Spellbound (Spellbringers Book 1) (36 page)

“You sure?”

“Yeah.” With any luck, I might find
some time to talk to Bryce. The Alexanders were tennis fiends, and
although they hadn’t managed to convert me, they usually dragged me
along for the ride. If there were only three playing tennis,
chances were, there would be a few moments Bryce would sit out
while Jace and Alisa competed. And when that happened, I’d have
Bryce all to myself.

I sat against the fence, watching from
the sidelines, wishing we were anywhere else but here. What was I
thinking when I agreed to watch them play tennis? It was ninety
degrees in the shade, and at this particular park, there wasn’t a
lot of shade to be found. It was a run-down, seldom-maintained park
with only a rickety, rusty set of swings, a basketball hoop with no
net, and a tennis court with grass growing between the cracks in
the blacktop. Since they opened the new park across town with the
state-of-the-art playground, beautifully manicured baseball fields,
and scenic walking trails, no one ever came here. Jace and Alisa
favored it because there was never a wait to use the tennis courts
like there was at the new park.

Waves of heat radiated off the tennis
court and I used some of the water from my water bottle to cool off
my neck and shoulders. Jace and Alisa faced off and I rolled my
eyes. Those two wouldn’t quit until there was a clear winner and
loser, so it could be hours before we could pack up and go home. I
sighed in resignation.

Bryce jogged over to where I was
sitting and grabbed a water bottle, drinking most of it in one
gulp. “I’m gonna go refill at the water fountain. Do you need
more?” he asked.

“I’ll go with you,” I offered,
hoisting myself off the ground. I brushed off the small bits of
gravel that stuck to the back of my thighs.

I followed Bryce to the small,
deserted playground and tried to think of a casual way to bring up
the subject of my first cousin, however, Bryce beat me to
it.

“My mom told me about your dad. That
sucks.” He reached for my water bottle and dipped it under the
fountain. “I trained with your cousin, Mordecai. He was my training
partner last year.”

“What’s he like?” I asked.

“Powerful,” Bryce replied.

That was a strange answer. I’d
expected funny, or smart, or troublesome. I’d heard a little about
him from Alisa. She said he was creepy, but that was about all. Of
course she’d only known him a day and Alisa was notoriously
shy.

“He’s an Nkaribo,” Bryce said. “What
can I say?”

I took the water bottle from him and
followed him toward the tennis court, hoping he would say something
else. I was an Nkaribo, apparently, and that didn’t mean anything
to me. I struggled to speak, but there was something intimidating
about Bryce.

At last, I blurted, “What did you mean
when you said he’s an Nkaribo? You said that like it should mean
something to me.”

“I didn’t mean anything against your
family, Rachel. The Nkaribos are notoriously powerful, and not all
of them have used their power for good. As you already know, your
father was rumored to have worked for the Demon Re’Vel, but some
say he worked for Nevare as well,” he said, frowning.

My heart beat rapidly in my chest, and
I felt lightheaded, like I was having a heatstroke. I swayed on my
feet and staggered, missing a step. Bryce reached out to grab my
arm before I fell.

“You don’t look too good. Let’s sit in
the shade.” He guided me toward a picnic bench underneath a tall
oak tree. We could see the tennis court from where we sat, and I
wondered if Jace and Alisa had noticed our extended absence. I
hoped they didn’t come looking for us. I had some questions for
Bryce, and once Alisa came anywhere near him, he wouldn’t be able
to pay attention to anyone but her.

“So he’s real too,” I
mumbled.

“What?” Bryce asked. “Are you
okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Who’s real?” he pressed.

“Nevare. I’ve seen him in my dreams.
He was arguing with Re’Vel about claiming me. What does that mean?
Jerica said my brother had Re’Vel’s Claiming Words in his tattoo,
but I don’t understand how either of the Demons can claim me. I
don’t have a tattoo.”

“You’d better tell me more about that
dream,” Bryce said.

I suddenly felt very nervous about
being with Bryce. I’d always thought Jace and Bryce looked quite a
bit alike, but at that moment, Bryce seemed inhuman. His body was
tense with cold, barely suppressed rage, his jaw rigid, his dark
eyes menacing.

I quickly explained my recurring
nightmare about the castle. When I told Bryce about Re’Vel’s
insistence that his claim superseded Nevare’s vendetta, his face
contorted. “My father killed Nevare’s brother, and in turn, Nevare
killed mine. If it wasn’t for the Claiming Words, I’d hunt him down
right now.”

His voice shook with fury, and the
water bottle he held turned to crushed, cracked plastic in his
fist. Bryce didn’t seem to notice the water trickling from this
clenched fist onto the pine needles strewn under the
bench.

“Nevare’s claim on me prevents you
from pursuing him?” I asked.

Bryce glanced over at the
tennis court and his face relaxed. “No. It’s
my
claim that prevents me from
pursuing Nevare. But I don’t regret it. One day, the Demon will
come for us, and when he does, I’ll be waiting.”

Bryce’s claim? What did that
mean?

I watched Jace chasing Alisa with his
tennis racket raised over his head. I snickered. I was used to
their antics, but Bryce didn’t seem amused. Not in the least.
Surely, he wasn’t jealous. I mean, how could he be jealous of his
own brother? They were just messing around. Like they always
did.

Bryce advanced toward the
tennis courts and I mumbled something about going to the ladies
room. I trudged toward the pavilion at the other end of the park.
The sun beat down on me and I slowed my steps. Kicking at gravel
scattered across the pavement, I considered the implications of
what Bryce told me. The Demon responsible for killing Jace’s
brother had claimed me. My father gave my brother to Re’Vel—that
was certain. But did he give
me
to both Re’Vel and Nevare? And why? If the
claiming spell was in the necklace—a necklace I no longer wore—was
the claim now void?

If only I could ask Re’Vel. But that
was impossible. I’d cut him from my dreams. He was dangerous.
Nothing good could come from seeking out the Demon. Besides I had
little control over my dreams. What if I went in search of Re’Vel
and found Nevare instead?

The relative shade under the pavilion
provided some relief, but the humidity in the ladies room was
stifling. Streaks of sunlight filtered in through filthy windows
set high above the stalls. My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I
pulled it out, glancing at the text message. My mother was
wondering what time I’d be home. Soon, I hoped. I sent a quick
reply and put my phone down on the sink.

I splashed some lukewarm water on my
face and neck, but it did little to cool me off. I swatted at a
fly, turned off the water, and dried my face with a stiff brown
paper towel. Exiting the ladies room, I remembered my cell phone.
Just as I turned back to retrieve it, a strong arm snaked out and
grabbed my wrist, pulling me backwards. My body collided against a
rock hard obstruction. A deep voice whispered in my ear.

“Rachel. At last, we meet.”

Oh, my God. I knew that voice. I’d
know it anywhere. Re’Vel. The Demon from my dreams. But I wasn’t
asleep. It was broad daylight and he was here. For real.

Re’Vel continued speaking seductively.
With my back pressed against his marble-like chest and his arms
wrapped around my waist, I couldn’t move. His voice caressed me,
lulling me into a dreamlike state, and I wasn’t sure I really
wanted to escape.

“I don’t know if I should be happy
your guardians finally left you alone, or angry that they had such
utter disregard for your well-being. How many times must you be
attacked before they grant you real protection?”

“It’s not their fault,” I replied,
barely thinking about what I was saying. “I didn’t want a
Protector.”

“I’m pleased by your
decision, Rachel. Because here you are, and here I am after
days
of following you,
and you’re in my arms at last.”

His lips traveled the length of my
neck and I melted into him, my limbs weak with desire. Re’Vel
turned my body around until I was facing him. His gaze mesmerized
me. Onyx eyes with hidden secrets, swirling colors in their depths.
Beautiful eyes. Eyes I could stare at forever.

“Come with me, Rachel. You belong to
me, and I belong to you. Our fates are intertwined. It’s
destiny.”

“I don’t know,” I
murmured, suddenly feeling unsure. I wanted Re’Vel. I craved him.
But wasn’t there another? Someone else who shared my destiny? I
couldn’t form his name on my lips, but I could see his face in the
back of my mind. He was the one who showed me real magic.
Jace
.

“Of course, you’re coming with me, my
love. Perhaps you misunderstood me. It was not a request. Hold on
tight, Rachel.” Re’Vel pulled my body flush up against him. From
deep inside, from the core of my being, an insistent force pulled
at my magic. It was similar to the time the Hunter grabbed me in
the woods, yet different. There was resistance. A resistance that
was not my own.

“That lying, cheating thief,” Re’Vel
thundered, shaking me from my apathy. “Nevare was right. Your
father—your weak-minded, sniveling fool of a father—double-crossed
me. How many had the chance to claim you? How many Demons was your
father working for?” He grabbed my upper arms, shaking me until the
fog of confusion lifted, and dreamy desire faded to
terror.”

“Jace,” I screamed across our link.
“He’s here. Re’Vel. At the pavilion.”

“Rachel, I’m coming,” Jace shouted
back, his thoughts a jumble of panic in my mind.

Re’Vel must have seen horror and
disgust in my expression, because he softened his tone and relaxed
his grip. “But it’s no matter, Rachel. We don’t need to use
Transport, do we, my love? We’ll travel in style. A private jet.
The finest hotels. Comfort and luxury you’ve only imagined in your
wildest fantasies. Doesn’t that sound lovely?”

“Yes,” I replied against my will. I
knew I should recoil from Re’Vel, that I should twist from his
grasp and escape. But part of me wanted to go with him before the
Other came to save me. I’d summoned someone, but who? I couldn’t
remember. Everything was so confusing.

“And it seems we are not alone after
all,” Re’Vel mumbled, snatching my wrist tightly and spinning
around so fast, he almost flung me to the ground. The ferocity of
his movement caused the smoky haze to dissipate once again, but
this time terror was tinged with relief. Jace appeared at the other
side of the pavilion.

“Let her go,” Jace snarled.

“Well, if the
boy
commands it, then I
suppose I must obey.” Re’Vel’s laughter was mocking and cold.
“Let’s ask Rachel whose company she prefers. Rachel, would you like
to stay here with the boy, or would you prefer to come with
me?”

“I…I don’t…” I stammered, more
confused than ever. Re’Vel was my friend. He said he would protect
me.

“Rachel, he’s using Persuasion. Fight
him,” Jace commanded.

“Why don’t
you
fight for her?”
Re’Vel chuckled. “Why don’t
you
help her, son of Abe? Can you win the love of an
Nkaribo—a direct descendent of the Fae? Demons will fight for her.
They will crave her like a drug. And you? You are just a child. By
the time you grow up to be a man, Rachel will already be mated with
a child of her own.
My
child.”

“I’ll kill you before I let that
happen,” Jace shouted. “I’ll tear your throat out.
I’ll…”

“Perhaps. But others will come. Can
you fight us all?” he asked, stroking my hair. “Can you fight
Nevare? Your brother couldn’t.”

Jace charged at Re’Vel. With one flick
of his hand, the Demon sent him flying backwards. He crumpled to
the ground. Seeing him there and knowing it was Re’Vel who’d
injured him, finally pushed Re’Vel’s insidious presence from my
mind. I twisted from his grasp and stumbled out of his reach. I
crouched into a fighting stance, ready to face him even though I
knew I had no chance at defeating him.

Re’Vel laughed and raised both hands,
shooting bolts of lightning at Jace who was just beginning to rise
to his feet. Jace, the one who tried to save me. The one who came
the second I called him. Jace, the one I truly loved.

Chapter
Twenty-Seven

Alisa

“Do you think everything’s okay?” I
asked Bryce.

Rachel had made a beeline to the
ladies room after she and Bryce filled up the water bottles. When
Jace found out she was alone, he went ballistic, calling Bryce a
series of names I couldn’t repeat. For the first time in the
history of their relationship, Bryce apologized for his lapse in
common sense, but Jace didn’t acknowledge him. He stalked away
toward the direction of the pavilion, muttering curses about how
Central would give Protector rankings to anyone these
days.