CHAPTER 1
Voices
Jessamine Longbranch sat against the wall, trying to block out the world, trying to escape the thoughts and images of her children's deaths. Talia and Leesha stood watching their leader, wondering if she was alright. Talia kneeled next to her mentor, and put a hand on her shoulder, but didn't try to read her thoughts. The young wizard knew Jess needed time to her own thoughts.
I can help you.
Jess's eyes opened and she looked at Talia then at Leesha and knew it wasn't either of them who had spoken. The voice had been in her head, not out loud.
Great, she thought, now I'm going insane.
I can help you, Jessamine Longbranch. You lost something dear to you and I can bring it back.
She closed her eyes again, focusing on the voice when it spoke. Her mind magic usually allowed her to trace the person that was in her head and the only person that had been able to keep her from tracing them or even noticing them in her thoughts was Talia; until now.
Don't worry; I'm not a threat to you. I just want to help you, I watched your children be killed by the man you loved. The voice chuckled before continuing.
How ironic that it was Aaron Ross who killed your beloved kids. I can bring them back with two little words, that's all it will take.
How can you bring them back, please I need to know, Jess thought.
I'm the only one that can bring them back. If you meet with me tonight I could have them back alive by morning.
Where can I meet you then?
The bar you usually go to for 'company,' the voice said.
Alright I can meet you in an hour.
Good, can't wait.
Forty-five minutes later Jessamine was standing by her car in the parking lot of the bar. She had decided to come early so she could watch for the person talking in her head.
You know...
"It's not smart to try and land a surprise attack on someone who's in your head."
Jess looked over her shoulder with narrowed eyes and her heart skipped a beat. For a second she thought her past had come back to haunt her. The young man standing behind her looked almost exactly like Hunter Pinebone. But, a closer look told her that this boy wasn't Hunter, he had dirty blond hair, but the same ice blue eyes and he was at least twenty-two.
He must be Hunter's son, she thought.
"I am actually," the boy said.
"So you say you can bring my children back?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Well what are the terms?"
"I thought about it. And I know what I want," he said with a smirk.
If he wants the leadership position in the White Rose... I'm willing to give up anything to have my kids back, but that's the one thing I can't just give him, Jess thought, blocking the younger wizard from her thoughts, which wasn't easy to do.
His eyes narrowed as he realized he couldn't read her thoughts.
"If you want leadership of the White Rose, that's the one thing I can't give you," she said, and then added. "The White Rose picks its leaders not the other way around."
"Oh, I know that and it's not what I want."
She blinked and he was right in front of her, when just a moment ago he had been a few feet away. He had a hand gently resting on her throat the other on her waist, his body pushing hers against the car, and his face just centimeters from hers. Jess's heart sped up, not from pleasure at having another body this close, but from fear. This boy was Hunter Pinebone's son and Hunter had destroyed her will. Having the young man that close reminded her all to well of what his father had done to her.
The White Rose leader closed her eyes and bit her bottom lip.
"It's not leadership of the White Rose that I want. I want the leader herself," the boy whispered.
"Fine. If that's what you want then you can have it, just bring my children back," she said, opening her eyes.
"You'll be with me whenever I want, for however long I want."
"Alright."
His hand dropped from her throat, he took a step back and she let out the breath she didn't even realize she had been holding.
"Good. Before I bring you're kids back you have to spend at least one night with me. Go home and freshen up then meet me back here."
