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31
Watching the both of them retreat into the shadows of the forest, running in the direction of home, my heart hammered in my chest. There were any number of things that could go wrong with what I had planned. Adrian was a vicious and calculating man. He could be prepared for me to somehow get free. My only hope was that he thought enough of himself to think I’d run rather than fight.
Closing my eyes, I imagined the mating bond that linked me to Jamie and traced it’s line into the distance. His warmth came surging back, and a few whispered words echoed through my ears as if he’d whispered them himself.Be strong, Snowflake. I know you can do this.
I laughed.It’s Snowflake now? What happened to just Snow, or I don’t know, Eve?
I felt his joy radiating across the void.Snow is pretty… sure, Eve is special, but Snowflake covers all the bases. Snowflakes are unique. No two are alike, and you babe, are one of a kind.
The sound of my snort of laughter echoed off the trees as his words warmed me.You’re such a cheeseball, just do me a favor and stay alive, okay?
What was it you said to me… oh right, you can’t get rid of me that easy.I could feel the power of his smile even through our connection, but I let it fade and forced myself to turn around and face the ruins.
Maria was right, ever since I was little this place had been calling to me. It felt safe and protected. Peaceful even. Could that really be because my birth mother’s magic laid somewhere inside it? Was that why I loved the tower so much?
Picking my way across the ground, I passed the first of the pieces of whitewashed stone the jutted from the earth. I’d never approached the tower from the north before. It looked smaller somehow. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but something definitely felt off. Something I’d never noticed before.
“Alright,Mom. Is this where you hid it? Is that what this is…or am I crazy?” I muttered, running my fingers over the stones as I passed them. “It’d be nice to know I’m not crazy for once.”
My skin tingled as I touched the rocks, and for the first time, I recognized the tingling feeling in my hands as magic. I’d never really thought about it before. It was just something happened.
“What would Annie say if she could see me now.” I sighed, turning my eyes to the moon hanging high in the sky.
Well quite frankly, I wouldn’t still be standing where you are right now,said a familiar voice.
Opening my eyes, I jerked around in a circle looking for the source. “Annie?”
No, this is the ghost of Christmas past. Yes, it’s Annie. What the hell are you doing girl? Get the damn necklace.
My heart sped in my chest, as my eyes desperately searched for some sign of my grandmother. “Annie? Where are you? How can I hear you?”
Those aren’t exactly questions I can answer, Girly, but let’s just say there’s a lot more things in heaven and Earth, than are dreamt of in your philosophy. Shakespeare had that right, that’s for damn sure,she said, and as I closed my eyes, I could almost picture her standing there in front of me wearing one of her old flannel shirts, her hair wild around her head, and a fresh glass of iced tea dangling from her fingers.
“I don’t understand,” I said, wiping the tears from my eyes. “I’m so confused.”
Follow your heart kid. It’s never steered you wrong. Not really. You’re a smart girl. You’ve conquered more than this pack could ever dream of, and if you’re brave about this then you’ll have no trouble getting what you want in the end.
I hung my head. “What if I’m not strong enough?”
You have to be, Sugar Bean. This aint just about you anymore. You’ve got a man that loves you. You’ve got a friend that would do anything for ya, and you’ve got roots now. I made sure of that. You can do this. Now, wipe the tears. Buck up and go find that damn necklace. I’m sure Selene’s got a few words of her own for you.
I looked up, searching the ruins for any sign of her face, but I was still alone. “She’s here too?”
This place was sacred once, there’s a lot of us here rooting for you.Annie chuckled.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t hear in time to save you. You didn’t deserve what Adrian did,” I said, wringing my hands.
It’s in the past kid, I’m just glad you’re back,she said, her voice fading a little bit.But do me a favor…
I frowned. “Anything.”
Once you find this talisman, send Adrian my regards, and kick his ass.
I laughed, wiping tears from my cheeks and a phantom wind came wafting through the ruins, disbursing whatever bit of magic it was that had kept my grandmother close.
The wind tossed my hair around for a few seconds and then tugged me in the direction of the tower. As I followed its direction, I felt the tingling in my hands increase, even without touching the stone.
It was as if something had woken up inside the ruins, and whatever lurked inside me was rising to meet it head on. At the back of the tower, vines were weaving through the stonework. Its bindings were crumbling, and the air had the faint smell of wild animal. Something had made its home in these ruins more than once, but that was no doubt before the death walkers started hunting.
