Gifted Curse: Gifted Groom, #2

By Izabella Rouge

Elise

 

Tristan turned my life upside down in less than 24 hours, and now I've lost him. All that is left is our special connection. We are the same, and as it turns out, there are others like us. My powers hindered me in everything I did, but now, they might be our only chance to survive this.

 

Tristan

 

Elise is kidnapped and no matter how fast I go, I feel like I can't get to her in time. Eric's men are after me, trying to prevent our reunion. And now I have to face my own powers. All my life I thought I was ordinary, but this... I am one of the Gifted. I am like Elise. The only difference is that I have no idea what I'm supposed to do now, apart from getting her back safely.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Izabella Rouge
• Release date: Jun 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393853824

Book preview

Chapter 1––––––––Elise

‘Elise, wake up!’

The voice is unfamiliar, and so is the pain that comes with listening to it. No, I will ignore it for now. I will ignore it till it goes away. It sounds again, louder, closer, more annoying. Why can’t they just let me sleep? Pain rushes through me like molten lava, burning my insides. I feel like I’m going to chuck up if I open my eyes.

‘Elise, open your eyes, please...’

It’s a woman’s voice. And she knows me. Mum? But no, that’s not possible. Is it? Am I still dreaming? Or am I dead? Pain rushes through my entire body again, and I wince, shutting my eyes tighter. I try to turn on my other side, too, but it’s no use. My muscles wouldn’t move an inch. I doze off again, and the voice fades away.

I’m fifteen again, getting ready for a party that my boyfriend arranged for my birthday. Of course, my parents had other ideas.

‘You can’t go today, we have our annual family dinner, remember?’

I roll my eyes at my dad, and he folds his arms in front of his chest. Doesn’t he get it? I’m not ten anymore. I don’t want to sit around, talking about aunts I never met, or their ten thousand cats.

‘Dad, I remember, but can’t I skip it just this once?’

He sighs, looking away.

‘But it’s your birthday. We won’t be here with you for ever, you know?’

I raise an eyebrow.

‘What is that supposed to mean?’

He sighs again, waving dismissively.

‘Nothing, darling. But you know how important this is for your mum.’

I know. But it’s my birthday. Before I say what I mean though, my mum comes out from the kitchen, having probably overheard the whole conversation.

‘It’s fine, Rodger, let her go to the party.’

He raises an eyebrow at her.

‘But her safety...’

She shakes her head, smiling at me.

‘She can look after herself. Isn’t that right, sweetheart?’

I nod, but something in their tone makes me feel uneasy. Why do I have a feeling that I’m seeing my parents for the last time? Their faces begin to fade away, and I reach out, trying to hold onto them as long as I can, but no use. They are gone, and they are never coming back. And the nagging feeling at the back of my mind is reminding me that it’s all my fault...

I open my eyes to complete darkness. I try to move, but pain shoots down my spine, so I decide that’s not a good idea at the moment. Also, it feels like I’m bound by something strong and heavy. I am tempted to go back to sleep and forget where I am for a while, but then events of the past few days come crashing back.

I remember Tristan, the way his kiss tasted. The way he touched me in places nobody touched me before. I blush at the memory of the sweet bruises and the sweet pain in my muscles. Although this pain is much worse, and it isn’t sweet. Someone has done something to me, something really bad.

And then I remember the dinner, and my mouth goes dry. I whisper Tristan’s name, but he isn’t here. I can feel it. My heart sinks as realization dawns: I’m a prisoner. Someone poisoned us, probably killed the man I love and dragged me into this hellhole. It smells of piss and rats and...

‘I’m so glad you are awake. We need to talk.’

The voice is raspy and ancient, and for a moment, I think I imagined it. But then she speaks again, and I realize that it’s the same voice I heard earlier:

‘Your boyfriend is fine. He is coming for you. But he might not get here on time, even though I sent him a message. Right now, it’s your other boyfriend we need to worry about.’

I furrow my brows in utter confusion.

‘What are you talking about? And who are you? And where the hell are we?’

She laughs, the sound sending shivers down my spine. The wrong kind. There is just something about her that I can’t put my finger on. Something powerful. Something dark.

‘All in due course, darling. All in due course...’

And with that, darkness falls again.

Tristan

I glance at the tracking device once more, just to make sure. It’s still saying I’m five hours away, and I’ve already been on the road for the past three and a half. Sweat trickles down my forehead, and I turn the aircon up a bit. When did it get so hot in here? Or is the fever an after-effect of the poison?

It doesn’t matter. None of it does, except the fact that they aren’t moving. Well, at least Elise isn’t moving. Which of course can be either a very good or a very bad sign, but I refuse to think about the latter. She is well, she is alive, and she is waiting for me.

I can feel it in my gut as strongly as I never felt it before. Like when you know for certain that you are going to make it. It will take time, but that’s all. I just need to be patient and I will see her again. In my