Page 77 of Wicked Deeds

“He’s had thirty-plus years to have something to do with me if he did know, and he’s never made the attempt. I don’t think he knows.”

Damon made a noncommittal noise. “Good. But I care about you, not him. Are you okay?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “Yes for now. Yes, it’s a lot, but for now, I’m all right.”

“A sister. That’s kind of cool, right? More family for you.” He sounded happy.

I pressed my face into his chest. “By blood. We’re still strangers. Which sounds bad, I know, but it’s the truth. We’ll have to take some time and see how things work out.”

“Do you want a sister?”

“Not sure that’s something you get to choose. It seems I have one.”

“Yes. But that doesn’t mean you have to be close. I mean, I’m not suggesting we kick her out onto the street, but if you need space I can find her somewhere else to stay. Or Cassandra can if she wants to keep an eye on her.”

“I’m not sure another rejection is what Gwen needs right now. And I’d like to get to know her. I just wish we could do it without….”

“Without Jack?”

“Yes. And without all the weird stuff.” I flailed an arm in a frustrated circle.

Damon caught my wrist, pressed a kiss to my palm. “I’m not sure there’s any circumstances where finding out you have a sister you never knew about at your age wouldn’t be weird to some degree.”

“Yeah, but there’s weird and then there’sweird.”

He put a finger under my chin, lifting it so I had to meet his gaze. “You eat weird for breakfast.”

I wrinkled my nose. “I’d prefer to stick to cereal. And I’m not sure how Gwen will take my weird. She came here to get away from the Fae and magic. I’m stuck with the Fae for now.”

“True. That’s something the two of you need to figure out. Once she’s happy no one’s coming from the realm to steal her back, she’ll relax about it all.”

Coming from the man who once broke up with me because of my magic, I wasn’t sure if that made me feel better or worse. He’d overcome his feelings about magic because he loved me. Gwen had no reason to care about me and my feelings other than a shared crappy dad.

“It would be useful if I could see the future,” I said. “See how it all works out.”

“I don’t know. I think it’s better not to know. Think of Morgain. That’s what her magic is, isn’t it?”

Lady Morgain could read the fates. And she constantly shifted form, moving through her own timeline, perhaps, to do it. “Not that much of the future. Just enough to win the lottery.” I lifted my head to smile at him.

His answering smile was cocky. “You’ve already won the lottery; you have me.”

I snorted. “Maybe you won the lottery when you found me.”

“Oh, I did,” he said, pulling me close again. I pressed my face back into his chest, wishing I could stay there forever.

“So, what can I do to help? Gwen doesn’t seem to need money, but if she wants to go to school here I can clear that pathway for her. Let her see we’re on her side.”

“Well, I’m not entirely sure what her side is,” I said. “And I don’t want her to think we’re just going to throw money at her and try and buy my way into a relationship with her.”

“No. I don’t want that, either,” Damon agreed. “But I can talk to people when she’s ready. She’ll still have to meet the academic requirements, but a recommendation will help.” He let me go, stepped back. “So, what did Cassandra want?”

I sighed. “She’s concerned about Gwen’s magic. If it is Jack. The half-Fae, half-witch thing.”

“She agrees that’s a problem?”

“It’s uncommon and Cassandra is concerned it would make Gwen a target for you-know-whats. And it could also make the Fae…uneasy.” I threw up my hands. “I don’t know. I’d like a rewind, please. Life was a lot simpler before that damn door opened again.”

“I agree,” Damon said. “But this is where we are. So deep breaths and one step at a time, like usual.”

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