I’m going to bed.”

  I headed for the staircase, not giving anyone the chance to respond. When I reached my room, I stepped inside and kicked the door closed. I paced, tearing bobby pins from hair until it was loose and falling around my shoulders, as if that would somehow calm my nerves.

  A moment later, Trent entered. I crossed the room to him, and he enveloped me in his arms. “It’s going to be okay,” he whispered.

  I wished I believed him. I wished he was right. And I wished I didn’t have this decision looming over my head. Pulling out of his embrace, I sat on the foot of the bed.

  “If you had the option to turn back into a human, would you do it? For me?” I asked.

  He tilted his head, clearly confused by my question. “Yes.”

  “You would?”

  He nodded. “I’d do anything for you, Chloe. How many times do I have to tell you that before you believe me?”

  I blinked back tears. He’d give up his family, his life, his immortality… all for me. I wasn’t worthy of his love and devotion, not when I couldn’t make the same sacrifices for him.

  Trent stood in front of me, hands in his pockets. I expected him to comfort me like he usually did, but he remained rooted in place.

  “I know why you don’t want to become a vampire, but… why don’t you want to spend an eternity with me?” His voice was so broken.

  My heart shattered, a million sharp pieces stabbing at me. I licked my lips and wiped my tears. I had no idea what to say to him. How could I explain that I did want an eternity with him, just not at the cost of living forever?

  “I’ve had to deal with the guilt over what happened with Isach and Hannah and with the memory of your limp, near lifeless body in her arms as she drank the life from you.” His voice was so low I had to strain to hear him. “I kept telling myself it was over, you were okay, and that was all that mattered. Then your father showed up, and I actually lost you that time. You were gone, Chloe.”

  Even though I hadn’t remembered him, he had remembered me and everything we’d shared. Me, on the other hand, had taken the cowardly way out and chose to have him wipe my memories.

  “I finally get you back, and you know what happens?” He came to a stop in front of me, and I had to tilt my head back to see him. His eyes were darker than a midnight storm. “You collapse in my arms, and then I watched you lay in that bed dying.” He stabbed his finger toward the bed. “And I was absolutely powerless to do anything to help you. Wanna know why?”

  Fresh tears slid down my cheeks. I was too emotional to form any words.

  “Because the only thing I could do to save you was the one thing you asked me not to do. So, I didn’t change you. Instead, I almost let you die. And now…” He shook his head and stepped back, frustration and desperation oozing from him. “Now I might lose you to that stupid coven, and I still can’t do anything to stop it.”

  Until right then, I hadn’t truly grasped just how much I’d hurt him, how deeply he’d been suffering. I stood and wrapped my arms around his waist.

  “I love you, Trent. Please tell me you know that.” My words were strangled by my tears.

  “I do.” He sighed and hugged me back. “We’ll figure this out. Together.”

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX:

  A Bad Idea

  I LAY AWAKE, MY MIND RACING so fast I couldn’t sleep even if I wanted to. And I really didn’t want to. I was on a deadline now, and every second mattered.

  Trent lay beside me, sound asleep. At least, I thought he was asleep. If not, he was pretending really well. I studied him, my heart aching.

  The sound of his voice when he’d asked me to spend an eternity with him… I’d never heard so much want, so much need before. Then, when he asked me why I didn’t want to spend an eternity with him… his questions, his voice haunted me.

  He’d been so hurt, and I hadn’t been able to make it better, to tell him I’d change for him. Because that’s what it came down to—if I changed, it would be for Trent. For our relationship. Why couldn’t I make that commitment to him? I loved him, and I couldn’t imagine my life with anyone else.

  But… I was hours into being eighteen. What girl my age could make such a concrete decision about their entire future? It’s wasn’t like I could try it out and if I didn’t like it, I could go back to being a human. Becoming a vampire was a permanent decision.

  I blew out a breath. I only had two days to make up my mind. If I refused to change, what would happen? The coven wouldn’t just go away. A lead weight landed hard in my gut.

  One way or another, Ivy and the Rose Coven were going to break this curse. I could either help willingly, or they were going to force me. And if they forced me, that meant they were going to have to force Trent, too. I knew that with an unflinching certainty.

  If Ivy was telling the truth, I could take a couple of years, learn to be a witch, and then break the curse with magic. At least that way, I could still be with Trent and have a somewhat normal life. Trent hated that idea, though, and I couldn’t blame him. I didn’t want to be a witch, either, especially if it meant I had to join the Rose Coven.

  I just wanted my normal life back. I wanted to move back in with Aunt Beth and Uncle Dean. I wanted to listen to Abby overdramatize everything that happened. I wanted to hear Ellie ramble incessantly. I wanted to laugh at Gina, Tonya, and Luke as they teased each other. My chest constricted at the thought of them. I missed them so much.

  Now, with the Rose Coven breathing down my neck, who knew when I’d get to see any of them again. If I changed, would I be able to go back to my life, my family? Or would I be too tempted to drink them dry?

  Trent said it was hard, and I had no reason not to believe him. I needed to see them. Before I mad
e a life changing decision. And it needed to be tonight.

  Gently removing the covers, I eased out of bed. Trent didn’t move. I tiptoed out of the room, collecting my clothes that had been strewn across the floor that morning, and closed the door as quietly as possible.

  Then, I stood in the hallway, listening to make sure I hadn’t woken Trent. When I was certain he wasn’t going to catch me, I rushed into the bathroom and got dressed.

  The entire house was deathly silent, and I prayed everyone was asleep. Just in case they weren’t, I was extra quiet. Trying to sneak out of a house full of vampires with heightened senses wasn’t one of my better ideas, but I was determined.

  I shifted my thoughts to mundane things—being unable to sleep, needing a drink of water, lingering aches from my surgery. If Wyatt or Whitney were awake, they wouldn’t be able to read my mind and figure out what I was doing.

  I reached the bottom of the stairs and let out a pent-up breath. So far so good. My gaze darted around the room, searching for the car keys. I found them near the microwave, and my heart raced as I closed my hand around them.

  The tricky part was going to be getting the car started and out of the driveway without waking anyone. I walked toward the front door, heart in my throat. My pulse pounded in my ears, and my hand shook as I reached for the doorknob. I paused, momentarily rethinking my decision.

  Trent would be furious when he woke up and found me missing. Maybe I should leave a note, just so he wouldn’t worry too much. Not that he’d ever left me a note, but at least he’d always told Jax where he was, and Jax would relay the message.

  Tiptoeing back into the kitchen, I grabbed a pen from the junk drawer and scrawled a note on the magnetic pad stuck to the front of the refrigerator:

  Went home to visit family one last time. Be back soon. ~ Chloe

  I had no idea where I was. I mean, I knew I was in a cabin in the Adirondack Mountains, but I had no idea how to get home. Where was my cell phone? My backpack. I’d shoved it in there after I took all those selfies earlier.

  My shoulders dropped with disappointment when I thought about going upstairs to get it. But then I remembered I’d given it to Sean. Sure enough, there it was on the table.

  Thank, God.

  I retrieved my phone from the front pocket and made a beeline to the door, refusing to let anything else distract me. If I didn’t get out of here now, I never would. I managed to get outside and into the car without any issues.

  My heart beat rapidly, and adrenaline raced through my veins. I needed to calm down, so I took several deep breaths and stared at the cabin. All the lights were still off, save for the one in the kitchen that was always left on, and there were no signs of movement.

  Shoving the key into the ignition, I started the car, cringing as the engine purred to life. The headlights automatically came on, and I swore under my breath. Slamming the car into reverse, I backed out of the driveway and didn’t look back.

  I sped down the road, not stopping until I was a few miles away. Then I pulled over and opened maps on my phone. I typed in Abby’s address, and the recorded voice told me to continue on this road for twelve miles.

  Smiling, I eased out onto the road. The farther away from the cabin I drove, the more I relaxed. Turning on the radio, I sang along to several songs, my mood brighter than it had been in weeks.

  Abby was going to be so excited to see me. So were Aunt Beth and Uncle Dean. I couldn’t wait to see their faces when I knocked on the door. The digital clock on the dashboard read 4:12 AM. According to the GPS on my phone, I’d arrive around 4:50 AM.

  I scrunched up my face. That was awful early to be knocking on their door. What would I tell them when they asked why I was there so early? Or why I was there at all? They thought I was traveling with friends.

  “No,” I groaned and eased off the gas pedal.

  Questions I couldn’t answer raced through my mind. Where had I been? Who had I been with? Why didn’t I tell them I was coming? Did my father know I was there? Worst of all, why was I leaving again so soon? Where was I going? When would I be back?

  What am I thinking? Going to visit them was a terrible idea, probably the worst I’d ever had. I couldn’t tell them what was really going on, and I didn’t have a lie good enough or big enough to explain my behavior.

  “No. No, no, no,” I shouted and smacked the steering wheel. Disappointment settled over me. I couldn’t go home.

  Something dashed across the road, inches from the car. I slammed on the brakes. My seat belt locked, jerking me back against the seat. I winced.

  What was that? I peered through the windshield, trying to figure out what had run in front of the car and if it was gone. I knew I hadn’t hit anything.

  There was nothing out there, and the night was silent. When my heart calmed, I eased off the brake pedal, and then a form appeared in the middle of the road. A woman.

  I stopped the car again and squinted. Who was standing in the middle of the road like that? She moved closer, and suddenly, my confusion cleared.

  Ivy.

  She approached my car and opened the driver’s side door. “Get out,” she ordered.

  I hesitated. Could I yank the door out of her hand and stomp on the gas before she realized what I was doing? Probably not. I unhooked my seat belt and climbed out of the car.

  Ivy shut the door behind me, and the sound made me jump. “I warned you not to run.”

  She thought I was trying to run and hide? My eyes widened, and I shook my head. “I wasn’t. I was—”

  “Shh.” She held up her hand to silence me, and I clamped my mouth shut. “I told you we’d find you, Chloe, and now you leave me no choice.”

  She raised her hand and motioned to something, or someone. Two women climbed out of a car that had appeared behind me and approached, eyes downcast as they awaited instructions.

  My stomach dropped, and I took a step back. “I swear I wasn’t running. I was—”

  Ivy held up her hand again. Words died on my lips, my voice disappeared, and dizziness consumed me.

  Then, the world went dark.

  KEEP READING

  for a sneak peek at

  ETERNAL BOND (The Cursed Series, Book 3)

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Wow—there are so many people I need to thank, and I have no idea where to start! I fear I’ll miss someone, so if I do, please know that my oversight isn’t malicious but rather a combination of exhaustion and old age.

  A massive thank you to all of my beta readers: Kat Daemon, Eden Plantz, Jennifer Pierce, Lynn Stevens, Courtney Lynn Rose, and a host of others. Without all of you, this story wouldn’t be in the shape it’s in today. Your insights have been invaluable, so have your constant pep talks during all the times I was ready to give up.

  This book wouldn’t be as gorgeous as it is without my wonderful cover artist and formatter, Laura Heritage. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for so perfectly capturing everything I wanted on the cover.

  To my editor, Rosie Somers, thanks for catching all my oversights and silly typos.

  My publicist—Sara Beth Williams—you’ve been a Godsend. Thanks for all you do.

  For all my readers—THANK YOU! Thank you for taking a chance on a new author, for falling in love with Trent and Chloe and Jax as much as I have, and for sticking with me on this journey. I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without all of you.

  Finally, a heartfelt thank you and “I love you” to my husband and children, who are forever putting up with my insane writing schedule, and the rollercoaster of moods that go along with it.

  And now, here’s a sneak peek at

  Eternal Bond: The Cursed Series, Book 3…

  Coming November 17, 2020

  Buy Here

  If you enjoyed Eternal Choice (The Cursed Series, Book 2),

  please consider leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads.

  CHAPTER ONE:

  Prisoner

  I AWOKE, GROGGY, HEAD THROBBING. SLOWLY
sitting up, I looked around, trying to get my bearings. A window to my right. A small bench with a fitted cushion beneath the sill. I was in an average sized room furnished with a twin-size bed, dresser, desk with a chair, and a door leading to another room.

  I scrambled off the bed and stumbled. Searing pain punched at my temples. I leaned against the wall to steady myself and placed my hand on my forehead, hoping some of the pain would ease.

  “Ow.” I winced as another sharp stab hit my temple. Nausea rolled through my stomach.

  Slowly, the events of the previous night came into focus. Getting dressed up with Whitney. My birthday party. Trent asking me to change for him. The coven showing up at the cabin. Me sneaking out to visit Abby. Ivy kidnapping me from the middle of the road.

  “Oh God,” I groaned.

  Ivy had kidnapped me! More than likely, she had stashed me somewhere safe, and well hidden—which meant the chances of Trent finding me were slim. He was probably freaking out, worried about where I was. I’d left him a note, but when he went to Keene Valley, he’d realize I wasn’t there.

  I’d been so stupid to sneak out of the cabin. What had I been thinking? I hadn’t, which was the problem. And now I was paying for my impulsive stupidity.

  Finally, the pain in my head eased, and my mind cleared. Now, there was only one thought tumbling around—escape.

  I straightened and walked toward the door. What were the chances it was unlocked? I went to it and turned the knob. Locked. I rushed toward the window, but that wouldn’t budge, either, though I couldn’t see any lock anywhere. Ivy probably had it sealed with magic. Like it or not, I was trapped in here.

  Sighing, I wandered toward the other door, which led to a small bathroom. How cozy. Well, so much for working together with the coven. Then again, Ivy was under the very wrong impression that I’d been trying to run from her. If only she’d listen to me, I could explain.