Ophelia
I brought it to my lips and inhaled, immediately chucking the thing at Denver when my lungs seized. A cough tore at my chest, so strong that my eyes watered. No matter how hard I tried to breathe in, all I could do was hack and cough.
It tasted awful. Like burnt grass and chewed lavender.
The four of them chuckled, descending into laughter that rang heavily in my ears. Heat warmed my cheeks, carrying embarrassment that quickly faded when Sarah herself erupted in a fit of wet coughing.
When I finally managed to stop, I realized I felt different.
There was this odd sensation dancing along my skin, like little bursts of electricity. As they burrowed deep, they melted into a blissful numbness that had my shoulders drooping and eyelids growing heavy.
Goddess, what was this stuff?
Coop rolled his head my way, âNice, isnât it? Itâs official name is Dark Matter. Think of it as the magical version of weed. Itâs blessed by a witch with an earth affinity, so itâs extra potent.â
I blinked slowly. Dark matter? The irony wasnât at all lost on me. The pain in my wrist faded to a dull throb, as did the constant ache in my chest.
âAffinity?â
Surprise unfurled across his elfish face, overexaggerated from the effects of the drug. âYouâre not from here, are you?â
I shook my head, each movement feeling slowed. Coop reached over and plucked the joint from Denverâs fingers, bringing it to his lips once more.
âJust moved here, actually.â
A chorus of ahâs sounded. Coop pursed his lips and blew a plume of smoke into the air. Arielle and Sarah exchanged a long look. The latter leaned forward in her seat and scowled, âYou just moved here and chose to come to this place?â
Coop made a sound in his throat as though he agreed, but none elaborated. Again, I shrugged. What did it matter, anyway?
âUs folks with magic always have an affinityâa type of magic that comes easy to us.â He explained.
After one last pull, he offered me the joint. I could no longer find a reason not to take it. Two more drags and a coughing fit later, and my entire body had become blissfully numb.
I was floatingâswaying along the current of a great ocean. The waves were no longer agonizingly cold. They werenât warm either. They werenât anything.
Oh, this felt good.
A blur of color appeared to the left of the sofa. I moved slowly, eyes settling on the hard planes of a feminine face.
Icy blonde hair fanned out around the girlâs shoulders as she crossed the platform. Denver spotted her and cursed. He shoved the joint into Coopâs hand, who quickly stubbed it out atop the glass table. Without glancing my way, he passed it to me and muttered, âHide it for me, pretty girl.â
I shoved the joint into my pocket and sank further into the sofa, my mind a blissful haze of numbness.
âOut stalking Coop again, Nova?â Denver drawled, his golden eyes slinking down the icy blondeâs curvy frame.
She sneered, her upper lip pulling back to reveal straight white teeth with a slender gap in between the front two.
âIâm not stalking anybody, dickface. Iâm keeping an eye on my brother since he canât seem to stay out of trouble. Funny how you and trouble go hand-in-hand.â
Denver rolled his neck along his shoulders, âWhat can I say, cupcake? I am who I am.â
With one final sneer, she whirled on Coop, whose head fell back with a groan. âCome on! At least let me stay for the fight. You know Jude always slaughters his opponents. I swear, Iâll leave willingly once itâs over.â
The strobe lights dancing along the club walls dimmed, sliding along the graffiti, and veering towards the far end of the room. Each one was a beam of vibrant color illuminating the shimmering metal walls of the cage.
All at once, the crowds voices lowered to hushed murmurs. The music followed suit, now an ominous beat pulsating in the background.
Through the numb haze, my skin prickled with an electrical charge. I was so enamored by the goosebumps pebbling along my arms that I barely heard the conversation flowing around me.
Novaâs shoulders fell. âFine, but if you donât keep your word I swear Iâll make you regret it. And quit the smoking, you know how addictive that stuff is.â
With his lips twisted into a crooked grin, Coop gave her a half assed salute. My world twisted, flipping upside-down when he tugged me to my feet. I swayed, the colors around me blurring. I had to clamp my lips together to keep from giggling.
When was the last time Iâd laughed, anyway?
âCome on, pretty girl. You wonât wanna miss this! Judeâs fights are epic. Guyâs a bona fide psychopath.â
I stumbled through the crowd at Coopâs side, swept up in a current of writhing bodies. Drowning in the scent of drugs, sex, and perfume.
The announcer, a weasel of a man whose beady eyes surveyed the room hungrily, opened his thin lips and began to shout into a microphone.
I barely heard him speak, apart from the single name that rippled across the crowd.
Jude.
Time slowed as a shirtless man, covered in thick swatches of ink, stepped into the cage. Actually, stepped was wrong. He prowled.
The buzzing of the crowd faded to a dull roar in my ears. Even as a sea of bodies swayed around me, I couldnât break my stare from the horrendously beautiful man.
There wasnât a single muscle or inch of skin that wasnât tattooed. Only his face and a patch directly above his heart remained clear. Even in the low light I could see the piercing that speared his left brow, along with the jagged scar sliced down his eye.
If Iâd been sober, my instincts wouldâve been screaming danger, because all it took was one look to know that this man was a predator.
I barely registered Coop shouting in my ear when Jude lunged at his opponent, silent and swift, ready for the kill.
The drugs really had screwed with my mind, because I hadnât even noticed the other guy step into the cage.
He was a mountain of a man, and yet Jude took him down within seconds. The way he moved his body, wielding it like an instrument of death, had the crowd exploding in bloodthirsty cheers.
The bars rattled as his opponent fell, his bald head lolling back as Jude ushered one final punch to his jaw.
I half expected the beady-eyed announcer to step into the cage and declare Jude the winner, but he didnât.
Jude continued lavishing blows to the unconscious man. His dark hair, shaved short along the back and sides, clung to his sweat slick forehead. The tattoos along his arms rippled with each punch.
I gasped, releasing a ragged sound that tore through my sore throat and into the humid air.
Judeâs head snapped up.
His eyes were wild.
Ravenous.
They swept along the crowd before locking onto my own. Blood, bright as rubies beneath the flashing lights, was splashed across his face.
Had he somehow heard me? No, it wasnât possible. Not with this much noise. Something behind me mustâve caught his eye. As fuzzy as my head was, I couldnât bring myself to turn around.
No longer unconscious, his opponent slung his fist at Judeâs face. The crowd exploded to life as it clipped his jaw, sending him staggering back. Still, his eyes remained fixated on the crowd.
That was until the music cut out and a voice blasted through the club.
âTHE ALPHAâS HERE! EVERYBODY CLEAR OUT.â
All at once the crowd surged, forming a vicious wave that tore me out of Coopâs grasp, thrusting me into open waters. I was jostled left and right, carried further away from the cage and the murderous man within.
My head swam and spun. Shadows and bursts of colorful light swirled into a kaleidoscope that had me giggling. A hand grazed my hip. Another slid up my back.
I blinked rapidly. My eyelids were so heavy.
To the left of me was a hallway. The exit sign dangling from the ceiling flickered. Itâs red light singed my corneas. My back hit the wall, the rough brick gliding along my flesh. Itâs bite was nothing more than a whisper of touch.
A man I didnât recognize hovered over me, eyes of milk chocolate sliding down my throat.
âHow did I get here?â My voice sounded far away, muffled by the cotton in my ears.
A hand smelling of smoke and whiskey inched down my throat, trailing along my shoulder before reaching down to the hem of my shirt.
âDonât worry about it, sweetheart. You and I are going to have a good time, alright?â
His voice was rough in a way that grated along my numbed nerves. Unease began to swirl in my gut. I shook my head, the world around me blurring once more.
âNo, I donât think I want that.â
A hand fell over my lips, only to be torn away when a shadow descended on us both. A shadow with dark hair, silver eyes, and a blood-flecked face.
Jude, the fighter from the cage, appeared behind the man hovering over me. My eyes widened and mouth opened several seconds too late.
Large, tattooed hands grabbed the manâs head and twisted. Blood roared in my ears, muffling the deafening crack. My eyes dropped, ready to watch the manâs body slump to the floor when one of those tattooed hands grabbed my chin.
I was lost in pools of swirling silver, unable to do anything but stare as a dull thud hit the floor.
Jude cocked his head, the movement animalistic.
Unable to look away, I sucked in a gust of oxygen and flinched as his scent assaulted my senses.
Bursts of amaretto and cinnamon were warm and fragrant as they filled my head and danced with my twisted, warped thoughts.
There was a snap deep within my chest. One that echoed down my limbs, stirring my wolf from her slumber.
Her howl was deafening, leeching the color from my surroundings.
No, not again.
It wasnât possible.
It. Wasnât. Possible.
âMate,â She whined. âWe have another mate.â
Judeâs lips parted, the low light catching on his eyebrow piercing. From the corner of my eye I saw Denver approach, stepping into my side with his hands raised in surrender.
Those eyes of molten silver flicked down to Denverâs hand, which hovered over my shoulder.
âHey, Iâve been looking everywhere for you. I told you Iâd give you a ride home, remember?â
There was a warning written clear across Denverâs face, bathed in remnants of fear that had me bristling.
âRight.â
When did my voice become so weak? So breathless?
Judeâs stare slid back to me. The sheer intensity radiating off his body was a drug of itâs own. Without a word he took a step back, turned, and vanished down the blackened hall.
JudeRevving the engine of my bike, I peeled out of the garage and into the blanket of night enshrouding the idyllic neighborhood of Crescent Hills.Normally Iâd tap into my nature magic and shift, either taking to the skies or forest, but I wanted to conserve my strength. Not that it mattered in the slightest. The opponents at La Stella were abysmal at best.Ryker was going to be pissed, but when wasnât he pissed?After enduring that group spell with his preening girlfriend, I needed to blow off some steam. It was either that or I slit her throat and be done with it.Now, that would piss him off.It had taken us long enough to get our coven together and in line, and the last thing my noble half-brother wanted to do was hunt down his girlfriendâs younger sister to fill the empty spot.I didnât particularly care what he wanted, but I also didnât feel like dealing with his wrath. The guy was a thorn in my damn side, but he was probably the only soul on earth I gave a fuck about.Plus, w
OpheliaOnly once I was far away from Judeâs intoxicating scent did I finally allow myself to breathe.One blink and I was no longer standing within the graffiti painted walls of La Stella. Instead, I was curled up in the passenger seat of an expensive car. Notes of leather and peppery cologne clung to the inside like a second skin.Denver grabbed my chin roughly, and for a moment I wondered if he was going to pick up where that strange man left off.The strange man whose neck I was almost certain Jude had broken.No, that couldnât have been what happened. It was the drug messing with my head. There was no reason Jude wouldâve done such a terrible thing unprompted. The oxygen in the car thinned even further as I fought for breath.The blocker was still suppressing my scent, so the bond hadnât snapped into place for him. That meant it had to be my imagination, or a trick of the eyes.Denver snapped his fingers in front of my face. When had he become so pale?âFor fucks sake, pay attent
OpheliaAlpha Ryker pinched the bridge of his nose. The look he tossed Judeâs way was nothing short of furious. Instead of scolding the guy or telling him to knock off whatever it was he was doing, he turned to Nova and snarled, âExplain things to her, will you? I do not have the patience for this.âClearly, Jude had some sort of death wish because he threw his head back and laughed. Well, it was his version of a laugh. All ice and razor-sharp steel.âWhat exactly do you have the patience for?â He asked, folding his tatted arms over his chest.Nova, the only one who wasnât sneering down at me or looking at me as though I were an unwanted piece of trash washed up on a pristine shore, lowered herself onto the bench at my side.Her pale-blonde hair floated around her shoulders, rustled by a gentle breeze.âWeâre not a cult,â She said gently, as though she were talking to a wild animal. âWeâre a coven. A coven of witches. You do know what witches are, donât you?âI nodded slowly. Of cours
OpheliaRecognizing Kimberlyâs voice, I shuffled closer to the door. Careful not to nudge it open, I flattened myself against the wall and listened.âSheâs a backstabbing, conniving bitch. Sheâll tear us apart and play with the scraps.â Kimberly sucked in a sharp breath as though she were on the verge of crying. âYou have no idea what sheâs done. Sheâs the reason I moved back here last year.âI bit my tongue hard enough to draw blood. She was lying, blatantly lying to Alpha Rykerâs face. Kimberly had moved back to Lunar Isle after receiving a scholarship to their university. Her decision had nothing to do with me. Not a damned thing.âTell me what happened, mĂ amor.â [my love]Rykerâs voice was neither angry nor patient. It was flat, brimming with silent command that had my stomach twisting into knots.âSheâShe,â Kimberly took a steadying breath, âShe ruined my marriage to Alpha Hunter. My mother set it up when I was sixteen, and the moment Ophelia found out about it she made it her l
OpheliaIâd been standing under the spray of the shower, drowning in the thick steam, for nearly half an hour when my phone buzzed from where it sat on the sinkâs ledge.For a moment, my heart seized in my chest.The last thing I wanted was to speak to Alpha Hunter when everything was so fresh and raw. Iâd have to tell him what Iâd learned, and I wasnât sure I could bring myself to speak the words aloud.âMy sister shouldâve aborted you.âNo, I wouldnât think about it. Not right now.Perhaps not ever.Uncaring that I was sopping wet, I tore back the flimsy curtain and plucked my phone up, swiping at the screen with slippery fingers until it unlocked with a quiet click. Relief cascaded down my spine as I zeroed in on Lucilleâs name at the top of the text thread.Wow. What had my life become that I was happy to hear from Lucille?Lucille: Youâre expected at the lounge in one hour. Keys are on the hook by the door. Do not be late. I want the place ready to open by Wednesday.Well, that w
OpheliaâItâs not like I wanted to hear your super-secret conversation. I was coming downstairs for something to eat. Maybe next time you want to talk about me, try doing it somewhere other than the kitchen.âRyker flicked an imaginary fleck of lint from his suit and said calmly, âIf Lucille harms Kimberly in any way I will hold you personally responsible.âI couldnât help but laugh. It burst from my chest without warning, dry as the tepid air whooshing down the length of Lunar Isleâs beach. My lips peeled back in a grin that had my bruised jaw throbbing.âHarm her? Lucille would never lay a finger on her darling Kimberly; I can promise you that.âHis eyes, emotionless as ever, flicked down my face. Whether or not he noticed the bruise on my jaw, I wasnât sure.âOut of the kindness of my own heart I gave you the night to process things. As it stands, youâll start your training immediately. Nova will oversee it herself. This weekend weâll preform the ritual swearing you into the coven
RykerI arrived at the Hawkinâs house around mid-morning.As I entered the foyer, I wasnât greeted by the sound of my girlfriendâs preening, as Jude called it, rather the muffled blow of shouting. It was so loud, so very shrill, that it permeated the walls and filled the entirety of the villa.For good reason, the servants had scattered.As did most living things when Kimberlyâs voice began to rise in both pitch and volume.Pushing my frustration down beneath a layer of cold calm, I began to pace. My mind wandered to Kimberlyâs sisterâah, not sisterâcousin, I meant. The girl, who was only a few years younger than myself, would soon be a part of the coven.And I, as always, would have to manage the inevitable chaos that would ensue.It helped not that Kimberly loathed the very breath that left her cousinâs lungs, nor the fact that Sterling found her intriguing. What made the matter that much worse was Judeâs involvement.By fleeing from his hold last night at the beach, the girl had al
RykerAs valiantly as she tried to cover it up, I noticed. Just as I noticed a slight bruise blossoming along her jaw. I shoved my curiosity down, blanketing it in a layer of cold.âOut of the kindness of my own heart I gave you the night to process things. As it stands, youâll start your training immediately. Nova will oversee it herself. This weekend weâll perform the ritual swearing you into the coven as an official member. Make no mistake, you are not one of us. We do not trust you. As far as Iâm concerned, youâre an outsider.âAn emerald fire seemed to flare to life within her eyes. For a momentâa very brief momentâI wondered if sheâd use her magic against me.âWhat makes you think I want to be a part of your coven?â She snapped; her voice still soft despite the rage seeping through the cracks. âI donât know why I have to repeat myself, but I donât have magic. I donât care what your spell says. Iâd know if I did. Do yourself and the rest of your coven a favor and go find somebody
OpheliaThe fear that had been churning in my stomach, souring the fruit Iâd been insane enough to eat from Rykerâs hand, simmered the entire driveâonly to fizzle into bewilderment as we pulled into the driveway of a massive house. I could make out its red-tiled roof beyond a courtyard shaded by swaying palms.The sound of music, bold and joyous, trickled to us past rows of fountains and hedges of exotic flowers. There were so many of them that I was momentarily lost in all the color.Ryker held out his arm and my treacherous heart skipped a beat. âDo you really think Iâm going to take that after you forced me here?âHe could tell I wasnât angry, and I hated him for it.Taking his arm, I followed him through the courtyard, our feet falling quietly on the stone pathway. A breeze whispered by, but instead of smelling the sea, I was met with the rich scent of herbs and roasted tomatoes, andâ Was that bacon?Laughter sounded from somewhere inside the house, past the windows and wrought-ir
RykerThe purr of the Impalaâs engine dampened to a quiet rumble as I pulled up to Edwardâs place.His scent was everywhere. Salty like the ocean, but with a bitterness that made me feel like I needed to drink a gallon of water to wash it all down. Opheliaâs scent added a touch of sweetness, a burst of ripe cherries that settled across my tongue like a layer of sugar.Scanning the house, I immediately noticed Edward watching from the front window. His eyes held a claim in them that made me long to tear out his throat.Only a fool couldnât see what the boy was planning. He wanted our mate, and not for the things heâd claim to want her for. Everything out of his mouth was sure to be a lie.Disposing of him would be smartest. Kill him before he kills us. Kills her. Heâll finish the job, and then who will you have? Jude wonât say in this world longânot without her. Edward needs to die. Tonight. Right now. A snarl ripped out of me. âStai zitto, cazzo! Voci di merda!â [Shut the fuck up! Fu
OpheliaThe back of the house was much like all the others in Lunar Isle. Neat, paved paths led to a swimming pool that glittered like a shined jewel.Sterling sat on a metal chair; his feet crossed at the ankles. I almost laughed at the sight of him sipping lemonade out of a glass, a small stem of mint teetering off the side.âThis was not what I was expecting,â I confessed, pulling out the chair beside him. âNo Victorian mansion, no imposing statues, no walls of dead ivy. You do live next to a graveyard though, so thereâs that,â I added dryly.I had been coming around the house when I spotted a path that led to a set of wrought iron gates. Inside there were countless tombstones, some big and others small. I even spotted a few mausoleums.Sterling smiled but shrugged. âMy affinity is death, and I donât mind it. Apart from a few great Auntâs who have boundary issues, they mostly leave me be.ââYou said I have a magical trace on my phone.â I didnât apologize for the abrupt change of su
OpheliaThe door swung open and slammed against the wall with a crash. The flames licking at my hands fizzled out, their life sucked away by the thing that stood at the foot of Novaâs bed.It was a shadow in the shape of a man, but the darkness it was made up of was unlike anything Iâd ever seen. One glimpse at how it devoured all light, even that from Novaâs bedside lamp, and I could tell it wasnât the kind of darkness one found in this world.The shadow had no lips, but somehow it stretched them back to flash its sharp teeth.âNova!â I shouted, but I couldnât see past the demon. Goddess, let her be alive. She had to be alive. I turned my sights on the demon and tucked away every ounce of fear I felt. This demon wasnât like the mindless runts my father had summoned. It was capable of thinkingâof understanding. Hopefully, it understood this. âIf you hurt her, Iâll kill you. I donât care if I have to rip a portal into your fucking realm to do it.âIts grin began to widen, stretching un
OpheliaâHopefully this wonât be necessary, but Iâm going to leave this paste here with you.â I told Nova, referring to the foul-smelling gunk bubbling away in a mason jar beside her window. It was my first ever spell made using dark magic, and even now I could feel the oily substance clinging to my insides. Nova kept a healthy distance away. âOnly use it to draw the entrapment sigil. Thereâs no dark magic being used in drawing it, so youâll be fine.â Another bubble popped, and a small cloud of noxious yellow fumes came out. We both cringed. âJust to be safe, wear gloves.âHeavily armed with all manner of potions, I flicked Novaâs lights off and headed downstairs to wait until her demon appeared.I drifted between rooms for a while, lingering in both the kitchen and the lounge for the longest. I opened the pantry, but Novaâs house was very much an âingredient householdâ. I opted for a bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips, which I left on the counter, and moved on. Grabbing the mug of tea
OpheliaâWeâre insane. This is insane.â Nova fisted her hands in her hair and groaned something unintelligible about dark magic, demons, and her soul withering away. I recognized the pure hysteria in the sound. âBut I need to sleep before I dismantle this house board by board and rip the slimy fucker out of the wallsâââInhale,â I cut her off and she sucked in a ragged gasp. âNow hold it and exhale.âShe remained silent.âExhale, Nova.âHer face began to turn red.I rolled my eyes and made sure she saw it, but had to turn away as the urge to smile made my lips start twitching. Nova had always been dramatic, but Nova without her beauty sleep ⊠whew. I could relate, and thatâs the only reason why I was being nice to her about it. We were both being haunted by demons, mine were just of my own making.âHolding your breath wonât kill you, itâll just make you pass out, which will likely bring the demon out sooner than we want.â I flicked her nose. âSo, exhale.âNova let out a long, shudderi
OpheliaI forced open an eye and grumbled, âNovaâs here? Why didnât you tell me sooner?âEdwards snarky reply came a moment later. He was still annoyed from earlier. âOh, I donât know. Itâs not as if you look like the physical manifestation of death or anything. Youâve also been incapacitated for eight hours. Besides, sheâs not going anywhere. Sheâs been sitting on the front porch pouting since four.âSlapping my hand around until I found my cellphone, I tapped at the screen until the display popped up. The time read 6:58pm.Sheâs been out there for three hours?I dragged myself out of bed, my joints creaking in protest. The mirror confirmed Edwardsâ assessment - my hair was a tangled mess, dark circles ringed my eyes, and my clothes were wrinkled. Still, the pain had all but faded since Iâd vomited up the potion.Cautiously, I drew on my magic. Other than a bit of lingering nausea, I was able to conjure a change of clothes in minutes.Edward watched me skeptically as I stumbled out o
NovaSunlight crept through my curtains, assaulting my eyes until I had no choice but to peel myself off the floor. My body ached horribly from the uncomfortable position. The metallic eyeliner sigil had smudged, leaving glittery streaks across my cheek and arms. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and couldnât help but gape at the disheveled witch staring back at me.Milkshake meowed again, likely for her breakfast, reminding me that it was well past morning. Not caring what I looked like, I trudged downstairs. Dad was in the kitchen making coffee, as he did most mornings. Most people ceased to function after losing their mate. Dad didnât, he just stopped doing everything else.Upon entering I tripped over my own two feet and caught myself on the counter. Sitting there was the plate of cookies Iâd hastily made last night. White chocolate macadamia. Frustrated with the spiritâs lack of response, I had shoved one into my mouth and stormed upstairs.Two sat on the plate currently
NovaEarlier that nightâŠAfter seeing the shadow more frequently over the last two weeks, I should have never let my guard down. I had just been so tired. It had been three, going on four, nights where Iâd got little to no sleep. The shadow man wasnât just a blip in my peripheral now. He was a fixture in the corner of the room, a feeling that swept over me like a wave of vertigo. The worst part was, I couldnât tell if what I was seeing were real or if it were due to lack of sleep.The guilt intensified until I could no longer think straight.I picked a spot the size of a quarter along my temple. The platinum strands, so similar to my motherâs, littered the carpet around my vanity. Using a comb, I swept my part to the side an inch. It would cover the damage until I made another hair replenishment potion.Dad suggested I call the therapist, which is about the full extent of his advice these days. When he leaves his office, which isnât often, I catch glimpses of him in the hallway. Sile