Tethered 02 - Conjure Read Free Page A

you because they’re jealous of us being on the verge of getting our magick, then becoming initiated ends that. And if it’s the Van Rooyens trying to scare you away so they can keep the deal they’ve set in place with our parents, well then…an initiation ends that as well.”
    My pulse raced. What she said was true. It made sense—perfect sense—but that was what scared me. Becoming initiated seemed so final. Didn’t they realize that? If I chose to do this, then it meant I would have to stay in Soul Harbor—forever—if they ever wanted to use their magick. If I ever wanted to use my magick as well.
    Another thought burst through the thick forest of worries in my mind: would the initiation even work now that I was tethered to Theo? I didn’t know. This was another question I needed to ask him, if I ever got a chance.
    “Wouldn’t it just make whoever it is more vengeful?” I questioned. “And that would mean I’d have to stay here, in Soul Harbor, too, right?” Every word that flowed from between my lips seemed thick and bitter tasting with nerves.
    “Even if going through with the initiation did make whoever it is more vengeful, it wouldn’t matter, because we could create our own protection spells to cover each of us at all times,” Kace said. “As far as you staying in Soul Harbor, yeah, if you wanted to use your magick you’d have to.” He didn’t look at me when he said his final words.
    I didn’t respond. I didn’t know how. Week one of being in this town I’d found out I had magick, got a job where my boss seemed to know an awful lot about me and yet never disclosed anything about it, and had made a serious enemy who wanted me out gone at all costs apparently.
    Week two looked like I was going to have to sign my fate away and stay in this town forever.
    Rubbing my forehead, I silently wondered if this was how my mother had felt. Had she felt trapped here, too? Was that why she’d left and given me up for adoption instead of just taking me away from here and creating that spell? Maybe she’d wanted a complete redo. If this was the pressure she’d felt, then I didn’t blame her.
    “You don’t have to decide on it right this second or anything, but I’d say if you’re not planning on leaving anytime soon, it’s something to consider,” Adam said.
    Could I leave? For whatever reason, I hadn’t thought of that yet. Binks strolled into the room and found me. He hopped into my lap, his nails digging into my thigh to secure his grip. I winced, but didn’t push him down. As I scratched behind his ears, I thought of all my options. I could leave, sell the house, and keep Binks. This would fix all problems as well—at least for me.
    While I pondered this idea, Kace slid his arm back around my waist and warm sparks shot through me from his touch.
    Could I give that up?
    I would never feel the same with another guy again. No relationship after this would even hold a candle to this one.
    Theo popped into my mind then, and I wondered if being tethered to him would even allow me to leave. I needed more time. There was so much I was just on the verge of uncovering.
    “I need a little while to think things through,” I finally said. The mood in the room shifted as though I had given them the closest thing to a yes as possible. As though I’d given them all hope. “Everything has just been…too much lately.”
    Callie elbowed Adam in the side. “See, I told you everyone had it right when they said we needed to hold off on all the introductions,” she muttered through her teeth.
    “What introductions?” I asked.
    Callie’s blue eyes widened. “Oh, well, umm…you know what it means for us to have you here to balance us out. Our parents were all thrilled when we told them you’d finally come to town, but they didn’t want to bombard you with introductions right away. They wanted you to get settled in, but when Kace told them he didn’t think you knew who you were— what you were—they