Page 33 of Stalked

“I told you. I’m here to protect you. It’s foolish for you to not wear this now. Put it on.”

I snatched it from his hand, but not because he demanded that I wear it. He had no right to bark out commands at me. But the necklace did offer protection, according to Lily, and I wasn’t going to make another stupid move again.

“I don’t want your protection,” I said, keeping my tone steady. “You’ve done nothing but harm me over and over. I can’t trust a fucking thing you say.”

I couldn’t deal with Caleb’s mood swings or the confusing emotions he drew out of me. I was tired of his lies? and dealing with his mess repeatedly. He was the last person I wanted to trust, but now that my mom was dead, he was the only one who truly knew what kind of power I possessed and how to use it. I loathed the fact that I needed him.

“We have always been stronger as a coven, meaning, when you use your magic, you’ll always be more powerful when linked to me or the others,” he explained. “So, running from me wouldn’t be in your best interest. You’ll have to learn to trust that I’m on your side.”

I gave him a dirty look. “Not today.”

I pulled the chain around my neck and tried to fasten it, but I let out a grunt when I couldn’t get it to latch.

“Let me do it,” he said. As his hand moved toward my neck, I backed up. I wanted him nowhere near me.

“I’ve got it,” I snapped, trying to latch it again.

He moved faster than I could blink. He latched the hook while tracing my neckline with his fingers. I froze. No one had ever touched me like that, and I wanted to curse at myself as my cheeks flushed.

God, I’m so weak.

I turned around and gripped the stone at my chest. With the magic flowing through me, I felt the connection to him, pulling us through the power that bound us. It was pleasant, and it made me sick. Things between us were different centuries ago. And even though our souls were linked together, I refused to allow some weird magic bond to cloud my judgment.

I unlocked Lily’s truck, tearing my eyes away from him. “Bye, Caleb. We’re done here.”

I could feel his eyes on me, lingering on my face. I took an unconscious step backward, but he was standing behind me as I turned around. His eyes bore into mine, and I could feel the tension drain away. His fingers traced up my neck, and I allowed him to. Yet, I heard a voice in the back of my mind screaming at me to push him away?.

He pulled me toward his chest, and I let myself soak up his warmth before my head cleared.

What he was doing wasn’t okay. It angered me. The power under my fingertips jumped at the chance of being used. As that anger brewed inside my body, so did my magic.

I placed my hands on his chest, feeling a surge of fire and strength snake through my arms. I didn’t ask for what happened next, but I had no control. That same green light of magic from the other night in the truck ran through my fingertips and blasted him across the driveway.

“Holy shit,”I whispered to myself as he landed hard against the gravel. “Caleb! I’m so sorry.” I had just meant to push him away. I had no idea I could even do that.

There was a slight smile on his face as he clambered back to his feet.

“What the hell are you smiling at?”

“I’m fine, thanks for asking,” he said sarcastically. “Mercy, you’re a lot stronger than you used to be.”

Honestly, I was too shocked to be angry. The faint green light had faded, but the intense sensation was still running through my hands. I looked down and flexed my fingers, opening them wide. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

“Your powers were always the strongest when you were pissed off at someone.” He grinned while brushing the tiny rocks from his pants. “Especially pissed off at me.”

I quickly climbed into the truck. “I’m leaving, asshole.”

As I started up the car, Caleb was by my window, tapping the glass. I shot him a scowl and turned on the ignition, ignoring him. He leaned in, speaking through the glass.

“You can’t run from this, Mercy. We have a week before your birthday. You don’t have a choice about what happens after that.” He winked. “See you soon.”

Caleb climbed into his own vehicle and drove away before I got the chance to swear at him some more. As soon as he was out of sight, I gripped tightly to the steering wheel, hearing my knuckles crack.

I hate him. I hate him so much. I repeated those words over and over again until I had no raging energy left inside me.

CHAPTER 11

FOR THE NEXThour, I pushed away every thought and traumatic memory that made my heart pound a million miles an hour. I no longer had to put on a facade; I was just relaxed enough where nothing else mattered, but the drink gripped comfortably in my hand, and one of my best friends by my side.

---