Marked: A Two Halves Novella Read Online Free PDF Page A

where I wanted to be at the
moment. And it wasn’t sitting in Ma’s kitchen.
    “What’s her name?” Ma lowered her glasses.
    “Xela.”
    “Hmm . . .” Ma closed her eyes. “She’s beautiful.
Is it serious?”
    “You’re not upset?”
    “Our hearts have a way of choosing the ones with whom we’ll
share our life.”
    I widened my eyes. “You mean I could be with her? A black
witch?”
    “Possibly, but you have to understand what that means for
you and your sister. I believe you’re meant to be marked with the water mark.
If you stay with her, that won’t be possible.”
    “I can’t have the water mark and be with her?”
    “It’s almost impossible.”
    “Almost?”
    Ma’s eyes rolled back—something I was used to seeing when
she mixed her predictions into a conversation. “It’s too dangerous for you.
She’d betray you. She wouldn’t have a choice.”
    “And if I don’t want the water mark?”
    “Consider your decision carefully. It’s not a choice I can
make for you, but since you and Mira are bound to each other, the decision
should be made in unison. Mira’s been seeing Eric for a while, but she doesn’t
want to sway your decision.”
    “And what would happen to us if I chose the other side?”
    “You will always be my little monsters. Your decision
affects your sister’s life and hers affects yours. That will never change, but
I do believe your path is different from Xela’s.”
    “That cannot be true.” My jaw clenched, and the cracked
tooth throbbed down to the jawbone.
    “Xander, you’re going to get hurt.” She gave me a jar with
green ointment.
    “Are you saying that as a mother, or as a witch?”
    “A witch. Put some on your tooth.”
    “And she’ll hurt me.” I scooped the goo with my finger and
rubbed it on the molar. The physical pain eased, but the worry about my future
with Xela lingered.
    “She won’t have a choice, hon.”
    The breath shuddered between my lips when I sighed. “How
long do I have?”
    “Three days. Then it will be decided.”
    She smiled and came and came to wrap her arms around me.
“I’m sorry.”
    There was no doubt she meant it. Ma wanted us to be happy,
but the future was not up to her. “I love you, Ma.”
    “I love you too, Xander.” She tightened her embrace.
    I pulled back to look into her eyes. “I promise I will not
disappoint you.”
    Her eyebrows narrowed as she sighed, then stroked the back
of my head. “Just remember I’m here for you if you need me. So is your sister.
I know you’ll make the right decision.”
    “By ‘right’ you mean get the water mark?” I asked.
    “No, I mean you will decide what’s right for you, Mira, and
the future of this world.”
    I snorted. “No pressure, eh?”
    “You can handle it. You’re one of the most powerful beings
on Earth.”
    “So, if we can get the sphere by killing someone, what do we
do to get the water mark?” As soon as I thought of the mark, I felt a tug, as
if my soul disagreed. How would Xela feel about it? Would she care? Maybe there
was a chance we could be together. Even if I got hurt, I’d let Xela do with me as
she pleased.
     “You know I cannot meddle, but ask Eric.” She twirled her
finger at the spellbound doorway.
    My gaze flew to the common room, where Mira was sitting in
Eric’s lap while he flipped through Ma’s magic book; he was calling her sugar
in every other sentence.
    “A war is brewing, Xander. Aseret is preparing to strike at
the vampires. He has to be bound to the underworld and you two have to be the
ones to bind him. Everyone else has joined the demon lord. Those who didn’t
were killed. The balance has shifted. You two are the last of the unmarked and
the last of the shifters who can still help the world. For you, becoming part
of one side or another is more important than ever.” Ma’s hands pressed on my
shoulders as her face drooped and eyes sunk into their sockets.
    “I will not fail you. Let’s get this over with.” I