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“Cassandra,” Niko says gently, drawing my attention.
“It’s never been like this,” I say as I face him. “I’ve never glowed. My magik has always been more internal. I heal people, I can calm someone, but I’ve never actually had physical magik.”
“I don’t know why your magik would manifest now but it could be stress or the fact that you know the truth your mother has been hiding from you,” Niko muses.
“So, what Arabella said was true?” I ask.
“I don’t know how much of what she said was true. But I do know that your magik was being suppressed and now it isn’t,” he replies. “It does give a lot of weight to what she told us.”
“Great.” I roll my eyes. “How do I face my coven after knowing they’ve been lying to me my entire life?”
“I don’t have all the answers you need right now,” Niko says. “But I can offer you a break from the life you are caught in.”
“Meaning?”
“Come with me. Let me show you Runic. Join me for a week, give us a chance to get to know one another.” There is a pleading quality to his voice.
“What would that accomplish?”
“For one, it will give you a break. Time to think, away from the pressure of your coven,” he says. “And it will give me a chance to convince you that you are indeed the witch the prophecy speaks of.”
This isn’t something I would usually do. I never go anywhere or do anything. I don’t have a single spontaneous bone in my entire body. Thinking back, I realize that has more to do with my mother than with me. She has been keeping me close, making sure I don’t have the chance to find out the truth.
But now that I know the truth, I have options. My destiny is my own. And Niko has a point, I need time away to think. Rising from my bed I head toward my closet, pull out a suitcase, and start packing. It may not be the best idea and maybe I should think this through before jumping in with both feet, but I’m tired of always being scared and never living.
“How do we get to Runic?” I ask when I’m done.
Chapter Seven
Niko
I wasn’t expecting Cassandra to agree so easily. But it makes sense. If your entire life turned out to be a lie, you may want to pack it all up too. Holding her hand, I lead her toward the cottage I have been renting. I haven’t left anything there that can’t be replaced, but I do need to let Hayden know I’m headed home. If I leave him here in Alluvium without a word, he will never stop complaining.
“I know it’s late, Tayla,” Cassandra says into her cell phone. “Just listen to me.”
I can’t hear the reply, but it makes Cassandra smile as I open the door to the cottage.
“I’m going out of town for a while, and I need you to open the café for a couple of days.”
She listens as Tayla replies.
“I will tell you everything when I get back. Love you. Bye.”
Cassandra ends the call abruptly and removes the battery. Then she drops it into her bag.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
“Yeah,” she says and sighs. “She’s just worried. This is out of character for me. She’s being a good friend.”
I could pry, but I won’t. Instead, I lead us into the house where Hayden is lying sprawled out on the couch.
“We’re going home,” I announce.
“Finally!” Hayden says as he switches off the TV. “I’m so glad you are finally giving up on this crazy plan to find…”
His words are cut off as his gaze lands on Cassandra. His smile spreads as he runs a hand through his disheveled hair.
“Now, who is this beautiful creature?” His voice is sultry as he moves toward her. He is a total man whore, and I don’t want him anywhere near my little witch.
