Eliza Gayle Witch Bundle (paranormal romance) by Eliza Gayle (free children's online books TXT) 📗

make him feel those same sensations. The balance her light gave to his darkness. He poured everything he had into him.

“Graelen, wake up.”

As consciousness permeated his tired brain, he realized someone was shaking him. “What the hell happened to you two?”

“Rena, what are you doing in here?” He sat up, rubbing his forearms and looking around for Cash. His brother was a few feet away, stirring awake, rubbing his own arms where they'd locked together.

“When all the emotions died, I rushed in here to see if you two were still alive. You scared the hell out of me.” She sounded reproachful, but warm relief glowed from her eyes. “Don’t do that to me again.”

“I had to show Cash the truth. Unfortunately the method in which I had to do it was a bit extreme.” He smiled at her quizzical expression. “Long story, my sweet. I'll tell you about it sometime later.”

He turned to his brother. “Cash, you okay now?”

“Yeah, I'm fine.” His voice sounded strong but subdued. Something was still on his mind.

“What is it?” He knew Cash had something else to say.

“We need to know who sent her here. Some of the pieces to the puzzle are missing, and I'm certain her benefactor is the key.”

“Nobody sent me here. I came on my own when I couldn't find the answers I needed in the research.”

“No, Rena, Cash is right. There is more to this whole thing than just your curiosity.” She frowned at him. “I don't believe in coincidences.”

“You two are the most paranoid witches I have ever met. What is it going to take to get you to trust me?”

“Rena, I trust you.” Graelen grazed his fingers across her cheek, watching her fight the tears welling in her eyes. Sharing herself with them both during their amazing encounter had to have drained her, although she probably wouldn't admit that.

“You want us to trust you? Then tell us who your benefactor is. I'd be willing to bet that a curious woman like you would never rest knowing her source was anonymous.” Cash's words struck a nerve as she averted her eyes and fidgeted nervously with a button on her shirt.

“He's right, baby, isn't he? You know who he is.”

“It doesn't matter. Who he is has nothing to do with all of this.” Her voice raised in agitation. “I know you say the cards were stolen from your family, but I'm one hundred percent positive that Reverend Cunningham had nothing to do with that. There has to be another answer.”

Two audible gasps sounded in the room as anger anew flooded Graelen.

“Reverend Scott Cunningham III?” Graelen looked at her to answer his question, but the deer in headlights look of shock on her face told him all he needed to know.

“Well, fuck me. Damn it, Grae, we should have known he was up to something.”

“Wait, you know him?” She looked thoroughly confused as she swiveled between the two brothers.

“Oh yeah, we know him all right.” Cash shook his head and turned toward the fireplace. “The good Reverend you're so sure of is our uncle.”

She shot him a look of disbelief as Graelen struggled with his fury. She was part of the prophecy after all, an unwilling participant, but still a pawn in his uncle's game.

“Wait. How can he be your uncle? I researched your family, I probably know about them than you do.”

Cash laughed. “Yeah, I doubt that. Good ole uncle Scott buried his association with this family a long time ago. Guess the old hypocrite covered his tracks well.”

Grae moved close and clasped her hand. “Rena, I'm afraid you've been caught up in a family legend my uncle refuses to let die. One he and his religious cronies have been using for years in an attempt to get rid of us all.”

“What legend? Are you talking about the story in the cards?”

“Yes. What you call a story of the cards is referred to as the curse in our family.” He sighed heavily; his heart ached over her involvement. “Your interpretation was close to the truth but missing an element we've feared all our lives.”

“Which is?”

“You,” both Cash and Graelen echoed.

“I don't understand.” She hesitated. “I thought you agreed that I'm meant to help you.” She looked between the two. “I felt the difference I make with you, I know it's right.”

“Right or wrong, the slimy bastard is using you in an attempt to get to us,” Graelen said.

“But—But why would he do that?”

Graelen smiled indulgently at her. It would take a while for her to understand the depth of his uncle's treachery. “Because he believes us to be truly evil.” Graelen scrubbed his hands over his face as he pondered what would be his next course of action. “Not all witches are created equally. And, unfortunately, some of them want to wipe out part of the race.”

“You are not evil. I know that for a fact. I've felt it. Who and what you are courses through me every time you unleash your emotions,” she reminded him, her tone commanding.

“You're right, baby.” He pulled her into his arms, seeking to soothe her hurt pride. “We aren't innately evil, but the power we carry inside has the capability of manifesting itself into a destructive force. One that will destroy us.”

“I don't understand.” Her wide-eyed innocence sucker-punched him right in the gut.

“Of course you don't,” Cash interrupted. “Your bedtime stories as a child didn't consist of a vicious legend about you and your siblings foretelling of an inevitable outcome that would lead to their deaths as well as the destruction of innocent lives.” Graelen cringed at the familiar pain in his brother's voice. “You weren't reminded every night, at the tender age of five, that the world would be better off without you and your brothers. And you didn't grow up hating women because you were told the one that got close would be responsible for the end.”

“Cash, that's enough!” Without thought Graelen called his magick, his only way of getting his