Page 12 of The Last Wish (Lost Legacy #1)

CHAPTER

TWELVE

CALLUM

W hat the hell just happened? How did we go from fated mate damage control to floating hair and trancelike magic?

“Sheena, wake up, baby. Sheena!”

Gideon’s earlier robotic speech, which will haunt my nightmares for years to come, is long gone. With the way he’s yelling now, it’s clear he has moved fully into the freaking the fuck out stage. I’m not far behind him if I’m being honest.

“Callum, help me!” His frantic roar finally pushes me to move.

I kneel down beside them. “Calm down, man. She's breathing—see, her chest is moving. Feel her pulse.” Gideon does as I ask, gently pressing two fingers to her throat.

“She's going to be fine,” I assure him, slumping to the floor and leaning my head against the cabinet. Physically, I believe that, but mentally and emotionally? I’m not so sure. This is a mess.

“Let's take her up to her room,” I suggest. Gideon grunts, scooping Sheena up in his arms and taking off up the stairs. I trail after him, trying to organize my thoughts.

Sheena is incredibly powerful. The way her face morphed was distinctly demonic, but I didn’t recognize any of the major power types. It couldn’t be witch magic. The aura isn’t the same. And both Gideon and Sheena looked like puppets...

What the fuck is she?

From the look of dread on her face just before her magic activated, she knew what was about to happen. I want to yell at her and call her a hypocrite for hiding this from us. She fucking tore into us for not telling her about the mate bond, but this is just as big if not bigger. But the terror on her face... She wasn't faking that. Internally, I groan at how quickly this spiraled out of control.

As Gideon slides Sheena under the covers, I notice her phone light up on the bedside table with an incoming call. My brother’s name flashes across the screen. Why is he calling? I gesture for Gideon to follow me out of the room as I swipe to answer the call.

Immediately, Ciprian starts talking a mile a minute. “Well, what happened? Are you really his mate? You've left me on read here, Sheena. I’m freaking out.”

I should have known. Why is he always at the root of my problems?

“What did you do?” I demand, having already heard more than enough to confirm his involvement. My question is met with dead silence on the other end of the line, and I snap. "Ciprian, I’m not fucking around here. What did you do? Are you trying to fuck her or fuck me over? She doesn't need your shit."

I'm getting madder by the second, and my brother just gave me a target for it all.

It doesn’t take long for him to clap back.

“Get off your fucking high horse. You and Gideon always decide you know best. Sheena is my friend, and you've been lying to her.” Ciprian sounds cold and furious, but I’m used to his brand of bitter bullshit.

“Of course, you would try to make trouble for me.” I scoff. “You just can’t resist sticking your nose in my business. I'm not a nightmare, so of course I have no right to privacy and deserve to be forever alone."

He hisses. I can practically see him rolling his eyes through the phone.

“Don’t be dramatic, brother. You don't really believe that."

How dare he? My hand clenches around the phone, and Gideon watches me with wide eyes. I’m too far gone to hold back now. I start to pace, cutting a path along the hallway. I’m too tense to stand still.

“Why wouldn’t I believe the truth?” I snap. “You've hated me ever since my powers manifested.”

“Oh, so we’re actually going to talk about this?” Ciprian has the nerve to laugh. “Alright. Let’s fucking go. Are you talking about how you conveniently forgot you had a little brother? When you packed up and took off with Gideon without a word, and left me alone to deal with mom and dad? That time, Callum?” Ciprian’s voice trembles with anger and a whole bunch of other shit I can’t identify.

I pause. He’s never once talked about how things were for him.

“It wasn't like that. You know it wasn’t,” I say. I didn’t think about how me leaving would impact him, but he had manifested as a nightmare by that time. Our parents’ pride and joy. I knew he would be fine. “I had to get out. And ever since I left, you've been on their side—out to get me at every opportunity,” I grind the words out, breathing heavier with each one.

“You know what? Not everything revolves around you, Callum. If you don't want a brother, you don't have to have one.” Ciprian’s emotionless voice makes my stomach feel hollow and unsettled. I don't know what to say.

“Please.” Ciprian sighs. “Put Sheena on the phone. I'm worried about my friend.” He sounds sincere, but now I’m reminded of how he went behind my back and told her things she should have heard from us.

“I can’t,” I admit. “She's asleep right now. But I'll tell her you called.”

“Bullshit. I talked to her less than an hour ago, and she was upset. Now you're telling me she just fucking fell asleep? What did you do to her?”

Is he accusing me of hurting her now? Does he think so little of me?

Before I can shout at him some more, Gideon snatches the phone from my hand and turns his back on me. With my sensitive hearing, I can still make out both sides of the conversation.

“Ciprian, it’s Gideon. Sheena confronted me about the mate bond. We argued, I tried to explain, then... shit got really fucking weird.”

“What do you mean shit got weird?”

Gideon runs his free hand through his hair roughly and groans. “I don’t know how to explain it. She was glowing, then she passed out, and I'm freaking out now, man. Has she told you anything about her powers? I'm not asking you to betray her trust, but I have no idea if she’s going to be okay.”

Ciprian lets out a string of curses. “No, she hasn’t said anything about that. Just that those masked assholes abducted her. I didn’t want to ask. I think talking about it still fucks her up."

“Yeah, we haven't pushed either, but now I wonder if we should have. I don't know how to help her.”

“Sheena doesn’t seem that fragile, Gideon. Listening to you try to communicate—no matter how bad it was—isn’t going to take her out.”

Gideon huffs out a laugh. Fuck my brother for being the one to reassure him.

“I wasn't trying to start trouble. I swear,” Ciprian says. “She was just telling me about how her chest felt different after you got her off. It sounded like the mate stories your mom used to read to us, and I got excited for you both. I started running my mouth before I realized you hadn't told her.” My brother’s tone is sheepish, but he sounds genuine. My stomach churns. Maybe I jumped to conclusions.

“No hard feelings. It was messy, but I came clean,” Gideon says. “I’m sure we’ll work things out once she wakes up.”

Gideon agrees to keep Ciprian updated on Sheena's condition, then hangs up. When he turns to look at me, his eyes are brimming with worry, regret, and just a splash of judgment.

“Now isn't the time, but shit, Callum, I don't think he's always out to get you.”

I groan and massage my temples. “Don't start, please.”

“He's family. That's all I'm saying.”

“Yeah, and when has that fact ever mattered to any of them?” My voice sounds bleak even to me. “Anyway, can we unpack my childhood trauma later? We've kind of got a lot going on right now.” He nods, but I can tell from the stubborn set of his jaw that we will be discussing this later.

We both look at the door to Sheena’s room, and Gideon hangs his head. “What if we blew it, Cal? The way she looked at us.” He shudders, tugging again on his hair. “She was scared to death.”

I close the distance between us, pulling him into a hug.

“We’ll fix it,” I reassure him.

“I need her, you know?” His grip on me is crushing, but I don’t pull away. “I know it seems crazy fast, but she fits.”

My heart twists for him. Gideon isn’t used to feeling vulnerable, even emotionally. Sheena isn't the only one who’s scared here.

“I get it,” I mutter, thumping him on the back a few times. “Let's go wait for her to wake up. We can apologize, and then we’ll go from there.”

I pull back from the hug, pleased to see Gideon standing a little straighter.

Together, we tiptoe down the hallway, gently opening her door. It turns out there was no reason to be quiet.

Sheena is long gone.

SHEENA

I slide down the gutter , limbs shaking violently as the wind gusts around me. My head is still throbbing from using my powers. Every few seconds, I have to wipe away the blood dripping from my nose. It's a miracle I don't fall and break every bone in my body, but somehow I make it to the bottom with just a few bumps and scrapes.

I have to get away. This is my only chance.

I woke up in the bed to the sound of Callum interrogating Ciprian. Eavesdropping on that angry exchange finally forced me to listen to my instincts and not my irrational feelings. I didn't catch the entire conversation, but I heard enough to make the decision to run.

Staying here was a mistake. It’s clear Callum doesn't trust me, and Gideon didn't bother to tell me we’re magical soul mates. Neither of those things matters now that they know what I can do. I won’t be caged again.

Another drop of blood trickles down my chin. It hits the ground like a grisly exclamation point, emphasizing just how serious my situation is.

I don’t have a name for whatever my power is, but it’s unnatural, and it drains me. Even though it’s been years since anyone forced me to grant a wish, I can tell I’m weaker this time around. I won’t make it much farther on foot.

Where is that barn?

It’s hard to navigate in the dark. Nothing looks familiar. But I need to find those ATVs and use one to get away. My conscience burns. I don’t want to steal from them, but I’m desperate. I don't have a car, and I abandoned my worn hiking boots in my hurry to put distance between the house and me.

Once again, I’m starting over with almost nothing, just my duffle and the will to survive. My head throbs in time with my footsteps. But the hardest pain to ignore is the throbbing in my heart. The more ground I cover, the more it aches. With only a few minutes’ head start, I can't afford to stop or rest yet. I tune out the pain.

No pity.

I think of the words that poured out of Gideon in the kitchen and my guilt flairs stronger. He wished to explain in a way that made me understand. I feel bad for turning his fear into reality, but I know it won’t stop there.

This ability, this curse I'm afflicted with—it makes people insane. No one should be able to access their wildest dreams by saying a handful of words. That kind of power, hovering on the tip of your tongue—it creates a hunger that's impossible to satiate. Nobody can resist that.

Maybe Gideon wouldn't use me to give himself riches or dominate someone else, but what about couching his weaknesses? Sure, it was an accident this time, but that eloquent explanation wasn't real. It wasn't his choice.

Trust no one.

Part of me knows leaving and denying him a chance to prove himself isn’t fair, but neither is life. If it was, I wouldn’t have been dropped at a fire station as a newborn, my best friend wouldn't have abandoned me in high school, and no one would have kidnapped me in the first place. If life was fair, this cursed power wouldn't exist at all and I wouldn’t need to run.

Keep it moving.

GIDEON

Her duffle is gone , but her boots remain on the porch. Sheena’s tattered shoes are the only sign in the entire house that she was ever here.

She left me.

The realization nearly brings me to my knees, but I'm not actually surprised. Sheena is a runner. I was right not to trust her to stay. While this rejection hurts, I can survive it. Better it happened now, before the bond sealed. If she’d decided things were too hard down the road, the agony could have actually killed me.

I wanted to be the reason she took a risk.

Callum is obsessing over what happened in the kitchen, but I don't give a flying fuck about that. At the end of the day, floating hair and glowing eyes don't matter. If she doesn't think what we have is worth fighting for, then our future will never outweigh her past.

“We have to go get her,” Callum says, checking his phone and heading towards the door. “She has no transportation, and there's another storm coming.”

He keeps shooting glances at me like I'm the one acting weird, but he’s not seeing the full picture. We never stood a chance. Our biggest mistake was ever thinking we did.

“If she wants to leave, that’s on her.” I shrug, trying to look unaffected. “I told her she had a choice. She’s made it.” I crack open a beer, sitting at the counter and ignoring the gut wrenching fear I feel at the thought of her being alone outside and exposed to the elements.

“Look, it's shitty that she took off,” Callum says, frowning at me. “But I think we can assume panic is driving her right now. She freaked the fuck out. We need to make sure she's okay, then, once it’s less raw, we can put everything out on the table and sort through it together.”

“Were you not in that room with me?” I gesture towards the kitchen with the beer bottle. “I put it all on the table already, and she fucking left. I’m not going to chase her around in the dark like a jackass.”

“I was there,” he snaps. “In fact, I was the only one not possessed at the time, and I still don’t know what the fuck happened in there. Think about this, man. I know you’re upset, but I don’t want you to wake up tomorrow with regrets.”

I take a big swig of the beer as if my heart isn't shredded.

“I have thought about it. She’s thought about it. Maybe you need to think about it. She climbed down a fucking gutter in her pajamas, Cal. I think she was pretty clear about where she stands.”

“But, Gideon?—”

I snarl at him then. I can’t help it. Why can’t he understand that there’s nothing left to talk about? I poured my heart out to her in the kitchen. She knew how worried I was about her leaving and still chose to walk away. I can do the same with this conversation.

Callum sighs as I look away. When he speaks again, his voice is gentle like he’s talking to an injured animal. “You're both making a mistake. Don't let pride get in your way.”

After that parting shot, I hear the door slam shut behind him. I listen to his footsteps disappear into the night while I drain what's left of my drink.

He doesn't get it.

It's not pride that’s holding me back, but self-preservation. She’s already broken my heart once. I can’t give her the chance to do it again.

SHEENA

I feel the exact moment Gideon realizes I’m gone. The pain literally brings me to my knees. Damp leaves cushion my fall. It takes a full, precious minute for me to struggle back to my feet. I was a fool not to question this connection sooner. Now that I know what it is, it’s painfully obvious it isn’t normal.

Despite the added agony in my chest, I force myself to keep going. They will come for me now that they know about my abilities. Tears and blood drip to the forest floor as I descend the mountain.

After about fifteen minutes, my bravado crumbles.

I’m seeing spots now, and it's beyond difficult to navigate. I can't seem to focus. I should have reached the little barn already, which tells me I must have missed it somewhere in the dark. As both warmth and hope leech out of me, I wander aimlessly ahead on autopilot.

I’m getting rained on now, and I’m not dressed for it. Each gust of wind slices through my clothes, lashing my skin like a whip. My body is so numb I can’t even feel the fear that consumed me just half an hour ago. When a wolf howl cuts through the wind, my whole body shivers.

That sounded close.

I scan the trees. Instead of a four-legged predator, I see Callum stomping towards me on two. Even in the dark, I can tell he’s dripping wet and pissed all the way off.

“I didn’t want to scare you.” His voice is cold and angry, and even though I’m determined to be brave, I jerk back from the sound. The involuntary movement knocks me off balance and I stumble.

“Shit, Sheena,” the demon curses, grabbing my arms and steadying me. “I know you’re freaked out, but this is the stupidest stunt I’ve seen in my fucking life. It’s not safe out here.”

“Let me go, Callum,” I demand, trying and failing to sound tough. I can barely hear my own voice over the wind and rain. He ignores my protests, draping a huge jacket over my shoulders. I shrug my arms in and push off of him.

“Quit fighting me,” he snaps, zipping the front of the jacket and yanking the hood over my soaked hair. “If you still want to go tomorrow, you can take my fucking car.” Through the spots in my vision, I see him wave what looks like keys in front of my face. “But you’re not about to walk down this mountain in the dark, leaving a blood trail behind you and attracting every predator within a ten-mile radius.”

He thinks I’m crazy. Maybe he’s right, but if I could just make him understand.

“Keys are just keys,” I slur my way through the words. “Now that you know what I can do, I'll never be free.”

“I don’t know shit.” His brow furrows as he looks down at me. “Gods, did you hit your head or something climbing down the gutter? You’re not a hostage.” He glances over his shoulder. “We are, however, both at risk of falling off a cliff or getting eaten by a mountain lion.” He kicks at a branch, then runs his fingers through his wet hair.

“Look, full disclosure, I’m really fucking mad at you right now, but I don’t want you dead. Can we at least go back to the house to argue? You’re as pale as a ghost, and I'm freezing my ass off.”

Staring up at Callum in the dark, I want to believe him so badly. A demon I barely know who has the power to make me want him. I trusted him when he promised he would never use his magic to control me, but that was before he knew what I could do. Surely, with the ability to make his every wish come true standing right in front of him, he’ll consider that promise null and void. If he used his incubus powers right now, I would fall in line immediately. So what is he waiting for?

He’s not the kind of person to break a promise...

It’s a dangerous thought, but I can’t get rid of it. Seconds tick by, then minutes. Callum doesn’t say another word, just waits in silence for me to make my decision. My resolve melts in the face of the rain and his patience.

“Okay. Let's go back to the house,” I stutter. He’s right. My body is shutting down, and I couldn’t even make it to the barn.

After waiting for god knows how long for me to make a decision, Callum wastes no time now. He sweeps me up in his arms, tucking me tightly into his chest. I cling instinctively to his body heat.

“Shit, Sheena, you’re freezing,” he grumbles, sounding a little scared. “I could warm you up, but I don’t understand what’s happening to your body. It might make things worse.” He takes off at a slow jog, his long strides making quick work of the rough terrain. “Hold on, okay? I left the ATV on the trail nearby.”

I nod and another howl cuts through the night. The sound is frenzied and so close it’s practically on top of us. I shiver again, but it has nothing to do with the cold this time.

“You’re okay, sweetheart,” Callum whispers, sitting me down carefully on the four-wheeler and climbing on behind me. “I’m going to get you out of here.”

“Gideon?” I’m barely coherent, but he knows what I'm asking.

“Back at the house.” He doesn’t elaborate. He doesn’t need to. Those four words say more than enough. The pain in my heart sizzles and pops, and I tuck my face into Callum’s neck.

Neither of us tries to speak again. Callum starts the engine. Its loud rumble drowns out some of the raging storm.

I should be relieved. Instead, my skin is crawling. I have the sickening feeling that we’re being watched. Lifting my head weakly, I look back into the dark woods.

Yellow eyes stare back at me, cruel and unblinking.

They’re impossible to forget. The same stare has haunted my nightmares for eight years. I try to warn Callum, to tell him there’s a monster behind us, but my body fails me.

He found me. Now we’re all going to die.