Chapter Twelve
The curse
“May you not breathe again until I kiss you free…”
That’s what Madam Stella read out of one of her spell books and then set it down on the table beside me along with a small cup of extra black coffee. She is a fortune teller who reads coffee cups instead of crystal balls. However, I never let her tell me my fortune. I am not one that needs or wants to know.
Her talent is unique, and I am always mesmerized by how it works.
The person seeking their fortune needs to drink the coffee with their train of thought on the answers they seek. When they are finished, she places the empty cup upside down and when she picks it back up, the streaks left behind tell a story – she reads it like a book.
I wasn’t interested in drinking anymore coffee today.
“He is in love with you, Jade.”
“Ha! Funny.” I forced a sour chuckle and pushed the cup away.
“Jade.” She picked up the cup as she paced. “It is not a laughing matter. He has his own demons to battle without taking punishments that are not his to serve.”
I turned my gaze to Adrian.
Yes, he was intimidating in size, very imposing and strong. He wasn’t in his police uniform today. He was wearing a black leather jacket over a white sweater, blue jeans, and white sneakers.
There was something swimming behind those eyes – besides the beast I already knew about. It was something soft and tender and…aching.
Adrian Kincaid didn’t look like a man who ached or felt much of anything besides anger.
“The night of your accident Adrian fought a battle with Seth over your soul. Adrian was not completely victorious,” Madam Stella said gently. “I need you to drink it, Jade. Perhaps I can see what happened.”
Angrily, I snagged the cup, downed the liquid with my thought on Seth and then slammed it down on the table.
“I know Adrian wasn’t victorious because I watched it happen,” I responded.
Adrian’s thick brows shot up in surprise. “You know?” he asked in a sour tone.
“Yeah, so?” I quipped.
He ran a hand through his hair and shook his head.
“That night you were so close to death that Seth would have won if Adrian hadn’t intervened, Jade.” Madam Stella revealed.
“No one asked him to intervene!” I fumed.
“Perhaps not, but the feelings he harbors are true. Don’t you care to right this?” Madam Stella asked.
“Nope,” I answered, curtly.
“Jade,” Madam Stella said my name quietly. Patiently. “How can you deny him a chance to be rid of a love he doesn’t wish to feel?”
“Because it’s ridiculous. I didn’t ask for his help. This is his fault,” I said, truthfully.
Adrian made a noise in his throat. “I felt you die but wanted to keep you alive. He felt you die and wanted to just keep you.”
“Don’t you fucking dare—” I hissed.
“Stop it! Both of you.” Madam Stella’s voice cut like thunder. Her black eyes could have swallowed you.
“Madam Stella, why am I here for this?” I asked with bitterness in my voice.
There was a subtle frown on her face. She stood up and walked behind me to put her hands on my shoulders.
“Jade, do not resent me because I offer help to this man. Seth is rooted in his heart. Perhaps releasing him will put Seth’s soul at rest as well.”
She picked up my empty coffee cup and frowned at whatever she saw. “It is like a perfect triangle. Seth’s soul is in limbo. He reached for you when he felt your spirit so close to the edge, but since you and Adrian were in an embrace and your power was open, you absorbed Seth’s feelings through Adrian’s body.”
I glared at Adrian as he leaned against the wall. “So…what? You love me?”
“No. I don’t. He does. I am just the unfortunate son of a bitch he infected with it.” He spat.
“Speaking of infection…” I countered. “You fucking condemned me and now you want help?”
“I saved you.”
“Fuck you. I didn’t need saving!” I countered again.
“Jade.” Madam Stella touched my shoulders. She is one of the few people I allow to do so. “Because you are an absorber you may be able to take it back from him.”
“How?” I questioned.
“You have to say the words I’ve given you from the spell book, kiss him, and try to siphon it.”
“So I should makeout with the wolf to spare him pain?” I asked, sourly.
“The wolf is Adrian, Jade. Say his name, do not belittle him.” She urged gently.
“Fine. You want me to kiss Adrian?”
“I do not want you to do anything you are uncomfortable with, sweet Jade. Clearly, the sentiment is not shared. Why not rid him of it, and then you will never have to see him again? It is your choice to help him or not. But I know your heart, child. I know you will not let a man suffer because of your stubbornness. Not if you can help him.”
“Well, he’s not a man. He’s a beast and he bit me. Infected me. So really he cursed me, how do we break that one? Let’s talk about that.”
Madam Stella touched my face. “I do not yet know a way, short of killing the original culprit. Adrian does not know who bit him,” she said, gently.
“Of course. I don’t believe this.” I rubbed my forehead.
“I have to go.” Adrian hissed and pushed away from the wall.
“Adrian…” Madam Stella called to him, but he didn’t stop. He kept walking.
I could finally breathe again when he was gone. He took all the heat with him, and my lungs readjusted to fresh air. I hugged myself and bit my lips.
“Jade.” Madam Stella sat across from me again and took my hand. “Do not condemn him, child. You have nothing to lose by trying. You should know that he has suffered plenty in his young life also. Perhaps not like you but suffered all the same.”
“I’ll think about it,” I said.
She nodded. “Okay, now let me say something else. I know you never allow me to tell you your fortune, so I will only tell you to be cautious, Jade. You are always in danger because of what you can do. But now for one reason or another, you are a target. Maybe we need a witch to cast a protection spell on you as well until everything is resolved.”
I nodded but didn’t want to hear why she wanted me to be careful. “Maybe. I have to go. Call me if you find out anything else.”
She agreed.
I stepped out into the cold air and started walking fast toward my car. I stopped a few feet short when I noticed Adrian, with his hood up and his hands in his pockets, leaning against a black BMW.
“I wanted to tell you that I was sorry,” he said.
“Was?”
He thought for a second. “Am. That I am sorry.”
“For biting me?”
“For everything. I forgot in that moment what I would be exposing you to, and for that, I am deeply sorry. I wish I could change things.”
“Well, you can’t.”
“I know.” He added. “I’m also sorry for your Seth. For the future you two won’t have.”
I closed briefly my eyes and clenched my teeth. “Please stop talking.”
He gave a curt nod. “I will see you around, Miss Sinclair. You take care of yourself.” He offered and turned to get into his car.
I took in a deep breath. “Kincaid!”
He turned and looked at me.
I took determined steps toward him.
His eyes were wide with suspicion.
“If you enjoy this I’ll shoot you with your own gun.” I was in his arms. “May you not breathe again until I kiss you free.”
“I promise to hate it,” Adrian quickly said as he welcomed my mouth.