Page 20 of Vivian

Brendon surged forward, fists clenched, “Over my dead body!”

Suddenly, I could see Brendon laying on the floor with a stake in his heart, his eyes were glassy and unseeing. I cried out as if it were really happening.

Screams tore from my throat, and I couldn’t get the image out of my mind.

Brendon whirled me around and pressed my face against his chest. “What is it? What happened?”

I choked on a sob. “You were dead. Just now on the floor, you were lying there in a puddle of blood. I don’t want you to die. I want to go home.”

The boys didn’t say anything, and I could tell that they were looking at each other over my head.

“It was real!” I insisted. “I could smell the blood, and see you clearly. It wasn’t my imagination.”

Brendon bent low and kissed the top of my head. His large hand was caressing my back, and the other was holding me tight against his large frame.

“I believe you,” he said gruffly.

“Do you think she is a seer?” Ace whispered.

Brendon tensed. “Do not even say those words aloud. If Cian were to suspect, we would never see her again.”

I trembled in his arms, holding Brendon tighter than was most likely comfortable. I was scared and uncertain; this world was completely different from life in high school.

“Brendon, we have to teach her, we don’t have much time.”

Brendon slowly released his grasp, but I continued to cling to him. I could feel his smile against my hair.

“I will hold you, princess. Just turn your face so that Ace and I can talk to you.”

I pulled back, realizing that my face was firmly buried in his chest. Brendon moved to the bed and sat down pulling me into his lap, and I sank down against him.

“Okay, the first thing you need to know about a compelling spell is that they smell slightly sweet.”

“Spells have a smell?” I wrinkled my nose. “That’s weird.”

Ace smiled. “You really are adorable.”

I stuck my tongue out at him. “That isn’t the point.”

He sighed and continued, “Also, your hearing will slightly dim. So, if you suddenly find it a little harder to hear someone, they are likely compelling you.”

“I don’t understand.”

Ace turned to look at me. He smiled that slow smile that always causes my insides to melt and then stared into my eyes.

“You are beautiful, do you know that? Kiss me.”

His voice was deep and low. I found myself leaning forward.

Low?

Wait a minute. I took a sniff and noticed that it smelled faintly of cotton candy.

“You are trying to compel me!”

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