lied to me. You asked me to love you
and I did. I gave you love. This is how you repay me? By showing up here, at my
brother’s home, with news of your engagement? To her? To Selena Lovell of all people? That witch has had it in for
Julien ever since her attentions went denied.”
“Chantilly, you don’t understand.”
The voices faded away.
Feeling the power inside her head hum and her ears burn with energy,
the strange sensation had Desiree reaching with cool hands to provide relief to
her fiery ears. Dizzy, as the humming heat spread out and rushed to her head,
she opened her eyes. Trying desperately to steady herself and focus, she spied
a hand reach out for her. A startled Desiree yelped, threw a punch and
connected with someone’s jaw.
Simon held his chin, backing up. “ Merde , you hit hard. What’s
happened, Desiree?”
She put her hand over her mouth, surprised by her own actions, and
shook her head. Dropping her hand, she spoke. “You—you startled me Simon.”
“No, my angel, do not lie to me.” Simon put his hands on her arms,
helping her stay upright.
Desiree couldn’t think straight, and when she felt him invade her mind,
it was too late. Simon got into her head, reading her thoughts. All of them.
He stared at her. “I had no idea how you felt.” Averting his eyes, she
shook loose of his grip. He took a step closer. She took a step back. “I didn’t
invite you into my head. It’s rude. Us modern-day
witches don’t like uninvited guests, but I’m glad you got your cheap thrill for
the night.”
“Desiree, do you think I would abuse my gift in such a way? I had no
idea of your ... your feelings. I was worried for you.”
“Worried for me? You’re not worried for me. You’re worried for you.
Ever since that first night when we—when we almost fucked each other. Every
damn time I get near you, you jump back like a scared rabbit.”
“Aimee—I mean Desiree, please.”
“Aimee? I don’t know who this Aimee is, but I’m not her.”
“She was the love of my life, my wife. I know that you are not her.”
“Apparently not.” Struggling to come to terms with his slip up, Desiree
tried her best to hold back the tears. “Leave me alone, Simon. Just leave me
alone.”
****
After hours of lying awake, unable to sleep, Desiree slipped out of her
bed and into her shoes. Outside, she went in search of an answer. If tonight’s experience
was her true calling, she had a long road ahead. Not knowing any witches who
possessed the ancient gift, she was anxious to learn more. Seeking knowledge
from an elder would be her only course of genuine understanding.
She spent the next thirty minutes trying to concentrate on her newfound
talent. Flustered, she paced, wearing a path in the grass. Trying to recall what
she’d been doing when she first heard the voices, Desiree
listened to the sounds of the night. Concentrating on the quiet, she closed her
eyes and focused on the stillness. Nature’s sounds served as a backdrop, no
longer in the forefront, and the voices returned along with the familiar warm
tingling sensation in her ears.
Desiree listened intently to the dialogue between a male and female. There
was a familiarity about the voice of the male. With its baritone quality and
inflection, she believed it to be Julien.
“It’s over, Selena. I’m sorry. I don’t love
you. I’ve always known there was someone out there for me, but it’s not you.
I’m sorry if I hurt you.”
The woman sounded desperate, begging him to reconsider. “Julien, please. I’ve been waiting for you. I will marry
another if you reject me.”
“I’ve tried not to lead you on, but you
refuse to listen. I guess I have to spell it out for you. I have no intention of
marrying you, nor will I impregnate you.”
“Why
not? I’m pretty and smart. I’m a very talented witch. You
would be lucky to have me.”
“I don’t want to be cruel, but you are not—for
me. I have been with plenty of witches and
and I did. I gave you love. This is how you repay me? By showing up here, at my
brother’s home, with news of your engagement? To her? To Selena Lovell of all people? That witch has had it in for
Julien ever since her attentions went denied.”
“Chantilly, you don’t understand.”
The voices faded away.
Feeling the power inside her head hum and her ears burn with energy,
the strange sensation had Desiree reaching with cool hands to provide relief to
her fiery ears. Dizzy, as the humming heat spread out and rushed to her head,
she opened her eyes. Trying desperately to steady herself and focus, she spied
a hand reach out for her. A startled Desiree yelped, threw a punch and
connected with someone’s jaw.
Simon held his chin, backing up. “ Merde , you hit hard. What’s
happened, Desiree?”
She put her hand over her mouth, surprised by her own actions, and
shook her head. Dropping her hand, she spoke. “You—you startled me Simon.”
“No, my angel, do not lie to me.” Simon put his hands on her arms,
helping her stay upright.
Desiree couldn’t think straight, and when she felt him invade her mind,
it was too late. Simon got into her head, reading her thoughts. All of them.
He stared at her. “I had no idea how you felt.” Averting his eyes, she
shook loose of his grip. He took a step closer. She took a step back. “I didn’t
invite you into my head. It’s rude. Us modern-day
witches don’t like uninvited guests, but I’m glad you got your cheap thrill for
the night.”
“Desiree, do you think I would abuse my gift in such a way? I had no
idea of your ... your feelings. I was worried for you.”
“Worried for me? You’re not worried for me. You’re worried for you.
Ever since that first night when we—when we almost fucked each other. Every
damn time I get near you, you jump back like a scared rabbit.”
“Aimee—I mean Desiree, please.”
“Aimee? I don’t know who this Aimee is, but I’m not her.”
“She was the love of my life, my wife. I know that you are not her.”
“Apparently not.” Struggling to come to terms with his slip up, Desiree
tried her best to hold back the tears. “Leave me alone, Simon. Just leave me
alone.”
****
After hours of lying awake, unable to sleep, Desiree slipped out of her
bed and into her shoes. Outside, she went in search of an answer. If tonight’s experience
was her true calling, she had a long road ahead. Not knowing any witches who
possessed the ancient gift, she was anxious to learn more. Seeking knowledge
from an elder would be her only course of genuine understanding.
She spent the next thirty minutes trying to concentrate on her newfound
talent. Flustered, she paced, wearing a path in the grass. Trying to recall what
she’d been doing when she first heard the voices, Desiree
listened to the sounds of the night. Concentrating on the quiet, she closed her
eyes and focused on the stillness. Nature’s sounds served as a backdrop, no
longer in the forefront, and the voices returned along with the familiar warm
tingling sensation in her ears.
Desiree listened intently to the dialogue between a male and female. There
was a familiarity about the voice of the male. With its baritone quality and
inflection, she believed it to be Julien.
“It’s over, Selena. I’m sorry. I don’t love
you. I’ve always known there was someone out there for me, but it’s not you.
I’m sorry if I hurt you.”
The woman sounded desperate, begging him to reconsider. “Julien, please. I’ve been waiting for you. I will marry
another if you reject me.”
“I’ve tried not to lead you on, but you
refuse to listen. I guess I have to spell it out for you. I have no intention of
marrying you, nor will I impregnate you.”
“Why
not? I’m pretty and smart. I’m a very talented witch. You
would be lucky to have me.”
“I don’t want to be cruel, but you are not—for
me. I have been with plenty of witches and
Similar Books
