by W. J. May
From the mirror’s reflection I saw the doubt he’d had the moment before was gone, replaced with a tender smile. His eyes changed to a lighter shade of blue, and he leaned forward to hang the necklace around my neck.
With a sexy, throaty laugh, he said, “I’d be honored if you would wear my Siorghra. I love you. I would do anything for you – fight for you, follow you, travel across this world for you, do anything you ask. I’d die for you. This is my love, eternally.” He looped the clasp together and a resounding click echoed in my ears. I loved the sound.
“You have my heart forever.” I shifted so I could put my hands on his face to bring it towards me.
We kissed gently, and I could feel him holding back, afraid he might hurt me. I pushed my lips harder against his and pressed against him. He made me feel safe.
He lifted his lips away from mine as he looked into my eyes. I could see his were a darker shade of blue, and I was sure mine were full of desire as well. His lips came crashing down on mine and both of us felt each other's desire.
The cuts on my lip broke open and I could taste blood in my mouth. Michael jumped off me onto his back. I gingerly rolled over to my side and pressed my wrist to my lip to stop the bleeding.”
He gave a small smile and brushed a stray hair from my forehead. “I’m sorry. Are you okay? I didn’t realize the effect of putting my Siorghra around your neck would have on me.”
I leaned up on one elbow and smiled. “I’m fine. You know something really cool? It’s like I can feel the change, too.” I didn’t feel alone. I felt connected. “It’s the best feeling in the world.”
We grinned, staring at each other like a couple of school kids.
A thought crossed my mind. “How did you know where to find me when Damon took me?”
Michael sat up and leaned against the frame of the futon. He lifted me so my head could rest against his lap.
“I wasn’t sure where you were, but I knew you were alive. I’m not sure how I knew, I just did. As the Coven meeting finished, Grace messaged me that you hadn’t returned from grocery shopping. Caleb, Seth, and I left immediately. I couldn’t get back here fast enough.
“We searched the grocery stores, your old house, out by the school, out by where the bonfire night had been this summer. Nothing gave us your scent. The falling snow slowed us, making it harder to catch it and I started to grow desperate. We searched all night.” He paused, as if to collect his thoughts. “I thought Damon had taken you to get to me. It never really occurred to Seth, Caleb, or I that he might actually want you and our deaths might just be a bonus. It all makes more sense now.”
“How’d you know where to look?” I played with the pendant around my neck, loving the feeling of the loop running along the chain.
"Sarah located the GPS tracking on the Jeep and figured a way into the car dealership’s computer. We found the Jeep towards the early morning, and I found my Siorghra under the seat.”
I nodded. After seeing the connection between Seth and Tatiana, I’d hoped he’d had some inner connection to the pendant.
“Seth went into the cabin and I raced into the forest. Caleb followed me and we both found the empty cabin. I followed the trail of blood that led around the lake. I knew it was yours, I could smell the black liquorice scent. Caleb took off in another direction. I came to the spot where you must have stopped for a moment. One of those mongrels was tearing some of your clothes. It was a trap. The pack had hid and used the one Grollic to pretend it was mauling you.” Michael shuddered and lightly made trails with his fingers on my back. When he stopped, a finger rested on the birthmark he hadn’t seen.
I moved slightly, nervous he might know about the mark and wanted me to tell him about it. I planned to, just not until I figured everything out.
The mark seemed to hold something which could tear us apart. I wasn’t ready for that. We’d only just found each other. I touched his arm and his fingers began tracing light circles absently on my shoulder. “What happened next?” I asked.
“I over-reacted, and I never do that.” He shook his head. “Enraged I attacked and, stupid me, was instantly surrounded by the pack. Caleb took off after the Alpha. The rest you pretty much know as it was a few moments later that I saw you come back from the lake. You looked so fragile and scared. However, that changed when you started hollering at the Grollics. You were pretty pissed off.”
I smiled, remembering my anger and how stupid a mistake it could have turned out to have been. I thought about the journal. When I studied it again, I’d see it in a whole new light. “Do you think more Grollics are going to come after me?”
Michael ran his fingers along the side of my ribcage, staying quiet for a long time. “Eventually I think they will. We don’t know how many of them know about you or if they know you are able to command them. I think, to them, you are bigger than our war.”
Thanks goodness we were laying close together. I needed his warmth because the words he spoke made my blood run cold and my birthmark began to burn with a sharp pain I’d never felt before.
POSTLUDE
NOTE TO SELF
Remember to keep writing in this notebook, Rouge. You bought this silly, expensive leather notebook to keep track of your thoughts for your trip this summer. You also promised yourself that you were going to write down anything you learned from the Grollic book. So, this is your journal and, one day, you are going to want to sit down and read this book to remember all the emotions and things you learned on this journey.
I sat tapping the pen against the desk while I tried to think of what else to write on the first page.
Rouge, you love Michael with every part of your being. This is something bigger than just you here. It is in the blood which runs through you. Don’t ever forget that or lose sight of it – no matter what happens in the future. Always remember - you need him forever.
I thought about the mark on my back and leaned forward, forcing the image out of my mind.
One other important thing – A GROLLIC IS THE ENEMY (…I think)
THE END