Believe: The Complete Channie Series Read online

  He picks her up and swings her around then lets her slide down his body as he lowers her feet to the ground. He cups her cheeks in his palms, expecting the skin to skin contact to trigger the curse and set them both on fire, but it doesn’t. All he feels is smooth, soft skin. He tilts her head to the side and leans in. The world stops spinning when his lips meet hers. Time ceases to exist. Magic flows around and through them as they kiss. She tastes like lavender and honey. Salt and sunshine. He should be consumed with lust but all he feels is love.

  A disembodied voice whispers, “Break Chastity’s curse and lose your power; watch love bloom and passion flower. For every choice there is a cost and the things you lose are forever lost. You have until the full moon sets to bind your hearts with no regrets.”

  His heart breaks. He’s already made his choice. He gave up his Olympic dreams when he left Grands without finishing the race. And he’d do it again. But he’d never ask Channie to give up magic.

  She gazes into his eyes. “I choose you.”

  Josh pressed both hands over his heart. The light and the memory were already fading. Please. If I can only remember one thing, let it be this.

  The light from his chest flared so brightly it blinded him. When his vision returned, so did the memory of that perfect, curse-breaking kiss and Channie’s sacrifice. He licked his lips and still tasted her. “I remember.”

  “What?” Kassie reached across the table and grabbed Josh’s hand. “What do you remember?”

  Josh blinked, but his vision was still blurry. He wiped his eyes then stared at the tears on his fingertips.

  “I remember…” Although the kiss he’d shared with Channie was completely chaste; it was far too intimate to share with anyone else. “I remember finding Channie in Oklahoma.”

  Hunter’s grin split his face. He grabbed the back of Josh’s neck and gave it a squeeze. “That’s great! What else do you remember?”

  Josh’s own smile widened even as his heart ached for Channie. “I remember what she looks like. And she’s even more beautiful than her photo.”

  Kassie folded her arms across her chest. “That’s nice. But more importantly, do you remember how you feel about her?”

  “I don’t remember how we met or fell in love. But I know that we did and that what I’ve felt all along is real. Even when I couldn’t remember her at all, my heart never forgot.” He’d do anything for her. He’d crawl to Arkansas on his hands and knees if he had to. He’d learn to use magic. And he’d curse anyone that got in his way. He’d lay down his own life to save hers. Josh swallowed twice before he trusted his voice not to break. “I love her. I love Channie Belks with all my heart.”

  Kassie rolled her eyes. “You don’t love Channie Belks.”

  “Why would you say that?”

  She smiled at Josh. “Because you love Channie Abrim.”

  Josh’s heart leapt into his throat. He still believed they were too young for the responsibilities of marriage. But the knowledge that Channie was his wife made his pulse race and plastered a grin across his face so wide it made his cheeks ache.

  He wished he could remember their wedding night, but he must not have wished it hard enough because that particular memory remained locked away in the deepest recesses of his mind. Or maybe there was some other reason he couldn’t remember it? Maybe he didn’t have enough other memories of Channie to justify having access to that one. He needed to earn it.

  Hunter cleared his throat. “I’m glad you remember finding Channie. It’s a good sign. But we’ve still got lots of work to do. I’d like to figure out the rest of these here instructions before I hit the road.”

  It was after one when Kassie announced it was time for a lunch break. She ordered three extra-large meat-lover’s pizzas, so they’d have enough for supper as well. The hours passed in a blur of flashbacks, magical rhymes and cold pizza.

  Josh replayed the memory of Channie’s kiss over and over in his mind. Hunter was reading out loud again. His voice was nothing but white noise; until he punched Josh’s arm.

  “Pay attention. This is important.”

  “Ow!” Josh rubbed his arm. “What’s important?”

  “This is.” Hunter underlined the words as he read them…

  Release this book into the daughter’s care

  But of the mother, let all beware.

  For evil lurks in a corrupted heart

  And seeks its own will to impart.

  The blood of the daughter cannot repay

  The debt of the mother ’til solstice day.

  “You’ve read that, and everything else, like twenty times already.” Josh was still having a hard time focusing.

  “I cain’t believe I didn’t figure it out sooner. Everything hinges around winter solstice. The total eclipse, your birthday and of course the final showdown with Dominance. I must be a lot more tired than I thought.” Hunter laughed. The aura surrounding him shone brighter. “Channie’s momma ain’t gonna try to sacrifice her before then. That gives us more time to come up with a plan.”

  “If you want to get some sleep before you leave that’s fine. But I don’t want you to postpone rescuing Channie just because you think we have a little extra time.”

  “It’s more than just a little extra time.” Hunter wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Winter solstice ain’t till December twenty-first.”

  “I’m not going to wait nine months. Channie was kidnapped. She’s being held against her will and who knows what else her mother is doing to her. She could be torturing her.” The thought tied Josh’s stomach into a knot and drove a knife of pain through his glowing chest. “If you won’t go get her I will.”

  “But, the book says—”

  “I don’t care what the damn book says.” Josh shoved his chair away from the table as he stood up.

  “Don’t get your drawers in a bind.” Hunter chased a bite of cold pizza with several gulps of Mountain Dew. “I wasn’t planning on waiting until the last second. But knowing we’ve got that much time to work with changes priorities.”

  “So, when are you leaving?”

  “When I’m sure you can defend yourself.” Hunter arched his eyebrows and sat up a little straighter. “Maybe all you need to do is curse someone for the Book of the Dead to decide it’s okay for you to go with me to rescue Channie.”

  “Okay. I’ll try to curse Eric at school tomorrow.”

  “Now you’re talking!” Hunter’s grin was downright devious.

  “But we are not kidnapping him. Understand?”

  “Whatever.” Hunter rolled his eyes but when they got to the top of his head, they drifted shut.

  Josh glanced at the clock on the wall. Was it really eleven forty-five? “My brain is toast. I need to go for a ride.”

  Hunter yawned and stretched. “It’s a little late to go for a ride.”

  “Fresh air helps clear my mind.”

  Kassie grinned like a villain in an old movie. “That’s an excellent idea. You go clear your head and I’ll stay here and help Hunter.”

  “I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.” Hunter chewed on the end of his pen then tapped his copy of the instructions. “This here part about ‘blood calling to blood’ has me a bit worried.”

  “Just that part?” Josh thought it was all pretty damn scary.

  “If your blood is calling to the Veyjiviks, they won’t need trackers to find you. Until you can defend yourself, you better stick close to me.”

  A lump formed in Josh’s throat. But it wasn’t fear making it hard to swallow. He’d never met Vincent, Vengeance, whatever—and he couldn’t ask for a better dad than Ezra—so where was all this emo crap coming from? He needed to get out of here. Josh leaned over and circled the words ‘Live your life as you did before’ on Hunter’s copy. “I was going to school and racing without a bodyguard. I don’t need you shadowing my every move.”

  “I don’t agree. And I don’t recommend going to school until you get your memory back. It’ll br
ing up too many questions.”

  Josh sat back down and jammed his fingers in his hair. “I don’t even know what classes I’ve got this semester. Or what I learned last semester. Shit! I’ve lost my entire senior year!”

  Hunter spoke so softly, it was barely above a whisper. “You’ve lost a heck of a lot more than that.”

  Pain and light flared out of Josh’s chest. Suddenly, his single memory of Channie was not enough. He waited for the pain to dull before he spoke. “What’s she like?”

  Hunter propped his elbows on the table and rested his chin in his hands. “You already know she’s beautiful, but she’s also smart, funny, brave, stubborn and sassy as hell.”

  “It’s hard to believe she ever fell in love with someone like me.” Josh hated how pathetic that sounded.

  “She loves you more than anything or anyone. You guys are the perfect couple.” Kassie spoke with conviction, but Josh wasn’t sure whether she was trying to convince him…or Hunter.

  Hunter leaned back and rubbed his forehead. “I don’t think none of us are gonna get much else figured out tonight. I’m plum wore out. Why don’t we all go to bed and hit it hard tomorrow?”

  “I’ll show you to one of the guest rooms.” Kassie hopped up and smoothed the fabric of her shirt over her stomach. She sounded a little too eager for Josh’s comfort.

  “Third floor, first door on the right.” Hunter yawned and stretched.

  “How’d you know?” Kassie frowned, obviously disappointed.

  “This ain’t the first time I’ve been here.” Hunter grinned and winked at her. “But it’s an awful big house. I might get lost.”

  Josh felt as if he’d just fallen asleep when Kassie woke him up. “Get dressed. I have a plan for how you can go to school.”

  “I don’t remember anything about any of my classes.”

  Kassie handed him a handwritten schedule. “You’ve got a heavy load this semester, but you can do it.”

  Josh glanced at the list. AP Chemistry, AP Calculus, AP World History, AP Statistics, French III, Creative Writing. “Are you freaking kidding me? We’re halfway through the semester. Besides, people are going to wonder why Channie isn’t in school.”

  “That’s exactly why this is going to work. I’ll tell everyone that Channie ran away again. You’re too upset to talk about it. All you have to do is keep scowling like you are right now and glare at anyone that dares ask you about her.”

  Hunter knocked on the open door then stuck his head inside Josh’s room. “You don’t even have to do that. Use your magic to keep people away.”

  “I don’t know how!” Josh pulled his pillow over his face.

  Kassie jerked it off and tossed it to Hunter. “You haven’t even tried to use magic.”

  “You saw what I did to that tree. What if someone at school pisses me off? I don’t want to blow someone up because I can’t control this…” Josh waved a hand over his body. “Whatever this is.”

  Hunter snorted and shook his head. “You ain’t gonna curse nobody that don’t deserve it.”

  “You don’t know that.” Josh motioned for Kassie to turn her back then got out of bed and pulled a pair of jeans on over his boxers.

  Hunter straddled Josh’s desk chair. “You been trying to curse me from the very first day you popped the cork on your powers. You cain’t do it.”

  Josh grabbed a t-shirt off the floor. He didn’t think he could handle the heartache of finding Channie’s clothes in his drawers. “Why have I been trying to curse you?”

  Kassie turned back around and rolled her eyes. “Hunter’s got a thing for your wife. I imagine that’s why you wanted to curse him.”

  Hunter jammed his fists into his pockets. “It ain’t like that. Me and Channie have been friends since we was little.”

  Hunter had already admitted to Josh that he was in love with Channie. And Kassie had overhead his confession. Why was he denying it now? Maybe it had something to do with the puke-green light oozing out of Josh’s stomach.

  The air around Hunter shimmered, but there was no colored light. “What I feel for Channie is complicated. I don’t understand it myself, but I’d never disrespect her.”

  “How are you keeping the light from escaping your body?” Josh would like to keep his feelings private as well.

  Hunter shrugged. “It takes practice. And if you or any other mage decides to read my energy field, well, there ain’t much I can do about it, but it’s considered rude so don’t try.”

  “Kassie’s not a mage. How come her emotions create light?”

  “What do you mean I’m creating light? I don’t see any light.”

  “That’s energy, not magic. Strong emotions affect energy, sort of how a prism bends light and makes a rainbow. Every living thing uses energy. If you look real hard you can see the shimmer of life surrounding plants.”

  Kassie shoved her fists onto her hips. “That’s just great. You can see what I’m feeling?”

  “You’ve always been easy to read, even without magic.” Josh smirked at her.

  Hunter ran his index finger across Kassie’s brow. “You get the cutest little wrinkle right here when you’re annoyed.”

  Kassie smacked his hand away, but her mouth twitched up at the corners.

  Hunter tapped her nose, but jerked his hand away before Kassie could hit him again. “And your nostrils flare when you’re really angry.”

  “They do not!”

  “Go look in a mirror. You’re doing it now.” Josh chuckled but quit laughing when a flash of red light pulsed out of Kassie’s energy field.

  Kassie took a deep breath and smoothed her shirt over her baby bump, obviously trying to get her emotions under control. “I’m going to school. I can’t hang out with you losers all day again. I have to think about my baby’s future.”

  A flash of red shot out of Hunter’s stomach. But it was followed by a pulse of gold out of his heart. “Seems to me you should have thought about that before you got knocked up.”

  Hunter was in love with Kassie whether he wanted to admit it or not. And her calling him a ‘loser’ had obviously hurt his feelings.

  Kassie’s energy field glowed with orange light. “I’m outta here.”

  “Kassie, wait.” Hunter reached out and grabbed her arm. “I’m sorry.”

  She jerked away from him and ran down the hall.

  Hunter’s shoulders sagged as he sighed. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

  “Ya think?” Josh grabbed his backpack and slipped one strap over his shoulder.

  Hunter scratched the back of his head. “I ain’t usually so mean, but that woman gets under my skin like no other.”

  “Why don’t you just tell her how you feel?”

  Hunter pressed his palm over his heart. “You saw that, huh?”

  Josh nodded.

  “What I feel ain’t gonna change nothing. She don’t want the likes of me.”

  “Didn’t you see the orange light pulsing all around her? I may not know much about magic, but I know that red light is anger, or emotional pain, and gold is love. Red and gold make orange. If you’d stop pissing her off, maybe she’d figure out that she’s in love with you too.”

  “She ain’t gonna marry nobody without a college education.”

  “So, get one.” Josh thought it was a little early to be talking about marriage, but he could hardly point that out with a gold band on his ring finger.

  “I dropped outta school in the sixth grade.” Hunter picked at one of the loose threads on his stylishly ripped jeans.

  “Oh. Well, then you need to get a GED first.”

  “What’s that?”

  “General Equivalency Diploma.”

  “How much does it cost?” Hunter looked up and gazed at Josh with his eyes full of hope.

  “I don’t know, but we can find out. Maybe I should just go ahead and drop out of school. We can both get our GEDs when this is all over.” It’d be less humiliating than flunking out.

  “No!�
� Hunter grabbed both of Josh’s shoulders and gave him a little shake. “The Book of the Dead said for you to live your life as you did before and that don’t include dropping out of school. Not unless the book tells you to.”

  “Okay, okay.” Josh ran a hand through his hair and grimaced when he caught a whiff of his arm pit.

  He reached for the deodorant sitting on his dresser, but Hunter grabbed his wrist.

  “Don’t use that stuff. It’s full of chemicals.”

  “I don’t have time for a shower.”

  “Just use a cleansing spell.”

  “You keep telling me to use magic and I keep telling you I don’t know how!”

  “Think about how good a nice hot shower would feel. You need a shave, too.”

  Josh scratched the whiskers along his jaw. “I don’t shave more than a couple times a week. What’s up with the beard?”

  “A heart-bond has a way of turning a boy into a man.” Hunter pointed at the bathroom door. “Now go in there and focus on being clean. And do it without soap and water.”

  “Why do I need to go into the bathroom?”

  “Cause you tend to make a mess. Now go.” Hunter gave him a friendly shove and closed the door.

  Josh glanced at himself in the mirror and again marveled at how different he looked. But a handsome face and well-defined muscles did not make up for body odor. “I want to be clean.”

  Nothing happened. He tried it again, this time closing his eyes. “Make me clean.”

  Hunter cracked the bathroom door open. “Don’t focus on the process, focus on the result. It helps if you can conjure up some real emotions. Think about how good it feels when you first come out of the shower.”

  “Why don’t you go downstairs and grab a bowl of cereal or something. You’re making me nervous.” Josh waited until he heard Hunter thumping down the stairs then grabbed his shampoo out of the shower. He closed his eyes and inhaled the familiar fragrance. All the hair on his body stood on end. Energy buzzed and prickled his skin. Pow!

  Josh’s eyes flew open. The scent of ozone hung in the air. He swiped the clouded glass of the mirror with his palm and grimaced at the oily film and speckles of whiskers clinging to his skin. He almost wiped his hand on his jeans, until he noticed how clean they were. He held his hand over the sink and thought about how he wanted it to feel as clean as the rest of his body. This time he kept his eyes open. The hair on his forearm stood up. The grime on his palm vibrated then formed a small cloud beneath his hand. The reaction was much smaller this time, a faint ‘pop’ instead of a clap of thunder. The only sign that his palm had been dirty at all was the hand-shaped residue in the sink. “Wow. That is so cool!”