"Castine has a lot of enemies out there, but she's too strong for people to take on. So, they use her bonded changelings instead. I can only assume Castine did something to provoke her, because I had never seen her before. I suppose when she failed against Castine, she came after the youngest changeling she had at the time... me.
"She cursed me, but I don't know what it means. Nothing has ever really changed for me, so I'm assuming she either really sucked, or it doesn't affect me, just like a witch's power doesn't affect me."
I frown, worrying now what the curse might mean.
"What did she say?"
He looks down to meet my eyes, seeming unaffected by the whole conversation. "Her exact words?"
I nod, silently urging him to speak.
"If the light fades, darkness will come." He pauses for a minute, and then he continues with, "The rest was in a dead language I've never been able to translate. And believe me, I've studied every old book I could find. But, like I said, nothing ever happened, and that was a long, long time ago."
I sigh out slightly, trying to crack the riddle myself. It's too vague to cipher.
"What about the mark? A hexer's mark shows the words. I bet Drackus could help you translate."
Kane laughs, finding my words hysterical apparently.
"First of all, no one can see it... except apparently you. She was a bitch like that and hid it from view. I can't even see it. So, unless you can get a better, longer look, then that is rather pointless. Secondly,Drackuswouldn't exactly want to know why you were scoping out my chest close enough to see a hexer's hidden mark."
I frown, realizing he has a point. Still, I would risk it. Drackus is in the business of mending fences right now. He wouldn't do anything to Kane simply because he knows I'd never speak to him again if he did.
Kane's lips find mine before I can prod him further. I smile against the kiss as he pulls the sheet around our bare bodies.
"I'm not letting you go home tonight. It's dangerous with the red moon out there," he says while pulling back.
The mischievous smile he wears doesn't go unnoticed, and I stifle a girly grin while offering him a shrug.
"Good, considering I wasn't planning on leaving."
His smile broadens as he leans back down to resume the paused kiss, and I wrap a leg around him as he tucks us under the sheet, pulling it over our heads. The sound of the screaming massacre on the television has been muted, leaving us with just the soft music playing from his iPod dock beside the bed. I never even heard it while we were... um... getting crazy.
Just when I'm sure things are really about to heat back up, there's a knock at the door.
"You guys done in there?" Zee chuckles out.
"Nope," Kane says with a devilish grin.
"Well, you need to get dressed. Gage is on his way over here."
What?
Kane grumbles and swears under his breath as he pulls the sheet back.
"Why is he coming over here?" he gripes.
"Says he needs to talk to Alyssa. He called your phone nonstop until I finally had to answer. Sorry, dude. He'll be here in less than five."
Kane looks at me and shakes his head. "Does this mean we're together, or are you still with him? What was this?"
This? This was me waking up in a psychotic girl's mind. I don't know howthisstarted, but now I can't let him go. Not now. I still love him, and I know that even without the venom still tainting my veins.
"I love you," I murmur softly, gazing into his cool green eyes. "I don't love him."
It's true. I never reached the point of love with Gage. Now I know I never can... unless I want to turn dark and destroy everyone... supposedly. I'm sure the prophecy is a hoax or something, but I dare not chance it. I want to stay a witch. That's all I am. A witch.
Kane's lips find mine with an eager passion, and then he grips me at the waist to pull me closer. His body feels so good against mine—so perfect.
