Seduced by Innocencey(28)

"I think I might be starting to find happiness. But what if it's too late? What if I've already lost her?"

"It's never too late." He handed me the salve. "This is ready. Go to her. Fight for her. Show her you love her and won't hurt her. Trust your heart above all else."





THIRTEEN





Don't Waste Your Love





BLAKE





Don't waste your love on somebody, who doesn't value it.

— William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet





YOUR DAD IS wrong. Sometimes, it is too late.

The coven's magic weighed heavy in me, like eating a dinner that sat wrong in your stomach, but it did its job and kept me hidden from the Druids by masking my scent, hiding the coven's magical signature and cloaking me in darkness so that their eyes glanced off of me.

I pulled out my phone and called Rainbow. "It's Blake. You were right, they have a power base. It's in a secret garden in their woods. I couldn't get close to see it, but it sounded like a rose garden from the way they talked about it."

"Good. Come home now so we can create a plan."

"There's more."

"What?"

I debated whether to share this information. Rose had grown into a beautiful young woman, and if I played my cards right, I might be able to use this situation to my advantage and finally have a chance with her.

Once upon a time, we had been friends. I didn't know exactly when that had changed, but I was determined to renew the affection that once existed between us. My thoughts traveled through time, to fonder memories.

"Blake, could you help me with the puppies? I can't carry them all."

It was Rose's thirteenth birthday, but still she chose to help with the kennel.

"Sure, give me that big guy and let's get them to their new potty place."

She smiled brightly as we marched the puppies to the yard.

We sat on a swing, watching the puppies play and explore the outdoors. I had my arm around her in a friendly way.

"What's it like, going to a regular school?"

Her question surprised me. "I don't know. It's all right. Mostly, it's a lot of busy work and waiting. I think you're lucky to get to work at your own pace and do the things you want to do."

"But you get to meet new people, right? Date girls, have friends, go places." She tried to hide the longing in her voice, but I could hear it.

"I guess. But I don't really have friends outside of community, and I'm not dating anyone."

"Have you kissed a girl before?"

"Yeah, sure."

"What's it like?"

"Kinda wet, but a little fun too. Haven't you kissed anyone?"

She shook her head. "How would I have? I never leave this place."

Something inside me buzzed as I considered the possibilities. "Would you like to know how it feels? To kiss someone?"

She turned her face up to me, hope in her eyes. "Yes. Very much."

I leaned in and kissed her gently. She tasted of birthday cake, sweet and good.

When I pulled back she still had her eyes closed, and she licked her lips.

"What did you think?"

She opened her eyes. "It was nice. Thank you, Blake."

Rainbow's voice pulled me out of my memory. "Spit it out, Blake, or come home. I don't have time for this."

"The rose garden is guarded by powerful magic. Even with the power of the coven, I couldn't penetrate it."

"That will be handled. Get out of there before you are seen." The phone clicked, and I knew I'd been dismissed.

I hadn't lied, exactly. She hadn't sent me here to spy on that bastard who was taking advantage of Rose. I'd given her the information she needed. I could handle the Derek situation myself. When Rose realized that she'd been dating the son of our enemy, she'd be inconsolable, and need someone there to comfort her. Maybe she'd finally see me as more than the maintenance guy, as someone who could love her and take care of her, way better than this rich prick. Maybe she'd remember that first kiss and realize I was the one she was meant to be with.

As the two O'Conners came out of their secret garden, I slipped back into the woods and headed toward my truck.

Rainbow had promised me power, real power, if I could help them secure this source. I knew I could do it, and with that power I could finally make Rose mine.





FOURTEEN





Stony Limits





ROSE





Stony limits cannot hold love out,

And what love can do, that dares love attempt.

— William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet





Dear Diary,



This disconnect that has wedged itself between me and Jasmine hasn't always been here. There was a time when we were close, the three of us. When we played and danced and sang, and when Jasmine wanted to be just like me when she grew up.



Jasmine has earth magic, and she and Ocean would have great fun weaving together their gifts to make Mother Nature their playmate, while I smiled on, content to be the observer in these fanciful games.