Mine to Spell (Mine #2) by Janeal Falor Read Free Book Online

be honored.”
    The rest of the servants must also feel it would be an honor as well, because as I’m shown out, they all follow. All of them. It can’t be easy or comfortable traveling after me though such a confined space. Still they come. Quietly, yet gently moving with me through the maze of the house.
    When we reach the entry, the only area familiar in this place, the servant I asked for help says, “I would offer you a carriage, but…”
                  “I will manage. Thank you.” I face everyone. “Thank you all.”
                  They nod, eyes bright as they watch me leave. With my head held high I step out of the house, walk down the lane and out onto the road. Once I'm out of sight of the mansion, the reality of what just happened slams into me. I’m free, free as any warlock. The dirt is hard beneath my shoes as I do a running sort of skip down the road that would make my younger sisters proud. I’m as light as air, and happier than I’ve ever been.
    I break out in a full run, pushing myself as fast as I can. The stretch and burning in my legs is as good as casting any spell. Then my foot slips in a hole. Suddenly I’m falling, down, down, down—I slam into the packed earth. Pain splits up my knee, hands and face. I lay on the ground, letting the pain eat into my reality.
                  What am I doing? It’s late at night, and I’m alone, running in the middle of the road because I don’t have an owner anymore? It almost sounds nice until the other side of that freedom crushes in on me. I have nowhere to go, nothing to wear but this dress, which is probably torn and dirty, though it’s too dark to see for sure. I’ve nowhere to eat, nowhere to sleep. This freedom came with a price I didn’t even know I would have to pay.
                  I roll onto my back and stare mindlessly at the stars above me. What did I just do? What have I done? Naturally, I want to be free, but I should have thought about the consequences of my actions more. Not only am I left with nothing, but I haven’t an idea whether or not Edward will stay true to his word. If he calls for law officers to retrieve me, will it matter if a group of servants saw him release me? Even if there were so many of them?
    What’s worse is not what may happen to me, but what I’ve done. I wrap my arms around myself. I’m just like father.
    The thought makes me ill. What I did to Edward is exactly what father would have done. If I had done something wrong and Serena stepped in to save me from punishment, he would have punished her. Perhaps he would have taken it further, but the concept is the same. How can I be just like him? My stomach roils until I’m scrambling to the side of the road, heaving.
    Once finished, I pull myself up and limp down the road. I can’t stay where there are only thoughts of how like father I am, where I could be captured at any moment. I don’t know where I’m going, but I need to get farther from where I am. From who I’m becoming.

     
     
    Chapter Five
     
     
    I spend all night trudging along. Walking and walking, yet unsure if it does me any good. For all I know, Edward lives in the countryside without another soul for miles. Or perhaps he lives right next to town, but I went the opposite direction. Blasted windowless carriages. I’d hex them all to be burnt to charred ash if I could.
                  Night deepens. My legs and feet ache, each step makes the pain expand, tearing into my muscles. My stomach growls, mouth dry. It’s like father's here punishing me, once again locking me in the basement for two days, but there’s nothing to be done for any of it. Perhaps there’s some spell for conjuring food, but I’ve never seen or heard of one. I know of nothing to aid this insane mess I've thrown myself into.
    I shove on. There’s no other choice. I must find someone, or somewhere, that can help. I don’t want to escape a life of being