Free The Awakening: A Witch-Vampire Romance: Feel the Heat. by Anastasha Renee Page B

this world. We stay hidden because we are different from others. We stay hidden because, as you already understand, when people don’t understand something, they lash out and are most likely cruel to those who aren’t like them.” Jaxx shifts us over to the couch and snuggles me into his arms. “We are true magic users. Most would call us Wiccans or witches, but we don’t need spells or incantations to work our magic. We just will it and if it’s within our personal gifts it will be. We have been around since the beginning of mankind. Once, a very long time ago, we were respected for our talents. We were seers, healers, and great warriors, but there are always those who hate. Who hunt us out of fear and jealousy. When one of our young was born she or he was given a talisman to guide and protect them.” Jaxx pulls a thick silver rope chain out from under his shirt. It has a large moonstone hanging from it. Wrapped around the moonstone is a thin rope of jade. “The seers in our clans make the talismans to guide us to adulthood. They also have a calming effect on us. It helps us control our gifts early on. We are also long lived. It takes a lot to kill us once we reach maturity.”
    “If our young are so important that we are gifted with our own tali smans to guide and protect us, why was I thrown away like yesterday’s trash,” I ask, feeling on the verge of tears again.
    What was so wrong with me that my own mother didn’t want me?
    “I just don’t know, little raven. I wish I could give you all that you seek, but that isn’t my gift.”
    “What is your gift, Jaxx? If you don’t mind me asking?”
    “I draw my strength from moonlight. I am faster and stronger than most, I can read the true intent of others, I can make myself mist when the moon is full, and I was put on this earth to protect and love my soul mate.”
    I start to pull out of his arms at that. “Your soul mate? Why are you holding me , if you have a soul mate out there waiting for you somewhere? I don’t want to start anything that we won’t be able to finish, Jaxx.”
    Jaxx lean s down and looks deeply into my eyes. “Open your heart. Open your soul, little raven. Tell me what you see in my eyes.”
    I t ake a deep breath and open myself up to everything around me. I block everything out but him. His almost white eyes with just a hint of blue, eyes of ice, and I see it. I see the truth of what he is trying to tell me. He is mine, as I am his.
    “We were born for each other , Ella. I have searched centuries for you. But I want to go slow with this. We might have been born for each other, but I want you to be comfortable with us.
    I shake my head , letting him know that I understand. Then I ask a question that is swirling around inside my mind.
    “Is that why it’s a light show whenever we touch?”
    “Yes, when our kind meets his or her other half, there are signs, such as the glow when our skin touches. It can, at times, be painful to be without the other, and reading each other’s feelings.”
    I s it in silence, just absorbing everything that I have learned. I believe him. I know that I would feel it if he were lying to me, but my thoughts are a whirl of wonder. I am special. I’m not trash, as I had been raised to believe. I belong to someone and he belongs to me. I have a home. I look up at Jaxx and smile into his eyes.
    “Thank you , Jaxx. Thank you for everything.”
    “There is no need to thank me for anything, little raven. I’m always here for you. For anything at all. Now, let’s take a walk on the grounds. There is a full moon tonight and I want to show you some of our world’s splendor.”
    He t akes me by the hand and opens a floor-to-ceiling window. I look at him like he is crazy. We are on the second floor and I’m not demented enough to want to become a pancake anytime soon. Jaxx steps onto the window sill and holds out his hand.
    “Trust me. T ake my hand and believe.”
    I t ake his hand and climb onto the