The Windhaven Witches Omnibus Edition : Complete Paranormal Suspense Series, Books 1-4 by Carissa Andrews (graded readers txt) 📕

what you can do. Or hell, what I’m dealing with,” I say reluctantly. “For all I know, you even got a read on who it is. Or maybe your dad has? Surely the Angel of Death can do that, right?”

Wade’s eyes widen, but he shakes his head. “Angels of Death are bound to take the souls ready to cross planes. They don’t focus on the ones who wish to stay behind. I guess you could say there’s too much to do and not enough time to do it. There’s no point in focusing on the energies that don’t want help.” He quirks his lips to the side and continues. “But to answer your question, no. I don’t know who it is. I don’t have any powers. Not really. I only get vague impressions of energy right now. Good, bad. Happy, not so happy. I suppose you could call it empathic, but I don’t even know if it’s as potent as that. And truth be told, I never even thought to ask my dad. He wouldn’t overly approve the request, if you know what I mean.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean,” I whisper, tucking my hands under my thighs. “He’s not a fan.”

Wade’s eyebrows tug in and he leans forward. “Autumn, he doesn’t know you. He only knows what necromancers do to the status quo. He doesn’t know you.”

“I know,” I say softly. He doesn’t overly want to get to know me either and a part of me can’t even blame him. I didn’t know I was a necromancer for most of my life, but one thing’s for sure, I’m not even sure I want to be one. It’s done nothing but cause problems.

“Look, if you want help figuring out what it is”—Wade reaches across the table—“I want to help. I know I can’t cast them out or cross them over, but I can at least try to guide you with the stuff I do know.”

“I’m a big girl, Wade. I can handle it on my own,” I say, shaking my head.

His face tightens and he says, “I’m perfectly aware of how strong you are. That’s not what I was implying at all.”

“I know. It’s just…” I swallow hard. “It’s hard enough having to work with you on this presentation.”

Wade snorts. “Is it actually that bad to work with me?”

“You know what I mean,” I retort.

“Do I?” he says.

“Wade I don’t like this any more than you do. None of this is my choice. I’m just—”

“Not your choice? Autumn, this is all your choice,” Wade says, slamming a hand down on the table. “It’s certainly not mine. I want to be with you. There’s nowhere on this whole fuckin’ planet I’d rather be. Don’t you get that? I love you…”

My breath hitches and I blink back the emotions threatening to consume me.

“I—” I stutter, unable to form words.

“I don’t know what your deal is or why you keep pushing me away. But I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to help you get to the bottom of this. Whatever is going on in your goddamn house could be really bad. Maybe it hasn’t attacked you yet, but it could. I’ll be damned if I let that happen. We’ll figure it out together,” he spits. His jaw clenches tight and his nostrils flare, but he doesn’t back down.

I know better than to fight this. As much as I want to protest, I know it will only make him dig his heels in deeper. “Fine. You can help me, but that’s all. Nothing else has changed. I can’t risk—”

“You can’t risk? This is all about your risk, is it? Autumn, I’m willing to risk everything to be with you. My whole life, I’ve wandered from place to place, searching for the one thing that would bind me to this human form. Because honestly, so far, things have kinda sucked. All I was looking for was that one reason to stay. Did you know that when my grandpa passed, I planned to end my own life?”

His silver eyes bore into mine and my heart stops.

“What?” I sputter.

He swallows hard and nods absently. “I had nothing left. No parents, no friends. And when Grandpa was gone, no family at all. They were all on the other side. Why would I want to stay when I could ascend early? I could begin fulfilling my true purpose and have all the powers that come with it.”

“But you only get one life to live. And it could have changed. You have so many years ahead of you. You could travel and see the world. You could have met…”

“And I did,” he says, cutting me off. “I met the one woman who has made all this torment worth it. She was my one reason to stay.”

His words linger between us—heavy, potent things that could crumble realities and break down barriers. My gaze falls to the table as I contemplate their meaning.

Inhaling sharply, my eyelashes flutter. “Does that mean…? You wouldn’t—”

Wade’s face is suddenly the epitome of calm. “No option is off the table.”

Chapter 7

The Thread of Life

I look up, meeting Wade’s expectant gaze. “You can’t be serious?”

“It’s not ideal, obviously. But I’m not ruling it out, either. Granted, I do have a few more cards up my sleeves as I try to get into some good graces,” Wade says, grinning and clearly trying to lighten the mood.

“No, you can’t do that,” I say, shaking my head. “You think you can drop that kind of a bomb on me and then change the subject? Nope. No, sir.”

Wade’s expression is thoughtful as he says, “Autumn, you and I view life very differently. I love that about you. But for someone like me, it’s just a pit stop on the way to my full-time gig. I know what’s waiting for me on the other side of this. Most people—you included—don’t. That’s why it seems so scary.”

My stomach churns and I feel utterly sick. Even if he’s right—even if this life means