Jaded Jewels (The Coveted Saga 2)

Mom came up, and we told her the news. She was hugging Aster when suddenly she stepped back. Her eyes were still—staring into space. Physically she was still here, but it was as if the rest of her had checked out.

Her words came out hollow, as though she was talking to us through a tunnel. "I see him—Lokan. I know who he is and why he didn't hurt Aria."

Life returned to her eyes as she sucked in a sharp breath. Fear creased her brow as she tightened her lips. "We have to get everyone that we know we can trust and go to the Verdan's home. I don't trust these walls right now."

Chapter 9

Family Secrets

Even saints have secrets, because no family is perfect.

We all arrived at the Verdan estate eager to learn about what Jaslene had seen. I was scared and excited. I had never witnessed her power for myself until tonight.

Somehow I had ended up in Tallis's car, and he was opening the door for me before I could get my hand on the handle. Then he did something he hadn't done in months; he grabbed my hand.

I'm sure it was a reflex from the several months we had spent together. He didn't pull away as he had been doing though. I tried not to make any sudden moves, treating him like a skittish animal. I was sure he didn't even realize what he was doing, and I didn't want to startle him.

He walked at my pace while the others flashed by us to get inside. Everyone was gathered in the great room by the time we made it in.

At least a dozen changers had arrived after Edmond called with the news. No bodyguards had been invited other than Chris. Iris had hated hurting her long-time friends, but Allaysia was adamant in her stand, understandably so. And considering the events that had transpired earlier that night, most of them didn't argue or even act upset.

McKee and his family had spoken to Iris in private about Taryn's betrayal. Iris said they were shocked and heartbroken. They wouldn't even speak to any of us. Most likely they were feeling a great deal of shame. They wouldn't even come in the house.

They had stood in a far corner of the yard, and told Iris they would love her and guard her from a distance. Iris had cried while speaking to them and when telling us about their decision to leave the coven. This whole ordeal had ruined centuries worth of trust and friendship.

Jaslene looked around to see that everyone was there, and her eyes settled on me for a second. That dread was there.

"This is confidential. No one outside of this room is to know."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Jaslene took a deep breath. "I didn't see the future, but I saw the past."

Everyone began whispering between gasps. I leaned over to Tallis who was still holding my hand.

"Seers also see the past?" I asked quietly.

Jaslene paused to let the room settle down from the whispers of disbelief. Apparently I wasn't the only one surprised.

"Your mother can. She's the only one I know that can. I heard about it a few years ago. I told you your family was powerful."

I leaned back into him as he let go of my hand and stretched his arm around me. Fire coursed through my body as it had so many times from his touch. His eyes were fixed on my mother as she patiently waited on the room to calm.

I saw Ayla focusing her magic, hurrying the process along. She was calming the room for Jaslene. Even I felt a peace fall over me—calming and soothing.

Once everyone was quiet again, Jaslene continued. "I saw Lokan centuries ago as a mortal. He was never a witch. He made himself immortal through magic."

Ayla's calmed atmosphere suddenly disappeared as fear erupted throughout the room and people began questioning that possibility.

"Impossible!" one man objected.

"Mortals haven't been able to harness magic since the time of Isis. Magic has become too strong. Most of the mortals lost their power during the new dawn of magic," a lady yelled out.

"Most of the mortals? What happened to the res

t?" I asked Tallis.

Tallis glanced at me for a second, and it seemed like he didn't want to answer my question. "I really don't know. It's not something they talk about. I don't question things such as that. When my mother and father say they can't discuss it, I let it go. They would tell me if it was I needed to know."

I tried not to roll my eyes. You could tell that he was certainly born in a different era than I was. In my generation, you always questioned your parents.