Amaretto Flame by Sammie Spencer Page B

up
to look at me with her dark eyes. I shook my head in disgust and
glanced at Everett.
    “Livvy,” he said slowly, “we’re all fine. I
know you’re worried, but we’re safe.”
I frowned at him and addressed Ivanna again. “Do you know that
nothing is going to happen to any of them?” I gestured toward
Everett. “Can you swear it to me on fire, water, earth and air? Can
you, Ivanna?”
    “Don’t be melodramatic, Olivia. You know
reading the future is not my talent, but you also know that I would
give my life to keep our family safe.” I saw a real flicker of hurt
in Ivanna’s eyes. It disappeared as quickly as it came, though. I
stepped forward a bit more so that I could look her directly in
those eyes.
    “Ivanna, if you can’t swear it, then you have
absolutely no excuse for keeping me away. You aren’t
justified.”
    “I don’t have to be justified. I am your
high-priestess,” her voice took on that magickal tone as she lifted
her chin, “and I am telling you that if you do not turn around
right now and go back to Staves, your bonds to the coven will be
forfeit.”
    I was frozen in place for a long moment.
“Unbelievable,” I said, looking back and forth between her and
Everett. When coven bonds are forfeited, not only do members find
themselves out of the families, but sometimes they find themselves
deep in a feud with former coven members. Usually, a coven member
would have to do something absolutely unforgivable for this to
happen. Until the day I’d messed up and given the boy our number, I
was closer to Ivanna than any other woman on the planet.
    While Charlotte had behaved as our mother,
Ivanna was my older sister, my confidante, my mentor. She
unashamedly displayed me as her favorite, and even asked my advice
on most coven decisions. Never in all the time I’d been in Eagleton
had she spoken to me this way, and while there was some deep hurt
within me, what I mostly felt was white hot anger.
    I tensed my jaw and forced myself to uncross
my arms. Ivanna’s glare never faltered and I could see that she
most certainly meant her threat.
    “Fine,” I said quietly and coldly, “but if
something happens to any of you because of this…I will never
forgive you, Ivanna. I’ll leave the coven freely and I will never
come back, and for the rest of my days on this planet, I will
never, ever forgive you.”
    I turned, heading back to the car. I heard
Everett say my name a few times, but I ignored him. I wanted to run
to him and scream, cry, demand to know how I had suddenly found
myself on the outside looking in, but my pride refused to allow
that. Tears pooled in my eyes as I got into the car and threw it in
reverse, squealing tires as I spun around.
     
     
    The ride back to Staves was a blur. I didn’t
want to go back, but there was nowhere else for me to go. When I
was almost there, I realized it was probably best anyway. While my
original intention with the job was to piss Ivanna off, it would
serve a different purpose in keeping me occupied. I wasn’t prepared
for Jackson to be at the house when I arrived, but there he
was.
    The black jeep was in my spot, and he was
leaning up against the driver-side door, his arms crossed casually.
I pulled up behind him, groaning, and rubbing tear stains from my
cheeks quickly. I got out of the car and he waved, turning up the
corners of his mouth. When he looked at my face, his smile faded
and his face was washed in a look of concern.
    “Hey, are you okay?” He asked. I walked past
him and toward the gate.
“I’m fine,” I said. “Rough morning, that’s all.”
    Despite my attempt at a brush-off, Jackson
fell into step behind me and followed me through the gate.
    “I’m just not feeling well,” I added, walking
up the porch steps quickly. I hoped he’d take the hint and leave,
but when I turned back to look at him, he was directly in front of
me. Drawing his brows together, he studied my face.
    “You look upset,” he said. Whether it was