Page 151 of Awakened
Marie’s lips pulled into a smile, and she laughed. “Rose, try this.”
The two women switched places, Grandma Rose’s dark brown eyes boring into me.
I tilted my head in confusion. “Why are we having staring contests? I’m sure we have bigger fish to fry.”
Grandma Rose shook her head with a disbelieving smile. “Not even a flinch. I thought this would happen, but wow.”
I rubbed my forehead. “Okay, what the hell is going on? I just went through a spiritual battle royale, and now I have you two grinning like fools. Explain.”
Grandma Rose sat back in her chair. “You absorbed more magic than any one body should ever house.”
Slouching back onto the couch next to Marie, I gestured for them to continue.
Marie huffed. “You were always going to be a leader,maybe even an alpha if you wanted it bad enough. With my curse and Rose’s blessings running through you, you have sprinted ahead a few decades.”
I ran a hand down my face, over my cracked lips.
I really need a glass of water.
“So, I’m an alpha? Is that what you’re saying?”
“No. I’m saying if you wanted to be, you could be.”
Marie kept smiling and staring, so I turned my attention to Grandma Rose. Too bad she was just as excited. “Oh, honey, I haven’t felt this much power coming off a young female since I met Marie. Even then, it wasn’t this-this?—”
“Intoxicating.” I turned to Marie. Sweat dotted her brow as she looked past me at Grandma. “Rose, we need to rethink a few things. Les isn’t going to be any safer now.”
I had never seen Marie so worried. My stomach dropped. I felt like I needed to puke but also shit my pants. Standing, trying to work out some anxiety, I paced the small room. “What do you mean? I’m not safe?”
Grandma Rose’s face fell. “Marie, we can keep her safe. Hide her until we train her up a bit. Maybe get John’s help.”
Glancing back and forth, my frustration grew. Neither spoke out loud. They just stared at one another. Minutes passed while I waited to hear what would become of me.
My frustration grew into agitation. Who were they to keep information about me from me?
Eyes darted back and forth, but no answers came. The metallic taste of blood sat on my tongue, and my fingers simmered with heat.
My teeth elongated, and my claws cut into my palms. “Someone better start explaining what’s happened, or I’m going to lose it.”
I closed in on Marie, and she moved closer to Grandma Rose.
Sharp pain clouded my vision as my nose tried to shift into a snout. “What? Are you scared of me?”
Tears wet her cheeks as she scooted closer to Rose.
“Are you scared of what you two created? You putting your curse on me?” I leaned into Marie, tiny flames reaching out to her from my fingertips.
Large arms pinned my hands down. “Calm down, Celeste.” Brandon’s scent flooded my nose.
Through gritted teeth, I growled. “Brandon, let go before I fuck you up.”
His arms tightened, keeping my back pressed against his warm chest. His mouth angled close to my ear, and without a hint of fear in his voice, he said, “You would never hurt me, Les. We’re all we have left.”
And like that, my fire fizzled, and tears filled my eyes at the real fear in Marie and Rose’s faces. I reached out to Marie, and without hesitation, she scooped me up into a hug.
“Shh, girl, it’s okay. I know, I know.”
Pulling back, I saw she was no longer scared. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what happened. It feels like there is something in me. I would never . . .”
