ROTTEN LOVE - Chapter 45: Chapter 45

"Get her on the phone," I almost flip the table with a sense of adrenaline. A dark feeling emerges from the inside.
I've about had it with everything and everyone. I have been double-crossed and lied to by everyone I held dear.
Jason pops his head up from my shoulder and looks at me, "Calm down. You know we can't call home without Maddox or Marisa."
I tilt my head to the side to hide my annoyance. The two-step security system for communicating with Vales comes to haunt me. It was my idea.
Essentially, anybody can write a note but to get it sent to Vales the letter has to touch a Malfattos hand. Then, poof. The spell I placed instantly makes the letter disappear from the sender's hand.
Those in Vales do the same thing but it must touch Amara's hand. She is the one in charge and has seniority. This was how Vales was kept safe.
Charms and spells keep it hard to communicate and infiltrate Vales. You can't find it either if we don't want to be found.
"She knew, Jason, and didn't tell us."
"It says that she discouraged mom from looking into it. What is there to tell?"
"Oh, I don't know, that it didn't work. That mom figured it out and fucked us in return," I snap at him.
He nudges me toward the journal, "Keep reading."
I roll my eyes but we resume our old position.
I get stronger each day that passes by. Amara says I am learning at an unprecedented rate. She thinks I have surpassed her. I'm glad. I have to. I've been feeling unwell recently and I fear for what that means. Has my time run out? Under no circumstances can Nathaniel find out. He is not the same since Alpha and Luna died. They were the closest things I had to parents and they were snatched from us by those bloodsuckers. I will avenge them... I've looked more into the other magic. I will not name it for fear of someone finding out. There is a warning everywhere I look. When casting the spell, depending on how big the power is needed, it might even sacrifice the wielder itself. If I ever want to participate in this type of magic, then I need to make sure it is worth it. I would only have one shot.
I take a second to think about the implications of what I have just read.
"She did not practice blood magic. She did it once and that's it."
Jason has a confused look on his face. I sighed.
"Jason, she says she does not want to risk it. The wielder can perish at the use of it. And she did," I zoned out.
The time she used it to bond us was the day she died as she predicted.
I resume, "She died because she connected us."
"No. Someone broke in and killed her."
"It's a coincidence then that she believed that using this magic once can kill the witch and the day she happens to use it, she dies?"
Jason stays quiet and then formulates, "Maybe, she wasn't ever going to go through with it but because we were attacked, she figured she was dead anyway."
That is a good theory. I think I like the way that sounds better. Perhaps, she had it all as back up but she never intended to use it. They gave her no choice.
I can see the gears in Jason's head turning. He remains quiet. I study the way his shoulders tense and his hands fist.
"What," I ask.
"Listen, I am hoping that is the case."
"But," I poke because he wants to stop himself from saying whatever it is he is thinking.
"But we are not sure. Regardless, it's become clear that you will not be able to break the hex. You need to follow the conditions."
I move a few steps back. "I didn't get that clarity ."
"Helena the wielder can die from blood magic. We read it."
"Key word is can."
"She did. Have you known a stronger witch?"
I cross my arms and shrug his concerns. "Didn't we just agree that she performed the magic because she was as good as dead? Plus, who's to say that if she performed it and we weren't attacked, she would have died? We don't know."
He comes closer to me. "We will also not find out. Not at the risk of your life."
"I can handle this, Jason."
"We will handle this. If you insist on doing this, then we both will share the burden."
Panic sets in. I move past him. "Absolutely not."
He laughs. "You proved my point. If you deemed it was safe, then you would have said ok. You are not doing this."
I analyze his words. It's true.
In retrospect, I don't know what good is my life if I can't break the curse. I will have to let my friends suffer or my mate. It might be drastic but I rather risk my life, endure the ultimate punishment, if that's necessary.
I shake my head. "You're right."
I don't argue with him anymore. I don't want to worry him. I walked to the journal and closed it. I turn to look at him. "Too risky," I give him a small smile.
He studies me hard. He's not sure if he wants to believe that I gave up so quickly. He extends his hand out and I look at it confused, my eyebrows scrunched.
"The journal," he orders.
I hadn't realized I was clutching it in my hands. He won't let it to chance. "Right," I hand over mom's journal.
There's no point fretting. Jason has been the same for 23 years. There is no hiding spot of his I can't find.
I could see relief flood into those green eyes when I easily gave him the notebook.
After he left me for a few minutes to stash the journal, we decided to go looking for Zain and Maddie. They were still out on the field.
One look and I can tell everyone is tired and over-exerted. They have been doing this all day. It's already late evening.
I link Zain, 'Don't you think it's enough? They look tired.'
I'm on the outer edge observing. Jason has crossed the field and is at Maddie's side. She has dismissed the girls. I am waiting patiently for Zain to do the same.
'They can keep going.' Zain replies and does not give me a glimpse.
'They have been doing this nonstop. You're done for the day.' I'm annoyed.
Zain smirks and he finally moves his head toward me. We are a distance away but the look brings us closer. 'Is that an order, Luna?'
'Take it as you must, alpha.'
I can see him fight a smile. He finds my bossing amusing. However, he does what is told and dismisses everyone.
He walks towards me and gives me a peck when he gets to my side. "How was your day?"
"Uneventful," I answer quickly.
"Uneventful is good," he shakes his head in approval. He grabs my hand and we walk toward Maddie and Jason. There is a pleasant silence.
Jason holds Maddie's waist and keeps her close. With him, she seems frail but she is not. She can kick anyone's ass.
When we get to them, I decide to be polite. I did promise Jason to try harder. Well, at least pretend.
"Hello, Maddie, like your gym wear," I compliment, not knowing what to say to her.
She assesses me. Then looks up at Jason. I see the way their eyes connect and there is some type of resonation in her.
She keeps her eyes on him but says, "Thanks. Your blouse is nice."
Her tone is monotone. Jason has made her promise too. She must care for him to compliment me.
Zain eyes her too. He notices the shift in his sister, and what Jason brings out of her.
A small smile forms on Zain's face. He directs his attention to her, "Same time tomorrow. We will not be getting out early."
She nods in confirmation.
I don't like it. "She just got back. Don't you think you are overdoing it?"
I can see Maddie surprised by the statement.
She hesitantly answers, "I'm okay. I've been gone for too long."
"There is no reason for this intense training," I say.
Zain replies, "We don't know yet."
"There will not be a war. You heard them. They will extend an olive branch."
"If you fuck Maddox," he argues, "which you won't."
"Because risking your people's lives is worth your ego. Take it from someone who lost her people. Nothing is worth that."
"That's what the training is for. To avoid casualties," he says sternly and squeezes my hand.
I squint my eyebrows at him. "Whatever."
I look away from him. There is no point fighting. He tugs on our hands and moves me to his front. He releases my hand to place his on my waist, bringing me closer to him.
The anger I feel subtly dwindles. He breathes in my scent, "Maddie and I would like to take you guys to a place right now."
It took me off guard. "Where?"
"It's further in the woods, a little hidden. My parents used to take us there to relax. Our grandparents took them." Zain says.
I heard the unspoken words, 'Your mother used to go there too.'
I wanted to protest. Lately, she has not been on my good side. With each new thing I learn about her, the more her image changes in my head.
Zain does not wait for a response. We start walking and he guides me. His stride is strong and certain while mine is full of doubt.
After walking for about 30 minutes, the air lightens. Its smell seems fresher. There is a cascade of water coming down to a small lake.
I smile. The water seems so clear. I take a deep breath. "This is beautiful Zain."
He turns me so that I face him. "To me, you're more beautiful."
I blush. He says it looking me dead in the eyes and it slightly makes me embarrassed, in a good way. Butterflies in the stomach type of way.
Two figures run past us and I diverge my gaze from Zain to see Jason leading Maddie into the water. He slams her into the water and she emerges laughing.
I laugh when she can return the favor. A rare moment of pure joy. My smile vanishes quickly when my feet lift off the ground and over large shoulders.
"In we go, babe," he strides quickly towards the water.
I giggle, "Oh no no."
Then goosebumps emerge across my skin as the cold water touches me. I gasp as Zain brings us under. When I emerge for air, I look up at the blue sky. The feel of the cold water, and the lightheartedness in my brother's eyes allow me to take a burden-free breath.
At this moment, relief and peace is all I feel. Zain swims to me and our bodies intertwined. He lifts me as I wrap myself around him. Our lips meet and everything about this moment is right.
We play and relax in the water for about an hour. I think about nothing. Zain and Maddie already had a picnic planned out. We ate by the lake as the sun came down and it was so serene.
Consumed with bliss, at night, Zain and I instantly lost ourselves in one another. I devoured his kisses and he molded into me. Our bodies synced instantaneously.
He would plunge deep and I open more for him, grasping all of him. I clawed his back at the intensity and he growled in approval.
He was at my mercy. Only I could hurt him and he was okay with it if it meant that our bodies and soul could connect like this. He would allow me to do worse if it guaranteed all the emotions that moments like today can bring.
We fight hard. We argue constantly. But we laugh and fuck harder. There is not a dull instant, and when he cums in me and I gasp for air, for more of him, ecstasy encompasses me.
Waking up the next day felt lighter. We ate breakfast together then he went out for his day. But the sense of dread was somewhat dimmed.
Two more days pass similarly. It was the afternoon. Although Zain was not with me, I felt him on me. His kisses penetrated my body. His touch kept a lingering warmth.
I made my way upstairs to freshen up and try to dispel some of the heat consuming me when I saw Maddie exit her room door. I give her a nod and open my door.
"Wait," she calls out to me. I hault. I see her hands behind her back.
"Yes?"
She brings the hidden object into view and I am stunned, suddenly feeling like I am drenched in cold water. I eye her.
She simply says, "My brother's happiness is worth a potential displeasure with your brother. Helena, please, don't hurt him. For him, find a way out and if the answers aren't in there, then give up. Choose him."
She pushes the little black book into my hands and leaves without another word. As I held my mom's journal, reality resumed.