Discovering Riley

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Adams POV

I didn't even bother telling Derek and Josh where I was going. Now that I knew where Riley was, I wasn't wasting anymore time.

It took two hours to drive to my old family home. Once I saw the familiar mansion of a house, dark and sinewy, the aftermath of dark magic hit me like a tidal wave. I bolted inside, shoving the doors open to see Riley on the ground, her face in her hands.

I moved faster than I've ever moved in my life to her side, gently pulling her face up to look at me. She was dirty, her clothes the same from when Mason took her. She was trembling and her skin felt cold. "Riley, baby. Look at me. You're alright. You're okay."

When her eyes caught mine, they widened in fright and she pushed my hands away. "Get away from me. Mason!" She slid away from me, across the room. "Mason!"

I stared at her as if this were a nightmare.

"It seems we have an intruder." Mason's voice came flowing into the room. He walked in slickly, moving towards Riley. My instinct was to break his hands before he got the chance to touch her, but when she launched herself at him, I froze wondering what the hell was going on.

Mason smoothed her hair down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. My hands balled into fists. "It's okay, Riley. It's all going to be okay."

"What did you do to her?" I asked through gritted teeth.

"Nothing, but show her who the real evil person is. You." He grinned. "You set her house on fire. You tried to kill her. You killed her family."

I shook my head. "That wasn't me. That was you. I'll just tell her you're lying--"

"Why would she listen to you when she's afraid of you?"

"What ever spell you put on her, take it off. She's not yours and never will be." I told him. "We are soulmates. She might think she can trust you now, but not for long."

"It's okay to lose hope, Adam." Mason sneered.

"Riley?" I called out, ignoring him.

I could see her squeeze Mason more than she was already. She really was afraid of me.

"Riley, put the ward up and then he will go away. Just like you want." Mason assured her.

"Riley, no--" I felt her magical force, now stronger than usual, throw me out of the house. I landed on my back, staring at the biggest ward I've ever seen any one person conjure up themselves. It covered the whole house. It should take 3 to 4 witches to achieve that.

Just what has Mason done to my Riley?

I buried my face in my hands.

"How is that possible?" Carol asked her two sons.

"We have no idea." Derek said.

"It's Mason. No one knows what he can achieve." I commented, not looking at them. "If only I

was there sooner..."

I felt someone rest their hand on my shoulder and squeeze. It was Ray. "Son, don't think about what you could've done. Just about what you can do now."

I got to my feet, walking towards the staircase. "I'm going to sleep for the night. Thank you again, Ray and Carol, for letting me stay here. I can't leave her here."

Carol gave me a reassuring smile. "It's not a problem. We will get her back, Adam. Don't worry."

I shot her a weak smile and made my way up the stairs.

Riley's POV

"Feeling better, gorgeous?" Mason asked me once I'd come out of the shower and changed. I flinched at his nickname for me. It reminded me of Adam.

He sat up and used his arms to gesture me towards him.

I nodded stiffly, taking a seat on his lap as he wrapped his arms around me. I rested my head on his chest. I felt comfortable in his arms, but at the same time, uncomfortable in his arms. I couldn't explain it. Maybe because of what I've been through. "Much. Thank you."

"Do you want to talk about what happened?" He asked me. "What Adam did to you?"

I shook my head, kneading my fingers through his. "You know, I remember everything now."

Mason stiffened underneath me. "W-what?"

"All my memories." I said and he relaxed. I didn't get what he was so worried about but I was ecstatic. I remember every kiss, every whisper, every touch from Mason before the fire. I couldn't believe I even survived two years without him. "I don't know what Adam did to me after I blacked out when that witch doctor lady said that spell, but I remember everything. My parents, when I met you, your brother. Everything."

"That's good." He replied dejectedly.

I furrowed my brows at his response, leaning back to look at him. I thought he'd be happier than this. "I thought you wanted me to get my memories back. That way I'd remember the love we had for each other?"

"I did. I am happy."

I didn't believe him.

He gave me a sly grin. "Want me to prove it to you?"

"How can you possibly prove--"

Mason had me on my back in seconds, hovering above me. He leaned down and captured my lips with his own. I tried to feel the memories of us like this come back to me, but felt a sort of notch in it. When I tried to delve in deeper, it started to hurt my head. Letting it go, I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him farther into me.

When his hands slowly teetered down my sweatpants, I pulled away from his lips. Mason didn't like that. He aggressively pushed my back against the mattress and roughly met my lips once more. His hand reached down into my underwear this time and touched the skin there. I let out a startled gasp, using my magic to shove him to the other side of the bed.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" He demanded, his lips red and eyes fuming.

I pulled my sweat pants back up and my face went red. "We've never...you've never went that far before. I thought you respected that I wanted us married first?"

Mason looked at me as if I've gone crazy. Then he let out a laugh. "You mean to tell me, you and my brother have never fucked before? This is priceless."

I looked at him in confusion. Why was he talking about himself in the third person like that? "Mason, are you okay?"

"Am I okay?" He piped out. "Not really. There's no fucking way I'm waiting any longer to pop your pretty red cherry when I'm sporting a fucking boner right now!"

I blushed at his words, at the same time hurt and embarrassed. He had no problem with my abstinence before. What has changed? "Mason--"

He moved off the bed before I could touch him and started for the door. "I'm going out for a while. Don't wait up, gorgeous."

I hated that nickname. I always flinch at it.

"Mason, just wait." But he was already gone, out the front door and into the night.