Marked: A Two Halves Novella Read Free Page B

dungeon
hung with drying herbs and shelves holding pots and jars filled with
ingredients both crumbled and gooey. Unlike Ma’s hill—my home—this place seemed
lonely. I shivered despite the heat. Xela was isolated in this lair just as I
was isolated from the world. We were so alike, yet different at the same time.
I didn’t know her, but I didn’t care. All I cared about was needing Xela the
way I needed air. Ma wouldn’t approve; I knew that the minute I saw the maiden,
but what Ma didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.
    When I thought about Ma, the scent of roses intensified, and
this time I saw them, blooming in one corner of the rough-hewn room. Xela
twirled her finger, and the blossoms released their aroma, intoxicating me
again. I knew magic when I saw it, but I didn’t have to be magically
intoxicated by this beauty.
    “You don’t have to do that,” I said, aware she’d used a
spell to beckon me in. I would have come with her anyway.
    “You’ll leave if I don’t.”
    “I promise I won’t.”
    “All right.” She lifted her hand, palm toward the bushes,
and the perfume disappeared. The flowers remained, and she turned back to me.
“You know I’m a witch and you know I’m not a good one.”
    “So?”
    “You like a bad witch?” she asked.
    I loved the teasing. It felt as if my feet moved by
themselves as I stepped closer to feel her breath on my face. Our eyes locked
as I grinned. “I like a very, very bad witch.”
    “Good. Because that’s all I can be.” She lifted her arm. The
glowing mark had faded to resemble a tattoo. “Why aren’t you marked yet?”
    “I’ve been trying to be marked, but I haven’t seen the
promise of the other side, just the sphere.”
    “You know, there’s something good about being bad,” she
murmured.
    “That’s what I thought.” I tangled my finger into a strand
of her hair, then pulled at the twig holding the locks together on top of her
head. The curls tumbled to her shoulders and bosom.
    “When you’re marked, at least you belong. Your soul is not
stuck.”
    “My sister would disagree.” My eyes remained on the dark
glory of her hair.
    “Sister?” She raised her brows and moved closer.
    I backed up to sit on a wooden stool against the wall. “Twin
sister.”
    She lifted her hands to stroke my arms. “Is she as strong as
you are?” Her hands tightened around my biceps.
    As a shape-shifter, I could look the way she wanted me to
look. Hell, I didn’t mind at all my Hollywood surfer look. Though I hadn’t
shifted to that just to make her happy, all I wanted to do was please her.
    “She is,” I answered. “But I don’t think you want to talk
about my sister.”
    “No, I don’t. I’d much rather have you.”
    At this point, Xela had her legs wrapped around my waist.
When she brushed her hand across my cheek, the overwhelming lure of strength
and belonging tore at my insides. The heat from her palm flowed straight to my
heart, sending comfort through my body.
    I began to doubt Mira’s reason for wanting the water mark.
Why did she insist so much? After all, it wouldn’t be our decision anyway. Our
fate was already set by the keepers. Did she know something I didn’t? No, she
would tell me. But she wasn’t as surprised to see Eric in the underworld as I had
been. She met him before today. Sneaky brat! She was swayed by the good. But
could I blame her? Here I was, being swayed the other way by Xela. My chances
to kill someone with a black witch at my side increased. I didn’t mind her
influence though . Let’s level out the playing field—one good, one
bad. Let there be balance.
    For goodness’ sake, I didn’t want to think about my sister
now.
    “Let me take those worries away.” Xela pressed her fingers
to my temples, and my thoughts blanked into nothingness. All that remained was
the pull toward Xela. I had to be with her. She pressed her lips to mine, her
breasts massaging my chest. I parted my lips.
    Deciding I would be the one to