Read Online The Soul's Mark: CHANGED by Ashley Stoyanoff - Free Book Online Page A

forging strength into her voice that she really didn’t have.  But she knew she had to be strong.  He wasn’t hers, not anymore, and she had no right to try to keep him.
    “Yes , I will,” he said, as he pulled her into his arms.  His lips hovered over hers for just a second before he placed a featherlight kiss on her.  “I love you,” he whispered, and those three words undid her completely.  The tears broke free in a flood, cascading down her cheeks, and she kissed him fervently, certain that this was the last time she’d ever feel his warm lips pressed against hers, and the last time she’d ever hear those words from him.

CHAPTER 9
     
     
    She gathered her dress as she lowered herself down to the stone ledge, kneeling beside the dark pool of water, and she called upon her magic, letting it seep into the depths of the pond, bringing forth the scenes that she wanted to look upon.  She smiled, as she flipped through each scene.  Everything was falling into place, even if it wasn’t exactly how she had projected it.
    She had expected Amelia to figure out the loophole by now, and with it, the key to changing the bond for good.  It had been two weeks, and Mitchell was getting sicker and sicker.  If Amelia didn’t act soon, he would die; she was certain of it.  And at the rate he was deteriorating, it would most likely happen within a week.
    The whole thing was painful to watch.  She wanted so much to swoop down and fix him, change him back to the powerful vampire he should be.  But she couldn’t.  Not this time.  Amelia had to figure this one out on her own.
    Mitchell seemed to be the only one who saw it.  The only one that knew what needed to be done.  And he was the only one that seemed to realize that this was the last test.  The final obstacle to overcome in correcting Amelia’s past.  But then, it was just as much a test for him as it was for her.
    She watched him for a long moment, as he discussed his ideas with Luke and Lola.  Yes, he knew exactly what needed to be done , she thought, and her smile grew further.  Maybe there was hope for him in this lifetime after all.
    She’d be lying if she tried to say that she had always believed there was hope for Mitchell.  Truthfully, she had thought that he was a lost cause until just a few weeks ago.  She’d never truly believed that he cared for Amelia, or for anyone but himself, but he’d proved her wrong.  Mitchell had more than proved that he could be Amelia’s backbone, her support, and maybe most importantly, her partner.  Yes, Mitchell was the perfect match for Amelia.
    She focused on Lola for a moment.  Sweet, sweet Lola.  The poor girl looked totally distraught, pressed against Mitchell’s side, but then, being separated from a child could do that to a vampire.  But it wouldn’t be long now before Lola figured it out, too.  Without Amelia clouding Lola’s brain, she was certain Lola would see it.
    She flipped to another scene, focusing in on Angelle and Tyler.  Out of all of them, it was Angelle that surprised her most.  Really, she had thought that the girl would have noticed the difference in her core by now.
    It had been quite a shock when she had found Tyler whole.  It wasn’t often that she ran across a human with both halves of their soul.  But then, Tyler had never been meant for a vampire.  His soul was a bit brighter than most, a bit fuller.  And with a little digging after she had returned to the spirits, she had found that he had been meant for a witch, one that would never be put back into the cycle of life.
    She probably shouldn’t have meddled, but she hadn’t been able to help herself.  One last good deed before she turned the rest of her power over to its rightful owner.  Angelle deserved another shot, and Tyler … he had obviously loved her beforehand.  She only wished they’d open their eyes, and see each other.  Really see each other, before he left on his ridiculous mission.  She knew