Page 103 of Hellish Witch

I’d dreamt of finding my father for years growing up. Until I’d fled and Rex had taken me in. That was when I’d learned that family was your choice, and clearly, my birth father had never chosen me.

“Cool.” I shrugged. “So what can you tell me about fixing magic?”

Chapter 36

The coven elder paused, searching my flat gaze with shrewd eyes.

After a tense moment, he gestured at one of the empty picnic benches beyond the outdoor kitchen. “I think it’s best we sit for this, daughter.”

I watched Killian stalk in the direction my sperm donor indicated. Mages hurried out of his way, but nobody seemed that fazed by a gore-covered demon stalking through their midst. My eyes locked onto the faint tremor running the length of his tail. The bastard was in more pain that he’d let on.

And I was responsible.

Yet unable to fix it.

I blew out a harsh breath. “If I can change his mind, can you heal him?”

Orion glanced between Killian and me with a thoughtful expression, nodding. “I can patch him up, but I’ve not healed a winged demon in years. It might be best for him to see one of our more specialist healers.”

Killian turned halfway to the bench, a stubborn clench to his hard jaw. His hearing was good enough that he’d have caught the whole murmured conversation, even with the background chatter from the coven members running around their forest resort.

“Please, Kill,” I said. “I’ve seen you bleed enough in the past few days to last a lifetime.”

He grunted, raising his voice so the coven elder beside me could hear too. “Fine.”

“Alvie, take our guest to Jacaranda. She should be in the clinic still.” Orion waved a hand towards one of the nearby buildings. “Hunters attacked a group on their way back from the coast this morning.”

“Of course, Elder.” Ice hardened the sunny mage’s expression. “You’ll be okay, Eve?” He asked, thawing a fraction as he looked at me.

Killian’s fists clenched hard enough to drip blood to the packed earth. The demon radiated threat but stayed quiet, eyes dropping to the three remaining blades still strapped to my thighs. He knew me well enough to know I could handle myself against one healer, even a coven elder.

“Yes, thank you.” I shot Alvie a forced smile.

The mage raked me with a lingering once-over before stomping off along one of the many tracks that branched fromthe central path, Killian on his heels like a predator stalking prey.

I watched his white feathers disappear into the nearest building before he reappeared in a ground-level window, staring out at me with his usual watchful eye. He even reached forward and shoved the glass pane open wide so he’d likely be able to hear me too.

I’d never admit it, but his stalkerish ways were more comforting than was sane.

Orion took a seat on the bench he’d gestured at before, and I grudgingly sat opposite him, barely resisting the urge to palm a poisoned knife under the table.

“Look, I know I’m not exactly Father of the Year, but I think you should be careful with that demon. I know he might be…attractive.” He coughed, cheeks reddening. “But as a healer, you need to protect your heart more than most.”

“What are you talking about?” I shook my horns. “Actually, it doesn’t matter. I’m not here for relationship advice. I’m just here to fix my broken magic.”

Thunder struck his expression. “You already gave it away?”

I frowned even harder. “Gave what away?”

If he said my virginity, I was going to throat punch him. Claws first.

He sighed, and his initial irritation drained to a distraught look. “I have failed you. In so very many ways.”

The reminder stoked my fury, but I bit my tongue, waiting for an explanation.

“You are a healer, yes? Like almost every mage in our family line.”

I nodded slowly, waiting for him to continue.

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