Eliza Gayle Witch Bundle (paranormal romance), Eliza Gayle [books suggested by bill gates txt] 📗

She slid the omelets and toast onto the plates she’d found earlier and handed one over to Noah. “Where shall we eat?”

He waggled his eyebrows at her. “I have an idea.”

She knocked him on the shoulder and pushed him away from her. “Yeah, I just bet you do, but I just want to eat. A girl needs her nourishment.”

He laughed. “Yes, I suppose she does. Well, how about the deck out back then? It’s not too hot yet and the view is not half bad, if I say so myself.” He led the way through the living room to the bank of windows overlooking the backyard. Although backyard wasn’t exactly what one would call it. On the deck she set down her plate and stood at the railing, absorbing the beautiful view. The property off the back of the deck dipped sharply, straight into the water. Steps from the house deck led to the dock spanning the length of the house and around the sides. The airboat they had arrived in now sat in the water attached to the far end of the dock, as well as a small green two-man boat like the one they’d used when they’d left the Reverend’s property.

“Oh, Noah, it’s gorgeous out here. So serene.  I can see why you like this place so much.”

“I like the peace of it. The wild habitat mixed with the modern comforts of the house are perfect for me. I can stay connected with the world if I want or go native and spend my days on the water.”

Jessie took a seat at the table to eat her breakfast but couldn’t tear her eyes from the beautiful surroundings. She could be happy in a place like this, far away from a civilization that couldn’t tolerate knowing the truth about her, a refuge for her when she couldn’t control herself. If only she didn’t have to hide from Noah.

“Jessie, look at me.”

She turned her head and settled her gaze on Noah’s chiseled face. She admired the firm set of his jaw, the slightly crooked nose and the sparkling emerald eyes that at the moment looked haunted. Her stomach clenched in fear and her appetite for the omelet disappeared. Whatever Noah wanted to say seemed serious.

“Do you remember what I told you about my family? About the reason my brothers and I all live apart?”

She nodded. She remembered the strange family curse that Noah dismissed as fallacy yet still managed to live by everyday, keeping himself away from his twin. Something she knew bothered him more than he’d ever admit.

“Over the last few months some clues to our past have been revealed, through the family tarot of all things.”

Disbelief rolled off him just as fast as the words out of his mouth. He certainly was a paradox, a witch with enormous power who looked down his nose at the basic history of his own legacy.

“The prophecy we were given as children was only a partial. Either the whole of it was lost or withheld. With the way Uncle Scott is acting out against us as of late, I would tend to lean towards withheld. What really baffles me is how you got involved with Scott and now end up being a part of the solution. It’s too coincidental, too pat.”

“Noah, stop.” That got her attention. “You’ve completely lost me along the way. How has the prophecy changed and what does that have to do with me being held prisoner by Scott?”

“According to the prophecy there are four women, all born on the same day at the same time. The women are destined to bring balance to the magick of the twins. All three of my brothers have found their mate and swear to me that their magick has changed. That they are less driven by the dark and what dark magick they use, the residual effects are absorbed by their empathic women.”

“They are all empaths?”

“Yes.”

“What does this have to do with—” Oh, no no no, he couldn’t be implying what she thought he was. Fear knifed through her as the answer ricocheted inside her before she even asked the question. “What is their birth date?”

He looked at her with a knowing gaze. “Yes, Jessie, it’s the same as yours.” She’d known before he even said it. It explained so much, yet made everything that much harder. This couldn’t be happening.

“This can’t be right. It’s impossible.”

“Normally I would completely agree with you. I have thought all along that this family prophecy was complete bullshit and have ignored it as much as possible. But I have always known there was something different about you since the first time I touched you. Maybe that has nothing to do with this, but for now we need to keep an open mind to all the possibilities. Don’t you think?”

Her heart broke at his words. Despite her leaving him without a word, he still had faith in her. Believed in her. Maybe even had feelings for her.

But how did you tell the man you loved more than anything in the world that you aren’t at all who he thinks you are?  That instead you are the one thing he hates more than anything in this world?

If she went along with him and his brothers, searching for the truth in all this, one thing would be certain. She and Noah would not survive, one way or another.

“No, I don’t. There has to be a mistake. I can’t be the woman you seek. There must be another.” The thought of Noah leaving her to search for another woman threatened to tear her in two. The heat of that pain built inside her to a near impossible level. She couldn’t stand by and be a part of this. She had to escape, find another place or another person to keep her safe from the plans the Reverend had for her.

“Maybe. But if there’s another woman, according to my brother, we only have until our birthday to find her and sort this out.”

“What?”

“That’s right. The final clue that was received just before they contacted me for