"I still wonder about it," I said.
His brow furrowed, eyes searching my expression. "Wonder about what?"
"Whether you're the villain in my story."
~~~~~~~
Mara Monroe is at the center of a war she wanted no part in.
But with her new throne she fac...
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"Mara, get in here! They finished!" Ellie called from the living room.
Those were the only words that could break Cedric and I's staring match. His words, It always burns when I kiss you, had my face heating up. And this time, it had absolutely nothing to do with Essence.
The two of us joined the others in the living room where Thea and Cecile had drawn complicated looking runes on the wooden floor with chalk. The familiar shimmer in the air was the only indication of their handiwork— the portal.
I stood as far from Cedric as the small apartment would allow. Nobody seemed to question us, none the wiser of the panic attack and the kiss that just happened in the other room.
We were leaving. It was finally happening. We were finally going to go save my sister. But there was something I had to do first. I turned to my best friend.
"You're going to hate me," I began and Ellie cut me off.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm not going."
My eyes widened. "You're okay with that?"
"Of course not," Ellie scoffed, "but Cedric was right. The only person I would be a distraction for is you, and I don't want that. I want you to get Brighid and kick King Dendrid's ass."
I snorted, but didn't bother correcting her on Cenred's name. The urge to glance at Cedric was strong, but I resisted. I did, however, wonder when he was able to convince her to stay behind. Whenever it was, I was grateful for it.
I was getting sick of feeling grateful toward him.
Ellie hugged me tightly to her and I squeezed back, reveling in the familiarity and normalcy of the hug from my best friend. Regin was going to go with her, he wasn't a fighter anyways, and she needed protection on her way back to New York. He'd ensure that there would be new wards put on my old apartment, and that the new witches who created them would not be paid off.
I glanced at Thea, wondering how effectively I would be able to convince her to stay behind. She shook her head at me, as if reading my thoughts. She should've been at school or with her friends or something. Something other than risking her life.
Cedric made me a promise though. To protect her. And as much as he didn't like her, I knew he wouldn't break it.
So, now the five of us, prepared to step through the portal. Andras and Freya were first, then Cedric. Thea was next, but before she left, Cecile grabbed her wrist.
"We're even now, Angelos. Got it?"
Thea didn't smile, but the expression on her face resembled one. It was a dark sort of smile, one that sent a chill up my spine. She merely nodded at the other girl before stepping through.
The interaction confused me. Thea had described the other girl as an old friend, but I got the feeling that there was more to that story.
I shot Ellie and Reg a hopeful smile, pushing my nerves and wariness down deep into the pit of my belly. Waving them goodbye, I stepped through the portal as ready as I'd ever be to face the horde.
