Free Conflicted: Keegan's Chronicles by Julia Crane Page A

way to get Anna alone
so they could talk.
    Keegan sat up. She loved to gossip. “She had
no idea and she was upset with her mother. It seems her mom has not
helped her at all with her gift.”
    “What’s her gift?”
    Keegan looked taken aback. She always
expected him to know everything before she did. “I thought you
knew. She’s a light witch.”
    Interesting, maybe there is hope after all.
    “Thaddeus, you should come with us this
weekend to the magical world that Calvron created, it’s amazing.
You could probably bring Sam.”
    Distracted, he said, “Sure, sounds like
fun.”
    “Can’t you do something about this whole
frozen thing I have going on?”
    “No, I can’t. Just stop getting angry over
stupid things.”
    “Easy for you to say.” Keegan kicked her
legs up on the table and glared at her brother.
    “I’m going for a run.” He walked out without
looking at her.
    ***
    About twenty minutes later, Keegan’s mother
came through the door with a couple reusable grocery bags in her
hands. Keegan peeked out of the blanket she was wrapped in.
    “What’s wrong, Keegan?”
    “Rourk left.” A hint of sadness was in her
voice.
    “What do you mean he left?” Emerald asked,
walking past Keegan on her way to the kitchen to deposit her bags
on the table.
    “He’s gone off and joined the military. The
human military.” Keegan pulled the blankets closer to her chest and
sat up and crossed her legs, staring at her mother.
    “Did he come by to tell you?” She watched as
her mom took off her green North Face jacket and hung it on the peg
by the back door.
    “Nope, he left me a note.” She nodded toward
the table.
    “Can I read it?”
    “Sure, why not.”
    Keegan watched as her mother read through
the note. Her expression gave nothing away.
    Finally, Emerald laid the paper on the table
and glanced over at her daughter. “Keegan, this is a very sweet
letter. You must realize how hard this was for him. I know you can
no longer feel the bond to him. However, for him it’s as strong as
ever. To walk away from your chosen is no easy feat. It’s obvious
he cares deeply about you.”
    “What do you think I should do?” Keegan
hadn’t meant for her voice to sound so small.
    “That’s up to you. I think Rourk is wise. He
realizes you need your space to figure this out. You did meet
before your time. I think this is for the best. Enjoy your time
with your friends just as you did before you met him.”
    “I wish I remembered him, Mom.”
    “I know sweetie. I wish you did too.”
    In the silence that followed, Keegan and her
mother felt Richard arrive home at the same time and said
simultaneously, “Dad’s home.” They laughed.
    A few moments later, Keegan’s father came
through the door with, of all people, Creed. Keegan wasn’t sure
she’d ever get used to seeing them together. The leader of the
light and the leader of the dark working together, friends even. It
shocked everyone involved.
    Her father walked over and kissed her mom.
“How was your day?”
    Her mother smiled up at her father. “Better
now.”
    Richard grinned like a fool. It was almost
sickening to see elf couples together. Ugh, she was supposed to
have that with Rourk. Keegan wanted to cry.
    “Did you know Rourk has left and joined the
human military?” Keegan blurted out.
    “Yes, he came and talked to me,” Richard
answered, stroking his red beard and not quite meeting her eyes.
“He just wants to do what’s best for you, Keegan. Joining the human
army is a long tradition for elves. I think it’s the right thing
for him to do.”
    Neither Keegan nor her mother said
anything.
    “Creed and I are going to be going out of
town for a few days. We have some business to take care of.”
    “Saving the humans from destruction one day
at a time?” Keegan rolled her eyes and cuddled back down under her
blanket.
    Her father ruffled her hair, “Something like
that kiddo.”
    “Will you two be staying for dinner?” her
mother