Page 79 of Redeem Me
Chapter 61
Jade
Granny was waiting for me in her cottage. I didn’t care what Rafe had said, I needed to get this damned scar off of me and I knew the only way to do that was with magic. My boots left little indentions in the snow that Lucas followed in. I closed the door to keep the cold out. Lucas looked like he was enjoying taking his time. I wasn’t going to force him to hurry for my benefit.
Carden was in the kitchen stirring something in a pot with a little blonde girl. She was talking animatedly with her hands. He said something too low for me to hear. I could have strained with my wolf senses, but I figured it was none of my business. They both laughed. The little girl flicked her hair over her shoulder and I got a peek of the side of her face. My heart stopped. Bee’s daughter. She was here.
Of course she was here.
“She’s a very gifted child. I don’t think there are any with magic like hers out there.” Granny said from behind me. “I am teaching her everything I know but eventually, I will have to send her to a coven. I have tried to reach out to a few but none of them want her. They said Bee was an abnormal child herself and they don’t want that kind of vibe back in their covens. Poor Valentina will probably never know a family like her.”
“Does she have to go to a coven?” Granny didn’t have one. Maybe the child didn’t need one either.
“No, Valentina doesn’t need a coven but she might seek the family and bond that a coven brings. I know sometimes I miss it.” Granny looked at me before she changed the subject and walked into the living area. “What can I do for you, Jade?”
“I would like you to magically remove my scar, please.”
Granny’s neck went taut at my suggestion. “I wish I could. But I don’t think it’s going to be possible. Damian used powerful magic, magic that isn’t even in my jurisdiction. I could research but the archives have been closed since Damian has made such a public stance. The witches and their covens aren’t looking to share their pool of knowledge with anyone unless they are from a coven. Outsiders aren’t allowed.”
I sighed. I had known it was a possibility that she wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. But still, I had gotten my hopes up a tad. I didn’t want to look at the ugly thing every day.
“Scars are apart of us, Jade. I know you don’t like the way they look but they shape us into who we are. They hold powerful magic and yours probably holds more magic than any others because of who put the scar on you. Don’t go about trying to get rid of it just yet. It might help us defeat the one who put it on you.”
Rafe was waiting outside of Granny’s home when I opened the door to leave. He was wearing a cable knit sweater and thick pants. A beanie was pulled down over his ears. He let out a breath and it formed a big cloud in front of his face.
“Hey,”
I didn’t want to ignore him but I also wasn’t ready to face him. “Hi,”
“I have to apologize.” I stopped at his words. “I know an apology just doesn’t offer much but I owe it all the same. I am so sorry. I didn’t know what I was doing when I did it. I didn’t know how to even tell you after the fact. When I found out you were my mate, my life changed. It stopped. I had a purpose. I had Tracey find out everything there was to know about you.”
Just another lie. I knew our friendship wasn’t based on truths but this made it worse. I turned away from him and began to walk away. I couldn’t handle the truth. I had wanted it and now I didn’t know if I could even do anything with it.
“I was horrified that my wolf would choose a human. A weak little thing like you. This girl that danced and partied. A naive girl that had no idea that monsters were stalking her mere existence.” He followed behind me as he spoke. “And you didn’t know life. You had no idea of a world that could give you so much. I had so much to offer. But you were a human. I could have broken you with a kiss. I could have crushed you. I didn’t want to care for you. Not for one single second did I want you as my mate.”
I whirled around then with murder in my eyes. “Then why do it? You could have left me alone. You could have walked away. You could have gone about your business.”
“But then you caught the eye of a serial rapist.” I blinked and came to a stop. “And I killed him. I saw what he had done to a girl at the previous party you have been to. I ripped him a part knowing that he would have done the same to you if I had walked away.”
I should have been horrified. I should have run away from him but I didn’t. I stayed right there as the snow fell from the sky and coated my lashes.
“I don’t regret it either, Jade.” He took a step closer to me. “I realized that night in the woods as you had to walk away from us. As you saved others. I realized that night that I would have damned the whole world if it meant you were safe but you wanted to keep the world safe. So I had to be good, I had to redeem myself. I had to try for your sake and I’ve been trying every day.”
“All because destiny told you we were meant to be together?”
He threw his head back and looked up at the cloud-filled sky. “No, because I got to know you and your heart.” He poked my chest gently. “You’re stubborn. Gosh, you’re so headstrong and it’s not good for you or me. But the thing that really got me? How courageous you are. You weren’t born into this life but somehow you grabbed it by the horns and you keep riding. You have been kicked and beaten down but not once have you given up.”
“That’s not true,” My voice broke. “I did try to when Micah was helping me escape. I wanted to stay behind.”
Rafe took a step closer and we were almost touching now. “Probably because you were trying to protect others over yourself.”
I nodded. He was right.
He cupped my cheek in his hand. “I will set the world on fire and watch it burn if it means keepingyousafe.”
My heart stopped inside my chest as he leaned forward. His breath tickled my face and the scent of whiskey wrapped around me. I breathed it in deeply like my life depended on it. When his lips touched mine, all bets were off. I threw my arms around his neck and he pressed my back into the nearest tree. I could taste the truth on his tongue. He would do anything for me and I had no idea what I had done to deserve such loyalty from any man. His fingers tangled in my hair and a growl rumbled through his chest. He pulled away from me and I let out a mewling sound in the back of my throat.
He grinned. “There’s no way in hell I’m claiming you up against a tree.”
