Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 84072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“Fated mate,” I repeated and stared down at her. I loved the way it rolled off the lips like we were meant to be together despite the universe keeping us apart. “That reminds me…” I cleared my throat. “That story yesterday… do you know how to break the Matchmaker’s Curse?”
She threw her head back and laughed. “I’m amused you would ask. Who do you think I am? A witch?”
“Maybe.” I concentrated on her face. The deep lines around her mouth, the almond shape of her brown eyes, nothing looked familiar. “I don’t recognize you, past or present.” I shook my head. “And I feel like I should.”
“When your eyes are open, you will. Right now, you see with fragments of your past attempting to fuse with your reality at present. One truth I will share.” Her eyes twinkled. “You already know how to break the curse, Luna. You are a fierce, strong warrior, not just up here.” She pointed to her head. “But here as well.” She pounded a fist to her chest. “You’re the hero in your own story—don’t give the position to someone else out of love—that’s not love. And everyone knows true love breaks the curse, often times unforgiveness clouds the ability to love—especially ourselves.”
Tears welled in my eyes. “Are you saying I need to forgive the past? Or the darkness that stole my mother away? That’s like asking me to forgive the universe for wronging me when I did nothing but love someone with my entire soul.”
“You are missing the point, and you always have.” She stopped rocking. “You will never break the curse if your heart is full of darkness.”
My jaw dropped, and I stared in shock at her direct assault.
“And darkness will never stop following you until you send it back to the hellhole it came out of. You are no victim, so stop acting like one. Something I’m sure your mother would agree with.”
I snapped my mouth shut. My mother? Did she know my mother? It was a small town, word spread fast. Could she be right? This whole time was I just feeling sorry for myself?
I didn’t know how to forgive without wanting my revenge. My mom’s screamed for it. She had been innocent in all of this. How could I not blame myself, knowing someone took her?
How could I become the hero when my entire present was clouded with pain, choking with sadness? How could I stand up when I’d been wrapped up in chains for so long?
I might as well be at the bottom of the sea, clawing my way to the surface while anchored to the ocean floor.
I exhaled out a breath. “Thanks, I needed that talk—”
“Who are you talking to?” Sarah asked. “And why does it look like you’re crying?
“Huh?” I swiped under my eyes and stared back at the chair as it continued to rock back and forth back and forth. “I was talking to Mrs.—the Crone, but then she left.”
Sarah’s innocent eyes revealed nothing; she just shrugged. “Sometimes she does that.”
“And it’s not strange?”
She barked out a laugh. “This entire town is strange, remember? We’re haunted.”
“Are you?” I pointed at her and then thought better about it. After all, how did a person ask if another person’s not human? “Never mind.”
“No.” A ghost of a smile formed across her lips. “I’m not a vampire or a cannibal, a werewolf or a witch.” She winked. “Malcom, on the other hand…”
“I’d eat you.” He licked his lips, causing her entire face to flame red. “Was it something I said or something I did?”
“Ah, teenagers.” I laughed. “Always thinking about sex.”
“Literally always,” Malcom joked. “Not like you’re that much older anyway, but thanks for the pep talk. It’s nice when it’s with your best friend… The sex”
Sarah’s wide-eyed gaze met mine.
I held up my hands. “I’m not your mom.”
“Thank God for that,” Malcom muttered.
Sarah swiped at a stray tear as it slid down her cheek. “I barely know you, and I still wish you were.”
My heart squeezed as I pulled her into my arms. “You have me for now, and you have Malcom.”
“Group hug.” Malcom’s arms were suddenly around both of us.
“Can’t breathe, can’t breathe!” Sarah and I said in unison.
Malcom pulled back. “Women, so touchy.”
“You—” I gave him a light shove. “—go sit.”
“Fine, fine. Wait, are you guys gonna talk about my sexual prowess? Because I feel the need to be present just in case Sarah remembers things wrong—”
“Go.” I pointed.
“You guys suck,” he grumbled over and over, all the way back to his chair, where he grabbed his book and sat.
“So…” I turned to Sarah, very awkwardly, as if I was, in fact, acting like his mother even though he was two years younger than me at best. “You’re being safe, right?”
“I’m not stupid!” she whispered. “And he’s right there.”