Jaded Jewels (The Coveted Saga 2)

He looked around, trying to find someone that had escorted me. Then he stepped outside and led me to a chair that was on the front porch.

I started feeling tears fall ever so quickly, and like a madwoman, the sobs came unbidden. In front of a horrified Desmond, I fell apart as the dam burst open. The onslaught of tears only multiplied as they viciously attacked my cheeks, making my attempts to wipe them away futile. The more I tried to speak, the more I cried.

Desperation overtook my original plan. Instead of the masterful speech, I bared my soul. "I have to see him, Desmond. Please, just make him talk to me. I know you don't owe me anything, but I'm begging you to help me."

Desmond gave me a look that was reserved for someone standing on a ledge. He was genuinely concerned for me, which was understandable, considering my breakdown.

"Aria, he's not here. I'm not supposed to tell you anything, because he wants to tell you himself."

My eyes lit up. It was probably stupid, but I allowed myself to feel hope. "What is he going to tell me?" I asked, a pathetic lilt to my voice.

"Aria, he's going to come home tomorrow. He's got some pretty good news. I don't want to ruin it for him. Just wait until tomorrow."

His voice was upbeat, but I couldn't stand the suspense. I was tired of waiting.

I wiped my face as my excitement continued. "Desmond, just tell me something," I pleaded. "Please."

"I don't have all the details to tell you. All I know is that, right now, he's still making sure he's right. He said he would be home either tomorrow or the day after at the latest. But I'm almost certain it'll be tomorrow." Desmond's vagueness now gave me doubts.

Frustrated, I punched the side of the house, and I didn't flinch. Not even when my fist split open from the violent impact.

"I've waited for too long. Just tell me something!" I demanded, barely keeping my words from sounding like an unintelligible ramble.

Desmond frowned, his eyes wide with worry.

"Aria, he's been in Kaleman for a while."

Now I felt like we were getting somewhere.

"Where's that?"

"It's about a two hour drive from here. There're several covens there that he heard about. He found a girl there. She's helped him to understand a lot, and I promise he's going to tell you everything. Just wait until he gets back to ex

plain everything. I promised him I wouldn't say anything."

Waves of nausea crashed down around me. This wasn't good news. At least not for me. That would explain why he hadn't called, or checked in, or come to see me on my birthday. Just like Jay and Selesha, his feelings had vanished for me.

Desmond continued to speak, as I felt the world around me spinning out of control. I was getting dizzy. Sounds turned to echoes and my heart thudded heavily in my ears. The next part I managed to hear snapped me out of my trance, but only because it was the most searing shot of pain.

"She's half changer, half witch—just like us. She gave him exactly what he was looking for. Her family has been hiding just like ours had to—because of the changer situation. That's why we haven't heard of them before."

Desmond had just breathed life into my worst fears. I couldn't hear any more of this. I had bared my soul, and the life had been sucked clean from it. Until that moment, I only thought I had met misery.

I ran to my car, vomiting as I did so. Desmond called after me, "Aria, don't go. Please!" He sounded worried, but I had to go. He continued when I didn't respond. "Aria, I'm coming over in a while. We can talk more then. Please don't over think this. It's good news. I promise. You'll see."

Don't over think this? Seriously, that was what he said? Unbelievable. The love of my life had found his soul mate, and forgotten all about me, and Desmond's advice was to not over think this. Apparently he didn't know how much I felt for Tallis, or he wouldn't think it was such good news.

I threw my car in reverse and turned around, barely tapping the brakes. Desmond never actually said that she was his soul mate, but it was painfully obvious. There wouldn't be any other reason that Tallis would want to tell me himself.

He wanted to let me down gently, but hearing him break my heart for good wouldn't lessen the blow. My mind's road to sanity became a jumbled up pile of mayhem, and a suffocating strain on my heart begged me for mercy.

There was no logic, no hope, and no reason left to breathe.

Chapter 13

Broken

When you hear the voice inside your head telling you not to do something and you don't want to listen, remember what happened the last time you ignored it.