Page 42 of Familiar of the Witch

‘Living the dream,’ Jeb joked with a wink.

‘Clearly.’ Bastion moved closer to me. ‘I have the information we need and I’ve set up a meet after we’re done here with breaking the clearing.’

‘She won’t be doing anything after the clearing is broken,’ Jeb interjected. ‘She’ll be a miserable mess.’

‘Thanks,’ I said drily.

‘You know what I mean.’

Bastion sat down next me. ‘She’s stronger than she looks.’

‘Hey!’ I protested. ‘I look strong.’

He smiled and pressed a kiss to my forehead. ‘You’re very tough,’ he agreed, but I felt his amusement. He thought I was about as strong as a feather. I narrowed my eyes at him.

He backpedalled. ‘Youarestrong in mind and spirit. You’re the most determinedperson I’ve ever met, but physically you probably couldn’t bench-press twenty kilograms. Which is fine, because I can bench-press six hundred kilograms.’

‘Am I supposed to be impressed?’

A smile pulled at his lips. ‘Yes.’

‘Ah. Well then, I am. Very.’

He laughed. Jeb was watching the two of us, his eyes dark; all hints of humour had slid from his face. Oops. He’d just realised that Bastion and I were a couple. I cleared my throat; it was time to get back to business. ‘Shall we?’ I gestured to my forehead.

‘Of course,’ Jeb said tightly. ‘Prepare yourself.’

I closed my eyes but, as it turned out, no amount of visualising the brace position could prepare me for what was coming.

Chapter 34

I focused on the memories I wanted to be revealed.Memories of my father.Jeb painted thick cold runes on my forehead. The moment the revelation potion touched my head, flashes started to come to me.

My father was cuddling me. ‘It’s okay,’ he murmured, kissing my elbow. ‘There, all better now.’

Tears formed behind my eyelids and my heart stuttered. He didn’tseemevil.

‘Shaun!’ my mother laughed, as he tickled her. ‘Stop it! The potion needs the ara root adding now!’

My father fixed his green eyes on me. ‘Well then … I need a new victim.’ I squealed with laughter as I ran away.

I had his eyes; my hair was red to his blond but our eyes were the same, right down to their shape. When I looked in the mirror, he’d be staring back at me.

As Jeb filled in the triangles on my forehead, the memories came thicker and faster, more vivid than any I’d ever had before. Family picnics, outings to the park, a trip to the aquarium. Reading with him under a blanket fort by torchlight, studying the stars with a telescope, going swimming in a pool with waves and slides.

His name was Shaun Bolton and he was a great father. I had absolutely zero doubt that he’d loved me with all of his heart until Mum had kicked him out. I knew she’d had her reasons, but six-year-old me hadn’t known them.

Ripping away the memories of my father had helped me deal with his supposed abandonment and I’d stopped caring that he’d gone. But Mum hadn’t just taken a few memories away from me; she’d erased the whole relationship. Whatever my dad had done, it was hard to accept that her choice had been the right one.

Pain overwhelmed me, physical and emotional.

I opened my eyes. ‘Stop,’ I pleaded, but my plea was superfluous. Jeb was already cleaning the runes from my forehead. He studied me with open concern. I had just enough presence of mind to check him over too. Magic like this took its toll, but Jeb looked fine.

I relaxed, and let the pain take me. My vision tunnelled as I passed out.

Something cool touched my skin and I groaned in appreciation. My head was pounding; someone was banging a drum inside the confines of my skull. I opened my eyes and immediately regretted it as agonising pain lanced through me. I scrunched them shut. A low moan escaped my lips, not the good kind.

‘I’m sorry, Bambi,’ Bastion whispered. ‘I know you’re hurting. We have the Seer’s meeting in twenty minutes.’ He paused. ‘I’ll cancel it.’

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