“How did you get out?”
“Magic sword.” My teeth clenched.
I was slipping and he wanted to play twenty questions?
“Don’t do this, Rose. You can’t do this.”
“I have to. I found a letter from my mom. She told me to… find someone who can help. With the blood promise.”
“What? That’s impossible. Rose, come back up before you fall.”
“Let me go, Javi. Please. I have to do this. Hurry, Javi. I’m slipping!”
My stomach jumped to my throat. I flailed in the air, trying to grab the wall. A jolt went through me as an invisible force struck me. It slowed my descent, landing me gently on the ground beside the sword.
I looked up and met Javi’s eyes.
“Wait for me. I’m coming with you.”
I shook my head. “No, Javi. You can’t. The GRIMMs. You’d be in even more trouble.”
“I don’t care. You’re not going alone.”
His words made me smile. “I’ll be okay. Please, Javi. You can’t walk away from everything you’ve ever wanted and worked for. I won’t let you.”
Distress flashed across his face. “No, Rose.”
Picking up my sword, I gave him a reassuring nod though I didn’t know what it meant. Would I see him again? If I did, would we be enemies?
We stared at each other for a minute. I refused to say goodbye. I’d had enough of goodbyes in my life. Voices carried from inside the room, snapping me to attention.
“Go.” Javi’s words were soft and pained.
I turned away before he could see me tear up. Holding my mother’s sword, I ran. I ran and I didn’t look back. Slipping out of the front gates, I made it out just as they began to close. Someone slowed them for me. Javi.
Free. I was free.
The sky had lightened, morning on its way. I paused to breathe in the salty sweet air and began running. I didn’t know where I was going, but the sword pulsed, an invisible tug leading me, I hoped, to where I needed to be.
Find the wizard. He’s your only hope.
“Okay, Mom. I’ll do just that.”
With renewed strength, I pressed on. I would find a way to fix the mess my parents made. No one but me would decide my fate.
The End
Acknowledgments
Once again, I have to thank my editor at Cate Edits for her help and Kristin Masbaum from Moonlight Proofreading. Also my family for their never ending support. A special thanks to my husband who did a supreme job of keeping our crazy busy toddler entertained while I got the words in. Lastly, I want to thank all the readers who took this journey with Rose and I. If you enjoyed the story, please consider leaving a review and if you didn’t enjoy it, I’d still love to know your thoughts. Thank you!
Also by R. L. Medina
The Inner World Series
Book 1: Princess of the Elves
Book 2: Goblin King
Book 3: Fae War
Prequel: Feylin
GRIMM Academy Series
Book 1: Shifters and Secrets
Book 2: Vampires and Werewolves September 2020
Coming soon….
Book 3: Witches and Wizards Fall 2020
Moon Blood Covenant Series
Book 1: Order Fall 2020
About the Author
R. L. Medina was born in the Amazon, adopted and raised by two upstate New Yorkers. At age six, she vowed to hate reading forever. That hate quickly turned to love (or obsession) and by age eight she was filling every notebook with story after story. Now a mother herself, she juggles her time between a busy four year old and the stubborn characters that demand her time. When she's not exploring all the Sci-fi/Fantasy worlds in her head, she enjoys life with her family in Florida.
Check out her website at www.rlmedina.com to sign up for freebies and updates!
