Envy (Protectors of the Elemental Magic Book 4)

by Marnie Cate

  She began to cry harder. The young woman crumbled in his arms.

  “Shhh, I'm here, love,” he whispered, and covered her face with kisses. She whispered something inaudible, and he picked her up. When their lips met, their caresses turned frantic.

  Thoughts of breaking the window, just as Jameson had done so many years ago to distract Roger and me, passed through my mind. There wasn't a lot I had control over in my life, but this… I could stop them from making a mistake. I spotted a fist-sized rock. As I reached for it, I felt a hand close over mine.

  “Do not interfere,” Jameson said. “Let them have their stolen time.”

  My eyes met his. “The pain he will feel will be unbearable. When he realizes this was just a moment…”

  “Do you regret our moments?” he asked, searching my face. “Would you have rather I left and never returned? Would that have been easier?”

  “This is not about us. Our time has passed. I don't have the energy to stroke your ego anymore. My son is all that matters now,” I snapped.

  “I'll leave you, then.” Though I could hear the hurt in his voice, I didn't bother to look at him. “At least, step into the shadows until he comes out, Blanche. You may be here a very long time,” he advised before disappearing.

  As the time passed, I questioned what I was doing. I had been contemplating going home and letting my son handle his own affairs when the door opened. Looking up, it was Eliza who stepped out. Her make-up had been refreshed, and she looked her picture-perfect self.

  I despised her. I could only see her as the seductress who was putting my son in even more danger than I had. Without delay, I stepped from the shadows, causing Eliza to jump back in surprise.

  “Blanche…Mrs. Drygen.” Her hand reached for her chest. “You frightened me.”

  Taking her hand, I noted, “What a nice manicure you have. Did your friend, Sarah, do this? My own nails could use some treatment.”

  “Oh, Sara's gone to bed already. I just came back for something I left,” she said, glancing around to see if anyone else was with me.

  “Don't worry. There is no one here but me. That is, you, me and my son.” I emphasized the knowledge that brought a blush to her cheeks, noticeable even in the dark.

  “Why would you say this? Cedric isn't here,” she responded nervously.

  “I would suggest you return to the cottage and bathe, dear.” I squeezed her hand firmly. Leaning in, I inhaled deeply, and whispered, “You smell like shame and deceit.”

  Ripping her hand out of mine, she said, “You're insane.”

  “Eliza, your charade is pointless. I saw you with him. I know he is in there. I, also, know Snowystra wants your daughter.”

  Eliza's mouth gaped open.

  “Maybe she will leave my family alone for a while,” I pondered. “Perhaps, it's the Silver's turn to deal with her now.”

  “You are cruel. She is a little girl. Why would you wish this on her?” she snapped.

  “My son is the most important thing to me. If you love him as you say you do, you will let him go. Your message on the lake alerted me, as it has done each and every time. Why would you be so naïve to think the Goddess hasn't been aware as well?”

  “Jameson wouldn't tell on us,” she said, glaring at me.

  “He is the least of your worries.” I scoffed. “You have no idea what lurks in the night. You think Snowystra is the only one to be scared of? You are sadly mistaken.”

  “It doesn't matter. I told him tonight I wouldn't see him again. I want him to find someone to marry, to be as happy as I am,” Eliza declared. She looked uncomfortable. “I really must go.”

  When she tried to walk past me, I gripped her arm, and I said, “If she comes for my son again, I will deliver your head to her on a platter.”

  “Let her go, Mother,” Cedric said, resting his hand on my shoulder. “We've made our peace.”

  Oh, how wrong he was. There would never be peace as long as Snowystra wanted what no one had been able to give her. Stupid children, I thought as I released my hold on Eliza.

  As if to prove me right, their parting was short-lived. Two days after our interaction, Chester Veracor was dead. When Cedric heard the news, he rushed off to comfort Eliza. He was convinced her father's death had not been an accident, even though the doctor pronounced Chester's death a heart attack.

  In truth, Chester's death opened a door. One which was slammed in his face again, three months later, when Eliza told him she was pregnant again. Despite his insistence, she swore Cedric was not the father. Giving birth to another girl, I, too, wondered about her parentage.

  * * *

  Almost one year later, Jameson appeared in my study with Eliza. He must have pulled her from her sleep because the woman was a mess. Her hair was in disarray, and she was clad in her nightgown.

  “What are you doing here?” I hissed, looking up from my book and eyeing Eliza with distaste. “I want no part of this.”

  “You summoned me,” Cedric snarled as he entered the room. When he saw Eliza, he rushed to her. “Why are you here? Are you okay?”

  “I don't know,” Eliza replied weakly. “He brought me here.” She pointed towards Jameson, her body tense with her uncertainty.

  Suddenly, the window blew open, allowing snowflakes to float into the room. My eyes widened, and I shivered in fear. Snowystra was here.

  “Good, I see you have brought them for me,” the Winter Goddess praised Jameson as she assessed Cedric and Eliza.

  Jameson might have looked as though he bowed his head to Snowystra, but I knew he was trying to hide his shame. Once again, he betrayed us in hopes of finding her favor.

  “I must say, your endless love has become quite boring to me. Yes, I admit there was a time when I enjoyed hearing you plead for the gods to bring your love back to you, Cedric. Oh, that reminds me, you still haven't thanked me for giving you a reason to be a successful businessman, not just a spoiled brat, but this does nothing for me anymore.” She gestured between the two, looking disgusted.

  The worried glance the young couple shared was not lost to me. Had I not warned them of this very possibility?

  Walking around Eliza, Snowystra continued, “You are such a beauty. If I were ever to have a child of my own, I would want it to look like you.”

  “Thank you, Goddess,” she said softly.

  Encircling the forbidden couple, her fingertips dragged across their flesh, leaving red marks. “You should thank Jameson. My loyal guard always gets me what I want.”

  “It's my duty, Goddess,” he said formally.

  “And, I thank you for your worship. Now, you may go.” Waving her hand at him dismissively, she focused on Eliza. “So why did I have you brought you here?”

  Before Jameson left, he mouthed the words, “Do not speak.”

  I nodded my understanding, and watched his leave.

  “I will say, I had hoped you would disobey me and sneak around. Courtship and marriage wasted so much time with Camille, and then, again, with Blanche. I doubted I would have tolerated more of it.”

  Cedric and Eliza exchanged looks of guilt.

  “Has the time apart strengthened your desire to be together? Will you do anything to finally be with the one you love?” The Goddess asked in a purr.

  “We will, Goddess,” Cedric admitted. “Please, just let us be together as it was mean to be.”

  “Sweet boy,” Snowystra said, trailing her finger down his scar. “I will lift my restriction. I want you to be together because I want the child I was promised.”

  Cedric flinched.

  “But, I am married,” Eliza protested.

  Snowystra cupped the young woman's face with one hand, and used her thumb to further smear her lipstick. “Do no play the innocent virgin with me. We both know your marriage does not mean anything to you.”

  “That's not true, Goddess,” Eliza quietly denied.

  “It took you eight years to have another child. I do not believe you are a barren wast
e, like Blanche. Clearly, you have been a neglectful wife,” she said.

  Eliza looked stunned. Sadly, this decree of the Winter Goddess would be the least shocking to her.

  “I tried to have a conversation with your father about my hopes for your future. Chester just didn't seem to understand that nothing will stop me from getting what I want.”

  The revelation made Eliza gasp as tears began to trail down her cheeks.

  “I hoped Mae would have joined us for the conversation.” A wicked smile crossed Snowystra's face. “Wouldn't that have been delicious? Slowly, picking off the protectors of Danu's magic, one-by-one, but I mustn't get ahead of myself. After all, you will carry the child who will free me. This will be the ultimate revenge.”

  Silver butterfly popped into my mind.

  Abruptly, Snowystra turned and looked out the window. I could see Amaro. He had crooked his finger, motioning her to him. The corner of her mouth lifted into a slight smile. “I am tired of this conversation. You will bring me the child soon,” Snowystra ordered sharply. Then, stopping, she added, “Get rid of Elliott, too. There's no longer a need for him.”

  Without waiting for a response, she vanished. Finally alone, I, immediately, turned on Eliza.

  “I told you to stay away from my son, but now, it appears I have to tolerate you. I don't care how you do it, but you must get rid of your husband.”

  “I will take care of him,” Cedric decided all too quickly.

  “No,” Eliza cried. “I won't let you kill him.”

  Sighing deeply, I pinched the bridge of my nose between my thumb and fore-finger. “So tiring. He doesn't have to die. Just convince him to go away.”

  “Even if he leaves, I would still be married,” she argued, returning my cold tone.

  “True, but that's not a concern if he's dead.”

  “I already said I won't let you kill him!” she yelled.

  “Why is this so hard, my dear? He could go fishing. Maybe the boat is found flipped over with a little blood on it,” I gasped dramatically. “Did poor Elliott drown? Tsk, Tsk. Isn't it sad how accidents happen?”

  Cedric crossed his arms over his chest, watching Eliza as she swallowed hard.

  “Then again,” I suggested, planting the idea that should have been so obvious, “he might have been convinced to slip away in the night. You know, to save his family.” I gestured noncommittally. “The poor grieving widow would be free to rekindle her old love.”

  “You are mad,” she cried.

  “It is very simple – convince your husband to go quietly, or I will have your family killed.”

  “No, Mother,” Cedric begged.

  “We have no choice,” I told him sternly. “Snowystra has made the decision. You have a month to make it happen, or I will permanently put Elliott in his grave. If a few of your other family members are caught in the crossfire, it will be something you will carry for the rest of your life.”

  “You are cruel. I see why my mother and her friends took your family's magic,” Eliza hissed.

  Holding out a shooting stream of my dark Winter magic in the air, I said, “They missed mine, dear.”

  * * *

  Wisely, Eliza and Cedric wasted no time. A week later, the search began for Elliott Stone's body began. The Silver's grieved another loss, but Eliza was free now to marry my son. He just needed to give the appropriate time of respect before doing so. If only Mae Veracor would get out of the way.

  “I can't comfort her in public. Her mother won't let her see me,” Cedric whined.

  “It doesn't matter what Mae wants. Just keep seeing her,” I ordered.

  “I don't want Snowystra to take my child, Mother.”

  “None of us ever do,” I replied.

  I felt frustrated with Cedric. My son was becoming weak from his fear, and it was becoming old. How had I raised such a pitiful man, I wondered.

  “Jameson said if I produce a magical child, the Goddess will make me king.”

  “And how many times has she made that very promise?” I asked, cocking my eyebrow.

  Cedric shrugged, and cast his eyes towards the ground.

  “Your father is so blinded by his desire for power that he can't see the cold reality. Snowystra will never make either of you her Shah,” I said. Pouring him a drink, I discretely dumped the gypsy potion into it. Handing it to him, I toasted, “To our future, Cedric. We will survive the next round of attacks by the Winter together.”

  * * *

  “You cannot continue to play with my son's emotions like this. The Goddess has plans for you,” I told Eliza.

  “I never signed up for this. You drug me into this world. I never wanted to stay away from Cedric, or marry Elliott. You forced me to try to build a life without your son,” she accused, her green eyes blazing with hatred for me.

  “You are a fool to think I wanted my son to have anything to do with you. Your family has been the bane of my existence, but you are here now because of the choice you made. You and Cedric chose to defy Snowystra. That had nothing to do with me.”

  Eliza's face pinched with emotion. We both knew I was right. There could be no denying the truth.

  “Of course, none of this matters. Soon, you will be carrying my son's child.” Cackling, I shot back, “The grieving widow will get very little sympathy when she appears with her belly sticking out. You won't be able to hide what a whore you are for much longer, Eliza.”

  Slap.

  “How dare you strike me,” I screamed, lunging at her.

  As I went to return her blow, Cedric grabbed my arm. “Stop it, Mother. You will not talk to Eliza this way. She is my wife, and she will be the mother of my child.”

  “Your wife?” I snarled. “She has a husband, you fool.”

  “Elliott is gone. We were married last night in the gypsy camp. We would have invited you, but your displaced anger would have ruined the event,” Cedric informed me coolly.

  Mother of my child rang in my mind. Had Eliza lied? Were all of her children really my grandchildren? My only son married, and I was not there. Worse than that, he married Mae Silver's daughter. I melted in defeat. Cedric led me to a chair.

  “She's pregnant,” I whispered.

  “Yes, this is good news. I am happy,” Cedric replied. “You must accept this, Mother.”

  “If you are his wife, why are you not living here?” I asked.

  “I can't leave my girls.”

  “Bring them here,” I said snidely.

  “You know my mother won't let that happen,” Eliza retorted.

  “Then, leave them. They would probably be better off without you,” I said sincerely. They will be safer in your mother's care."

  Her eyes welled with tears. “I can't.” Turning to her husband, she cried, “I have to go home, Cedric. I'll figure it out and we will move in soon, I promise.”

  “We can discuss this later, when you are calm,” Cedric said before kissing my cheek.

  Following them out of the study, I wanted to say something. I wanted to tell Eliza I knew how she felt. I knew how scared she was because I had lived through this terror myself. Somehow, things had gotten even messier than they were, and now, another innocent child would be brought into it.

  “Come back tomorrow, and we can talk about this civilly,” I said.

  “We have plans,” Eliza said without turning to address me.

  “Yes, I am sure you did have plans,” Snowystra commented as she stepped out of the shadows.

  I wanted to run back inside the house and slam the door shut. I was sure Cedric and Eliza were just as desperate to get away from the wicked Goddess. Instead, we just remained standing there like a bunch of silent statues.

  “I am certain you were planning to come tell me the wonderful news, personally, were you not?” Snowystra placed her hands on Eliza's stomach. “Yes, I feel the child's magic. Mmm, Eliza, your magic is quite strong, too.”

  In one fluid movement, Snowystra picked up Eliza's hand and sliced her fingernail
across her palm. As the blood began to flow, she licked the streaming fluid. A wicked smiled crossed her face.

  Disgusted, I moved further away for them.

  “Fire. Wonderful. Winter and Fire are always good together,” she said. Her eyes glowed an eerie neon green color.

  The cut began to flow heavier. I wanted to help Eliza, but I knew it would only make things worse. Snowystra licked the wound, and a layer of white ice formed on it.

  “You promised Cedric he would be the Shah of your kingdom,” Eliza reminded the Goddess. She inspected her hand before tucking it away. “Make him the king, and I will rule beside him. We will have many children who will be devoted to you.”

  We could all see the spark of intrigue on Snowystra's face.

  “Yes,” Eliza pushed, “that is exactly what we will do. Make him king now, and we will go with you this very minute.”

  “Tempting. I am very interested in your daughter. Does she have strong magic like you?”

  “No, sadly, she has none.”

  “The baby?”

  “She doesn't have any either.”

  “What is it with these babies no longer being born with the gift? Go to my sister and beg for her blessings.”

  “She won't answer my prayers,” Eliza replied meekly.

  “And, why won't she?” Snowystra glared.

  “Because I have accepted your Winter.”

  “We will do what you want, Goddess,” Cedric promised, interrupting their conversation. “My child will be strong, and Eliza will bear more. If our children do not carry the magic you want, I will accept the punishment.”

  “Oh, there will be more than enough punishment for both of you,” Snowystra promised, “but not today. Today, I have plans involving more interesting things.”

  The Winter Goddess' gaze penetrated me. Its power was almost as strong as a physical assault against me. I averted my eyes in submission.

  “Do the math for me, darling. When will you bring me my child?” she asked, stroking Cedric's cheek.