Chapter 252

Tessa’s POV

“You did what?!” Joseph growled as he quickly stood to his feet.

My mouth dropped open in shock as I stared at Esmeralda. She looked a little sheepish as she tugged at her fingers. It was clear she was feeling bad about her admittance, but I wasn’t sure if she felt bad for the act itself.

I wanted to hear her out, but Joseph was filled with so much rage that I feared we wouldn’t be able to hear what Esme had to say.

“Let me explain,” Esme said, peering up at him.

“You were the one who kept the new vampires hidden? You were the one who brought them to the city?!” Joseph seethed, his voice echoing throughout the entire house. I shuddered from the anger in his tone, and I wanted to reach out to him and touch him. I wanted him to know that it was okay and know that I was fine. But his deep breathing and trembling body stopped me from doing that.

Instead, I kept my head lowered and my hands by my side.

“You better have a good excuse as to why you’d put Tessa in danger like that, witch,” he said through his teeth, spit flying from his mouth as he ended that sentence. “Do you have any idea how many innocent people died because of them?”

Esme nodded, her face reddening slightly.

“That part wasn’t part of my plan,” she whispered. “I never meant for anyone to actually die. They told me they only wanted Tessa. But once they realized that those Tessa had encountered partially carried her scent…” her voice trailed off.

She didn’t need to continue for us to know what she was going to say.

Those new vampires killed anyone who carried my scent. They couldn’t get me, so they settled for everyone around me until Joseph intervened.

I swallowed the large lump that formed in my throat, and it took everything I had to keep the tears away.

“Why?” Joseph growled. “Why would you put Tessa in danger like that knowing that they would go after her??”

“I needed you to find her,” she answered, giving him a pointed look. “I knew you’d find her and protect her, even if you couldn’t remember her. I knew that now that her powers were coming in, her best bet at being protected was if you were with her. I needed you to find her…”

“How did you know it would work?” I found myself asking, my voice cracking slightly as I pushed the emotions further down into my stomach. “How did you know he would—”

“Because of your soul,” Esme said quickly before I could finish my last sentence. “I can see your soul and I knew who it belonged to…”

“Claira…” I whispered, staring down at my hands.

“You knew my wife?” Joseph asked; his voice was still gruff and though he was still breathing heavily, I could tell he was starting to calm.

Esmeralda let out a laugh, but it was humorless.

“No, I didn’t know her. But I knew her soul,” she explained. “The soul is immortal and travels around. It can be in multiple places at once and encounter multiple people. Not all witches have this ability, but I always have.”

“You can see and talk to souls?” I asked, my mouth hanging open.

She nodded.

“I have a connection with the spirit world,” she confessed as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Your soul has always been quite vocal about her adventures. She told me a lot of things. Like how you were destined to be with Joseph and that you might need a little help getting together. So, I did what I thought was right at the time.”

“Did you create these vampires too?” Joseph asked, his body calming drastically as he took his seat beside me.

This time, Esmeralda let out a real laugh as she shook her head.

“No,” she said. “I can’t make vampires. I just brought them to the city. I’m not sure how or who created them. But I can sense them when they are created, and I brought them to the city before they were woken. With magic, it really wasn’t hard.”

“You put Tessa in danger,” Joseph said, shaking his head. His lips were pressed in a thin line, and I knew he was anything but happy about this.

But I found the whole thing to be bittersweet; I knew Joseph was right to be angry. She did put me and a lot of others in danger. Innocent people were killed because of these vampires, and I was almost killed too.

But at the same time, if she hadn’t brought these vampires to the city, I might have never known Joseph. I might have never discovered any of this stuff.

I wrapped my arms around my body like I was trying to hold myself together and I sighed.

“I’m not upset,” I finally said after a beat of heated silence, drawing their attention to me. “I’m glad that she did this. I’m glad I got to know you.”

My eyes lifted to meet Joseph’s and his gaze softened.

“I love you, Joseph and I wouldn’t change anything that happened.”

He sighed and leaned his head against mine, closing his eyes, I felt him taking in a deep breath as he took in my scent. Then he breathed out, his entire body relaxing as he nodded and looked back at Esmeralda.

“So, you’ll be able to help her?” Joseph asked, narrowing his eyes at her.

Esme smiled, seemingly pleased.

“Yes, I can,” she said, placing the palms of her hands on her lap. “I can be her mentor and help her with her magic. I can help her become strong and powerful. Then, if anyone tries to take her, she will be prepared.”

I looked up at Joseph who stared at her with a look of such uncertainty that it made my stomach twist. I wondered what he was thinking; I wondered if he wanted me to trust her and learn from her. Or if he wanted me to walk away and pretend that none of this happened.

I wasn’t sure which one I wanted to do either.

My head was once again whirling from this information.

“Can I think about it?” I asked, looking between Esme and Joseph.

Esmeralda raised her brows as Joseph squeezed my hand affectionately.

“Of course, you can,” Joseph said before Esme could say anything. “You don’t have to decide anything today. But just know that this decision is completely yours.”

I smiled up at him, resting my head against his shoulder.

“But don’t take too long to decide. The sooner we get started the better,” Esme said, staring at me pointedly.

I nodded.

“I’ll let you know as soon as I digest all of this information,” I tell her. “I promise.”

She nodded and then she stood to her feet.

“Also, as I said, I think it’s best you stayed far away from that coven and your father’s farm for the time being. I don’t need them finding you anytime soon.”

I nodded in agreement, holding onto Joseph as if he was my lifeline.

“We are going to be moving to New York City soon,” Joseph informed her. “Which is only an hour away from the mountains and not very far from your village. Once we get settled in, we will be in touch.”

She nodded and then looked down at me to give me a small smile.

“Then, we will talk soon,” she said as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small card.

It was a purple card with glitter, and it read: Esmeralda’s Witchery Shop on the front. On the back was the store address and two phone numbers. One was the store phone number, and the other was her cell phone number.

“Give me a call when you want to talk,” she told me.

I nodded my thanks to her. Joseph let me go long enough to walk Esme out of the room and to the front door. He returned only moments later, and he sighed as if he’d been holding that breath in for far too long.

He returned to me and wrapped me in his arms, burying his face in the nape of my neck.

“Are you okay?” He whispered against me.

I nodded, wrapping my arms around his neck, and pulled myself closer to him.

“Just overwhelmed,” I breathed.

He kissed me gently on the forehead and lifted my head so I could kiss his lips. He smiled as our lips met and my heart practically skipped a beat.

“Like I said, you don’t have to decide anything right now,” he whispered.

“I know; I appreciate that,” I told him gently.

He ran his fingers down the side of my face, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear before tracing my bottom lip with his thumb. His touch caused goosebumps to form across my flesh and I couldn’t help but tremble; this only made him grin.

“Did I tell you how incredibly sexy you look in my shirt?” He asked, his eyes darkening as he took me in. “All I wanted was to rip it off your body and have my way with you.”

“What’s stopping you?” I giggled.

He leaned down and brushed his lips across mine.

“At the time, Esmeralda,” he muttered. “But now… nothing.”

He scooped me into his arms, and I squealed as he lifted me in the air and placed me on his lap, keeping me pinned against his body.

“I’m going to show you just how crazy you make me.”