Chapter 788
When the light dimmed, the smell of burnt wood and ozone filled the air. Lila groaned, clutching her arm. Where the gems‘ light had touched her, angry red burns now crawled across her skin… branding her.
“It rejected you,” Daisy said, staring in horror. “It will continue to reject you and grow angrier every time you
mess with it.”
Lila’s breathing came in short, sharp bursts. Tears burned in her eyes, and she angrily swiped at them.
“No… It’s supposed to be mine. It’s my family’s birthright. My birthright… why doesn’t it recognize me??”
The gem still glowed, but its light had changed–brighter and colder. It pulsed like a living thing, and Diasy felt something pulling inside her chest with every beat.
Her voice was barely audible as she said, “Lila, it’s not calling to you. I don’t think it ever was.”
“How is that possible?” Lila asked, turning to glare at Daisy.
“It’s calling to someone else…”
Lila shook her head, still in denial over the fact.
“No… it can’t be true… it just can’t,” she croaked as more tears left her eyes.
But Daisy could feel it just as much as she could see it. The heartbeat of the gem wasn’t in the same rhythm as Lila’s… it was in the rhythm of someone else…someone who was truly linked to the gem… someone this magic actually belonged to.
It was time to face the fact that Lila wasn’t a Blackwell… and the real heiress, the real owner of this gem and this magic… was still out there.
And Daisy would stop at nothing to find her.
Judy’s POV
The slow beat of my heart thrummed in my ears; it was the only thing I could hear in this unknown place. I sat with my legs pressed to my chest and my eyes closed, trying to focus on the beat. My body trembled, and fear consumed me, though I had no idea what I was afraid of. All those emotions that didn’t quite feel like my own were pulsing through my veins.
“Blood calls to blood,” I murmured in a voice that didn’t sound like mine. “Blood calls to blood.”
It was the only thing I could say; I had no idea why, where I was, or what was happening to me,
I thought I was going to die here, but then a warm feeling washed over me… and his presence was all- consuming. Though I couldn’t see him, I knew he was here. His scent, warmth, love… it was all around me.
He was worried about me, but I wasn’t sure why. I was right here… it was his.
“Judy…” his soft voice made my heartbeat even faster. “Please, baby… wake up. Open your pretty eyes for me.”
He was calling for me, bringing me home. I wanted to go home to him… my mate.
“What happened to her?” Another familiar voice said softly.
Nan… my best friend. She was also there, and she sounded worried.
“There’s nothing physically wrong. Both she and the baby are okay,” another voice said… Eliza.”
“Don’t tell me there’s nothing wrong, Eliza. She passed out,” Gavin said, his voice coming out hoarse with fear.
I wanted to tell him that it was okay, that I was right here. But I couldn’t. My body wasn’t my own right now… it was consumed, pulling me further into the darkness… further away from him.
“Blood calls to blood,” I murmured, unsure if they could hear me, but it was the only thing I could say, the only words I could get out of my mouth.
“What is she saying?” Nan asked. “I can’t understand her…”
“Baby, please…” Gavin whispered; he sounded so broken, and my heart ached.
“It’s time to wake up,” another voice said. This one was unfamiliar, and it sounded like it came from inside my head instead of all around me like the others. The moment I heard her voice, my eyes flew open, and I drew in a large breath, filling my lungs with much–needed air, as if I had been holding my breath the entire time.
I shot up, my eyes wild and alert as I looked around the unfamiliar room, my heart racing. Nan was startled as she stared at me, and Eliza looked relieved.
Gavin wrapped his arms around me before I could comprehend what was happening. He pulled me against him, and I buried my face in his chest, relieved to finally be awake and with him again.
“It’s okay…” he whispered. “You’re okay.”
But he was wrong… I wasn’t okay. Nothing was okay. Something was seriously wrong, and it was getting worse. I knew he meant well, and I knew I was safe for the moment, but all I could do as he held me… was cry.
Sara is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.