Chelsey’s eyes widened. “You did marry him?” She plopped onto the couch, looking as though she’d just stuck her head out of the window of a moving car and instantly swallowed a bug. Her eyes bulged as she stared at her.
“A lot has happened since you left.”
“After a week?” Chelsey demanded.
“It’s been more than a week.”
Chelsey snorted. “A week and a few days. So what’s happening? If you’re married, why are you here? Did Joshua move in with you? The place does smell like a man.”
For the past few days, Kira and Joshua had settled into a comfortable routine. He cooked, cleaned, and made the potion she needed for her bruises. She rested, napped, watched TV, and read. If she were totally honest with herself, the times when he wasn’t with her were the worst. The pain became more distracting, and she got bored out of her mind. Of course, the ointment was helping a great deal. She technically didn’t have to spend the day lazing around, but she liked Joshua waiting on her.
Chelsey didn’t know about Kira’s history with Joshua. Trying to explain it all would just be too complex. She couldn’t even begin to think about how to start it all.
“I was trying a spell and it backfired,” Kira said, shaking her head. “Joshua has been helping me.”
“Helpingyou?” Chelsey’s face paled. “How badly were you hurt?”
“It wasn’t that bad.”
“It must have been bad if you’re letting someone help you.”
Kira shot her sister a dirty look. “It’s not that bad. Apparently, he has some proficiency with potions himself. It’s been nice.”
Chelsey pursed her lips.
Kira didn’t like the concern on her face, so she quickly switched the conversation. “I might have had a vision the other day. Actually, I’m not sure if it was a vision or just a nightmare.”
“Has Gwen had any visions?” Chelsey asked.
“Not that I’m aware of. Like I said, I’m not really sure if this was a vision,” Kira confessed. “Joshua and I were standing on either side of this huge canyon. In the canyon was this black, black river. It was like it was made out of darkness, and it was bubbling as if it were boiling. It started to move faster, and I knew I had to get across it. Joshua was yelling, but I couldn’t hear him. Then I woke up.”
Kira shuddered at the memory. It hadn’t been particularly vivid, but the feeling of danger she’d gotten from it still lingered.
“Hmm. As far as visions go, that one is pretty obvious,” Chelsey said, rubbing her chin.
“How so?”
Chelsey gave Kira a withering look that reminded her of the one Chelsey always gave her when they were kids and Kira would purposefully sing the wrong words to the songs Chelsey loved.
“You and Joshua separated by a darkness-filled chasm. You being desperate to reach him, and him yelling, but you can’t hear him. It’s obvious. You two are facing some serious communication issues, and you need to find a way to bridge the gap, because the demons are trying to keep you apart.” Chelsey nodded, a smug smile on her face.
It did sound rather obvious when Chelsey said it that way. But… Kira groaned as she passed a hand over her eyes. “I’m not sure the demons have anything to do with it.”
“But you said the canyon was filled with darkness.”
Kira winced. Yes, that did sound like demons. Or at least, it did when Chelsey didn’t have all the facts. “I didn’t choose tomarry him. I mean, I did choose, but I didn’t want to. It was… well, I was told to marry him so we could have powerful babies like Lianne, and that’s why I walked out of the wedding.”
Chelsey stiffened. “You’re fucking kidding me.”
“Calm down. It’s not exactly what you think. Joshua also wasn’t given much of a choice,” Kira said quickly. “So it’s not like anything has happened that I haven’t wanted. Other than the wedding itself. Joshua has been a bit overbearing at times—” Like when he decided he was going to essentially lock her up for her ‘protection’ without giving half a thought to what she wanted. “—but he’s been a gentleman. He hasn’t touched me when I haven’t wanted him to.”
Chelsey leaned back on the couch. She opened her mouth, paused, then closed it again. Seconds ticked by as Chesley rearranged herself, clearly wanting to demand answers but looking for the right way to ask.
“And… how do you feel about it?” Chelsey finally asked.
That question had no right being so damn difficult to answer. “I’ve made my peace with it, I suppose.”
“Are you going to sleep with him?”
