Tiddly Jinx Read Online Free PDF Page B
Author: Liz Schulte
reincarnation. Who’s to say once we die that we get the chance to come back?”
She smiled gently. “These are mysteries far older than me and out of my depth. I don’t have answers for you.” She patted my knee. “But who’s to say when you make it through the atonement for the sins of one life, you do not begin another? Perhaps we have endless opportunities to do it right the next time.”
I couldn’t imagine Charon using the Pole to send people back. Purgatory seemed endless.
“These are not questions we will find answers to today. As for your other concern, there isn’t much to be done about it. You’re the queen of the fae, and that isn’t likely to go away anytime soon since you are marrying the Erlking. If you turn dark, you will have to be dealt with. I recommend that you not have the wedding first, in case they need to…”
“Kill me?”
She nodded. “It might be the only choice. Would you rather he let you terrorize the world?”
I shook my head, but I knew for a fact Cheney would never kill me, no matter how evil I became. Neither would Sy for that matter. There was only one person I could count on to do the right thing if the situation came down to that: Sebastian. It wasn’t fair to ask it of him, but he would see the bigger picture. That was why Sebastian and I became friends to begin with. He was always willing to do what had to be done. He was good at making tough decisions and sticking to them. “I’ll make the arrangements before I open the book.”
“That’s wise.” She let out a heavy breath. “I’ll keep searching for another way.”
I nodded and stood with the book safely tucked under my arm. “Thank you.”
“Be careful.”
I stooped over and gave her a hug. “Do you need help up?”
She laughed. “No. I think I can still manage.”
I took a step back from her, preparing to transport.
“Selene—” I looked down. “Could you stay for a while? I know you are busy, but…”
I understood what she wanted: a chance to make peace, to get to know each other again—or maybe for the first time. Our entire past was built on secrets, lies, and head-butting. I closed my eyes for a moment. Forgiveness didn’t come as easy as walking away for me—maybe didn’t for anyone. I looked down at the jeans I was wearing, a reminder of the changes I needed to make in my own life. I was far from perfect. If wearing more pants would keep me from getting stuck wearing a dress in Hell again, then maybe hearing Gram out would help me forgive her and start healing both of our souls.
She wasn’t getting any younger, either. If she ended up in purgatory, I didn’t want them to use me—our relationship—against her. I hoped to change my own purgatory before I went back, so maybe I owed her the chance to absolve herself of the guilt she felt. I nodded. “What did you have in mind?”
After an entire morning and afternoon of talking with Gram in front of the fireplace and sipping tea, I transported back to the castle grounds. My heart felt lighter in a way that was hard to describe. I didn’t technically have time to spend an afternoon chatting, but I was glad I’d done it anyway.
I glanced at my watch. There was one person I needed to see before I looked for Cheney: Sebastian. After questioning a few guards, I found him sitting in the gardens alone staring at a spot on the ground like it meant something to him. I sat next to him on the bench, setting the book on the other side of me, but didn’t say anything. His peaceful meditation seemed wrong to disrupt. He finally looked over at me.
“You need a favor.”
“Do you read minds now?” I asked.
He gave me a level look. “The only time you are considerate of other people is when you need something from them.”
I was mildly insulted. Generally I thought of myself as a considerate person, but maybe Sebastian had a point. “I’m sorry if I’ve treated you like that, Sebastian.”
His eyes narrowed. “It must be
She smiled gently. “These are mysteries far older than me and out of my depth. I don’t have answers for you.” She patted my knee. “But who’s to say when you make it through the atonement for the sins of one life, you do not begin another? Perhaps we have endless opportunities to do it right the next time.”
I couldn’t imagine Charon using the Pole to send people back. Purgatory seemed endless.
“These are not questions we will find answers to today. As for your other concern, there isn’t much to be done about it. You’re the queen of the fae, and that isn’t likely to go away anytime soon since you are marrying the Erlking. If you turn dark, you will have to be dealt with. I recommend that you not have the wedding first, in case they need to…”
“Kill me?”
She nodded. “It might be the only choice. Would you rather he let you terrorize the world?”
I shook my head, but I knew for a fact Cheney would never kill me, no matter how evil I became. Neither would Sy for that matter. There was only one person I could count on to do the right thing if the situation came down to that: Sebastian. It wasn’t fair to ask it of him, but he would see the bigger picture. That was why Sebastian and I became friends to begin with. He was always willing to do what had to be done. He was good at making tough decisions and sticking to them. “I’ll make the arrangements before I open the book.”
“That’s wise.” She let out a heavy breath. “I’ll keep searching for another way.”
I nodded and stood with the book safely tucked under my arm. “Thank you.”
“Be careful.”
I stooped over and gave her a hug. “Do you need help up?”
She laughed. “No. I think I can still manage.”
I took a step back from her, preparing to transport.
“Selene—” I looked down. “Could you stay for a while? I know you are busy, but…”
I understood what she wanted: a chance to make peace, to get to know each other again—or maybe for the first time. Our entire past was built on secrets, lies, and head-butting. I closed my eyes for a moment. Forgiveness didn’t come as easy as walking away for me—maybe didn’t for anyone. I looked down at the jeans I was wearing, a reminder of the changes I needed to make in my own life. I was far from perfect. If wearing more pants would keep me from getting stuck wearing a dress in Hell again, then maybe hearing Gram out would help me forgive her and start healing both of our souls.
She wasn’t getting any younger, either. If she ended up in purgatory, I didn’t want them to use me—our relationship—against her. I hoped to change my own purgatory before I went back, so maybe I owed her the chance to absolve herself of the guilt she felt. I nodded. “What did you have in mind?”
After an entire morning and afternoon of talking with Gram in front of the fireplace and sipping tea, I transported back to the castle grounds. My heart felt lighter in a way that was hard to describe. I didn’t technically have time to spend an afternoon chatting, but I was glad I’d done it anyway.
I glanced at my watch. There was one person I needed to see before I looked for Cheney: Sebastian. After questioning a few guards, I found him sitting in the gardens alone staring at a spot on the ground like it meant something to him. I sat next to him on the bench, setting the book on the other side of me, but didn’t say anything. His peaceful meditation seemed wrong to disrupt. He finally looked over at me.
“You need a favor.”
“Do you read minds now?” I asked.
He gave me a level look. “The only time you are considerate of other people is when you need something from them.”
I was mildly insulted. Generally I thought of myself as a considerate person, but maybe Sebastian had a point. “I’m sorry if I’ve treated you like that, Sebastian.”
His eyes narrowed. “It must be