Seduced by Innocencey(41)

Rainbow expected me to call in if Rose didn't go on a true walk-about as promised. I hadn't called in, because I needed to handle this problem myself.

They hadn't strayed more than a few feet from each other this whole time, leaving me little opportunity to end Derek's life while sparing Rose and her dog. I knew this would hurt her, but I didn't want to physically harm her. Emotional wounds could heal, and this was just a fling. I'd be there to comfort her, to offer her support. She'd see how much I truly loved her. How much I deserved her.

That morning I caught a break. Rose came out of the cabin with Sandy by her side. I waited for Derek to close the door behind them and walk hand-in-hand with her, as if he couldn't spend a moment not touching her. But he never came.

Once she had gone far enough into the woods to be out of harm's way, I took the cans of gasoline and the matches and crept up to the cabin. I still had the coven's power protecting me, though only Rainbow knew that, so I didn't fear being seen, but shifters might be able to sense more than others, and I didn't want to risk getting caught.

I poured the gasoline around the porch and splashed it onto the walls, then lit a match and threw it. A whoosh of fire flamed to life, consuming the carefully crafted vacation home. Somewhere inside, Derek would meet his end.

Hiding in the bushes, I watched the fire blaze. It didn't demolish the house as fast as I'd hoped. The sheer mass combined with the weather slowed down the fire.

Sandy barked in the distance and came running toward the inferno. Part of me wanted to run up to save the dog, but I couldn't expose myself.

The dog, fearless beyond measure, jumped in through a window that had shattered, howling from pain as the flames licked her legs and glass cut into her flesh.

It took several moments for Rose to catch up, panting and screaming, tears pouring down her face. She hollered to the house. "Derek? Where are you? Sandy! Come back, girl!"

It took a lot for me to stay in place, to not offer her a friend. But there'd be plenty of time for that. I just hoped her dog survived.

Rose ran up to the house, looked around as if praying for help, then ran into the flames crying out for Derek and Sandy.

My heart contracted in pain. If she died, none of this mattered. It would all be for naught.

I knew I had to do something. I sifted through the family magic and pulled a strand of Ocean's powers. She controlled the water element. If I could channel it through her, maybe I could slow down the flames.

Concentrating, I imagined a watery hand reaching out to submerge the fire, stifling their influence.

With energy draining out of me like water drains from a bathtub, I gave the fire everything I had.

Finally, it slowed, then died out, leaving the smoking remains of a once beautiful home.

Five minutes passed as I waited to see if Rose would emerge unscathed. Then ten minutes. It became difficult to breathe.

When she stumbled out of the cabin, I collapsed in relief. Then Derek followed at her heels, carrying a furry bundle that didn't move, and I knew the fire had claimed the wrong casualty.





TWENTY ONE





Sad Hours





ROSE





Ay me! sad hours seem long.

— William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet





I HAD NO choice but to tell my family the truth about where I'd been and who I'd been with. The police department already knew. The fire department knew. Derek had to go home and tell his family, so he dropped me off at the entrance to the coven property.

"Are you sure you don't want me to be there with you when you go home? I can stay, Rose. My family can wait."

I wanted to say yes, but it would be bad enough without dragging him into my drama, and I had too many secrets from him still to introduce him to my family.

"No, I have to do this alone." My voice sounded distant, like someone else was speaking.

I hadn't cried yet, which felt wrong. But my heart had frozen in shock, and hadn't yet begun to beat again. When it did, I was sure the pain would overwhelm me.

Sandy lay in the backseat, lifeless and covered in burns. She'd warned Derek of the fire, but had already been too badly injured by then to save.

By some miracle, we'd survived unscathed and the fire had stopped on its own. I didn't have the energy to probe with my magic to find out why or how. I felt dead inside and just wanted to rewind time and go back to the days before, when the magic of love could have sustained me forever.

Derek pulled me into an embrace, and I waited for the wave of emotion to crash, but it didn't. Still, I clung to him, not wanting him to leave despite my words, but I no longer had the luxury of his touch and nearness. I'd have to face this next hurdle alone.

Ocean met us at the gate, her face pale and makeupless, her eyes rimmed in red and puffy from crying. When I got out of the car, she grabbed me and hugged so hard I couldn't breathe.