T*Witches: Destiny's Twins Read Online Free Page A

and longing.
    For me?
Alex wondered, surprised by the pull that eye contact with her twin was having on her.
    Mindlessly, Alex toyed with her moon amulet. The hammered-gold charm matched the sun necklace Cam always wore. Together the two pieces, moon and sun, formed a perfect circle. Occasionally, they seemed to have wills of their own — heating up and reaching toward each other. Like now, Alex realized.
    What’s happening to us?
she heard her twin ask telepathically.
    I don’t know,
Alex admitted, despite not wanting to answer, stubbornly wanting to hang on to their grievances.
    She glanced at the lunchroom clock and decided that she ought to get going. Cade would be waiting.
    Something weird’s going on, Als,
she heard her sister thinking.
    Tell me about it,
Alex sent back sarcastically. She picked up the brownie, got two sodas from the machine, and left the cafeteria without looking back at Cam.
    Cade was late, which wasn’t like him. Alex took another sip of soda and scoped out the grounds again.
    From her vantage point at the top of the bleachers, she could see pretty much all there was to see: the side of the school building, all bricks and ivy; the sports center, looking slapped on and out of place like a grounded gleaming spaceship; the track and playing fields. The field in front of her, where a couple of kids were kicking a ball around, was Cam’s turf — the arena of her sister’s soccer stardom.
    And now strolling across it was Cade.
    With Cam!
    They were laughing. Yukking it up. So entertained by each other that they were totally oblivious of Alex — and the shock of searing anger reddening her face.
    How had her newly bizarre sister split the lunchroom so fast? When and where had Cam latched on to Cade? And why was her arm, right this minute, sliding through Cade’s and clamping it with her Perfectly-Pink-tipped grip?
    Cam looked up. Her lips twisted into an ugly smirk as she caught sight of Alex’s expression.
    What do you think you’re doing?
Alex sent a terse telepathic shout-out.
    Excuse me?
Cam blinked; her face shifted slyly from evil to innocent.
I looked the boy-toy over but, whoops, I guess I missed your Property-Of stamp.
    Seething, Alex glanced at Cade. He was looking up at her, slack-jawed, his usually lively baby blues staring blankly.
    You cast a spell on him!
she accused her sister.
    Cam laughed.
You said we had to practice for our Initiation, didn’t you?
    Alex felt it again: the same cold breeze that had set her shivering in the kitchen yesterday. And, as Cam drew nearer, the same stinging scent, a strange earthy smell that burned her nostrils and made her eyes water.
    Jimsonweed and nettles!
Alex thought, surprised and pleased at her herbal recall.
    Not Cade’s scent. Not Cam’s, either.
    Instinctively, Alex seized her moon charm. She grasped it so tightly that it bit into her palm. Heedless of the pain, she glared at her sister, half expecting, half daring Cam to reach for her sun charm.
    The two amulets had always been used in tandem, to magnify their magick. Now Alex feared Cam might use hers to set off a battle of wills.
    But her twin didn’t reach for her gold charm. Hertwin, Alex suddenly realized, wasn’t wearing the powerful necklace at all. She must have taken it off when she met up with Cade.
    Taken aback but relieved, Alex ordered: “Undo it, Cam! Undo the spell. Right now!”
    As if the sound of her voice had roused him, Cade blinked. The film that had dulled his eyes lifted. “Hey,” he said, looking at Alex with a radiant smile, “there you are. I’m …” He turned his head, twisted his neck as if the muscles were tight. “I don’t know what happened. I… I just started feeling … strange. Like instant flu or something —”
    “Poor baby,” Cam said tenderly to Cade. “That’s why I walked you here. You were standing in front of your locker looking totally sick and desperately in need of TLC. Well —” she crooned, grinning like a demented smiley