“Alisa,” Jace said, looking at me again. The willpower it took to hold back my tears was more exhausting than any training session Abe could dream up. “You’re my best friend and that will never change. I would never let anything or anyone come between us. Please get to know Rachel. She’s a good person. My relationship with her doesn’t have to change our friendship.”
I loved him too much to let him down. I didn’t want to break his heart the way he’d shattered mine. “You’re right, Jace.” I tried to control my quivering voice. The lies were flowing like a rain-swollen creek. “I’m sorry I got so upset. I don’t want to lose our friendship. I want you to be happy, but I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
He stood up and pulled me out of the recliner and into a bear hug. “You’ll see. We’ll be like the Three Musketeers.”
I smiled, remembering the Three Musketeers carried swords. Maybe Rachel would find herself on the wrong end of one. No, I needed to be nice. Best friends didn’t kill the other’s girlfriend.
Jace and I finally settled down to watch our movie marathon, but the day was ruined for me. I was grateful for the semi-darkness of the family room and for Jace’s absorption in the movie, certain my thoughts and feelings were written all over my face.
Rachel was everything I wasn’t and could never be. She was intelligent and beautiful, but most importantly, she was a Spellbringer. I wondered if Jerica would be pleased to accept her into the family. After all, she was one of them. And I was the girl destined to remain on the sidelines of my own life.
***
The first time Rachel, Jace, and I hung out together was the worst. It got easier each time, but not much. Knowing there were many times they were there without me didn’t help. They held hands constantly and it was obvious they communicated without words.
I hated the way Jerica looked at me now. I could read the sympathy and compassion on her face and it made me feel even more pathetic. If Jerica knew how I felt about her son, then surely everyone must know. I hated the jealousy I felt each time I looked at Rachel and Jace, and I hated the fact that everyone knew how envious I was. Too bad Abe’s training sessions didn’t include lessons on masking emotions.
On the rainy, chilly Saturday before Christmas, the three of us were hanging out in Abe’s training studio. Rachel, still ambivalent about training, watched as Jace and I sparred. Jace was clearly distracted by Rachel’s presence, and I’d managed to split his lip and bruise his cheekbone during the half hour we’d been practicing. The more he glanced over at Rachel, the more competitive I became.
I was so intent on taking Jace down, I didn’t notice the footsteps coming down the stairs. Jace turned his head to look at the staircase just as I planted my foot in his stomach. The wind knocked out of him, he fell on his backside, grunting.
Deep laughter diverted my attention. “That’s my little brother getting his butt kicked by a girl.” My gaze settled on Bryce’s mocking grin. He was still laughing at Jace, but a strange look flickered across his face when he glanced at me.
“Mikael, this is Alisa. She’s a friend of the family.” Bryce introduced me to a tall, blond, attractive man who looked like he was in his early twenties. I barely had a chance to nod before they turned toward Rachel.
“This must be Jace’s new girlfriend.” Bryce reached his hand out to shake hers. “I’m Bryce. This is my training partner, Mikael.”
I hated Bryce for labeling Rachel as Jace’s girlfriend and for seeming to accept her so easily. I wondered if I could kick him in the stomach, or if that would be construed as an act of hostility.
Smiling at the thought of wiping the floor with Bryce’s face, I realized too late that the attractive stranger must have believed I was beaming at him. My face reddened when he winked at me. I mumbled something about helping Jerica in the kitchen and made a hasty retreat upstairs.
“Hi, Alisa.” Jerica smiled as I entered the kitchen. “Did you beat the mess out of my son?”
“Yes, I thought I’d help you out in here while he recuperates.” I quickly washed and dried my hands. No need to get Jace’s blood in the supper. “What can I do to help?”
“I’ve got it under control, I think,” Jerica said. “But if you want to help me make a salad, that would be nice. You’re staying for dinner aren’t you?”
“Um, I guess.” I didn’t do well with new people, and Bryce’s friend made me nervous. So did Bryce. Jerica and I worked side by side until we heard a ruckus coming our way.
“I wish Jace had half the focus and intensity Alisa has,” Abe said as he entered the kitchen, Bryce and Mikael in tow. “This is the third time she’s bested him this month. The boy needs to get his head out of the clouds.”
“I think I know where his head is,” Bryce said.
“All right, boys,” Jerica scolded. “Be nice. Bryce, don’t talk about your brother in front of his friend and our guest. Abraham, you know better.” She waved her knife at him to make her point.
“Yes ma’am.” Bryce flashed a wicked grin at his father.
I noticed he had the same crooked smile that endeared me to his younger brother. Funny, the same smile didn’t have the same effect coming from Bryce.
The kitchen suddenly seemed very crowded and I felt self conscious to the extreme. Jerica offered drinks to the three intruders and invited them to sit down at the table. “Mikael, we’re so glad to have you for the holidays.”
“I’m honored to be here. Thank you so much for inviting me to your home.”
“How are your parents? I haven’t seen them in years,” Jerica said. “Are they still in France?”
“They’re currently in Italy,” Mikael replied, “but with Father’s new position, I believe they’ll be moving to Norway soon.”
I adored his accent. What was it about foreign accents that made a man so appealing? I dared to glance up at him, and met his gorgeous blue eyes. I blushed and looked away, my gaze landing on Bryce. He looked at me speculatively.
Dinner that evening was unnerving. It seemed like everyone was communicating on a different wavelength. Even Rachel seemed subdued. She and Jace carried on a conversation consisting of brief hand touches and deep, searching gazes. They would nod almost imperceptibly as they came to an agreement on various matters of silent discussion or debate.
I also noticed the same sort of interaction between Abe and Jerica, although their silent communication was based on years of marriage rather than a psychic connection, I believed. I intercepted numerous meaningful looks and eye twitches. Bryce was quiet and watchful. There were several times I noticed him observing the interplay between Rachel and Jace. A few times, I caught him watching me. Oh great. Bryce probably knows about my crush on Jace. He must think I’m a total joke.
Bryce’s guest talked about anything and everything with only occasional prompting from Jerica and Abe. He was oblivious to the silent communication flying around the room and seemed unaware of the fact that he was pretty much the only one talking. He continued his constant stream of dialogue through dinner and into dessert. It was by far the weirdest meal I’d ever been a part of, and that said a lot considering I regularly dined with a family of Spellbringers.
When Abe, Rachel, and the boys drifted off to the living room, I gladly stayed behind to help Jerica clean the kitchen while she finished up some baking. I was relieved to be left alone with my own thoughts. Jerica was silent as she measured and mixed ingredients, which was unusual for her. At last she turned to me and spoke.
“Be patient with my son, Alisa.” Her expression was unreadable. “He can be difficult, but he’s worth it.”
I was floored. What was she trying to tell me? I had a feeling that sometimes Jerica was able to see into the future, that her intuition was more than it seemed. Did she see that Jace and I would eventually end up together? It didn’t make sense. I’d been under the impression she didn’t want to see me and Jace together—not in that way.
“What do you…?” I started to ask.
&nb
sp; Jerica cut me off with a wave of her hand. “Honey, I’ve already said too much. I’m not going to be one of those interfering mothers. Just remember what I said, exactly as I said it. Don’t read anything into it because it may not mean what you think.”
What? Who? Jerica had completely and totally confused me. Since when was she so cryptic? I could tell she wanted to say more, but held back.
With my thoughts in a jumble, I followed Jerica out to the living room. I remembered her plea to remain patient as my gaze fell on Rachel and Jace seated together on the sofa, lost in a world of their own. Irritation bubbled up to the surface as I watched them. I tried to conjure up the spirit of Christmas, but was unsuccessful. The only thing I managed to conjure was the strong desire to drag Jace to the basement and beat him senseless. Abe could call it training. I called it anger management.
Bryce interrupted my bloodthirsty fantasies. “So, Alisa. Dad tells me you and Jace actually beat him and my mom in tennis. Tell me it isn’t true.” He pulled his face into an expression of fake devastation.
“It is true. And you’re next,” I said. “We’ve been training for weeks. It’ll be a total annihilation.”
Bryce laughed. “What can I do to convince you to join my team? You’ve already proven yourself superior in the sparring ring. Abandon him and together we can rule the tennis court.”
I spared a quick glance at Jace. He was so wrapped up in Rachel, he didn’t notice the lighthearted bantering between his brother and me, or Bryce’s attempt to steal his tennis partner. “Your offer tempts me, I must admit. But what sort of tennis player abandons her partner?”
“A tennis player who wants to win,” Bryce replied. “I wonder, though, if you could beat me downstairs. No magic, of course.”
My cheeks burned with humiliation. It irked me to be reminded I was not truly an equal in this house. I was the only person here who did not possess magic and I silently cursed Bryce for pointing it out. For some reason, I was embarrassed that my lack of special ability was pointed out so blatantly in front of Mikael. A look of confusion passed across his face.
“She’s not one of us,” Bryce said in response to Mikael’s unasked question. Jerica gasped. Before she or Abe could reprimand their son, I spoke up.
Anger ripped through me and it was because of this completely irrational emotion that I agreed to do what I was about to do. “I don’t know, Bryce. You may need that magic after all. Let’s go.” I started toward the stairs with Bryce on my heels.
“Stop right there,” Jerica called out. “We do not use the training room to settle disputes in this house.”
“Your mother’s right.” Abe didn’t look as if he agreed at all. He was geared up for some competition. “We’ll just go downstairs and run a few drills to work off all that energy.” A timer sounded and Jerica disappeared into the kitchen. “Don’t let your mother find out,” Abe said softly.
I headed for the stairs again. Bryce placed his hand on my shoulder. “I didn’t mean it to come out like that,” he whispered. “I was just messing with you. We don’t need to do this.”
“You meant it, and yes we do,” I hissed back. I started down the stairs. Bryce had no choice but to follow. Jace, Rachel, and Mikael followed out of curiosity and a thirst for violence.
“It’s getting pretty late, kids,” Abe announced, descending the staircase right behind us. Clearly he was having second thoughts. I imagined Jerica could be pretty scary when crossed. “Maybe we should postpone this. We can do it some other time.”
“Don’t worry. This shouldn’t take long.” My confidence sounded false even to my own ears. I removed my sweatshirt and stood before Bryce in a tank top and leggings. I kicked my shoes into the corner. Reading the expression on his face, I hissed, “Don’t you dare try to take it easy on me.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Bryce said. “When I play, I play to win.”
We faced each other across the lightly padded mat in the middle of the concrete basement floor. Circling slowly, we didn’t take our eyes off each other. I allowed the anger and rage to flow through me, to burn in my veins. Anger at the way I’d been treated my entire life—by my family, my classmates, Becky, Rachel, everyone. Anger at Jace and his rejection. Anger toward Bryce for his unyielding refusal to accept me as an equal. All my life, I’d felt as if I wasn’t good enough. Well, no more. My anger had been growing over the last few weeks, maybe longer. It was time to harness that rage and use it as fuel.
Bryce looked deadly with his strong, athletic build and formidable height. I remembered he was a Warrior-in-training and almost lost my resolve. Then I remembered he was also a jerk and decided to make the first move.
Crouching low the way Abe taught me, I used my short stature to my advantage. I used my favorite move, my secret weapon, hoping to catch Bryce off guard. I decided to use his ignorance of my abilities to my advantage and launched into a crouching roll, aiming for his ankles. I quickly knocked him off balance and he fell on his backside.
He sprang to his feet with unnatural speed, facing me once again. I briefly wondered whether or not he used a little magic, but decided it didn’t matter. If I didn’t make another decent maneuver the rest of the night, the look of surprise on his face when he fell was enough to make me happy for the rest of my life.
Bryce smiled at me, nodding once to acknowledge the fact that I’d bested him. He darted forward and I ducked, remembering to keep low. I managed to dig my elbow into his stomach and was rewarded by his quick intake of breath. Score another point to me.
The battle quickly went downhill from there. Bryce was faster, stronger, and had the advantage of professional training, not to mention magic. Before I knew it, I was lying on the mat flat on my back with Bryce straddling me, his forearm on my throat. He’d managed to disable me without hurting me at all. He hovered over me and I could feel his breath in my ear.
Leaning close, he said softly, “Well done, Alisa.” He stood quickly and reached down to help me to my feet.
To my extreme embarrassment, Bryce pulled me into a hug and announced loudly, “Well done, my worthy opponent. Jace, I can see why she beat you.” Releasing me, he turned his attention to his brother.
Looking around the room, I could see the glow of pride on Abe’s face, the look of shame on Jace, and the look of amazement on Rachel.
Mikael came up behind me and put his arm around my shoulders. “I am next, no?”
“No.” Bryce protectively steered me away from his friend and snapped out a quick reprimand in French. “As victor in this battle, I shall claim my prize, and it is this: the right to Alisa as my tennis partner for the duration of my stay.”
“No, no, no. Absolutely not,” Jace said. “We’ve been training forever. She’s mine.”
I glanced in Jace’s direction, noticing that Rachel didn’t seem very pleased by the two brothers fighting over me. I sighed. Alas, Jace and Bryce only wanted me for my tennis skills. Men never fought over me for the right reasons.
“Break it up, guys,” Jerica shouted from the top of the stairs. “It’s getting late. Jace, you need to drive Rachel and Alisa home. You guys can continue your smack down tomorrow. Abe, I really need to see you in the kitchen. Now.”
“Oh, Dad’s in trouble.” Jace laughed.
“I drove myself, Mr. Alexander,” Rachel said, grabbing her purse and keys. “I’ll take Alisa home.”
Oh great, I thought, locating my sweatshirt and shoes. For all the time Rachel and I spent together, we were always with Jace. I didn’t think we’d ever been alone. This should be interesting.
We said our goodbyes and jogged through the rain out to Rachel’s car. “Thanks for the ride.” I pulled the seatbelt over my baggy sweatshirt.
“Anytime. Hey, you were awesome tonight. I’ve seen you beat Jace, but Bryce? Unbelievable.” She was gushing, genuine in her admiration. “I think I want to learn to do that. Not the magic stuff. I’m still not sure about all that. But I definitely like the idea of kicking some but
t.”
A wave of anger rippled over me at her announcement that she wanted to start training. Up until now, I felt like it was my thing. It was the only thing I was good at. Rachel was good at so many things. I couldn’t bear it if she was better than me at this too.
“You should learn at least enough to protect yourself, Rachel.” I hesitated for a second. “Can I ask you something, though?’
“Yeah, go ahead.”
“Why the objection to using magic? I mean, I would kill to have the gifts the rest of you have. I would love to be one of you. As Bryce so rudely pointed out, I’m not like the rest of you and I never will be.”
“Bryce really is a jerk,” Rachel said. “When Jace told me about his brother, I chalked it up to sibling rivalry, but he was right. His brother has issues. I can’t believe what he said to you. I’m so glad you knocked him on his butt and so was Jace. If only someone had thought to grab a video camera.”
Spellbound (Spellbringers Book 1) Page 10